World in Transition-America Death and Rebirth
World in Transition is a sincere and impassioned treatise about many of the ills plaguing American society and Dr. Theodore Preovolos’s insightful suggestions for solving them. Though his politics and opinions are mostly conservative, it would be a mistake to put him in a box. Preovolos is both refreshingly open-minded when it comes to certain subjects and oddly circumspect about others. His support of Jocelyn Elders, surgeon general for a time under President Clinton, is a case in point. She was fired for suggesting that masturbation be taught in public schools to reduce sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy—a position Preovolos hailed as practical, though politically incorrect. He also agrees with her stand that illicit drugs be decriminalized, and he writes extensively and skillfully on the subject of drug abuse. On the other hand, he is a military hawk and an isolationist who thinks most foreign aid should be stopped. He’d like to see the money used for education reform and drug addiction rehab, an unexpected progressive notion when matched against his other positions.
Preovolos writes with infectious patriotic enthusiasm. He believes America is in terrible shape and the list of things he thinks are wrong is long, well reasoned, and predictable. His suggestions for fixing education, reforming prisons, overhauling congress, and rectifying everything else are excellent and entertaining, albeit utopian at times. Throughout, he reminds the reader, “Obviously something has to be done, some satisfactory solution must be found that will benefit all society…We should not accept mediocrity, but seek the highest goals possible for the spiritual, intellectual, and economic point of view.” Preovolos is profoundly concerned about the present state of affairs and cares deeply about the future of the United States. His frustration is palpable and his patriotism is commendable.
Preovolos has nothing good to say about President Obama and the present state of the nation. He makes several sweeping generalizations that might strike certain readers as conspiratorial. For example, on the subject of swine flu, he writes, “Whether it was natural or genetically engineered is still uncertain, but it has all the potential to shut down travel, ration resources, and give a power drunk administration an excuse to clamp down on civil liberties.” Additionally, Preovolos professes his belief in several intriguing theories, the most unusual being that the Chinese have hacked into America’s grid for nefarious purposes.
The book has numerous misspellings, grammar issues, and questionable statistics. Other writers are quoted or referred to in a confusing manner, and the segues from reprinted articles back to the narrative falters on occasion. One might also get the sense that most of the book was written during the Clinton presidency and then edited recently, sometimes poorly.
World in Transition has many strengths and would be enjoyed by open-minded individuals who like to have their opinions challenged. Dr. Preovolos is a thoughtful and compassionate man who wants the best for his country, and this integrity shines through in every page.
Reviewed by
Patty Sutherland
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
