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There Goes My Social Life: From Clueless to Conservative
Stacey Dash didn't have the ideal American childhood. Growing up in the South Bronx, her friends were the hustlers, hookers, and gang members who struggled in the face of futility, who sold drugs instead of living on food stamps, who settled matters with fists, knives, and guns because it seemed their only option, who stood tall against broken dreams.
Dash's rough upbringing shaped the rest of her life—her relationships, her politics, even her faith. She has seen how conservative and liberal policies play out in the real world, and her experiences have made her the proud conservative she is today.
That's why Stacey Dash, a Fox News contributor and Hollywood actress best known for starring in the 1995 classic Clueless , is now telling her story. Amidst all the heated racial rhetoric and the divisive language that flows from T.V., the Internet, self-appointed black spokespeople, and even President Obama, Dash feels compelled to speak out and say something true about race, politics, and America.
Dash's rough upbringing shaped the rest of her life—her relationships, her politics, even her faith. She has seen how conservative and liberal policies play out in the real world, and her experiences have made her the proud conservative she is today.
That's why Stacey Dash, a Fox News contributor and Hollywood actress best known for starring in the 1995 classic Clueless , is now telling her story. Amidst all the heated racial rhetoric and the divisive language that flows from T.V., the Internet, self-appointed black spokespeople, and even President Obama, Dash feels compelled to speak out and say something true about race, politics, and America.
246 pages, Hardcover
First published July 13, 2015
22 people are currently reading
324 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
June 20, 2016
I will always be that 7 year old girl who absolutely loves Dionne from Clueless. I will forever be in awe of her beauty and Dr. Seuss fashionable but huge hat.
Stacey Dash has really become a polarizing figure as of late for her poltical views. Actually, for her all of her views, in general. Remember the BET and Black History month? However, all of that controversy led me to discover that she's an active contributer to FOX News.
Then, I discovered her book at my local bookstore. In Dash's There Goes My Social Life: From Clueless to Conservative, she talks about her very problematic childhood born to drug addicts in the South Bronx, her numerous trouble with men, her professional career, and her children shaped her political affiliations.
Now, I'm pretty much a Democratic Liberal but I am not afraid to admit that Dash made valid points. I agreed with her about many things including our Second Amendment rights, women making less money than men, Welfare making people lazy, etc.
I believe that both parties have agendas and I am not ready to jump ship. However, I do admit that race has become more on the forefront which has always disappointed me. We, as people, are more than that and it disheartening to see we're regressing to that again.
I like Stacey Dash. Always have and always will. I may nor agree with her but she is entitled to her opinion as I am with mine.
Stacey Dash has really become a polarizing figure as of late for her poltical views. Actually, for her all of her views, in general. Remember the BET and Black History month? However, all of that controversy led me to discover that she's an active contributer to FOX News.
Then, I discovered her book at my local bookstore. In Dash's There Goes My Social Life: From Clueless to Conservative, she talks about her very problematic childhood born to drug addicts in the South Bronx, her numerous trouble with men, her professional career, and her children shaped her political affiliations.
Now, I'm pretty much a Democratic Liberal but I am not afraid to admit that Dash made valid points. I agreed with her about many things including our Second Amendment rights, women making less money than men, Welfare making people lazy, etc.
I believe that both parties have agendas and I am not ready to jump ship. However, I do admit that race has become more on the forefront which has always disappointed me. We, as people, are more than that and it disheartening to see we're regressing to that again.
I like Stacey Dash. Always have and always will. I may nor agree with her but she is entitled to her opinion as I am with mine.
June 14, 2016
Loved it! Read it in one day, before and after work. If you think Stacey Dash is some rich, entitled actress who happens to have strong political views that she parades around for everyone (like a lot of liberal actors) you are SO WRONG. She never had it easy, instead she was "scrappin' & survivin'", enduring a very rough upbringing that would leave most people down and out, but still she persevered.
Politically, she is my Spirit Animal. Like her, I never was much into politics, until I realized that I was, and actually always had been, a conservative. Politics always seemed illogical, because I had only really been exposed to liberal views growing up in New England and I was raised to not discuss religion or politics, so I had no frame of reference. Now that I am firm in my position on politics and religion, I am not shy about using logic to explain why I think the way I do. The problem is, I shouldn't have to explain why I feel the way I feel, and Stacey should not have to either.
A lot of things she went through made me sad for her, but none more than her mother crushing her dreams--especially when she got into the Dance Theater of Harlem and her mother said she was not going be a dancer and that she would not be joining the company, then offered her a line of cocaine. The strength to finally succeed despite all the odds being stacked against her is absolutely mind blowing. I have even more respect for her after learning about all she overcame. Excellent read!
Politically, she is my Spirit Animal. Like her, I never was much into politics, until I realized that I was, and actually always had been, a conservative. Politics always seemed illogical, because I had only really been exposed to liberal views growing up in New England and I was raised to not discuss religion or politics, so I had no frame of reference. Now that I am firm in my position on politics and religion, I am not shy about using logic to explain why I think the way I do. The problem is, I shouldn't have to explain why I feel the way I feel, and Stacey should not have to either.
A lot of things she went through made me sad for her, but none more than her mother crushing her dreams--especially when she got into the Dance Theater of Harlem and her mother said she was not going be a dancer and that she would not be joining the company, then offered her a line of cocaine. The strength to finally succeed despite all the odds being stacked against her is absolutely mind blowing. I have even more respect for her after learning about all she overcame. Excellent read!
July 14, 2016
Relatable story
Great bio. Stacey is a strong person, inspirational, and very down to earth. Being gay I can relate to how society and the Democrats stereotype groups and try to corral us into their view of how we should think, believe and vote. Her story shows how one can understand the truths in life when one chooses to think for themselves and buck Hollywood, the media, and political parties that work to deceive us.
Great bio. Stacey is a strong person, inspirational, and very down to earth. Being gay I can relate to how society and the Democrats stereotype groups and try to corral us into their view of how we should think, believe and vote. Her story shows how one can understand the truths in life when one chooses to think for themselves and buck Hollywood, the media, and political parties that work to deceive us.
June 24, 2016
Very refreshing read!
First off, yes I'm a conservative. I'm also crazy about Stacey Dash so I knew I would be reading this book no matter what. Stacey Dash received a lot of flack with her infamous tweet. Why wasn't she allowed to voice her political choices without causing an uproar? I admire her for sticking to her guns and beliefs. Stacey writes about her early childhood and coming from an unstable family. Even life couldn't seem to stop pushing her down she got back up and dealt with her life. Stacey is a fighter. She had to become one to survive. Yes, she has made some bad choices in her romantic life but who hasn't?
Stacey is not a college graduate. She done not have a political background. Stacey is like the millions of Americans who don't have a political degree or background but we understand the how our country try installing working like it should and something needs to be done about that. Stacey Dash, thank you for writing this book and expressing your beliefs and being proud of them!
First off, yes I'm a conservative. I'm also crazy about Stacey Dash so I knew I would be reading this book no matter what. Stacey Dash received a lot of flack with her infamous tweet. Why wasn't she allowed to voice her political choices without causing an uproar? I admire her for sticking to her guns and beliefs. Stacey writes about her early childhood and coming from an unstable family. Even life couldn't seem to stop pushing her down she got back up and dealt with her life. Stacey is a fighter. She had to become one to survive. Yes, she has made some bad choices in her romantic life but who hasn't?
Stacey is not a college graduate. She done not have a political background. Stacey is like the millions of Americans who don't have a political degree or background but we understand the how our country try installing working like it should and something needs to be done about that. Stacey Dash, thank you for writing this book and expressing your beliefs and being proud of them!
June 15, 2016
I was really excited to start reading this book. I thought that it would be a political book given the title. Which it was political, but it was also so much more. You learned about her life and about the decisions she made. Great book.
July 3, 2016
I LOVED this book! I read it in two days. I have loved Stacey Dash since I first watched Clueless and learned we shared a name. I loved that she was so open and honest about the hardships in her life. She could have easily kept her opinions to herself and made her life "easier". You've gotta respect a woman willing to put it all on the line for what she believes. Fabulous!
July 25, 2016
This is an extremely unsatisfying book to read--and that has nothing to do with Dash's conservative politics. As a matter of fact, I agree with most of her political opinions. The problem is in how she tells her incredible life story. Or actually how she fails to tell her full life story. This is the Cliff Notes version of her life, lacking depth of detail with no specific dates and vague descriptions of the men in her life (I still can't figure out how many guys she married). It even lacks the reasoning behind how she came to her political views and has no details about her supposed Christian faith. It's all too vague, filled with sassy sound bites or tweet-like statements and little more.
Her life story is almost hard to believe--her addicted parents introducing her to drugs when she was in third grade, their abandonment of her to strangers, her moving constantly and never being in a school for more than two years, her leaving home as a teen and having drug dealers and pimps as her role models. She was really messed up...and then she decided to go into acting (the reason is not stated) with her first notable role being on The Cosby Show (she speaks highly of Bill Cosby and said nothing happened to her when she was invited to his home). From there she starts her phase of sleeping with just about every man she encounters, falling in love at first site, spending money she doesn't have, and allowing herself to be physically abused for a number of years. There are a few details about some of the roles she had but this isn't a book about her career.
Each chapter details a portion of her personal life, then she turns the rest of the chapter into a diatribe on a political issue. That doesn't really work well. It's hard to hear someone who sleeps with so many guys on the first night they meet then try to turn it into a lecture on waiting to have sex. Yes, we get that she has been through a lot, but she doesn't really state how she learned to change her life and instead uses her twenty years of promiscuity to try to tell us what not to do.
There is no real point where she becomes a conservative or even becomes a Christian--she just suddenly says she realizes she thinks conservative thoughts and that she cries out to God to save her from her terrible life. The story could be told in a much more richly detailed and emotional way that would add impact. But as is it's too blunt and minimal, lacking the finesse to make the reader feel sorry for her. I could not figure out why she made the terrible decisions she made over and over and over again. For example, she accepts repeated abuse from a boyfriend for years, unwilling to speak up to him or even try to get away, but in the middle of it she gets to the set of a movie she is working on and has no problem telling off producers that want her to do a nude scene and refusing to work unless they change it. There is no sense of understanding why she acts the way she does.
Today? She says she's in a "no more men" and "no more sex" phase, alludes to having faith in God without giving specifics (her co-author obviously tacks on a few Bible verses in the final chapter to try to make this book somewhat spiritual), and seems proud that people get upset at her on Twitter. She has almost no money in the bank, is still depending on men to save her, and has somehow made a new career out of spouting opinions on Fox News.
While I enjoyed hearing about her tragic background, Dash doesn't seem emotionally in touch with the devastation she went through and therefore doesn't make us emotionally invested either. While her life story is worth reading, it fails to answer questions about her mindset and why she is one of the few minority actresses in America to take a stand for conservatism.
Her life story is almost hard to believe--her addicted parents introducing her to drugs when she was in third grade, their abandonment of her to strangers, her moving constantly and never being in a school for more than two years, her leaving home as a teen and having drug dealers and pimps as her role models. She was really messed up...and then she decided to go into acting (the reason is not stated) with her first notable role being on The Cosby Show (she speaks highly of Bill Cosby and said nothing happened to her when she was invited to his home). From there she starts her phase of sleeping with just about every man she encounters, falling in love at first site, spending money she doesn't have, and allowing herself to be physically abused for a number of years. There are a few details about some of the roles she had but this isn't a book about her career.
Each chapter details a portion of her personal life, then she turns the rest of the chapter into a diatribe on a political issue. That doesn't really work well. It's hard to hear someone who sleeps with so many guys on the first night they meet then try to turn it into a lecture on waiting to have sex. Yes, we get that she has been through a lot, but she doesn't really state how she learned to change her life and instead uses her twenty years of promiscuity to try to tell us what not to do.
There is no real point where she becomes a conservative or even becomes a Christian--she just suddenly says she realizes she thinks conservative thoughts and that she cries out to God to save her from her terrible life. The story could be told in a much more richly detailed and emotional way that would add impact. But as is it's too blunt and minimal, lacking the finesse to make the reader feel sorry for her. I could not figure out why she made the terrible decisions she made over and over and over again. For example, she accepts repeated abuse from a boyfriend for years, unwilling to speak up to him or even try to get away, but in the middle of it she gets to the set of a movie she is working on and has no problem telling off producers that want her to do a nude scene and refusing to work unless they change it. There is no sense of understanding why she acts the way she does.
Today? She says she's in a "no more men" and "no more sex" phase, alludes to having faith in God without giving specifics (her co-author obviously tacks on a few Bible verses in the final chapter to try to make this book somewhat spiritual), and seems proud that people get upset at her on Twitter. She has almost no money in the bank, is still depending on men to save her, and has somehow made a new career out of spouting opinions on Fox News.
While I enjoyed hearing about her tragic background, Dash doesn't seem emotionally in touch with the devastation she went through and therefore doesn't make us emotionally invested either. While her life story is worth reading, it fails to answer questions about her mindset and why she is one of the few minority actresses in America to take a stand for conservatism.
May 9, 2020
I immensely enjoyed this memoir and her perspective on politics in America.
July 12, 2019
I picked this up in a bargain bin at a lot store near me. I thought it would be fun to read about her days in Clueless and also how she dealt with the fall out from her political controversy. Instead this book didn't get into much a a memoir style until half way through and didn't talk much on Clueless. She went on political rants for most of the book. Disappointing.
July 7, 2016
Wow loved the book. Not a boring book at all.
August 13, 2016
I picked up this book thinking it would be another brief political commentary by a Fox News Personality and I'd wind up giving it 2 or 3 stars out of 5.
"Never judge a book by it's cover."
This turns out to be an amazing and sometimes shocking autobiography by an amazing and sometimes shocking woman who grew up in the cesspool of drugs, violence and immorality of a South Bronx ghetto and moved laterally to the cesspool of drugs, violence and immorality of the more glitzy Hollywood scene.
I'll not mention details as I want future readers to experience the same surprises as I without any spoilers. The book brought a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye by the end. The good part is that, eventually, Stacey Dash turned her life over to God, took a public (on television) vow of celibacy outside marriage, and now totally has her life turned around. All without government assistance.....which she abhors.
I wound up giving it 5 stars.....and, by the way, the author is a 10.
I think all young women, and many men, could get something of value from this book.
Stacey Dash is an amazing woman!
"Never judge a book by it's cover."
This turns out to be an amazing and sometimes shocking autobiography by an amazing and sometimes shocking woman who grew up in the cesspool of drugs, violence and immorality of a South Bronx ghetto and moved laterally to the cesspool of drugs, violence and immorality of the more glitzy Hollywood scene.
I'll not mention details as I want future readers to experience the same surprises as I without any spoilers. The book brought a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye by the end. The good part is that, eventually, Stacey Dash turned her life over to God, took a public (on television) vow of celibacy outside marriage, and now totally has her life turned around. All without government assistance.....which she abhors.
I wound up giving it 5 stars.....and, by the way, the author is a 10.
I think all young women, and many men, could get something of value from this book.
Stacey Dash is an amazing woman!
November 27, 2020
In this book, There Goes My Social Life: From Clueless to Conservative by Stacey Dash the author is best known for playing Dionne in the movie Clueless and more recently for expressing her conservative views. But most people are clueless about her early years growing up with her drug addicted parents in a violent neighborhood with drug dealers, hookers, gangs, and hustlers in the South Bronx. These experiences shaped her character and affected her outlook on life for the rest of her life. She describes how she struggled with poverty and bad relationships all while trying to start a career as an actress. Along the way she began to think beyond her own problems to those in the black community in general and started to realize that her philosophy in life was really that of a conservative. After some success in acting and managing to get her personal life back on track she also became a Fox News contributor and expressed her views and opinions about many of the current political issues of today. This was a fascinating read about a strong woman who survived a rough and violent childhood to steer her own direction to success in life.
August 1, 2016
Stacy Dash is a diamond and this book is a gem
I can relate to Stacy because I'm a black conservative republican. I hold to the same political views as Stacy. I can also relate because I'm black but have green eyes, fair skin and dark blonde hair. I've also dealt with the liberal backlash, but certainly in a less public way than a celebrity. I'm a Christian and really appreciated her Biblical references and her honesty in acknowledging when she fell short as we all do. I purchased the audio and listened to the whole book in one sitting. I really loved it. She's definitely someone who I have a lot of respect for and really admire for speaking the truth in love. God bless you Stacy!
I can relate to Stacy because I'm a black conservative republican. I hold to the same political views as Stacy. I can also relate because I'm black but have green eyes, fair skin and dark blonde hair. I've also dealt with the liberal backlash, but certainly in a less public way than a celebrity. I'm a Christian and really appreciated her Biblical references and her honesty in acknowledging when she fell short as we all do. I purchased the audio and listened to the whole book in one sitting. I really loved it. She's definitely someone who I have a lot of respect for and really admire for speaking the truth in love. God bless you Stacy!
September 30, 2016
If you only read one book in the next five years, make it this one. Not for the politics which are about one fourth of the book. For her life story. She is not an overcomer, she is a survivor of a world you cannot believe. I listened to the audio version, which she narrates, so I got to hear the emotion in her voice. At the end, I was driving down the interstate crying like a baby. My only caution: if you are prone to depression, don't read it ...her childhood was so incredibly sad. Otherwise read this book. It might change your life.
July 14, 2016
One of the best books I've ever read. So humble and vulnerable...yet very wise. She is open about her hard journey toward wisdom and explains her beliefs and politics from such a basic and simple place that they would appeal to just about anyone. Very touching bio...I teared up twice at the end. A very imperfect person that anyone would be very blessed to be like ; Stacy Dash is an inspiration to women!
January 5, 2017
An incredible narrative from someone who has really been to the school of hard knocks and how it brought her to her political stance today. Stacey Dash is someone who has learned to stand up for herself from early on and chooses to continue to do so in today's uncompromisingly politically correct climate. I'm awed by her life story and read this book in one day.
Want to read
March 18, 2016rec'd to library 3/18/16
May 6, 2017
I thought it was fascinating.
July 4, 2021
Sadly, less a coherent criticism of the left than a clinical embarassment of the right.
November 18, 2018
There Goes My Social Life by Stacey Dash is the most emotionally confusing book I have ever read. In this transparent and heartfelt memoir Stacey Dash uses random doses of distasteful republican rhetoric to try to show the reader how and why she decided to switch from the Democratic to the Republican Party.
By now you may already know my feelings about this book are extremely mixed. I genuinely enjoyed this book. Yet, at the same time, I was highly annoyed with a lot of the disrespectful statements Stacey made about black people and Former President Barack Obama.
I chose to read this book because I wanted some answers as to how a black woman could become so bitter towards her own race. We've all heard the comments she has made over the last few years. They were not very nice. So I figured if I read the book, maybe I could see what went wrong. And believe it or not, I think I figured it out. It's about the all mighty dollar!
When Stacey Dash tweeted her very first Tweet in support of Mitt Romney during the 2008 election, she started a firestorm on Twitter. It was this firestorm that placed a new career as a republican commentator in her lap. With one simple tweet, she went from being a woman who had absolutely no knowledge of politics and no college education, to becoming the face of the black female republican. When Stacey tweeted, "Vote for Romney" black America tore her a new a$$. While white America embraced her with open arms. The end result...She was thrust into the world of politics. Gaining a new career at a time when she was broke and couldn't buy an acting job even if she had the cash to do so. Because of that tweet, she was given a job as a contributor for Fox News. She was invited to countless political events including the White House Correspondents Dinner with Barak Obama. She even received the publishing deal that allowed her to publish this book. Therefore, it is my theory that Stacey is making these shock value comments to maintain the unexpected career she just so happened to stumble upon merely because of the color of her skin. Because let’s face it, if she was a white woman that posted, "Vote for Romney" this would not be a discussion.
This is a book full of contradictions. Stacy’s life has no resemblance to what she claims to believe in. For example, as a self-proclaimed "proud republican" she says she's anti-abortion. Yet in this book she details how she found herself in an abortion clinic, on the table, preparing to have an abortion. She says she believes in strong family values and keeping the family unit together. Yet, she has been divorced 3x's, and admits to having been in long term relationships with two married men. A single mother of two children she admits to having been addicted to drugs and alcohol for many years. I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.
Now, you may be wondering how could I like a book that contains such nonsensical content. Well the answer is simple. Aside from Stacey's obvious attempt to say whatever is necessary in order to keep her shot-gun political career going...this is a very entertaining, well written autobiography. I was unaware of her life story. Yes, I’ve watched her in movies and even music videos back in the day. But I had never heard anything about her personal life. As I read this book l learned she lived a very hard life. I appreciated her transparency in this book. In it she discloses her parent's drug addiction. She also talks about being abandoned as a child, joining a gang in LA and experiencing mental and physical abuse in multiple relationships. She has been homeless and broke. Yet she has maintained a strong will to succeed. It was these parts of the book that I enjoyed. Reading about her life kept me coming back for more. But there were times it felt like I was reading two different books. One moment I felt empathy for her. The next moment I was cursing her out. But overall, I enjoyed it.
Now I must warn you! If you are a liberal democrat you may want to stay away from this book. The content contained within these pages could possibly send your blood pressure from normal to dangerously high in a matter of minutes. However, if you are like me, and simply interested in reading a good story you may want to check it out.
By now you may already know my feelings about this book are extremely mixed. I genuinely enjoyed this book. Yet, at the same time, I was highly annoyed with a lot of the disrespectful statements Stacey made about black people and Former President Barack Obama.
I chose to read this book because I wanted some answers as to how a black woman could become so bitter towards her own race. We've all heard the comments she has made over the last few years. They were not very nice. So I figured if I read the book, maybe I could see what went wrong. And believe it or not, I think I figured it out. It's about the all mighty dollar!
When Stacey Dash tweeted her very first Tweet in support of Mitt Romney during the 2008 election, she started a firestorm on Twitter. It was this firestorm that placed a new career as a republican commentator in her lap. With one simple tweet, she went from being a woman who had absolutely no knowledge of politics and no college education, to becoming the face of the black female republican. When Stacey tweeted, "Vote for Romney" black America tore her a new a$$. While white America embraced her with open arms. The end result...She was thrust into the world of politics. Gaining a new career at a time when she was broke and couldn't buy an acting job even if she had the cash to do so. Because of that tweet, she was given a job as a contributor for Fox News. She was invited to countless political events including the White House Correspondents Dinner with Barak Obama. She even received the publishing deal that allowed her to publish this book. Therefore, it is my theory that Stacey is making these shock value comments to maintain the unexpected career she just so happened to stumble upon merely because of the color of her skin. Because let’s face it, if she was a white woman that posted, "Vote for Romney" this would not be a discussion.
This is a book full of contradictions. Stacy’s life has no resemblance to what she claims to believe in. For example, as a self-proclaimed "proud republican" she says she's anti-abortion. Yet in this book she details how she found herself in an abortion clinic, on the table, preparing to have an abortion. She says she believes in strong family values and keeping the family unit together. Yet, she has been divorced 3x's, and admits to having been in long term relationships with two married men. A single mother of two children she admits to having been addicted to drugs and alcohol for many years. I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.
Now, you may be wondering how could I like a book that contains such nonsensical content. Well the answer is simple. Aside from Stacey's obvious attempt to say whatever is necessary in order to keep her shot-gun political career going...this is a very entertaining, well written autobiography. I was unaware of her life story. Yes, I’ve watched her in movies and even music videos back in the day. But I had never heard anything about her personal life. As I read this book l learned she lived a very hard life. I appreciated her transparency in this book. In it she discloses her parent's drug addiction. She also talks about being abandoned as a child, joining a gang in LA and experiencing mental and physical abuse in multiple relationships. She has been homeless and broke. Yet she has maintained a strong will to succeed. It was these parts of the book that I enjoyed. Reading about her life kept me coming back for more. But there were times it felt like I was reading two different books. One moment I felt empathy for her. The next moment I was cursing her out. But overall, I enjoyed it.
Now I must warn you! If you are a liberal democrat you may want to stay away from this book. The content contained within these pages could possibly send your blood pressure from normal to dangerously high in a matter of minutes. However, if you are like me, and simply interested in reading a good story you may want to check it out.
January 7, 2018
“There Goes My Social Life” is a wonderful revelation of the independence and common sense of Stacey Dash. Ms. Dash and her collaborator Nancy French do an excellent job of combining Ms. Dash’s life experiences with political and economic lessons learned. Although Ms. Dash has not attended college, she is an intelligent woman who has learned many lessons the hard way. She is also a voracious reader who reads Ayn Rand and, commendably, has embraced much of her libertarianism but none of her atheism.
The title is a clever play on words from perhaps Ms. Dash’s most memorable line from her most memorable movie. For people like me who have not seen the movie, it is helpful that she inserts the background behind this line into the book. It is redundant to insert it twice.
All 13 chapters start with relevant quotes from respected thinkers, including Thomas Jefferson, George Washington Carver and Winston Churchill. These quotes help put the chapters into context and to show the importance of the issues.
The event that led to Ms. Dash becoming a conservative spokesperson was her tweet of support for Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential campaign. Before she processed this tweet, she went to church to pray. The world would be a better place if more people prayed before expressing themselves on social media.
This book contains many examples of Ms. Dash advocating conservative principles such as limited government and capitalism. She praises Republicans for understanding that the big government solutions advocated by Democrats usually do not work and frequently make problems worse. For example, she is very critical of the War on Drugs and other programs that add to the national debt. But she appropriately takes Republicans to task for a number of issues, including the No Child Left Behind Act implemented by Republicans during the George W. Bush administration. And in Chapter 4 she does not use the term hypocrite, but she essentially (and accurately) argues that Republicans need to be less hypocritical on issues of sexual misconduct in order to overcome the Democrats’ misleading “War on Women” attack.
Ms. Dash delivers many good lines in this book, but my favorite is her response to a British friend who does not seem to understand economics and accuses her of having a “Disney movie” perspective. Her priceless response is “You can’t tell the difference between Mickey Mouse and Margaret Thatcher.”
This book makes extensive use of the f-dud and other feeble language. I do not find these words offensive in a shocking way; I find them offensive in a depressing way. They are the most overused words in the English language and are generally used by lazy authors who cannot think of clever, creative or definitive ways to express themselves. For example, one sentence refers to Stephen “bleeping" Baldwin. The “bleeping” is as necessary to that sentence as sunglasses to a bat. I normally reduce my assessments for books that rely heavily on “four letter words” by one point. Because of Ms. Dash’s background – frequent exposure to this type of communication and lack of college – I considered giving Ms. Dash a pass. But, on further consideration, the last thing Ms. Dash would want would be for me to give her a pass.
The title is a clever play on words from perhaps Ms. Dash’s most memorable line from her most memorable movie. For people like me who have not seen the movie, it is helpful that she inserts the background behind this line into the book. It is redundant to insert it twice.
All 13 chapters start with relevant quotes from respected thinkers, including Thomas Jefferson, George Washington Carver and Winston Churchill. These quotes help put the chapters into context and to show the importance of the issues.
The event that led to Ms. Dash becoming a conservative spokesperson was her tweet of support for Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential campaign. Before she processed this tweet, she went to church to pray. The world would be a better place if more people prayed before expressing themselves on social media.
This book contains many examples of Ms. Dash advocating conservative principles such as limited government and capitalism. She praises Republicans for understanding that the big government solutions advocated by Democrats usually do not work and frequently make problems worse. For example, she is very critical of the War on Drugs and other programs that add to the national debt. But she appropriately takes Republicans to task for a number of issues, including the No Child Left Behind Act implemented by Republicans during the George W. Bush administration. And in Chapter 4 she does not use the term hypocrite, but she essentially (and accurately) argues that Republicans need to be less hypocritical on issues of sexual misconduct in order to overcome the Democrats’ misleading “War on Women” attack.
Ms. Dash delivers many good lines in this book, but my favorite is her response to a British friend who does not seem to understand economics and accuses her of having a “Disney movie” perspective. Her priceless response is “You can’t tell the difference between Mickey Mouse and Margaret Thatcher.”
This book makes extensive use of the f-dud and other feeble language. I do not find these words offensive in a shocking way; I find them offensive in a depressing way. They are the most overused words in the English language and are generally used by lazy authors who cannot think of clever, creative or definitive ways to express themselves. For example, one sentence refers to Stephen “bleeping" Baldwin. The “bleeping” is as necessary to that sentence as sunglasses to a bat. I normally reduce my assessments for books that rely heavily on “four letter words” by one point. Because of Ms. Dash’s background – frequent exposure to this type of communication and lack of college – I considered giving Ms. Dash a pass. But, on further consideration, the last thing Ms. Dash would want would be for me to give her a pass.
December 1, 2017
Going into this book, I knew very little of and about Stacey Dash. I was more curious than anything because when I’ve watched her on tv, through no fault of her own, really, I found her to be annoying to me.
And sometimes the points and arguments she made defending views that I actually agree with and believe in seemed weak, sometimes even uneducated, and I felt made those points that I too believe in look bad and come off wrong.
However, I heard her on a radio interview not too long ago & absolutely loved everything she had to say.
So when I saw that she had a book out, I thought the idea of a story of how one lives in the Hollywood-celebrity world as a lifelong Democrat who then becomes a conservative Republican, could be an interesting read.
After the first chapter or two, I realized that this book wasn’t going to be quite what I thought it was - a political commentary book. Rather, it was going to be an autobiography / memoir with political commentary thrown in to show what in her life shaped her views on this, that, and the other thing.
I very much liked the writing style of the book. Clear, concise, to the point, and easy to read and understand.
I agreed with the majority of her political views and arguments for them throughout the book. I did disagree with some though, & didn’t necessarily care for the God-talk near the end that got a bit preachy for me. But I always at least understood her views & how she formed them.
If she’s lived HALF as dramatic of a life as she claims, (and I have no reason to believe that she hasn’t), then that woman has been through the wringer of some SERIOUS, serious you know what throughout her life. If it’s horrible, it’s happened to her and she’s come out the other end.
Even so though, and while I do sympathize, after a while, even though she came off as honest and forthcoming in her stories about men, I just got tired of them. By the end of the book, I could barely take the failed romantic relationship stories anymore. I’m just going, “girl, seriously?! c’mon now, you knew better!”
Also, towards the end it started to annoy me a little bit that with these people doing everything for her and her acknowledgment of bad choices that led to her financial ruin, as she claims to be a woman holding conservative values, it kind of started to get to me that when she has kids, no money and can’t get any acting jobs or traction to pay the bills, she kind of whined & fretted about it instead of getting her butt out there & conceding to get another job. ANY job. If you have to start at the bottom, flip burgers, work your way up & downsize from the life you’re accustomed to, DO IT. It’s a paycheck. McDonald’s is always hiring.
Yes, that’s an extreme example, but with the political views she claims to hold, some of her tone towards the end of the book in having others take care of everything for her & being so stressed about having no money & no job .... it just started to get on my nerves a little bit.
And those pieces are all why while I liked this book, feel for her, agree with many of the views she expressed, and am proud of all that she’s overcome and is today, it just wasn’t a 4 or 5 star book for me.
And sometimes the points and arguments she made defending views that I actually agree with and believe in seemed weak, sometimes even uneducated, and I felt made those points that I too believe in look bad and come off wrong.
However, I heard her on a radio interview not too long ago & absolutely loved everything she had to say.
So when I saw that she had a book out, I thought the idea of a story of how one lives in the Hollywood-celebrity world as a lifelong Democrat who then becomes a conservative Republican, could be an interesting read.
After the first chapter or two, I realized that this book wasn’t going to be quite what I thought it was - a political commentary book. Rather, it was going to be an autobiography / memoir with political commentary thrown in to show what in her life shaped her views on this, that, and the other thing.
I very much liked the writing style of the book. Clear, concise, to the point, and easy to read and understand.
I agreed with the majority of her political views and arguments for them throughout the book. I did disagree with some though, & didn’t necessarily care for the God-talk near the end that got a bit preachy for me. But I always at least understood her views & how she formed them.
If she’s lived HALF as dramatic of a life as she claims, (and I have no reason to believe that she hasn’t), then that woman has been through the wringer of some SERIOUS, serious you know what throughout her life. If it’s horrible, it’s happened to her and she’s come out the other end.
Even so though, and while I do sympathize, after a while, even though she came off as honest and forthcoming in her stories about men, I just got tired of them. By the end of the book, I could barely take the failed romantic relationship stories anymore. I’m just going, “girl, seriously?! c’mon now, you knew better!”
Also, towards the end it started to annoy me a little bit that with these people doing everything for her and her acknowledgment of bad choices that led to her financial ruin, as she claims to be a woman holding conservative values, it kind of started to get to me that when she has kids, no money and can’t get any acting jobs or traction to pay the bills, she kind of whined & fretted about it instead of getting her butt out there & conceding to get another job. ANY job. If you have to start at the bottom, flip burgers, work your way up & downsize from the life you’re accustomed to, DO IT. It’s a paycheck. McDonald’s is always hiring.
Yes, that’s an extreme example, but with the political views she claims to hold, some of her tone towards the end of the book in having others take care of everything for her & being so stressed about having no money & no job .... it just started to get on my nerves a little bit.
And those pieces are all why while I liked this book, feel for her, agree with many of the views she expressed, and am proud of all that she’s overcome and is today, it just wasn’t a 4 or 5 star book for me.
October 26, 2021
There Goes My Social Life by Stacey Dash
This read had a direct conflict with my thoughts of Stacey Dash versus what her reality was. I always thought of her as a beautiful lady that would always get her way. Moreover, I thought that she was rich and at one time famous. Especially, since she is the first cousin of Damon Dash, I believed that perhaps she came from a successful family. This was not the case at all. I don’t believe she ever mentioned her cousin in the book and that they helped each other on their rises to success.
Her twitter comment about wanting Mitt Romney for president instead of Obama had me believe that she became accustomed to the rich life and that she had forgotten her roots. Black Twitter and the black community labelled her a sellout for going republican. But, tells her the truth about how some conservative concepts saved her life and that black people are republican truthfully.
This book has completely changed my perspective of her. Her life has been riddled with tragedy and hardness. She struggled throughout her life. The hardest things that a woman could ever do is struggle whilst living in fear, and being a mother.
There were times that I had to pause from reading this book since what she was going through had so much godforsaken horror that she had to face. This woman, although she doesn’t claim to be physically overpowering, is strong. People twice her size could not bear the things that she underwent.
There are things that she spoke of that were her perception of things. For example, she spoke that there was honour amongst pimps, hustlers, and pushers. I disagree with which she used those examples. But, I also don’t stand with her on political views. But, I respect her vantage.
This book was well written and I would recommend it. However, I would have loved to read more about her stability during her political life. The autobiography didn’t dive into her happy ending. But, it is a real story about a beautiful Bronx child who rose above her environment and made it out with more challenges that lay ahead.
This read had a direct conflict with my thoughts of Stacey Dash versus what her reality was. I always thought of her as a beautiful lady that would always get her way. Moreover, I thought that she was rich and at one time famous. Especially, since she is the first cousin of Damon Dash, I believed that perhaps she came from a successful family. This was not the case at all. I don’t believe she ever mentioned her cousin in the book and that they helped each other on their rises to success.
Her twitter comment about wanting Mitt Romney for president instead of Obama had me believe that she became accustomed to the rich life and that she had forgotten her roots. Black Twitter and the black community labelled her a sellout for going republican. But, tells her the truth about how some conservative concepts saved her life and that black people are republican truthfully.
This book has completely changed my perspective of her. Her life has been riddled with tragedy and hardness. She struggled throughout her life. The hardest things that a woman could ever do is struggle whilst living in fear, and being a mother.
There were times that I had to pause from reading this book since what she was going through had so much godforsaken horror that she had to face. This woman, although she doesn’t claim to be physically overpowering, is strong. People twice her size could not bear the things that she underwent.
There are things that she spoke of that were her perception of things. For example, she spoke that there was honour amongst pimps, hustlers, and pushers. I disagree with which she used those examples. But, I also don’t stand with her on political views. But, I respect her vantage.
This book was well written and I would recommend it. However, I would have loved to read more about her stability during her political life. The autobiography didn’t dive into her happy ending. But, it is a real story about a beautiful Bronx child who rose above her environment and made it out with more challenges that lay ahead.
February 15, 2018
Overall this memoir really packed a punch. There was much to like, love, respect, be humored, enlightened and saddened by. Her early life, and love life was a difficult digest. Her insight of politics I found passionate, strong and generally fair, though green in spots. In the same vein I was enlightened by her almost breathless knowledge of who in the world of who’s-who supports who politically. At times the writing even tickled me; from hard intervals covering her love life, answering questions such as "do you believe in love at first sight," to her perspectives nailing such social polemics as ‘the haves’ monitoring global footprints of ‘the havenots’. By far albeit, I loved her take of the Cosby Show and wholly respect the courage it took to raise hard topics many wouldn’t, not if they knew in advance it could cost them fans, friends and all they worked hard to attain. Nice job, to include that redemptive ending. Anyone who doesn't personally know her, but only heard of her might want to check this out.
January 26, 2025
This was closer to a 2.5 stars. I enjoyed reading the biographical parts of this book but too much of it was preachy conservative talking points and it felt like somebody feeding her stats and political got'cha statements. Also, Dash really glances over a lot of her career. You get the Cosby Show, Moving, Renaissance Man, Clueless and a few other things. You also hear about a movie where they tried to make her do a nude scene and she quit on the spot. You hear about several relationships/marriages.
What you don't hear is any of her husbands or partner's last names; you don't hear about the two movies where she actually did nude scenes and how those were different (or her posing for playboy), or her acting roles for the last decade before the book came out aside from a VH1 show she was on for one season. After just finishing books by Eric Roberts and Dwight Little, I was ready for another mid-tier Hollywood persona to share the dirt, but this was too surface level.
What you don't hear is any of her husbands or partner's last names; you don't hear about the two movies where she actually did nude scenes and how those were different (or her posing for playboy), or her acting roles for the last decade before the book came out aside from a VH1 show she was on for one season. After just finishing books by Eric Roberts and Dwight Little, I was ready for another mid-tier Hollywood persona to share the dirt, but this was too surface level.
February 24, 2018
Stacey Dash is a survivor! Her story is a compelling drama and tradgi-comedy that dwarfs most such stories made into movies. The book is a good read that shares her life in all the shades of the good, bad, and ugly.
As a fellow memoir author I congratulate Stacey on her candor. Only her growing love for her blessed life and her joy of God's Grace moved her, or any of us, to share the ugliest parts of our life journey! With God's Love and Light she has become the parent she never had, and her children will be better for it.
As an African American author like myself she was insightful enough to transcend racial stereotyping, and as a female she fought through the self- limiting victim mentality that made her a walking wounded celebrity. Though painful to read at times you'll thank her for sharing!
@WLIngram/Author
As a fellow memoir author I congratulate Stacey on her candor. Only her growing love for her blessed life and her joy of God's Grace moved her, or any of us, to share the ugliest parts of our life journey! With God's Love and Light she has become the parent she never had, and her children will be better for it.
As an African American author like myself she was insightful enough to transcend racial stereotyping, and as a female she fought through the self- limiting victim mentality that made her a walking wounded celebrity. Though painful to read at times you'll thank her for sharing!
@WLIngram/Author
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2020
Mostly known for playing a part in a film titled Clueless, Stacey Dash shot into spotlight in 2012, when he openly supported Mitt Romney’s candidacy for US presidency in 2012, unleashing torrents of hate and abuse upon her on twitter. A survivor, she hailed from a stereotypical scary family in Bronx, complete with junkie mother, abusive father and for some extra, an uncle who was a pimp. She fought alcoholism, became a rape victim and domestic abuse victim (before unfortunately committing one herself), and even refused to do abortion at a nick of time. Caught between affairs with abusive men, she turned to God, and found that her worldview mostly aligned with the conservatives. Overall, I get the impression of overall meh-ness reading this book, while trying my best not to say serves you right at her for having affairs with married men.
September 16, 2022
I loved the movie Clueless growing up and used to watch the Clueless tv show. Dionne was my fav character. I am intrigued by memoirs of actresses, its interesting to learn about behind the scenes especially for black actresses from the 90s, which there aren't many memoirs of. I was interested to learn about how she got her start, i was expecting a light hearted read about how she loved acting and just auditioned and got roles based on her good looks, but the book ended up being really heart felt. It was interesting to learn how she persevered dealing with neglectful parents and growing up in the bronx. I just saw her as a pretty face but I see her in a completely different light. She is strong and i hope she comes out on top; in between her story she addresses her views on being a Republican. I enjoyed that the book was very fast paced and eventful never got bored reading it.
April 22, 2018
Oh my gosh ! This book was a pleasant surprise ! I didn't know much about Stacey Dash and oh man did she have a quite 'shocking ' life. It seems she didn't leave much out and growing up as a child to drug addicted parents was not easy , not to mention the sexual abuse that quite shocked me or her walking to pre school at 3 years old ALONE on the dangerous streets where she even saw a dead body while walking to school. Shocking. Heartbreaking .
I love her honesty and even if your not someone who reads political books, give this a try , this was more like a juicy memoir than a political book .
Thanks for writing this book. And. Putting your life out there, I was rooting for you the whole time while reading this book. She s a strong woman !
I love her honesty and even if your not someone who reads political books, give this a try , this was more like a juicy memoir than a political book .
Thanks for writing this book. And. Putting your life out there, I was rooting for you the whole time while reading this book. She s a strong woman !
September 24, 2017
The writing was so engaging that I was able to read this in one sitting. I'm a big believer in "You don't have to agree in order to respect the work", so that's what's happening here. Stacey Dash does make some good points.
I picked up this book at the library because I wanted to make sure that I disliked her for myself, not based on what the media told me. Now, I'm at peace with my decision.
Pictures would have been nice. I'd have liked to see her family and multiple husbands through the years.
I picked up this book at the library because I wanted to make sure that I disliked her for myself, not based on what the media told me. Now, I'm at peace with my decision.
Pictures would have been nice. I'd have liked to see her family and multiple husbands through the years.
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