Makers and Takers: Why conservatives Work Harder, Feel Happier, Have Closer Families, Take Fewer Drugs, Give More Generously, Value Honesty More, Are ... Even Hug Their Children More Than Liberals

by Peter Schweizer, Johnny Heller

In Do as I Say (Not as I Do), Peter Schweizer exposed the hypocrisy of liberal elites in Washington and Hollywood. In Makers and Takers, he broadens his scope to examine the damaging effects of liberal philosophy on ordinary Americans. Drawing on national polls and academic studies, as well as the revealing testimony of liberals themselves, Schweizer shows that liberals are, on the whole, less honest, less generous, lazier, and more materialistic than their conservative counterparts. Moreover, conservatives are better parents, spouses, and citizens. Schweizer's portrait is not a mischievous exercise in "gotcha" journalism. Instead, tracing political and social changes over the past fifty years, he argues that the emergence of liberalism as a philosophy of selfishness is a direct result of big government. The enormous expansion of government has fostered the assumption among many Americans that the state is responsible for our financial, social, and moral well-being. From the myth that wealth is the result of luck and exploitation to the insistence that individuaals are not accountable to God or social institutions, the principles of liberalism have corrupted the personal virtues and community values Americans once honored.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Economics, Audiobook

MP3 CD

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Peter Schweizer is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. From 2008-'09 he served as a consultant to the White House Office of Presidential Speechwriting and he is a former consultant to NBC News. He has written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, National Review, Foreign Affairs, and elsewhere. His books include The Bushes, Reagan's War, and Do as I Say, Not as I Do.

Reviews

[Julie Golding Page · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book after I read a fantastic review of it. The review challenged my social-moderate-with-liberal-leanings views and made me think it would be good for me to read this book, even if it might not be enjoyable to have liberal views laid bare in the same way that conservative views often are. Well, I was right about not enjoying it, but it wasn't because the liberal views were taken to task...this book is full of anecdotes, which should be a good thing, but they're recounted in a vitriolic way by an author who is obviously not even a little bit sympathetic to social liberals. In the process, his points (which are actualy good ones) are often obscured and you end up just being annoyed with his method of communicating.

I ended up learning more from the chapter titles than from the chapters themselves, and I think the book would have been better if it had: (a) been shorter, perhaps even essay-length, going straight to the author's very valid points; and (b) included fewer stories and more solid, better organized research, statistical and otherwise. Unfortunately, the way it is written rather works against the author's points, making the right-wing social conservative author (and, by extension, his intellectual colleagues) look like unreasonable, mean-spirited complainers.

[Oli Sunshine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this for a Civics and Gov class and I knew it would challenge “my beliefs” but I at least thought there would be a few good arguments! But most of this read and a rambling mess. Schwizer does not stay on topic the entire way through each chapter, and what he brings up does not always support his claims like he believes they do.

While I could post my full report of the book here I don’t feel like it, so trust me when I say this book isn’t worth it

[Lukas Evan · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the funniest books I've ever read.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Makers and Takers: How Conservatives Do All the Work While Liberals Whine and Complain the author, Peter Schweizer, contrasts what the left spouts confidently as factual with more scientific survey-based truth and blasts what liberals hope what they want the general public to accept as true. This was the tactic used by Hitler and the National Socialists (Nazis) used, to paraphrase: Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it! This is so obvious when you take a skeptical look at what is being claimed as fact. The author points out that in many of these cases those putting out false accusation as facts are essentially doing what they claim the targets of their propaganda are doing. Their philosophy can be summed up as Do as I say, not as I do. Examples are plentiful and are presented by the author throughout the book. He draws on national polls and academic studies, along with actual testimony by liberals themselves. He also states that the emergence of this type of liberalism as a philosophy of selfishness is a direct result of big government.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book. It is so true that Liberal's morals are very low and they are accepting of lying and cheating in life. They try to justify it as perfectly normal. Statisically, liberal cheat on tests and lie on resumes because they believe everyone does. They see nothing wrong with it. I think it is interesting that liberals are the first to say that society needs take money from others to give to someone they deem worthy of it. Yet they don't take their own money to give to their worthy cause. They don't donate money as much as conservatives. Liberals think that having the notion of giving money to someone is simply enough and they don't actually have to give their own money.

[Brendan Steinhauser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book that destroys certain liberal myths about conservatives. The book cites studies that show conservatives to be more hard working, happier, more family oriented, less materialistic, more honest and more generous than liberals. This book is well worth a read.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thesis of this book -- that conservatives are far more generous in their personal lives than liberals -- is in equal measure both surprising and predictable.

[Brian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read the dust jacket at my in-laws’. What a dogshit book.

[Jedidiah Ng · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be fair as a liberal myself, I did think the author put up many good points: we can be whiny, pessimistic, have less self-esteem self-righteous, emotional, sensitive, less grateful, suffer from a victim mentality, more mentally ill and self-centered.

His central thesis is this is caused because liberals feel that every single problem is the government, society or some structural fault which causes them to absolve themselves of individual responsibility because they believe they can't change anything.

I will definitely consider this to improve myself and my interactions with other people.

[Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something is deeply weird and wrong with the leftist perspective, and this book details it in an aggressively offended and repulsed way, while still being honestly befuddled by how little truth, facts, reality or common decency are so easily thrown under the bus by these troubled people.

[Chad Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was obviously a smear job. That being said I had some good laughs while listening to this. It’s 3/5 for me

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Schweizer thesis is pretty straight forward, Conservatives aren't what people think they are, and when I say people I mean gentlemen like George Lakoff who seem to think that if you don't believe in a broken welfare state or handouts for everyone then your a heartless moron who doesn't know how to think. Although I appreciate the view of Lakoff that I'm a moron and heartless, Schweizer gets it right through statistics and anecdotes on the realities of conservatives versus liberals. No surprises for me is that people who self-identify as conservative value honesty more then liberals, since liberalism puts a greater emphasis on the ends justify the means (insofar as liberals consider liberal policies good for everyone and one may argue regardless of outcome). Schweizer is probably preaching to the converted in his book, and for people like me who are tired of hearing how stupid they are (btw, I have multiple degrees), or how heartless they are (as a humble man I don't talk about my charitable giving), this book can be a breath of fresh air in an often contentious environment filled with the uninformed and self-righteous individuals who want to tell you how the world works.

[Chris Doelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schweizer delivers what is expected from one of his books. There is a lot of statistics to show that liberals are the "takers" and the conservatives are the "makers" in the world. While I agree with many of the premises, he does tend to fall into the trap of "lies, damn lies, and statistics" by using cherry-picked statistics.

He could have made his point with many of the excellent studies he cited without stretching things to make for a bigger book. I get the feeling he was enjoying himself and the goal was to appease his target audience. It kind of goes against one of his largest points - that conservatives are not mindless, heartless, dupes. By adding in obviously angled stats, he is suggesting they are.

A good book for the useful information. Just be prepared to weed through some hyperbole.

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peter Schweitzer's "Makers and Takers" pulled me in within the book's first paragraph. The book is excellently written and filled with references and sources for the authors facts, findings, contrasts, and conclusions of the differences between Conservatives and Liberals (read Leftists).

Written is a style almost reminiscent of P.J. O'Rourke, "Makers and Takers" is a riveting and page-turning read. Insightful, entertaining, and informative, including a few tongue-in-cheek comments and observations, Peter Schweitzer has written a home run with a no punches pulled, scathing summation of the fraudulent and hypocritical Leftist mentality. I enjoyed this book very much.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author explains the differences between liberals and conservatives.

To quote the author in his conclusion:

"I began this book with two simple assumptions: first, that ideas influence our behavior; and second, that modern liberals and conservatives have distinctly different behavioral patterns reflecting their different philosophies.

[MG · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stuff 99% of Conservatives already know, validated by endless statistics. Not an engaging read, but still worth it if you want to validate being Conservative and happy. (Don't feel guilty... you're not doing anything wrong.)

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

an interesting description of the differences between conservatives and liberals

[Squire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good data to back it up. Everyone should read it, but only conservative leaning folks are likely to do so, which is too bad.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scientific proof that liberalism causes mental disorders.

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no idea if what this author says is true or not. But the books explains why the author thinks this.