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Bullies
From the editor-at-large of Breitbart.com, a timely and compelling look at how liberals use bullying toward their opponents on today's top political issues. Bullying is an urgent topic on many minds and lips today. After the "It Gets Better" program was sanctioned by Obama himself, the left turned bullying into one of its most beloved pet issues. But what they seem to have missed is that their own modus operandi relies on exactly that: "bullying." Bullying is the liberals' go-to tactic. They decry their opponents through fear, threat of force, and rhetorical intimidation on every major issue facing America.
Anti-American bullies portray our country as a force for evil in the world, a great maw of global nastiness, chewing up portions of our population on behalf of their corporate overlords. Race bullies like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson incite riots ending in murder, trump up charges against innocent district attorneys, or threaten violence to small towns in Florida, while calling anyone who disagrees with them racists. And there's much, much more.
These are the most despicable people in America. And what makes them even more vile is that as they bully their opponents, they claim to be "victims." They call their opponents uncivil while engaging in some of the most vulgar tactics against anyone they disagree with. But no more. Political prodigy and editor-in-chief of Breitbart.com Ben Shapiro takes on these bullies and provides a compelling tour of the left's bullying tendencies on all of today's top political issues.
Anti-American bullies portray our country as a force for evil in the world, a great maw of global nastiness, chewing up portions of our population on behalf of their corporate overlords. Race bullies like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson incite riots ending in murder, trump up charges against innocent district attorneys, or threaten violence to small towns in Florida, while calling anyone who disagrees with them racists. And there's much, much more.
These are the most despicable people in America. And what makes them even more vile is that as they bully their opponents, they claim to be "victims." They call their opponents uncivil while engaging in some of the most vulgar tactics against anyone they disagree with. But no more. Political prodigy and editor-in-chief of Breitbart.com Ben Shapiro takes on these bullies and provides a compelling tour of the left's bullying tendencies on all of today's top political issues.
325 pages, Paperback
First published January 8, 2013
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About the author
Ben Shapiro
37 books2,523 followersBenjamin Shapiro was born in 1984 and entered UCLA at the age of 16, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in June 2004 with a BA in Political Science. He graduated Harvard Law School cum laude in June 2007. Shapiro was hired by Creators Syndicate at age 17 to become the youngest nationally syndicated columnist in the U.S.
His columns are printed in major newspapers and websites including Townhall, ABCNews, WorldNet Daily, Human Events, FrontPage Mag, Family Security Matters, the Riverside Press-Enterprise and the Conservative Chronicle. His columns have also appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, Chicago Sun-Times, Orlando Sentinel, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, RealClearPolitics.com, Arizona Republic, and Claremont Review of Books, among others. He has been the subject of articles in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Associated Press, and Christian Science Monitor; he has been quoted on "The Rush Limbaugh Show," "The Dr. Laura Show," at CBS News, in the New York Press, in the Washington Times, and in The American Conservative magazine, among many others.
The author of the national bestsellers, Brainwashed: How Universities Indoctrinate America's Youth (WND Books, May 2004), Porn Generation: How Social Liberalism Is Corrupting Our Future (Regnery, June 2005), and Project President: Bad Hair and Botox on the Road to the White House (Thomas Nelson, 2008), Shapiro has appeared on hundreds of radio and television shows around the nation, including "The O'Reilly Factor" (Fox News), "Fox and Friends" (Fox News), "In the Money" (CNN Financial), "DaySide with Linda Vester" (Fox News), "Scarborough Country" (MSNBC), "The Dennis Miller Show" (CNBC), "Fox News Live" (Fox News Channel), "Glenn Beck Show" (CNN), "Your World with Neil Cavuto" (Fox News) and "700 Club" (Christian Broadcasting Network), "The Laura Ingraham Show," "The Michael Medved Show," "The G. Gordon Liddy Show," "The Rusty Humphries Show," "The Lars Larson Show" (nationally syndicated), "The Larry Elder Show," The Hugh Hewitt Show," "The Dennis Prager Show," among others.
His columns are printed in major newspapers and websites including Townhall, ABCNews, WorldNet Daily, Human Events, FrontPage Mag, Family Security Matters, the Riverside Press-Enterprise and the Conservative Chronicle. His columns have also appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, Chicago Sun-Times, Orlando Sentinel, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, RealClearPolitics.com, Arizona Republic, and Claremont Review of Books, among others. He has been the subject of articles in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Associated Press, and Christian Science Monitor; he has been quoted on "The Rush Limbaugh Show," "The Dr. Laura Show," at CBS News, in the New York Press, in the Washington Times, and in The American Conservative magazine, among many others.
The author of the national bestsellers, Brainwashed: How Universities Indoctrinate America's Youth (WND Books, May 2004), Porn Generation: How Social Liberalism Is Corrupting Our Future (Regnery, June 2005), and Project President: Bad Hair and Botox on the Road to the White House (Thomas Nelson, 2008), Shapiro has appeared on hundreds of radio and television shows around the nation, including "The O'Reilly Factor" (Fox News), "Fox and Friends" (Fox News), "In the Money" (CNN Financial), "DaySide with Linda Vester" (Fox News), "Scarborough Country" (MSNBC), "The Dennis Miller Show" (CNBC), "Fox News Live" (Fox News Channel), "Glenn Beck Show" (CNN), "Your World with Neil Cavuto" (Fox News) and "700 Club" (Christian Broadcasting Network), "The Laura Ingraham Show," "The Michael Medved Show," "The G. Gordon Liddy Show," "The Rusty Humphries Show," "The Lars Larson Show" (nationally syndicated), "The Larry Elder Show," The Hugh Hewitt Show," "The Dennis Prager Show," among others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
October 6, 2018
I will write why I gave it 5 stars later. Probably closer to end of the year. This book is good. I want to explain why. This would need my old writing style.
It personal which is why I cannot explain. Too hard to discuss right now. Life can be worst. Be well.
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Update. 10-6-18. I give this quote to sum up the wonder of this book:
-One of the painful signs of years of dumbed-down education is how many people are unable to make a coherent argument. They can vent their emotions, question other people's motives, make bold assertions, repeat slogans-- anything except reason."
Thomas Sowell
Read any of Thomas Sowell and you will see why this book is 5 stars.
🇺🇸🤙
It personal which is why I cannot explain. Too hard to discuss right now. Life can be worst. Be well.
🇺🇸🤙
Update. 10-6-18. I give this quote to sum up the wonder of this book:
-One of the painful signs of years of dumbed-down education is how many people are unable to make a coherent argument. They can vent their emotions, question other people's motives, make bold assertions, repeat slogans-- anything except reason."
Thomas Sowell
Read any of Thomas Sowell and you will see why this book is 5 stars.
🇺🇸🤙
August 11, 2021
As always I will urge the reading of this book with an attempt at an open mind before deciding you dislike it.
More and more we have less and less communication. Our country is at this probably more divided than it has been at any time since the Civil War (or War Between the States if you prefer). Speakers show up on college campuses only to be shouted down before they ever speak. People REFUSE to take part in thoughtful dialogue. Rather (using the tactics urged in Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals they attempt to prevent those with whom they've been told to disagree from speaking at all. Recently a conservative speaker had to be escorted from a campus under police protection from demonstrators. It turned out that one professor had told some of her students that the man was "like" a "Neo-Nazi".
He was Jewish.
The people (students) took their professor's word as unquestioned truth and then disseminated it to other students. The result was they never actually heard the speaker (who by the way is not a Neo-Nazi, raciest or whatever. He isn't even a fan of President Trump). But the students will probably never know what he (the would-be speaker) thinks as they have either refused to hear him or been prevented from hearing by others.
So...again...please...try reading the book before you disagree with the book. We need to communicate or we will lose what it has taken more than 200 years to build (longer if you consider the ideas and ideals on which America is built.)
More and more we have less and less communication. Our country is at this probably more divided than it has been at any time since the Civil War (or War Between the States if you prefer). Speakers show up on college campuses only to be shouted down before they ever speak. People REFUSE to take part in thoughtful dialogue. Rather (using the tactics urged in Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals they attempt to prevent those with whom they've been told to disagree from speaking at all. Recently a conservative speaker had to be escorted from a campus under police protection from demonstrators. It turned out that one professor had told some of her students that the man was "like" a "Neo-Nazi".
He was Jewish.
The people (students) took their professor's word as unquestioned truth and then disseminated it to other students. The result was they never actually heard the speaker (who by the way is not a Neo-Nazi, raciest or whatever. He isn't even a fan of President Trump). But the students will probably never know what he (the would-be speaker) thinks as they have either refused to hear him or been prevented from hearing by others.
So...again...please...try reading the book before you disagree with the book. We need to communicate or we will lose what it has taken more than 200 years to build (longer if you consider the ideas and ideals on which America is built.)
January 26, 2013
After seeing the twentysomething author take down Piers Morgan on the latter's CNN talk show, I ordered the book thinking it would be a similarly smart take-down of smug leftists who attempt to bully conservatives into silence by calling us names and questioning our motives.
And to be sure, he does do much solid research providing examples of just that, liberals substituting name-calling for argument. But, he also engages in his own share of name calling, offering gratuitous asides mocking liberals or including unnecessary adjectives describing them.
He has got a great point to make, but it seems alas he has targeted this book at conservatives who already know about left-wing bullying rather than toward people who, thanks to our media's interest only is stories of alleged conservative bullying, might become aware of the reality of large segments of the American left if conservatives made a broader appeal to their sense of fair play.
And to be sure, he does do much solid research providing examples of just that, liberals substituting name-calling for argument. But, he also engages in his own share of name calling, offering gratuitous asides mocking liberals or including unnecessary adjectives describing them.
He has got a great point to make, but it seems alas he has targeted this book at conservatives who already know about left-wing bullying rather than toward people who, thanks to our media's interest only is stories of alleged conservative bullying, might become aware of the reality of large segments of the American left if conservatives made a broader appeal to their sense of fair play.
May 22, 2017
This book is the worst kind of garbage. It's not even worthy of being burned. Perhaps it could be shredded, mixed with cow manure and thrown on next year's garden, but I'd worry about the toxicity keeping the seeds from germinating.
Ben Shapiro is a bully of the most deceptive kind: the bully who plays the victim card. And in case you think my introductory paragraph is bullying, lets look at how Shapiro says you should treat a bully, "There is only one way to stop a bully: to punch back. We've seen who the bullies are and what they've done. Now it's time to fight them."
And I don't think that's actually true. I don't think using violence works every time, or even the majority of the time. So, even though Ben Shapiro is literally asking to be punched, I refuse to punch him on principle.
The worst part is, Shapiro could make a good point. The left has cross-sections and strains that are prone to violence - and it's up to members of the left to step up and do something about it. The violence that shut down Trump's Chicago rally, or the protests at Berkley over Ann Coulter speaking are more recent examples of those voices.
Of course, in those examples the left is doing the very thing Shapiro asks them to do: punch a bully back. (Or the left believes themselves to be punching back against a bully.)
Shapiro and I both have a problem with people calling Ben Carson an Uncle Tom or a race-traitor for supporting Donald Trump. Or the civil rights hero John Lewis for supporting Clinton over Sanders. But somehow Shapiro is fine with calling any Jewish person who aligns with the left a "self-hating Jew."
And there wasn't a page where Shapiro didn't resort to name-calling, oversimplification, bait-and-switch, strawmen, or whatever else he was purporting to be against in his own arguments. Not a page.
The biggest irony is how much the right prides itself on being "anti-card." They hated it when Obama "played the race card." Or the sex card, gay card, environment card, policy card, intelligence card, card card, or any number of other cards Democrats supposedly have in their deck. Most of all, Republicans - the pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps-party hates the victim card. But he plays them all. The hypocrisy is astounding.
Look, I get it. I read a book that wasn't meant for me. This is why it has a 4.19 rating here on goodreads - it wasn't meant as discourse. It was meant to rally a base which already despised the left. And they're the only ones who read it and rated it. Whatever. (Incidentally, I read a leftist book referenced by Shapiro - The Republican War on Science - and found it similarly unpalatable for many of the same reasons. It was 2006, though. Pre-goodreads. Two-stars, but alas, no review.)
Shapiro's argument that Rush is the real victim after he called a college student a slut on public radio for wanting access to birth control? A private citizen. Against a nationally syndicated radio host. Rush is the real victim there because people called him out on it. Like... How...is that... How can they even...? Who buys this drivel? It's hard to know reading this, but like Pre-President Trump says, "...And some, I assume, are good people."
Ben Shapiro is a bully of the most deceptive kind: the bully who plays the victim card. And in case you think my introductory paragraph is bullying, lets look at how Shapiro says you should treat a bully, "There is only one way to stop a bully: to punch back. We've seen who the bullies are and what they've done. Now it's time to fight them."
And I don't think that's actually true. I don't think using violence works every time, or even the majority of the time. So, even though Ben Shapiro is literally asking to be punched, I refuse to punch him on principle.
The worst part is, Shapiro could make a good point. The left has cross-sections and strains that are prone to violence - and it's up to members of the left to step up and do something about it. The violence that shut down Trump's Chicago rally, or the protests at Berkley over Ann Coulter speaking are more recent examples of those voices.
Of course, in those examples the left is doing the very thing Shapiro asks them to do: punch a bully back. (Or the left believes themselves to be punching back against a bully.)
Shapiro and I both have a problem with people calling Ben Carson an Uncle Tom or a race-traitor for supporting Donald Trump. Or the civil rights hero John Lewis for supporting Clinton over Sanders. But somehow Shapiro is fine with calling any Jewish person who aligns with the left a "self-hating Jew."
And there wasn't a page where Shapiro didn't resort to name-calling, oversimplification, bait-and-switch, strawmen, or whatever else he was purporting to be against in his own arguments. Not a page.
The biggest irony is how much the right prides itself on being "anti-card." They hated it when Obama "played the race card." Or the sex card, gay card, environment card, policy card, intelligence card, card card, or any number of other cards Democrats supposedly have in their deck. Most of all, Republicans - the pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps-party hates the victim card. But he plays them all. The hypocrisy is astounding.
Look, I get it. I read a book that wasn't meant for me. This is why it has a 4.19 rating here on goodreads - it wasn't meant as discourse. It was meant to rally a base which already despised the left. And they're the only ones who read it and rated it. Whatever. (Incidentally, I read a leftist book referenced by Shapiro - The Republican War on Science - and found it similarly unpalatable for many of the same reasons. It was 2006, though. Pre-goodreads. Two-stars, but alas, no review.)
Shapiro's argument that Rush is the real victim after he called a college student a slut on public radio for wanting access to birth control? A private citizen. Against a nationally syndicated radio host. Rush is the real victim there because people called him out on it. Like... How...is that... How can they even...? Who buys this drivel? It's hard to know reading this, but like Pre-President Trump says, "...And some, I assume, are good people."
February 20, 2013
I have asked some liberal friends to read this in exchange for my reading and objectively critiquing anything they want to suggest. So far, I've had no one accept this challenge. I suspect that they don't want to be exposed to a well-written and well-documented review of their well-known tactics. Keep up the Breitbart dream, Ben.
January 10, 2016
A decent answer to name calling and insult that is routinely part of the left's reaction to disagreement. The vitriol put out in the last years, especially upon Andrew Breitbart's death! This is a needed answer. Timely and overdue. Stomach churning, gut wrenching- the constant insults by media, celebs, and our President. And not only to Conservatives either, but to and about almost every aspect of Christianity belief and practice in general. They are contained not only in the positive (which appear routinely) but also in the time and onus of where the attention is constantly focused for news, interface, and evidence of consequence. What is ignored, except in aside of farce or satire. The vast areas of negative "attention" of ignoring! As opposed to where the time and efforts are given in extended verbiage and efforts of $$$ support. It's about time some smart and observant people, like Ben, who believe in individual onus/ rights as core over the "we-think" answer such continual crude defaming. And in opposition name those particular techniques and whole piece assaults that have been our daily media consumption for a decade. Conservatives are vastly too nice to strike back. It's overdue.
There are at least 10 quotes in this book that are priceless. I resist posting them here. I don't think enough good people who have been persuaded by others to demean their own country and own efforts in the past for progress and prosperity for themselves and their families because of guilt or other mean-spirited evaluations fed into their educations endlessly- will take the time to read them.
Ok, maybe one quote- Ben is too powerful an example.
"But it is leftism that insists that collective needs trump individual needs, that freedom be subjected to societal dictates, and that rights spring not from nature or God, but from the state. It is a left-wing point of view that says to make an omelet, you have to bully a few eggs."
There are at least 10 quotes in this book that are priceless. I resist posting them here. I don't think enough good people who have been persuaded by others to demean their own country and own efforts in the past for progress and prosperity for themselves and their families because of guilt or other mean-spirited evaluations fed into their educations endlessly- will take the time to read them.
Ok, maybe one quote- Ben is too powerful an example.
"But it is leftism that insists that collective needs trump individual needs, that freedom be subjected to societal dictates, and that rights spring not from nature or God, but from the state. It is a left-wing point of view that says to make an omelet, you have to bully a few eggs."
April 7, 2013
You know how you sometimes wish someone would write the way you think when referring to the media types that denigrate conservatisim and Christianity? This book does just that. Fairly dripping with humerous sarcasm, not to mention THE TRUTH about the left and how they operate, I loved this book!
June 7, 2013
Hmmm, I read this book because it has become increasingly obvious, in my opinion, that there is a definite bias in our media. That may be an obvious statement to some. That was not the case for me.
I was completely surprised by the total lack of coveerage most media gave to Floyd Lee Corkins II who shot a guard at the Family Research Council. This was an act of terroristis violence. Had it happened at an abortion clinic it would have been on all the news outlets for days, that is what I though at the time. However, since it happened at a conservative, religious organization then it was hardly worth notice. That type of thing seems to happen quite often. It was this incident and others like it, that happened to make me think differently about meida in America. I don't agree with everything in this book but it is worth a read and some thought.
I do take issue with some of his assertion, I disagree with some other things he has to say in his book rather strongly, I however, find the book overall, to be accurate in it's portrayal of how the media choses to portray conservative viewpoints.
I don't like some of the name calling that Shapiro engages in, in the book. It is unneccesary and tends to puts him on par with some of the liberals he takes issue with in the book. I don't think it is helpful for any adut person to do engage it that type of behavior.
I was completely surprised by the total lack of coveerage most media gave to Floyd Lee Corkins II who shot a guard at the Family Research Council. This was an act of terroristis violence. Had it happened at an abortion clinic it would have been on all the news outlets for days, that is what I though at the time. However, since it happened at a conservative, religious organization then it was hardly worth notice. That type of thing seems to happen quite often. It was this incident and others like it, that happened to make me think differently about meida in America. I don't agree with everything in this book but it is worth a read and some thought.
I do take issue with some of his assertion, I disagree with some other things he has to say in his book rather strongly, I however, find the book overall, to be accurate in it's portrayal of how the media choses to portray conservative viewpoints.
I don't like some of the name calling that Shapiro engages in, in the book. It is unneccesary and tends to puts him on par with some of the liberals he takes issue with in the book. I don't think it is helpful for any adut person to do engage it that type of behavior.
January 20, 2019
I was willing to read this because I think Ben Shapiro is the most talented young debater I have seen. He is able to go into a hostile environment (usually a campus), entertain a biased and slanted question, know significantly more about that topic than nearly everyone, quickly identify the common ground, narrow the issue, and then use well-reasoned argument and logic to go from the common ground to his position on the issue. He is very successful at this--namely because he is smarter and more articulate than nearly everyone he debates (and you are only going to post the highlights online). It is the most effective argument style I have seen and I seek to emulate that style.
I made it 33% of the way through this book. I think this book and other media of its kind (from both sides) are part of what is wrong with America. This was not written to convince an audience that is on the fence or does not agree with him, this is a book that panders unabashedly to one side and often uses fear mongering. It does so by vilifying individuals on the left of the political spectrum--equating the 1% most radical with, quite frankly, anyone that identifies as center or left. Then uses a broad brush to paint everyone and every scenario in the worst possible light relative to the far right political position on every issue (through a third of the book).
President Wilson-Terrible leftist that suppressed speech;
FDR-Terrible President that prolonged the Great Depression;
The military-pawn in a grand leftist scheme to win political points;
President Bush (2nd one)-Too left for Ben Shapiro; spare me.
1) I am skeptical of individuals that never met a party position they didn't like--on either side. 2) I don't believe you can be bullied without your consent, particularly in Federal politics. 3) This book seems very hypocritical. Not only did I feel as though Ben Shapiro was bullying me if I was skeptical of some of his (anecdotal) points, but his arguments always were one-sided.
I'm a believer that identifying with one end or the other of the political spectrum--or even being a centrist--does not automatically make people bad. With rare exception (and most of those people did jail time) I do not believe that individuals that seek public office do so to persecute their fellow citizens, screw up the system, or try to make things worse.
Last, I am terribly disappointed that Ben Shapiro uses his talents to divide rather than unite individuals. With great power comes great responsibility. I will not read another book by Ben Shapiro.
I made it 33% of the way through this book. I think this book and other media of its kind (from both sides) are part of what is wrong with America. This was not written to convince an audience that is on the fence or does not agree with him, this is a book that panders unabashedly to one side and often uses fear mongering. It does so by vilifying individuals on the left of the political spectrum--equating the 1% most radical with, quite frankly, anyone that identifies as center or left. Then uses a broad brush to paint everyone and every scenario in the worst possible light relative to the far right political position on every issue (through a third of the book).
President Wilson-Terrible leftist that suppressed speech;
FDR-Terrible President that prolonged the Great Depression;
The military-pawn in a grand leftist scheme to win political points;
President Bush (2nd one)-Too left for Ben Shapiro; spare me.
1) I am skeptical of individuals that never met a party position they didn't like--on either side. 2) I don't believe you can be bullied without your consent, particularly in Federal politics. 3) This book seems very hypocritical. Not only did I feel as though Ben Shapiro was bullying me if I was skeptical of some of his (anecdotal) points, but his arguments always were one-sided.
I'm a believer that identifying with one end or the other of the political spectrum--or even being a centrist--does not automatically make people bad. With rare exception (and most of those people did jail time) I do not believe that individuals that seek public office do so to persecute their fellow citizens, screw up the system, or try to make things worse.
Last, I am terribly disappointed that Ben Shapiro uses his talents to divide rather than unite individuals. With great power comes great responsibility. I will not read another book by Ben Shapiro.
April 23, 2016
Absolutely brilliant. There aren't too many books that are this unique in challenging the leftist bullying establishment. Shapiro convincingly provides undeniable examples of partisan leftist bullying of anyone who has the courage to disagree.
November 8, 2018
I'm not going to lie, I like Ben Shapiro. He's logical, conservative, and anti-Trump. Ben Shapiro does a great job at explaining how it has become a routine political tactic to bully others into silence, i.e., accusing someone of racism for favoring certain economic policies, misogyny because they don't support the same health insurance scheme, or even claiming that everyone that disagrees with you is stupid, etc... The book was a bit dated, but honestly, I think the bullying has gotten worse since he's written it. In addition to name calling, I’ve recently seen outright calls for murder and/or terrorism by leftists, even from people I know. It's genuinely terrifying. I wish the book had offered more of a solution, but I guess that there is no easy answer.
February 9, 2017
Shapiro is very smart. I don't think anyone could deny that. This is another one of those Liberal bash books/conservative defense. I feel like a genre is forming.
The book pours over so much development in the media. It is great for this cataloging but does not make for good entertainment at times. I constantly felt that much of the events I was somewhat familiar with were like getting beat over the head with the point instead of moving on. The format would of been much better like the PIG "textbooks" instead of a novel.
As far as content, Shapiro is guilty of being overly ad hoc in his commentary but that is not a fault nor unexpected in this book, and inserted much needed humor when covering depressong events.
He backs up all his claims with research which I always love, but the use of notes is questionable.
This book could remove 100 pages and should be renamed "The Death of Kultute" as is reminds me of Pat Buchanan Where the Right Went Wrong in what I found out about recent history which help exposed a lot in understanding the Knowledge and Decisions that have formed our current ecosystem.
The book pours over so much development in the media. It is great for this cataloging but does not make for good entertainment at times. I constantly felt that much of the events I was somewhat familiar with were like getting beat over the head with the point instead of moving on. The format would of been much better like the PIG "textbooks" instead of a novel.
As far as content, Shapiro is guilty of being overly ad hoc in his commentary but that is not a fault nor unexpected in this book, and inserted much needed humor when covering depressong events.
He backs up all his claims with research which I always love, but the use of notes is questionable.
This book could remove 100 pages and should be renamed "The Death of Kultute" as is reminds me of Pat Buchanan Where the Right Went Wrong in what I found out about recent history which help exposed a lot in understanding the Knowledge and Decisions that have formed our current ecosystem.
December 31, 2017
Less offensive than Coulter, but still manages to spew hate for 200+ pages. This is a myopic view of everyone crushed by low-wage earning, canned food eating poorly clad feet - you know, "the left". Shapiro falls in line with the rest of political commentators and offers no solutions or hope for the future. Bullies are classified as anyone who bears discontent for the way government is run.
People, I am begging you, think for yourselves and not for a party whose existence is a real as the tooth fairy.
People, I am begging you, think for yourselves and not for a party whose existence is a real as the tooth fairy.
March 8, 2017
While this is a damn sight better than Brainwashed, and a very good read, it just scraped a fourth star. Shapiro is sharp as usual in his observations on the bullying tactics of the left, and when dealing with this, it makes for riveting, infuriating reading. The problem is that when writing his retorts, Shapiro is nowhere near as courteous as he is in real life. In fact he's sometimes almost as downright crude as those he lambasts and really needs to tone it down. Kimberly Strassel did it the right way in The Intimidation Game. I still like Shapiro, but I like his public speaking and Daily Wire way of speaking much more, even though I disagree with him on as much as I agree with him.
November 20, 2013
I found Ben's book to be quite an eye opener. It's not that I hadn't thought about what he carefully documented but I had only discussed it with my wife after certain news events. He not only gives a wake-up call to all non-leftists, but he provides some of the tools to engage these people in debate.
For a non-fiction book, I found that I couldn't put it down once I started it.
Excellent read. Highly recommended.
For a non-fiction book, I found that I couldn't put it down once I started it.
Excellent read. Highly recommended.
February 20, 2016
Shapiro's pinned tweet, "Facts don't care about your feelings" hits at the heart of this book. He hits the left right at the heart from where their bigotry and hypocrisy springs. I highly recommend this to anyone who seeks to venture into the liberal mindset and also learn how to fight back.
November 27, 2018
Target audience: General audience, except children.
About the author: According to his Goodreads page, Ben Shapiro entered UCLA at the age of 16 and graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in June 2004 with a BA in Political Science. He graduated Harvard Law School cum laude in June 2007. Shapiro was hired by Creators Syndicate at age 17 to become the youngest nationally syndicated columnist in the U.S.His columns are printed in major newspapers and websites including Townhall, ABCNews, WorldNet Daily, Human Events, FrontPage Mag etc. He has been the subject of articles in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Associated Press, and Christian Science Monitor; he has been quoted on "The Rush Limbaugh Show," "The Dr. Laura Show," at CBS News, in the New York Press, in the Washington Times, and in The American Conservative magazine, among many others. More information about the author can be easily found on the Internet because he is a popular figure.
Structure of the book: The book in Kindle version has 326 pages, divided in an introduction, seven chapters, a conclusion, acknowledgments, about the author, index and notes.
Overview: I hold views that may be categorized as part of the “right”. As Ben Shapiro, I wanted Trump to become president (to prevent Hillary in my case). I watch Ben Shapiro on Youtube for quite a while now. And I like the way he speaks and approaches things, his point of view regarding the world... or so I thought.
To be honest, I was a little disappointed by the book. Roughly, Ben Shapiro criticizes the manifestation of political paradigm of the “left”, starting from anti-Semitism, bigotry to feminism and racism. And I agree with many of the arguments brought by the author, but there were a lot of times when I felt he exaggerates or cherry-picks facts in order to create a certain image in the mind of the reader. Yes, I think that feminism degenerated in a stupid movement. Yes, racism in America became a tool of the minorities to bully the white majority. Yes, Barack Obama is the president that divided the country as no president probably did before. Yes, Islam and socialism are problems; not just in America, but in the whole world. And a big YES, I think that many movements and trends that are under the broad umbrella of the “left” are dumb. Bullying at the level of masses and institutions exists. But I can strongly disagree with the author’s stance on global warming. Or the secular bullies. Or the class bullies. And other small facts displayed in the book…
Maybe I have a hard time understanding the American politics and social dynamics, given that I live in Europe. Maybe my bubble of understanding is too small. Maybe… but this is what I understood and this is how I perceived the book. That does not mean I won’t enjoy Ben Shapiro anymore. I still like him and I will continue watching him on Youtube and read his books. But, overall, the world has all sort of problems and claiming that only one paradigm/approach will solve them all is quite naïve/cocky in my opinion.
Quote: The race bullies win by relying on racial guilt. But collective racial guilt can only separate Americans. We are individuals, not homogenous members of racial subsets. Only when we learn to cherish the words of Martin Luther King, judging people as individuals, will we truly have the guts to stand up to the race bullies. After all, to paraphrase a man who once stood for unification rather than division, we're not black America or white America. We're the United States of America. We're brothers and sisters.
Strong points: For any of you who watch Ben Shapiro on Youtube/Facebook, the incredible amount of details and the author’s logic is very impressive. His mouth is like a machinegun and his writing is likewise.
Weak points: The book is horribly one-sided; it feels like the author cherry-picks facts and presents only one side of the story. One star down in rating because of the author’s stance regarding global warming.
About the author: According to his Goodreads page, Ben Shapiro entered UCLA at the age of 16 and graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in June 2004 with a BA in Political Science. He graduated Harvard Law School cum laude in June 2007. Shapiro was hired by Creators Syndicate at age 17 to become the youngest nationally syndicated columnist in the U.S.His columns are printed in major newspapers and websites including Townhall, ABCNews, WorldNet Daily, Human Events, FrontPage Mag etc. He has been the subject of articles in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Associated Press, and Christian Science Monitor; he has been quoted on "The Rush Limbaugh Show," "The Dr. Laura Show," at CBS News, in the New York Press, in the Washington Times, and in The American Conservative magazine, among many others. More information about the author can be easily found on the Internet because he is a popular figure.
Structure of the book: The book in Kindle version has 326 pages, divided in an introduction, seven chapters, a conclusion, acknowledgments, about the author, index and notes.
Overview: I hold views that may be categorized as part of the “right”. As Ben Shapiro, I wanted Trump to become president (to prevent Hillary in my case). I watch Ben Shapiro on Youtube for quite a while now. And I like the way he speaks and approaches things, his point of view regarding the world... or so I thought.
To be honest, I was a little disappointed by the book. Roughly, Ben Shapiro criticizes the manifestation of political paradigm of the “left”, starting from anti-Semitism, bigotry to feminism and racism. And I agree with many of the arguments brought by the author, but there were a lot of times when I felt he exaggerates or cherry-picks facts in order to create a certain image in the mind of the reader. Yes, I think that feminism degenerated in a stupid movement. Yes, racism in America became a tool of the minorities to bully the white majority. Yes, Barack Obama is the president that divided the country as no president probably did before. Yes, Islam and socialism are problems; not just in America, but in the whole world. And a big YES, I think that many movements and trends that are under the broad umbrella of the “left” are dumb. Bullying at the level of masses and institutions exists. But I can strongly disagree with the author’s stance on global warming. Or the secular bullies. Or the class bullies. And other small facts displayed in the book…
Maybe I have a hard time understanding the American politics and social dynamics, given that I live in Europe. Maybe my bubble of understanding is too small. Maybe… but this is what I understood and this is how I perceived the book. That does not mean I won’t enjoy Ben Shapiro anymore. I still like him and I will continue watching him on Youtube and read his books. But, overall, the world has all sort of problems and claiming that only one paradigm/approach will solve them all is quite naïve/cocky in my opinion.
Quote: The race bullies win by relying on racial guilt. But collective racial guilt can only separate Americans. We are individuals, not homogenous members of racial subsets. Only when we learn to cherish the words of Martin Luther King, judging people as individuals, will we truly have the guts to stand up to the race bullies. After all, to paraphrase a man who once stood for unification rather than division, we're not black America or white America. We're the United States of America. We're brothers and sisters.
Strong points: For any of you who watch Ben Shapiro on Youtube/Facebook, the incredible amount of details and the author’s logic is very impressive. His mouth is like a machinegun and his writing is likewise.
Weak points: The book is horribly one-sided; it feels like the author cherry-picks facts and presents only one side of the story. One star down in rating because of the author’s stance regarding global warming.
January 7, 2018
Book one of my New Year's resolution to become more acquainted with political viewpoints. I must say that I am not a fan of the blatantly charged tone that pervades the book. In some parts I disagreed so vehemently it was difficult to read, but then at other points I agreed with some sentiments and it was refreshing to see other people can have a similar view as it seems so few have any conservative viewpoints at all. Overall, it was a slightly exhaustive read due to the anger and eagerness to piss of Liberals and name calling nature of the book, but I believe it started to accomplish part of my goal. I also learned about 20 new words from this book so that was cool!
January 15, 2018
This book is an outlet for Shapiro to talk about anything he wants. Because I like hearing Ben rant about anything he wants, this was interesting for me; I trust him. If I didn't know or trust the author, then I would not have enjoyed this nearly as much. I also usually enjoy and understand his levels of sarcasm, but in this book I think he could have toned it down just a little. In a few spots I could feel him trying too hard to be funny. He also comes down hard on Obama, which is fine but it dates the book. Otherwise a pretty good read, but just listen to his podcast for the same effect.
April 18, 2013
Great book. It's full of documented sources that show how the left continually tries to bully everyone else into their "my way or the highway" mentality. Highly recommended, especially for those skeptical of the difference between liberals and conservatives.
October 21, 2017
Two Words: Ignorant, Projecting.
The chapter titles are worth memorizing tho, it'll give you the shortlist of what racists, homophobes, Christian Crusaders and so on believe should be a-okay, and anyone who doesn't agree is just a big old bully.
The chapter titles are worth memorizing tho, it'll give you the shortlist of what racists, homophobes, Christian Crusaders and so on believe should be a-okay, and anyone who doesn't agree is just a big old bully.
June 30, 2018
Answering name calling with more name calling
I was expecting a little more but all I found was a few selective headlines used as widespread examples, petty name calling. Perfect for people who want to stay in the basemsbt, not engage and watch the world pass them by!
I was expecting a little more but all I found was a few selective headlines used as widespread examples, petty name calling. Perfect for people who want to stay in the basemsbt, not engage and watch the world pass them by!
September 8, 2020
Honestly this guy would be laughable if he wasn't a real abuser. The kind of abuser that calls you names and makes fun of you, then accuses you of name calling and making fun. This guy's intellect is a joke and his strategy is absolutely insulting, cruel, belittling, and offensively disparaging.
June 28, 2017
Really enjoyed Ben's approach to understand where the true bullying is.
April 14, 2021
Stand up for yourself and your beliefs. Never stop fighting back.
May 21, 2019
This book has completely changed my view of Obama and the left. I have a few concerns with some biased language in the second half of the book, but I think I'm smart enough to think for myself. And Ben has me converted!! Many of the things that he said are things that I have thought about for a while, but I wasn't sure what that said about my political beliefs. I'm excited to expand my thoughts on conservatism.
March 10, 2025
Writes like how he debates: dishonestly and without evidentiary support. Definitely not Harvard Law’s best or brightest.
March 27, 2018
The writing is witty, insightful, and fun to read.
I have seen and felt the intimidation and destructive tactics used by the left and described in this book. I have watched society transform rapidly into an Alinsky-esque Dystopia where people can be destroyed if they hold the wrong views on a topic (even if those views were considered favorably by leftists 3 years earlier). It is painfully obvious that leftists bully conservatives every chance they get.
Note my use of the term "left" rather than "liberal". To me, true liberalism is the classical liberalism of Locke, not the twisted, progressive version of social liberalism (which is not liberal at all) of Wilson and Roosevelt.
The one beef I have about this book is that while the entire premise of the book is to call out hypocritical bullies, the author frequently makes fun of those bullies (i.e. calling George Stephanopoulos a Keebler Elf - isn't Ben Shapiro short too?). While this fits within the witty sarcastic tone used generally in the book, it seems odd that someone would criticize hypocritical bullies while bullying those bullies hypocritically. I guess in one sense, this does fit with his assertion that to stop bullying, you need to fight back. Still, you can fight back without lowering yourself.
--------------------------
On a side note, I have seen a lot about social media platforms such as Youtube and Twitter bullying conservatives by blocking or demonetizing those espousing conservative views while promoting those with leftist views and refusing to take action against any leftist for any reason. In light of this, I made an interesting observation about goodreads.
It appears that the search algorithms used by goodreads are intentionally biased in ways similar to what Youtube and Twitter have been doing.
When searching for a book to add to my reading list, the book was buried in search results that included much less close matches of much less popular books. I used the search term "Bullies" looking for the book Bullies: How the Left's Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences Americans. This book has been a NY Times #1 best seller as well as an Amazon best seller, and was the closest text match to my search term. Furthermore, I repeated my search after adding the book to my list as "Currently Reading". Despite this, the book was buried on the fourth page of search results. I would have expected a book with this level of popularity and being the closest text search to appear in the 'search as you type' results. This book did not appear in the 'search as you type' results until "Bullies: How" had been typed. Another factor that theoretically should have helped "Bullies: How the Left's Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences Americans" in my own search is the type of books I have a history of reading and rating.
Wondering if this was political bias or dumb luck, I searched a significantly less popular book with the opposite political ideology. I searched for the book What Happened. This book did not sell as well as the book by Shapiro, yet it appeared in the 'search as you type' by simply typing "What". The word "What" is a substantially more common word than "Bullies" in book titles (126,720 vs. 5900 search results). Most of the titles that preceded the Shapiro title in the single word search do not contain an exact match for the searched word in the title, author or genre.
The one potential advantage that "What Happened" would have over "Bullies: How the Left's Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences Americans" in a sensible unbiased search algorithm is that "What Happened" was a 2017 goodreads choice winner. I can't help but wonder if a major reason for this was related to the biased algorithm.
It appears that goodreads is intentionally deprecating conservative content and promoting leftist content. I hope I am wrong and invite them to prove that their search algorithms do not diminish conservative content or promote leftist content.
Lest goodreads change their algorithms and someone claim that I have made false claims, I have screenshots showing what I observed.
Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/search?page...
https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8...
https://www.wsj.com/articles/prageru-...
http://dailycaller.com/2017/08/11/con...
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/n...
http://www.breitbart.com/big-governme...
I have seen and felt the intimidation and destructive tactics used by the left and described in this book. I have watched society transform rapidly into an Alinsky-esque Dystopia where people can be destroyed if they hold the wrong views on a topic (even if those views were considered favorably by leftists 3 years earlier). It is painfully obvious that leftists bully conservatives every chance they get.
Note my use of the term "left" rather than "liberal". To me, true liberalism is the classical liberalism of Locke, not the twisted, progressive version of social liberalism (which is not liberal at all) of Wilson and Roosevelt.
The one beef I have about this book is that while the entire premise of the book is to call out hypocritical bullies, the author frequently makes fun of those bullies (i.e. calling George Stephanopoulos a Keebler Elf - isn't Ben Shapiro short too?). While this fits within the witty sarcastic tone used generally in the book, it seems odd that someone would criticize hypocritical bullies while bullying those bullies hypocritically. I guess in one sense, this does fit with his assertion that to stop bullying, you need to fight back. Still, you can fight back without lowering yourself.
--------------------------
On a side note, I have seen a lot about social media platforms such as Youtube and Twitter bullying conservatives by blocking or demonetizing those espousing conservative views while promoting those with leftist views and refusing to take action against any leftist for any reason. In light of this, I made an interesting observation about goodreads.
It appears that the search algorithms used by goodreads are intentionally biased in ways similar to what Youtube and Twitter have been doing.
When searching for a book to add to my reading list, the book was buried in search results that included much less close matches of much less popular books. I used the search term "Bullies" looking for the book Bullies: How the Left's Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences Americans. This book has been a NY Times #1 best seller as well as an Amazon best seller, and was the closest text match to my search term. Furthermore, I repeated my search after adding the book to my list as "Currently Reading". Despite this, the book was buried on the fourth page of search results. I would have expected a book with this level of popularity and being the closest text search to appear in the 'search as you type' results. This book did not appear in the 'search as you type' results until "Bullies: How" had been typed. Another factor that theoretically should have helped "Bullies: How the Left's Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences Americans" in my own search is the type of books I have a history of reading and rating.
Wondering if this was political bias or dumb luck, I searched a significantly less popular book with the opposite political ideology. I searched for the book What Happened. This book did not sell as well as the book by Shapiro, yet it appeared in the 'search as you type' by simply typing "What". The word "What" is a substantially more common word than "Bullies" in book titles (126,720 vs. 5900 search results). Most of the titles that preceded the Shapiro title in the single word search do not contain an exact match for the searched word in the title, author or genre.
The one potential advantage that "What Happened" would have over "Bullies: How the Left's Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences Americans" in a sensible unbiased search algorithm is that "What Happened" was a 2017 goodreads choice winner. I can't help but wonder if a major reason for this was related to the biased algorithm.
It appears that goodreads is intentionally deprecating conservative content and promoting leftist content. I hope I am wrong and invite them to prove that their search algorithms do not diminish conservative content or promote leftist content.
Lest goodreads change their algorithms and someone claim that I have made false claims, I have screenshots showing what I observed.
Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/search?page...
https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8...
https://www.wsj.com/articles/prageru-...
http://dailycaller.com/2017/08/11/con...
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/n...
http://www.breitbart.com/big-governme...
June 15, 2018
"Walk toward the fire. Don't worry about what they call you. All those things are said against you because they want to stop you in your tracks. But if you keep going, you are sending a message to people who are rooting for you, who are agreeing with you. The message is, they can do it too."
-Andrew Breitbart, RIP
In the world of hard hitting political commentary, Ben is already a heavy-weight. How is it that this guy who is practically a kid (well, he's younger than I am) can debate just about anyone on any subject and blow their socks off, including his seasoned counter-parts. He definitely draws the crowds... not just his fans but a host of enemies. I doubt that the far left would complain so loud about Mr. Shapiro if they didn't think he was a threat. No matter what your political stance might be, you'd have to give him credit for how sharp and clever he is. I only recently became aware of Ben on Facebook after seeing posts of his videos, memes and The Daily Wire.
This is a fantastic and well written book, very precise and clear. You can tell that Shapiro spent a lot of time preparing the content. While listening, I did cross-check some of his references and they do check out. If you have any doubts about the content of this book a little bit of due diligence would help. Check it out and see for yourself.
This was written in 2012, during the Presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney and proposition 8, and much of what is written references Obama and the events of that time, so the scene is a bit outdated. However, bullying from the left against Christians and conservatives seems to have tripled since the election of Donald Trump, so the theme of this book and the message within applies even more so than it did in 2012.
Shapiro does indulge in a fair amount of criticism and bullying himself. Given the theme of the book I am fully aware of the irony, but given that I agree with so much of what he says, I withhold judgement.
Below are a few notable quotes from the book:
"...America's founding ideology is the greatest single governing ideology in the history of mankind, that America's military has been the greatest fighting force for freedom in world history, that america does not require apologizing for, but fighting for."
Liberals are guilty of creating a "permanent black underclass brought about by a purposefully implemented regime of government dependency."
"Ironically, The greatest victims of the race bullies are minorities who don't buy into the anti-American theory that the United States is so racist that it requires constant liberalism. No group is more bullied than black conservatives who must face down charges of racial disloyalty every day."
Heartfelt comments made by a few of our beloved celebrities about Sarah Palin
(Ben includes a lot more in the book and could write an entire volume of all the nasty things the left have quipped about all conservatives, women in particular)
--David Letterman said of Willow Palin, then 14, was "knocked up by Alex Rodriguez during a game at Yankee stadium" and "Sarah bought makeup from Bloomingdale's to update her slutty flight attendant look"
--Louis CK "I want to rub my father's c*k all over Sarah Palin's fat t**t"
"Kudos to your dirty ho, you f***g j***f c***t faced jazzy wondergirl"
"F*****g retard making c**t" He was invited by Obama to the white house.
--Betty White called Sarah Palin a "Crazy B****"
--Bill Maher called her a "Dumb t**t" and "a c**t" (just imagine if Sean Hannity said this about Hilary)
Yup... all these dirtbags, including the popular crusty old Letterman make Trump look like a Saint
-Andrew Breitbart, RIP
In the world of hard hitting political commentary, Ben is already a heavy-weight. How is it that this guy who is practically a kid (well, he's younger than I am) can debate just about anyone on any subject and blow their socks off, including his seasoned counter-parts. He definitely draws the crowds... not just his fans but a host of enemies. I doubt that the far left would complain so loud about Mr. Shapiro if they didn't think he was a threat. No matter what your political stance might be, you'd have to give him credit for how sharp and clever he is. I only recently became aware of Ben on Facebook after seeing posts of his videos, memes and The Daily Wire.
This is a fantastic and well written book, very precise and clear. You can tell that Shapiro spent a lot of time preparing the content. While listening, I did cross-check some of his references and they do check out. If you have any doubts about the content of this book a little bit of due diligence would help. Check it out and see for yourself.
This was written in 2012, during the Presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney and proposition 8, and much of what is written references Obama and the events of that time, so the scene is a bit outdated. However, bullying from the left against Christians and conservatives seems to have tripled since the election of Donald Trump, so the theme of this book and the message within applies even more so than it did in 2012.
Shapiro does indulge in a fair amount of criticism and bullying himself. Given the theme of the book I am fully aware of the irony, but given that I agree with so much of what he says, I withhold judgement.
Below are a few notable quotes from the book:
"...America's founding ideology is the greatest single governing ideology in the history of mankind, that America's military has been the greatest fighting force for freedom in world history, that america does not require apologizing for, but fighting for."
Liberals are guilty of creating a "permanent black underclass brought about by a purposefully implemented regime of government dependency."
"Ironically, The greatest victims of the race bullies are minorities who don't buy into the anti-American theory that the United States is so racist that it requires constant liberalism. No group is more bullied than black conservatives who must face down charges of racial disloyalty every day."
Heartfelt comments made by a few of our beloved celebrities about Sarah Palin
(Ben includes a lot more in the book and could write an entire volume of all the nasty things the left have quipped about all conservatives, women in particular)
--David Letterman said of Willow Palin, then 14, was "knocked up by Alex Rodriguez during a game at Yankee stadium" and "Sarah bought makeup from Bloomingdale's to update her slutty flight attendant look"
--Louis CK "I want to rub my father's c*k all over Sarah Palin's fat t**t"
"Kudos to your dirty ho, you f***g j***f c***t faced jazzy wondergirl"
"F*****g retard making c**t" He was invited by Obama to the white house.
--Betty White called Sarah Palin a "Crazy B****"
--Bill Maher called her a "Dumb t**t" and "a c**t" (just imagine if Sean Hannity said this about Hilary)
Yup... all these dirtbags, including the popular crusty old Letterman make Trump look like a Saint
November 8, 2018
Good content, but, as a self proclaimed “reasonable, open-minded moderate,” I find that the book is written in a condescending tone that takes away from the quality substance that Shapiro has put together.
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