Customer Reviews

Crunchy Cons: The New Conservative Counterculture and Its Return to Roots

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Buying organic locally produced meat is one of the most fundamentally conservative things you can do, writes Dreher. I agree. Too often the 'environment' is an issue hijacked (and misused) by the left, the same way patriotism has been hijacked and misused by neocons.
One reviewer said something to the effect that people with real jobs can't take the time to eat 'real food' or sit down to a family dinner ( i wonder how much time this guy spends in front of the TV watching football and commercials for industrialized food). If that's the case....then there is something fundamentally wrong with the way we live. And that's his point - and his self-discovery.
This book isn't just for 'conservatives' but anyone who suspects that the their current 'consumerist' lifestyles aren't the panacea they are thought to be. Amazing as it seems - going back to buying from a farmer's market and sitting down to a family dinner can profoundly, postively effect your life, as it did Dreher's

As a lifelong conservative Republican growing tired of the way the Republican party views money as the chief end of man, I was so refreshed to read Dreher. I found myself thinking, "I'm not alone." Even though I don't agree with all he says, the book forces the reader to confront ideas and to not simply accept the things the way they are.

Humorous and thought provoking. Not just a political, current events book and not just another jab in the liberal vs. conservative sparring match. Content is not limited to what the media proffers. Delves into areas not commonly discussed in conservative circles yet will likely strike a chord and awaken a dormant sensibility about life as a whole. Includes very timely topics for those concerned about the safety of our food supply, a need for greater conservation efforts as stewards of God's creation, as well as discussions on consumerism, home, education, and religion. Provides affirmation to those who quietly lead their lives trying to apply time-tested, biblical principles to all areas of life, against the stream of popular culture. Encourages us to be involved in our government processes, while not mistaking the government as a god and savior. Exhorts us to look inwardly and realign our own personal lives first, to focus on the "Permanent Things" with an underlying conviction that "...the institution most essential to conserve is the family."

I may not agree whole-heartedly with everything Mr. Dreher says, but I have read this book twice now. (Can't say that about a lot books). He gives direction to a hope that the chasm between conservatives and liberals need not continue to be so vast and filled with vitriol. There is some common ground. We need to seek it and begin to mingle with those who never see real true conservatives or real Christians and only possess the stereotypical "dangerous" or cartoon images incessantly portrayed by the media. By ignoring some of the issues "highjacked" and repackaged by liberals, we are ignoring a part of our soul that has been created in God's image, which in turn prevents us from experiencing joy and the abundant life.

Read this book and prepare to be challenged, enlightened, and empowered to define and live a better, more meaningful life.

The Cold War pulled one heck of a doozy on American politics- social conservatives, traditionally wary of Big Business, found themselves aligned with the MegaCorps in battle against the Soviets. But those days are past, and maybe the Reagan Coalition should part company?

Why are the suburbs and the exurbs, which should be the antithesis of all that conservatism should hold dear, the stronghold of Republican Party? Something is terribly wrong.

This book doesn't have a lot of answers, but it does hold your hand and walk you through a lot of problems, and shows you how individuals and families are facing them. Here is view of the world that returns to the First Things that should matter- family, community, and God- and away from the Money, Power, and Politics of contemporary mainstream conservatism.

Dreher now has two blogs- one very active on BeliefNet that carries the same name as this book, and an editorship of the FANTASTIC [...] FPR is in many ways the Huffington Post of the Crunchy Cons and often reads like a response to this book, or did at the websites founding. It has lately settled into a counter-cultural conservatism that leans more heavily on the anglo-catholics and distributism.

If you, like me, feel homeless in contemporary politics this book is a must read, even if you find you don't agree with it- at the very least it will have you looking at the political landscape from a unique and valuable perspective. If, however, you find yourself agreeing with those of us that prefer home, family, the local and a solid grounding in religion, you'll have finally found a home.

As a Christian and a conservative who does not always fit the mold, I found Dreher's book refreshing. While I did not agree with every point, there were many points that described my views about food, the environment, cultural influences and more. It was more of a case study than a list on concepts with which you must agree. But some major concepts did emerge: buying more stuff is not a good end goal, big business is not always good, stewardship of the earth is important, local is almost always better, culture should be more than what is popular, family is important.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was very skeptical after reading the reviews and the author's attempt to distill his ideas into the "Crunch Con Manifesto." I'm glad I overcame these concerns and read it in a couple of days. The book provides a much needed critique of our culture and lifestyle. The talk of hippies and organic granola is just one component of the book that serves as a useful marketing tool. The ideas are much more complex and beautiful than the simplifications would lead you to believe. If you go into this book with an open mind, you will likely discover an enjoyable book that even when you disagree with it imbues everyday modern life with a meaning that often is missing in our daily sacrifice of ideals to expediency. It is all the more enjoyable as the book approaches the subject with a sense of humility and avoids a holier than thou attitude.

Edit: While I still hold a high opinion of this book, there are three caveats I would add to the review above. T
1. The author should seriously take a piece of Russell Kirk's advice that he seems to completely reject: to be wary of sophisters and calculators with their speculative schemes.

2. Another major problem with the book is that in the last few chapters, especially the chapter he added, he gives up on everything, which is just pathetic.

3. He completely seems to neglect the very real effect that politics and economics have upon us. Culture is an important thing, but it isn't the only thing that effects us.

I read this book shortly after it came out and I LOVED IT. At last, someone has found a label for my belief system. As a conservative, I feel that the family is the most important building block of our society. I believe in self-sufficiency, but I also believe in sharing your gifts with others and acting as good stewards of the earth and all the blessings that we've been given. This easy-to-read, at times humorous book, tells it like it is and gives a voice to what I believe is a larger group of people than you might think. There is common ground (a lot of it) between liberals and conservatives. Perhaps by following the author's precepts, we can begin to bring our country together by focusing on what we share in common, rather than that which drives us apart. Read this and see for yourself.

At last someone has put a name to what I believe. The author in the first chapter sets a beautiful guideline for some of us old rebels who now feel a bit uncomfortable with the Conservative mainstream. He makes how many feel make sense in a very friendly and homespun way. He points out that many of us do not trust big government but neither do we trust big business. This is a great read for everyone from pure Liberals to ultra Conservatives. It can give all an insight to each other and it could with a little humor and a bit of luck create understanding. And that is pretty cool. All coming from a simple trip to pick up your organic produce in your Birkenstocks from your very Conservative job. To the Author Thank You for putting it into words. I will always be a big fan. I think there are a lot more Crunchy Conservatives than anyone would believe.

I grabbed this book on impulse as I was leaving the local purveyor of books. You see, I am a "Crunchy Con" of sorts, being an avid recycler. But, this book really failed to reach me. In fact, I felt like I was being preached at with certain topics being outright hammered into my skull due to their repetitive re-occurence.

Pluses:

-The book addresses the fact that the conservative movement is not monolithic and their are a variety of reasons for people to espouse conservatism.

-Embraces a belief in buying local - something I try to do when I go out to eat or shop whenever reasonably possible.

-Points out how silly it is to apply big business agricultural regulations to family farms.

Negatives:

-What the heck is "crunchy"? Search the internet and you may get a reference to "Crunchy granola", which basically means being hippie-like. Or, you may get a reference to this book, or you may get a reference to some sort of street drug.

-Dreher gets too preachy, too mystical about the virtues of organic farming and quaint old neighborhoods that time forgot in the inner city. Plus, he goes on and on for dozens of pages about these topics with multiple interviews that do little but reinforce the points already made.

-Dreher repeats the old worn line that we in the West should be more like the East: "...in the West, economics is built on philosophically materialist assumptions, but in the East, the whole person is taken into account." (p. 49) Really. The East, home to the Khmer Rouge, sex slavery and footbinding. Let's admit it - no society, East or West has all of the answers.

-Dreher's answer to the un-competitive nature of organic farming is a decidedely un-conservative one, have the power of the federal government choose in favor of the organic farmers "and encourage through tax incentives the development of small-scale, locally based agriculture." (p. 86) This is especially odd considering his prior exhortation: "We object to the idea that there's nothing wrong with our country that a new tax or a government program can't fix." (p. 10)

-Dreher waxes poetically about home-schooling. Page after page we hear about how his family does it and how others do as well. He drags up quotes from the 1800s and the 1920s about how the philosophical underpinnings of public schools are inherently anti-family. He offers two choices: A) immoral public schools who are only out to indoctrinate your children (pp. 136-139) or B) perfect family home-schoolers. Now, to be fair, you should know that I am a public school teacher - one that believes in vouchers and does not believe in the inherent goodness of public schools (or any other human institution, for that matter). I've seen families do home-schooling right (some of our family's best friends do it right), but I've also seen it done incorrectly and have had kids come to school functionally illiterate, having been "taught" by parents who can barely read themselves. (I've had great homeschooled students - ones that do A+ quality work and I had students who were pulled from school in order to "homeschool" because the counselors were concerned they were being abused) Dreher compares the worst about public schools to the best, idealized homeschoolers. C'mon, not only is it not fair, it is insulting to the readers.

While sympathetic to many of his points, the most I can say about this book is "disappointed."

I was recommended this book as one that I might enjoy due to my moderate beliefs. This person misunderstood me because my moderate beliefs are truly more conservative.

The author votes conservatively but many of his decisions lean more toward the liberal world. Of course he wouldn't intend that, but that is how I have interpretted them. Many of his ideas are good...if you can afford them.

His emphasis on conserving the family as a priority is key. Everyone will agree with that. His attacks on agri-business (something very important to my area of the country), real estate, education, and the environment all lean heavily to the left. Some of his ideas are ok, but they are just his ideas and his way of understanding life.

His emphasis upon religion has been particularly intriguing. All of his major decisions are based upon his religious faith. I definitely respect his willingness to stand for his faith and make his major life decisions based upon his faith. This is certainly commendable and a saving grace of this book.

If anyone is interested in reading a text that will stretch their "conservative" views or question their "liberal" views with an alternative, this is the book for you. I know my views have been stretched, I just don't agree with much that he talks about. Or maybe I don't agree with it as much as I couldn't afford it and therefore it is just a pipe dream to me.