Tracy M. (tracymar) reviewed What's the Matter with Kansas? : How Conservatives Won the Heart of America on + 408 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
Exceptional book revealing how religious fundamentalism and rightwing politics have become linked together and is having considerable influence in Kansas. A bestseller. (A friend however who is from Kansas says that the book is not completely true; that it focuses on those in rural areas rather than urban Kansasites)
Julien C. (jaimelesmaths) reviewed What's the Matter with Kansas? : How Conservatives Won the Heart of America on + 54 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
An excellent book, though it didn't quite live up to my expectations of what it would be. The anecdotes were relevant, well-explained, and thoroughly analyzed. Where I felt the book was lacking was to outline more concrete actions to combat the problems facing progressives, as detailed in the book. There was a lot of "So-and-so did this and it worked...," but not so much "... and here's how we can fight this in the future." However, this book is definitely recommended reading for anyone working for or with a progressive group.
Helpful Score: 4
From the book's cover: Thomas Frank, a native Kansan and onetime conservative, seeks to answer some fundamental American riddles: Who do so many Americans vote against their economic and social interests? Where's the outrage at corporate thievery? Why do illusory slights to the Ten Commandments trouble some people more than do the prospects of falling wages or monopoly power or the destruction of their very way of life?
Ashley C. (AshleyC) reviewed What's the Matter with Kansas? : How Conservatives Won the Heart of America on + 25 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
Very interesting! Whether I agreed with Mr. Frank or not, I found his writing compelling and I learned from his obvious interest and enthusiasm for the subject.
John O. (buzzby) -
Helpful Score: 1
Id' agree with most everything the author says (I wouldn't call it a left-wing "rant" like one of the previous reviewers, but then, I have rarely read a left wing rant - I've read or looked at thousands of right-wing rants). He does seem to miss something fundamental about the way people come up with their political affiliations, I don't know how I can explain it.
