I've mentioned in the past that Ann Coulter scares me a bit, but I did start reading How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must) for the sake of open-mindedness.
So far, it's actually not bad. I think Coulter is basically the kind of writer Michael Moore claims to be. She's obviously exaggerating, but expects her readers to be intelligent enough to know the difference. Or maybe she really does think that all liberals are evil. Hm.
Anyway, the book is more or less a collection of her columns from the past few years, including a few unpublished and unedited ones. I was not aware of this until I read the introduction. There is some new material, particularly in the first part of the book, which gives some information on how not to talk to a liberal. I've only read about 35 pages so far, but even that gives me a pretty good idea of the tone of the book.
Like I said, it's kind of extreme in places, but I think it's meant to be that way so it will be more entertaining. And she makes a good point about the way liberals use the word "lie" to describe anything they don't like, regardless of whether or not it's true. My main criticism so far is that she really, really needs to get her details straight. For example, she makes a reference to the short-lived Parker-Stone production, That's My Bush, but calls it "There's My Bush." She also seems to think it was a bad thing. I don't know about the rest of you, but back in the days when I actually watched television, I thought TMB was a decent show. Also, she refers to the game of pinochle as "peanuckle." If you don't know why that bothers me, you haven't been paying attention.
So, in conclusion, this seems like a decent book so far, but if you're looking for a down-to-earth, 100% accurate takedown of the liberal worldview, you're probably not going to get it from Ann Coulter. I'll have a more detailed review if I manage to finish it before I go back to school (which, incidentally, isn't for another 10 days), along with my own "Grand Theory of Leftism" that I've been hyping for a while.
Posted by CD on January 7, 2005 04:43 PMThe Grand Theory of Leftism is starting to sound like the happy dance. Frank promised, and promised, and promised, and then we had to pay to see it. Grrr. Me no pay. You give me Grand Theory now.
Posted by: Army NCO Guy at January 7, 2005 09:27 PMIt's pretty much written already. I just have to refine it.
Posted by: CD at January 7, 2005 09:31 PMUm, you should read some of Ann's other books. They give you a better idea of what she is like than How to talk to a Liberal (if you must). How to... is a collection of her more, um, strident essays, rather than a true representation of her thoughts and works. Slander and Treason are much better, and a touch less, um, inflammatory. But, not by much. The other two books are also researched a little better. Don't forget, Ann is a lawyer, and does know how to do research.
All I wanted for Christmas was Ann Coulter. But, if Ann wasn't available, I'd have settled for Laura Ingraham.
Posted by: the Humble Devildog at January 10, 2005 08:17 PM