Buy it Now
PALO ALTO, California, May 16,2006 — J.E. Schwartz’s riveting debut novel, Doublethink—a satire about the repercussions of political expediency—is available for advance sale on http://www.raisethebar.com. Schwartz paints a picture of a serene, satisfied existence and then tears it apart, forcing readers to imagine the trappings of their own lives disappearing bit by bit.
The thought-provoking story follows Joe Winston, a successful corporate attorney enjoying a “divinely entitled” life in Silicon Valley in 2012. The conservative agenda has been implemented—minimal taxes, market-based government focused on national defense and homeland security, and faith-based social policies. When Joe loses his job to outsourcing and his considerable assets are frozen due to a questionable charitable donation, he abruptly faces the challenges that so many others around him are experiencing—few decent jobs, no economic safety net, and intrusive security practices resulting from the on-going War on Terror.
A committed, lifelong Republican, Joe’s mantra of personal accountability is severely tested as he finds that determination and drive cannot overcome all obstacles and poverty may not be a “lifestyle choice” after all. His teachers on his transformative journey include his gay son Daniel, other middle class people caught in the economic downturn, and a young homeless woman, Maria, and her six-year old nephew, Miguel. Maria helps Joe discover what he truly values and what risks he is willing to take for his country.
This respectful yet challenging look at current trends and inequities is aimed at individuals who want to see people of varied political perspectives speaking reasonably to each other again by illustrating their common concerns and humanity.
Reactions to Doublethink
"J.E. Schwartz is a story-teller as well as an astute political and social commentator. In this gripping tale of selfishness and greed, the author reminds us that redemption is always a possibility." —Edith Gelles Institute for Research on Women and Gender, Stanford University,Author of Portia: The World of Abigail Adams
“Doublethink presents a frightening and convincing scenario of how the world might look with a right wing philosophy taken to the extreme. The protaganist descends from his comfortable, sheltered world into the reality of a system tuned only for the wealthy. The story is believable, giving the reader shudders to consider that this might happen to me." —Donna Dubinsky,
CEO, Numenta Inc. and co-founder of Handspring and Palm
“As a conservative Republican who served at a Cabinet-level position within a Republican administration [at the state level], I found J.E. Schwartz's novel to be a most thoughtful reflection of an evolving political process within the greatest country in the world, America. Or is it?” —Nicci Kobritz, President, Youthful Aging Home Health Care
About the Author
J.E. Schwartz, who lives in Silicon Valley, is a patriotic American who believes responsible capitalism is the preferred economic system; sees great value in organized religion to encourage ethical behavior yet knows many honorable and moral folks who are atheists; and would love businesses and individuals to police themselves so government doesn’t have to step in to protect everyone else.
About Raise the Bar Press
Raise the Bar Press is a new publisher committed to using technology to bring fresh voices into the public domain through innovative word of mouth marketing techniques. Just as the landscape of music and film distribution is evolving, we wish to explore how alternative approaches can allow independent authors to complement the traditional book trade and contribute to the intelligent exchange of timely opinions and creative thought.
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DOUBLETHINK
A Tale of Unintended Consequences
ISBN: 0-9778911-0-0
Pages: 218
Format: Trade Paperback Original
Price: $14.95
Available at www.raisethebar.com
Media Contact:
Wanda Cavanaugh
Windward Communications
Tel: 650.851.0880
650.851.6880 (fax)
Wanda@windwardpr.com