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Hate or Be Hated: How I Survived Right-Wing Extremism
There is something seriously and deadly wrong in America when racists, sexists, paranoids and those full of hatred, brainwash their children with their own narrow-minded belief systems. As long as ignorant extremists breed and do their best at cloning themselves - racism, hate and bigotry in America will continue to thrive. This will only get worse unless more and more adult children stand up to their parents and reject their mindless paranoia and hate.Had I stayed the course and been loyal to my dad's ideals,there's no question that I'd likely be dead and/or would have demonstrated a similar moronic and catastrophic terror like that of Timothy McVeigh, the "good son," for example. If I hadn't wrenched myself out of the deep end, I imagine that I would be playing a significant role with the Tea Party and the current wave of right-wing extremism eroding and desperately trying to take over America. These are the only two scenarios where I can think my father would actually be proud of me.
164 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 13, 2017
My original Hate or Be Hated audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Hate or Be Hated: How I Survived Right-Wing Extremism is not a boring book, nor is it one that should be missed. J. Daniels effectively relates his story of growing up with a father who was an extremist and member of the John Birch Society who saw conspiracy at every turn. Although his mother was present, she never challenged her husband – a victim of PTSD.
Daniel’s powerful message and experience gives his listeners a bird's eye view of how people become brainwashed, the terrible truths behind the John Birch Society and more. His willingness at a young age to be a willing killer or bomber for the love of his country and the beliefs promoted by the John Birch Society is telling. While there is some humor, it is dark but necessary. The influences of his parents and other adults within his small world is amazing to ponder. One does not have to do much cajoling when given a young mind to mold … this is what happened to Daniels until he realized the truth and saw his life for what it truly was under his father’s rule. His words and stories tell you how NOT to raise a child and what NOT to expect from your parents who are extremist period.
This is a difficult book because the listener can hear how easy it is to brainwash someone; the role of the media, adults and more. Daniels demonstrates how easily children can be isolated and convinced, how easily they can be manipulated to becoming killers and continuing the uneducated life of their parents or friends and how dangerous a lack of education can be.
At one point, when Daniels talks about being older and how much he wanted to confront his parents, I wanted to tell him to get over it. His parents perpetuated what they had been taught for years and years. Fortunately, Daniels was able to break through the cycle and end it. It takes a strong person and opportunity to break the cycle of violence and extremism. I wanted to tell him, it wouldn’t change anything whether his mother or father realized what they had done – there was no going back; nothing was going to change. This was my one point of contention with the book.
It was difficult listening to the passion of the narrator as he reiterated the experiences and beliefs. Regardless of where you are, what your political views may be or your economic status – this is a book you should hear. The message is timely and alternates between shocking you and making you cry.
Although the narrator is not credited, I want to say he did a powerful job. One could hear the passion and his buying into the beliefs and then his change of heart/mind. His voice was calming yet moving.
There were no issues with the production quality of this book.
Audiobook was provided for review by the publisher.
Hate or Be Hated: How I Survived Right-Wing Extremism is not a boring book, nor is it one that should be missed. J. Daniels effectively relates his story of growing up with a father who was an extremist and member of the John Birch Society who saw conspiracy at every turn. Although his mother was present, she never challenged her husband – a victim of PTSD.
Daniel’s powerful message and experience gives his listeners a bird's eye view of how people become brainwashed, the terrible truths behind the John Birch Society and more. His willingness at a young age to be a willing killer or bomber for the love of his country and the beliefs promoted by the John Birch Society is telling. While there is some humor, it is dark but necessary. The influences of his parents and other adults within his small world is amazing to ponder. One does not have to do much cajoling when given a young mind to mold … this is what happened to Daniels until he realized the truth and saw his life for what it truly was under his father’s rule. His words and stories tell you how NOT to raise a child and what NOT to expect from your parents who are extremist period.
This is a difficult book because the listener can hear how easy it is to brainwash someone; the role of the media, adults and more. Daniels demonstrates how easily children can be isolated and convinced, how easily they can be manipulated to becoming killers and continuing the uneducated life of their parents or friends and how dangerous a lack of education can be.
At one point, when Daniels talks about being older and how much he wanted to confront his parents, I wanted to tell him to get over it. His parents perpetuated what they had been taught for years and years. Fortunately, Daniels was able to break through the cycle and end it. It takes a strong person and opportunity to break the cycle of violence and extremism. I wanted to tell him, it wouldn’t change anything whether his mother or father realized what they had done – there was no going back; nothing was going to change. This was my one point of contention with the book.
It was difficult listening to the passion of the narrator as he reiterated the experiences and beliefs. Regardless of where you are, what your political views may be or your economic status – this is a book you should hear. The message is timely and alternates between shocking you and making you cry.
Although the narrator is not credited, I want to say he did a powerful job. One could hear the passion and his buying into the beliefs and then his change of heart/mind. His voice was calming yet moving.
There were no issues with the production quality of this book.
Audiobook was provided for review by the publisher.
June 10, 2021
The author has taken a probing and no doubt difficult look at the manner in which he was raised--his father, an angry, paranoid, extremist right-winger, once set out to mold his son to be exactly like him. If some compassionate and attentive adults hadn't redirected him at a crucial junction in his development, Daniels believes he may have very easily become a a hate-filled miserable person like his dad at best, or a domestic terrorist at worst.
While a bit repetitive, HATE OR BE HATED is still an important and recommended read, especially in today's political climate. The author's intimate experience with this world pulls back the curtain on the mindset behind all of those ugly comments and hateful memes on your Facebook feed.
This book concludes right before the 2016 election, in which Daniels expresses deep dismay about the Republican front-runner candidates, but remains guardedly hopeful. Well, we all know how that turned out. It would be interesting to see his thoughts on the Trump mess and the cult of personality that formed around the man. I also hope that the author has managed to not be roped back in by his toxic family.
While a bit repetitive, HATE OR BE HATED is still an important and recommended read, especially in today's political climate. The author's intimate experience with this world pulls back the curtain on the mindset behind all of those ugly comments and hateful memes on your Facebook feed.
This book concludes right before the 2016 election, in which Daniels expresses deep dismay about the Republican front-runner candidates, but remains guardedly hopeful. Well, we all know how that turned out. It would be interesting to see his thoughts on the Trump mess and the cult of personality that formed around the man. I also hope that the author has managed to not be roped back in by his toxic family.
March 27, 2021
This dude went to John Birch Society SUMMER CAMP when he was a kid!!! A useful insight into what it's like growing up in the paranoid, cult-like world of the far right, where a commie is around every corner and the federal government will enslave you--unless you can do something to stop them. His dad is an angry Vietnam vet, tying in the thesis of "Bring the War Home," in that some people never stopped fighting "commies" and other assorted freedom-hating people when they came home from the war. Ultimately while Daniel says his therapist urged him to forgive his parents for "brainwashing" him as a child (his word), he calls them "pathetic" more than enough times to show that maybe it isn't that easy.
March 4, 2026
Always good to read books about politics that are framed from a particular narrative, both right and left to give you a full picture of a situation or a current climate
April 20, 2019
Delivers the Message Well, and I Wanted to Know More
JG Daniel’s ability to speak strongly for his ideals as well as against the warped ideals on which he was raised makes this a positive read and valuable for anyone who wants to try to understand “the other side” in today’s world. Jeff Daniel writes about a childhood that is blessedly foreign to most of us growing up. And he explains and allows us an inside view of the warped message and the insidious damage done to the child and the man. Knowing Jeff survived and freed himself from the conspiracies, lies and hatred is satisfying, even though he paints a sad picture of the outcome for many of those caught in this web around him and around us. What is missing from his account is any deep dive into the steps by which he slowly pulls himself up the ladder from the cesspool into the light and air of thinking and judging and making decisions in a rational world. Jeff gives us a general picture of the people and ideas that come into his life after leaving home, and tells us that he slowly grows to understand much more about people, ideas, the democratic process, and facts and knowledge as the remedies for warped logic and lies. But he doesn’t illuminate the specific moments and the ideological wars that must have raged day after day as he transformed. What conversation over a beer first made you question a particular “truth”? What campaign and set of ideals confronted you and made you write for a newspaper and lean into local government to confront your own demons? Even though I felt like some of this meaty information was missing, this book clearly shows how people can go wrong in their thought processes, and makes clear arguments against hate and for reasoned thought, discussion, respect and love.
JG Daniel’s ability to speak strongly for his ideals as well as against the warped ideals on which he was raised makes this a positive read and valuable for anyone who wants to try to understand “the other side” in today’s world. Jeff Daniel writes about a childhood that is blessedly foreign to most of us growing up. And he explains and allows us an inside view of the warped message and the insidious damage done to the child and the man. Knowing Jeff survived and freed himself from the conspiracies, lies and hatred is satisfying, even though he paints a sad picture of the outcome for many of those caught in this web around him and around us. What is missing from his account is any deep dive into the steps by which he slowly pulls himself up the ladder from the cesspool into the light and air of thinking and judging and making decisions in a rational world. Jeff gives us a general picture of the people and ideas that come into his life after leaving home, and tells us that he slowly grows to understand much more about people, ideas, the democratic process, and facts and knowledge as the remedies for warped logic and lies. But he doesn’t illuminate the specific moments and the ideological wars that must have raged day after day as he transformed. What conversation over a beer first made you question a particular “truth”? What campaign and set of ideals confronted you and made you write for a newspaper and lean into local government to confront your own demons? Even though I felt like some of this meaty information was missing, this book clearly shows how people can go wrong in their thought processes, and makes clear arguments against hate and for reasoned thought, discussion, respect and love.
January 27, 2018
Powerful testimony from the deep underbelly of the radical right
This book is plain-spoken and sincere, but deeply insightful in its honesty. It suffers from some roughness and lack of focus, but in the end Daniel's testimony is moving and meaningful.
This book is plain-spoken and sincere, but deeply insightful in its honesty. It suffers from some roughness and lack of focus, but in the end Daniel's testimony is moving and meaningful.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews