From Mussolini to the Politics of Change - The Secret History of the American Left

This book is a well researched and well written history of the American left's political roots. Knowing where they came from is part of understanding where they would take us. This book is written in an interesting style and well documented. Well worth the time.

Such a great book. This is THE primer for understanding the American left's obsession with centralized government and the stripping away of individual liberty. A slightly long, but good read. I can't believe the amount of research Goldberg had to do to write this thing. It has an incredible list of cited works. I think the most profound takeaway for me was what should have been obvious, but never was from public school: that the big centralized programs of Hitler, Mussolini and FDR weren't all that different from each other in their social and economic aims--and for some reason, they all used an eagle as the mascot for their programs. Kinda creepy. A must read, worth every penny. I'll probably re-read my copy again and buy some more for copies family at some point.

A well thought out book. Very helpful in illustrating the core of fascism and why it is alive as a worldview and what the intentions are of such views.
Loved it so much I have the paperback and Kindle versions. It is amazing how much information Mr Goldberg has make available and how readable he makes all the history. It is one of those books that as you read, your mind responds with, "Oh, so that is why..."
Love it. Read it. Share it.

Overall, an outstanding insightful book. There is little for me to add to the previous reviews so I'll focus on two items.

1). The negative attitudes against White Males fostered by the liberal left. Goldberg calls it as he sees it and paints an accurate picture of what's going on in US society. To illustrate, I invite all to see the home page of the State University Retirement System of the state of Illinois [...]. There, one sees four photos of three women and one man. The women seem to be active, but the lone white male is labelled "Inactive Member." Forgotten in all of this is the majority of pension contributions to that retirement system come from white males. If they showed an equal number of men and women on that web page, I would not be writing this today.

2). Environmental fascism. Again, right on! Couldn't have said it better. The crisis mode and goon-squad tactics of environmentalists is accurately exposed, including that demigogue Al Gore (remember his immediate and wrong reaction to TA Flight 880?).

We should be grateful to Goldberg for exposing the Liberal left for what it is. I know I am.

Jonah Goldberg delivers a thoroughly enjoyable and accessible work. Although this volume was published in 2007, and appropriate for the "Age of Obama," it bears heightened relevance in the coming 2016 Presidential election where we likely will see much of Hillary Clinton, who has an entire chapter devoted to her. The execution here is at times a little repetitive, and could stand with some editing, but in the main a surprisingly insightful analysis. Overflowing with lots of interesting tidbits and examples fleshing out the central thesis. Well sourced and footnoted. This eye opening text made me re-think much of what I learned as an undergraduate in International Relations/History and later in law school more than 30 years ago. If they have any interest in politics, government, economics or America, you should encourage your family and friends to read about Liberal Fascism.

Liberal Fascism, a book by Jonah Goldberg, is a must read for all prophetic seekers of Christ's Second Coming! This book is officially endorsed by The Ignorant Fishermen blog. Liberal Fascism historically documents the outworking, mindset and strategic game plan of the ideological phenomenon of liberal socialistic fascism in both the past and present. This insight is absolutely key to understanding present moods and trends on both a national and global scale. As prophetic events are unfolding right before our eyes, we who know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior understand that greater things are at work than the ambitions of power crazed politicians. The Bible - Almighty God's Word - states: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph 6:12).

[...]

Dave the Ignorant Fishermen

The actual history of the Leftist movement in the modern era. I believe this book is critical to understanding what we see around us on a day to day basis. Exceptionally well sourced and very well written. I've read this book twice and may do so a third time. A REAL history of the evolution of leftist Ideology and the story behind the story that explains the symptoms we see around us every day.

Item was exactly as described. Was shipped promptly. Appears to be in good condition. Jonah Goldberg has an entertaining and informative writing style that is an engaging blend of specific factual examples, logical reasoning and edgy humor.

First buy yourself a BIG dictionary if you want to experience the subtle nuances of this worth while book. The book is never the less very readable by the average person and I classify it as literature. You want to understand why you are baffled by current political "achievements"? You will understand "What is blowing in the wind" after you get it laid out for you by this masterful Author.

Jonah Goldberg (et al) did himself proud in this well written fastidiously researched historically accurate and humorous book. If you wonder why liberal mumbo jumbo always seems to make no sense has no logical flow or doubles back on itself you will have it figured out after reading this. If you wonder what happened to our school system, our political system, our representative republican form of government then you will find the answers in this book... You won't like them, but you'll find the truth in these pages.
Jonah provides not only an accurate history of fascism but Nazism and why back in the day they were so popular even in America and why today our government is 'chock a block' with socialist and progressive fascist programs and an endless democrat support for it providing names and examples using present day government policies and supporters. You'll be able to identify fascist techniques being used every single day in the news and in politics by your government officials, special interest groups and 'news' providers.
If you are like I was, you can't figure out why government seems to contradict itself, can lie directly to your face like God Himself never spoke truer words, when you know it's false, why the gears of news and information just don't seem to mesh with actions by government it's in this book. A true academic masterpiece. Thank you Mr. Goldberg!

Having again just read William Shirer's masterwork, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, I was ready for a bit of a let-down with Liberal Fascism - I was wrong! This book adds a fascinating wealth of information and context to the history of the "Progressive Movement" in America, (1900-1940). Examples include Prohibition, the Palmer Raids, eugenics, loyalty oaths, state capitalism, and the draft, among others -- in short, American fascism.

The book challenges popular misconceptions with so many detailed examples that some time is required for reflection, at least for this reader. It is hardly the breezy read suggested by the smiley face on the cover. Nor is it the right-wing rant some portray it to be -- history speaks for itself here.

I strongly recommend Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning to anyone who seeks greater knowledge and understanding of the evolution of our political culture, past, present, and future.

Over all, a very scholarly and insightful look at the fascist worldview. The connection to modern day Liberal thought is clear. My only complaint is that he lays it on a little too thick. His attacks on JFK are particularly unwarranted. There is nothing wrong with an inspiring president like Kennedy. Moreover, the government, and even collective action, shouldn't be viewed as always bad. There is something to be said for being united, especially in times of crisis.

t

Without knowing our history, we are apt to repeat it!! I appreciate knowing how we got to where we are today in America, and to begin to question where should we go from here. I hope not with the simile golden handcuffs of Modern Liberalism. That is, to give over freedom in exchange for a "hope" of security based upon the dictates of an imposing government that "does it for our own good!"

Enlightening history that shows how little our educators of history know or care to admit. When your teachers lie or refuse to admit reality for generations, what kind of country results? Anyone who has eyes can observe today.

Just a few sentences. This book goes too deep. Even for me, a connoisseur of history and an enemy of Stalin, there is too much. The thrust of the book is very good and all argumentation makes sense. I remember Glenn Beck trying to make an hour program on Fox News about fascism. He failed, you cannot do it in one hour. And you cannot do it by fighting other writers and arguing with them in endless pages. This book needs good editing to about 50% length. Then, maybe 5 stars.

The meaning of many political/social labels has been distorted by popular culture and the Academy. This little book ought to be required reading in every political science course of study nationwide in order to correct misapprehensions about just one label.

The study of history is my life-long avocation and I appreciate a well-written and cogent review of a period or an idea more than almost anything else. This book is an excellent example of both. Goldberg's survey of the history of the late 19th and early 20th centuries in American and European politics is concise and to the point; his accumulation and presentation of the evidence supporting the attraction (one might say the seductions) of the totalitarian state for the "elites" of Western societies is persuasive. It is a refreshing guide for and a signal comfort to those of us who refuse to surrender to the Nanny State and continue to believe in individual responsibility.

The study of history is my life-long avocation and I appreciate a well-written and cogent review of a period or an idea more than almost anything else. This book is an excellent example of both. Goldberg's survey of the history of the late 19th and early 20th centuries in American and European politics is concise and to the point; his accumulation and presentation of the evidence supporting the attraction (one might say the seductions) of the totalitarian state for the "elites" of Western societies is persuasive. It is a refreshing guide for and a signal comfort to those of us who refuse to surrender to the Nanny State and continue to believe in individual responsibility.

The past is prelude to the present. The same Marxist-socialist strategies developed by Lenin and Trotsky and exported around the world were used by statists to create Italian socialism, Nazi socialism, Chinese socialism, and the march of socialism in dozens of Third World countries from WW2 until today. I was surprised to realize that American socialism owed more to the Mussolini model than it does to the Hitler-Nazi model. I was not surprised by the constant, consistent, and profound influence of the Soviet KGB in building levels upon levels of subsersive cells and front groups. More modern expressions of this true religion are found in the works of archetypical community organizer, Sal Alinsky, and those budding or experienced agitators in his orbit. The guidelines of how to destroy a democratic country by using its own democratic institutions against it are seen being used today in places like Venezuela, Nicaragua, Honduras, the stolen elections in Iran, and even here in the United States. Hillary Clinton wrote a fawning disseration of the glories of Alinsky for her masters degree. She evidently learned her evil "politics of personal destruction" from her socialist saint Sal. Obama is highly familiar with his work, and taught aspects of it to other would-be community agitators as an adjunct college professor. Every American should read this easy-to-digest history of the creeping, or perhaps we should say, charging socialism occurring around the world and in our own country, over decades of deception and lies, under cover of closed doors, secret meetings, bills that "have to be passed so we can see what's in them" (to quote Speaker Pelosi), the Orwellian "transparency" of the White House and its many czars of dubitable reputation and concealed backgrounds. Read Goldberg's book to become aware of the dangers around us. Another good book to read is "Blacklisted by History," by M. Stanton Evans, who details the historic infiltration of the U.S. government by Communists and Soviet spies during World War 2 and the early 1950's. It's time Americans learn to pay attention to those little men "behind the curtains." They are not wizards, but they can certainly perform the magic trick of making the audience think they're not really there (as with the profoundly effective destruction of Sen. Joe McCarthy, who turns out to have been right all along). As Jonah Goldberg warns us--the Left cares nothing for truth, human welfare, anyone's political rights, and least of all, for America's most precious founding documents and its sacred Constitution. They falsely swear their oaths of allegiance to it, but their actual approach is based on doing whatever is necessary to lie, cheat, and steal their way into power over the rest of us "unenlightened hicks" from the "flyover states." Read and heed Jonah Goldberg's warnings, before it is too late for America.

This was a very deep and historical book. There is a lot of stuff in here I didn't know. I didn't know that the lady that originally started the Family Planning organization did not believe in abortion at all but only believed in birth control. Hitler got many of his ideas from people right here in our country! The true goal of abortion is eugenics, which means to eliminate the unwanted people from earth to create a great race of people. Abortion was not originally created to help people. This is similar to what Hitler's people did. They killed all the old and handicapped people first because they were considered un-useful to society. This book is highly informative and tells you who progressives and liberals really are and their true intentions.

Excellent analysis and treatment of fascist roots and fascist values of modern American liberalism and progressives. Occasional over-reach but essentially spot on. The passion to harness govt power to reshape our natures, limit our liberty, force people to be 'good', and control all aspects of our lives is the same passion that shaped fascism yesterday and animates American liberal progressivism today.

Interesting read. Worth the read. Well researched. There are so many correlations that one may be led to believe a causation, but the reality is that the world of politics is too complex for a single volume explanation so don't look for that here.

If you're reading this I would also recommend The Dictators Handbook.

Treasure trove of historical information on the history of fascism in the United States. Twenty something pages of foot notes. Purchased audiobook also for a refresher while traveling. Cannot miss the distrubing similarities between the Wilson and Obama regimes. The foreign leaders to whom they feel a kinsmanship.

A brilliant counter to the near uniformity of misinformation masquerading as 'history' taught in American public schools. A must read if you have managed to open your mind enough to question the complete silencing of any opposing views in higher academia, or if you truely wish to be and act open- minded. Warning, though- reading books like this may force you to examine other 'accepted' and 'consensus' views of the American establishment more than most find comfortable.

Excellent treatise on socialist/fascist ideology as it applies to what we are witnessing and experiencing today. If I were to repeat my political science education, this would be on my required reading list.

the political & intellectual history of America for the 20th Century. i was born in 1931 so some of this i lived through & remember. Goldberg does a wonderful job of placing historical facts and the political and ideological underpinnings of that history in an understandable way. I first put this on my Kindle. but this is one i want in my library so i ordered it.

This is a brilliant, well-written book that makes you envy the erudition of the author. As a long-time National Review subscriber, I can be accused of a conservative bias but this well-researched book clarified in my own mind what a fascist really is. And it ain't 21st Century conservatives whose highest value is freedom. Sure, we believe in the rule of law but we are also suspicious of the all-powerful state, which President Obama is obviously building.

Goldberg traces the roots of fascism back to Mussolini who in retrospect seems to be very close to the liberals in power today. Then he follows up with an examination of the American progressives in the early half of the 20th Century, which I found very interesting, never having studied that period. It seems Silent Cal Coolidge was an oddity back then with his credo, "The business of America is business." He was overshadowed by Presidents Wilson and the two Roosevelts who obviously believed that the nanny state was the ideal and they vigorously set out to overturn the republic established by our founding fathers. It is obvious that President Barack Obama wants to continue their efforts in a blind, ultimately disastrous, drive to remake our society.

Context is important and I recommend every concerned American read this book. It traces the seeds, dare we call them Acorns?, of the totalitarianism that is looming today, thanks to a party and a president who are forcing us all to reeducate ourselves to the real meaning and source of fascism today. Hint: It isn't conservatives or the GOP.

In contrast to my usual practice of giving a book 100 pages before I put it down if it is a clunker,,this is the first time I felt compelled to comment positively after only 24 pages(chapter one).Every paragraph,indeed,almost every sentence is a gem of sweeping historical nexus and connection politically,culturally,economically and intellectually to the extent that I had to put my yellow marker down. The author has turned the classic liberal labeling sleight of hand upon itself and provided historically an accurate mapping of the convergence of currents now cresting with Obamaism.Having read extensively and with fascination the historical rise
to power of Mussolini,Hitler,Mao and Stalin and the parallels with the rhetoric,philosophy,mindless mass adulation aided by a supine and cheering press,the supression of dissent and the statist absolutism espoused by Obama,the democrats and the MSM,the links were evident immediately,as were the link of the French revolution, the progressives etc.I am curious to see if this is further developed with the links to the American Transcendentalist movement. I will not go into a long review as so many of the 5 stars do so ably but will note with glee the howls from the left of the one stars as the author hits the mark. The the store reviews are typical, one "sort of" non ideological the other nothing but a sneering screed from WAPO as another reviewer already noted.BUY this book,give it to your friends. It is superb.

Great history lesson. I almost gave it four stars because of the use of all the unfamiliar terminology but I slugged my way through. There is a lot of history in this book that you will never learn in our liberal public school system. I expected the Progressives to write bad reviews and they didn't disappoint. Jonah really poked the bear with this book,and they can't handle the truth.

Jonah Goldberg did a magnificent job in researching and writing this book. You'll learn things in this book that are never taught in school. For example, I never understood -- until I read this book -- why many people link American conservatism with the Nazism and Fascism.
I highly recommend this book.

The most profound and enlightening history book about American Neo-Liberalism. I give this book away to family, friends and neighbors. A truely comprehensive and factual revelation, a historical Epiphany.

This was a fabulous book that details the Fascist roots of today's liberalism, the invasive "new morality" (environment,foods, health,hate of religion) this is a must read book for understanding the mechanisms that created the mess we are in today, and just how deep and pervasive it is.

As a 17 year old high schooler, what I traditionally viewed as fascism was an image of "In Soviet Russia...!" or scenes of "The Enclave" from Fallout 3.
In fact, fascism is not so much a tyrannical militarized state of n Orwellian Dystopia, it is a sly, corruptive force.
Fascism is the older brother bending the rules of a board game with his younger siblings, ensuring them his new rules will "help" them when all it does is ensure his victory at a board game. Fascism is the awkward means of pulling the wool out from under our noses by calling everyone that opposes the crime a fascist.
Fascism is the essence of forcing a contradiction down our throats, all while telling us its for the "good of the people", while calling all who have the right to oppose it fascist. The creation of a common enemy to rally the people and ensure their loyalty.
In the dogmatic, political, neo-religion that is fascism, the people are pawns bloated on entitlement tricked into believing they are rising in unity and comraderie, only to be taken advantage of by the government. It is secret serfdom, armed via propaganda. It is the appearance of liberty and individual rights, while in reality the said rights only force people to be subjective to the government.
Much like big brother taking advantage of younger brother. Bend the rules to make little brother think he has an advantage, all while you pass continuous rules which force him to make you the victor.

After reading this book I had many questions.
I understand it is a very right wing work of literature, naturally I believed there would be bias. However, there is very little. I have investigated most of Mr. Goldberg's sources, all of which are referenced correctly and summarized correctly in the novel. Likewise, Goldberg does a fabulous job at linking the parallels between the social political policies of the Nazi Party, and those of Obama's.

Did you know the American Progressive movement started the Eugenics program and also supported it 100%? Did you know Hitler took what the American political leftists did with that program and implemented it himself? Did you know this later created the Final Solution to the Jewish Problem (i.e. the mass genocide of Jews and minorities)?

I also read many reviews that held a stance against this book.
In all honesty, many scholars created some very interesting points about the book.
The humorous thing is, these "scholars" will take a passage, summarize it, explain Goldberg's view, and then talk about other related facts that "prove" Goldberg wrong.
However, if they READ the book, Goldberg always includes the facts said scholars said were *always* missing.
Ironically, the only reviews that denounce Goldberg's work are ones who conveniently leave out parts of the book to skew its appearance (the exact same type of liberal propaganda Goldberg warned about) or they judge the book by its cover as automatically "fascist" (the irony of that is so increadibly funny you would have to be a liberal or stupid to not see it).
All the negative reviews perfectly fit Goldberg's model of a fascist, or follower of a fascist ideal.

Try it. Pick up the book, give it a chance, observe what Goldberg says, then observe the attitudes of the critics.
Everyone fits his model of fascism, most of which are liberals or are NOT conservatives.

Its the same principle as trajectory physics. The most a human can ever stay in the air when jumping under his or her own power is 1 second.
Go try it with anyone. They will always remain in the air 1 second when jumping.
The same applies here. Every negative critic of Goldberg's work perfectly fits the model of a fascist as they critique his work under the mindset of one.

Dont believe me? Go and see.
You will be amazed at what is really going on.

This is a wonderful book. Its scholarly approach and great understanding is truly impressive. The 20th century was century of the fascists, communists, liberals, and all those who believe in that government is God.

I grew up under communism and my parents lived through Nazi era. I experienced only communism, but its similarities to Nazism were remarkable. Coming to this country over 30 years ago I recognized the same in the american liberalism.

Enough is enough!

Jonah Goldberg is a remarkable writer and I hope he will continue writing.

Mr.Goldberg has finally coalesced all of those nagging suspicions I have had about the uber-liberals and the political beliefs that really fire their efforts. We should all be more vigilant after reading this tome, and redouble our efforts to counter these most un-american political ideologies.

Very informative book where the author even points out some of the liberalism of some who are on the right. Very thorough, covering a multitude of topics. Unfortunately the author doesn't bleep out some of the exceedingly vulgar language of some liberals in chapter 5 and later when he talks about some popular movies.

I have purchased and read this important book. Goldberg correctly depicts fascism as a cocept and tool deployed by the left and not the right. In its most diabolical form it was deployed by such believers in nationalism and socialism as Mussolini, Hitler, Peron, Lenin, Stalin, Mao and Castro in Utopean dreams to improve mankind. True believers were and are motivated by a desire to impose their own preferences in order to perfect the nature of man, to collectivise mankind in pursuit of nationalist, imperialist, often racist goals, and to organize individuals into malevolent public and private assocviations designed to override the economic discipline of free markets. Liberal fascism is defined by Goldberg as a softer but no less evil brand of the same product, pursued in the United States by progressives of the left, epitomized by Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Lyndon Johnson, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, in direct attacks on the United States Constitution and the laissez-faire basis of its market economy. Any person who is concerned to defend property rights, individual freedom, limited government and the rule of law should look to the right, not to the left to support him in this ideal. Goldberg's book is courageous and effective in outlining the true nature of fascism as the definition of the American Left since the early twentieth century.

Charles Rowley, Duncan Black Professor of Economics at George Mason University, and co-author of Economic Contractions in the United States: A Failure of GovernmentEconomic Contractions in the United States: A Failure of Government

Mostly well written, informative, and insightful tome into the roots of progressivism and fascism. A little too much academic detail, however, in almost every chapter. At times, Mr. Goldberg's rhetoric is tedious to the point of becoming tiresome. "Just the facts, m'am!" would be sufficient to lay the foundation for him to flesh out his thesis. He is a first-rate intellectual (I read his columns regularly), who does not need to prove his academic bona fides to me. I don't think he intended this book to be a college history text. Perhaps he would be well advised to take a tip from Bill O'Reilly on writing in a more entertaining style.