Book Review - Lies the Government Told You

Lies The Government Told You, by Andrew P. Napolitano

"If we fear our own government, if we accept its deceptions, its lies to us, if we take no action to redress them, our freedoms are doomed." - Andrew Napolitano

Part history lesson, part cautionary tale, "Lies the Government Told You," gives an honest and extremely unflinching look into the various ways we have been, and continue to be, lied to by the government. Using his vast knowledge and experience as a Superior Court Judge, Andrew Napolitano takes the reader through 17 specific lies, and shows us again and again how our freedoms are being assaulted by the very people we trust to protect them.

This book is an eye-opening must-read for anyone who is interested in learning the truth, no matter what your political affiliation. I was apprehensive to read it at first, as I didn't want to read a book that would disparage any one political party. My fear was unfounded. Democrat, Republican, and everything in between were all fair game for Napolitano and his no-holds-barred look at everyone from Lincoln to Obama. It in turns taught me and terrified me, but more than anything else it angered me.

It should be noted that this is not a light-hearted beach read. It is heavy on facts, court cases, and dates, so readers who tend to get bogged down with details may have difficulty with certain sections. Otherwise, it is an engaging and interesting book, one that should be read by every concerned American, particularly those that are not content with just sitting back and doing and believing as they are told.



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.”

Wine on Computers

Two weeks ago, just a few days into our vacation in San Diego, Tegan spilled my entire glass of wine onto my netbook. It wasn't a splash, it was a flood, and the computer promptly responded by making a sizzling sound, followed by a whoosh and a whine as it shut off into silence.

Now, aside from the obvious lesson - move glass of wine before two year old approaches, or better yet, no wine by the computer! - there were two other lessons to be learned as well. First, the one that's been the recurring theme my entire life: Don't sweat the small stuff. Yes, I was bummed about my computer, as well as the fact that we don't currently have the money to replace it. But in the grand scheme of things, a fried netbook is small stuff! It just doesn't matter. Secondly, it told me in no uncertain terms that I didn't need to be on the computer while I was on vacation. I needed to be with my family, live life, and let my little online world continue to spin without me. Even now, back home with 3 desk tops at my disposal, my computer time needs to be more carefully managed, planned, and balanced. And it's good.

Some other insights from the trip, in no particular order:

You need to stop to enjoy the flowers


Sometimes, you just have to eat straight from the carton


Elephants are cool even when they're made out of legoes


Japanese gardens are beautiful


Roller coasters are so much more fun when you share them with the people you love


So are flumes


And rides that go up and down


Baby animals, of any kind, are to be enjoyed and appreciated


Bugs are interesting



Learning about the Marines, aviation, and World War II is interesting too





Even pretending to sit at a school desk bores Paxton


Good friends, the kind that you can see twice a year and still pick up like no time had past, are rare, and precious






The ocean is beautiful, peaceful, and awe-inspiring











And finally, it really is about the little things in life: