| Thoughts on Dennis Prager
By Luke Ford
1-15-98
It was a cold and rainy night as I thrust myself through a heaving
throng to attend the Dennis Prager book signing.
Sprung erect out of nowhere, a huge pulsating crowd forced its
way into the steaming nether regions surrounding the sweaty intersection
of Westwood and Pico Boulevards. Thrusting, driving pushing its
way into the usually receptive Barnes and Noble book store, the
excited throng, now grown to five times its original size rammed
itself again and again and again into the quivering, perspiring
musty darkness, fluctuating between eager anticipation and trembling
revulsion.
Now suddenly the tumescent crowd and the irresistible Prager were
one heaving, alternately melting and thawing turgid entity, ascending
to heights heretofore inexperienced. Then with a gigantic, soul-searching
heart-stopping series of autograph eruptions, it was over. Afterwards,
the crowd had a cigarette and went home. (Adaptated from a Saturday
Night Live skit)
In other words, for two hours tonight, Dennis Prager autographed
copies of his latest book HAPPINESS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM at Barnes
and Noble on Pico Blvd in West Los Angeles.
I attended for two chief reasons: Being around Prager makes me
a finer person. I love to learn from his example. And two, I wanted
to see what type of people would show up. They were almost all over
30 years of age, and mainly male, which corresponds to my understanding
of Prager's primary audience. They were quiet and well behaved.
Dennis appeared happy as usual, sprawled on a chair behind a small
table, shaking hands, chatting amiably, laughing, and autographing
books with a favorite fountain pen. He wore a white dress shirt,
yellow tie, slacks and glasses. His hair is completely grey. He
looked like the picture of him on the inside jacket of his new book.
Incidentally, release of HAPPINESS was delayed by the initially
goofy cover which sported a big goofy picture of DP's smiling face.
The new cover is subdued - black and gold type on a white background.
The pic is relegated to the inside jacket.
Prager's latest book is brief and densely textured. He sums
up in a sentence what many of us would take paragraphs to explain.
Prager's son David stood nearby. Fifteen years of age, he attends
a modern orthodox Jewish day school. He wants to become a movie
director.
Over 6' tall with dimples like his dad, he attracted the attention
of several sighing, heaving females. "Oh, that's Dennis's son?
He's so cute..."
Prager's stressed-out blonde assistant Laurie Zimmett blew in and
out. She plans to work on Prager's web site tomorrow (www.dennisprager.com).
In person, Dennis tends to be jovial, smiling and goofy. He introduced
me as someone "who makes porn films." He wrote in my copy
of his book, "For Luke Ford, no comment but warm wishes..."
Now, what does that mean?
I suspect that he is gently pointing out that friends should
sometimes not 'comment' on each other in public. Or, as my friend
Chris points out, isn't "no comment" a phrase used
with unfriendly media?
1-18-97
I found the dust jacket on Prager's latest book, Happiness Is A
Serious Problem, to be a serious problem. It symbolizes what keeps Dennis
from reaching a wider audience with his values. Dennis doesn't "sell
well," and either doesn't get or doesn't take good advice in
packaging.
While the contents of his radio show far outshine all others, the
presentation of his program is fuzzy. Likewise with his personal
newsletter.
Around 1985, he started a quarterly journal of thought Ultimate
Issues. Charging stiff prices for his writings ($5-$8 per 16-page
issue) and lectures on tape ($10 each), he limited his audience
and unwittingly encouraged unauthorized copying, a form of theft.
He could've distributed his ideas much more effectively, such as
through fax or the internet. At the end of January 1998, <www.dennisprager.com>
is still "under construction."
As Prager is neither a skilled marketer nor businessman, he relies
on others in these areas and they've given him mediocre advice.
The dust jacket for Prager's excellent book on happiness exemplifies
this.
First, there are the obligatory blurbs - pats on the back from
friends, for whom the author must reciprocate. I do not sympathize,
for instance, with Prager's recommendations of the books of atheist
'Rabbi' Harold Kushner.
There are the old reliables here on the back of HAPPINESS - Harold
Kushner, Robert Jastrow and Stephen S. Marmer.
Then there is the indecipherable prose - such as Robert Jastrow's
blurb - "Dennis Prager understands more about the human mind
that science can tell us." What the hell does that mean? Does
that mean that science cannot tell us how much Dennis understands
the human mind, or that Prager understands the mind more than "science?"
Harold Kushner: "There is perhaps no more important task for
a person than the search for happiness, and no more reliable guide
in that quest than Dennis Prager." Huh? I can think of many
things more important for a person than seeking happiness: such
as the pursuit of goodness or depth. Now, Prager and his book are
wonderful, but is there "no more reliable guide?" What
about Torah or the Bible, or the Talmud, or The Path of the Righteous
or Man's Search For Meaning or some of humanity's other thinking
and thinkers over the past three thousand years?
This dust jacket feels like the cheap promotion of a used car salesman.
The short bio of Dennis exemplifies garbled writing. "Dennis
Prager is the author of four books, including the critically acclaimed
Think a Second Time and The Prager Perspective..." Excuse me,
but The Prager Perspective is not a book.
"...He has been called [Prager has been called many things]
"an amazingly gifted man and moralist" by the Los Angeles
Times and "one of the 10 most powerful people in Los Angeles"
by L.A.'s influential Buzz magazine." Well, someone at the
LA Times once wrote an article, and either called Prager.... or
quoted someone as calling Prager....blah, blah blah... And who thinks
of BUZZ magazine as influential? 'Yeah, Luke, I read the latest
issue of Buzz, and it transformed the way I see the world.'
"As a world-class lecturer and theologian, he is regularly
invited to speak throughout the United States and abroad."
Well, by definition, Prager as a "world-class lecturer,"
would be invited to speak across the US and abroad.
On the front flap, a heading screams: "Here's the Repair
Manual We Should Have Been Handed at Birth." If everyone were
handed Prager's book at birth, it would make little difference.
"For when the student is ready, the teacher will appear."
Our chief problem in this regard is not a lack of available wisdom,
but the will to pursue it. Also, most things that we are handed
at birth, so to speak, are taken for granted.
There are so many examples of poor writing on the jacket, that
I do not have the time to list more than a few:
* The sentence that begins "However..." The word "however"
means "yet" EXCEPT at the beginning of the sentence, when
it means "in whichever way," which is not the way the
word is used (misused) on this jacket.
* Then there are the sloppy phrases like "in order to be happy."
Why not just say, "To be happy?"
* Then there is the phrase "make you personally happy..."
Why do we need the word "personally?" We don't.
By contrast to the jacket, Dennis Prager's writing is the triumph
of substance over style. Through his use of the passive voice and
numerous modifiers, he violates many of the canons of good writing
in his pursuit of ideas. But it works.
Then there's the backcover of the paperback edition of his previous
book Think A Second Time: Doesn't anyone proof this stuff?
Do you think you have the answers?...Think
a second time.
Dennis Prager, theologian and philosopher
turned talk-show host, is one of the most brilliant and compelling
voices in America today. His extraordinarily popular radio show
with the signature sign-off, "Think a second time," coupled
with his own biweekly newsletter, has firmly established him
as a fixture in intellectual communities nationwide. In Think A Second
Time, Prager blends a rigorous and scholarly education with utterly
original thinking on current events. From the dangers of idealism
to the roots of extremism to his thoughts on God and an afterlife,
Prager offers challenging answers to up-to-the-minute questions...
Ok, Mr. PR Guy, do you think you have the answers? Think a second
time.
* If Prager's show is "extraordinarily popular," then
what would you call those of Dr. Laura and Rush Limbaugh? Extraordinarily,
extraordinarily, extraordinarily popular?
* "...one of the most..." A feeble formula.
* "...with the signature sign-off, "Think a second time..."
Prager has never had a signature sign-off.
* "...with his own biweekly newsletter..." Try bimonthly
(at best).
* "...a fixture in intellectual communities nationwide."
Like faucets?
* "...Prager blends a rigorous and scholarly education..."
Excuse me, are we talking about the guy who graduated high school
near the bottom of his class, then attended the prestigious Brooklyn
College, where he would've flunked Geology if the instructor wasn't
so eager to get rid of him?
* "...with utterly original thinking on current events."
Dennis often says that he is not an original thinker. He is a superb
synthesist.
* "up-to-the-minute-questions" Huh?
A friend writes to me:
Aha! You have discovered the pablum coating
and it tastes like nutrasweet. Congratulations on discernment!
The publishing industry and packaging "self
help books".
Dennis' star is on the rise. Whether he will
expand his market is a question. Will he be packaged enough? Get
picked up by a famous person? Will he learn to simplify and repeat
enough?
While "nice" bunkum is found in
flattering dedications...the adulation, meaningless public mumblings
and helful nods from famous "peers" and, in private, pats
on the back from devoted and sincere hangers-on and those who learn
everything from the teacher except discernment, are dangerous.
>I have decided to write a biography of
>Dennis Prager... I must be on the right >track because my
friends so passionately >oppose the idea... I do not know yet
what Prager thinks...
Ouch! What qualifications? Authorized or
unauthorized? The result is bound to be conflicted. Best to suffer
in silence and learn what fame and success does, not to Dennis,
but to discourse.
There are only two markets for celebrity
bios. Adulatory and uncritical. And debunking or heterodox. Your
friends are absolutely sure you can't do the first sufficiently
well.
I know exactly what you mean about the dustcover
and its absurd quotes. All my cynic alarms turn red and clang with
klaxon cruelty. Covering my screaming ears I flee to the wilderness
hermitage.
1-19-98
My friends despise my plan to chronicle the life and
thought of Dennis Prager. Perhaps my best friend Chris Donald writes
sarcastically on the email Prager List:
In a message dated 1/19/98 8:05:46 AM, Luke
wrote:
>I found the dust jacket on Prager's latest
book, Happiness Is A Serious Problem, to be a serious problem.
>First, there are the obligatory blurbs
I think Dennis stinks. I think his book-jacket
stinks. So do his boring old friends that still somehow like him
and his work after all these years. And his pets, too. Also his
distant relatives and his postperson TOTALLY suck.
In addition, Dennis is old and tired. So
is his show. And his car. And his ties. Come to think of it, he
just bums me out completely.
I believe this so much so that I plan to
devote some good portion of my adult life to tearing him down further,
perhaps by writing an unwanted book about him. And about his books.
Yes. And his tie. Well, maybe not the tie so much....but those socks
he sometimes wears ARE hideous. I'm definitely including a chapter
on them.
I hope people will want to read my book half
as much as they want to read HIS.
But then why wouldn't they? MINE will definitely
have a snazzy dust-jacket!
John writes: "Any type of recognition or reply to Mr. Luzdedos'
writings only serves to encourage him to write additional rantings.
In fact, just this response alone probably brings about a shifty,
pornographic smile to his face."
Dennis Prager's show on KABC opened with a practical joke
by Brian Rumbah (sp?), the show's engineer - a theme of driving
hard rock music. Prager cracked up.
Then Dennis invited his audience to "ruminate" with him
about Martin Luther King Day (MLKD). Has it become a black holiday?
Prager thought so. He mentioned how President Clinton observed
the day by visiting a black school. So has MLKD become the equivalent
of Xmas for Christians and Chanukkah for Jews? You honor the Christian
holiday by visiting a Christian school, MLKD by visiting a black
school, etc...
I attended Placer School with Eric Schulzke, who last I knew, served
as press secretary to conservative Northern California Congressman
John Doolittle. During the 1983 school year, Eric caused controversy
by questioning in the school newspaper whether we should have a
MLKD as King mainly devoted his life to the rights of one group,
as opposed to the nation.
Prager asked if MLK has become a prism through which Americans
see issues of color.
Dennis then fielded a powerful first call from a man who said King
was not worthy of such national celebration. The caller said that
MLKD was a black holiday. The caller questioned King's character,
noting his numerous affairs and his extensive plagiarism (in King's
Ph.D. thesis).
Prager has questioned in the past if King was a leftist. The late
communist Michael Harrington, who spent hours chatting with Kng,
says he was. MLK chose to not reveal his leftism publicly to avoid
taking away from his campaign for black equality.
After a commercial break, Dennis took another challenging call
over his practice of affirmative action in his private life. Dennis
says that if he had to choose between two equally qualified potential
employees, he'd probably choose the black. The caller then reminded
Dennis of his stand that race doesn't matter. DP replied that he
didn't live in theory. Frustrated with the caller, Prager cut him
off after a couple of minutes and moved on.
Near the end of the first hour, Prager made one of his many dubious
assertions: That the private lives of public figures do not
interest him.
On other occasions, Dennis has more accurately explained that while
he does at times feel interest in the private lives of public figures
(i.e. Marv Albert), he believes that public discussion of these
intimate matters reduces us.
Prager says that we generally should not consider a politician's
sex life, when deciding on how to vote.
Prager's assertion of no interest in the private lives of public
figures does not ring true as do such other questionable statements
by Dennis such as:
* I always give the caller the last word.
* I have never encountered antisemitism or heard someone in
my personal life use the word "nigger."
* I never hang up on callers.
* I don't understand how people can believe X, Y or Z...
At times, Prager confuses what he believes is right for what is
true. For instance, while Prager bends over backwards to take opposing
opinions, and he gives them twice as much time, he does not always
give callers the last word. As a slogan, "I always give the
caller the last word," is admirable. As a statement of truth,
it is false. Talk radio does not permit Dennis such luxuries (as
always giving the caller the last word).
1-21
My friend writes about me on the Prager List.
I need to make a statement.
This forum is one designed to promote the
free expressions of ideas, specifically in a debative fashion. While
that "rule" has been unwritten, it is clear. This forum
was created in honor of the clarity of thinking and elevated topics
DP is well known for, and we've expected each other to try to maintain
that tradition.
In a large measure thanks to our efforts
in that direction, DP himself occassionally monitors this site.
I am proud that he feels we warrant this attention. I happen to
know that he is an EXTREMELY busy man with little time to read his
own mail, let alone our intellectual bickerings.
Over recent months there have been series
of posts that have been of a profoundly inappropriate nature. One
author in particular has taken it upon himself to transform this
list (when he can) into a personal advertisment for his porno web
site and a clearinghouse for "porno" discussions and information.
This has apparently not proven exciting enough
to satisfy the need to offend any longer- the responses perhaps
too few and not negative enough - and so this author has decided
now to dissect Dennis and his work, heaping insult after dress-down
(with the occassional accalade presumably for "balance").
He has taken it upon himself to serve as DP's self appointed "critic
journalist at large".
I find this innappropriate, irresponsible
and ugly.
We live in a free country. That freedom includes
the ability to write, as well as the ability to discriminate between
the profane and the valuable.
I ask here that members avoid any voyeuristic
impulses to read droning criticism and unsubstantiated claims about
Dennis here draped in "bio" auspices (from a source as
"credible" as a serial porn and attack poster), and simply
delete these posts whenever you find them in your mailbox.
If you are not already doing so.
Sharon from Beaumont added:
Thanks Chris. Your suggestion to simply delete mail from jerks
is well-taken. In particular, out of curiosity I read the beginning
couple of paragraphs of that supposed "bio". In the first
few paragraphs I noted several blatant errors (the one coming to
mind immediately was that KABC was DP's first radio program). Then
I looked at the who the writer was and said to myself, "Oh,
no wonder!"
I have learned something though, from the writings of such people.
For what it's worth, the little signature dittie I use at the end
of email is something I concluded because of such "attacks".
The thing of it is that it's the writer who looks jerkier and jerkier
with every thinly guised "attack."
Thanks again!
Sharon from Beaumont
+ Those who can, do.
+ Those who can't,
+ nitpick and whine,
+ moan and groan,
+ and generally make themselves
+ pains in the tooshes
+ to those that do.
I responded a few minutes later:
Sharon and Chris, this Luke Ford aka Luzdedos
guy is an absolute jerk. You are so right. He is a disgrace to the
Prager list. Surely the owner of this list can kick him off it?
I've known Luke for 31 years. He is hateful,
vituperative, self-centered, vicious, mean, sadistic, masochistic,
insecure, skinny, unhealthy, self-centered, whiny, gossipy, ugly,
uncircumsized, self-centered, obnoxious, rude, uncouth, self-centered...
He's so vain, he probably thinks this post
is about him.
All good people, all those who care about
Dennis Prager and the values he espouses should not visit the following
site which does nothing but dish the dirt on a good man.
http://members.aol.com/luzdedos/index20.html
Amen.
BTW, can't we put this schmuck in "cherem?"
[excommunication]
1-22
Let's talk seriously now. I posted
this to the Prager List:
I believe that Dennis Prager is the greatest thinker on the human
condition of the late 20th Century. I decided to create a web page
dedicated to discussing Prager precisely because I believe that
he is important.
Dennis changed my life for the good, and I've been profoundly influenced
by his thinking over the past decade. For years while I was confined
to bed by chronic illness, I dreamed of writing his biography. I
dreamed of fighting for his values.
I met Dennis for the first time in January 1994, after years of
correspondence. He told me that weekend, "If anything happens
to me, you've got to carry on the fight… In a sense, I could
die happy now that I've met you."
Since recovering my health in 1994, I've allowed the opinions of
others to dissuade me from the important task of taking his values
to the world. For some reason, I have always felt blocked from discussing
deeply Prager's ideas and values. Three years ago I plannd to set
up something similar to this web site but allowed a friend of mine
and Prager's to dissuade me. So instead I've written on entertainment.
One night in December 1997, I decided to write out some of
my frustrations with Prager's radio show. After ten minutes, I sent
them across this list under the headline "Is Prager's Show
in Decline?"
Many of my friends and Prager's closest supporters were furious
that I had criticized 'the master' in public. They verged on excommunicating
me from their community.
For several weeks I pondered the furor until I finally saw clearly
that something was very wrong. In blunt terms, Prager is surrounded
by sycophancy.
To counter this, and provide sharp incisive analysis of Dennis
Prager's public decisions, shows, writings, ideas, etc… I am
setting up <www.dennisprager.net.>
Unfortunately, many of those most devoted to Prager are not open
to critical independent thinking. The idea of a forum out of their
control frightens them. I am sorry, but the web site will go on,
even if I have to leave many of my friends and Prager's closest
supporters behind (for the moment). Good values and the pursuit
of truth are more important than popularity. Excellence does not
come from following the crowd.
As Dennis often says, nobody likes competition. But competition
best produces excellence.
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