Pickleloaf.com : Books : Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning


Books : Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning In association with Amazon.com Rating: - Progressive Totalitarians Goldberg's book is excellent: well document, soundly reasoned, and sometimes painfully obvious for anyone who has studied the roots of progressivism, eugenics, the politically correct movement, the nanny state trends or the environmental movement. Goldberg leaves no stone unturned. Wait until you see his sobering take on the origins of the minimum wage. It will surprise you. Much of the material in the book I had read or heard before. Goldberg, however, has done us a great service by pooling the ideas together in one comprehensive volume. So, what you might have gotten an inkling about by reading Robert Proctor's The Nazi War on Cancer, you get a fuller picture of in Goldberg's book. After all, who knew the Nazis were animal rights believers before Proctor? Not too many of us. Goldberg follows the line of thought from the progressives to modern day Democrats and leftists. The linking pin between those liberals a century ago and those today is fascism. This will come as a surprise to many people, but it is undeniable. Goldberg's book is excellent. You won't be disappointed - unless you're a liberal and won't to desperately avoid the truth as liberals so often do. Rating: - DON'T ORGANIZE ME Of all the books I've read since I've been writing reviews and reading others on Amazon, this book has had the most profound effect upon my thinking and my political affiliations. THIS BOOK SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING FOR EVERY SINGLE HIGH SCHOOL'S (PUBLIC AND PRIVATE) AMERICAN HISTORY CLASS IN THE USA. I mean every single word I say here. I love writer's who make me think, love when I can tell they've done much soul searching and thinking themselves. Doesn't surprise me at all that he's a jew. I wouldn't have touched this book ten years ago knowing that he writes articles regularly for the National Review, a decidedly rightist publication. Very early on in this book, he made me think of two words very carefully: N A T I O N A L S O C I A L I S M. "N A T I O N A L S O C I A L I S M"-What does it mean? Does it conjure anything resembling the republican ideals espoused by people like Alexander Hamilton??? Absolutely, absolutely not. The symbol most associated with fascism is that of the bundle of sticks tied so closely that there is no space between them. An axe head is attached to the bundle, conjuring up utility, work, but also a threat. I have so many pages bookmarked in this book. I've been trying to find one I remember reading, but can't, where he talks of democratic ideals and if you wouldn't go along with the program, well-get out of the way. (You will never be fooled again after reading this book). Goldberg provides evidence that this last century began upon nationalistic, populist, fascist foundations most evident within democratic ranks as early as WOODROW WILSON! Yes, it is really shocking what you'll find here within. I have a more realistic appraisal of FDR now. You can tell when you've read a book that is well researched and carefully reasoned. It very definitely is thought provoking. My book is a library book, overdue, and would love to have it on hand at all times. Would love a subscription to National Review. Needless to say, a deep and long lasting impression, this book has made upon me. It's time the American Heritage dictionary rewrote their definition of fascism. Goldberg effectively argues that the public's perception of fascism being a right wing phenomenon stems more from the extreme far left's, i.e. communism's, categorization of it. Fascism's association with the military and business and therefore the American Republican party is misguided. That the American left, most evident today in the far left Democratic party, has far more in common with Mussolini's not so racist brand of fascism will become abundantly clear upon reading this book. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK BE READ. GET A COPY SOMEHOW. Rating: - conservatives just love stirring up that hatred first, fascism is a right wing ideology.....not a leftist one this book works the same way Cheney had 70% of american fools believing that Sadam and Iraq was behind 9/11, he kept using it in the same sentence over and over. this book was written to blame liberals for fascism, to stir up hatred, and is part of the current trend of anti-intellectualism and anti-reason running rampan in american society. To link liberalism and nazism just trivializes the holocaust, especially when Hitler killed liberals and leftist I can find simularities in two unrelated things too....take Hitler and Jesus.....Jesus was a great talker and so was Hitler...both were influencial and both still have a lot of people today looking up to them....so that must mean Hitler was a great leader then right? lol this book is written by and for fools, anti-intellectuals, and people who hate america. Rating: - A 20th century trip through liberal history From Teddy to Bill, provides a great review of just where liberal thought comes from and how it has been applied in the western world during the 20th century. If you have socialistic leanings this will clarify the advances and retreats of socialism here and abroad. if you have conservative leanings this will help you understand your liberal friends and provide background to argue for conservative thought. Both liberals and conservatives desperately need to read this very even handed book. Rating: - Thought-provoking and challenging work I purchased this in hardcover as soon as it came out, and when I received my Kindle I purchased it again so I'd have it handy. Simply put...this is an outstanding work. Meticulously researched yet written in an approachable style, Goldberg makes an effective argument. I found some of the themes challenging, particularly since I had to "unlearn" a number of things I had discovered I had accepted as dogma prior to opening this book. As a lay reader I needed to put the book aside every so often to simply process what Goldberg was saying to me, but it's a testament to his literary prowess that he was able to get through to me. While it is, as I said, approachable, I don't consider it a light beach read. The engaged reader with an open mind will get the most out of this book.