How to Destroy America in Three Easy Steps

By: Ben Shapiro

Narrated by: Ben Shapiro

Length: 6 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's Summary

A New York Times best seller!

A growing number of Americans want to tear down what it’s taken us 250 years to build - and they’ll start by canceling our shared history, ideals, and culture. 

Traditional areas of civic agreement are vanishing. We can’t agree on what makes America special. We can’t even agree that America is special. We’re coming to the point that we can’t even agree what the word America itself means. 

“Disintegrationists” say we’re stronger together, but their assault on America’s history, philosophy, and culture will only tear us apart. Who are the disintegrationists? From Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States to the New York Times’ 1619 Project, many modern analyses view American history through the lens of competing oppressions, a racist and corrupt experiment from the very beginning. They see American philosophy as a lie - beautiful words pasted over a thoroughly rotted system. They see America’s culture of rights as a façade that merely reinforces traditional hierarchies of power, instead of being the only culture that guarantees freedom for individuals. 

Disintegrationist attacks on the values that built our nation are insidious because they replace each foundational belief, from the rights to free speech and self-defense to the importance of marriage and faith communities, with nothing more than an increased reliance on the government. 

This twisted disintegrationist vision replaces the traditional “unionist” understanding that all Americans are united in a shared striving toward the perfection of universal ideals. 

How to Destroy America in Three Easy Steps shows that to be a cohesive nation we have to uphold foundational truths about ourselves, our history, and reality itself - to be unionists instead of disintegrationists. Shapiro offers a vital warning that if we don’t recover these shared truths, our future - our union - as a great country is threatened with destruction. 

©2020 Ben Shapiro (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

A necessary call for unity

It’s hard to leave a review on a politically-charged book without getting political, but I will do my best. So, here goes:

What I liked most about this one is how Shapiro tactfully diagnoses the current state of the country as well as the dangerous ideologies that have brought us to such a place. Without the belief that America is and always has been an evil place, he says, we would not see such widespread prevalence of cancel culture, tribalism, and a desire to dismantle the system from top to bottom.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this one was Shapiro’s ability to have a reasonable discussion about the history of America. He does not deny the atrocities that have taken place in our country, nor does he suggest that we should attempt to look past them.

Instead, he says, we should use such lessons to help us guide our future behavior, come together, and reinforce the rights outlined in the constitution. When we don’t do those things, we allow such atrocities to take place, and we grow further divided by the day.

Shapiro’s willingness to actually discuss difficult issues, in my opinion, is what makes him an effective political commentator. He even says, when talking about “cancel culture,” that the proper response to someone you disagree with is to have a discussion. Yet, in America these days, it seems like all we want to do instead is flip the middle finger — the proper response if we want to silence someone.

Thus, he concludes the book by saying that if we want to repair the rifts in our country, we need to stop silencing one another and come together. We need to talk more and attack less. And, most importantly, we need to see the good in others, learn to trust one another again, and unite. It’s an important message delivered at a critical time, and regardless of political affiliation, it’s why I recommend this book.

-Brian Sachetta
Author of “Get Out of Your Head”

If you watch his web show - there is nothing new

As a reader, he reads quickly, and does terrible mocking impressions of people that I personally don't find entertaining. The ideas he expresses in the book are nothing new compared to what he has already said on his web show. It's basically a recap of everything he's been saying for the past year. Many times word for word segments. Every talking point I found myself going "Okay I've heard this before...I've heard this before" and being able to predict what he was going to say next.

This book would be great for those who are unfamiliar with him. But that will likely make up about .5% of the people who do read this book. For those who are already avid followers, just know by buying this audiobook you're essentially making a donation to support him as you'll gain no new information.

If I wasn't so familiar with him already, this book could be a 4 out of 5. It could serve as a big wake up call to people.

I can say personally I'll never buy another one of his books so long as I continue to keep up with him on social media etc.

Terrible with awful mimic and impersonation

The book plays on fear and non-sense arguments. The narration is very irritated. it was really bad idea not to bring someone who can perform better. in addition to the bad the narrative, mimicking voice was even more irritating. I could not stand that as it was really distractive, awful, and stupid. I hope that I never find another author who does that.
First, it is not funny nor entertaining. Second, it gives the impression of mocking and disrespect which completely overshadow any point if building conversation.

Performed by Shapiro for his fans

Excellent, clear explanation of the conservative case for constitutional government that is undercut by Shapiro doing impressions of politicians he doesn’t like. I could hand the book to a friend, but can not recommend the audiobook to anyone who isn’t already a fan of Shapiro.

A book every American should listen to

This book is a great blend of American history and philosophy that reaches into the soul of what makes our country great. Ben gives the tools we the people need to voice our concerns over the growing rise of leftist ideology.

Talks too fast and does bad impressions too often

I find this book fascinating the way he describes our rights and where they came from is great. Two things make this book unlistenable. The speed at which he talks is incredibly fast. I thought I had mistakenly set the playback speed to 1.5 before I realized, no it was normal. After that I lowered it to 0.8 which helped. Secondly his impersonations of politicians, specifically the ones he doesn’t like are distracting and condescending.

Great content but the narration is not !

The libertarian philosophy and the historical content are just what one would expect of Ben Shapiro. It is outstanding. Shapiiro's voice tends to become taxing after a while, but what frustrated me most were his lame attempts to speak in the voice of others when quoting them. His voices for Trump and Obama were especially bad. Nevertheless, the content is so strong that the audiobook earns 5 stars.

Most relevant piece of nonfiction for 2020

Ben’s “Three Easy Steps” is probably the most accurate telling and diagnosis of what is creating the divide in America these days. What basically started off as a prediction for the future has essentially come to fruition in the present. This is the most important book of the year for all of those who hope to see America continue as a union. Regardless of political beliefs, this is a book for true patriots. Hope everyone finds it as insightful as I found it and God Bless America and God Bless You.

Important message, cheapened by divisiveness

In this book, Shapiro paints an effective and complete account of the core tenets of conservative political theory as firmly grounded in the founding principals that made America the great success it has (most of the time) been.

This ideal, he contrasts with his invented “ism,” the “disintegrationsit,” a philosophy which comprises the very worst of leftest tendencies made manifest in a belief system which has no notable modern champions.

Of particular hypocrisy is the notion that the disintegrationist’s chief goal is to undo the fabric that binds Americans together, even as the author works so hard to build a straw-man “other” that we conservatives are at ideological war with.

Still worth the read for the work the Author put into summarizing the best tenets of conservative philosophy.

Phenomenal!

Really enjoyed this book! Ben, as usual, lays it all out! We need the truth more now than ever. Plus his impressions are amazing. Thanks Ben!

I'm not even from the US....

I'm not even from the US, but what is happening in America is happening everywhere. Swedens (where I am from) University elite are now calling to defund/dismantle the police in our country... People around me where I live in the UK are very hostile towards anything that resembles Conservative thinking. This book is as Ben himself said in an interview... Almost profetic considering it was written before the biggest effects of the dissintergrationists ideology came to play. I know its been happening for a while, I ha e been following it since 2015... But to see it to this level is scary to say the least. Whether you are on the right or on the left, read the book. Its not just good. It's brilliant.

Fascinating & high recommended!

Shapiro is brilliant as always! A true & accurate delivery of history with a resounding rebuttal to the dangerous Marxist ideologies taking over the US.

Superb analysis

Great and timely analysis. Excellent book . Well researched and thought through . I greatly recommend it

Prothetic

An unusualy well timed release that summarises America's current division quite well. The book is divided in chapters on history, philosophy and culture and how 'disintegrationists' view these traits.

Its worth the purchase of the audio version just to hear Ben's comic impressions of Sanders, Obama & O' Rourke alone.

Good book. Very insightful

Shapiro is very well-versed in how legal systems work. Very insightful. Thank you. A must-read.

Excellent book

Helpful overview of US history and culture, and why the Union is worth fighting for.

Fantastic

I’m not surprised that Ben has created such a great book, being as smart and inquisitive as he is.
My only complaint is the awful Obama impersonating 😆

Anti-SJW at it's best!

Whilst articulating an unfashionable point of view, Shapiro delivers a (mostly) balanced critique of the prevailing political view of America that currently finds favour on the Left of the political isle. Shapiro is an unapologetic conservative, so his rejection of the oppression Olympics currently playing out in the West, and in America more than anywhere else is hardly surprising.
He doesn't shy away from America's racist past, or her other shortcomings, but refuses to condemn America as inherently corrupt, and holds up her founding ideals as a shining house on a hill, even if America has fallen short of these ideals on more than one occasion.
Shapiro talks at 100mph quite often, but apart from that, reads his own work well.

Extremely important and educational

This is a great book for learning about American history and learning how America overcame the evils that plagued it I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history

Great overview of conservative thinking

If you want to understand American politics and the mythology of conservative America then this is a very good start. Ben Shapiro is impressively intelligent and his arguments are well articulated.