Rating: 
Summary: Many better books out there
Review: I'm a big fan of many conservative political books, and found this one lacking in both readability and humor. I recommend instead any Ann Coulter book or especially "Useful Idiots"
Rating: 
Summary: Very Funny but Sad at the Same Time
Review: "They get paid megabucks for their unparalleled skill at reading and acting out prepared scripts." Their occupations, and their best skills are imitating other people. And yet, if they speak politically or otherwise, the media treats them as if they are experts. This is the basic gist of "Tales from the Left Coast." The book is hilarious with the facts about how and why these rock stars and movie stars have been treated as if they were political diplomats who have all the answers.
James Hirsen, former keyboard player for the Temptations, has collected a great many stories, facts, and reports about things that certain Hollywood stars have said about our country, about our president (i.e. Bush), and about other issues regarding which they 'act' as if they are experts. This book is very funny, but at the same time quite frightening. The book is well documented, well researched, and reads quickly.
I was shocked by some of things that these pseudo pundits believed and espoused. Moreover, many things that these Hollywood stars have said is just down right treason. It is obvious they have not thought through what they espoused, and often times they bite the hand that feeds them. Also, while I was aware of many of the people (stars) and their opinions there were a few things I was not aware of, such as certain Hollywood stars love for Fidel Castro or the endorsements given to certain stars for their promotion on talk shows of certain prescription drugs.
These Hollywood stars (and certain rock stars) who have spent their entire working careers imitating other people and performing lines that others have written have used their 'stardom' clout to prance around and 'act' as if they are political experts on certain issues. Most of these stars are uneducated (e.g. Martin Sheen having never finished high school), and simply base their opinions on what is trendy at the time, or what they think is a worthwhile cause because it seems noble. However, thinking through what they support, or how they support it is apparently not an option. Ignorance is indeed bliss! I appreciate James Hirsen's book and I highly recommend it, especially if you want a good laugh.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Weak Effort
Review: I'm a conservative blogger who LOVES to laugh at liberal celebrities, but there's not much meat here. Hirsen's book feels pretty slapdash and disjointed; the writing is nothing special, and the stories have been told with more flair elsewhere. I wanted to like it...it's just not very good.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, though the point was not always clear
Review: The basic premise of this book is that most of those in Hollywood are way left in their politics. I think this is pretty obvious, but there is some great background in here on where and why this may have originated.
For example, some in Hollywood have a history of supporting communism, made famous in the "blacklist" era, and this view is even more prevalent today. The book gives dozens of accounts of one-sided support and glorification of Castro. This is actually quite odd considering Castro has a long tradition of placing homosexuals in prison, based on mere suspicion or rumor. When the various stars are pledging their devotion to Castro, do they have any idea what Castro's response to AIDS has been? (Page 75)
This is typical of how Hollywood stars often are hypocritical in their pet causes. Whether it is slamming the President for not attending the Earth Summit and then of course failing to show themselves (Page 103), or wearing fur after being outspoken against it, the duplicity is actually quite hilarious, however this pales in comparison to some of the quotes about PETA.
Michael J. Fox, former advisor to the Humane Society, wrote a book called "Inhumane Society: The American Way of Exploiting Animals", and in it he states "The life of an ant and that of my child should be granted equal consideration". (Page 123). Um, okay...rright. The many examples of these kinds of absurd statements abound. There is also considerable space documenting the "intolerance" of Hollywood towards any beliefs that do not align with the far left.
However, the author spent a whole chapter on smoking. I have to honestly say that I didn't get the point. Was he speaking out against smoking censorship? Why? Does he support smoking? This section was unclear. The other concern I had was the way in which Bono and others were depicted for their support for the poor and other causes. These sections were also not very clear. It seems that much good is done by some of these people, and that needs to be acknowledged. So, minus one star for that.
Overall, it is a very interesting book. I thought the research and history in the beginning sections was fascinating. Towards the end the book gets a bit shrill, but overall the point regarding the politics of the Hollywood "caste" system, and the hypocrisy of the intolerance towards anyone conservative, republican or Christian is of course shameful. The book is written well, easy to read, and the topics are presented in a logical format. Overall, the book suffers a bit from being what it is speaking out against - being too one-sided.
Rating: 
Summary: Inaccurate and Reaching
Review: I read this book last year and was disappointed by it. I don't like ideologues who don't look at both sides of an issue. I consider myself an independent that leans more towards the conservative side of most issues. Most of the issues he discusses in the book are well known. Nothing new. But was surprised by some of his comments because they are inaccurate. For example, he claims that Bono wants to raise our taxes. As a U2 fan he never said this. He also stated that he's rich and doesn't pay taxes in on his money in Ireland which makes him a hypocrite. ???? So you have to be poor in order to help people in Africa with AIDS. That's crap.
In another part of the book a celebrity said Fidel Castro was smart. So what. It doesn't make Fidel Castro any less heinous than any other dictator. He tried way too hard to make points. So I was doubting some of his other facts in the book.I would recommend Ann Coulter's book Slander or Treason. Getting read to ready Peggy Noonan's The Case against Hilary Clinton and When Character was King (Ronald Reagan).
Rating:
Summary: Pass it up.
Review: This book simultaneously talks down to the reader, while assuming he/she is very knowledgabe in international affairs and recent history. It is a compilation of brief vignettes and anecdotes loosely tied into 293 pages. Don't waste your time. Read one of Ann Coulter's books instead, you'l get more out of it and enjoy it more.
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