Ada Twist is a girl who is not afraid to ask questions considering she is always asking questions that require a fun experiment to prove her theories. This novel is great for those who have curious minds and want to discover new things through science, confidence, and trial and error. Learning through trial and error is Ada's biggest strength and learning the importance of keeping her mind curious. ( )

Interesante ensayo sobre el liberalismo, el autor lo vincula inescindiblemente con la tolerancia, bueno. ( )

Interesting Discussion. Let's get two things straight up front: 1) I believe this author - a Canadian-American - uses "Liberal" where far more commonly for most of his points most Americans would use "Libertarian". He uses the Canadian understanding of the term (and, indeed, most of the world outside of the US, at least according to my own understanding), which may be problematic for US audiences. 2) The 5* rating here is not because I actually agree with his points - largely, I do not, which I'll get to momentarily - but because for the style of book that it is - a discussion of political philosophy, ostensibly as a father writing to his daughter - I really can find no fault here beyond "I strongly disagree with what the author says here", and I do my best to not drop stars over such disagreements absent some more concrete issue.

On the actual arguments in question, again, I believe he is arguing more for (mostly) what an American audience would more readily understand as "libertarianism" - Rule of Law, equality of opportunity no matter one's demographics, and a strong commitment to the freedom of speech. Yes, he goes off on leftist/ progressive tangents such as gun control and universal healthcare at times, but the author does a pretty solid job of always coming back to the central thesis, and showing how both the "left" and "right" in most countries (but particularly the US) both hate what he calls "liberalism" and why both camps are wrong. I could probably write a book concurring in conclusion but dissenting in approach myself, particularly over Gopnik's obsession with John Stuart Mill and On Liberty - a book I myself read just a couple of years ago and found useful to the overall conversation, but ultimately problematic.

Still, as with Mills' book - a conjoining the author will likely appreciate - this text serves as a solid look at a particular way of thinking and is thus worthy of consideration. Recommended. ( )

Much decried by those on the right and left, the wild passive liberal might be thought now to be extinct. Not true! Adam Gopnik boldly steps forward to take up the reins of compromise and conciliation that typify the liberal estate. Presented under the conceit (dread word) of a “conversation” with his 17-year-old daughter on the occasion of the election of an anti-liberal autocrat to the highest office in the land, this book is what he might have said if he hadn’t been at a fumbling loss for words and satisfied that an arm around her shoulders would be just as eloquent that sad evening. Fortunately for us, Gopnik took up his own challenge and is able to present, initially, the basis of what he construes liberalism to be, and thereafter the principal critiques of liberalism from the right and from the left. He is left with the view that liberalism is still the best thing on the block. It gets things wrong. Of course it does. But it also critiques itself and works, ceaselessly, to make corrections, to make things better. And it is these thousand small sanities that both right the ship of state and keep us all afloat.

For those of us either under-versed in political philosophy or overcome by the all-encompassing daily inanities issuing from on high, a book like this is a welcome relief. Gopnik is able to take a synoptic view, and though such views may be just as distorting as any other, his sounds sane and sensible. You will learn a fair bit about a number of Gopnik’s heroes, from John Stuart Mill to George Eliot. There is enough political philosophy here to satisfy the more knowledgeable readers, but also enough social and literary history to captivate those of us who find philosophy a bit dry. I liked it. And at least while I read it, I felt like I was a fellow traveller (though by now I may have already forgotten some of the more subtle arguments). I confess I prefer Gopnik’s non-political books. But these are challenging times for liberal intellectuals and I appreciate Gopnik’s willingness to step up.

Recommended. ( )