During the 1980s American popular opinion was heavily influenced by the ideas of several highly-visible public figures whose views continue to command the respect and endorsement of millions. This book systematically exposes the distortions and misunderstandings that permeate four of these positions: the «metaphysical» speculations of Shirley MacLaine, the Rocky and Rambo films of Sylvester Stallone, the Nicaraguan policy of Ronald Reagan, and the electronic evangelism of Jim and Tammy Bakker. Through vigorous and sustained critiques, the author shows that all of them, though posturing as wise approaches to important problems, are so severely flawed as to constitute prime examples of shallow-minded thought.