Radical Son

A Generational Odyssey

By: David Horowitz

Narrated by: Jeff Riggenbach

Length: 20 hrs and 9 mins

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)

Avoid the Progressive Pitfalls & Gain Wisdom

This is a book all who are tempted to believe in the Utopian view of the Progressive Left should read. After being a fully indoctrinated member of the Progressive movement David Horowitz broke free from the lies and deceits. Well worth your time to read.

You have to read (or listen) to this book

Wow! This book should be on everyone’s ’Must Read’ list. This book is so compelling it is hard to put down. David Horowitz shows that he has first hand knowledge of the progressive agenda because he used to embrace it.

Greatest book missed by the masses!

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

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.

A 180* turn to hope and truth.

A very enlightening story! A 180* to hope an truth. Filled in some of the ‘Swiss cheese holes’ in my historical knowledge.

A lesson in modern history

This 20 plus year old autobiography certainly proves that history repeats itself. The progressive playback is exposed for all to see. It's depressing to know the truth and watch a new generation buy into their lies. The narrator had the right tone to reflect the brilliant intellect David posseses.

The Sixties

David Horowitz was raised in a radical Marxist home. In this memoir, Radical Son: A Generational Odyseesy, he reveals his journey from childhood in that environment, through a career as a radical, and his philosophical rebirth as a conservative. His transition from Jewish Communist to political conservative proved to be far more interesting than I anticipated. I came to his memoir with no preconceived notions and an interest in the era he represents. I gained insight into that era, many of the players active during the period, and the issues that were raised. For me, the sections where Horowitz reflects on his childhood and philosophical/political issues is the most interesting. Lesser are the sections detailing his professional career as a writer and author. However, those sections are critical to understanding his conversion to conservatism and support the greater narrative. Ultimately, I am not certain what to make of Horowitz. I am not sure that in the grand scheme of things he will even be remembered. Certainly, he has his distracters. As a memoir it sheds some light on the human condition and was entertaining to boot. Take it as such and you will be rewarded. The reading of Jeff Riggenbach is very good.

Required reading

This should be required reading for highschool students in the united states. When will the red terror end.

Illuminates the causes of our current cultural chaos

This book illuminates the early Marxist, socialist infection of America starting in the 1920s. It is particularly poignant because it was lived by Horowitz and his parents.
It will help you understand the current cultural chaos and the dangers to our democracy and freedoms.

Excellent listen

Fantastically informative and well narrated. A tour de force of American Communism and its radical roots.