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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
allisonnorberg's review
2.0
I read about a third of this book and I don’t think I’m missing much by not finishing it. The way the author writes is of one of two different kinds of Republicans: the “intellectual” ones (the second kind of Republican being the Trumpers). I believe Boot is smart, but a lot of the sentence structure is overly complex and the use of “big” words is a bit excessive. We get it, you’re a journalist and went to a big name school. It was just annoying to read and came off as him wanting a medal for being conservative and not voting for Trump. If you want to read a book by a former Republican, I suggest Rising out of Hatred: the Awakening of a Former White Nationalist by Derek Black. Black really did some relearning and it was a great read. And by suggesting this book I am not insinuating that Boot is a white nationalist lol.
ogreart's review
5.0
I was impressed by this. I found I have much more in common with Boot than I thought I would. I agree with a lot of his points, but we are still apart on others. He is someone I feel I could work with and find a decent compromises with. Let's bring back more people like him and fewer like MAGA.
laurazdavidson's review
4.0
"[T]here is no doubt that there has always been a dark underside to conservatism and one that I chose for most of my life to ignore. It's amazing how little you can see when your eyes are closed!"
I enjoy reading political books because they make me examine my own personal beliefs. I wish more people would.
I enjoy reading political books because they make me examine my own personal beliefs. I wish more people would.
rick2's review
3.0
It’s an OK book. Max does his best “surprised Pikachu face” at the fact that the conservative party he loved and grew up with In the 60s and 70s is no longer the conservative party it is today. Max seems like a reasonable person, he’s very well read, and his writing is good, I just don’t think he says anything you can’t find in 100 other places. Trump bad, conservative party changed, here’s your wake up call.
rob503's review
5.0
Unexpected
This book is an excellent treatise by a former conservative who immediately saw the problem with Trumpism and recoiled from it. He offers great lessons in how we got to this point and some ideas on how to correct the problems we now see. I highly recommend this to anyone who finds themself disgusted by POTUS and has the brain power to look past party identity.
This book is an excellent treatise by a former conservative who immediately saw the problem with Trumpism and recoiled from it. He offers great lessons in how we got to this point and some ideas on how to correct the problems we now see. I highly recommend this to anyone who finds themself disgusted by POTUS and has the brain power to look past party identity.
some_okie_dude27's review
5.0
A few years ago, I probably would have dismissed Max Boot as naive, short-sighted, and foolish. I know how arrogant that sounds coming from a 16 year old, but then again I was pretty arrogant at that time. Now, I see Max Boot as thoughtful, wise, and insightful. I still disagree with many of his views, but I certainly know the feeling of being isolated from the people that you are supposed to be allied with, it is why I left the mainstream libertarian movement as they began to peddle anti-semitic conspiracy theories and advocated genocide for political opponents, so I share Boot's designation as a 'political ronin' as he puts it. As Ronald Reagan once said 'I didn't leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left me.'
Much like everyone else in the political field, I initially couldn't make heads or tails on what Donald Trump was doing, but also puzzled on how people could ever like such a man. Sure, Trump is most certainly entertaining and his odd brand has certainly shaken up the political establishment, it is his streak of being vindictive towards his enemies as well as his penchant for manipulation that has me worried. I don't believe that he is racist, rather that he uses these talking points that he espouses in order to take advantage of people's fear and resentment of the so called 'other' in order to slither his way into power, as most politicians tend to do. It was almost like Trump took a page from Machiavelli (or a Sparknotes, as Trump probably hasn't taken the time to read The Prince) and used them in practice, which of course worked in his favor. The man said it himself 'I could stand in the middle of Fifth avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose any voters.'
Boot writes with a smooth, conversational tone and his prose never feels boring, even though I would doubt that he would win a Pulitzer for it. He never panders or sounds like he is attempting to get in with anyone or gain acceptance from a so called 'elite', as so many would gladly pronounce nowadays. He speaks modestly and honestly about what has happened to him and why he grew disenfranchised with the modern day Republican Party, which has proven itself cowardly and lacking any sort of standards whatsoever, it makes me question what's worse: the people who are fanatically devoted to him or the people who have phoned in support for the man. Boot asks these same questions, while also reiterating the same critiques and issues that I have with our current president, while doing it in a informative and well spoken manner, something our current Commander in Chief seems to lack.
Certainly there are problems that I have with the book, mainly some of the accusations of racism and nativism, there are certainly some things that could point to this, but the reasons I disagree with this are the points that I brought up before. However, there's some other things, such as Trump peddling anti-semitic conspiracy theories, that are utter nonsense and this is coming from an outspoken critic of Trump. This shouldn't be too hard to see why, considering his son in law and daughter are both Jewish and he has expressed his support for Israel several times, though again that could also play into the game of politics that is played, but there is no serious evidence that I have seen that points to Trump being an anti-semite.
I suppose that it is Boot's sticking to his principles is what I admire the most about him, I admire that he had the balls to put this out in an era that is so divisive and willing to screech and scream at each other when one disagrees with another. It is this strength of character that Boot has that I would like to emulate in my own life and beliefs, and in a way I find a kindred spirit in Max Boot. We're both in a 'political ronin' stage of our lives and it's nice to find someone who feels the same way that I do, though our experiences were rather different in coming to that conclusion. I usually like cathartic experiences, and this book is a 260 page catharsis. It's nice to find someone who you can relate to in a time that seems dour, and this book is one that doesn't seek to comfort, but it certainly understands the pain.
Much like everyone else in the political field, I initially couldn't make heads or tails on what Donald Trump was doing, but also puzzled on how people could ever like such a man. Sure, Trump is most certainly entertaining and his odd brand has certainly shaken up the political establishment, it is his streak of being vindictive towards his enemies as well as his penchant for manipulation that has me worried. I don't believe that he is racist, rather that he uses these talking points that he espouses in order to take advantage of people's fear and resentment of the so called 'other' in order to slither his way into power, as most politicians tend to do. It was almost like Trump took a page from Machiavelli (or a Sparknotes, as Trump probably hasn't taken the time to read The Prince) and used them in practice, which of course worked in his favor. The man said it himself 'I could stand in the middle of Fifth avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose any voters.'
Boot writes with a smooth, conversational tone and his prose never feels boring, even though I would doubt that he would win a Pulitzer for it. He never panders or sounds like he is attempting to get in with anyone or gain acceptance from a so called 'elite', as so many would gladly pronounce nowadays. He speaks modestly and honestly about what has happened to him and why he grew disenfranchised with the modern day Republican Party, which has proven itself cowardly and lacking any sort of standards whatsoever, it makes me question what's worse: the people who are fanatically devoted to him or the people who have phoned in support for the man. Boot asks these same questions, while also reiterating the same critiques and issues that I have with our current president, while doing it in a informative and well spoken manner, something our current Commander in Chief seems to lack.
Certainly there are problems that I have with the book, mainly some of the accusations of racism and nativism, there are certainly some things that could point to this, but the reasons I disagree with this are the points that I brought up before. However, there's some other things, such as Trump peddling anti-semitic conspiracy theories, that are utter nonsense and this is coming from an outspoken critic of Trump. This shouldn't be too hard to see why, considering his son in law and daughter are both Jewish and he has expressed his support for Israel several times, though again that could also play into the game of politics that is played, but there is no serious evidence that I have seen that points to Trump being an anti-semite.
I suppose that it is Boot's sticking to his principles is what I admire the most about him, I admire that he had the balls to put this out in an era that is so divisive and willing to screech and scream at each other when one disagrees with another. It is this strength of character that Boot has that I would like to emulate in my own life and beliefs, and in a way I find a kindred spirit in Max Boot. We're both in a 'political ronin' stage of our lives and it's nice to find someone who feels the same way that I do, though our experiences were rather different in coming to that conclusion. I usually like cathartic experiences, and this book is a 260 page catharsis. It's nice to find someone who you can relate to in a time that seems dour, and this book is one that doesn't seek to comfort, but it certainly understands the pain.
auggiexu's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
I have thoroughly enjoyed Boot’s books. I have found him to be quite insightful. As someone who also became extremely disillusioned by the GOP years ago and ultimately left the party and became independent, I found the book compelling.
Boot speaks for those of us who are disgusted that the dark undercurrents within the GOP have now become the dominant traits, e.g. populism, authoritarianism, conspiratorial thinking, anti-intellectualism and bigotry. Trump was never really the problem, he is a symptom.
Boot speaks for those of us who are disgusted that the dark undercurrents within the GOP have now become the dominant traits, e.g. populism, authoritarianism, conspiratorial thinking, anti-intellectualism and bigotry. Trump was never really the problem, he is a symptom.
laurab2125's review
5.0
Max Boot, a #NeverTrumper, makes his case that conservatism and the Republican party not only are no longer a viable option for people who appreciate democracy and empathy, but that for a long time there's been an undercurrent of xenophobia, misogyny and racism that's recently become more apparent.
Boot tells his story of immigration to the US and then his buy-in to Reagan's Republican party. He tracks his rise in the party, and then finally his dissolution with the Republicans and what now sees, with the advantage of a step back, as the party's current state as inevitable.
This is a great read from someone who admits his mistakes and explains the mindset of those still in the party. No longer a Republican, and not a Democrat, he stands in the middle, hoping for a new direction.
Boot tells his story of immigration to the US and then his buy-in to Reagan's Republican party. He tracks his rise in the party, and then finally his dissolution with the Republicans and what now sees, with the advantage of a step back, as the party's current state as inevitable.
This is a great read from someone who admits his mistakes and explains the mindset of those still in the party. No longer a Republican, and not a Democrat, he stands in the middle, hoping for a new direction.