Customer Reviews

Nekkid In Austin: Drop Your Inner Child Down A Well

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4 star:		(2)
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I was thinking of suing Fred Reed. I thought I would never get over the stomach ache from laughing. His penetrating humour crucifies the Politically Correct. Yet this book can also make you cry with frustration, as Fred throws into sharp relief the many crass stupidities of western society. This book only articulates what we already mostly knew but could not always express. He reminds us of what we have already lost . He shows what we are still losing. His message is sharp yet gentle - never vicious or nasty. If you want ammunition to do your little bit amongst friends to stop the rot in our society, then you could not do better than wrap your message in the humour that Fred Reed gives us. The message is as true in Britain, Australia, or elsewhere in the old Anglo Saxon world, as in Fred's home country. A wonderful book! Buy it and get sore sides too.

An eclectic collection of essays, stories, recollections and observations that are poignant, poetic, thought-provoking, amusing, infuriating and hilarious. Written in Freds unique and very eloquent style.

At times you don't know when Fred is departing from the literal truth and entering into the "Fred Zone". Frankly I prefer the Fred Zone it's a lot more interesting.
I am regular at Freds web site and look forward every week to the latest Fred on Everything column

Fred has a way of exposing the [falsehoods]in a way that refreshingly funny and enjoyable. His outlook on life ans attitudes are what made this country great and hopefully will again. Plus Fred will have you laughing or crying or both.

You will wish you could have a collection of individual essays on various always handy to give to some loudmouth know-it-all dunce running his mouth on the subject.

But this book, read and enjoy. It is true keeper.

Well, I've already written one fervently pro-Fred review on this site, but I'd still feel remiss if I didn't add some more of my thoughts to the pile, both to amplify what the guy below me wrote and to further refute what that one idiot wrote about Fred being a "racist" (do we even have a definition for that word now? It seems to mean about as much as the "alternative rock" label means in music by now). Anyway, much as some people might try to label him, Fred is a truly independent thinker, someone who's not bound by the conventions of any ready-made ideology. He's experienced a lot more of the world and its people than most of us could ever dream, and he's come away a refreshing perspective that doesn't smack of liberalism, conservatism, libertarianism, or really anything ending in "-ism." To steal one of his own phrases from a recent column, Fred knows the people of other countries, and knows that they are people, a fact that often seems lost on his fellow Americans. Perhaps more to the point, Fred has enough experience with politics and the way the world works to see through the sloganeering, name-calling, and prejudice that so often substitute for debate in America (and probably everywhere else as well). In a world where people are constantly trying to give us easy answers, Fred is constantly questioning the conventional "wisdom" and trying to tease the truth out from the endless piles of rhetoric and deceit. Don't belive me? Here are just a few of the little bits of wisdom from his site (which I think are in this book, although I'm not sure how many of his columns made it in here):

On the 9/11 attacks: "Our politicians and talking heads speak of 'a cowardly act of terrorism.' It was neither cowardly nor, I think terrorism. Hijacking an aircraft and driving it into a building isn't cowardly. Would you do it? It requires great courage and dedication--which our enemies have, and we do not."

On patriotism: "To doubt the wisdom or necessity of a war, any war, is treason; any inclination to think for oneself is evidence of being in the enemy's camp. This is everywhere the rule."

On the so-called drug problem: "We're in Colombia and Mexico and Peru and God knows where because these folk work in the drug trade, and we have A Drug Problem. We have a drug problem because Americans want drugs. It's not Colombia's problem. It's our problem. Why don't we leave Colombia the hell alone?"

On sex: "A man genuinely doesn't understand why he can't say to the young lady in the next cubicle, 'Hey, Jane, what say we go to my place at lunch for a roll in the hay?' He may like Jane, think she's bright and fun, have no slight desire to exploit, use or degrade her. They may have been friends for years. But if he made what would seem to him a perfectly reasonable suggestion, she would explode and file at least a dozen lawsuits."

There are tons more such penetrating insights on Fred's site (updated with new column every ten days or so), from which this book and his other one are drawn. In a generally irrational world, Fred is a rare voice of reason (and a funny one at that), which explains why the mainstream media won't touch him with a twenty-foot pole. Honest discussion of taboo subjects is rare these days, which is all the more reason Fred deserves some of your time.

I had been reading Fred's columns online since I stumbled across his courageously accurate views on the April 2001 riots that occurred in Cincinnati, Ohio, and one day impulsively bought this book I saw advertised on his website. The pieces Fred writes with such erudition might well offend many people, although I suspect most of those ostensibly offended will be outraged on someone else's behalf, rather than for any affront to their own interests. ("This stupid redneck can't say that about THEM!!! What's he think he is?!!") Fred is that most dangerous of all creatures in this daunted age: a free thinker. There was a time when Americans championed that old adage, "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it." That age has passed. I doubt I'd like Fred in person or that Fred would like me very much, but I read him virtually every week and more often than not I agree with his written views, or at the very least I come away feeling glad someone actually took on the issues he covers. This book takes many of Fred Reed's early online columns and puts them in print form. To those who might be put off of Nekkid in Austin because of things they've heard, I'll point out two things: 1) don't believe everything you hear, read the source for yourself, and 2) a differing viewpoint is not necessarily a bad thing. Has Fred ever ticked me off? Of course he has! He flirts with misogyny and his opinions on women come off as something from the pre-stone age. But when it comes to race, our failing national vigor, and the extinction of our great American libertarian principles in the face of an overbearing government, the man not only has the foresight to identify the roots of many of the pressing problems, he actually has the courage to take a rare public stand and exercise that most cherished of American ideals: speaking one's mind. Fred is a refreshingly dangerous philosopher and he gives free speech an intelligent, welcome workout. This book is good and many valid points are made within it. While one hears a lot of criticism of Fred Reed, one hears few cogent rebuttals. Nekkid in Austin is well worth the price.

Though I am typically loathe to do this sorta thing, especially since the person I'm debating will doubtless never read my review, but I can't help but respond to the moronic review written before me. The data noting the 15 point difference in IQ between blacks and whites (In America) is found in 'The Bell Curve' a massively famous book on intelligence. Furthermore, any sociology or psychology textbook is virtually guaranteed to discuss this disparity in some fashion. The statistical difference is, in fact, massively documented, as Reed states, and is common knowledge, thus defying the need for any specific references. And, for future reference, I just want everyone to know that your ignorance doesn't make other people into racists, nor does it disprove their facts. It just makes you ignorant, naturally.

As far as Reed being a racist, well, I'll give him this: He doesn't presuppose that all statistical differences between races are the result of oppression or unfortunate circumstances, which is tantamount to racism in our digustingly false, PC age, nor is he embarassed or apologetic that he's white. This is not to say that Reed demands that the differences are purely or even largely genetic. When you actually read his articles, you get the impression that he primarily believes the problems of minorities to be cultural ones, meaning that they are told NOT to work or to succeed, that you are not responsible for yourself or anyone, and to defy society and demand that everyone else support you. This is not to say that he thinks that all races are identical save from visual aspects. He doesn't. But this isn't the central issue.

Reading his articles, you'll also notice that he is highly concerned with the massive amount of immigration between. Thus, you'll imagine he doesn't like hispanics, but, wouldn't ya know it, he now lives in Mexico. (And travels extensively throughout the third world, where whites are relatively rare, naturally) So maybe he just loves non-Whites, but I don't think that's the difference. The difference, of course, is that although there are a great many Mexicans in Mexico, there is far less American liberal bullcrap, government imposition, and ludicrous propaganda, and when those things do exist they can be ignored far more easily. Those are the things he hates. Minorities are primarily a problem because they are prominent members, tools, and clubs of those who wish to impose on him and everyone else for the sake of the downtrodden, those who generally end up both exacerbating the problem they are supposedly trying to solve, and infringing upon everyone's rights while they're at it . Though Fruity.... is right about one thing: White people are certainly more likely to be interested Reed's writing than most, as they are the ones who most often have to pay the literal financial price for the programs he opposes, while not reaping any of the benefits, or perceived benefits, anyway. That, and though White's are criticized for being white or for being conservative, it's nothing compared to the sort of scorn a conservative black or hispanic is likely to receive from the liberal estabishment. (Reed, however, isn't a Republican, by any stretch of the imagination. He opposes the war in Iraq, and clearly dislikes Bush as much as your average Democrat)

Anyway, I don't actually own this book, but I've read pretty much all of his articles from his website, from which this book is culled, I believe, so I can assure you that it's good stuff. His writing style sometimes gets a bit repetitious, overusing his exaggerated southern hillbilly persona, but he's funny and insightful and cuts to the heart of political nonsense with common sense rather than elaborate wordgames. And, perhaps most importantly, he never sugarcoats anything, to the point which much of his writing is verging on apoclyptic, in spite off it's humor.

Anyway, this definitely must read material for people who think that maybe they should be in charge of their own lives, and that, hell, maybe everyone else can be free too.

Fred Reed has a way of making you think. His illustrations are useful for asking yourself why this premise leads to this conclusion, but in a hugely entertaining way. Read on, have fun, enjoy..

Fred Reed is a skilled and vastly entertaining writer. You'll find a clever turn of phrase or two on virtually every page in this book. But Fred is more than just a witty guy; he's a witty guy with some important points to make. He is deeply concerned with a number of trends in his beloved United States - notably an increased feminization and dumbing-down of society. He is greatly perturbed by what he calls a "war on boys" in our culture, and the ascendance of grim nannyish harpies who aspire to smother boyish behavior wherever it occurs.

Among the best pieces in this book are Fred's descriptions of what it's like inside a tank and a submarine, along with a hilarious account of his year or two at "Soldier of Fortune" magazine. If you enjoy good writing and keen observation of society's foibles, you shouldn't miss "Nekkid in Austin." (The title essay, by the way, describes an evening at a topless bar featuring an over-the-hill stripper.)

Face it, the man makes good points. Reading the book, I definetly found myself at odds with him on many issues (see: censorship, racial issues), but regardless of whether you agree or not, you WILL be entertained by him.

There is some absolutely hilarious material here, from one-liners (I only go to girly bars to read the articles) to entire essays that are side-splitting (Why White Men Love Asian Women).

Perhaps the best material here though are his essays on the military/post-war segments. Splendidly written material. A must "Reed", even if it offends you, and chances are it will at some point or another.

Sometimes i couldn't read because I was laughing so hard tears were pouring out of my eyes. Sometimes I was sad as I remembered the way the America I love used to be. Sometimes I realized he was right and I had been brainwashed.

... if you want to get it back. Fred is good company. These short essays are as smart and enjoyable as his "Scurrilous Commentary" at fredoneverything.net