I am finishing up a new book and am seeking suggestions for a snappy book title.
The book’s essays deal with the fraud of idealism, how truth is perverted in Washington, the political sanction for mass killing, why power corrupts, Leviathan-loving intellectuals, the fatal myths of democracy, and other cheery topics. My tentative title is “Principles & Paradigms: How Politicians Con Citizens Into Submission.” But my hunch is that the title could be better.
Ideally, the title would be both hard hitting and zippety. In the past, I’ve been a pushover for alliteration (Fair Trade Fraud, Farm Fiasco, Bush Betrayal, Terrorism & Tyranny). Alternatively, the title would be a phrase that sticks in people’s memories – such as Lost Rights, Freedom in Chains, or Attention Deficit Democracy. (Two of my previous books got their titles from contests).
The person who suggests the winning title will receive $100 and will be mentioned in the book’s acknowledgments. (Second prize is two mentions in the acknowledgments).
Send suggestions to jim@jimbovard.com
Thanks for the help!
Jim Bovard
www.jimbovard.com
“Wolves at your door”
What sheeple should know.
This title popped into my head:
“Perverted Perceptions: How Politicians Twist Reality To Compel Submission”
I’m looking forward to reading the new book, Jim. I’ve spent entirely too much time lately pondering things like the fraud of idealism. It boggles my mind.
In a similar vein, Arthur Silber has been writing a series, “The Ravages of Tribalism”, on his blog that deals with the mindset of partisanship among other things. It’s all sort of depressing, but interesting.
Guilty Americans
(that’s it, don’t add a tag line. Then I would just HAVE to open the book’s jacket cover to find out what the book’s about– why I am I a guilty American and/or should I be? )
Title suggestion:
The
Bankruptcy of Freedom in America
another title suggestion:
The Great American Heist
Jim, what is your Bevard,Bovard,bovaird,brevard connection? We have DNA project at FTDNA
all spellings match.
“Spectator Nation”….
Political Cant and the Nation’s scorecard of deceit.
Oooh, great news! Dunno that I can top some of the suggestions already here, but I’ll mull it over.
Sunni – thanks for the kind words & the mulling!
Tom – thanks for the feedback.
Idealism intrigues me, the same way that Jesse James intrigued would-be train robbers.
It would help to read a sample chapter or two…
Anyway, when the book is out, I’d love to do a review for my website. I’ll keep watching.
Thanks, MamaLiberty! I hope you get a kick out of the book.
I am leery of posting large chunks of the book online prior to publication. That could make publishers balk, among other possible developments.
The Service State: Sacrificing Sovereignty
Hello Jim! Glad to see you’re up and about. Maybe I missed something, but have you written anything about the latest in gun grabbing, or the feds wanting to build FEMA camps? Just curious
Jean – thanks for the suggested title!
I haven’t written anything about the gun grabs/FEMA camps – but not because I have been swept away with the Obama spirit. It is a target-rich environment, and I will have more time for plinking soon.
Well as soon as you are out of the hypnotic state of Obamaism, I know you’re an expert marksman, and with this target rich enviornment, I’m sure it will be just like a turkey shoot.
Please, celebrate after with some fine adult beverages, and a fine Cuban. We need you sober good buddy!!
What’s wrong with “The Fraud of Idealism”?
Nothing wrong with that title at all.
Mabye idealism should be the key term for the title – at least the first part…..
Jean – if I was to smoke a Cuban cigar, my marksmanship would be far below my par.
I go for ’em mild…
You could recycle the title:
The Biggest Con: How the Government is Fleecing You
or
Conned! How Politicians in Washington Make Dupes of American Citizens
Skulls, Bones, and Hit-Men: How Ms. Entrepreneur Gets Kicked in the Knees by the Already Rich.
This is just off the top of my head for now. I’ll probably have more entries.
P.S. Any way to track back on this? I don’t want to space out this contest, for various reasons.
“A democratic government that respects no limits on its power is a ticking time bomb, waiting to destroy the rights it was created to protect.”
I’d suggest changing “waiting” to “working”, but perhaps I’m cynical?
As for the title… I like “The Fraud of Idealism” too, but I’ll bet we can do even better. (That’ll at least make a fine chapter name.) Maybe… “Perpetual Promises: Why Government Never Delivers What You Want”? I’ll try to swing by again if something else strikes me.
The Ideal Deception
keep How Politicians Con Citizens Into Submission
How about something like:
– The Political Bubble: A Blow-by-Blow Account
– A Blow-by-Blow Account of the Political Bubble: How Politicians Inflate Themselves and Let Down Society
– A Blow-by-Blow Account of the Political Bubble: Pinning the Blame on Inflated Government
Here are some other notes that may be of use:
– The Fraud You Lent
– The Fraud We Can’t Afford
– A Smorgasbord of Fraud
One more that may be of some use, for somewhere other than the title:
– Washing Out the Mouths and Pockets of Politicians: Turning Political Bubbles into Soap Bubbles
Book title: Twisted Hearts, Decieved Minds
Kaleidoscope of Absurdities: The Nature of Government
P.S. The prize should include a copy of the book, autographed by the author…
Thought I’d just pipe in here. I don’t know who you want to sell the book to–everyone I assume, but I’d be afraid all the Obama supporters would be turned off by anything that purported the Fraud or Death of Idealism. The Obama supports I saw during and after the election were/ are all crazy (delusional) idealists. Seems to me they might think, “How negative! Idealism is alive and well.” In my mind they are exactly the folks who need to read about this subject matter the most. Maybe after Obama falls into disfavor your NEXT book should be entitled “The Death of Idealism.”
Smitty – you’re right. I’m happy to include an autographed copy of the book, but people have to realize that once I sign it, they won’t be able get a refund on it.
Jamie – thanks for the suggested rewording on the line.
The trouble with changing “waiting” to “working” is that it would tarnish the image I have long carefully nourished as a positive thinker.
My suggestion (in the context of the Emperor and his lack of clothes):
“Naked Politicians: This Could Get Dirty”
This may seem too literary, but I thought of “Mystery, Miracle, and Authority” which is a phrase used by Dostoevsky’s Grand Inquisitor from “The Brothers Karamazov” when he is describing to Christ the methods the church must use to keep the masses in line. Fits the alliteration criteria, partially.
Ray – that is a great construct. It does capture how politicians mesmerize the masses… I don’t know how many readers or editors would catch the Grand Inquisitor origin.
Meg – you make an excellent point on the Obama idealists.
The True Believers are not my target audience. I suspect there will be many people who were in the throes last year and early this year who will be painfully sobered up by this Fall.
I’m a great admirer of your work.
Title suggestion:
IDEALISM: TOOL FOR TYRANTS
In case my email got caught in a spam filter:
-Weaponized Democracy
-Weaponized Plutocracy
-Homicidal Brainiacs
-The Kraken and the Bureaucrat
-Frankenstein’s Handlers: How Bad Ideas Turn Deadly in the Hands of Politicians
-Strangers with Can-Do: The Poisonous Legacy of Omnipresent Government
something with ‘Idealists or Ideologues?’ though that likely doesn’t capture the cynical self-interested pragmatism involved
‘Exploiting idealism: How Politicians Con Citizens Into Submission’
Hi Jim
One more suggestion:
“The Power of Ideals and the Ideal of Power: how politicians con citizens into servility”
Sounds like an interesting book!
modifying my suggestion above…
Strangers with Can-Do: The Hazards of Hyperactive Government
I don’t know if you are still taking suggestions, but I just thought of a title…I don’t know if it is what you might be looking for though. “Bill of Rights…and Lefts”
the BLUE VULTURES
1) Democracy? Really?
2) All the King’s Pawns: Democracy at it’s worst
3)Demise of Democracy: What went wrong George Washington?
Lies of Idealists