Rating:  Summary: Dinesh is Da Man! Review: There are 3 main reasons liberals hate this book. First, one of "their own" (I.E. a minority) has turned on them. Dinesh has seen firsthand that liberals abuse minorities in America and he isn't afraid to point it out. Secondly, Dinesh dispells the myth that conservatives are "stuffy" and "humorless". Read some of the pranks that Dinesh's Republican college group pulled on the Elitist liberal student group in college and you'll see that it's the Democrats who are "stuffy" and "humorless". And finally, probably most importantly, Dinesh is right. His straight talking and politically incorrect views hit the spot for this reader.
Rating:  Summary: Enlightening Review: I've had the pleasure of reading two other books by Mr. D'Souza (End of Racism and What's so Great About America), so I was quick to order this one. When I first looked at the format of the book, I wasn't sure I was going to be happy with it. Each chapter is a response to a letter that he received. Then I was concerned that it would simply be a re-hash of the other two books. As I started to read it, I became as transfixed as I did with his other writings. Mr. D'Souza doesn't claim to be the original thinker of this philosophy (Conservatism), but he certainly explains it better than anyone I have ever read. He is absolutely right about the liberal argument against conservatism. There is no solid liberal argument that will stand up to it, simply because the liberal idea will not support itself. The only true way to achieve the liberal goals is through conservative practice. Except for the argument (review - Political romanticism) about Money vs. Power, I have not read one argument against this book that even came close to making an argument that made sense. Mr. D'Souza has done it again, and I highly recommend this book for reading. Then you should pass it along to a friend.
Rating:  Summary: Not one original thought Review: Same old sausage, new casing. If you go in for this kind of writing, then read any of Ann Coulter's books. At least she's more entertaining in her wrong-headed way. As it is, this book should never have been written, let alone published - at a great waste of trees. Nearly 400 years of American history had transpired before D'Souza stepped off the boat in 1979. Unfortunately, his ignorance of that history and its significance literally leaps off every page. One previous reviewer absolutely nailed it: But for the liberals and civil rights groups who forced an end to racist US immigration policies by the passage of the Immigration Reform Act of 1965, D'Souza probably wouldn't be in this country. And let the record clearly show that those conservatives he so slavishly serves fought this law to the bitter end. This is but one example of his ignorance; this book puts it on full display.
Rating:  Summary: Go to battle armed with a swiss-army knife!!! Review: What amazes me most, as I read these reviews, is how many readers praise D'Souza's mastery of "common sense" - and have no doubt that even "liberals" will either be won over straight-out to the forces of good, or at the very least suffer the pain of having their "most cherished beliefs" trammeled underfoot by a cavalcade of plain-spoken persuasiveness. It no doubt seems like a good strategy to dress up the wolf of radical (the man says it himself) Conservative ideology up in the drapings of home-spun common sense. Yet common sense is a rather fickle ally. That which appeals only to the immediate prejudices, perceptions, moral feelings of the majority of people - or to certain general "laws" (such those of economics) that are presented as obvious without giving any sense for the limitations of their application - can always be opposed by an equally common-sensical counter-argument.This is because our immediate notions are often quite contradictory. We amass countless opinions and habits of thought in the course of lives, depending on these as we go about our daily business, yet we seldom test these against each other, see how they fit together, or ask what assumptions they rest upon. If I had no other interest than the advancement of a left-wing agenda, I would rejoice in the knowledge that Dinesh D'Souza has gone to such pains to arm the foot-soldiers of the Revolution with such meager weapons. If the University is really such a terrifying fortress of Marxism, filled with predatory ideologues who spare no effort in battering and bullying students into submission through their "complex and verbose arguments", "common sense" won't count for much, and they'll soon be wishing they had wolfs' teeth instead of a sheep's fleece.
Rating:  Summary: A brief introduction to the conservative movement. Review: Wow look at the broad range of responses this book produced. Clearly it has struck a nerve, and it is easy to see why. D'Souza is a master at taking common sense intertwined with funny anecdotes to create a book that is both highly readable and informative. The book is a survival guide for conservatives and libertarians who are entering the one bastion of liberalism left in America its universities. As a college student myself I cannot tell you how valuable his arguments have been in my day to day battles with the Marxist English department at my school. One point he makes in the book is that the left in academia use overly complex, verbose language to intimidated and bully young minds into accepting an argument. If you need proof of how this tactic is employed scroll up and take a look at the review titled "Political romanticism" Even if you are left leaning politically I think you will find this book worth reading as it basically summarizes the arguments for modern American conservatism.
Rating:  Summary: Intellectual Lightweight Review: Dinesh D'Souza is a typical example of the glib and conceited mongers of hardcore political ideas who have experienced little of their own but are merely recycling old ideas with a spin. Its clear that Dinesh has not experienced any kind of hardship faced by many people in America, he appears to be a member of an ethnic minority brought up in a privileged environment and lacks the appreciation of knowing what its like to fail at something or the struggle to achieve success. Fact is, none of the various theories he sells in his book are his own, this is not an original piece of writing. I found the book disappointing and tiresome and outright irritating. He is slick with his tongue and has brainwashed himself to such an extent that his views on political theories have become warped and lack any semblance of due dilligence and balance. He is not a scientist and at most would make a good car salesman. I wonder if Dinesh D'Souza has ever done anything at any point of his life that has been for the great benefit for any one person let alone the American people he speaks for. He's obviously written this book (with a large photograph of himself on the cover!) to aggrandize himself and make money in the process. This book will not solve anyones problems. A shallow book written by a myopic ego-maniac author, only another intellectually bankrupt person like Sean Hannity (who is hardly a person to aspire to) would endorse cheap and forgetable pulp non-fiction like this. As a moderate conservative I'm ashamed to be associated with his theories.
Rating:  Summary: Don't believe the low ratings! Review: Obviously the individual that ripped Mr. D'Souza is unrealistically biased. D'Souza is not a racist or relying on a privileged upbringing, he's only pointing out what our Founding Fathers envisioned when they debated and crafted the Bill of Rights and Constitution. D'souza is right on the mark. I strongly recommend this book for all young Americans.
Rating:  Summary: Awaken Thinking About Ourselves as Americans! Review: This is an especially good book for the interested high school student and every college student. As a 53 year old, I found it an entertaining, informative, and stimulating read. At times I laughed out-loud. At times I went deep into thought. Mr. D'Souza's book will fascinate any socially or politically curious reader - conservative, moderate, liberal or libertarian. Mr. D'Souza writes clearly and sometimes humorously about the hot-button issues facing Americans today. Using fact, reason, experience and his awareness of literature and history, he brilliantly describes liberal and conservative thinking in our country and examines their intellectual and historical underpinnings. A native of India and a man 'of color', he offers an enlightening and informed perspective on multiculturalism, immigration, capitalism, feminism, affirmative action and other currents affecting contemporary American life. With practicality and common sense, he offers a view of the challenges all Americans face in order to survive as a viable nation in the global context.
Rating:  Summary: Dinesh has done it again Review: A very interesting and thought provoking read. If you are looking for "spin" or BS, you won't find it here. Mr. D'Souza has written a book that is packed with liberal vs. conservative arguments and laid out the conservative viewpoint with clear, thoughtful, and straight-forward writing. Although the book is short, it does its job by clearly discussing a variety of topics in which liberals and conservative tend to disagree on. You may not agree with some of his thoughts, but it is hard to argue with him on the same "playing field" without resorting to some kind of political- read childish- ploy to overcome or end the debate. Although some of the issues covered have more gray areas in them than just the black-white arguments he lays out, it does level the playing field due to the extreme ideas and thoughts many liberals have i.e. on welfare, affirmative action, etc. I agree with 95% of what is writing about, but I do know there is another side and would love for someone to write and educated and well thought out counter to this book. If there is one, please let me know. He also adds in a list of books that have influenced this book and his thoughts (something he did not do in "What So Great..."). Overall a great book that will give any conservative, young or old, the ammunition needed to counter liberal arguments, ploys and policies.
Rating:  Summary: A perfect emetic Review: What a disappointment. I picked this book up because I remember seeing this young man on CSPAN once and thinking he sounded articulate. I was obviously flipping channels at great speed, because I did not have a clue about any of his views. Hence my feeling of revulsion when I picked this book up at a store and perused it. This obviously gifted young man is either completely soulless or else seriously deluded. Apparently there are others like him too. I guess I am naive, as this was something of a revelation to me. I mean I know about the Ku Klux Klan and Dr. Laura but did not realize that such extreme ideology also exists in academia. Last but not the least, my disappointment stems from the fact that I am of Indian origin myself and am ashamed that a young man of foreign descent, who clearly had a privileged upbringing, is so lacking in empathy toward other minority groups who are not so lucky.
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