American Dreams

November 24, 2014
Rubio is a photogenic 43-year-old Cuban-American senator from Florida whose popularity has waned after surging among GOP loyalists in the 2012 election. His presidential ambitions remain, however, with one result being this brand-building campaign manifesto. True to the genre, Rubio sticks to well-worn themes unlikely to be controversial, such as tax reform. His plan for economic restoration starts with a disciplined work ethic. He highlights the importance of fiscal soundness, free enterprise, solid families, and demanding schools. He worries about teenage sex and young people who lack strong family guidance. For his many constructive ideas, Rubio deserves attention and even praise. One notable omission, though, is a clear position on immigration policy. His blue-sky promises of universal economic opportunity pale in the light of the winner-and-loser facts of the global economy, and his use of first-name-only stories involving prototypical Americans like “Joyce” and “Brad” is a contrived attempt to humanize the book’s issues. American Dreams offers little that will be new to anyone familiar with the literature produced by modern American politicians, and it’s unlikely to burnish Rubio’s reputation as a statesman.

November 15, 2014
Florida senator and conservative hero Rubio (An American Son, 2012) hits the hustings to proclaim a-surprise-right-wing economic platform.It's families that make us the best nation of all time. So what to do when, laments the author, we live in a time of "the easy acceptance of unwed motherhood and absent fathers, the 'just do it if it feels good' ethos"-and even gay marriage? If homosexuals are going to advocate for marriage equality, Rubio writes, then they're going to have to listen to the moralizing of those "who continue to support traditional marriage." Most of Rubio's social proscriptions and prescriptions are war-on-Christmas stuff, with the usual tropes: Americans are exceptional; government is bad; Ronald Reagan was a saint; if there's ever an issue that can be raised, it must be done against the background of all these tenets. Thus, for instance, the problem that faces retirees is not, say, the specter of outliving their money but instead the out-of-control government spending on such things as Social Security, Medicare and "Obamacare"-but not fighting undeclared wars half a world away. Some of Rubio's proposed reforms are mild enough to be palatable, like a slice of American cheese. He even notes, with a finger to the populist wind, that "in a time when corporate profits are reaching record highs and wages are stagnating," now might not be the best time to impose a flat tax or tinker with marginal rates. Ultimately, it never seems to occur to Rubio that his party's fiscal policies have contributed to some of the miseries he enumerates (student debt, for one) or that the other guys might have an idea or two worth discussing. Readers will know what's coming before they turn the first page-no better or worse than the average politico prose; as to the contents, all will depend on point of view.

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January 1, 2015

This wholly political polemic by Rubio (U.S. senator, R-Florida; An American Son) is in preparation for his possible presidential candidacy in 2016--it is neither to be read as a theoretical or philosophical treatise, nor is it to be considered as a historical work or detailed policy analysis. Rubio's intended audience is the American electorate. He seeks to define the major theme of his political agenda, which is to reinvigorate the American dream. A corollary to his major theme is to revive the sense among Americans that economic opportunity as a way to better their lives is still viable. Like many other books authored by national politicians, this one is written with the purpose of setting the author apart from his competitors. Rubio criticizes the agenda of the opposition in stark terms. He attempts to present fresh ideas within an old narrative framework in order to reverse the decline of the American dream. Rubio personalizes his points by mixing autobiographical elements of his family with stories of people's real-life experiences as case studies for the seven social, governmental, and economic issues that presently threaten Americans' ability to determine their own destinies. VERDICT This will appeal to readers who wish to get an idea of the vision for America of a potential presidential candidate. It will be a short time of interest, unless the author is elected.--Glen Edward Taul, Campbellsville Univ. Libs., KY

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2014
Born into a Cuban immigrant family, Rubio offers a firsthand account of the reality of American opportunity. He recalls a promise to his dying grandfather that he would take advantage of life in the U.S. to get an education and maximize his potential. Now a U.S. senator from Florida and frequently mentioned as a presidential prospect, Rubio laments the economic stagnation and Washington policies that have reduced opportunities available for middle-class and lower-income Americans to realize their dreams. Juxtaposing stories of Americans frustrated in their efforts for advancement by government regulation, Rubio lays out his vision for recovering the American dream. Rubio argues for an array of conservative policy ideas, including reduced regulations to foster innovation, support for policies that favor marriage, encouraging state government to take the lead on addressing issues of poverty and unemployment, making student loans more affordable by providing financing through private investment groups, and repeal of Obamacare. Readers can expect to hear these ideas on the next presidential campaign trail.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)