E-Mail This Article to a Friend BOOK VALUE Santorum joins the literati BY ADAM REILLY

Every ambitious politician writes a book these days, and Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania) is no exception. It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good, Santorum’s political treatise–cum–Hilary Clinton smackdown, hit stores this week — on July 4, no less!

According to a description from the book’s publisher, the little-known Intercollegiate Studies Institute, It Takes a Family is a thoughtful political tract that uses sociologist Robert Putnam’s concept of social capital to "explor[e] in detail various dimensions of social and cultural connection that are the foundation of the common good" and "presen[t] innovative policy proposals for the renewal of American society at all levels." While early reviews on Amazon.com (posted July 4 and 5) have been enthusiastic, they may not be exactly what Santorum has in mind.

Praise for It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good

As a now formerly gay man, thanks to this truly enlightening book, I now realize the great error of my ways — Big Gay Al "Fabulous" (40 out of 45 people found this review helpful)

... After reading It Takes a Family I made my wife quit her job. We’re now working on having our third child. Hopefully things will get better though, because we can’t afford to eat too much these days. A meal usually consists of what we call "ketchup sandwiches." But, I must say I’m truly enlightened and this outweighs the hunger in my stomach and the fear of not being able to pay the mortgage. Mr. Santorum, you’re a true American hero. — B. Valachovic (19 of 21 people found this review helpful)

I especially like the part where he compares abortion to slavery ... I mean, a slaveowner could kill his own slave if the slave got ornery, or ran away, but if a slaveowner killed another slaveowner’s slave, he had to pay a considerable fine for destruction of property. Really, slavery was just not as bad as all you liberals think it was. — Commie Atheist (4 of 5 people found this review helpful)

... I only thought that I was gay, (I guess I thought that because even my very first memories include being attracted to other males), I can now choose to marry a woman, have children and UNTIL THE DAM BREAKS AND I GO BACK TO HAVING SEX WITH MEN BEHIND MY WIFE’S BACK, contribute something to America — unlike now (where I only have a 17 year-old stable, moderately successful business, pay taxes, hire people, and create other jobs) ... Thanks again Rick Santorum. — David Robinson (26 of 31 people found this review helpful)

Thank you Senator Santorum (God willing, one day, President Santorum) for showing me the light of my sinful ways. Imagine my surprise to discover how selfishly I’ve lived my life these last 8 years since turning 18 — educating myself at my parents’ expense, forcing my poor mother to find a "fulfilling" career outside the home to pay for my selfish need to become a lawyer, rather than a homemaker, which is the role I was born to fill ... — Betty Born Again (10 of 11 people found this review helpful)