The Myth America Pageant By Robert Wickes - Book Review

The Myth America Pageant: How GovernmentIn the first part of the book Wickes states what
& Politics Really Affect the Ordinary Joehe calls, "The Unavoidable Truth." He immediately
captured my attention when he said, "In the long
Infinity Publishing (2006)and tumultuous history of mankind, every war,
ISBN 9780741436184every conflict, and every injustice is an attempt
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (1by one person or group to impose their will on
07)another." This is so true for every culture
I am not a big fan of political science or economicthroughout time, yet nothing changes.
type books. Even in college, I studied enough toIn the first part of the book, Wickes discusses
get a good grade, but not to retain anything inthe "Unavoidable Result." He says, "The larger the
this subject area. I was really pleased when I readwar...or the larger the government, the greater
"The Myth America Pageant," because it is easythe insult to liberty and wealth of the population.
to understand and very interesting. TheIn the second part of the book he discusses the
information presented was also researched and"Inescapable Conclusion." He feels, "As the
references are cited. The author, Robert Wickes,destruction of peace and wealth increases in
describes himself as an "Average Joe." This bookproportion to the degree of the imposition of
is about "the value and benefits of individual libertyone's will over another, it follows that the
and why this is such an important goal forpromotion of peace, the development of liberty,
mankind."and the growth of wealth will increase in
Wickes discusses a variety of political systemsproportion to the degree of limitation of such
and theories of political scientists throughoutimposition."
history. He refreshed my knowledge of people likeIf you want to catch up on what is going on in
John Locke and Karl Marx. He really made thisthe world and how it is still affected by what has
book interesting. I wish that my textbooks ingone on in the past, this is a great book to read.
college could have been written as well as this"The Myth America Pageant" is really interesting
one.and insightful.