catbooking's review against another edition
5.0
In my opinion quite a populist book, but none the less entertaining. If you are easily offended, especially by offensive language, do not read. Otherwise if you want a small glance into the world of televised and mass member churches, this is certainly a good start, but not the final word. Makes you think of the effect the mass church crowd could have on the events taking place in US.
fshere's review against another edition
4.0
that one chapter where he sneaks into the church retreat is worth the price of the book alone!
yukbon's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable, somewhat dated, kind of light reading. Like a liberal and not-as-boorish version of P.J. O'Rourke.
mcmcg11's review against another edition
3.0
Taibbi enters interesting journalistic territory exploring the inner mechanisms of the 9/11 Truth Movement, Congress, and a southern Evangelical church. While the anecdotes of extremism prove fertile fodder for a cynic like Taibbi and provide for some humorous and mind boggling moments, the author seems to stretch too far in trying to tie these subcultures together to form a single theory: Extremism in America is the direct reaction of a disenfranchised public to an ineffective and corrupt political system. While an interesting hypothosis, the argument the author is trying to make seems underdeveloped. This book might have been better if the author didn't try to impose an overarching theory and instead focused more on refining the stories so that they could stand alone as a series of interesting Notes from Fringe America. I did enjoy the author's mindful self-abnegation while going undercover to report on these groups. 2.5 out of 5.
casualblasphemy's review against another edition
4.0
I guess it's easy to enjoy a book when you agree with 95% of what's said in it. Taibbi also has a casual, pretense-free style that I find more enjoyable than the high-toned natterings of most conventional political writers. I occasionally wondered if he'd embellished his account of the "undercover" work he did with the Texas evangelicals, but I suppose that misses the larger point to some degree.
bozodubbedover's review against another edition
5.0
Matt Taibbi’s writing is so prescient he might actually be clairvoyant. Sharp, insightful, fucking hilarious; I have found one of my new favorite writers. 5/5
bloodravenlib's review against another edition
2.0
I actually had a lot to say about it, so feel free to go over to my blog and read my review on it.
lumbermouth's review against another edition
3.0
Had to turn this in with about 6 chapters to go. I enjoyed it while I was reading it, and he has a lot of interesting things to say, but I don't find myself clamoring to go back and finish it. Sorry, world.