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Crunchy Cons: How Birkenstocked Burkeans, gun-loving organic gardeners, evangelical free-range farmers, hip homeschooling mamas, right-wing nature ... America
Crunchy Cons is both a useful primer to living the crunchy con way and a passionate affirmation of those things that give our lives weight and measure. In chapters dedicated to food, religion, consumerism, education, and the environment, Dreher shows how to live in a way that preserves what Kirk called “the permanent things,” among them faith, family, community, and a legacy of ancient truths. This, says Dreher, is the kind of roots conservatism that more and more Americans want to practice. And in Crunchy Cons, he lets them know how far they are from being alone.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published February 21, 2006
55 people are currently reading
1091 people want to read
About the author
Rod Dreher
19 books510 followersRod Dreher is an American writer known for his work on religion, culture, and politics from a traditional Christian perspective. He holds a B.A. in Journalism from Louisiana State University and has served as senior editor and now editor-at-large of The American Conservative. His best-known books include
The Benedict Option
(2017) and
Live Not by Lies
(2020), which explore how believers can live faithfully amid secular modernity. He writes widely on religion, culture and contemporary society, and currently resides in Budapest, Hungary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
June 16, 2020
Well, I did it. I finally read Crunchy Cons. I'd been delaying this for a while, not because I don't appreciate Dreher's work but because I felt that I knew the book already. Among the people I run with, Crunchy Cons has approached the level of semi-holy writ. I resisted my friends' urgings to read it because I thought I had absorbed the entire book by sheer osmosis.
But I am very glad that I read it. Dreher manages to cut through the nonsense of politics and ideology commonly associated with the word "conservative" and gets back to the Kirk n' Burke roots of the word, which, to quote Dreher quoting Kirk, is about conserving the "Permanent Things". As Dreher points out repeatedly, most of our institutions in modern America are not committed to conserving anything of permanence; our schools, economics, and political parties are infatuated with lust, greed, and progress-at-all-costs. The institutions that do preserve the permanent things - our churches, families, and local economies - are rotting under the weight of liberal individualism. With clarity and common sense, Dreher calls conservatives to remember what is worth conserving, and pursue that with fervor. Thus he advocates green eating, media-free homes, homeschooling, and sanctified religion. These are great reminders, especially considering recent political events.
As young people approaching this book a half-generation after it was written, people like me (millennials) have perhaps a unique perspective on the efficacy of the ideas Dreher propagates (ideas much older than his book), because we can observe them in the lives of older people. In fact, my parents are one of the "Crunchy Con" couples that Rod interviews in this book (find them in the "Religion" chapter), a fact that I am both proud of, and find slightly hilarious. I'm proud because I have seen the wisdom of preserving our ancient institutions played out in my own childhood and upbringing, and recognize the huge difference it has made in forming me and my siblings into people far removed from the frenzied liberal insanity of today. It's an honor to see that codified in Rod's book. I find it hilarious because there is nothing funnier than seeing people you know so well and have spent your life with idealized in a book, because all people are so far from ideal. But that's what being a crunchy con is all about: preserving the permanent things in the choices of everyday life. "In this sense, to conserve is to create anew." Crunchiness won't look glamorous in your life, or mine, but it will be good, and perhaps preserve us when the horns blow.
But I am very glad that I read it. Dreher manages to cut through the nonsense of politics and ideology commonly associated with the word "conservative" and gets back to the Kirk n' Burke roots of the word, which, to quote Dreher quoting Kirk, is about conserving the "Permanent Things". As Dreher points out repeatedly, most of our institutions in modern America are not committed to conserving anything of permanence; our schools, economics, and political parties are infatuated with lust, greed, and progress-at-all-costs. The institutions that do preserve the permanent things - our churches, families, and local economies - are rotting under the weight of liberal individualism. With clarity and common sense, Dreher calls conservatives to remember what is worth conserving, and pursue that with fervor. Thus he advocates green eating, media-free homes, homeschooling, and sanctified religion. These are great reminders, especially considering recent political events.
As young people approaching this book a half-generation after it was written, people like me (millennials) have perhaps a unique perspective on the efficacy of the ideas Dreher propagates (ideas much older than his book), because we can observe them in the lives of older people. In fact, my parents are one of the "Crunchy Con" couples that Rod interviews in this book (find them in the "Religion" chapter), a fact that I am both proud of, and find slightly hilarious. I'm proud because I have seen the wisdom of preserving our ancient institutions played out in my own childhood and upbringing, and recognize the huge difference it has made in forming me and my siblings into people far removed from the frenzied liberal insanity of today. It's an honor to see that codified in Rod's book. I find it hilarious because there is nothing funnier than seeing people you know so well and have spent your life with idealized in a book, because all people are so far from ideal. But that's what being a crunchy con is all about: preserving the permanent things in the choices of everyday life. "In this sense, to conserve is to create anew." Crunchiness won't look glamorous in your life, or mine, but it will be good, and perhaps preserve us when the horns blow.
April 30, 2009
there was one thing i loved about this book and two problems with it.
i loved that dreher calls conservatives to recover the meaning of the word "conserve," especially as it pertains to the environment, independent locally-owned business, and abandoned urban spaces. he makes a persuasive case that these causes, currently associated with liberalism, have a historically-grounded and logical place in conservative thought. great. more of that.
the first problem is that dreher contradicts his calls for conservatives to return to the cities by waxing misty-eyed about those crunchy cons who remove to the country to raise their organic veg and homeschool their offspring in a purer place. what are we supposed to do, rod? buy the craftsman bungalow or the rural acreage? (he goes on for an entire chapter on the virtues of the craftsman bungalow. and i agree, they're great, but a whole chapter?)
and that brings me to problem two. i was raised by proto-crunchy-cons who moved us out of the city in 1985 to homeschool in the country, eat food from the local co-op and generally be unstained by the world. we ate venison, had carob instead of chocolate, and pulled our own onions out of the ground. it had its good parts. but on the whole, it was an isolated, insular existence. access to a variety of cultural experiences and diverse people was severely limited, or impossible without long drives. it may sound idyllic in _crunchy cons_ but it was lonely. my parents worked hard to keep us from being the stereotypical, unsocialized homeschoolers, but we knew many families during that time who really suffered as a result of their decision to isolate in this way. i can tell some crazy stories. my point is, rod wrongly idealizes (idolizes?) this way of life. it's fraught with pitfalls just as unsettling as those faced by families in other contexts. just ask me about the allens. or the newtons. i mean it.
so there's my two cents. and i think his blog is much worse than the book, especially lately. i want to know what's new in eastern orthodoxy, but all the end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it posts of late leave me cold. so now you all should read it and push back. what am i missing?
i loved that dreher calls conservatives to recover the meaning of the word "conserve," especially as it pertains to the environment, independent locally-owned business, and abandoned urban spaces. he makes a persuasive case that these causes, currently associated with liberalism, have a historically-grounded and logical place in conservative thought. great. more of that.
the first problem is that dreher contradicts his calls for conservatives to return to the cities by waxing misty-eyed about those crunchy cons who remove to the country to raise their organic veg and homeschool their offspring in a purer place. what are we supposed to do, rod? buy the craftsman bungalow or the rural acreage? (he goes on for an entire chapter on the virtues of the craftsman bungalow. and i agree, they're great, but a whole chapter?)
and that brings me to problem two. i was raised by proto-crunchy-cons who moved us out of the city in 1985 to homeschool in the country, eat food from the local co-op and generally be unstained by the world. we ate venison, had carob instead of chocolate, and pulled our own onions out of the ground. it had its good parts. but on the whole, it was an isolated, insular existence. access to a variety of cultural experiences and diverse people was severely limited, or impossible without long drives. it may sound idyllic in _crunchy cons_ but it was lonely. my parents worked hard to keep us from being the stereotypical, unsocialized homeschoolers, but we knew many families during that time who really suffered as a result of their decision to isolate in this way. i can tell some crazy stories. my point is, rod wrongly idealizes (idolizes?) this way of life. it's fraught with pitfalls just as unsettling as those faced by families in other contexts. just ask me about the allens. or the newtons. i mean it.
so there's my two cents. and i think his blog is much worse than the book, especially lately. i want to know what's new in eastern orthodoxy, but all the end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it posts of late leave me cold. so now you all should read it and push back. what am i missing?
July 19, 2008
It took me awhile to get through this book. The writing style is a little dry and the same points are made over and over....I agreed with the points but it became very tiring.
I also felt there was a lot of generalizing being done and I didn't agree with it. I agreed with his main points, however, there was little flexibility. For example there is a chapter on homeschooling and even though I firmly believe in homeschooling I don't think it is the end all educational choice.
Having said that I would catagorize myself as a crunchy con. Family is central. Big government and big business both need to be controlled by limiting their power and stopping corruption. That we need to encourage intelligent consumerism and stop the throw away society we have; we need to recognize our stewardship over the earth.
I did find many of the people he interviewed to be interesting and I have a new list of books to read about early conservatism in the US. I found his ideas thought provoking and it helped clarified for me some of my motives for living how we live. Who would of guessed that I am a "fringe" conservative?
I also felt there was a lot of generalizing being done and I didn't agree with it. I agreed with his main points, however, there was little flexibility. For example there is a chapter on homeschooling and even though I firmly believe in homeschooling I don't think it is the end all educational choice.
Having said that I would catagorize myself as a crunchy con. Family is central. Big government and big business both need to be controlled by limiting their power and stopping corruption. That we need to encourage intelligent consumerism and stop the throw away society we have; we need to recognize our stewardship over the earth.
I did find many of the people he interviewed to be interesting and I have a new list of books to read about early conservatism in the US. I found his ideas thought provoking and it helped clarified for me some of my motives for living how we live. Who would of guessed that I am a "fringe" conservative?
July 26, 2009
This was an important book for me. I've always felt that I was neither a Republican nor a Democrat - uneasy with the social policies of the Democrats and the economic policies of the Republicans. And, thanks to this book, I've figured it out - I'm pretty much a "crunchy con". Nik and I both marveled at how Dreher quoted so many of the authors we have been reading and enjoying - Wendell Berry, Neil Postman, Eric Brende (of "Better Off"), Matthew Scully ("Dominion..."), etc.
Some quotes that I resonated with:
"My ideal of Home: a place of grace, joy, fellowship, and belonging that was also old, simple, comfortable, and charming to its foundations."
"Because our view of marriage is the traditional 'till death do us part' one, we don't believe we are free to define our marriage to meet our own desires. Rather, we conform our desires to the spiritual reality of the vows we made."
"Even if the evidence were inconclusive [about global warming:], given the catastrophic results of a global temperature rise...would compel the prudent conservative to act as if the worst was likely. The price of being wrong is incalculable..."
He talks about how we have to frame the environmental problem as also an economic, national security, public health, and family values problem.
Some of his main points (at the end of the book) for how we can live more conservatively - and note, this does not mean to live more like a good Republican:
1. Toss out the television - "How can we ever hope to think on the Permanent Things if we fill our minds with nothing but ephemerality?"
2. "Divest ourselves of stuff we don't need, and begin to train ourselves and our families to live simply. Remember William Morris's dictum: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
3. Consider some form of homeschooling.
4. "Choose the goods we consume mindful of whence they come." He specifically mentions food, particularly meat and vegetables.
He also talks quite a bit about being deliberate in choosing how to incorporate technology into our lives - not just blindly accepting every new advance in technology as the greater good.
As an aside, he also advocates abolishing both the death penalty and abortion. I haven't read many other people who would advocate for both. I've never understood how someone could be for one and against the other - as the Democrats and Republicans are.
All in all, a great, thought-provoking book. You should read it.
Some quotes that I resonated with:
"My ideal of Home: a place of grace, joy, fellowship, and belonging that was also old, simple, comfortable, and charming to its foundations."
"Because our view of marriage is the traditional 'till death do us part' one, we don't believe we are free to define our marriage to meet our own desires. Rather, we conform our desires to the spiritual reality of the vows we made."
"Even if the evidence were inconclusive [about global warming:], given the catastrophic results of a global temperature rise...would compel the prudent conservative to act as if the worst was likely. The price of being wrong is incalculable..."
He talks about how we have to frame the environmental problem as also an economic, national security, public health, and family values problem.
Some of his main points (at the end of the book) for how we can live more conservatively - and note, this does not mean to live more like a good Republican:
1. Toss out the television - "How can we ever hope to think on the Permanent Things if we fill our minds with nothing but ephemerality?"
2. "Divest ourselves of stuff we don't need, and begin to train ourselves and our families to live simply. Remember William Morris's dictum: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
3. Consider some form of homeschooling.
4. "Choose the goods we consume mindful of whence they come." He specifically mentions food, particularly meat and vegetables.
He also talks quite a bit about being deliberate in choosing how to incorporate technology into our lives - not just blindly accepting every new advance in technology as the greater good.
As an aside, he also advocates abolishing both the death penalty and abortion. I haven't read many other people who would advocate for both. I've never understood how someone could be for one and against the other - as the Democrats and Republicans are.
All in all, a great, thought-provoking book. You should read it.
May 16, 2008
Dreher details how he and his family practice left-leaning life choices for right-leaning reasons. He divides his musings into meditations on food, home, education, the environment and religion.
I applaud Dreher's effort to bridge the gap between left and right; however, I found his stance and tone a bit too self-righteous. He stands firm that he and his wife are making the absolute best choices that anyone can make. If you eat, live, educate or worship in any other manner, you are an inferior creature. Nevertheless, I am poised to make some changes in how I live based on his suggestions. An insightful book--even if aggravating at times.
I applaud Dreher's effort to bridge the gap between left and right; however, I found his stance and tone a bit too self-righteous. He stands firm that he and his wife are making the absolute best choices that anyone can make. If you eat, live, educate or worship in any other manner, you are an inferior creature. Nevertheless, I am poised to make some changes in how I live based on his suggestions. An insightful book--even if aggravating at times.
August 18, 2017
As a reader of other crunchy con literature, I think this is a great introduction to the conservative-conservative way of thinking. I appreciate what Rod has done here. It is a book I feel more than comfortable handing off to friends as a way of further articulating the starting points to my own cultural thinking.
November 16, 2011
So, unlike many of the other reviewers, I'm not a crunchy con. I'm what Mr. Dreher would call a liberal. But, I'd wager I'm not exactly a liberal either (perhaps I'm a chewy liberal?). Still, my objective in reading this book was to find common ground and I did find it. In fact, much as it might kill him to think so, Mr. Dreher's crunchy cons have much in common with the infamous "99%." Strictly speaking, they are the 99% too.
Sure, there were things he said in this book that made me cringe or probably went on a bit too long (Yes, arts and crafts bungalows are cozy and homey. Cozy homes make for a nice homelife. Got it. I, too, am fond of architecture and aesthetics. And, I'm not fond of McMansions. Yet, I'm not sure that makes all McMansions less good as homes. What about "home is where the heart is"?) Still, altogether it made me happy to see the similarities I hope existed and I like seeing someone who has many political views opposed to mine be able to see how he was close-minded on some issues (strictly in the name of conformity and party thinking) admit it and call himself out on it. And, not only did he call himself, he called out members of his own party. We're all guilty of this--anytime we adhere to "group-think." But, I wish I could see more members of the party I end up allying with most often do this too.
What was particularly interesting to me was to see what some "conservatives" are trying to conserve as opposed to others and the difference between "pre-Reagan conservatives" and "post-Reagan conservatives." If you're not partying with the GOPartiers, you might not know this distinction and why it's important; I didn't.
All in all, I was happily surprised to find that we American humans do have a lot in common--no matter our "party affiliation." I still do believe and hope that there's a chance we can speak to each other and work together and look past our labels and the areas we are artificially and distractingly put in opposition. Yet, if we realize how much we are alike and how many of us actually have the same goals, how much more could we accomplish _for the people_?
Sure, there were things he said in this book that made me cringe or probably went on a bit too long (Yes, arts and crafts bungalows are cozy and homey. Cozy homes make for a nice homelife. Got it. I, too, am fond of architecture and aesthetics. And, I'm not fond of McMansions. Yet, I'm not sure that makes all McMansions less good as homes. What about "home is where the heart is"?) Still, altogether it made me happy to see the similarities I hope existed and I like seeing someone who has many political views opposed to mine be able to see how he was close-minded on some issues (strictly in the name of conformity and party thinking) admit it and call himself out on it. And, not only did he call himself, he called out members of his own party. We're all guilty of this--anytime we adhere to "group-think." But, I wish I could see more members of the party I end up allying with most often do this too.
What was particularly interesting to me was to see what some "conservatives" are trying to conserve as opposed to others and the difference between "pre-Reagan conservatives" and "post-Reagan conservatives." If you're not partying with the GOPartiers, you might not know this distinction and why it's important; I didn't.
All in all, I was happily surprised to find that we American humans do have a lot in common--no matter our "party affiliation." I still do believe and hope that there's a chance we can speak to each other and work together and look past our labels and the areas we are artificially and distractingly put in opposition. Yet, if we realize how much we are alike and how many of us actually have the same goals, how much more could we accomplish _for the people_?
March 5, 2019
I agree with most of the points Dreher made on how we should live. Within the first chapter in I knew that by his definition my wife and I are "crunchy cons" but if we weren't already I'm not sure I would have been convinced by the arguments laid out in his book. Overall it was an odd experience to read about ideas I agree with but be underwhelmed by them.
July 20, 2017
I am a kindred spirit, for sure. The first four and a half chapters went quickly even though Mr. Dreher repeats himself, but I thought I would never finish the last hundred pages. I made it! I chuckled, more than once, at his categorized uncategoricals and his "to do" list for the non-conformists he seeks to build.
An important book about a remarkable, rewarding and necessary way of life. Thank you, Mr. Dreher!
An important book about a remarkable, rewarding and necessary way of life. Thank you, Mr. Dreher!
September 21, 2015
I have been deeply engaged with Dreher's thoughts and writings (mostly his articles) for some time now, but this is the first time I have read his personal manifesto for living sensibly. I must say, it was a glorious reminder of the roots of some of my most beloved and cherished desires and philosophies. It did come at a vital time for me personally, as I have strayed from my beliefs about conservatism since moving to a new city, but this book brought me back with a much needed forcefulness. Dreher is clear and concise about his decisions and the decisions of other to live a countercultural lifestyle. While not necessarily presenting any cookie-cutter idealisms, he shows a line of thought that leads the reader to see the reasonableness of making the necessary sacrifices to both live within one's means and to live out a deep religious convictions that tend to tie traditional conservatives together. Do not be swayed by the political rhetoric that surrounds the term conservative. Allow Dreher to speak of what conservatism used to be. I welcomed his reminders to me about what The Good Life according to a loving, gracious, yet demanding, God could look like. I plan on using this as a foundation for the ways I will think about my future both as a husband and as an eventual father. Highly recommended to everyone looking for something outside binary politics and mainstream society.
July 4, 2012
I would give this book five stars for the content, because I thought it was brilliant. The author seemed to put 99% of my beliefs as a "Crunchy Conservative" into words. I found myself nodding along and dog-earing page after page. But I absolutely loathed how he set up the chapters. They were all one big run-on paragraph. Yes, he did technically separate things out into paragraphs, and it was easy to read. BUT. The chapters were looooooooong, most of them 30+ pages, with no breaks, headings, etc. to let you know we were switching gears. It made it very hard to remember the people he was talking about, and very hard for me to put down (in a bad way). I am the kind of person who likes to take breaks with books, to find a stopping point within a long chapter so I don't stay up until 2 am reading, but I couldn't do that with this book. Not because it was just *that* compelling (parts of it were, but that's not what I mean here), but I literally couldn't find a good place to stop, and it really, really frustrated and annoyed me. Thus, one star deducted. But overall a great book!
March 27, 2017
I sympathize with many of Dreher's critiques of movement conservatism, even though they are overwrought at times and are generalizations that he really hasn't taken the necessary time to prove. That latter problem is why I rated this book two stars. Dreher has a maddening tendency to caricature his opponents, give statements rather than arguments, make sweeping generalizations that break down with the slightest questioning, and leave the reader with conflicting ideas because of his ability for imprecision.
When he encounters American political thought, he butchers it beyond recognition (see the chapter on religion). The Founders were not, contrary to Dreher, crazed Enlightenment thinkers who sowed the seeds of our own destruction in their political principles. The Declaration of Independence was also a political document that stressed rights over duties because the English were violating rights--the whole core of the argument for American independence. Dreher's unmanly contempt for politics and his seeming lack of introspection about the principles on which his country is based not a good look for someone who talks endlessly about the superiority of the kind of education promoted by crunchy cons. A Constitution 101 class at a place like Hillsdale College in Michigan would do Dreher wonders.
When he encounters American political thought, he butchers it beyond recognition (see the chapter on religion). The Founders were not, contrary to Dreher, crazed Enlightenment thinkers who sowed the seeds of our own destruction in their political principles. The Declaration of Independence was also a political document that stressed rights over duties because the English were violating rights--the whole core of the argument for American independence. Dreher's unmanly contempt for politics and his seeming lack of introspection about the principles on which his country is based not a good look for someone who talks endlessly about the superiority of the kind of education promoted by crunchy cons. A Constitution 101 class at a place like Hillsdale College in Michigan would do Dreher wonders.
January 8, 2022
This book made me want to turn our whole lawn into a garden, raise chickens, and learn a marketable skill. Dreher calls for the simpler life in a way that is actually appealing, not laden with guilt. There are other options than this break-neck-busy, disconnected, discontent culture we live in, and they sound glorious. Crunchy Cons made me feel like there was a place for me. I have often felt like a political misfit; Too pro-life to be a Democrat but at the same time a Republican pariah for not drinking MAGA flavored kool-aid. There are more than two political paths, and Crunchy Cons is the trail marker pointing to a much pleasanter way.
February 26, 2022
Most of the information in this book I already knew because, apparently I am mostly a crunchy con. I wasn't too surprised to realize this. I do not grow my own food. I tell people I can grow kids, but not plants. Otherwise most of the paradigms fit. However, it is always nice to find out there are people in the world that relate with your thought process.
Read
June 9, 2022The seedbed for the author's subsequent intellectual/spiritual journey as well as literary production, especially The Benedict Option. While not agreeing with every diagnosis or prescription, it does set forth a vision for a life centered on the true, the good, and the beautiful and I can get behind that.
August 10, 2015
This book is a classic that I finally got around to reading. Maybe it’s strange to say a book less than ten years old is a classic, but Dreher is the foremost exponent today of what might be called “alternative conservatism,” and he would call the “Benedictine Option,” but what most people would call “traditional conservatism,” which has considerable overlap with certain viewpoints on life commonly attributed to liberals, or more accurately to hippies and similar “alternative lifestyles.” He nicknames it “Crunchy Cons,” a term which has passed into the general modern conservative lexicon.
Dreher is in essence popularizing and making into a broad program, rather than a pure philosophy, the thinking of a long line of 20th-century conservative thinkers. He acknowledges this, of course. Dreher’s thought has much in common with Russell Kirk, of course, whom he repeatedly cites, as well as less known thinkers such as Robert Nisbet, particularly in his The Quest For Community.
In essence, Dreher issues a call, cutting across party lines (despite the subtitle of the book, more on which below), for a return to a community-oriented conservatism. His primary target is consumerism and the consumption-based life in general; within that he focuses in separate chapters on, among other things, food (less factory farming; more respect for the process and its community implications); homes (less exurban living; more urban living, or New Urbanist at least); and education (home school preferred). He also focuses on the environment (don’t view it through a consumption lens) and religion (strongly suggested, though not essential). Dreher’s primary vehicle for this is specific examples of individuals and families taking a countercultural approach to each of these matters.
Crunchy Cons was published in 2006; the Kindle edition contains an afterword in which Dreher pessimistically notes, in essence, that the Republican party is never going to be the party of Crunchy Cons, despite his 2006 belief that might be a way forward for the party. Dreher thereafter came to “doubt it’s worth saving in its current form,” and therefore nowadays focuses more and more (as you can read in his current blog at The American Conservative magazine) on the “Benedict Option”—a quasi-separation from society, creating new communities to carry culture through coming troubles. In fact, in the afterword he even adds to the general manifesto points in the core book a “Benedictine-inspired Rule adapted for modern countercultural living.”
Much more could be said about this short book, but it’s worth reading, for the thoughts in the afterword alone, in fact. (It also contains strong autobiographical elements, tied to the points in the book, which some readers will find interesting, and others distracting.) Dreher is one of the few original thinkers anywhere on the political spectrum today, and while I’m sure some of his own thought has changed since this book, it’s both thought-provoking and a good place to start thinking about the modern political philosophy of conservatism, taken beyond the facile kneejerk reactions (spending good! Military action good! Terrorism bad!) that tend to characterize present-day conservative thought.
Dreher is in essence popularizing and making into a broad program, rather than a pure philosophy, the thinking of a long line of 20th-century conservative thinkers. He acknowledges this, of course. Dreher’s thought has much in common with Russell Kirk, of course, whom he repeatedly cites, as well as less known thinkers such as Robert Nisbet, particularly in his The Quest For Community.
In essence, Dreher issues a call, cutting across party lines (despite the subtitle of the book, more on which below), for a return to a community-oriented conservatism. His primary target is consumerism and the consumption-based life in general; within that he focuses in separate chapters on, among other things, food (less factory farming; more respect for the process and its community implications); homes (less exurban living; more urban living, or New Urbanist at least); and education (home school preferred). He also focuses on the environment (don’t view it through a consumption lens) and religion (strongly suggested, though not essential). Dreher’s primary vehicle for this is specific examples of individuals and families taking a countercultural approach to each of these matters.
Crunchy Cons was published in 2006; the Kindle edition contains an afterword in which Dreher pessimistically notes, in essence, that the Republican party is never going to be the party of Crunchy Cons, despite his 2006 belief that might be a way forward for the party. Dreher thereafter came to “doubt it’s worth saving in its current form,” and therefore nowadays focuses more and more (as you can read in his current blog at The American Conservative magazine) on the “Benedict Option”—a quasi-separation from society, creating new communities to carry culture through coming troubles. In fact, in the afterword he even adds to the general manifesto points in the core book a “Benedictine-inspired Rule adapted for modern countercultural living.”
Much more could be said about this short book, but it’s worth reading, for the thoughts in the afterword alone, in fact. (It also contains strong autobiographical elements, tied to the points in the book, which some readers will find interesting, and others distracting.) Dreher is one of the few original thinkers anywhere on the political spectrum today, and while I’m sure some of his own thought has changed since this book, it’s both thought-provoking and a good place to start thinking about the modern political philosophy of conservatism, taken beyond the facile kneejerk reactions (spending good! Military action good! Terrorism bad!) that tend to characterize present-day conservative thought.
January 8, 2008
I was excited about reading Crunchy Cons by Rod Dreher because we’re crunchy and ideologically conservative, and the subtitle intrigued me. We got on the list at our local public library and waited it out. From the preface, the book caught and kept my attention. Dreher is a gifted and personal writer who is easy to read. Because crunchy cons are my kind of people, I often wanted to cheer as I read along.
Many of the ideological emphases of the book are ones we value in our family. We care about more than just the bottom line when we shop and are willing to pay more for products we “believe in” such as locally grown and organic foods, things that are well crafted, beauty and not just utilitarian function, etc. The process is important to us and not just the end result. I enjoyed reading the book because the many anecdotes reminded me that there are others out there who care about the things that we do, which can be hard to find the suburban South.
However, when I finished the book I was disappointed with it on several levels. First, it wasn’t very persuasive and it relied on ad hominem attacks and emotionalism to make points. If I didn’t already agree with Dreher, I probably would not have been swayed by him. Some of the chapters were weaker than others, for example, the chapter on home was mostly about buying a smaller, older house. Even though our first house was small, 70 year old bungalow and we are looking to buy that sort of home again when we can, it may not be the most crunchy thing to do for every family. Older homes aren’t as energy efficient, for example. Some aren’t laid out well for entertaining and building community with others. Also, the chapter on homeschooling wasn’t very grounded in reality and I think it might have been better tackled if he had emphasized that crunchy con families realize that education isn’t neutral and emphasized the many crunchy choices out there (alternative schools, coops, Christian schools, etc) along with homeschooling.
I think what disappointed me the most about the book is that Dreher didn’t fulfill the subtitle which reads: “How Birkenstocked Burkeans, gun-loving organic gardeners, evangelical free-range farmers, hip homeschooling mamas, right-wing nature lovers, and their diverse tribe of countercultural conservatives plan to save America (or at least the Republican Party.)” How are we saving America? I’d like to know that, myself. I’ve seen that the paperback version that will be released in the fall has a new subtitle, according to Amazon, and I’d suspect it’s for that reason. If you are looking for anecdotal, warm writing about those in the Republican Party who “act lefty,” Crunchy Cons delivers. But I think I was expecting just a little bit more.
Many of the ideological emphases of the book are ones we value in our family. We care about more than just the bottom line when we shop and are willing to pay more for products we “believe in” such as locally grown and organic foods, things that are well crafted, beauty and not just utilitarian function, etc. The process is important to us and not just the end result. I enjoyed reading the book because the many anecdotes reminded me that there are others out there who care about the things that we do, which can be hard to find the suburban South.
However, when I finished the book I was disappointed with it on several levels. First, it wasn’t very persuasive and it relied on ad hominem attacks and emotionalism to make points. If I didn’t already agree with Dreher, I probably would not have been swayed by him. Some of the chapters were weaker than others, for example, the chapter on home was mostly about buying a smaller, older house. Even though our first house was small, 70 year old bungalow and we are looking to buy that sort of home again when we can, it may not be the most crunchy thing to do for every family. Older homes aren’t as energy efficient, for example. Some aren’t laid out well for entertaining and building community with others. Also, the chapter on homeschooling wasn’t very grounded in reality and I think it might have been better tackled if he had emphasized that crunchy con families realize that education isn’t neutral and emphasized the many crunchy choices out there (alternative schools, coops, Christian schools, etc) along with homeschooling.
I think what disappointed me the most about the book is that Dreher didn’t fulfill the subtitle which reads: “How Birkenstocked Burkeans, gun-loving organic gardeners, evangelical free-range farmers, hip homeschooling mamas, right-wing nature lovers, and their diverse tribe of countercultural conservatives plan to save America (or at least the Republican Party.)” How are we saving America? I’d like to know that, myself. I’ve seen that the paperback version that will be released in the fall has a new subtitle, according to Amazon, and I’d suspect it’s for that reason. If you are looking for anecdotal, warm writing about those in the Republican Party who “act lefty,” Crunchy Cons delivers. But I think I was expecting just a little bit more.
July 22, 2024
ARE ALL CONSERVATIVES ALIKE? READ THIS BOOK, IF YOU THINK SO...
Rod Dreher is a writer and editor at the Dallas Morning News. He wrote in the Preface that he hoped this 2006 book "would give voice to an overlooked segment of American conservatism---men and women who count themselves as part of the right but who don't quite fit in with the mainstream Republican Party... crunchy conservatism is not a political program but a practical sensibility." Later, he adds, "The mission of this book is to explore ways that we who espouse conservative values can live more true to them, despite living in a society ... (that serves) to separate us from our values, our families, and our communities." (Pg. 13)
He quickly notes, "we are not liberals. For one thing, we don't share the liberal faith in the ultimate goodness or perfectibility of mankind." (Pg. 10) Then he adds, "But we are not mainstream conservatives either. Too many people who call themselves conservatives... (believe) that individual fulfillment is the point of life." (Pg. 11) In defining what he means by 'crunchy conservatives,' he says, "we stand alongside a number of lefties who don't buy in to the consumerist and individualist mainstream of American life." (Pg. 12)
He argues that the main difference between CCs and mainstream conservatives is that CCs "believe in the free market as an imperfect but just and effective means to the good society. When the market harms the good society, it should be reined in." (Pg. 31)
He admits that he is a convert to Catholicism, and suggests that "I want to conserve the wisdom and humane traditions taught by and celebrated in Catholicism---even if that puts me at odds with contemporary Republicans." (Pg. 185) He testifies, "I don't believe crunchy conservatism can be practiced sustainably without some sort of serious religious commitment." (Pg. 202)
Not only conservatives ("crunchy" or not), but liberals may well enjoy this compelling portrayal of an oft-overlooked segment of modern conservatism.
Rod Dreher is a writer and editor at the Dallas Morning News. He wrote in the Preface that he hoped this 2006 book "would give voice to an overlooked segment of American conservatism---men and women who count themselves as part of the right but who don't quite fit in with the mainstream Republican Party... crunchy conservatism is not a political program but a practical sensibility." Later, he adds, "The mission of this book is to explore ways that we who espouse conservative values can live more true to them, despite living in a society ... (that serves) to separate us from our values, our families, and our communities." (Pg. 13)
He quickly notes, "we are not liberals. For one thing, we don't share the liberal faith in the ultimate goodness or perfectibility of mankind." (Pg. 10) Then he adds, "But we are not mainstream conservatives either. Too many people who call themselves conservatives... (believe) that individual fulfillment is the point of life." (Pg. 11) In defining what he means by 'crunchy conservatives,' he says, "we stand alongside a number of lefties who don't buy in to the consumerist and individualist mainstream of American life." (Pg. 12)
He argues that the main difference between CCs and mainstream conservatives is that CCs "believe in the free market as an imperfect but just and effective means to the good society. When the market harms the good society, it should be reined in." (Pg. 31)
He admits that he is a convert to Catholicism, and suggests that "I want to conserve the wisdom and humane traditions taught by and celebrated in Catholicism---even if that puts me at odds with contemporary Republicans." (Pg. 185) He testifies, "I don't believe crunchy conservatism can be practiced sustainably without some sort of serious religious commitment." (Pg. 202)
Not only conservatives ("crunchy" or not), but liberals may well enjoy this compelling portrayal of an oft-overlooked segment of modern conservatism.
November 19, 2013
The author and I do not hold the same view on everything. Yet, I can, and do deeply appreciate his perspective. He is the only author I've read who writes about architecture in a way that makes me want to worship God. :-) It was refreshing to read something written by a conservative who does not walk in lock step with the status quo. I think everyone can get something out of this book. Since I never feel my writing does justice to the labor of an author, I'm going to go ahead with my usual custom of sharing a couple of quotes from the book.
".....the virtues, customs, and habits of the heart by which we have been living when disaster strikes will largely determine whether we will swim to safety or sink while waiting for help that might never come."
Because I'm someone who puts a lot of stock in developing virtue and healthy "habits of heart" this quote resonated with me.
"..the American way of life is too often rich in everything but meaning and purpose. When you get tired of living to shop, have sex, and be entertained-and more to the point, when you realize you don't want your kids character to be formed by a culture in which those pursuits are priorities-you'll want something better for yourself and your family. ...This book has been filled with the thoughts and stories of American conservatives who aren't sitting around waiting for the Next Big Idea to renew our culture..."
Yes it is. I hope you will read it. It is well worth your time.
".....the virtues, customs, and habits of the heart by which we have been living when disaster strikes will largely determine whether we will swim to safety or sink while waiting for help that might never come."
Because I'm someone who puts a lot of stock in developing virtue and healthy "habits of heart" this quote resonated with me.
"..the American way of life is too often rich in everything but meaning and purpose. When you get tired of living to shop, have sex, and be entertained-and more to the point, when you realize you don't want your kids character to be formed by a culture in which those pursuits are priorities-you'll want something better for yourself and your family. ...This book has been filled with the thoughts and stories of American conservatives who aren't sitting around waiting for the Next Big Idea to renew our culture..."
Yes it is. I hope you will read it. It is well worth your time.
July 29, 2007
Faith and politics is often an awkward mixture. Well-meaning people, inspired by their faith, get involved in politics for reasons of principle but find power instead -- and sometimes the power feels so good that compromises are made in order to keep it. The result is a political divide within the faith community where neither side seems to be what Jesus had in mind when he told us to give to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar.
Rod Dreher offers a fresh approach. He notes that on the left, anything that interferes with sexual expression is considered oppressive, while on the right anything that interferes with personal material gain is seen as wrong. Christians, he suggests, should not be wholeheartedly buying into either the "party of lust" or the "party of greed." Instead, he outlines an approach to an authentic life that integrates faith with a number of decisions, from where we live to what we eat.
You're not going to agree with everything he suggests -- and that's not the point. But by the time you're done with the book you'll have through through what it really means to live an authentic Christian life in 21st century America.
Rod Dreher offers a fresh approach. He notes that on the left, anything that interferes with sexual expression is considered oppressive, while on the right anything that interferes with personal material gain is seen as wrong. Christians, he suggests, should not be wholeheartedly buying into either the "party of lust" or the "party of greed." Instead, he outlines an approach to an authentic life that integrates faith with a number of decisions, from where we live to what we eat.
You're not going to agree with everything he suggests -- and that's not the point. But by the time you're done with the book you'll have through through what it really means to live an authentic Christian life in 21st century America.
April 30, 2009
This was very thought provoking for the first half...and I even started a discussion thread on it, because I really wanted to be able to talk to someone about it. But by the second half of the book, I felt like the author had already made all his major points, and he was getting repetitive.
Also--for a book that was supposed to be about people who defy labels and stereotypes, I thought it spent an awful lot of time defining and categorizing "crunchy cons" and making that a new label. Example: I was irritated that the author felt it necessary to draw a distinction between "environmentalist" (bad, tree-hugging lefty) and "conservationist" (good, earth-respecting crunchy con). So many times I felt like this book was trying to rationalize "leftist" behavior by saying that it isn't really "left"--it is "crunchy conservative"--and therefore it is good. (But as I said in my discussion thread, I guess this reveals that I've got my own labeling biases, too.)
But it did make me think a lot, and I did enjoy that. I would probably give it 3.5 stars if that were an option.
Also--for a book that was supposed to be about people who defy labels and stereotypes, I thought it spent an awful lot of time defining and categorizing "crunchy cons" and making that a new label. Example: I was irritated that the author felt it necessary to draw a distinction between "environmentalist" (bad, tree-hugging lefty) and "conservationist" (good, earth-respecting crunchy con). So many times I felt like this book was trying to rationalize "leftist" behavior by saying that it isn't really "left"--it is "crunchy conservative"--and therefore it is good. (But as I said in my discussion thread, I guess this reveals that I've got my own labeling biases, too.)
But it did make me think a lot, and I did enjoy that. I would probably give it 3.5 stars if that were an option.
March 27, 2009
I really resonated with this book. I agree with Rod Dreher wholeheartedly - but especially when he points out that to BE conservative, we must BE CONSERVATIVE. That is, we cannot continue to allow the excesses of big business to destroy the American people, we cannot continue to allow excesses in general to destry the environment, and we cannot continue to allow excesses to destroy US. There is a POINT in having a belief system - and belief in consumerism doesn't do the same thing for us that belief in Jesus does. Big farms don't give us the quality of food that mall, organic ones do. Big box stores don't give us the personal care and attentiveness, or the neighborhood presence, that the small, homegrown ones do. Where did conservatives go wrong? How did we become the Worshippers of the Almighty Dollar, to the detriment of Everything Else?
Rod Dreher addresses this question beautifully - and also provides a beautiful answer. Enjoy.
Rod Dreher addresses this question beautifully - and also provides a beautiful answer. Enjoy.
December 27, 2016
I like any work that makes me think. I particularly am drawn to any work that offers a contrarian view to what is considered to be the orthodoxy of the day. So, it should be no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend Crunchy Cons. As someone who considers himself of the crunchy con variety, I was particularly drawn to Mr. Dreher's views regarding protecting the environment, support for homeschooling, and preserving our history and traditions and instutions such as the family. I perhaps parted ways was that I felt he was quite rough on suburbia and on its housing styles and calling new urbanism...a concept I find overdone ...but his appreciation for older homes is well founded. Finally, as a Kansan I appreciated his reference to our great SC Justice Caleb Stegall! In the end, whether you agree with his takes on every matter, his points are well worth considering and the read was an enjoyable one.
May 21, 2013
What a pleasant surprise to find this book (thanks book fellow book club member Trudy!) I found myself nodding my head in agreement to so much of it. The sentiments Rod Dreher expresses are the same feelings I've had for a long time. To know that there are many other conservatives out there who don't necessarily agree w/ the Republican party's policies, do think there's more to life than the acquisition of stuff, do think we may not be taking our faith seriously enough and do enjoy a glass of good wine or craft beer was so refreshing. On top of that, Dreher is pretty darn funny! Highly recommended for anyone, but especially my comrades who tend to think of themselves as "liberal conservatives."
July 27, 2011
This book is essential for those who want to break away from the typical hawkish, pro-life libertarianism that many today call conservatism. I recommend that people read this book first, before reading others such as Russell Kirks, "Conservative Mind." It makes very few political judgments, but reduces conservatism down to family and localism. One's domestic life and impact to community is more important than one's abstract views of national policy and social justice. This is an easy and quick read.
May 29, 2012
Everybody wants to have a happy life. Dreher encourages a return to the things that have been shown to be part of such a life, "the Permanent Things" (a borrowed phrase). He has lived his subject and interviewed both liberal and conservative counter-cultural citizens across the country. The result was, for me, the sense that if I had to write a book of advice about living well, this would be pretty close to what I'd write.
This is not directly political, in spite of the cover art and subtitle.
This is not directly political, in spite of the cover art and subtitle.
April 23, 2008
Dreher's book is quite interesting. It is from a Christian, conservative viewpoint, and yet it decries the Republican mainstream. It advocates a return to leadership in our leaders, instead of politicism. No doubt it has been long-sought-out. This book is one of the primary cornerstones of my worldview, and if anyone wants to shake up theirs, I recommend this book.
August 1, 2007
It is a book about conservatives who "stand outside the conservative mainstream"... Three cheers for anyone who chooses to maintain their values while stepping outside of mainstream culture... Thanks Liz for loving this enough to get me to pick it up!!!
August 15, 2017
Much to resonate with, whether you agree with all aspects of his perspective or not. Here's to hoping for a renewal of local economy, a largely moral society, and a passion for that which is good, true, and beautiful as defined by our Creator who is himself the measure of those things.
August 10, 2013
LOVED this. It described exactly where I'm coming from on things! I didn't even know there was a word to describe it!
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