Book Review: “Lies The Government Told You”

Want to read a book that will make you happy, make you angry, and make you think deep enough you just may change an opinion or two? Then you’ll want to pick up “Lies The Government Told You: Myth, Power, and Deception in American History” by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano (published by Thomas Nelson).

Armed with an array of case law, Napolitano details 17 specific “lies” perpetrated … and perpetuated … by our government. In doing so, he takes the reader through deep political territory. Napolitano’s views often tend to support liberal political leanings, then suddenly he veers right, then winds his way (often) into libertarian territory, castigating American politicians from some of the Founding Fathers, to Abraham Lincoln, up to the most current presidential administrations.

The outcome is that no political figure is safe from Napolitano’s accusations of lying to the American public. People of all political persuasions will find times where they agree with the Judge on certain topics and strongly disagree on others. What I appreciated most was the few times Napolitano so aptly detailed a point that he caused me to think more deeply about some of his claims, and moved a few of my opinions from where they started prior to reading this book.

But I also think Napolitano makes the classic political error of calling a “lie” the views or actions taken by some who have a different political philosophy than he does. And by finding most any American leader throughout our history to be liars, it makes you wonder if there is a government Napolitano would actually be happy with.

But Napolitano provides a great service with this book by helping the average reader see that our government isn’t so trustworthy as it routinely proclaims itself as being. Lies have, and continue, to be told to the public quite routinely by the government. Understanding that, and how it wears away our freedom, is the best lesson Napolitano provides, regardless of your political persuasions.

Scotty

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”