• Radical Son

  • A Generational Odyssey
  • By: David Horowitz
  • Narrated by: Jeff Riggenbach
  • Length: 20 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (213 ratings)

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Radical Son  By  cover art

Radical Son

By: David Horowitz
Narrated by: Jeff Riggenbach
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Publisher's summary

David Horowitz was one of the founders of the New Left and an editor of Ramparts, the magazine that set the intellectual and revolutionary tone for the movement. From his vantage point at the center of the action, he provides vivid portraits of people who made the radical decade: world-famous philosopher Bertrand Russell, who in his 90s became America's scourge, organizing a War Crimes Tribunal over the war in Vietnam; Tom Hayden, the radical Everyman who promoted guerrilla warfare in America's cities in the 60s and became a Democratic state senator when his revolutions failed; and Huey Newton, a street hustler and murderer who founded the most celebrated radical group of the 60s, the Black Panthers. A brutal murder committed by the Panthers prompted Horowitz's profound "second thoughts" that eventually transformed him into an intellectual leader of conservatism and its most prominent activist in Hollywood.
©1997 David Horowitz (P)1998 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"David Horowitz's powerful autobiography details a long journey from a boyhood in the ambit of American Stalinism, through young adulthood at the vanguard of the New Left, to a mid-life recognition that his various gods had failed. Horowitz's gift for irony and eye for detail haven't deserted him." (Eric Breindel, editorial page editor, New York Post)

What listeners say about Radical Son

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An Autobiographical Intellectual Journey

Radical Son is the story of David Horowitz's intellectual journey from "Red Diaper Baby" to bonafide 60's radical, and finally to the well known conservative thinker and activist he is today. I initially expected Radical Son to be more of an opinion-based work - though I'm not exactly sure why, as the name and description do not describe it as such. Indeed, I originally purchased it to use up some credits and put off listening to it for some time. But as I finally began listening, I quickly realized that the purpose of this book was to chart Mr. Horowitz's life beginning as the child of American Communist co-conspirators. This book touches on topics ranging from the philosophy of thought, family, relationships, and politics. It is at times, shocking, and at others, highly emotional. Radical Son is a very difficult book to describe.

Horowitz describes the "differentness" of his upbringing and his thorough indoctrination by devoted Marxist parents, friends, and fellow travelers. Yet Horowitz's keen intellect and principled and sincere humanity continually left him struggling to justify his political goals - a struggle that would only intensify as he grew older.

His inside descriptions of events I recall only from a distance in the 1960's and 1970's, are truly breathtaking. The most pivotal of these were undoubtedly his dealings with Huey Newton and his "family" - events which would ultimately shatter his world and send him in a direction far different than his upbringing would portend. Horowitz chronicles the full court betrayal by longstanding friends in the political left, leaving him ultimately, a man alone.

This is a dynamic and sensitive look at an intelligent and sensitive man, that shows us how the power of critical thinking and the quest for the truth, knows nor follows any particular agenda.

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15 people found this helpful

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A story that shouldn't be missed!

Where does Radical Son rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the best explanations of the 60's and the radical mindset. You will find yourself constantly saying, "Ahaa! Now I understand!"

This book is like a Rosh Hashana Challa, sweet, complete, and satisfying. Perhaps a bit like Passover with some bitter herbs as well. But no life is complete without that. You feel the wholeness of life, living, and dying, betrayal and disbelief, hope and perseverance.

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The most feared person to the intellectual left.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

David Horowitz was everything the political left dreamed of when he was writing the core of leftist propaganda during the sixties and seventies,. Everything he wrote was a New York Times bestseller, now that he has told what they were really wanting to do his work is not even mentioned.

What did you like best about this story?

Horowitz was by far one of the most important intelligent writers and standard bearers for the political left, but as Churchill stated if as you grow up you're not conservative you have a lack of intelligence.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

How someone who was so vested in the left of politics would be as honest as he was even though it has cost him so much.

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6 people found this helpful

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Historically enlightening .

Enlightening and full of political history that shapes our culture. I highly recommend this book. Especially to the younger generations.

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3 people found this helpful

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Greatest book missed by the masses!

Fantastic narrative! What so many need to learn and think through! Thank David Horowitz for sharing your story!

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Well written story and interesting journey

Any additional comments?

So true on so many levels. Too bad this book will be wasted on conservatives, the most likely audience.

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So good

How often do we get to peer into the metamorphose of another human? Peering into David's experience gave me 100s of footnotes, insights and ideas. It also killed in me a lifelong expectation that both the right and left want to meet the other near a shared middle. But what died in me also made me smarter - less naive.

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A "Must Read" bio of someone who WOKE UP!

Any additional comments?

Most conservatives in America have at least heard of David Horowitz. This is the true story of his Communist roots that led to his far-left radical activism in college and through later years, and on through a murder via the Black Panthers that helped him to see and understand that he was fighting on the wrong side of history.

If I write any more, I'll soon easily have written a book about this book, and there's no need for that. Just read it for yourself!

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Shouldn't be missed

Especially for those of my generation (older boomer) who remember the people and events he talks about, this is a huge eye-opener. He couldn't have been closer to the action in the main events of my early adulthood and, coupled with his equally interesting Communist upbringing, the story is fascinating. His personal narrative links so well with the country's evolution and makes us question some outlooks that we now take for granted. I had become more conservative as I have aged, but I had never grasped the essential reason why: that socialism/liberalism seek to impose an artificial future, an impossible ideal on society, which curtails freedom and respect for the individual in the attempt. It appears to have the moral high ground, but its idealism is both unrealistic and tyrannical in nature. He is an outstanding thinker and can make very difficult concepts understandable, plus his credentials are impeccable. Even though I already leaned to conservatism, reading this book, along with others of his, has been a life changer.

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Incredible story and increasingly relevant

I can't think of anyone who would not gain wisdom from this book. It's pages are relevant today and tomorrow

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