Right Turns: Unconventional Lessons from a Controversial Life (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From The Washington Post

In his new autobiography, Michael Medved tells many stories about his transformation from liberal Democratic activist to conservative Republican media star, but none so unwittingly revealing as this one -- which combines fat jokes, self-promotion and divine intervention.

Here's the story: In writing The Hollywood Hall of Shame: The Most Expensive Flops in Movie History (1984), he and his brother and co-author, Harry Medved, deliberately included a section making fun of Elizabeth Taylor for her size as well as for the bad movies she had made. This was done in hopes of appealing to Joan Rivers, then the "permanent substitute host" for Johnny Carson on NBC's "The Tonight Show" and pursuing what Medved calls " a nasty and hilarious vendetta" against "the once svelte and sexy superstar." Sure enough, he was invited on the show -- but on the second night of Passover, when religious obligations made it impossible for him to appear.

He explained this to Bob Dolce, the show's "legendary guest coordinator," who invited him to do the show five nights later. Again Medved had to explain that traditional Jewish observance would not allow it. Dolce was a bit annoyed; some Jewish members of his staff had never heard of this later holiday, and Medved explained that, although many less observant Jews did not keep them, the two holy days at the end of Passover were as important as the two at the beginning.

"Bob sounded so dubious when he hung up the phone that I assumed I had obliterated, forever, any possibility of a Tonight Show appearance," writes Medved. "Considering the horrific martyrdom (death, dismemberment, dispossession) my ancestors experienced for the sake of their faith, this small sacrifice seemed utterly insignificant, but it still left me feeling sour." But -- hallelujah! -- legendary Bob called back with a third invitation, to which "after a quick glance at the calendar I shouted my grateful acceptance." His appearance was a success, and the next day he received a telephone call from John Davies of WTTW, the PBS affiliate in Chicago, to offer him a tryout on the station's movie-review show, "Sneak Previews."

The rest, as they say, is history. Medved went on to do 12 years on the show with his co-host, Jeffrey Lyons, thereby receiving the kind of national media exposure that led to his fame and fortune -- not only as a TV star but as a bestselling author and, today, a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host who works out of beautiful Seattle and has what can only be described -- by himself, at any rate -- as a perfect marriage and family. Through it all, he has "tried to avoid the solemn self-importance of so many of my fellow movie critics," he writes, mentioning no names. It must have been particularly hard for him to stay humble when, six years after he began with "Sneak Previews," John Davies told him that the only time he had watched "The Tonight Show" that whole year was that post-Passover night that Medved had been on.

Coincidence? He doesn't think so. The mute example of those murdered, dismembered and dispossessed forebears does nothing to deter him from enjoying a "sense of an ordained destination" about his life's path, or from using the word "providential" to describe making fat jokes on "The Tonight Show" at Elizabeth Taylor's expense.

All of this contains more than a hint of parody, particularly in view of what I take to be the deliberate echo of the providential Calvinist narratives that, from the Puritan fathers to Cotton Mather to the American Revolution itself, were so central a part of America's founding. There may also be another allusion to these stories in the organization of the book, which is laid out as a series of 35 moral, political and prudential "lessons" rather than mere chapters. Providence seems to have lowered its sights a bit since the old nation-building days if it's now busying itself about getting better gigs for movie critics. Of course, as a movie critic myself, I may simply be envious because the Almighty has never arranged for me to have a TV show.

Still, if doubtful about his style, I found myself in agreement with much of the substance of what Medved writes. I admire his fervent patriotism and respect for the faith of others, and I share his disgust with the way religion and morality are often portrayed in the movies -- though I cannot join in the Jewish Medved's unlikely enthusiasm for Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ."

Medved's is an indispensable voice in America's national dialogue on politics and popular culture. But for his next "lesson," or his next book, I wish that he would learn the virtues of understatement, irony and a becoming sense of proportion about that culture and his own place in it.

Reviewed by James Bowman
Copyright 2005, The Washington Post Co. All Rights Reserved.

Review

“Right Turns tells the hugely entertaining, ultimately inspiring story of one leftist from the ’60s who finally discovered—and liberated—his inner conservative. In the process, Michael Medved demonstrates why our side of the political divide has both better answers and more fun. His book is insightful, funny, powerful, and important.” —Rush Limbaugh

“Michael Medved provides an important and distinctive perspective on popular culture—fierce, fearless, funny, and formidable.” —Mel Gibson

“How does one go from liberal activist to conservative cultural critic? This accounting of Michael Medved’s journey is eloquent, informative, challenging, moving, and downright fascinating. I learned a lot . . . you will too!” —Dr. Laura Schlessinger

“Michael Medved is a gifted communicator and an incisive cultural critic. His political and religious autobiography, Right Turns, is more than the communication of an idea or the analysis of our culture, however. It is an educational, entertaining, and deeply enlightening journey to intellectual maturity and reason.” —William J. Bennett

“Michael Medved is the liberals’ worst nightmare—he knows their arguments, outlook, and eccentricities, having lived as one of them in his reckless youth. Unlike most Americans, Michael sat at their dinner tables and heard them speak honestly—since they didn’t realize he’d rat them out someday. Having the goods on liberals allows him to destroy their arguments. Michael’s own right turns have helped many Americans discover Right thinking, and this powerful, gripping book should win many more converts.” —Ann Coulter


From the Hardcover edition. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Crown Forum (December 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400051878
• ISBN-13: 978-1400051878
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #524,106 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

137 of 168 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Part biography, part homily, all Medved, January 24, 2005

By	John S. Ryan "Scott Ryan" (Silver Lake, OH) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I have four main reasons for liking this book.

(1) I like Michael Medved. He's a personable, decent, and intelligent guy; his biography is interesting because he himself is.

(2) Having never been a leftie myself, I enjoy reading accounts by ex-lefties about how they came around to good sense. (And accounts by formerly secular-leftist Jews about how they returned to traditional observance. Medved is good buddies with Rabbi Daniel Lapin, author of _America's Real War_.)

(3) I _dis_agree with Medved often enough (he didn't like the first _Batman_ film!) that his book illustrates an important point: despite what you may have heard, the political right is as intellectually diverse as the left.

(4) Medved seems to have been present, albeit in the background, at nearly every important sociopolitical event of the last four decades. It's like _Forrest Gump_ for conservatives. Heck, he was at Yale with Bush, Kerry, Clinton, and Rodham; his personal accounts of those folks alone are worth reading whether you care about Medved himself or not.

The book itself is arranged into thirty-five 'lessons', each of which is part biography, part homily. For example, Medved launches his tale with an account of his grandparents' immigration to the U.S., but rather than just presenting biographical details, he ties it in with a short account of why he thinks the existence of the United States is divinely providential. This pattern continues throughout the book, with some chapters heavier on the biography and others almost all homiletic.

There's lots of interesting stuff packed into the cracks. You'll find out, e.g., just exactly _which_ film mentioned in _The Golden Turkey Awards_ was actually a hoax.

Medved is, of course, a well-known film critic who thinks (with good reason) that 'Hollyweird' has lost touch with American values and produces films primary to satisfy left-leaning anti-American/anti-religious critics rather than to make money. If you want to know more about his opinions, look up his online columns and read his _Hollywood vs. America_, which I reviewed some years ago.

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love the Guy, Don't Always Love the Message, November 27, 2005

By	richierich - See all my reviews

Michael Medved is a religious (orthodox) Jew. His message is often too religious and right-wing political for my taste. Yet the man has integrity, candor, character and incredible moral values. We could all do much worse than to listen to that kind of man. If only America would put more integrity, candor, charachter and moral values into our government, classrooms and politics- we'd all be better off for it. Solid book, easy reading, great man as author.

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Right Turns , The Life of Michael Medved , October 26, 2005

By	M. Sheldon (Kingston , WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The humor , insight to famous people, Hillary he knew in college, and his weird behaviors, will stop the family car to pick up trash on the road side , makes this book just roll along . Michael Medved is one of those walking talking Encylopedia's, he knows his facts. He presents them in a very interesing and logical manner . Great insights into the movie industry , politics and tactics from the left and right , and a beautiful portrayal of how religion can change a person's heart for the better and change how they view the world . Great book , easy rading , I loved it .