Didn't finish. He asks why someone might be offended at being told to read and meditate on a passage of the Christian bible that tells people to come back to the Lord. Why? Maybe because I'm not Christian, nor Jewish. But I don't consider myself less American due to that. ( )

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I can honestly say that I picked up this book with an open mind towards the author. I didn't know hardly anything about Dr. Ben Carson. I had heard that he had recently declared his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election and that he was the darling of the Tea Party Movement, a fact that impacts me neither positively nor negatively.

I picked up the book hoping to find out what all the buzz was about.

My curiosity on some points was satisfied. One Nation put forward the views of a concerned citizen with conservative moral, economic, and social issues. While his views were definitely conservative, they were expressed with grace and respect towards those who would differ. He writes, "Though today's politicians would have you think otherwise, it is eminently possible to have substantial disagreements with others and remain friendly and cooperative. This is a lesson that must be quickly relearned by American society if we are to be successful going forward. People will always have different ideas about what is important, but those differences should not trump a cordial working relationship" (99-100). Amen, Dr. Caron! Amen!

The most inspired part of this book was Carson's take on political correctness. He challenges Americans to ignore the barking media and exercise their freedom of speech, regardless of how unpopular it may be. Frankly, I see the day coming when my own conservative Christian views on morality and spirituality will be marginalized in culture - I'm not sure that sad day isn't already dawning. Caron's charge to me and others like me was truly inspirational.

A close second in the "inspiring parts of the book" category is Carson's fresh take on health care. As a physician, he advocates a position that honors the doctor-patient relationship rather than the doctor-patient-insurance provider relationship. I've never heard anyone espouse the ideas he puts forward. I won't take time to describe them here; just read chapter nine. I don't know if these ideas are viable. I'm sure the keepers of the status quo will say, "No!" But I believe if we are going to overcome the issues that lie ahead of us as a nation that we need fresh ideas. Those ideas may not be the answer, but they may create a dialogue that leads to the answer. On this point alone, I find Ben Carson to be a breath of fresh air.

Any concerns I have with One Nation have more to do with what it didn't say than what it did say. For example, I wish Carson had expressed his views more clearly on national security issues and social security, just to name a few.

After reading this book, I'm not sure if Ben Carson has won my vote. But I can say confidently that he has won my respect. ( )

Dr. Carson tries so hard to come from an independent place, but sadly he is also trapped in the mire of the Right's Straw-Man arguments; primarily that the ACA is going to destroy America, that the "gay agenda" is trying to destroy marriage, and that America is falling apart because of some moral decline brought about by our turning away from God. Of course, he also gives multiple examples that can easily be used to counter his arguments, such as stating that humans have a moral compass without the teachings of the scripture.

The thing is, some of his ideas actually sound feasible, and I'd likely give them some credence if he didn't take every opportunity to throw the blame at what he calls the "secular progressives," claiming they are the reason the parties cannot work together. Also, the media seems to only be biased towards the Right, not the left.

Now, this book is a few years old, written in 2013, so it would be interesting to sit down and have a conversation with him now that he has been in the political arena and seen exactly what he is up against, both on his side and the other. Would he still make the same claims? Probably, but it would still be interesting to have some form of follow-up. For someone so intent in this book on reaching towards bi-partisan efforts, I don't recall that notion ever coming up during his campaign.

And he definitely needs to learn the real reason that "under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God We Trust" to our money. It certainly didn't have anything to do with "signifying the importance of God in every aspect of our lives," and instead has everything to do with finding suggestive ways to fight off the "Red Menace" of Communism in the 50s. ( )

First of all, it wasn't a political motivation that led me to read One Nation. But, I did read it and I absolutely loved it. I don't know when the last time was that I have been so motivated to get out and learn more and do more in an attempt to unite this great nation. Love the "action steps" at the end of each chapter and have written several down in my diary for my to do list. ( )