Liberal Fascism

The Secret History of the American Left

By: Jonah Goldberg

Narrated by: Johnny Heller

Length: 15 hrs and 52 mins

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

Critic Reviews

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

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 .

Excellent book

I was born and raised in Berkeley, and experienced Liberal Fascism first hand. This is an excellent explanation of what I experienced.

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.

Outstanding!

I learned a lot from this. It was 15 hours well spent. Never got boring or too heady to understand.

Like everything you were taught is a lie.

This reminds me of the scene in Orwell's 1984 when the people HATED the enemy and suddenly big brother says your enemy is your friend and your friend is your enemy.

To say Hitler was a right-winger is laughable. Goldberg says Hitler followed the very left Marx, and Nietzsche, not the conserative Adam Smith, or John Locke.

Hitler was a revolutionary and sought to tear down everything thing so he could build his superman.

Essential Listening

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

An eye opening lesson on the history of fascism in America.

Goldberg first details the rise of Mussolini's Fascist party and the common tactics shared by its socialists kin, Hitler's National Socialist party (the Nazis) and Stalin's Communist party. Goldberg then explains how progressives have, over the years, inaccurately (for the most part) redefined Fascism to be associated with the right despite its origins on the left. Next, Goldberg recounts some of the most Fascist administrations in American History including, President Wilson and FDR. Goldberg also impartially describes how even some people on the right have and continue to use fascist tactics, but to a much lessor degree.

This was great read and timely in light of the rise of the fascist group ironically calling themselves the ANTIFA (which is short for anti-fascists) despite the fact it was written in 2008 almost 10 years before the rise of ANTIFA.

Excellent!

Mr. Goldberg objectively, fairly & thoroughly outlines the development of modern liberal fascism. This is an excellent resource for anyone interested in understanding the true nature of politics in today's America. Thank you!

Well-researched and amazingly accurate factually.

Even though this was written during the Bush administration, it's amazing how accurate and how relevant the information is for the upcoming 2016 elections. I can only hope that people read this book and inform themselves as to Hillary Clinton's background and history before they decide to vote this year.

Very enlightening though not quite what I expected

This was very eye-opening for me. Explained the root philosophies of Fascism and tied together threads of Fascism, since the late 1800's. The chapter on Hillary Clinton really helped me understand her mindset & where she's trying to go.
Johnny Heller provides solid performance as always.