No one would dispute that the automobile has been a world-changing invention. Economist, lawyer, actor, and writer Ben Stein argues that the car “transforms you from a mortal to a god” in this October 2014 article in American Spectator.
Read it here: Stein, “I love cars—the greatest invention of mankind”
- It is hard to doubt that Stein sincerely and enthusiastically adores his subject: cars. But while it’s certainly true that automobiles have transformed human life and society, not all of Stein’s claims are completely true. Which claims may be overstated? Why? Provide evidence to support your ideas.
- The term “banana republic” is more than just the name of a clothing chain. If you’re not familiar with the original meaning of the term, look it up, and then think about how Stein uses it. What does he mean when he says that cars are the “round, juicy bananas” of banana republic America? Do you agree with his suggestion that the U.S. is a banana republic? Why or why not?
- Stein presents his experiences and anecdotes in a way that suggests that they are universal, shared by everyone. Why might Stein have chosen such a rhetorical strategy? What are the implications of that strategy?
- For Stein, it’s the car. Others may claim that the greatest invention is the printing press, the pencil eraser, or the programmable coffee maker. What do you think? What is the humankind’s greatest invention? Write an essay arguing for your choice, using personal experience, world knowledge, and anecdotes as evidence. You may want to cite Stein as your They Say.
They Say I Blog 
In “I love cars-the greatest invention of mankind” Ben Stein describes his adoration for cars. Stein writes how cars have made a profound impact on not only his life but society as a whole. He states that cars allow humans to take on qualities of gods. Stein also believes in the healing powers of cars. To Stein, cars offer a safe haven from the pressures of daily life. He also mentions that cars provide others with a glimpse into the person you are. Ultimately, Stein wholeheartedly believes that cars are truly the greatest aspect of life.
Although I agree with Stein up to a point, I cannot accept his assumption that cars are the greatest invention of mankind. I do like cars and while I am very grateful for my car, after being on campus for almost two months I have to disagree. Originally I thought being without a car would be difficult, but I have realized that my phone and my computer are much more important. Stein does make a good point about the incredible things cars allow humans to do, but the doors of communication that phones have opened, seem much more impressive to me. In the current point of my life, a car would not be a necessity.
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In “I love cars-the greatest invention of mankind” Ben Stein describes his adoration for cars. Stein writes how cars have made a profound impact on not only his life but society as a whole. He states that cars allow humans to take on qualities of gods. Stein also believes in the healing powers of cars. To Stein, cars offer a safe haven from the pressures of daily life. He also mentions that cars provide others with a glimpse into the person you are. Ultimately, Stein wholeheartedly believes that cars are truly the greatest aspect of life.
Although I agree with Stein up to a point, I cannot accept his assumption that cars are the most important historical invention. I do like cars and while I am very grateful for my car, after being on campus for almost two months I have to disagree. Originally I thought being without a car would be difficult, but I have realized that my phone and my computer are much more important. Stein does make a good point about the incredible things cars allow humans to do, but the doors of communication that phones have opened, seem much more impressive to me. In the current point of my life, a car would not be a necessity.
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“I love cars-the greatest invention of mankind”, Ben Stein provides numerous funny experiences with his cars. He is a very well known public figure and has worked for/with many very large and successful companies. According to Stein cars and trucks are the greatest things ever. I don’t fully agree with him but I don’t disagree. They are very handy if you think about how much time they do save us but they can also be a pain.
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The opinion of cars being the greatest invention is somewhat irrelevant because there can’t be a grading scale in which all inventions were graded on. While motorized vehicles have revolutionized the lives of many across first world countries, other inventions such as a filtered water well have changes the lives of many people across the entire world. I cannot relate entirely to the poverish lives that people live in the third world countries where a simple water well creates the same joy that isn’t even achieved by middle class American families spending hundreds of dollars at an amusement park. However, Stein does make a good point by saying that the cars revolutionized the modern lifestyle, but the effectiveness of the invention varies from person to person. A person attending a college and spending the majority of time on campus or near campus would probably say that a car has less of an impact than a farmer who farms land 15 miles from home. In the same sense, a cell phone has a larger impact on an office employee working in the heart of New York city than a homesteader working in Alaska. Overall the effectiveness and importance of inventions change from person to person, and it’s all a matter of opinion.
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BLARGH
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Megan makes a great point here in stating that cars are not the greatest invention of mankind. Although Ben Stein in his article, “I Love Cars-The Greatest Invention of Mankind,” states that nothing is better and humans were useless without them. As Megan points out she agrees with Stein to an extent and I agree with her on this. Cars are not the greatest invention of mankind. To begin there are quicker methods of transportation rather than a car for example trains and planes. They are even cheaper ways to get around. As Megan points out being a college student shows you this. I get around on my pedal bike everyday and I do just fine. Also, stating that it is the best of all mankind is a bold statement. There are medical advances and technological advances I believe to be better. Megan points out how her phone and computer are much more important to here, and I agree with this statement completely. Although, the car is a great invention it is not the greatest invention of all time, sorry Ford.
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I’d also have to disagree with Stein. I think communication is far more important than travel. I would agree that without cars it would certainly be a struggle having to get from point A to B, but without phones and computers this generation can’t simply do without either of them. Personally both computers and phones are the greatest inventions. Just imagine how long it would take to send a message, when it would just take us seconds through an e-mail or text message.
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Stein is a highly entertaining personality, an interesting blend of great intelligence mixed with a unique delivery. His article is obviously written tongue in cheek here but on its own level does have merit. One as intelligent as Stein couldn’t possibly think that cars are as great an human invention as simple machines such as the lever and wheel, or the life saving breakthrough of vaccines, but the car through the 1900’s and specifically the combustion engine that drives them has been the greatest advance of the last century. Cars, and trucks, as Stein likes to add, are the pinnacle of the industrial revolution reaching maturity. Factories, machines, logistics, commerce, and on and on are all the result of the development of the car. The age of technology and computing and the vast world connections and access to knowledge happening today are going to make the development of the car look so trivial in a few short generations. But for Stein and for his generation, as well as myself, a self described “car guy”, the automobile can encompass all the amazing advancements of the last hundred years in a neat little package of metal and glass, composed of amazing modern complexity and human achievement. And it makes us feel “cool” at the same time.
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I agree with all of the comments above. I think that cars are needed in this world and are very helpful in todays society. I believe that cars help people not only get around but they also help when it is time to interact with others and also helps with getting to work. I also agree with the fact that cars are not the greatest invention either. Like Taylor, communication is key in todays world and slightly more important than cars but if you think about it, sometimes traveling is what helps get people to communicate like by going to parties, etc.
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Megan and Patrick make great points when they state that cars are not the greatest invention of mankind and that there are many other important inventions. Along with Megan and Patrick, I also only agree with Stein to a point. While cars are very important and changed mankind, things like the cell phones, the internet, and advances in medicine can be argued to be even more important. Along with that, as Patrick stated, transportation has been improved from cars to planes and trains that are cheaper, faster, and safer. While cars are a very important invention that changed the world, I do not think that Stein can say that they are the greatest invention of mankind. Cars are just another major technological advance of the many that mankind has made.
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Although the car is a great invention, a car does not turn you into a Greek god. first off, if you are in a car going over 100 mph and you get into a wreck you are most likely going to die. A car does not make you immortal. One point we do agree on is that the type of car you have can define your image. This sounds cheap but if people see you on the streets with a nice car they are going to automatically assume that you are wealthy even though you could be struggling financially. Yes, a car is a helpful invention but our group thinks that inventions that help you communicate are more important. similar to other comments, communication can connect you to other people faster and better than cars can.
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It can be agreed that cars benefit us on many aspects. Cars allow us to do many things that we were not able to do in the past. A phone, a computer, and a tv are luxury items. Without a car we would be stuck. It gives us job and education opportunities. Cars allow us to advance as people. Cars are almost essential to our everyday lives. On the other hand cars do just as much damage as they do good. They pollute and harm the environment but technology is advancing and is creating Eco-friendly cars. It’s hard to argue that a car is the “greatest invention”, all of the technology has helped us get to where we are today.
Group One
English 104-518
Dr. Harris
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Stein emphasizes the massive influence cars have had on the world. It has helped to advance society, and has sped up everything in our world. While we all agree that cars have been beneficial to the advancement in society, we disagree that cars are the greatest invention ever. While it is impossible to say for sure what the greatest invention ever actually is, we would agree more with Taylor, that communication has advanced society more than anything. Without communication, society would be unable to function at all. No other advances would be able to be made without communication. Something as complicated as the development of a car would not be possible without the ability to share ideas and knowledge with others. Communication is always advancing. What began with basic language, has evolved into instant communication with others thousands of miles away through computers, phones, and the internet.
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Amanda has a great point in that although cars are a huge advancement they can not be graded on the same scale as all inventions due to the fact that each invention was created to suite specific needs. While it can be agreed that cars are a great invention in terms of transportation cars can not be compared to advancements in communication and medical technology. For instance the significance of a car greatly differs from that of the invention of vaccinations against often deadly diseases. The importance of cars also has to due with ones culture and lifestyle. For instance in Europe the use of cars in some areas is insignificant due to transportation via subway or bus. However, in America cars take on a greater significance due to the greater distance between cities. Therefore while Stein does have a point in saying that cars are great invention it can not be said that they are the greatest invention of all.
English 104 Section 520
Group 1
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I think that Megan makes a great point. While I appreciate having a car to drive and I acknowledge that it makes aspects of life much easier, I don’t agree with Ben Stein that it is mankind’s greatest invention. As Megan points out, being a college student gives you a new perspective on the necessity of cars compared to other inventions, including cell phones and laptops. However, I don’t think I would consider any electronic to be the greatest invention. While they certainly make life more convenient, I find inventions such as vaccinations, and other advancements that promote the betterment of society more extraordinary. I don’t know if I could pinpoint a particular invention as mankind’s greatest, but, if I did, it wouldn’t be the car.
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Collin makes a great point that cars are just another form of technological advance. I agree with this and the fact that transportation is not everything. Also, while they are a great invention, they surely are not the greatest invention of mankind. It is not fair for Stein to state that comment with greater things in the world created like different ways of communication and ways to prevent and cure some illnesses.
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Amanda, in the previous comments, states that “the opinion of cars being the greatest invention is somewhat irrelevant because there can’t be a grading scale in which all inventions were graded on.” What makes a great invention is relative to one’s life and as great as transportation is, there are also many negatives involved with cars too. Cars are a major reason for carbon emissions and feed into society’s consumerism. It was also interesting that Stein used his cars as a confidence-builder by being able to pick up women.
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I agree with Megan Hill up to a point. She disagrees with Stein on the car being the most important invention, and then states that to her the most important invention is her phone/computer. In general, the cell phone has been slated with the title of “world’s greatest invention,” but this does not allow me to completely disagree with Stein. To me, my car and my phone have allowed me to make great strides in my work, but I believe Stein was trying to make a statement about what invention has done the most for him, as opposed to making a general statement of what the world’s greatest invention is. Yes, he might say that cars allow people (as a whole) to have god-like capabilities, but I interpret this as him mistakenly generalizing when he really just meant that he feels it gives him (as an individual) god-like capabilities, as he might imagine could feel the same way.
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In the article “I Love Cars – The Greatest Invention Of Mankind”, the author Ben Stein argues that the most important invention in the history of man was the motor vehicle. Stein starts his argument by discussing how slow traveling was before the car was created. Stein then argues that when the car was invented, man was changed forever because of all the new possibilities with travel being so much faster. Stein also brings up the point that with the car, we are immune from the natural elements.
I agree with Stein’s argument that the greatest invention in the history of mankind is the car. When I read this article, I started thinking of other big inventions that changed our society throughout the years. But when I thought about other big inventions, like the Internet, I realized that cars were involved in creating a lot of them. Cars are such a big part of our society, and without them we would still be living in centralized cities without suburbs. Cars have been around since I was born, and I honestly can’t imagine a world without them.
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I do agree with Ethan that cars are one of the most important inventions of all time. They facilitate faster travel and freedom to travel where one wants. I do not think it is the most important invention though. I believe this for two reasons. First of all many inventions went into the car that changed the world. Two of these can be argued are as important or even more important than the car. The wheel is important in many different types of transportation that could step up if the car was never invented such as trains and bicycles. The second invention that could be more important that is involved in cars is the harnessing of electricity. Electricity powers all things we do now and the harnessing of it, like the car battery, is arguably the most important event in human history. The second reason I feel that cars are not the most important invention is that there were and still are other forms of transportation. Bicycles, trains and planes all exist and could be used if cars never existed. If it is argued that something is the greatest and thus most important invention in history then it must be something that without it our lives would have to change dramatically. There are plenty of other modes of transportation that could come about without cars or fill the gaps left by cars without a significant change in our lifestyles.
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Stein had me really thinking in this article, I love cars too. In no way did I think of cars as transforming us into gods. Protecting us from all the elements outside that we wouldn’t be able to survive in. Stein makes valid points but it feels more of a true obsession that is really making the reader not focus on anything else that has made a huge impact to society. Stein mentions the internet, I consider that the most important invention, you can connect with people, look up anything you want and since were on the topic of cars, look up car values and different types of cars and compare them.
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In this article, Ben stein’s claim “And buying a car has gotten to be so easy. No more guessing at the price. No more haggling. No more going back and forth between dealers beating them down to a lower price. You look up the price online and that’s the price”, is extremely overrated because depending on the dealer, most of the time they post certain prices of cars online to gain your interest and to get you to come visit their dealership. For example, one of my friends found car online that she was interested in and found the price to be reasonable. But when she went down to the dealer they claimed that wasn’t the right price and were asking more money for the car then it was worth.
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In this piece, Stein gives a lot of credit to cars and what they can provide for people. No where does he mention all of the surrounding innovations that only worked their way into the automotive industry after being applied elsewhere. Look at the air conditioning Stein refers to as “immunity from the elements” even though air conditioning was available in homes long before it was available in cars. I feel that although his points may be valid, they aren’t being presented accurately.
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I was up last night, another one of those insomniac attacks and while I was waiting for the early a.m. news to come on I was watching about the history of Daytona Beach’s land speed races held in the 1920’s and 30’s. After the show w2as over and no news I turned homework and read Mr. Ben Stein’s report about cars. Two things hit me; one is that Mr. Stein would have loved the segment I had just finished watching on PBS and how it drifted in the end to Mr. France, the father of modern NASCAR, and two, WOW, this article of Mr. Stein’s got me to thinking of my first car, the first ride down Daytona with that first girl, and how I would be eternally grateful for having been born in the time of cars. As Mr. Stein said, “no more moving like insects, slowly, that cars had made all the difference in human life.”
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I agree with stein but I also disagree. I disagree that cars are the greatest invention to mankind because in my opinion the cellphone and internet is the greatest invention. I look around everywhere I go and all I see is people looking at their phones. Our society revolves around it. We could honestly live without a car and just buy a bike or ride a bus to work or school. Especially with the gas prices being so high, driving my car I spend at least 160 a month on gas. Having a car is a great benefit because its a fast transportation and like Stein said you wont get wet, it might be to cold outside and you wont be affected by the weather much if you are in a car. I love my car just like Stein does but just owning it costs alot of money a month or even a year just to make payments, maintain the car and what not.
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I believe the car brought a lot of opportunity to the world we live into today, for instance we have the opportunity to really go anywhere we choose to and don’t have to walk in the bad weather or for instance the article said if you went somewhere back in the day on horse and it was raining or snowing you either got soaked or sick. could anyone imagine having to go to work a hour away everyday on horse and not get sick without a car probably not. I love cars personally the noise the greatness of not having to get out of the car in the cold, something that was designed to be a a to b vehicle to make it easier on humans really open the door to be truly successful and not having to worry from the colors to the air to the heat cars have came a long way I mean most people growing up probably wouldn’t of ever imagined having a TV for their kids to watch in moms old mini van , lets not forget the power of vehicles from before to know I mean who could of possibly imagined going a quarter mile in under 7 seconds or are daily drivers across the states in a few days.So maybe Ben Stein has a point, the car maybe the greatest invention of all time and if that’s not good enough the car industry has given millions of people jobs over the years from our back yard mechanics to all the designers and engineers we have today.
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The automobile is a amazing thing. The technology that goes into one is a feat in itself. Ben says that without the car we would be useless beings. I entirely disagree we have never been useless but we would never come close to the efficency we have with them. Cars transformed our world into one of concrete. More important than the car is the affordable one. Cars were incredibly expensive at there birth. Not until the making of the assembly line did cars finally become affordable.
If humans never invented cars 25 to 50 percent of are day would be spent walking to and fro. All that walking though would create a shortage of obesity in the world. Cars are a thing of beauty, a sign of wealth, and a peace of technology. Cars have caused so many advancments in technology. Compact radio for example and disk brakes. Cars are here to stay without them we would be lost in our world with no way to get home.
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1-First of all Stein has kind of a very nerdy and outgoing personality. I don’t believe having a car turns you into a Greek god or immortal. and I disagree when he says cars help you get women and decide your future. for example if you go to a job interview, they’re not going to ask you what kind of car do you drive and what year and model its made in.I do agree that cars are the greatest invention of mankind.
2-Yes I agree with stein’s statement that the U.S. is a banana republic, because we all rely on our car to get us places if not then we have to get a taxi or bus. when he refers to the cars as big round juicy banana..in my opinion I think his referring to the cars looking so nice and everybody wants the try the nice ones. I agree with his suggestion that the U.S is a banana republic. everybody wants to have the nicest cars now a days, even if your not stabled or have a good job, most people want the nicest and coolest cars.
3-his strategy is based on what he has noticed and seeing with his own eyes. for example when he had a ugly car, he didn’t get near as many girls as he did when he bought his new Mercedes. I believe he also chose this strategies in a way to persuade people to get new and shiny cars to feel better about themselves and their future.
4- for me the greatest invention in this country/world I would say is the airplane. without the airplane, I probably wouldn’t be here right now, and it would e difficult to travel by a boat and a lot more dangerous also. a lot of people would e using the dangerous ocean if it wasn’t for the invention of planes. Although the sky is dangerous too, but being in the air for me would be safer as suppose to being on a boat in the middle of an ocean deeper than Jesus knows. Also waves hitting your ship while traveling are really dangerous and scary to most. I’m sure most would agree with me that planes are the greatest inventions.
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1) I believe he overrated the saying “You can get more sex with a cool car. I don’t think all women look at a man’s car because that is not the most important thing about a man. He also overrates the necessity of a car like it can get you to this place without being cold or hot. It is a great invention but there are people who can live without a car. For example, the man who would walk about 2 hours to work and back in the cold winters, hot summers, and in the rain.
2)Yes I agree with him, because car are being imported to the United States from foreign countries.
3)It catches a readers’ attention with all his rhetorical strategies. His implications are that everyone should have a car because they are the best thing that has ever happened in this world.
4) I believe the internet has been the best invention yet, because it helps people stay connected with families over social media, families don’t have to wait months to receive a letter in the mail, instead they could receive it through e-mail, students don’t have to refer back alot to books since they could just look it up on the internet. The internet has brought a lot of positives reasons to believe it was the greatest creation.
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His claim that cars are the greatest invention to ever happen to us is very overstated. Yes, he makes good point that indicate in today’s world they are a very vital aspect, but there are more important things. I mean there are people who do not even own a license and get along just fine without it. Such as people who own a bus pass, travel through subway/train, ride bikes,or even choose to walk everywhere they go. 2. He’s saying that if America were a small politically unstable country,whose economy is largely dependent on exploring a limited resource product, is that the car would be the product our country depends on. I do not agree with this because there are more important things in this world than cars. 3. To try and persuade people into thinking the same or sharing the same opinion as him by using words to make them believe he is not the only one. He goes about this by comparing the beginning of time to now and how different things are. 4. I would have to say that humankind’s greatest invention would be the cellphone. Yes, that seems cliche but in society today it is almost necessary to have one in order to communicate with with your peers, employees, or anyone you associate on a daily basis.
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1) That cars are cheap to buy. He compares buying a car with buying a latte in Starbucks, and that is not true. 2) He means that cars like the best thing that America produces, the best thing that America has. I do not agree that U.S. is a banana republic, because U.S. does not base its economy just in the manufacturing and exportation of one product. 3) He might have chosen that strategy because in that way he convinces all people that his opinion is the right opinion. But at the same time this strategy makes its text less critic. This makes a weak text and thesis.
4) From my point of view the best humankind’s greatest invention is Internet. Internet has made our life easier. Thanks to Internet we have a more globalized and interconnected world. Ideas move faster through the world and human knowledge is wider than ever. Internet has changed our world to a new era of instant communication and knowledge.
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1) He overstates that cars are the best invention in the whole world. Yes cars are great, but people get around just fine without them. People take the bus, or other forms of transportation, every day and are just as happy. Also he overstates on how it helps him get girls. A cool looking car may help from time to time, if they are really shallow, but that is not all.
2)When he says that cars are the banana republic of America, he is stating that without it we would be nothing, and that we solely depend on a car to survive. I do not agree with Stein when he makes this comment. This is because, even though it would be slow, we could survive without cars. We have before, so we can do it again. There are also more important things that we need to survive on.
3)I think that he uses this method, because he himself is not the best looking lad but this made his life easier. This would not work for everyone though or even most. He tries to word the text to make it sound like he is correct about his opinion by giving examples that have happened to him because of a flashy car.
4)To me the greatest invention to be created would have to be the internet. You can get information on anything and everything within seconds of typing it into the search engine. It also makes it easy to stay in contact with friends and family that you are not able to see everyday. You can find out what has happened half way across the world almost minutes after it has happened, which then makes you more connected to the world around you.
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When reading Ben Stein’s article, it was very clear to sense his love and enthusiasm towards cars. He made it seem like life without a car is a life that no one deserves to live. He even believes that Juluis Caesar’s life wasn’t exciting because he was not able to have a car. This, is where I believe he is wrong. In my opinion, Stein overstates the fact that living with a car is a necessity. People can survive without cars, whereas they cannot live without food, water, and some sort of shelter. Owning a car is more of a luxury.
By referring to a banana republic, Stein believes that without cars, the United States of America is an unstable country. I find it hard to agree with his statement. I do believe that transportation is an important technology that we have today. However, I do not believe that cars are the reason our country is stable. Without cars, our country would still be up and on its feet like it was before the car was even invented.
Stein’s opinions about cars are very narrow-minded, which personally make to hard for me to give him any credibility. When reading his article, it is very clear that he tries to speak for his audience. I do not believe his technique was successful. I believe Stein was trying to persuade his audience to follow his beliefs, but it did not work on me. In the article, it is shown every time he implies that cars are the best thing that has ever happened.
I believe that the telephone is the greatest invention known to man. Being able to communicate with a person at a long distance fascinates me. Communication is one of the most important things in my life today. Most kids today are getting phones before even graduating eighth grade. Without telephones, I would not know what to do with my life!
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1) Ben Stein is very determined in his ways of informing his audience of the topic at hand. He completely adores cars and seems to base life around it. Because of this, some claims of his may be overstated. He states numerous things like it gets girls and also that it is the greatest invention for humans. In my opinion, he is completely wrong. Cars are a gift.. they are not a necessity at any cost. Cars are an advantage, they are not something that one must have to live.
2) When Ben Stein states that cars are “round, juicy bananas”, he is referring to a banana republic. He believes that America needs cars to remain stable. I do not agree with this statement one bit. America needs other supplies in order to remain stable.. a car is not a necessity to the survival of America.
3) Ben Stein claims many things in his article and says that it is shared by everyone. That statement right there has so many flaws. Not everyone agrees in the same thing. He may have chosen this word choice in order to try and persuade his audience into believing him, but I did not fall for it. An implication of the strategy is evident in the title when it says that cars are the greatest invention for mankind. So much controversy can come of such a bold and opinionated statement right away.
4) To me, the greatest invention has to be the cellphone or even the telephone. I was one that did not get a cellphone until 8th grade and didn’t get one with internet until I was headed into college. The people my age were getting phones in sixth grade and phones with internet freshman year whenever nice ones came out. I got to see just how great of an invention this was, for i was not able to use it. In turn, I sat back and watched how it worked. Cellphones can provide a lot today. One can use snapchat to see what others are up to, twitter to check how people are doing, and instagram to see what fun things their friends are up to. It can do a lot for someone today. I can’t imagine how it was like when you couldn’t instantly talk to your friend or had to talk on one phone in front of your family to another person.
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The claim that sitting in your nice car could make you feel better, rather than laying in bed and taking medicine. Stein says that sitting in his car when sick would help him to feel better and that he would rather do that than take medicine for the sickness. I don’t think this is true.
Stein is saying that cars are the big, juicy bananas of banana republic America because they are what help run our economy and they helped our countries success. I do not think the U.S. is a banana republic country because we are not a failing country but a powerful one.
I believe that Stein was just trying to show his love for cars. By telling us all of the nice cars he has had, that just shows us that he has a reason to love cars so much.
I think the wheel is the greatest invention. No invention of the wheel, no invention of the car.
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Ben Stein says if you have a cold that sitting in his car could help him get better. That isn’t true having the AC on blowing on you could possibly get you more sick than you already are. Laying in bed taking medicine is better for you because it helps and you won’t get others sick.
When Ben Stein states that cars are “round, juice bananas” he is saying that Americans can’t leave without a car. That isn’t true at all American need other supplies than just a car.
3.I feel he uses it to show men that even though you aren’t perfect or even good looking that if you buy a nice car and take it out you are more likely to have woman come up and talk to you.
4.In my eyes that car is an amazing invention t help people get around. I feel that the printing press would be the greatest invention. It helped print the first bible, but the car is an amazing invention.
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1) I feel like he goes a little over board with how cars are so great I mean I know that they are great don’t get me wrong , but there are a lot more important things in life than a car. He says that cars are cheap ! that my friend is not true some people do not have cars just because of the simple fact hthat they do not have enough money for a car. He says cars help with the opposite sex , it may attract the opposite sex but its not gonna keep them around that’s all based on character.
2)When stein says the car is the banana republic I fully disagree ! Stein is trying to say without cars we would be nothing , meaningless that’s kind of bullshit if you ask me I mean I know its his article but other people read this and this is kind of not something that you put in an article
3)Stein is trying to convince everyone that he is right , I mean he puts up a good argument but not everyone is going to agree with him. so in my opnion this was not a strong thesis.
4)I believe a cell phone is the greatest invention. Children can get cell phones for emergencies to keep in contact with their parents. soldiers use cell phones to keep in contact with their families . a cell phone in todays history is a normal every day helpful thing that was invented.
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1) Ben stein states that cars give humans god-like qualities and provide a safe haven for drivers. These two statements are false in my opinion, as thousands die every year in automobile crashes due to believing they are invincible.
2) Stein is stating that without cars, Americans would be nothing and would be helpless. I don’t believe this to be true at all, as there are many other necessities that make Americans so diverse and motivated.
3) He used such a rhetorical strategy to get the readers thinking and to have them positively back his theory on cars having such a heavy impact on the success of the United States. The problem with this is that he could cause them to overthink and encourage others to disprove his theory.
4) In my opinion, the best invention ever was the car. It allows people to freely move about wherever they please as long as they are permitted to do so. Not only does it allow people to frequently change locations, but it allows family members to visit each other from long distances that would surely take much longer by horseback or walking. The car is the best invention ever due to the dramatic changes in society, not only in the United States, but the world as a whole.
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Ben Stein presents the benefits and greatness of automobiles in his “I LOVE CARS — The Greatest Invention of Mankind”. For Stein, the car is the greatest invention in the history of mankind. However, computers serve as the basis of modern technology and the most widely used appliance; thus I believe that the computer is mankind’s greatest creation.
Today, in a modern society, computers exist everywhere and most people come in contact with computers daily. Inventors use computers to create new technology with Java, C++, or Python coding. Humans use computers to communicate and process information. Furthermore, many professions virtually run on computers. Without computers, many people would lose their jobs in factories, computer science, research institutes, engineering fields, and so on. Doctors use computers to store information, and teachers use computers to present information. Even cashiers use computers for check-out purposes. Without computers, humankind would fall back to the old times with mechanical inventions. Computers hold a paramount position in modern society, and people use them in so many diverse fields daily.
Yes, one might feel like a “cool, powerful person” inside a car with powerful torque. But, cars run on computer science. Designers produce blueprints of the car with a computer program. Robots, a type of computers, assemble car parts to create a car. Ultimately, without computers, the society cannot function properly. One can definitely live comfortably without a car, but one cannot live comfortably without computers.
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In Ben Stein’s article “I LOVE CARS — The Greatest Invention of Mankind”, he contends that the automobile is the greatest invention of all time. The article states how according to Stein, the average human was nothing until the automobile came around and cites many examples on how they’ve helped him. Although automobiles have certainly created a positive effect on the average human lifestyle, it’s arguable on whether or not it’s the best invention of all.
In the article, one device Stein notes but dismisses is the internet, arguably the most important utility of the 21st Century. At first, automobiles and the internet might seem different from each other, but they both provide a very similar feeling when being used: freedom. On both devices, you’re pretty much free to go where you want, whenever you want. Like, if you wanted to go meet someone out in a place like San Francisco, you theoretically could with both devices. However, even though the internet is quicker, cars would physically bring you to San Francisco, possibly providing a more personal experience since you’d personally be in San Francisco rather than talking through the internet. So depending on who you are, cars can bring you a similar feeling of freedom just like with the internet, but cars would have the advantage of providing a real life experience, rather than a virtual one.
As great of a product cars are for our personal needs, cars are not completely a great invention for the natural environment. Cars are well know for consuming a lot of oil and producing a lot of gas. The problem isn’t that each individual car consumes or produces too much, but that there’s so many cars that consume and produce that it begins to affect the environment. Hybrid cars and electric scooters have started to become more popular as people have become more aware of how hazardous using them can be, but there are still a lot of gasoline cars. Also, manufacturing cars is a lot of work too. Car plants take up lots of space and a lot of money. But arguably most importantly though, car manufacturing plants can an over-abundance of cars, with them ending up unused in a field, wasting materials and land.
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In “I Love Cars- The Greatest Invention of Mankind,” Stein states how cars have impacted himself and the world. I agree with Stein’s claim that cars have given us some “immunity from the elements.” Cars have done many things to protect us from some “elements.” The sun is one of the elements that we have “immunity” from because of cars. People used to get blisters from the sweltering sun, even if whatever form of transportation had coverings, the sun still somehow burned people. Another “element” that we have “immunity” of now is snow (ice). If it gets too cold outside, it cold start to snow. The cold could kill you in many ways. You could freeze to death, catch pneumonia, get hypothermia, etc. The invention of cars helped with that tragedy. People can now have heating systems that heat them up whenever they are cold. In many ways, you can say that the invention of cars has prevented many “element” related deaths.
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Ben Stein definitely loves cars and thinks they are the greatest invention in the world, and they are great but are they all he makes them out to be? He said in his article that “The car is the greatest invention of mankind” but it is pretty clear that this is not the full truth, only a great opinion. He over exaggerates things about the car like this a few times trough out his article, such as ” before the car man was pretty much just an insect” or when he says, “with the car, man was transformed from a worm to a god… has superhuman strength…”. It is clear that we are not superhuman, or gods, and cars maybe great but they will never make us anything but human. 2. America, I feel is definitely not a Banana Republic in any way. We were able to function smoothly with out cars, and typically a Banana Republic would not be able to run or function with out its one most important thing, and we were able too. 3. I feel like this strategy of his helped overall to better his argument. It made it all seem more realistic to believe and agree with. The style allows it to seem more believable, like when he said, “man was transferred from worm to god…”. 4. I feel as though the wheel is one of the greatest inventions of mankind. With out the wheel there are so many things that would not be around in the world because so many things are dependable on it, such as the car. From Steins eyes it should only make sense that wheels are most important because with out them cars would not be a thing.
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In his “I Love Cars–the Greatest Invention of Mankind,” Ben Stein articulates his adoration for the creation of the car. He argues that no other invention matches that of the car. Even the richest figures of earlier centuries lived without the luxury that any common person today can discover in a car or truck. In Andrew Giacona’s response to Stein’s article, he claims that more modern inventions, such as the internet and cellphone are greater than the car. He does make a valid point by stating, “just owning [a car] costs a lot.” While cars may be expensive, monthly payments for internet and cellphone usage can come close in price, especially with larger families. Even if cars are more expensive, however, they are far more widely used than cellphones and the internet are. Vehicles are becoming more of a standard possession, while cellphones and internet access are becoming luxuries. All of the points made by Stein, concerning the transportation benefits of owning a car significantly outweigh the benefits of owning a phone. Most people use their phone for entertainment purposes, while most use their car out of a necessity to travel. The car transformed society and trumps all inventions in significance to man.
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I do agree that cars are, without a doubt, one of the greatest inventions humans have made. However, I believe they also have more negative effects than positive. I am not against cars at all, they give us easier transportation, faster transportation, and help in emergencies, but they are starting to harm us more than help us. They release large amounts of greenhouse gases and other pollutants into the air. The releasing of these pollutants harms the atmosphere, therefore our climate, causing a major rise. This rise in temperature does not just change us feeling hotter, it can cause drought, problems with crop harvests, melting ice leading to higher water levels, and many more issues. The pollutants cars release also contribute to the thinning of the ozone, which lets harmful UV rays through, causing a higher risk of skin cancer. If we do not find alternatives to gasoline, we could very well harm our atmosphere beyond repair. The major negative effect outweighs the positives of cars. While the positives affect us in the moment, the negatives to cars will affect us in the long run.
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To a certain extent i agree with Stein. I agree that mankind greatly benefitted from the creation of cars. Cars allow humans to travel while in the safety and comfort of a metalloid vechile. Not only do cars allow us to travel, but cars allow us to travel at a fast rate. Although the car has many benefits it is difficult to argue that cars are the greatest invention of man kind. The greatest invention of mankind varies from person to person because of their different lives. A cancer patient being allowed to live longer in the company of their family might see chemotherapy as the greatest invention of mankind. A person constantly on youtube searching “how to” videos might see the internet as the greatest invention of mankind. Every life has a different story and different opinions. To Stein cars may be the greatest invention of mankind, no one can change that, but the greatest invention of mankind lies on the individuals opinion.
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I personally believe that the greatest invention of all time is the computer. Have you ever thought about how life would be without computers? Everyday we use a computer whether its in you your home or anywhere away from home. no doubt about it i think the computer is the greatest invention of all time.
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In, “I love cars-the greatest invention of mankind” Ben Stein explores his adoration with cars. He believes that cars changed our society as we knew it, arguing that it has the ability to “transform you from a mortal to a god”. I qualify with Stein’s position. cars are an innovative invention however I do not believe it deserves first place out of all the other useful inventions. As one student mentioned, filtered water wells and other inventions that were invented because they were mandatory, deserve much more praise than the automobile. The authors fascination is prevalent throughout his article, clouding his judgement and leading his argument. Stein loves his car, as most car owners do, but I believe he isn’t considering his audience in third world countries. Running water, electricity, telecommunications, and other basic necessities to them are the greatest inventions. Stein’s points are valid however his position is all about personal opinion.
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I qualify with Stein. I agree that cars has had a major impact on the lives of humans. Cars allow people to have access to transportation with convenience. I disagree with his argument that it is the best invention ever made. There are better inventions created by humans such as airplanes, smartphones, and computers. People ranked the best inventions based on their life experiences.
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I agree with the idea that cars are one of the most important inventions of mankind. But I disagree that cars are the greatest invention of mankind. The invention of cars has moved society forward into the future by providing a faster, easier way of transportation. Stein is correct when he said, “man was a pitiful, vulnerable creature”. Cars provide the luxury of traveling in comfort, with built in air conditioning, and the control of increasing speeds. They are still being improved with built in Wi-Fi, and ways to run on electricity instead of gas, while meeting and surpassing safety regulations. The invention encouraged movement in manufacturing in parts. Many people were able to gain jobs in the companies, which boosted employment. As cars grew in popularity, companies strived to make better qualities of them. Along with the car companies, fuel companies increased because of the constant use and need of fuel. I agree with Stein as he says, “we have immunity from the elements”. While cars come with an expensive price, it’s definatly worth it because of their constant and popular use to people.
Cars do prove to have all the great qualities of transportation. Sadly Stein doesn’t mention how other inventions of mankind help innovated the world to become a better place. While I cannot label specifically the greatest of all inventions for mankind, cars are not in at the number one spot for that category. As Stein compares cars to being the newest and most popular in society, I disagree with his idea. Today, people are fascinated with the use of smartphones, such as iphones, galaxys, motos etc. With the use of mobile connections and social media, people focus more on posting pictures, group chatting and commenting on tweets or videos. As I view all of my friends who have smartphones, I noticed how many cannot go 10 minutes at the most without checking for texts or going onto smartphones. Cars compared to the improving technology humans have today don’t compete in popularity. They are still important and humans rely on its function relentlessly, but are not the greatest invention of mankind.
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Stein builds a strong argument with a combination of logical statements and illogical. Some statements might be overstated such as calling a car “…a machine that transforms you from a mortal to a god.” He incorporates the car as symbol of greatness that brings treasures and happiness. He does this by developing his ideas by explaining its ability as a great transport compared to other means throughout the ages of humankind. I believe that his belief of the car as a great technological invention to be true but his belief of it as divine invention that turns a man into a god seems illogical. Cars serve their uses but they are not required to become a great mankind. Stein makes it sound necessary to acquire a motor vehicle in order to achieve a great life. Cars also create negatives effects as well. They cause environmental damage that is not discussed in the article. Stein’s argument supports the idea that the car is a great invention but not the greatest invention.
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