sgrabb's review against another edition
5.0
A bit dated, reading in 2022, but still full of excellent information. Terrifying, but informative.
meganhueble's review against another edition
4.0
Some things are hard to come to terms with, especially realizing you were raised surrounded by kind, well meaning, convicted, Christian adults who had fascist ideologies. This book (like several others I’ve read in the past years) gives a lot of insight as to why obedience was prized over curiosity, patriarchy over independence, theocracy over democracy, patriotism over critique.
Even before I developed my own political ideology, I questioned the assumption that true Christianity was inextricably linked to conservatism. When those who had raised me in a faith that fostered values like compassion, empathy, patience, and understanding seemingly ignored those tenants to unquestioningly support Trump, it was difficult to make sense of (as was COVID denial/anti-masking a few years later).
This book’s research and demonstration of evidence is helpful in reconciling my own experiences and in contextualizing how fascism took root in both American Christianity and on right. It’s so interesting to me that this was published almost 10 years before the 2016 election and that it references those who have seen this trend towards fascism well before then.
Even before I developed my own political ideology, I questioned the assumption that true Christianity was inextricably linked to conservatism. When those who had raised me in a faith that fostered values like compassion, empathy, patience, and understanding seemingly ignored those tenants to unquestioningly support Trump, it was difficult to make sense of (as was COVID denial/anti-masking a few years later).
This book’s research and demonstration of evidence is helpful in reconciling my own experiences and in contextualizing how fascism took root in both American Christianity and on right. It’s so interesting to me that this was published almost 10 years before the 2016 election and that it references those who have seen this trend towards fascism well before then.
rjvrtiska's review against another edition
4.0
Published in 2007, there are many points in this book that seemed fantastical and paranoid at the time. Fifteen years later, post-Trump presidency (depending on who you ask), post America’s (first?) coup attempt, Hedges was simply explaining America’s political and cultural path. A review and update at the 20 year mark would be a valuable contribution.
walruz's review against another edition
3.0
While there's nothing in this 2006 book by widely-traveled journalist Hedges that any reasonably critical American would find startlingly new or profound, still this expose is unsettling, not so much because these religio-fascist-capitalist leaders exist, but--as Hedges points out from time to time--that anyone with a modicum of sense follows them at all.
digitalrob's review against another edition
3.0
This book is disturbing.
First, Hedges starts with a definition and explaination of fascism, and I had to double check the publication date to see that it wasn't specifically written to be a lampooning of the Trump administration. It was written in 2007, so the fact that the description of fascism immediately made me think of Trump is telling in and of itself.
All of the middle chapters explain the different methods that conservative Christians move to make the U.S. a Christian Nation, and in so doing accept and relish their own hypocrisy. Most of what is described here, I had already heard of; however, put together in this manner with these expamples and quotes from the church leaders makes it abundantly clear that Christian hegemony is the agenda, not an accident of ignorant policies and Biblical interpretations.
Finally, one of the most interesting aspects of this study for me is the fact that so many of the radical right have professed a faith of prosperity, that gaining riches is the result of great faith and thus being wealthy is a sign of God's trust in someone. This is what I mean when I say that fascism knowingly embraces their own hypocrisy and also prey on the desperation of those in most need.
Quotes from Chapters 9 and 10
"There can be no liberty for the community that lacks the means to detect lies."
After the quote from Huck Finn about tearing up the note: "The radical Christian right calls for exclusion, cruelty, and intolerance in the name of God. Its members do not do evil for evil's sake. They commit evil to make a better world."
"I do not deny the right of the Christian radicals to be, to believe and worship as they choose. But I will not engage in a dialog with those who deny my right to be, who delegitimize my faith and denounce my struggle before God as worthless."
First, Hedges starts with a definition and explaination of fascism, and I had to double check the publication date to see that it wasn't specifically written to be a lampooning of the Trump administration. It was written in 2007, so the fact that the description of fascism immediately made me think of Trump is telling in and of itself.
All of the middle chapters explain the different methods that conservative Christians move to make the U.S. a Christian Nation, and in so doing accept and relish their own hypocrisy. Most of what is described here, I had already heard of; however, put together in this manner with these expamples and quotes from the church leaders makes it abundantly clear that Christian hegemony is the agenda, not an accident of ignorant policies and Biblical interpretations.
Finally, one of the most interesting aspects of this study for me is the fact that so many of the radical right have professed a faith of prosperity, that gaining riches is the result of great faith and thus being wealthy is a sign of God's trust in someone. This is what I mean when I say that fascism knowingly embraces their own hypocrisy and also prey on the desperation of those in most need.
Quotes from Chapters 9 and 10
"There can be no liberty for the community that lacks the means to detect lies."
After the quote from Huck Finn about tearing up the note: "The radical Christian right calls for exclusion, cruelty, and intolerance in the name of God. Its members do not do evil for evil's sake. They commit evil to make a better world."
"I do not deny the right of the Christian radicals to be, to believe and worship as they choose. But I will not engage in a dialog with those who deny my right to be, who delegitimize my faith and denounce my struggle before God as worthless."