Now almost two years after its initial publication, and into the first year of the Trump presidency, some may hesitate in buying Matt Lewis’s Too Dumb to Fail.
Unfortunately for the conservative movement, and fortunately for Matt’s book sales, all of the underlying problems he identifies within the conservative movement have arguably become worse over the last two years – making the book more relevant than ever.
First, I must say at the outset that I am perhaps not the perfect target audience for this book: I agree with Democratic positions on many issues (climate change, labor rights, immigration reform…etc), but am pro-life and care deeply about religious freedom and freedom of speech. In this sense, and given the two-party structure in the US, a healthy and vibrant conservative movement and GOP is essential for the prosperity of these causes, and for the US as a whole. But, arguably, it is a wide swath of potential voters like me that the conservative movement risks alienating as elements of it double down on outrage, racial baiting, and embrace fascist tendencies. In this sense, besides being relevant to the conservative movement rank and file, this book may be of interest to curious liberals and people who are politically unaffiliated. Lewis also provides a history of the conservative movement, and discusses why the philosophy based on the ideas of Aristotle, Aquinas, and Burke will be perennially important.
Ultimately, Matt Lewis is not mocking or criticizing the current state of the conservative movement as an outsider would, but he’s passionately critiquing it from the inside, with the hopes that with a little “tough love”, it will help it to clean house. The problems he identifies and dissects at length in the movement and the GOP (perverse incentive structures in the media that reward outrage and over-the-top rhetoric at the expense of moderation and solid fact checking, the problem of politicians purposely dumbing down their message, not valuing expertise, alienating growing demographic groups…etc) are all problems that are getting worse under Trump. If current trend lines continue, sooner or later elements within the party will need to come to terms with the mess that has been made over past few decades. Lewis’s book, which is entertaining, informative, and persuasive, provides many practical ideas and solutions for a needed reform.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle Cloud Reader.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Flip to back Flip to front
Follow the Author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
| Price | New from | Used from |
|
Audible Audiobook, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
$0.00
| Free with your Audible trial | |
|
Audio CD, Audiobook, CD, Unabridged
"Please retry" | $20.21 | $6.84 |
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Products related to this item
Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Customer reviews
A Unique Perspective into the Conservative Movement! A Must Read! A+++
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2016
Matt Lewis is a super conservative writer, he is independent minded and an excellent columnist. I’ve seen him a number of times on CNN, ABC’s Nightline and HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher. I was fortunate enough to get an advance copy of this book, which was an eye opener all the way to the end. I was looking forward to this book, after watching him speak so many times before.Imagine that in the infancy of the book, Matt started with a purpose of showing us the sort of populist anti-intellectualism that has been bubbling over and throughout our current political campaigns of the Republican party? Could he have ever guessed that Trump would be there, now? Perhaps he knew?In his quote, “empty-headed talking point reciters, rookie politicians who’ve never managed anything in their lives, media clowns such as Donald Trump, dim bulbs in tight pants or short skirts, professionally outraged shout-fest talking heads and total political neophytes,” He stipulates how he feels where the conservative movement has been led to.He was also quoted, stating; "Although I think that conservative media outlets help — they've helped expose liberal hypocrisy, forced stories into the mainstream — there's also a downside."“they don't even have to say anything conservative; all they have to do is criticize Obama and we go gaga and we eat it up.”Lewis talks about the age of politicians trying to create more hypocrisy and outrage, than in the actual principles of governing. Creating a vicious circle of this, in order to obtain more funding, to create more outrage and so it goes on and on and on…..Matt Lewis concludes his book, by believing that conservatives really need to bring more enthusiasm about their originality of ideas, as they had shown in the Reagan era. I thought the book was insightful, how he traced an insightful book the roots of the conservative movement and showed, in his options, just how far they have strayed form their original ideals. Hope it Helps:)
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2016
Images in this review
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 29, 2017
If you're a fiscal conservative and you're more interested in real, hard-core talk about balancing budgets and how to manage mon
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 12, 2016Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 5, 2016
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 7, 2017
Top reviews from other countries
Gordon Ritchie
Reassessing the Conservative Movement from within
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on March 25, 2016
