A nearly $19 trillion debt. A 74,608-page tax code. An increase in global temperatures. A broken Social Security system. These are just some of the problems plaguing our nation. While politicians are quick to offer lip service, they are slow -- or non-existent -- with solutions. Americans are frustrated with the lack of leadership as evidenced by Congress' 10 percent approval rating. Now is the time for simple, bold changes that will alter the direction of this nation. Drawing on more than three decades of business experience, John Burke applies his tested problems-and-solutions approach and independent thinking to tackle the complex problems that America faces. In 12 Simple Solutions to Save America, Burke proposes concrete solutions to fix these issues and challenges Americans to resist the status quo and change what elected officials are unwilling or unable to change. Americans have a civic duty to make the tough decisions that improve the lives of citizens over the long-term. It can be done, but it will not happen by accident.

A powerful, honest, and inspiring tribute to the incredible life of Richard Burke, the founder of Trek Bicycle Corporation, written by his son John. Richard Burke, known to many as “The Big Guy,” was a legend. With his friend Bevil Hogg, he founded the Trek Bicycle Corporation in 1976 and then went on to establish the company as one of the leading bicycle companies in the world. He was a man who called his son, John, his best friend. Indeed, they did many great things together: ran the Boston Marathon, followed the Tour de France throughout France, and later ran Trek together. In March 2008, he passed away after complications of heart surgery. The Big Guy touched people’s lives in countless ways, and his passing was deeply emotional for many. Now John (current president of Trek Bicycle) has written a powerful tribute to the incredible life his father led and the ways in which he was an inspiring businessman, leader, and person. Taking readers deep into the history of Trek, John shares how his father taught, trained, and instilled in him the confidence and desire to be a leader. A portrait of a great man, the book culminates with John telling his father on his deathbed of their twenty greatest moments together. This is an intimate portrayal of a father-son relationship filled with poignant experiences and lessons on how to get the most out of life.

I am deeply concerned about the future of the United States. I believe our leaders have failed to adequately address many of the large problems we have as a country. I believe that as citizens, we are going to have the same leadership options in 2024 that we have had in past elections. We have a low-performance Government; our health-care system is almost twice as expensive as other Western countries and delivers the worst results when compared to those countries; our tax code is overly complicated, favoring the rich over everyone else; and we are $33 trillion in debt with no plan to pay for it. The list of significant issues that our leaders fail to address goes on and on. The United States used to lead the world as an example of good government. Those days are over, but they don't need to be. I am running for President because I think our country needs massive change.

National polling indicates that for the first time in American history, people believe their children will not be as well off as they are. The primary reason for this? The lack of performance by government. The public sector receives trillions of American taxpayer dollars every year and yet because of its seeming inability to run effectively, government is not delivering the level of service the people are paying for. In Saving America, Mark Aesch tells us where government -- at the local, state, and federal level -- is falling short and offers a coherent, non-partisan, Seven-Step plan for rebuilding our nation's public agencies. The book is not a political broadside or a theoretical academic tract; it's an accessible guidebook that helps local citizens, elected officials, and administrators make American government great again. The Seven Steps process will lead to measurable gains for organizations large and small, including school systems, municipal governments, entire states, and even the federal government itself.

Presents a plan for American cities that focuses on making downtowns walkable and less attractive to drivers through smart growth and sustainable design

The federal budget affects all of us, whether we know it or not. Monies spent by the government go into our education, our security, our military, and our bridges and roads. But who is accountable for the budget, and what happens if we don't agree where the money is going? The expert viewpoints in this informative anthology examine where our tax dollars go, whether citizens have a say in spending, and what it means when the deficit just keeps growing.

The secret to good government is a question no one in Washington is asking: “What’s the right thing to do?” What’s wrong in Washington is deeper than you think. Yes, there’s gridlock, polarization, and self-dealing. But hidden underneath is something bigger and more destructive. It’s a broken governing system. From that comes wasteful government, rising debt, failing schools, expensive health care, and economic hardship. Rules have replaced leadership in America. Bureaucracy, regulation, and outmoded law tie our hands and confine policy choices. Nobody asks, “What’s the right thing to do here?” Instead, they wonder, “What does the rule book say?” There’s a fatal flaw in America’s governing system—trying to decree correctness through rigid laws will never work. Public paralysis is the inevitable result of the steady accretion of detailed rules. America is now run by dead people—by political leaders from the past who enacted mandatory programs that churn ahead regardless of waste, irrelevance, or new priorities. America needs to radically simplify its operating system and give people—officials and citizens alike—the freedom to be practical. Rules can’t accomplish our goals. Only humans can get things done. In The Rule of Nobody Philip K. Howard argues for a return to the framers’ vision of public law—setting goals and boundaries, not dictating daily choices. This incendiary book explains how America went wrong and offers a guide for how to liberate human ingenuity to meet the challenges of this century.