Rush Limbaugh: The Life and Legacy of the Conservative Political Commentator Behind America’s Most Popular Radio Show

by Charles River Editors

*Includes pictures*Includes some of Limbaugh's most famous quotes*Includes a bibliography for further reading*Includes a table of contents“Greetings, conversationalists across the fruited plain, this is Rush Limbaugh, the most dangerous man in America, with the largest hypothalamus in North America, serving humanity simply by opening my mouth, destined for my own wing in the Museum of Broadcasting, executing everything I do flawlessly with zero mistakes, doing this show with half my brain tied behind my back just to make it fair because I have talent on loan from…God. Rush Limbaugh. A man. A legend. A way of life.” – Rush Limbaugh, 1991With the advent of several controversial social movements in subsequent decades, a non-traditional style of editorial persona began to take control of the news machinery in America. The weighing of ideas gave way to exclusive promotion of a specific world view, and the omission of all opposition within a devotee’s range of hearing. The general population, the branches of government, and the media entered an era of divisiveness as cable television and talk radio altered the equation by which we once interacted. These important social movements of the mid-20th century, intended to enhance the status of marginalized groups, factionalized the nation in the process. New battle lines between race, gender, and political ideology brought about a similarly fragmented group of media organizations, each catering to those sharing its worldview. Finessed shadings of mutual discussion were banished as opposing arguments were negated entirely, bringing about the current era of hyperpartisanship. Charismatic presidents and fierce resistance have always existed together, but as the news media broke into disparate engines of political and social influence, new faces were needed, each emblematic of his or her own “congregation.” The American right found the voice it needed in the supremely gifted Rush Hudson Limbaugh III. A Missourian with a lifelong love of radio, Limbaugh possessed an unmatchable rhetorical reflex, a well-informed sense of each argument’s gist, and a flair for the politically incorrect. The humor, glibly delivered, was associated with sensitivities of the boomer generation’s canon of cultural symbols. Once crowned as the champion of the right, Limbaugh went on to man the most popular radio talk show in America for over three decades. Such was the allure of his particular brand of on-air theater that his enemies are, by their own admission, still captivated and unable to look away. The more outrageous the style, the more compelling became the need to listen. Limbaugh eventually stood out from the radio’s iconic influencers to such a degree that his sway over actual legislative and executive process made him an influential shaper of the national attitude.Limbaugh’s radio extravaganza acts much like a restrictive social network itself, with informal pressure exerted upon listeners to conform. With other opinions excluded, the audience is given a “heightened sense” of being in the majority. Liberals, at the moment less galvanized, have become intimidated and less settled in their own beliefs, while a large component of conservative Americans, perceiving themselves as unheard and railroaded into a failed social philosophy against their will, have simmered with resentment against what was branded by many on the right as social elitism. The offenders could be found among the upper industrial classes, prominent academic institutions, high-rent neighborhoods of blue-bloods exploiting their economic advantage, and progressive activists intent on the establishment of a futuristic order based on a speculative vision. For millions of people, Rush Limbaugh offered just the right voice to rail against the forces that angered these conservatives.

Genres: Biography

48 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 9, 2020

About the author

Charles River Editors is an independent publisher of thousands of ebooks on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Apple iBookstore & provider of original content for third parties.

Reviews

[Jerry Jares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never having heard Rush Limbaugh, I wondered how he got to be so powerful a voice for the right.  I hoped this book would tell me the reason, and it did.  I have to say that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made a policy change that has led to our lack of civility on radio and tv stations, beginning in 1987.  When they removed the Fairness Doctrine, it allowed the stations to put on anyone who could give them ratings and marketing sales.

The Fairness Doctrine was offered as a way of creating an 'informed public' by requiring balanced reporting about all sides of a controversial issue.  Opinions, when raised by a tv or radio station, had to be clearly mentioned as such.  What was so wrong with this system?  It gave both sides an opportunity for others to hear their stand.  Now we have a seriously divided population because there is no one telling both sides of the question at the same time.  How can we be an informed public if we only hear one side of the argument (with the exclusion of the other)? 

This is a very interesting (totally lacking in whitewash) review of Rush Limbaugh's life.  He's been married 4 times and the only reason he's still married is that he did not get a pre-nuptial agreement to protect his assets (even after learning of his wife's multiple infidelities).  With Limbaugh fighting 4th level cancer, his time on the air may be limited.  One wonders, who will take his place? 

[Simon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Contrary to it's cover, this book isn't a commemoration of Rush's life and legacy in any respect.

[Travis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was surprised how bad this book was. It was hard to finish. I've listened to Rush Limbaugh off and on for many years, so I know some things about him. I was hoping for an honest discussion of his life, his thought, his good points and his controversies. The author is obviously not a fan and uses negative phrases to demonize the subject. The organization of the book felt disjointed, with discussion of his life events, particularly on radio, thrown together in chronologically poor ways. Many of the quotes from Rush Limbaugh are either not attributed, or are attributed to an article that was critical of him, or sometimes just to a person or radio station, as if the author just wrote stuff people told him they'd heard. A fair amount of the book is negative commentary about him, or quotes taken out of context and not explained.

[Atlantis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Salacious and not truly representative of Rush Limbaugh who I have listened to on the radio regularly for years. Mega dittos and RIP Rush.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rushed

Besides looking through the first of Limbaugh's own books, "The Way Things Ought To Be," (which was "in my house" because my husband of ten years at the time was/is a "dittohead,") this book is the only in-depth commentary I've read. Limbaugh's book made a better impression on me in written words than his radio show but he is simply not my style. The book made it clear to me Limbaugh is all about himself and the way he wants to be! I guess I didn't get that from his fast-paced radio verbalizations.. Thirty-plus years later? I remember, indeed, being in the car hearing Rush for the first time on the radio station my husband had preset. My first babies were still in diapers. I believe my only view after all these decades is how dysfunctional the children are, the future? I'm glad I get to live my older age in peace from a by-gone era and hope Rush is unique.

[Ray boycott Reading Challenges until they fix app]

I honestly can't really rate this for a number of reasons. On the one hand, it is surprisingly "balanced", and not in the FOX News way where they just tell you they're "balanced" hoping you're gullible and chances are you strongly believe their slant to be objective truth anyway. The book does go over a number of controversies and scandals Rush has been involved in and doesn't paint him as the hero or victim in any of them. On the other hand, it doesn't really present a lot of information at all - not quite coming off as just pulling from the Wikipedia article to the point of plagiarism, but more like maybe a conservative version of the "Who Is/Was?" (you know, the kiddie books with the celebrity and historical bobble heads on the cover?) series for young children.

[Andrew P Close · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing

Seems to take every opportunity to impugn Limbaugh. Didn't need to read this to hear the same mischaracterized commentary and assessments. Much of the media opposed to Limbaugh has been voicing them for years.
Of the 104 footnotes, only 8 come from Limbaughs web site. The same amount comes from "How to Speak Russian". Why rely on AZ Quotes instead of first hand clips of audio. Context.
The author does question how such a man that divides with such ugliness can be as philanthropic as Limbaugh was. The author admits its hard to discern the entertaining inside joke from authentic conviction. In nearly every instance, this book gets it wrong.

[Andy Anders · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not educational, not recommended

The “book” begins by pretending to be a biography, but provides nothing of substance that isn’t already known form a variety of magazine and newspaper articles, and those being almost entirely opinions. There’s no depth or insight into the man being “written” about. Then it descends into baseless smears and innuendo on the level of a heartbroken teenage girl. It’s no surprise that no actual author is credited, but only an editing committee. I cannot recommend something no one is willing to put their own name to—even a mom de plume would have been better.

[Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting read -- I was surprised at the stumbling around he did as a young man.
I'm not a "political kind of guy" so my impression was the laugh was most important to him. I was certainly not a "follower", he only entered my life via my car radio.

[sharon arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting read

A Phenomenon that few understand. This book provides an insight into Rush's background and thinking. He has developed the fine art of showmanship and entertainment to an n'th degree.

[Scott Birk · Rating 1 out of 5]

Obviously written by someone with a bone to pick with Rush. Don't waste your time reading this. There is little actual information about Rush, which I was hoping for. It's just a rewind of all of the negative things said about him through the years.

[Linda H · Rating 1 out of 5]

One star rating is too generous!

What a bunch of ignorant innuendo, lies and outright fraud! Shame on charles river editors! I sincerely hope you get the pants sued off of you! For shame!

[Bill Schiff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't real happy with the author's motivation behind the writing of this book.