Ready, Aim, Right

The cover of the book shows a picture of Jack Criss. In the photo one is very much reminded of Jack Lord of "Hawaii 5-0" fame. The reader is left with the impression that Jack Criss has some of that same self-assuredness, the same brashness that characterized the great actor. His essays cover the period from 1990-2004 and were culled from some 220 commentaries and reviews. Many of the older ones are fascinating not just because they shed light of historical significance, but also because they reveal a certain prescience on the part of Mr. Criss.

His commentaries on the welfare state, racism and other issues are succinct and inexorably logical, biting into and tearing to shreds the socialist philosophies of the left. He considers himself anathema to both major political parties, criticizing where criticism is due by the lights of his "objectivist" philosophy.

One of the great things about libertarian ideas is that they are effortless in the sense that to implement them we just need to leave people alone. Yet this is unfortunately contrary to human nature. People always want to tell everyone else what to do and how to do it as if they know better than others. Jack Criss makes it clear that the best way to help people is to get out of their way and this is endemic in his writing. He tells us in the Preface that he made a philosophic journey from communism to where he is at now. Although this book does not plot that journey, in subtle ways the book reveals this experience and uses it to advance causes and ideas in a manner that might be understandable to a person on the left.

It has been said that a man who was not a liberal in his youth does not have a heart and a man who is not a conservative when he grows up has no brains. Though he is not a conservative, per se, Jack Criss definitely is endowed with brains. His book will provoke thought and excite political controversy among discerning readers.

This book is available at Amazon.com.