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I'm terrified for our country's future

Revisado: 04-10-24

it takes some very good writing to elicit sympathy from me for a republican these days.

The maga movement has torn this country apart. this book made me actually contemplate how a normal Republican must view the situation.

Having watched the lies and disinformation spread like wildfire over the course of the last 8 years, this book really brings home the point that many of these people genuinely believe what they claim to believe; which is somehow scarier to me than grifters just trying to make a quick buck.

How many people have been brainwashed by the likes of Alex Jones or Fox news? How many people died needlessly during the pandemic because they got their news from a disreputable source that traffic in fear instead of reality?
this book does a fantastic job of pointing out how the Republican Party became what it currently is. but the author does not come forth with ideas to fix it or to combat it.

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absolutely and utterly delightful

Revisado: 02-02-24

this was a wonderful reworking to extend a good short story that I enjoyed into a beautifully written Novella that I love.

I know that a lot of people give the author a hard time about the amount of time it takes to publish new work but if this is the result of Patrick taking his time, then I am perfectly fine with him taking all the time he needs.

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fantastic history of the JBS

Revisado: 06-08-23

this book gives a very insightful look into the history and current effects of the John Birch society.

you can draw a straight line from the anti-semitism of the blood libel to the protocols of the Elders of Zion to the John Birch Society to the modern-day alt-right; this book lays it out cleanly.

as extra resources there are some great podcasts to check out;

season 2 of The Long shadow about the militarization of the right-wing.

a five-part miniseries called The Divided Dial, a look at the rise of right-wing talk radio.

Knowledge fight, a show that works to expose Alex Jones and infowars as the lying propagandists they are.

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Oof. America is in trouble.

Revisado: 08-04-22

if some one's political goal is to take away the rights of other people, then they don't love freedom and cannot claim celebrate liberty.

The right has been creeping towards this sort of authoritarianism for a long time-- and this book demonstrates it clearly.

Most of the biggest conspiracy theories appear traceable to John Birch Society garbage.

we need media accountability to de-radicalize the right before its too late.

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best podcast I've found

Revisado: 08-04-22

The basic premise here is that the host, an investigative journalist and war correspondent, explains one of the biggest bastards in history to a friend who is usually a comedian

The content is amazing the banter is fantastic and the Podcast is absolutely worthwhile

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abridge this for audio format

Revisado: 02-17-22

If the company made an abridged version cutting out the long boring list of types of work and causes for burnout 3/4 of the way through, then this book would get 5 stars.
as it is, when you hit that slow-moving section that doesn't translate well to audiobook format, just skip to the next chapter.

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not at all Wodehousian

Revisado: 02-16-22

To simply borrow a character as beloved as Reginald Jeeves is not enough.

there was no attempt at all to mimic the style or plot structure of PGW.
this book had fun moments, but it certainly is not N homage to my favorite author.

Go try Sebastián Faulks: he does a Jeeves story well.

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not peak Wodehouse

Revisado: 01-25-22

This isn't Wodehouse at his best, but it is still better than most other writers put out!
Simon Vance does a credible job as narrator, even if I think Jonathan Cecil is the best.

the story has all the old Wodehouse contrivances; the affable but impecuneas young man about town, the unpleasant rich Lord as a villain, a fortune at stake, etc.

It lands some punches well and typical Wodehousian flairs of prose are always wonderful.

I promise you, get through the 1st chapter. it improves drastically.

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A terrifying and prescient warning

Revisado: 01-14-22

Remember the uproar amongst Trump supporters on July 4th, 2017 when they accused NPR of leftist propaganda for tweeting the Declaration of Independence?

Those reviewers are the source of negative reviews of this book that they almost certainly did not read. Their knee-jerk reaction is to take offense at reality when it doesn't fit with their Christian Nationalist and white supremacist world-view.

There is a frighteningly large percentage of Americans who are actively trying to lead us into a second Civil War. This book shows that the path we are on follows the pattern seen worldwide in the run-up to virtually every civil war from the last 150 years.

"How Civil Wars Start" is as engrossing as it is terrifying but ends with a note of optimism; there's hope that it isn't too late.

Let's hope this book inspires those who seek ever-increasing power to recognize the real potential consequences of their gaslighting. Let's hope that the book causes a real conversation in this country about the dangers of ultra-rightwing militia groups.

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this is the hook

Revisado: 10-20-21

If your friends have told you repeatedly to read the dark tower series, and you struggled to get through the 1st book, I just wanted to know this is the book that will hook you.

Power through The Gunslinger. Even if you find it boring.
Then if you aren't hooked within an hour into this book, feel free to give up.

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