With biting wit and amusing personal anecdotes Harry Stein's I Can't Believe I'm Sitting Next to a Republican chronicles the every day survival of those plucky conservatives marooned in liberal bastions that loathe them, from Manhattan to Hollywood-and even deep bleu France. The result is a conservative's guide to love, work, dinner party mischief and staying un-smeared in liberal America.
I Can't Believe I'm Sitting Next to a Republican
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About the Author
A journalist and novelist, Harry Stein is the author of How I Accidentally Joined the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy (and Found Inner Peace). He is a contributing editor to City Journal.
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More About the Author
A graduate of Pomona College and Columbia's School of Journalism, over the course of his career Harry Stein has authored eleven books, both fiction and non-fiction; co-founded a magazine in Paris; and worked as a columnist for publications ranging from TV Guide to Esquire, where he created the Ethics column, among the most popular features in that magazine's long history. Since the publication in 2000 of his 'How I Accidentally Joined the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy (and Found Inner Peace),' recounting his journey to conservatism from the precincts of the left, he has been known primarily for his writing on politics and popular culture. He is currently a contributing editor at City Journal.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
293 of 313 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Well, it isn't quite a "can't put it down" book, at least not for me. But perhaps the reason why I can only read it a few chapters at a time is because it is more scary to me than funny. (I tend to reserve the five star rating for the books I can't put down).
Through numerous first-hand examples (completely believable to me because I live in a very "blue" city), Harry Stein shows just what it's like to run up against the ideological biofilm of political correctness, or "progressive conformance" as I prefer to call it.
Stein writes with humour and seems to have a gift of calmly relating events that, if you pay attention as you read, you can tell caused him lot of emotional grief. As one who has tried to reason with people immersed in ideology myself (on a far smaller scale than Stein has) I know that it can be an experience as dumbfounding as it is disheartening.
The scary part of it all is that this book provides a first hand, up close and personal view of how so much of our society, particularly in the areas of information and history transmittal, have been taken over by people steeped in rage and self-righteousness brought on by their own voluntary enslavement to an ideology, and who have turned almost entire professions into education camps for the propagation of their worldview.
The totalitarian spirit is not only alive, but very well indeed, and growing like a virus in our republic. We may soon be mastered by those who cannot even seem to master themselves in the area of basic emotional control, much less in staying calm enough to entertain opposing points of view with an attitude toward civility and basic fairness.
Through numerous first-hand examples (completely believable to me because I live in a very "blue" city), Harry Stein shows just what it's like to run up against the ideological biofilm of political correctness, or "progressive conformance" as I prefer to call it.
Stein writes with humour and seems to have a gift of calmly relating events that, if you pay attention as you read, you can tell caused him lot of emotional grief. As one who has tried to reason with people immersed in ideology myself (on a far smaller scale than Stein has) I know that it can be an experience as dumbfounding as it is disheartening.
The scary part of it all is that this book provides a first hand, up close and personal view of how so much of our society, particularly in the areas of information and history transmittal, have been taken over by people steeped in rage and self-righteousness brought on by their own voluntary enslavement to an ideology, and who have turned almost entire professions into education camps for the propagation of their worldview.
The totalitarian spirit is not only alive, but very well indeed, and growing like a virus in our republic. We may soon be mastered by those who cannot even seem to master themselves in the area of basic emotional control, much less in staying calm enough to entertain opposing points of view with an attitude toward civility and basic fairness.
316 of 341 people found the following review helpful
By lew
Format:Hardcover
Don't judge by the cover. This book is not funny. I spent 40 years of my life living in Communist Poland. Now Communism is long gone, and I am U.S. citizen. And I am figuring it out that in today USA presenting myself as Republican is actually more dangerous and is creating more problems that presenting myself as anti-communist when living under Communist regime. It is OK to be on a party and make jokes about Bush, Palin, McCain and such. Actually, this is mandatory. It is NOT OK to make jokes about Biden and Obama. Once, for such jokes, I was requested to leave. Requested by my good friends.
I believe that this book is not funny. It is tragic. As tragic as what is going on in this country
I believe that this book is not funny. It is tragic. As tragic as what is going on in this country
157 of 177 people found the following review helpful
By J T Cooper
Format:Hardcover
Posted June 1, 2009, 1:09 PM EST: Harry Stein has written another political hit book about the plight of a conservative living in a blue state. I found myself laughing out loud at his descriptions of his encounters with the liberals in his home town and how he dealt with, or avoided contact with, these foam at the mouth, raving, irrational, pinko liberal bed wetting degenerates who think they have the only political answers to everything. The book has a serious and troubling side; namely the academic world's suppression of conservative thought and the blacklisting of academics who are not liberal in their thoughts or ideas. There are other areas of discrimination that he describes in great and disturbing detail, particularly in the world of newspaper and magazine journalism and radio or television work. I was fascinated by the book and the rich and often humorous stories he tells. I received a copy in New York and read the entire book before I reached home. It is hard to put down, so don't start reading it at night, or you won't get much sleep. I will wait with great impatience for his next opus conservatorius and in the meantime will get my legislator wife to buy a bunch of these books for our holiday giving. You should also get his first book: How I Accidentally Joined the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy.
35 of 37 people found the following review helpful
By Avid Reader
Format:Hardcover
A good book for suffering, closeted conservatives in Blue states who live in "quiet desperation" -- and alienation. It's comforting to hear about similar experiences and to know that there are others out there who have lost friends and have to constantly watch what they say in professional and social situations. Living in the NYC metro area I feel sometimes like I'm living in a land that George Orwell could have dreamed up, only it's a nightmare. 1984 has arrived 25 years late.
So far my car hasn't been keyed, though. But that's probably because I've refrained from lawn signs and bumper stickers. The left's intolerance of dissent is truly frightening.
So far my car hasn't been keyed, though. But that's probably because I've refrained from lawn signs and bumper stickers. The left's intolerance of dissent is truly frightening.
58 of 65 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
When I saw the book's title and cover art, they struck me as hilariously funny... especially as a traditional conservative of the small "L" libertarian bent living in the liberal bastion of the Los Angeles area. I've had exactly the experience as depicted on the cover happen to me here, God knows how many times.
Discussing politics with my friends in the local eateries deep in enemy territory in places like Westwood or the Peoples' Republic of Santa Monica, I find it endlessly amusing to see the faces of fellow diners at nearby tables as they hear the opinions being voiced at my table. Either they don't agree and are horrified, or they've been served some very bad sushi.
I'd never before heard of Stein, so I thought I'd give his missive a try. Unfortunately, I think the cover's actually the funniest part of the book.
He does have some amusing anecdotes, and examples - some very good ones, at that - of liberal intolerance of anything that doesn't fit the rigorous confines of "progressive" dogma (I wonder why they don't like calling themselves "liberal" anymore, hmmmm......?).
Unfortunately, I don't think he has quite the accomplished grasp of being funny as some others who write in the genre, such as his friend Bernie Goldberg, Burt Prelutsky, or Ann Coulter. Further, most of his stories are really New York-centric, so if you're not from the Big Apple you may find it pretty hard to identify with much that's written. In my experience, Noo Yawkahs have a very different sense of what's funny from the rest of the country.
Overall, not bad as humor; dead-on as political commentary.
I'm sure I'll now get slammed with "No" votes from liberals. Oh, well....
Discussing politics with my friends in the local eateries deep in enemy territory in places like Westwood or the Peoples' Republic of Santa Monica, I find it endlessly amusing to see the faces of fellow diners at nearby tables as they hear the opinions being voiced at my table. Either they don't agree and are horrified, or they've been served some very bad sushi.
I'd never before heard of Stein, so I thought I'd give his missive a try. Unfortunately, I think the cover's actually the funniest part of the book.
He does have some amusing anecdotes, and examples - some very good ones, at that - of liberal intolerance of anything that doesn't fit the rigorous confines of "progressive" dogma (I wonder why they don't like calling themselves "liberal" anymore, hmmmm......?).
Unfortunately, I don't think he has quite the accomplished grasp of being funny as some others who write in the genre, such as his friend Bernie Goldberg, Burt Prelutsky, or Ann Coulter. Further, most of his stories are really New York-centric, so if you're not from the Big Apple you may find it pretty hard to identify with much that's written. In my experience, Noo Yawkahs have a very different sense of what's funny from the rest of the country.
Overall, not bad as humor; dead-on as political commentary.
I'm sure I'll now get slammed with "No" votes from liberals. Oh, well....
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Being from Chicago...
Being from Chicago (city, not 'burbs), I can strongly relate to this book. Though I thought it would offer up advice on how to combat the situation, if was still very enjoyable &... Read more
Published 12 days ago by Vci
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thanks
Thank you very much. I cetainly will look forward to doing more business with you in the near future. Joan
Published 27 days ago by Joan Crane
5.0 out of 5 stars
Provocative and out-loud funny
For those of us who actually value conservative ideals and actually believe in constitutional governance, read this book. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Lonnie Fornelli
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tales from a survivor
This is a well written, very enjoyable read from someone who has actually lived with liberals, survived the contact and come back with real intelligence.
Published 3 months ago by Stan Kerr
5.0 out of 5 stars
Opened My Eyes!
I think this book is very good because it pulls no punches where the left is concerned. They do what they do without
thinking--a knee jerk reaction to anything conservative. Read more
thinking--a knee jerk reaction to anything conservative. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Roy C. Frost
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book
This gives conservatives some essential tools when dealing with the mindless but persuasive and persistent rantings of liberals. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Paul E. Guinn
1.0 out of 5 stars
Should be re-titled Help I am sitting next to a non crazy person
I guess this trash is what passes for humor among humorless dolts. The very idea that conservatives would be calling somebody else smug and self righteous is a bit puzzling since... Read more
Published 16 months ago by John Bill
1.0 out of 5 stars
Innuendo & fear driven opinion not worth the paper it's printed on
If this were the truth in America today we'd be a very sorry nation.Thankfully most Americans see right through this nonsense
Published 17 months ago by L. shoop
4.0 out of 5 stars
The "Tolerance" Hypocrites
I happened to read this book right after noticing that four friends - or, rather, EX-friends - had DE-friended me on Facebook. Read more
Published 19 months ago by J. S. Lang
2.0 out of 5 stars
It's my party and I'll cry if i want to
I have been a reader of Stein's prose since his Esquire days. He and I followed similar paths and arrived at a similar destination. Read more
Published 21 months ago by J. C Clark
