5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read, Regardless of Your Political Views, December 13, 2011
This review is from: The Conservative's Handbook: Defining the Right Position on Issues from A to Z (Hardcover)
It's a really easy read, simply laid out from A-Z with 26 items, marking 26 chapters in which Phil explains exactly what a conservative is and what the conservative stance is on that issue. I'm not a conservative; I'm a libertarian with conservative leanings, and I'm not a Christian, an agnostic by choice. But he makes a compelling argument for each point, whether you agree with him or not. I stand in lockstep on many of these issues with Phil, but like any thinking person I do my own research and have my own opinions on things that matter to me.
Unlike some books written by conservatives and many by liberals, if you don't agree with him you won't find that he calls you a pinhead or an idiot in his book or on his radio show. So please, read the book and then decide before you simply look at the name on the cover and set it aside along with the great deal of research that Phil has put into writing this book. It's well worth the few dollars that it cost.
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25 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good introduction to a range of standard conservative views, October 14, 2008
This review is from: The Conservative's Handbook: Defining the Right Position on Issues from A to Z (Hardcover)
Even though everything in this book is pretty standard conservative thought, calling this book "THE Conservative's Handbook" caused me to pause just a bit. I actually liked the title the author was going to give it better: "The ABCs of Reality". The reason for the ABC stuff is that the 26 articles in the book each start with a different letter of the alphabet, in sequence.
Phil Valentine has his own talk radio show, author of two previous books, his father was a six term Congressman from North Carolina, and is related to the general who was the inspiration for Twelve O'clock High. But he is no arbiter of Conservatism. However, this book is not meant to be that. Don't think he is trying to lay down the true doctrine of what is Conservative and what is not. He is trying to provide you with information you can use when set upon by your liberal friends or if you get a bit confused by the liberally dominated media. If you are tired of liberalism and are new to conservative thought, you can get a handle on some basic information here.
Sean Hannity provides the foreword and you may or may not find that reassuring, but I think most conservatives would feel somewhat reassured that he approves of Phil valentine and the book simply because we know him more than we do Mr. Valentine.
You will find articles that emphasize the goodness of America, the importance of religious faith, a rejection of drug legalization (you see, conservative authorities such as Buckley and Milton Friedman would disagree with Valentine, but I don't), support for 2nd Amendment rights, strong military, support for life from conception, support for immigration control, a negative view of the Clintons (however, his article on the importance of character tees off on Republicans as much as it does Democrats), skepticism about global warming, a love for Ronald Reagan, the need for a strong military, and so on. As I say, it is pretty standard fare, but helpful if you are looking to get up to speed on this wing of political thought.
A useful handbook, but don't mistake it for a catechism.
Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't buy one. Buy two!, December 13, 2011
This review is from: The Conservative's Handbook: Defining the Right Position on Issues from A to Z (Hardcover)
Phil Valentine gives the average Conservative the words to best any Liberal on any point that he or she chooses to argue. Once you read this book and absorb its wealth of convincing ideology, you'll have a liberal resorting to name-calling (their fall-back option, akin to throwing a gun at you when they run out of bullets), seeing the light, or never daring to discuss politics in your presence. I loved this book so much that I bought extras to give to Conservative family members. I recommend that you do so as well.
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