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)

Exhaustingly Thorough and Wonderful

There are so many examples, and the story told is so complete, it is a wonder there could be any pushback at all. I have no need for the reader to imitate the accents of various presidents and leaders. But the reader was pleasant to hear overall.

Still so important

I've now read this once and listened to it once. This is an extremely thorough and informative look at the roots and history of progressivism in America and its disturbing relationship to fascist regimes in Europe. More than just demonizing the Left though, it exposes WHY they think the way they do, who the thought leaders were along the way, and how progressive ideas developed over time and in different cultures. As a Christian, I find one of the more interesting connections he makes is between progressives and the social gospel movement when Christians basically exported their duties to the State out of "compassion"; a theme I have seen more and more recently.

I have found this book immensely helpful in understanding the left in comparison to many conservative books that typically just list the litany of stupid things they propose. I find it similar to Thomas Sowell's books in the amount of useful and new information he gives.

I also like the reader's style and voice. He does a great job!

American Liberals refuse their history and current aims of totalitarianism

Incredible.
Must read.
Insatiable.
Know thy enemy.
One of the most influential nonfiction books I’ve ingested.
Understand where the fascist have and will lie.
The American left has been lying to you for well over a century.
Read this book.
Thank you.

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.

Amazing

Well written and extremely insightful! I would recommend this book to anyone. I enjoyed listening to the audio. The narrator did a great job!

Good information

The narrator seemed to wander away from the microphone occasionally, making it difficult to hear

The best

This is the best political book I ever read. It's a classic that will always be applicable to the political conversation.

Phenomenal work

This is important and we need to discuss this more and more these days. Nazism, Socialism and fascism are all ideologies of the left.

Excellent

Eventhough written at the beginning of this century Jonah shows Facism in America started on the left in early 1900s and remains there today.

Excellent book

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