Idiot America

How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free

By: Charles P. Pierce

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

The culture wars are over and the idiots have won. This is a veteran journalist’s caustically funny, righteously angry lament about the glorification of ignorance in the United States.

The three Great Premises of Idiot America: · Any theory is valid if it sells books, soaks up ratings, or otherwise moves units; anything can be true if someone says it loudly enough; "fact" is that which enough people believe. And "truth" is determined by how fervently they believe it.

Charles Pierce has led a career-long quest to separate the smart from the pap, and now it’s time to try and salvage the Land of the Enlightened, buried somewhere in this new Home of the Uninformed. With his razor-sharp wit and erudite reasoning, Pierce delivers a gut-wrenching, side-splitting lament about the glorification of ignorance in the United States and how a country founded on intellectual curiosity has deteriorated into a nation of simpletons more apt to vote for an American Idol contestant than a presidential candidate.

With Idiot America, Pierce’s thunderous denunciation is also a secret call to action, as he hopes that, somehow, being intelligent will stop being a stigma and that pinheads will once again be pitied, not celebrated.

©2009 Charles P. Pierce (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A raucous rant against the armies of the right…. Pierce is at his scathing, insightful best.” ( Boston Globe)

Good but repetitive

This book could have been much shorter. The author makes the same case over and over. It still worth reading.

Explains How We Got to the 2016 Election

Mr. Pierce touches on subjects that divide our nation. So if you're too sensitive, avoid this book. Hot topics, like climate change and conservative talk shows, are brought up. He's highly critical, but rightfully so in many cases. Even if you disagree with him, is worth the opportunity for another POV.

rudder stuck hard to port

First Bronson Pinchot is the best reader. it's worth listening to anything he reads. as someone who considers himself conservative this book allowed me to visit the smug lefts self indulging superiority complex that recently allowed its headlong run off the cliff.

Started out slow

The book started out slow and rambled, but the further in it got, the better it got and the more factual information began to become clear. For a while, I wondered if this was simply a Democrat beating up on Republicans, but it eventually came back full circle when it got to the time of the Obama administration.

Even more relevant today.

Excellent coverage of the idiots on the political right, but thin coverage on the political left.

The Title

Yes. The title says it all. The author intelligently fails against those who believe majority rule determines truth. He decries that untruths are playing a powerful role in America.

There Is Now Scientific Evidence for...

Indeed we are becoming a country of idiots and this book points out many of the really stupid things people in this country believe.

I personally do not care if people believe that the earth is 6,000 years old. Everyone, myself included, has at least one totally irrational belief in their baggage.

My objection to the beliefs of others is inflamed when nutty beliefs are taught in schools or guide important political policies. No, a 6,000 year old earth is not a different point of view deserving equal time with evolution; it's nutty. I hate to see kids taught that nonsense by their parents but hey, it's a free country. And that, sadly, is the point.

So, like me, you'll read this to reinforce what you already believe. Or you will spit nails over your right to believe these nutty things and see it as yet another attack on god-fearing people.

If you're not in the nut wing, you'll get a few really good laughs and in the end, you'll feel a little sad.

Go for it. I highly recommend this book.

Chris Reich, TeachU

Agreed with premise. But tedious writing.

Any additional comments?

I agreed with the author's points. But, the organization, the structure, was a disappointment. The author got lost in too many tedious historical stories from the 19th century. Of the last ten audio books I have done, this is the dullest. And most of my books are about history or politics.

The book could have been more tightly built around more contemporary examples of idiocy in American life. At least it could have started in the 1920's, an era more relevant to us. There is plenty of idiocy material to work with in the last 90 years : -)

A Pretty Good Start

What made the experience of listening to Idiot America the most enjoyable?

To me the examples resonated and were things that some of my more right leaning friends haven't thought through. I think there are many many more examples that make this "Idiot America"

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Nothing was really "compelling" but is pressed I would have to say the narrators tone at times.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

NO

Prophetic

Very interesting, true and kinda scary! Needs an update for the Trump era! Definitely worth a read (if you have an open mind)