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.
Will E. reviewed What's the Matter with Kansas? : How Conservatives Won the Heart of America on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
good book that goes a long way to explain why red america is red
Jeff P. (jeffp) reviewed What's the Matter with Kansas? : How Conservatives Won the Heart of America on + 201 more book reviews
A left leaning rant about politics circa 2004. While interesting for some of the history it presents, it's still a political rant, and at times it is hard to tell truth from the author's opinion.
With the election of 2008 coming up as I write this, some of what you'll read here has a different spin now, but it is still worth reading if you're interested in politics and can keep a jaundiced eye on things as you do so.
With the election of 2008 coming up as I write this, some of what you'll read here has a different spin now, but it is still worth reading if you're interested in politics and can keep a jaundiced eye on things as you do so.
John O. (buzzby) -
I read this at the same time as "PrairyErth", a book about a certain area of Kansas, it was an interesting contrast. Frank in his book paints a picture of the political life of Kansas in vivid colors, but somehow, I think he misses something, I think there may be other subtle forces at work than what is described in Frank's book.
Jo V. (jovan) reviewed What's the Matter with Kansas? : How Conservatives Won the Heart of America on + 301 more book reviews
It was really hard to slog through this book. The author either made no attempt to actually talk to people who vote conservatively or he couldn't understand what they were telling him (Or they saw him as a lost cause and didn't waste their breath.) He keeps repeating the same old tired matras that liberals keep saying about conservatives. His logic was circular, using unproven "wisdom" to support his final destination. In the end, he was just too condescending for this conservative to take seriously. It only proved what I already know--that liberals don't want to spend the time and effort to understand those who don't think like they do.
Gets better after the first couple of chapters
Paula G. (Paulathegreat) reviewed What's the Matter with Kansas? : How Conservatives Won the Heart of America on + 148 more book reviews
This book is mostly about how much leftists hate middle Americans and American values. It is condescending to those who have a more conservative view and can not concieve of honest differences in perspective. There is merely us (the enlightened progressive) and them (the unwashed ignorant masses).
There is no awareness here that sometimes people want to throw out the bathwater, but still are very concerned about keeping track of the baby. If you aren't ready to heave the tub, you are just an ignorant jerk clinging to your guns and Bibles, as another progressive would say.
There is no awareness here that sometimes people want to throw out the bathwater, but still are very concerned about keeping track of the baby. If you aren't ready to heave the tub, you are just an ignorant jerk clinging to your guns and Bibles, as another progressive would say.
Excellent book. I had already read it but gave it away so this was a replacement. I I want a copy in my library.
