Description:
Ever since the 1965 publication of Unsafe at Any Speed, a groundbreaking critique of the automobile industry, Ralph Nader's career as a public citizen and crusader has centered on three themes: public safety, the power of business, and the responsibility of government. Determined to force corporations to be responsible for dangerous and defective products, and committed to making government agencies accountable to the public, Nader has created over 50 influential organizations and is widely credited with providing momentum for the passage of auto safety and antismoking legislation. In his first bid for the presidency in 1996, Nader received close to 700,000 votes. Based on interviews with Nader, his family, colleagues, and friends, Ralph Nader: Battling for Democracy provides a short, effective summary of Nader's life and work, from his childhood to his 2000 presidential campaign. Readers should note that this book is targeted at audiences ages 10 and up and reads much like a young persons' primer on "the father of the modern consumer movement." Consequently, some adult readers may consider the language a bit simple and the treatment of Nader and his politics lacking in depth. Nevertheless, fans of the fiercely private advocate will probably enjoy numerous family stories and childhood anecdotes, while those less familiar with Nader's history will find an uncomplicated introduction to his efforts to protect citizens' rights and to improve the American democracy. --Svenja Soldovieri
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