Right Turns

Unconventional Lessons from a Controversial Life

De: Michael Medved

Narrado por: Robertson Dean

Nationally syndicated talk-radio host and noted film critic Michael Medved has taken an extraordinary journey from liberal activist to outspoken conservative. Along the way he has earned millions of admirers—and more than his share of enemies—by advancing controversial, often counterintuitive arguments, including:

• Liberals love losing because it makes them feel virtuous
• America isn’t normal—it’s bizarrely blessed
• Hollywood has lost touch with America—and punishes people who point that out
• Conservatives are both happier and nicer than liberals
• Talk radio is a source of hope, not hatred
• Business isn’t exploitative—it’s heroic
• There is no such thing as “planned parenthood”
• A more Christian America is good for the Jews
• Do-it-yourself conservatism provides the only cure for save-the-world liberalism

In the candid, electrifying Right Turns, Medved chronicles the adventures that taught him these and many other lessons—the startling events that propelled him from Vietnam protest leader to optimistic promoter of American patriotism, from secularism to religion, from adventurous single guy to doting husband and father. In the process he skewers leftist orthodoxy, revealing why the Right is right and why his former colleagues on the Left remain hopelessly wrong on every cultural, political, and social issue.

Medved enters today’s ideological fray armed with experience as, among many other things, a campaign aide for radical Democrats, a minority recruiter for police departments, a Hollywood screenwriter, a Bobby Kennedy volunteer, a teacher at religious schools, a world-champion hitchhiker, an expert on bad movies, and a veteran TV host on PBS and a British network—who declines to own a TV himself.

Medved relishes the contradictions behind the high-profile controversies in which he’s played a leading role—as a prominent movie reviewer who attacked the film industry in a bestselling book, as an observant Jew whose radio show is a favorite with evangelical Christians, as a writer once designated the “Bard of the Baby Boomers” who now expresses contempt for his generation’s arrogant indulgence, and as a fearless battler who has sought advice from both Rush Limbaugh and Hillary Clinton and has given advice to both Mel Gibson and Barbra Streisand.

Right Turns displays the slashing argument and disarming wit that have made Medved’s radio program America’s number one show on politics and pop culture.©2004 Michael Medved; (P)2004 Books on Tape, Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Right Turns tells the hugely entertaining, ultimately inspiring story of one leftist from the ’60s who finally discovered—and liberated—his inner conservative. In the process, Michael Medved demonstrates why our side of the political divide has both better answers and more fun. His book is insightful, funny, powerful, and important.” —Rush Limbaugh

“Michael Medved provides an important and distinctive perspective on popular culture—fierce, fearless, funny, and formidable.” —Mel Gibson

“How does one go from liberal activist to conservative cultural critic? This accounting of Michael Medved’s journey is eloquent, informative, challenging, moving, and downright fascinating. I learned a lot . . . you will too!” —Dr. Laura Schlessinger

“Michael Medved is a gifted communicator and an incisive cultural critic. His political and religious autobiography, Right Turns, is more than the communication of an idea or the analysis of our culture, however. It is an educational, entertaining, and deeply enlightening journey to intellectual maturity and reason.” —William J. Bennett

“Michael Medved is the liberals’ worst nightmare—he knows their arguments, outlook, and eccentricities, having lived as one of them in his reckless youth. Unlike most Americans, Michael sat at their dinner tables and heard them speak honestly—since they didn’t realize he’d rat them out someday. Having the goods on liberals allows him to destroy their arguments. Michael’s own right turns have helped many Americans discover Right thinking, and this powerful, gripping book should win many more converts.” —Ann Coulter

Well written account of the political environment

I am about 5 years younger than the author and grew up about 15 miles (a world apart) from his L.A. area home. A friend of mine attended his high school though not when he was there. Medved's talk radio program was one of my favorites for its honesty and actual balance. This book is the same in those respects. I found his insights to be keen. He provides anecdotes about experiences working with the left in the 60s and on and exposes their hypocrisy, ignorance, tribalism and bigotry. My own experiences suggest that his observations were neither unique nor aberrations and he backs up his perceptions with pertinent data.
I too made a Right Turn as I matured.
The author shares a lot of personal details and information about his faith and family. At times that got a little too wordy. This is definitely an autobiographical account. He admits his own failings which can either be interpreted as humble or shameless --you decide. I admire him for his daringness which explains how he was able to get a good understanding of real people. (However being a woman and a parent I could never participate in nor advise his method (hitchhiking) as he was able to safely do--a sad commentary on the present state of our society.) He definitely has not lived in a bubble.
Although the story stops in the early 2000s many of the issues he describes, especially in regards to the media, continue to impact us. The groundwork for cancel culture is all laid out there.
The narration was excellent. I played it at 110% with no problem. My only real complaint is that the chapters in Audible seem to have no relation to the chapters in the book. The Audible's 23 chapters are each about 45 minutes but begin in the middle of chapters. (I believe the book has 35 chapters and the narrator announced the book chapter number and title as he began each.)
I would recommend Right Turns for anyone interested in an eyewitness to history type account, who would just like to understand the environment and background in which today's issues evolved or who just wants to understand conservative baby-boomers a little better.

Didn't want to stop listening

I bought the unabridged version of the book and am so glad I did. Michael's life story is a fascinating one, and as a former hitchhiker I really enjoyed hearing about those adventures! I only wish he'd come out with a sequel giving even more depth to his insight into the many political figures he's met. Good reader, great story, with some very surprising twists. And you don't have to be a conservative to enjoy it!

One man's quirky journey through life

Though not a big fan of his radio show, (I listen less than once every couple of months), this story of his journey thus far was endlessly fasinating. For the political junkie like me, to hear his impressions of the many people who crossed his path earlier in life was surprising. People you would expect him to savage, he had nothing but nice things to say. The twists and turns of his life and the lessons he offers from them I found both compelling and touching.

Surprisingly Engaging

I actually found many parallels to my own life while listening to this book. I didn't find it overly preachy but it was interesting to see what makes someone of Michaels background (i.e. liberal upbringing, schools, communities) become conservative in their own life. I too grew up with a more liberal influence and found as I got older that it didn't fit with my ideals and beliefs. Michael did a wonderful job and I always recommend the unabridged version since I like to know I heard every bit. The only negative was that Michael didn't narrate himself, but the narrator did a good job and kept me engaged.

Great for liberals and conservatives

We can all learn from other people's experiences. Medved walks the listener through the key moments in his life that changed him from a young naive peacenic liberal at Yale University to a staunch conservative advocate. Medved's 'right turns' are the events and revelations that have contributed to his moral compass and life understanding. Highly recommended. You can benefit from Medved's experiences without making the same mistakes he did.

Very interesting biography

I am not a fan of biographies generally, but I have listened to Medved on the radio and he is an interesting and knowledgeable story teller, so I figured, 'what the heck'. I listened over a week or two and it was a witty and enjoyable listen from a guy with a unique story to tell.

I gave it 4/5 stars overall because like I said, I'm not the biggest fan of biographies, they aren't going to really change your life, but Medved, as a professional broadcaster, did a lively job narrating the book.

The book as I recall talks about his politics only as it applies to his bio, but is not a preachy political book, so liberals or conservatives who like contemporary biographies would like it and not be put off.

Love the personal touch

This was one of the best personal stories I have ever read. Medved appeals to the heart and mind of the INDIVIDUAL, and I felt like he was speaking to me, personally. I can imagine that many others felt this way as well.

This is a special kind of artistry, and the story should appeal to people of various political stripes.

An interesting life!

I love Michael Medved and I was so entertained and enlightened about what makes him tick. What a fascinating and atypical childhood and young adulthood he had! My greatest disappointment was hearing the story told in first person by someone other than Michael himself. (He has a very distinctive voice that I really like listening to) But after awhile I got used to the narrator and focused on the story while imagining Medved saying it in my head. I think there is a version of this in audio format with Michael reading his own words, I was surprised when this version wasn't him.

Wow, a fan is lost!

I have listened to Mr. Medved for sometime and although I don't always agree with his views, I had always thought Mr. Medved a principled man who acts on a strong series of ethics. Reading this revealed that not only are his ethics inconsistent, but the inner arguments used to make his many points are extremely selective. It does not seem as if he has come to his conclusions through a series of experiences (ancedotal incidents or not) and his real reflection on them.
Medved makes the mistake of setting up his oligarchical position and then selectively pulling experiences from his past to try and justify this position. The moths have laid havok to the fabric of Medveds arguments, and I must reluctantly admit that through these holes I have seen the Emporer's new clothes.