The Real Stars: In Today's America, Who Are the True Heroes? by Ben Stein











Thoroughly enjoyable. Quick, thought-provoking read

 Published by New Beginnings Press in 2007

The Real Stars: In Today's America, Who Are the True Heroes? is inspired by Stein's "Nick and Jessica" column - a column that was copied and pasted and forwarded to millions of e-mails across the world. Stein has collected a series of columns from the years 1978-2006, mostly from the 1998-2005. Topics range from Elvis and the celebrity culture to Richard Nixon to current foreign policy to the widows and orphans of fallen soldiers to the deaths of his parents.
Ben Stein
Often profound and usually very funny, Stein usually has a gentle wit and tries to put a gentle spin on things. But, 2 or 3 of these essays demonstrate that Stein can be cutting (however, his cutting observations are correct) and those are all of the more powerful since they stand out from the norm.

 Although this is a relatively short book, Stein's essays about his parents are worth the price of the book all by themselves. If his comments about his father ("My Father's Estate") don't bring a tear to your eye your soul is in serious trouble.

 Ben Stein - a Hollywood insider, a political insider and, more importantly, a guy that does get it - he understands what's really important in this life.

 I rate this book 5 stars out of 5.

 This book can be found on Amazon.com here:
The Real Stars: In Today's America, Who Are the True Heroes?

Reviewed on September 27, 2007.

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