Rating: 
Summary: Righteous
Review: Goad kicks, stomps, beats, smothers, slashes, hacks and bludgeons middle class America's pre-conceived notions about the white working class. The 'Redneck Manifesto' is funny as hell, but their is a stinging truth that underlines even Goads most outrageous parallels and humor. This work will undoubtedly disturb most liberals, but I guess that means Jim did his jobIf Goad ran for president, I'd vote!
Rating: 
Summary: He's right, and wrong, but mostly right.
Review: Goad makes some very good points in his diatribe against classism. Points that I've been making for decades, in fact. I grew up in the southern West Virginia coal fields, and I've been the brunt of jokes due to my heritage for years (although I'm damn proud to be a West Virginian). Goad is correct that the upper classes have always divided the poor against themselves (witness strike breakers and the hourly-wage earners who crack the WV jokes). However, his point that people have no choice in life due to the class they are born into doesn't ring true to me. I've escaped the cycle of dependency (to hourly wage labor, not welfare) through hard work--my own and my parents' (who were determined that I would never enter a coal mine). You can get out, but it's not easy. As for one reader's assertions that poor whites can easily assimilate into a higher class culture (due to the color of their skin): I may look the same, but as soon as I open my mouth to speak and someone hears my mountain accent, I'm branded a redneck. That's bigotry, pure and simple.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting book in search of good editor
Review: Goad brings out a number of good points about the real basis of American history--class and money. His idea that race is the wedge issue used to divide and conquer the poor is not original, but hey? It's still works. Just ask Slobodan. Unfortunately, Goad gets a bit carried away with his own prose at times. This book could have been a hard little gem, with a good editor.
Rating:
Summary: I saw my family in his book
Review: Not long ago, I realized that although I live in a Northeastern metropolis, my late grandmother would be considered white trash because A. she was poor, B. she was Southern, and C. she was a hairdresser. Goad's book told me what I already knew; that she was a good woman. I am disgusted that my relatives are constantly demeaned because of their geographic origins. I'm also sick of country-club buppies who whine about racism, and in the same breath make a snide comment about poor whites. I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 because of Goad's excessively graphic language, which although initially appropriate, eventially became a detriment to the book. But "Redneck Manifesto" is an important book and deserves to be widely read.
Rating:
Summary: Shocking - With Footnotes
Review: This book isn't PC AND it's fair. Jim Goad has seriously done his homework and I very much recommend this to the intellectual reader. Who knew that whites were once slaves as the blacks were? Learn where the term REDNECK comes from before you throw it around in conversation again. I've never supported slavery or violent racism, but yet I still felt a connection because of my skin color. After reading this book I learned to release myself from white hereditary guilt. Goad did us all a big favor and researched a history that is very PC to be AGAINST. You'll be shocked but you need to read the WHOLE THING. This book should be read by the open minded no matter what color you are. A BOLD BOOK and one of a kind.
Rating:
Summary: Right, then Wrong...
Review: Goad reveals wonderfully suppressed truths and insights about the American experience. Gives all the modern taboos what for. But he throws those who wish to pigeonhole life the WORST herring with his classicist wimp-out. This book would not have been published without this canard. With it, 'enemies' have an easy out and others are assuaged even as they're peeved. Such a lame embarrassing toss-off. Classism. Sheesh. We are brothers in truth, quality, and integrity. What else can tie one to another? Poor, rich, who cares, what else can matter? I relate to anyone who does a good job or is a stand-up person. Anything else is lame dimwitted groupism.
Rating: 
Summary: He misses the point
Review: Sure, there is bigotry everywhere and poor whites are definitely subjected to ridicule. However, Goad misses the point. Place a poor white man in a suit and send him out into the masses during anytime in our history and he can easily assimilate into society. No preconceived notions. But place a black man in a suit at any time in our history and prejudices occur, then and now. Just ask all the black employees of Texaco who were referred to as "jelly beans" by the Board of Directors. Goad's book is nothing but a bunch of "belly-aching" by someone who can admit that his skin color offers him more advantages than disadvantages.
Rating:
Summary: About as bad as Howard Stern . . .
Review: I did not like this reactionary diatribe at all. While some of Goad's points are well-taken, I don't find it helpful to be arguing about whether class trumps race. Goad seems to be filled with rage and hate. To end his book with the idea of enslaving white liberals says it all, I think: he's just as hungry for power as the next guy . . .
Rating:
Summary: An Eye-Opening Hoot!
Review: Goad fills in gaps in the history of the American people as it's usually taught, especially highlighting the tribulations of the lower class whites. He also takes a hard, bleary-eyed look at class and race in the U.S. today. The great thing about the book is that, in doing so, he leaves no one's chain unyanked. He sure grabbed me by the politics and gave a good squeeze! He's irreverent and irascible, but manages not to be irritating since he's so darn funny and fair. The book is a literary tag-team match featuring Noam Chomsky and Andrew Dice Clay vs. Bill Clinton and Chuck D. in which everyone ends up out of the ring with their tights down, a little bloody and bruised but with laughter as a balm if they can manage it. This is serious stuff delivered effectively with guts and good ill humor.
Rating:
Summary: REDNECK MANIFESTO MAKES LEARNING HISTORY FUN!
Review: Jim Goad's treatise on the rarely-spoke-of topic of "reverse racism", or "classism" is like a brisk, sharp slap in the face. It's exactly what we need in this ponderous PC age in which we live. Goad's skewering of both the left and right is nearly always on target---and it hits the bull's-eye via his trenchant wit. Humor and history---what a tremendous combination! Highly recommended.
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