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stephang18's review
4.0
The writing really crackles, especially for a political theory book. Despite its vividness, I'm not 100% I understand the author's point. I also disagree with his characterization of the Reagan years, and why almost no mention of the Bushes & Clinton presidencies? Still, worth reading.
miguelf's review
1.0
Pity poor Christopher Caldwell – born 50 years too late and not able to live out his peak years in the 1950’s and early 60’s where in the idealized conservative’s brain men were men, women knew their place in the kitchen, gays were firmly in the closet, dark people had separate but (un)equal facilities and goats were scared. Has a book ever been more ironically titled? Within one finds an overly long litany of all of the author’s entitlements that have been lost: the ability to discriminate against those deemed your genetic inferior, the privilege to say whatever offensive thing comes to mind, and the right to look down your nose at those not your social equal. Historical revisionism abounds and is firmly entrenched in the far right mold of grievance culture. There are no alternative historical paths laid out of course – absent the limited gains of the 1960’s for women, gay, and minorities Caldwell doesn’t articulate how culture or history should have happened or should be improved. To arrive at that one has to read between the very loud dog whistles to imagine his world that more resembles Saudi Arabia than anything one would associate with modern day America.
It’s instructive to read a book like this to get an idea of what the common right winger believes and aspires to. It feels gross while taking it in, but it's instructive to wade in these fetid pools to take in first hand the gas that they've been lighting themselves with lately.
It’s instructive to read a book like this to get an idea of what the common right winger believes and aspires to. It feels gross while taking it in, but it's instructive to wade in these fetid pools to take in first hand the gas that they've been lighting themselves with lately.
wanderlost's review
3.0
3.5. A bit dry, but complements well Lukianoff and Haidt's “The Coddling of the American Mind” and Ezra Klein’s “Why We’re Polarized” in providing perspectives of the climate of American politics in the 21st century. “Entitlement” has a very timely civil rights slant to it and offers hints as to where it might all eventually lead.
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