The Bookworm Turns: A Secret Conservative in Liberal Land [Kindle Edition]

The Bookworm (Author)

Book Description

Bookworm writes from a conservative perspective about anything that catches her fancy. Her topics include politics, education, parenting, pop culture, the military, national security, elections, the Middle East, and much more. Her writing as an elegant amalgam of Jane Austen and Mark Steyn. Readers describe it as "intellectual chocolate -- highly addicting, except it expands your mind instead of your waistline" and say that she is "thoughtful, smart, and always entertaining."

Reviews:

"Bookworm has become one of my favorite bloggers. She lives in California and writes on intellectual and domestic political issues, always with a fresh angle." -- Barry Rubin

"Reading Bookworm's essays is like intellectual chocolate - highly addicting, except it expands your mind instead of your waistline!" -- JoshuaPundit

"I've been a follower of Bookworm for years and am reading the book now. Her writing is thoughtful, smart, and always entertaining." -- Right Truth

"One of the best blogs out there is the Bookworm Room – no question. Trust me on this one – I have seen hundreds, maybe thousands come and go since I came online in 2001. I became friends with Bookie in an online forum years ago and I have voraciously read her posts at every opportunity. Witty, intelligent, reflective and often touching, her writings are what we all aspire to accomplish – a connection with others out there and a gift that we wield to express our thoughts in a manner that encourages others to do the same. [snip] Bookie has just put together an e-book on her posts that have occurred over time. It is some of the best writing you will ever read. Riveting and compelling, it is absolutely addictive." -- Noisy Room

"I just purchased your book. I haven't been able to put it down since downloading it last night. *** Thank you for such thoughtful, passionate and elegant writing, and for putting it out there in book form." -- Another secret conservative living in the deep blue.

"Yes, I’m 12% in already, have highlighted several passages, and am thoroughly enjoying it. Woo-hoo!" -- elc

"Bookie is a friend but that’s not why I am recommending this read. I am recommending it because it is an interesting look into the world of a San Francisco Liberal who found conservative values. That is exceptional enough to deserve your attention." -- Pierre's Pink Flamingo Bar

"I got it and I am enjoying reading it very much! Congratulations!" -- D Wheeler

"I am working my way through my Kindle copy and savoring every word. Very entertaining and easy read with great personal narratives. It entertains, illuminates and instructs but does not hector. I shall put this on my Christmas list for my Lefty friends." Danny Lemieux

"I started the book last night, and it is fabulous. I am about 1/3 the way through and can't put it down...you are an outstanding writer with such incisive arguments! I am going to let my friends know that they should order a copy. *** It is a wonderful read...and I mean that....it should be a NYT best seller!!" Michelle F., Houston Texas

Product Details

• File Size: 571 KB
• Print Length: 347 pages
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004UN5A5I
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #425,637 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic! April 4, 2011

By Deborah Hamilton

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've been a follower of Bookworm for years and am reading the book now. Her writing is thoughtful, smart, and always entertaining. She never gives a quick off-the-cuff opinion, but gathers all the facts and considers all angles before writing a deep and thoroughly thought out response. I highly recommend this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant collection of thought-provoking essays May 14, 2011

By W. Maite VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition

When I stumbled across Bookworm Room in the vast blogosphere of political chatter and rants, I knew I had found something special. The first post I read was thoughtful, passionate, intelligent and eloquent - all at the same time, and I began to find myself being drawn back again and again to see what Bookworm might be thinking about any number of the political events that had occurred during the week. Soon Bookworm had a place on my browser toolbar with the handful of other websites that have earned a place there.

Part of the reason that I found myself drawn to Bookworm was because I, too, live and work in an environment where conservatism must be suppressed due to very real fears of being blacklisted both socially and in the workplace. However, the main reason I keep returning to Bookworm is to read her brilliant analyses of the continual problems that face us as individuals and as a nation.

I downloaded this book as soon as I found it and was delighted to find that it was absolutely packed with essays on so many subjects that matter. Nothing gets a light going-over from Bookworm. Every topic is placed under her analytic microscope and examined thoroughly and thoughtfully. One of the most fascinating things to me is Bookworm's ability to explain how and why liberals think about certain things, which she is able to do enormously well because of her own former liberalism combined with her deep curiosity about how and why people believe what they believe....

I have found myself passing along more than one of Bookworm's proposed solutions to the problems of the day, from her brilliant idea for what tax-payer-funded tuition in the UC system should buy, to her desire to abandon the terms Left and Right for the more descriptive terms of Statist and Individualist, respectively.

If you want to read elegant, passionate, meticulously-thought-out insights about politics and other things, you will not be disappointed by this book. For the price, it is an absolute steal. I only wish that every liberal I know would read this book - but you will have to read this book to find out why it is not likely that any of them will!

Please keep it coming, Bookworm! Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fellow Traveler April 13, 2011

By Alexandra Barrett

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

As a conservative from West Los Angeles, I can relate to Bookworm's loneliness surrounded by progressives! I love this book!

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book - you won't be disappointed! April 2, 2011

By E. Aagaard

Format:Kindle Edition

I've been reading the Bookworm's blog almost since she started. Her work is passionate, thoughtful, principled, and (at times) funny. She is an excellent writer - no big surprise as she does it for a living.

I don't own a Kindle, so I won't be buying this book until it (hopefully) comes out in a "dead tree" edition. However, should it appear on paper, I WILL buy the book - despite the fact that I've read everything in it already.

I'm that confident in the value of her essays.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Living as A Conservative in deepest LeftyLand April 3, 2011

By R. Miller

Format:Kindle Edition

Reading Bookworm's essays is like intellectual chocolate - highly addicting, except it expands your mind instead of your waistline!

A lot of her work in general focuses on what I'd refer to as the new, bloodless American Civil War, and Bookworm's twenty chapters draw on all aspects of it, in a style that combines her uniquely dry wit with a lawyer's eye for detail.

Recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Pleasant Dreams May 30, 2013

By Gary Buslik

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is, so far, one of my two favorite reads of the year. Ultra-liberals won't have a chance to like anything about this essay collection because they'll avoid it the way brats avoid spinach. If open-minded enough to crack its spine, more moderate progressives might learn something from this insightful book--there's a lot here to learn. Luminosity and wit sparkle on every page.

"Bookworm" is the pseudonym of a baby-boomer former Democrat--since reformed and wiser--now a conservative bwana living among the liberal crocodiles near San Francisco. Even after awakening from her long liberal sleep, she was, at first, forced--for her young children if not herself--to tiptoe the riverbanks of her Bush-hating, small-brained but razor-toothed neighborhood, choosing to unthreateningly nod and smile at her friends' leftist chompings.

But when she could no longer stand the self-righteous enamel-clatter, and her kids were old enough to understand standing up for principles, she started her eponymous blog and soon became the hero to truth-hunters. This book is a powerful, elegant, and deeply satisfying compilation of her best blog posts. These aren't antigovernment, cynical rants, but thoughtful, spot-on observations of what's wrong with the world and, more importantly, what we can still do about it. She takes on the usual suspects--teacher unions, welfare, abortion, drugs, sexual permissiveness--rationally, entertainingly, and persuasively. But she also pushes her canoe into dangerous waters. Her Anne Frank riff, for instance, though perilous (Bookworm herself being Jewish), is breathtakingly honest and bitingly accurate.

I read The Bookworm Turns at bedtime, one chapter each night. Its morsel-size essays are the perfect late-night snack.

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique Perspective November 6, 2012

By Portia's Mom

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Reflections on life and politics by a conservative living in deep blue Marin County are fresh and thought provoking. The stories of her parents' survival of the Holocaust are riveting. You will love this country more than ever after reading The Bookworm Turns.

More About the Author

Bookworm writes from a conservative perspective about anything that catches her fancy. Her topics include politics, education, parenting, pop culture, the military, national security, elections, the Middle East, and much more. Her writing as an elegant amalgam of Jane Austen and Mark Steyn. Readers describe it as "intellectual chocolate -- highly addicting, except it expands your mind instead of your waistline" and say that she is "thoughtful, smart, and always entertaining."