Preserving America the book of author Steven Porter

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Pre-publication Reviews

Dr. Maureen Hallinan
William B. and Hazel P. White Professor of Sociology, University of Notre Dame
President: American Sociological Association; Advisory Council, U.S. Dept. of Ed.
Author of “The Social Context of Education”

"Preserving America presents a comprehensive view of major societal problems that are damaging our society and its citizens. Dr. Porter identifies ten areas where change is both needed and possible. While pointing out institutional weaknesses and pathologies in each of these areas, he offers hope that the American people will rise to his challenge to change. This fine book deserves to be in the library of all citizens who care enough about our country and its citizens to want to contribute to its growth and development as well as its status in our global society."

Dr. Louis Razzano
Associate Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs Emeritus: Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.

"I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It did an outstanding job in bringing issues that have occupied our attention into clearer and more meaningful focus. Not only did it identify the problems, but it offered solutions that are timely and practical. I was much impressed with Dr. Porter’s ability to get the attention of the reader by comparing situations occurring in America with those that have occurred elsewhere. By discussing aspects of family life in the United States with those of the Melanesians of the Trobriand Islands, for example, he clarified more clearly by comparison the practices that exist in our society.

I was particularly pleased with the section on education. If our country is to produce students who can think critically, analyze sensibly and synthesize effectively, it is imperative that the suggestions Dr. Porter makes be implemented.

I commend Dr. Porter for this much-needed book, which is brilliantly written. It should be supplemental and mandatory reading for courses in political science and sociology. With modifications for a textbook format, it would be an excellent text for those subjects. Outstanding."

Robert Cogan, Ph.D.
Edinboro University of PA
Professor Emeritus, Philosophy

"This book accurately singles out 10 of our nation's worst problems, offers psychological and sociological insights into their origins, and sets out statistical details of their dimensions. Each chapter concludes with a section of progressive recommendations on what can be done to ameliorate them. Porter does an excellent job at this. The book is admirably brief. I put random short passages into Flesch and Smog readability calculators. The reading levels calculated (for what these formulas are worth) confirmed my impression it would be appropriate for senior high school to freshman - sophomore college courses in problems of democracy, social philosophy, and sociology of American society."

Joseph F. Talarico, D.O.
Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

"Preserving America is a timely synopsis of the root causes of our ailing American democracy and the hazards inherent in permitting greed to drive social and economic policy. Unlike numerous authors who merely delineate society’s shortcomings, Dr. Porter’s work proposes workable solutions that, if pursued, would go a long way toward establishing a more benevolent and righteous America.

As a physician who, on a daily basis, encounters hard-working citizens who have been tragically left behind by “The greatest healthcare system in the world,” I personally found Dr. Porter’s description of our broken health care system and common-sense solution to be especially pertinent. It would be prudent for those who formulate public policy and all who strive for positive change in our democracy to read Preserving America".

Rudolph Mueller, M.D.
Author of “As Sick As It Gets”
Legislator, Chautauqua County, NY

"Preserving America is packed full of rock solid facts and good information that the general public and our elected officials need to know and fully understand for our nation to thrive well into the 21st Century. The author has intelligently researched numerous topics that affect all Americans and offers many sound and sometimes even 'out of the box' solutions that provide hope for our nation's future."

Rev. Francis T. McGourn, M.M., Ph.D.
Vicar General Emeritus and Vice President, Board of Directors, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
Dean and Professor Emeritus, School of Philosophy and Theology, Catholic University of Bolivia
Author of “Christianity and Culture”

"In PRESERVING AMERICA Steven Porter identifies ten areas in which he feels that the USA has lost its moral and democratic compass. His analyses go well beyond simple observation and are based on well-documented facts backed by substantial research from the social sciences. In his challenging analyses Porter not only presents the perspective of the nay-saying dissenter; he offers constructive criticism as well in his suggestions of what can be done to address the issues at hand. His suggestions are not naively presented as simplistic solutions; they are offered as areas in which we might readjust our thinking and open ourselves to a much more serious dialogue.

Porter’s essays have something of the ring of Michael Moore’s view of America but they are presented in a quieter, less flamboyant manner. This aura of calm may be less dramatic but it is perhaps more engaging for the reader. It would be nice if PRESERVING AMERICA turns out to be only the first in a series of ongoing reflections on how America can begin to recapture some of the lost treasures that once made our nation and our culture greater than what it has come to be today."

Max Azicri, Led., PhD.
Professor of Political Science
Edinboro University
Author of “Cuba Today and Tomorrow”

"This is an important book, an urgent wake-up call for all of us. The issues involved affect the present and future of the United States, and probably of the world at large. Facing these problems is central to the preservation of our way of life. We cannot ignore them any longer. Porter authors a book that demands our full attention. The issues are examined in chapters organized under a similar format: after rendering a historical account of how the problem developed, a set of possible remedies to correct them follows. However, rather than standing alone, the whole study is well-integrated. Conceptual categories discussed in early chapters, are applied again throughout the book. The end result is a study with thematic coherence and continuity.

Porter demonstrates repeatedly his commitment to the highest scholarly standards. He possesses a unique intellect capable of addressing diverse issues with high-quality research, and sound sources and data. The sections proposing potential courses of action are consistent with a well-calibrated, thoughtful analysis of the problems at hand.

This book is a must for policy-makers, journalists, students, educators, and the public at large. The reader will be pursuing an intellectual journey chartered by Porter, and in doing so, will be acknowledging that these problems have to be addressed. As Porter so eloquently tells us, our civilization might be in the balance."