• Liberal Fascism

  • The Secret History of the American Left
  • By: Jonah Goldberg
  • Narrated by: Johnny Heller
  • Length: 15 hrs and 52 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,171 ratings)

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Liberal Fascism  By  cover art

Liberal Fascism

By: Jonah Goldberg
Narrated by: Johnny Heller
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Publisher's summary

"Fascists", "Brownshirts", "jackbooted stormtroopers" - such are the insults typically hurled at conservatives by their liberal opponents. Calling someone a fascist is the fastest way to shut them up, defining their views as beyond the political pale. But who are the real fascists in our midst?

Liberal Fascism offers a startling new perspective on the theories and practices that define fascist politics. Jonah Goldberg reminds us that the original fascists were really on the left and that liberals from Woodrow Wilson to Franklin Roosevelt to Hillary Clinton have advocated policies and principles remarkably similar to those of Hitler's National Socialism and Mussolini's Fascism.

Contrary to what most people think, the Nazis were ardent socialists (hence the term National Socialism). They believed in free health care and guaranteed jobs. They confiscated inherited wealth and spent vast sums on public education. They purged the church from public policy, and inserted the authority of the state into every nook and cranny of daily life. The Nazis declared war on smoking and supported abortion, euthanasia, and gun control.

Do these striking parallels mean that today's liberals are genocidal maniacs, intent on conquering the world and imposing a new racial order? Not at all. Yet it is hard to deny that modern progressivism and classical fascism shared the same intellectual roots. The modern heirs of a "friendly fascist" tradition include the New York Times, the Democratic Party, the Ivy League professoriate, and the liberals of Hollywood. The quintessential Liberal Fascist isn't an SS storm trooper; it is a female grade-school teacher with an education degree from Brown or Swarthmore.

These assertions may sound strange to modern ears, but that is because we have forgotten what fascism is. In this angry, funny, smart, contentious book, Jonah Goldberg turns our preconceptions inside out and shows us the true meaning of Liberal Fascism.

©2007 Jonah Goldberg (P)2008 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"Certain to attract interest...across the political spectrum." ( Booklist)
"Provocative and well-researched....Seriously argued and funny." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Liberal Fascism

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A must read!

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

Yes,I would recommend this book to a friend.Why? Because it defines what a leftist is and it shows how leftist dogmas don't work .

What other book might you compare Liberal Fascism to and why?

Still the Best Hope: Why the World Needs American Values to Triumph by Dennis Prager.

Have you listened to any of Johnny Heller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No .

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

In the words of Albert Arnold Gore, An inconvenient truth!

Any additional comments?

It must have taken Goldberg at least a year to write this book.I commend him for it.Everyone on both sides of the political spectrum should read it .

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9 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A groundbreaking and important non-fiction book

Conservative journalist Jonah Goldberg released Liberal Fascism early in 2008 and I purchased and listened to the audiobook in late June of that year. I've listened to it twice since. Most people in the US believe falsely that fascism is an ideology of the political right while it is in fact a form of nationalist socialism that is on the far political left. Fascism is best described as socialism wrapped in a crony capitalist shell. Goldberg makes his case strongly, overwhelmingly, yet we continue to hear conservative Republicans like George W. Bush, John McCain, and Mitt Romney falsely characterized as fascist and Nazis and fans of Hitler .In fact modern US Progressives with their preference for overwhelmingly strong central government and crony capitalism are actually ideologically very close to fascists. Every voting age person in the US should read or listen to this wonderful book. Johnny Heller narrates superbly.

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8 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Liberal Fascism, An Intelligent Response To The Left

This may be the most important book written in the last 25 years. The Left in America controls our language. Goldberg provides much needed ammunition for conservatives to counter this reality.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Well documented and fascinating

Goldberg first acknowledges that fascism is not unique to the left, and does not propose that it is a leftist-only ideal. He then takes the reader on a tour of the fascism of the left throughout the last century or so. This book is so profound in its undermining of dogmatic 20th century history lessons...it isn't that we were tought the opposite of what happened, precisely; however, a lot of the very important lessons and background were somehow omitted from our texts. I give this book my highest rating and recommend it to anyone who has the stomach for understanding the fascism that has taken place in Europe, Asia, and particularly the U.S. in the past century. I think the politicians of today utilize nationalist sentiments to whip the voters along...this is why (although, yes I'm very proud to be an American) I get immediately concerned about anyone's argument when they invoke patriotism or "America-first" dogma rather than presenting a solid principled or economic argument. This author has provided one of the enlightening political works of our time. Take advantage of it and have a listen!!! By the way, I bought the book too, but it got a little dry in places and I got bored...so the audiobook was the great answer for me and I recommend it highly.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

The puzzle is complete.

After reading this book, the only thing I can say is WOW! All the things that I knew were wrong, but didnt know why, became clear. The mask came off the lie of liberalism and progressivism and how really evil it all is, you know...based on "compassion" and "giving to the unfortunate." GREAT BOOK!! This should be the starter book for all to read who want to know what is going on right now in our government in 2010.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Essential Listening

I'm finishing my eighth time through. This is a critically important book. I only wish Goldberg had narrated it himself.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Is the deck completely stacked in liberals favor?

Disclaimer: I believed (either consciously or subconsciously) most of the things this books puts forward.

This book provides the "rest of the story" for many of the fairy tales presented as facts by the liberal propaganda machine. From the hijacking of our political system by those deemed the "smartest people in the room" to the FDR and JFK myths. One thing is clear, there are plenty of Americans who believe exactly what they want to hear regardless of the facts. A utopia is just around the corner if you are willing to give away just a little more liberty (and money). Everyone deserves equal result no matter their effort.

But what do we do now? While we may not be a dictatorship from a political organizational perspective, I see very little to balance the liberal thought mantra that pounds us on a daily basis. At what point does the resistance collapse under the shear weight of the liberal machine?

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Sweet Awsomeness!!!!!!

If history does repeat it's self or rhyme, We are Doomed!!! You all better get right with the Lord this time, cause there isn't going to be a next time!
Just read the book and you will see!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Provocative with a slightly nutty flavor

There were at times, though I sympathized with the author, the narration seemed to wander into the tone of paranoid. But for the most part the books was informative and thought provoking. However, having studied the early to mid 20th Century Europe in grad school I found myself thinking. "yes, but..." when the author brought up various aspects of pre-war German society.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Most important!

This book is, perhaps, the most important book I've read (with the exception of the Bible). Goldberg does an excellent job of describing the political landscape. He is quite forceful in his conclusions regarding fascism and the current political scene.

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4 people found this helpful