The nation is in a pivotal period. We ignore the current conditions at our peril. Frank Islam and Ed Crego recognize this. That is why they have written this book as the sequel to their book, "Renewing the American Dream: A Citizen's Guide for Restoring Our Competitive Advantage," which they co-authored with George Munoz in 2010. In this new book, Islam and Crego plot the progress--or lack thereof--that has been made since 2010 and identify major pivot point areas that must be addressed in a positive manner to move the nation forward rather backward. They introduce the pivot point construct as a way for identifying, analyzing, and thinking about what needs to be done about issues such as the debt and deficit "crisis," congressional dysfunction, citizen dysfunction, individual economic well-being, global competition, manufacturing, immigration, education, and innovation. Islam and Crego have structured this book to be a primer and participant's guide for concerned citizens who want to get involved in "working the pivot points."