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Battle for the American Mind: Uprooting a Century of Miseducation
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
FOX News host Pete Hegseth is back with what he says is his most important book A revolutionary road map to saving our children from leftist indoctrination.
Behind a smokescreen of “preparing students for the new industrial economy,” early progressives had political control in mind. America’s original schools didn’t just make kids memorize facts or learn skills; they taught them to think freely and arrive at wisdom. They assigned the classics, inspired love of God and country, and raised future citizens that changed the world forever.
Today, after 16,000 hours of K-12 indoctrination, our kids come out of government schools hating America. They roll their eyes at religion and disdain our history. We spend more money on education than ever, but kids can barely read and write—let alone reason with discernment. Western culture is on the ropes. Kids are bored and aimless, flailing for purpose in a system that says racial and gender identity is everything.
Battle for the American Mind is the untold story of the Progressive plan to neutralize the basis of our Republic – by removing the one ingredient that had sustained Western Civilization for thousands of years. Pete Hegseth and David Goodwin explain why, no matter what political skirmishes conservatives win, progressives are winning the war—and control the “supply lines” of future citizens. Reversing this reality will require parents to radically reorient their children’s education; even most homeschooling and Christian schooling are infused with progressive assumptions. We need to recover a lost philosophy of education – grounded in virtue and excellence – that can arm future generations to fight for freedom. It’s called classical Christian education. Never heard of it? You’re not alone.
Battle for the American Mind is more than a book; it’s a field guide for remaking school in the United States. We’ve ceded our kids’ minds to the left for far too long—this book gives patriotic parents the ammunition to join an insurgency that gives America a fighting chance.
Whether you're a conservative looking to push back against the progressive agenda or simply someone who cares about the education of our children, this book is for you.
FOX News host Pete Hegseth is back with what he says is his most important book A revolutionary road map to saving our children from leftist indoctrination.
Behind a smokescreen of “preparing students for the new industrial economy,” early progressives had political control in mind. America’s original schools didn’t just make kids memorize facts or learn skills; they taught them to think freely and arrive at wisdom. They assigned the classics, inspired love of God and country, and raised future citizens that changed the world forever.
Today, after 16,000 hours of K-12 indoctrination, our kids come out of government schools hating America. They roll their eyes at religion and disdain our history. We spend more money on education than ever, but kids can barely read and write—let alone reason with discernment. Western culture is on the ropes. Kids are bored and aimless, flailing for purpose in a system that says racial and gender identity is everything.
Battle for the American Mind is the untold story of the Progressive plan to neutralize the basis of our Republic – by removing the one ingredient that had sustained Western Civilization for thousands of years. Pete Hegseth and David Goodwin explain why, no matter what political skirmishes conservatives win, progressives are winning the war—and control the “supply lines” of future citizens. Reversing this reality will require parents to radically reorient their children’s education; even most homeschooling and Christian schooling are infused with progressive assumptions. We need to recover a lost philosophy of education – grounded in virtue and excellence – that can arm future generations to fight for freedom. It’s called classical Christian education. Never heard of it? You’re not alone.
Battle for the American Mind is more than a book; it’s a field guide for remaking school in the United States. We’ve ceded our kids’ minds to the left for far too long—this book gives patriotic parents the ammunition to join an insurgency that gives America a fighting chance.
Whether you're a conservative looking to push back against the progressive agenda or simply someone who cares about the education of our children, this book is for you.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2022
1835 people are currently reading
3649 people want to read
About the author
Pete Hegseth
6 books216 followersU.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is the former co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend and a frequent guest co-host for the weekday edition of Fox & Friends. He is also a former Fox News Senior Political Analyst. Pete is an Army veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and was also a guard at Guantanamo Bay. He holds two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge for his time in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pete graduated from Princeton University in 2003.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 545 reviews
June 18, 2022
This is hogwash. Completely irrational garbage. This writer is clearly only spewing nonsense and not reality. More of the propaganda channel ridiculous attacks on education. Apparently their desire is for stupid, ill informed Americans who will just do as they’re told by an autocratic government.
June 28, 2022
This is truly horribly written. I hesitate to even review it because I don’t want people to know I read it. Scare tactics, propaganda, and hardly any cited sources at all.
June 14, 2022
The Who, what, where, when, why and HOW our education system was systematically conscripted by Progressive theory and the far reaching effects.
Authors, Pete Hegseth and David Goodwin pull no punches in this call to action, “Battle for the American Mind: Uprooting a Century of Miseducation”. They are champions of CCE, (Classical Christian Education), and do a good job of presenting the historical, current and future value in its reinstatement.
CCE is history based - ancient history of the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Biblical history, great thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, Socrates; Imagine students knowing who they are! Students are encouraged to think critically, evaluate ALL sides of an issue and points of view. In order to do that they need to understand time and place - history, geography, current events, etc. and to be able to articulate and defend them.
Hegseth and Goodwin spend a good deal of time exploring the demise of our educational system and how it has reached into every aspect of our daily lives. Taking back control won’t be easy but it is possible. I suspect there will be a great divide on this title. Some will see red or blue only and others will see religion and be offended, or not. There is no specific religious affiliation to CCE. It follows a path similar to the founders of our country, a Judeo-Christian vent, if you will.
Potential discord aside, this is an important book that’s well written and reasoned. The authors have clearly shown how the Progressive influenced education programs have negatively impacted our lives. It’s time to join the “Battle for the American Mind”📚
Authors, Pete Hegseth and David Goodwin pull no punches in this call to action, “Battle for the American Mind: Uprooting a Century of Miseducation”. They are champions of CCE, (Classical Christian Education), and do a good job of presenting the historical, current and future value in its reinstatement.
CCE is history based - ancient history of the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Biblical history, great thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, Socrates; Imagine students knowing who they are! Students are encouraged to think critically, evaluate ALL sides of an issue and points of view. In order to do that they need to understand time and place - history, geography, current events, etc. and to be able to articulate and defend them.
Hegseth and Goodwin spend a good deal of time exploring the demise of our educational system and how it has reached into every aspect of our daily lives. Taking back control won’t be easy but it is possible. I suspect there will be a great divide on this title. Some will see red or blue only and others will see religion and be offended, or not. There is no specific religious affiliation to CCE. It follows a path similar to the founders of our country, a Judeo-Christian vent, if you will.
Potential discord aside, this is an important book that’s well written and reasoned. The authors have clearly shown how the Progressive influenced education programs have negatively impacted our lives. It’s time to join the “Battle for the American Mind”📚
July 11, 2022
There are some real problems with the education system today. For example, a Harvard education produced this book.
July 16, 2022
What’s most insidious and underhanded about this book is that it presents itself as the opposite of what it is. The ultimate in doublespeak! It is from beginning to end nothing but pure, made up bullshit.
What the authors strive for is to whitewash public education to make US history appear as if European settlers were right & honorable. As if the genocide of native Americans was a noble act. As if slaves enjoyed the institution of brutality. And as if our imperialistic terrorism in Latin America and throughout the world was wielded with love and good intentions.
I am a product of this white washed BS education where we never learned the realities of murdered native Americans, or the torture of slaves and the raping & pillaging of black communities by white savages during reconstruction. Nor did I ever learn about the atrocities/genocides perpetrated by the US in countries like Chile, Guatemala, El Salvador and most of the S American countries. If these authors had their way they would do away with all the truth in our history and paint it with the white, male, monied brush that they have used to write this tripe!!
Astoundingly awful crap!!
What the authors strive for is to whitewash public education to make US history appear as if European settlers were right & honorable. As if the genocide of native Americans was a noble act. As if slaves enjoyed the institution of brutality. And as if our imperialistic terrorism in Latin America and throughout the world was wielded with love and good intentions.
I am a product of this white washed BS education where we never learned the realities of murdered native Americans, or the torture of slaves and the raping & pillaging of black communities by white savages during reconstruction. Nor did I ever learn about the atrocities/genocides perpetrated by the US in countries like Chile, Guatemala, El Salvador and most of the S American countries. If these authors had their way they would do away with all the truth in our history and paint it with the white, male, monied brush that they have used to write this tripe!!
Astoundingly awful crap!!
July 9, 2022
This book is a mess of indoctrination and lies, of course. Nothing from Fox News comes with truth. It's a screed against the Constitution, Civil Rights, it whitewashes American's dark history with slavery, and wants to force religion into schools when the Constitution forbids it. If anything, remember, this book wants to bring children to a regressive past where separate but equal schools for minorities (black people especially) were the standard, where prayers and teaching about god in school supported the Ku Klux Klan and lynching. Look around closely, look at the world, all countries with religion in their government are failures of war, poverty, crime, disease, and stupidity. Look around at the most religious states in our nation they're pits of poverty, crime, disease, failure and stupidity. There's no coincidence that RED STATES are the poorest states in the country. This book is a book that will lead many to failure and hatred. Also, why are all the positive reviews only written by white people? White, Christian, Nationalist, people--? Wonder why? Here's a better book: The Schoolhouse Gate: Public Education, the Supreme Court, and the Battle for the American Mind
Justin Driver https://www.amazon.com/Schoolhouse-Ga...
Justin Driver https://www.amazon.com/Schoolhouse-Ga...
June 21, 2022
Masterpiece for Parents Fed Up with Public Schools
Clearly explains how the American public education system has gone from best to worst, and the effect this has had on our culture, our laws, our very survival as a nation. Carefully researched and historically relevant in outlining the path progressives have taken in dismantling our education system, we have progressed from educating responsible citizens to the barbarian and ignorant population we see today.
Clearly explains how the American public education system has gone from best to worst, and the effect this has had on our culture, our laws, our very survival as a nation. Carefully researched and historically relevant in outlining the path progressives have taken in dismantling our education system, we have progressed from educating responsible citizens to the barbarian and ignorant population we see today.
June 17, 2022
must read for all Christians
As Christians we all see the decline of our country. I’ve noticed that leaders lack wisdom and virtue. They don’t seem to able to make logical arguments. I’ve been a public school teacher for 30 years. I have watched first hand the decline of student performance. I’ve seen plan after plan to improve education but none have helped. CCE is the key but will never happen in government run schools. I have no children but I’m planning to change to teaching at a CCE school.
As Christians we all see the decline of our country. I’ve noticed that leaders lack wisdom and virtue. They don’t seem to able to make logical arguments. I’ve been a public school teacher for 30 years. I have watched first hand the decline of student performance. I’ve seen plan after plan to improve education but none have helped. CCE is the key but will never happen in government run schools. I have no children but I’m planning to change to teaching at a CCE school.
June 22, 2022
found this book way to hard to read.
Much information that is repeated several times. The story line is very troubled. I don’t know if much editing was done if any because someone should have noticed the repetitiveness. Had to put the book down before 50% and go back to Dean Koontz.
Much information that is repeated several times. The story line is very troubled. I don’t know if much editing was done if any because someone should have noticed the repetitiveness. Had to put the book down before 50% and go back to Dean Koontz.
June 30, 2022
One of the best books of 2022! Highly recommended!
August 8, 2022
Public schools are not inherently Christian, yet this book seems to think that they were, and should be. Absolutely not. Do I think that there needs to be drastic changes to the education system? Absolutely. Does this book spell out methods of accomplishing that? Not in a way that suits a public service that separates church and state. If you really want to improve public education, follow the money. Go after the administration. Explore the textbook contracts and the companies providing them. Do your part of educating your child in your home after school. Engage with the child. Be proactive.
June 22, 2022
Battle of American Mind
Very well written, researched and extremely informative. The use of Bible is excellent. I recommend every parent read this book. Let’s change our educational system!
Very well written, researched and extremely informative. The use of Bible is excellent. I recommend every parent read this book. Let’s change our educational system!
August 11, 2022
Wow. This book was terrible. Sadly, the best way to explain is to pull from my notes as I read:
"Us/Them narratives (or language)," "Ad hominem attacks," "wears its bias on its sleeve"
"I keep thinking, “I’m dumber for having read this”"
"unsubstantiated hyperbole"
"So many uses of the language of war…antithetical to the precepts of public education!"
"This assertion that Progressives have 'pulled one over' on classic educationalists is laughable, at best."
Re: cultural Marxism. "He frames this term as a “bogeyman.”"
"the authors would have us return to a Christian theocracy"
"distortions," "dog whistles"
Ufff...
There was one bright point: the description of the standards of curriculum present in classical Christian education. Minus the religiosity (which they advocate is central to instruction), a holistic approach connecting seemingly disparate disciplines is likely to yield improved critical thought. Educational systems that take an interdisciplinary approach see marked differences in student approaches to critical, solution-oriented outcomes.
2 stars. The obvious lack of unity between the two author's voices really irked me. Goodwin provides the Biblical and research-based background, while Hegseth revels in semantics and hyperbole. Where was the editor? Sloppy writing overall. Using the language of warfare, combined with the suggestions presented to parents, does not indicate a conflict-free solution. In several ways, the authors call for an increase in tensions within the culture wars. Dangerous.
"Us/Them narratives (or language)," "Ad hominem attacks," "wears its bias on its sleeve"
"I keep thinking, “I’m dumber for having read this”"
"unsubstantiated hyperbole"
"So many uses of the language of war…antithetical to the precepts of public education!"
"This assertion that Progressives have 'pulled one over' on classic educationalists is laughable, at best."
Re: cultural Marxism. "He frames this term as a “bogeyman.”"
"the authors would have us return to a Christian theocracy"
"distortions," "dog whistles"
Ufff...
There was one bright point: the description of the standards of curriculum present in classical Christian education. Minus the religiosity (which they advocate is central to instruction), a holistic approach connecting seemingly disparate disciplines is likely to yield improved critical thought. Educational systems that take an interdisciplinary approach see marked differences in student approaches to critical, solution-oriented outcomes.
2 stars. The obvious lack of unity between the two author's voices really irked me. Goodwin provides the Biblical and research-based background, while Hegseth revels in semantics and hyperbole. Where was the editor? Sloppy writing overall. Using the language of warfare, combined with the suggestions presented to parents, does not indicate a conflict-free solution. In several ways, the authors call for an increase in tensions within the culture wars. Dangerous.
August 18, 2022
A very excellent book detailing how the progressives have stolen education for the past 100 years, substituting their leftist agenda for the classical education children used to receive in the past. Not only does the author examine how this has happened, he also explores the implications of the 16000 hours of indoctrination that public school students currently are subjected to. His solution is to create and support a Christian classical education, either through homeschooling or classical private schools. While it may take time for a generation of students who have not been indoctrinated into the leftist agenda to enter public life, the results will begin to return our culture to its western Christian roots.
Here are some quotes from the book, which I recommend highly to those concerned about the direction our public schools are going: (the numbers are page numbers)
Quotes from Battle for the American Mind by Pete Hegseth
p. 94 Without realizing it, today's American students absorb a deep affection for scientism (science is the only way to find truth), equity/equality (there is nothing better or worse, just different), individualism (identity politics), neo-Marxism (the government can and should solve all inequalities), along with a host of other modern and post modern affections that lead to servitude (it's all about your job).
p.99
Our progressive school system promotes more than just a new religion. It has ensconced a new worldview based on that religion, and a new world order...where history is rejected, science is God, and the state is the temple in which the citizen-workers worship, unable and unwilling to be free.
p. 121
For Progressives, unbridled human indulgences are sacred. We can decide what truth is, what gender we are, and even who God is...Progressive educators want to...constrain children to replace their humanity with a mechanical idea of training for a job. Like a man-made city, these mechanical people cannot grow greater by generations. Instead their knowledge decays and their life wears down with their daily labors. They become spent. Their souls become captive. They become slaves. They become miserable.
p. 122
Why do progressive educators think that they must erect this mechanical man-made edifice in children's minds? It's because...they don't believe the law of God is written on the hearts of man. They don't believe objective Truth exists and is discernible by reason...Without Christianity's WCP root, Progressives dismantled the ethic of our entire American experiment. “Democracy” became shorthand for Marxist social equity. Equal protection under the law became equal outcomes based on shifting measures of “progress” and “fairness.” All of this created the conditions for modern leftists to tear down the pillars of our Republic and “reimagine” a Marxist future.
P 124 You see at once that education is essential for freemen and vocational training for slaves...If education is beaten by training, civilization dies.
CS Lewis “Our English Syllabus,” Rehabilitations 1939
p 130 “In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed...No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.” - Noah Webster, preface to An American Dictionary of the English Language 1828
P 131 “I consider knowledge to be the soul of a republic, and as the weak and the wicked are generally in alliance, as much care should be taken to diminish the number of the former as of the latter. Education is the way to do this...” Also: “For avoiding the extremes of despotism or anarchy...the only ground of hope must be on the morals of the people. I believe that religion is the only solid base of morals and that morals are the only possible support of free governments. Therefore education should teach the precepts of religion and the duties of man towards God.” - Gouverneur Morris, founding father, author of the Preamble to the US Constitution
Literate children who imagine and wonder with divine truth, goodness, and beauty as a goal are the most dangerous people to progressive vision. If we want to cultivate these types of children, we need to return to stories for children from an earlier time. The twentieth century did much damage to the stories that sparked wonder and the moral imagination for children. Walt Disney did much of that damage. p. 178
Great accomplishments begin with great vision. This is where true education begins. Subsistence cultures train children only in practical skills...The central feature of progressive education is the same – vocational training – although today this training is in fields like science, engineering, or business. In both cases, these skills are valuable for survival, but they limit the soul. Subsistence cultures rarely grow, improve, or change for the better...For education to be wonderful, it must be saturated in two things. First children must have a framework that submits to God's standard of truth, goodness, and beauty – not a subjective view of things. Second, children need the tools for learning. Without them, learning is frustrating, boring, and deflating. 184
[Progressives] know their schools don't deliver excellence, but they also know they have full control. Ultimately student outcomes are secondary to job security, political power, and more funding. Their funding streams are vulnerable, as is their union membership—should “right to work” ever become widespread. They also know that many parents, given a cost-effective alternative and the freedom to choose, would likely choose something else. Therefore, their most important goal is to prevent educational competition by denying parents the freedom to choose other alternatives. They are aware that many of the things they are teaching are unpopular, hence they use creative names and limit public oversight. They assume the 'public school thing' is inevitable, and 'traditional values' (especially God) will never be allowed back in. 222
Their ultimate goal is to ensure that the government, not families or faith, molds the values of the next generation. Maintaining the government school monopoly is their obsession. They believe they are better, smarter, and more 'virtuous' than us—based on their social justice view of the world. 223
So, even though most Christian and patriotic parents know the schools are infected with leftism, many charge ahead within the status quo, holding their noses and saying their prayers. It is personal survival, not a winning strategy. And it is certainly not sustainable, merely passing the same losing hand to the next generation. With this approach, we lose. We lose America—and Western civilization. 224
We need to retreat from government schools—and other “woke” private options—completely. We need to leave them, as soon as is feasible. There is nothing there for Christians and patriots. We are not winning there and have no prospects to win there for multiple generations...No matter how much you may try, it is nearly impossible to counteract the leftist social justice agenda of public schools, especially with the cultural rot that surrounds school...But retreat, alone, is not the answer...We retreat only to survive the current moment...Our only option is insurgency. Our only chance is to become educational insurgents in our own country...We are not looking to topple our government, but instead to defeat the monopoly of government-run schools—and the leftist unions who are their occupying power. In the meantime, we increase our control by building an alternative educational model. First we survive, then we regroup and reorganize while weakening the control and legitimacy of our foe, and finally we replace their power structure with reconstructed schools based on freedom and faith. 224-226
This book is not simply about dismantling government schools or trashing elite schools; it is about you. Your kids. Your grandkids. My kids. My future grandkids. Ultimately, their future is in only one set of hands: ours. Knowing what you know, seeing what you are seeing, feeling what you are feeling—what will you do about it? Will we make excuses for ourselves and think we can “fix” government schools? Will we pretend that somehow our government or private school is actually not captured by cultural Marxists? Will we retreat to “Christian” or Catholic schools who “sprinkle” faith on top of otherwise progressive education? Will we spend our money on vacations and cars—and the latest gadgets—but not on the best possible education for our most precious gift? 240-241
Just doing what we are doing, and hoping our kids turn out “just fine,” is not a strategy. I know many good families, good parents, who believe that living in a good neighborhood, with other good families, and going to “good schools” will insulate their kids. Instead, the story unfolds otherwise. The school tells students their parents' beliefs are backward; they are young and naive if they hold traditional values, it's much easier to follow the crowd, social media reinforces every “woke” message, Hollywood does the same, and, viola you have a high school graduate you don't recognize. Or, just as bad, a falsely fortified graduate who heads off to college and is completely consumed by the next level of “woke” educational and social pressure. 242
Here are some quotes from the book, which I recommend highly to those concerned about the direction our public schools are going: (the numbers are page numbers)
Quotes from Battle for the American Mind by Pete Hegseth
p. 94 Without realizing it, today's American students absorb a deep affection for scientism (science is the only way to find truth), equity/equality (there is nothing better or worse, just different), individualism (identity politics), neo-Marxism (the government can and should solve all inequalities), along with a host of other modern and post modern affections that lead to servitude (it's all about your job).
p.99
Our progressive school system promotes more than just a new religion. It has ensconced a new worldview based on that religion, and a new world order...where history is rejected, science is God, and the state is the temple in which the citizen-workers worship, unable and unwilling to be free.
p. 121
For Progressives, unbridled human indulgences are sacred. We can decide what truth is, what gender we are, and even who God is...Progressive educators want to...constrain children to replace their humanity with a mechanical idea of training for a job. Like a man-made city, these mechanical people cannot grow greater by generations. Instead their knowledge decays and their life wears down with their daily labors. They become spent. Their souls become captive. They become slaves. They become miserable.
p. 122
Why do progressive educators think that they must erect this mechanical man-made edifice in children's minds? It's because...they don't believe the law of God is written on the hearts of man. They don't believe objective Truth exists and is discernible by reason...Without Christianity's WCP root, Progressives dismantled the ethic of our entire American experiment. “Democracy” became shorthand for Marxist social equity. Equal protection under the law became equal outcomes based on shifting measures of “progress” and “fairness.” All of this created the conditions for modern leftists to tear down the pillars of our Republic and “reimagine” a Marxist future.
P 124 You see at once that education is essential for freemen and vocational training for slaves...If education is beaten by training, civilization dies.
CS Lewis “Our English Syllabus,” Rehabilitations 1939
p 130 “In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed...No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.” - Noah Webster, preface to An American Dictionary of the English Language 1828
P 131 “I consider knowledge to be the soul of a republic, and as the weak and the wicked are generally in alliance, as much care should be taken to diminish the number of the former as of the latter. Education is the way to do this...” Also: “For avoiding the extremes of despotism or anarchy...the only ground of hope must be on the morals of the people. I believe that religion is the only solid base of morals and that morals are the only possible support of free governments. Therefore education should teach the precepts of religion and the duties of man towards God.” - Gouverneur Morris, founding father, author of the Preamble to the US Constitution
Literate children who imagine and wonder with divine truth, goodness, and beauty as a goal are the most dangerous people to progressive vision. If we want to cultivate these types of children, we need to return to stories for children from an earlier time. The twentieth century did much damage to the stories that sparked wonder and the moral imagination for children. Walt Disney did much of that damage. p. 178
Great accomplishments begin with great vision. This is where true education begins. Subsistence cultures train children only in practical skills...The central feature of progressive education is the same – vocational training – although today this training is in fields like science, engineering, or business. In both cases, these skills are valuable for survival, but they limit the soul. Subsistence cultures rarely grow, improve, or change for the better...For education to be wonderful, it must be saturated in two things. First children must have a framework that submits to God's standard of truth, goodness, and beauty – not a subjective view of things. Second, children need the tools for learning. Without them, learning is frustrating, boring, and deflating. 184
[Progressives] know their schools don't deliver excellence, but they also know they have full control. Ultimately student outcomes are secondary to job security, political power, and more funding. Their funding streams are vulnerable, as is their union membership—should “right to work” ever become widespread. They also know that many parents, given a cost-effective alternative and the freedom to choose, would likely choose something else. Therefore, their most important goal is to prevent educational competition by denying parents the freedom to choose other alternatives. They are aware that many of the things they are teaching are unpopular, hence they use creative names and limit public oversight. They assume the 'public school thing' is inevitable, and 'traditional values' (especially God) will never be allowed back in. 222
Their ultimate goal is to ensure that the government, not families or faith, molds the values of the next generation. Maintaining the government school monopoly is their obsession. They believe they are better, smarter, and more 'virtuous' than us—based on their social justice view of the world. 223
So, even though most Christian and patriotic parents know the schools are infected with leftism, many charge ahead within the status quo, holding their noses and saying their prayers. It is personal survival, not a winning strategy. And it is certainly not sustainable, merely passing the same losing hand to the next generation. With this approach, we lose. We lose America—and Western civilization. 224
We need to retreat from government schools—and other “woke” private options—completely. We need to leave them, as soon as is feasible. There is nothing there for Christians and patriots. We are not winning there and have no prospects to win there for multiple generations...No matter how much you may try, it is nearly impossible to counteract the leftist social justice agenda of public schools, especially with the cultural rot that surrounds school...But retreat, alone, is not the answer...We retreat only to survive the current moment...Our only option is insurgency. Our only chance is to become educational insurgents in our own country...We are not looking to topple our government, but instead to defeat the monopoly of government-run schools—and the leftist unions who are their occupying power. In the meantime, we increase our control by building an alternative educational model. First we survive, then we regroup and reorganize while weakening the control and legitimacy of our foe, and finally we replace their power structure with reconstructed schools based on freedom and faith. 224-226
This book is not simply about dismantling government schools or trashing elite schools; it is about you. Your kids. Your grandkids. My kids. My future grandkids. Ultimately, their future is in only one set of hands: ours. Knowing what you know, seeing what you are seeing, feeling what you are feeling—what will you do about it? Will we make excuses for ourselves and think we can “fix” government schools? Will we pretend that somehow our government or private school is actually not captured by cultural Marxists? Will we retreat to “Christian” or Catholic schools who “sprinkle” faith on top of otherwise progressive education? Will we spend our money on vacations and cars—and the latest gadgets—but not on the best possible education for our most precious gift? 240-241
Just doing what we are doing, and hoping our kids turn out “just fine,” is not a strategy. I know many good families, good parents, who believe that living in a good neighborhood, with other good families, and going to “good schools” will insulate their kids. Instead, the story unfolds otherwise. The school tells students their parents' beliefs are backward; they are young and naive if they hold traditional values, it's much easier to follow the crowd, social media reinforces every “woke” message, Hollywood does the same, and, viola you have a high school graduate you don't recognize. Or, just as bad, a falsely fortified graduate who heads off to college and is completely consumed by the next level of “woke” educational and social pressure. 242
July 21, 2022
This books was gifted to me by a family member who strong believes educators are brainwashing children to be “progressives”. I tried to stay open minded and set aside any bias I may hold as an educator. Nonetheless, I found this book lacking any evidence and lacking knowledge about how education works. Filled with wild claims of conspiracy, and a lack of nuance about the many diverse school districts and teachers, I found that this book just raised my bloody pressure. If anything, I gained a glimpse into what the “conservative right” believes I am doing in my classroom everyday.
October 6, 2022
I find it hard to imagine anyone who is not already fully on board with the belief system the authors espouse - that the public education system is controlled by “woke” “leftists” - would be convinced by anything they read in this 251 page piece of propaganda wrapped in a book cover and labeled as nonfiction. Anyone who is familiar with education, history or even the concept of nonfiction should look at the 32 citations (32!) at the end of the book and quickly determine that this is simply a lengthy opinion piece marketed to people who don’t know any better.
The authors - a Fox News host and a magazine editor - claim they’re going to use this book to expose the century-long indoctrination of American children in the public school system. And they make that claim over and over, while ominously telling you that what they’re about to tell you will blow your mind. And then… they just don’t do it. Instead they just keep telling you that you’re really going to be amazed when they get to it, with classic end of chapter lines like, “What was it? Turn the page.” And then on the next page? They just keep telling you they’re about to tell you something.
If you’re already primed to be angry and paranoid about this - maybe because you, I don’t know, watch Fox News - this book may seem like a legitimate collection of information. But if not, you’re not going to find anything compelling here.
The authors purport to be doing important unprecedented research but the most they quote anyone is on page 106 when they use excerpts from a Project Veritas interview with a teacher in California who apparently had an antifa flag in his classroom (and was subsequently fired). After extensively quoting this person and implying that this shows what all public schools are like, they add a brief caveat: “This may be an extreme example, but it is emblematic of educators in America today.” And then they ask “Can you imagine if a public school teacher in America today attempted to hang a cross in the classroom? Or the Ten Commandments? Or, gasp, pictures of Christopher Columbus or Andrew Jackson?” This kind of non-quantifiable, one-off example paired with smarmy hypotheticals is representative of the entire body of the book.
In other words, as indicated by the 32 citations (in a book meant to upend the history of American education, no less) there’s no real substance here. They spend more than half the book breathlessly telling you what they’re about to tell you… and then jump right into reminiscing about how they’ve now told you something that blew your mind and your mind is blown… but the actual mind-blowing content that was promised and then recalled doesn’t actually exist. It’s a neat sleight of hand if you know you’ve got a captive, gullible, unquestioning audience.
The authors do have a proposal for an alternative to public school, but they spend such a short amount of time describing it, aside from saying that it’s vastly superior, very orderly and will save the nation, that it’s hard to see what the fuss is all about. They describe how you can walk down the clean (not “colorful” like the evil public schools) hallways and hear kids reciting things in unison (again, in contrast to how in public schools kids memorize, which is bad).
The authors make many bold claims and don’t back any of them up with evidence beyond “because I believe it and you should too.” They repeatedly insist that “progressives” have controlled public education for 100 years but then solely give examples from 2020 and 2021. You’d think they’d have some older examples but I guess the leftists just kept it too hidden until 2020 when rightwing media really decided to attack the education system. Weird coincidence. (Their favorite turn of phrase is “COVID-(16)19” which they use a few dozen times, so you know they really thought they had something with that).
Overall it’s a simpleminded book written for people who are already convinced and angry. So if you believe your kids’ (or, let’s be real, your GRANDKIDS’) school is controlled by evil radical leftists, then you probably don’t even need to read this book as you’re already convinced and the authors offer nothing you won’t hear on the nightly opinion shows.
In closing, here is my favorite bit (from page 97): “Many of the affections progressives co-opted through their American paideia substitute are now considered conservative talking points: American exceptionalism, the pledge of allegiance, a strong affinity for the flag, and patriotism were the carriers they used early on to supplant the Western Christian Paideia. That does not make these things ‘evil’ today - I revere them all - but an honest reckoning with their origins helps us understand the progressive plot.”
I think this perfectly sums up the pretzel logic used throughout: liberals control schools and they tricked us into being patriotic and saying the pledge to the flag. Those are all good things, obviously, but you should know they used evil to trick us into thinking they’re good… but I definitely think they’re good and you should too.
I’d say if you think you’d like to read this book, just repeat this mantra instead: Leftists are evil and I am so mad about it. Education is evil and I am so mad about it. CHRISTianity is good and I am so mad about it.
There you go! Now you can skip this one!
The authors - a Fox News host and a magazine editor - claim they’re going to use this book to expose the century-long indoctrination of American children in the public school system. And they make that claim over and over, while ominously telling you that what they’re about to tell you will blow your mind. And then… they just don’t do it. Instead they just keep telling you that you’re really going to be amazed when they get to it, with classic end of chapter lines like, “What was it? Turn the page.” And then on the next page? They just keep telling you they’re about to tell you something.
If you’re already primed to be angry and paranoid about this - maybe because you, I don’t know, watch Fox News - this book may seem like a legitimate collection of information. But if not, you’re not going to find anything compelling here.
The authors purport to be doing important unprecedented research but the most they quote anyone is on page 106 when they use excerpts from a Project Veritas interview with a teacher in California who apparently had an antifa flag in his classroom (and was subsequently fired). After extensively quoting this person and implying that this shows what all public schools are like, they add a brief caveat: “This may be an extreme example, but it is emblematic of educators in America today.” And then they ask “Can you imagine if a public school teacher in America today attempted to hang a cross in the classroom? Or the Ten Commandments? Or, gasp, pictures of Christopher Columbus or Andrew Jackson?” This kind of non-quantifiable, one-off example paired with smarmy hypotheticals is representative of the entire body of the book.
In other words, as indicated by the 32 citations (in a book meant to upend the history of American education, no less) there’s no real substance here. They spend more than half the book breathlessly telling you what they’re about to tell you… and then jump right into reminiscing about how they’ve now told you something that blew your mind and your mind is blown… but the actual mind-blowing content that was promised and then recalled doesn’t actually exist. It’s a neat sleight of hand if you know you’ve got a captive, gullible, unquestioning audience.
The authors do have a proposal for an alternative to public school, but they spend such a short amount of time describing it, aside from saying that it’s vastly superior, very orderly and will save the nation, that it’s hard to see what the fuss is all about. They describe how you can walk down the clean (not “colorful” like the evil public schools) hallways and hear kids reciting things in unison (again, in contrast to how in public schools kids memorize, which is bad).
The authors make many bold claims and don’t back any of them up with evidence beyond “because I believe it and you should too.” They repeatedly insist that “progressives” have controlled public education for 100 years but then solely give examples from 2020 and 2021. You’d think they’d have some older examples but I guess the leftists just kept it too hidden until 2020 when rightwing media really decided to attack the education system. Weird coincidence. (Their favorite turn of phrase is “COVID-(16)19” which they use a few dozen times, so you know they really thought they had something with that).
Overall it’s a simpleminded book written for people who are already convinced and angry. So if you believe your kids’ (or, let’s be real, your GRANDKIDS’) school is controlled by evil radical leftists, then you probably don’t even need to read this book as you’re already convinced and the authors offer nothing you won’t hear on the nightly opinion shows.
In closing, here is my favorite bit (from page 97): “Many of the affections progressives co-opted through their American paideia substitute are now considered conservative talking points: American exceptionalism, the pledge of allegiance, a strong affinity for the flag, and patriotism were the carriers they used early on to supplant the Western Christian Paideia. That does not make these things ‘evil’ today - I revere them all - but an honest reckoning with their origins helps us understand the progressive plot.”
I think this perfectly sums up the pretzel logic used throughout: liberals control schools and they tricked us into being patriotic and saying the pledge to the flag. Those are all good things, obviously, but you should know they used evil to trick us into thinking they’re good… but I definitely think they’re good and you should too.
I’d say if you think you’d like to read this book, just repeat this mantra instead: Leftists are evil and I am so mad about it. Education is evil and I am so mad about it. CHRISTianity is good and I am so mad about it.
There you go! Now you can skip this one!
October 26, 2022
This book was essentially a 9-hour-long Fox & Friends segment complaining about the state of public education today while promoting Classical Christian Education. There were occasionally true statements and quotations, but the book as a whole was poorly sourced and thus full of speculations and assertions without much proof (or basis in reality).
One of the most egregious sins of omission is the deliberate conflation of turn-of-the-century Progressives (e.g. Teddy Roosevelt and John Dewey) with modern-day Progressives in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. While there is some continuity there, Hegseth never explains the difference and simply uses "Progressive" as a pejorative label throughout the book, thus implicitly tying "Comrade AOC"--a term actually used in the book--with progressive educators like John Dewey. For a historian like myself, this is overcome-able, but for the general-public parents to whom this is addressed, this is deliberate obfuscation for scoring political points.
On the whole, I was disappointed that the book was shallow and predictable: the parts criticizing public education since 1900 mention the usual rogue's gallery of Critical Theory and the Frankfurt School, Common Core State Standards, COVID masks--I'm not kidding!--etc. The parts extolling the benefits of Classical Christian Education are likewise poorly supported and are often merely fetishizing older western (especially Greco-Roman) books without pedagogical evidence. While I can understand the utility of learning Latin for English comprehension and scientific/medical fields, I wanted more evidence for why reading specific older texts somehow inculcate virtues better than books written by non-white men in the past 50 years. Without this evidence and with such an obvious axe to grind, the result is a conservative screed against the predictable enemies of multiculturalism, liberals, non-Christians, etc. Another shortcoming is Hegseth's tendency to conflate outlier examples of ridiculous behavior by some progressives or some public schools with the entirety of progressivism, liberals, or public education as a whole. While this is a problem with our political discourse writ large, this book does immensely more harm than good on that front.
To be fair, there were (small) parts I appreciated: Hegseth rightly criticizes fundamentalist Christian schools for disengaging with culture and with scholarship in general. His extreme examples of ridiculous behavior--although most definitely NOT representative of the whole--are indeed concerning. I also appreciated his occasional quotation of James K.A. Smith--who would probably be appalled to be quoted in this book--when talking about the importance of cultivating Christian virtues in our young children rather than simply teaching values or employability skills. There are better books about that without all the surrounding polemical nonesense.
One of the most egregious sins of omission is the deliberate conflation of turn-of-the-century Progressives (e.g. Teddy Roosevelt and John Dewey) with modern-day Progressives in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. While there is some continuity there, Hegseth never explains the difference and simply uses "Progressive" as a pejorative label throughout the book, thus implicitly tying "Comrade AOC"--a term actually used in the book--with progressive educators like John Dewey. For a historian like myself, this is overcome-able, but for the general-public parents to whom this is addressed, this is deliberate obfuscation for scoring political points.
On the whole, I was disappointed that the book was shallow and predictable: the parts criticizing public education since 1900 mention the usual rogue's gallery of Critical Theory and the Frankfurt School, Common Core State Standards, COVID masks--I'm not kidding!--etc. The parts extolling the benefits of Classical Christian Education are likewise poorly supported and are often merely fetishizing older western (especially Greco-Roman) books without pedagogical evidence. While I can understand the utility of learning Latin for English comprehension and scientific/medical fields, I wanted more evidence for why reading specific older texts somehow inculcate virtues better than books written by non-white men in the past 50 years. Without this evidence and with such an obvious axe to grind, the result is a conservative screed against the predictable enemies of multiculturalism, liberals, non-Christians, etc. Another shortcoming is Hegseth's tendency to conflate outlier examples of ridiculous behavior by some progressives or some public schools with the entirety of progressivism, liberals, or public education as a whole. While this is a problem with our political discourse writ large, this book does immensely more harm than good on that front.
To be fair, there were (small) parts I appreciated: Hegseth rightly criticizes fundamentalist Christian schools for disengaging with culture and with scholarship in general. His extreme examples of ridiculous behavior--although most definitely NOT representative of the whole--are indeed concerning. I also appreciated his occasional quotation of James K.A. Smith--who would probably be appalled to be quoted in this book--when talking about the importance of cultivating Christian virtues in our young children rather than simply teaching values or employability skills. There are better books about that without all the surrounding polemical nonesense.
July 12, 2022
I love this book. Every Christian parent should read this book and get their kids out of government schools. Great explanation of the issues at hand for today.
January 28, 2025
I read J.D.'s book a few years back, so I figured I oughta read Pete's. I think it's the first whole book I've read on the topic of education, though of course I've absorbed lots about classical Christian education over the past couple of decades, and lots of folks I know are name-dropped here, especially in the acknowledgments. The family that introduced Hegseth to CCE is involved with one my client schools. Mostly new to me was the history of how U.S. education has gotten to it's current state, so that was the most interesting part of the book. It was also good to get to know Pete a bit. I was mostly struck by his humility. Of course his personal repentance from egregious past sins is well known, but here he wrote about weaknesses and faults in his previous books. He's a man who knows how to learn. His narration was decent, as well.
August 9, 2022
A must read for anyone who embraces or is interested in Classical Christian education. This book will help readers understand the dismantling of Classical education (taught for centuries), which was done to usher in modern progressive education. Written by a military expert who is passionate about helping us find our way back to our classical roots, this book will challenge all of us to get in the fight.
Ephesians 6:12….
Ephesians 6:12….
January 23, 2023
The was an astounding book, in my opinion. Pete Hegseth who also accomplished the MisEducation of America, which can be found on Fox Nation and much of which is in this book. The facts are that America and her government has been working against the American people for a number of decades. Slowly and progressively transforming the minds of our children against such founding views and conservative leanings. Thereby turning son against his father, daughter against her mother and families against one another. This book is an excellent book to read to gain a better understanding of what is happening in our schools, politics, etc., in order to re-educate our children toward another way of thinking, a more progressive way of thinking.
June 21, 2023
I thought maybe there could be something gained in having the openness to pay mind to the frustrations of the evangelical left, but this book is an absolute crock of shit. Not only do I NOT recommend you read this propaganda, but I recommend we actually make efforts to prevent others from reading.
In case it’s been a while since someone from Fox News had pissed you off and you’ve decided to humor Hegseth’s scare tactics, just a few things to keep in mind:
1. Patriotism isn’t romanticizing or hiding parts of history marked by genocide and land theft, slavery, or persisting racism which has influenced policy and social structure. This history isn’t leftist opinions, it just is. True patriotism is wanting PROGRESS and healing for your country, and that begins with confronting uncomfortable truths
2. It is absolutely unconstitutional to establish nonsecular school curriculum that is why we stopped teaching the Bible in public schools NOT a leftist scheme to secretly make our children marxists
3. Let’s not romanticize Greco-Roman influence on American government, especially to justify the “Christian paideia”. The Roman republic was hardly interested in a critically thinking and educated public, nor was it even a just and populist government (often truly populist leaders were literally murdered by their fellow senators.. but sure great “moral virtue” they instilled, yeah?). It’s just too funny to be also reading Emma Southon’s book about what a stupid mess the Roman’s were and hearing Hegseth argue that a little Roman history is all we need?
4. You just probabaly shouldn’t listen to anything from anyone who called Covid the “China Virus”
In case it’s been a while since someone from Fox News had pissed you off and you’ve decided to humor Hegseth’s scare tactics, just a few things to keep in mind:
1. Patriotism isn’t romanticizing or hiding parts of history marked by genocide and land theft, slavery, or persisting racism which has influenced policy and social structure. This history isn’t leftist opinions, it just is. True patriotism is wanting PROGRESS and healing for your country, and that begins with confronting uncomfortable truths
2. It is absolutely unconstitutional to establish nonsecular school curriculum that is why we stopped teaching the Bible in public schools NOT a leftist scheme to secretly make our children marxists
3. Let’s not romanticize Greco-Roman influence on American government, especially to justify the “Christian paideia”. The Roman republic was hardly interested in a critically thinking and educated public, nor was it even a just and populist government (often truly populist leaders were literally murdered by their fellow senators.. but sure great “moral virtue” they instilled, yeah?). It’s just too funny to be also reading Emma Southon’s book about what a stupid mess the Roman’s were and hearing Hegseth argue that a little Roman history is all we need?
4. You just probabaly shouldn’t listen to anything from anyone who called Covid the “China Virus”
November 6, 2023
We read this for "Parent Academy" at our classical Christian school (in the ACCS, an organization in which co-author David Goodwin has been a key player). I learned some new things about the history of government education in America.
During our discussion of the book, I asked our group of 30 or so Christian parents: "How many of you attended public schools growing up?" It was 75% or more of us (myself included).
Which made me think: were our parents (mostly Boomers) asleep at the wheel?
Why did the Roman Catholics and Lutherans always understand the need for explicitly Christian education, but we “evangelicals” mostly slumbered?
Because I was already convinced of the thesis (pull your children out of government schools and give them a thoroughly Christian education), the points didn't hit home as much for me -- he was preaching to the choir with me.
Could this win a family over from government schools to a classical Christian education model? If the family is Christian and politically conservative, then yes.
I appreciated Hegseth's willingness to outline where his views have evolved as a conservative over time.
There was a fair amount of the Fox News vibe in the book that turned me off at times.
I would have liked more focus on the "solution" to the problem; most of the book was spent outlining the history and negatives of our government education system. I liked his defense of tax credits for families to use toward education.
During our discussion of the book, I asked our group of 30 or so Christian parents: "How many of you attended public schools growing up?" It was 75% or more of us (myself included).
Which made me think: were our parents (mostly Boomers) asleep at the wheel?
Why did the Roman Catholics and Lutherans always understand the need for explicitly Christian education, but we “evangelicals” mostly slumbered?
Because I was already convinced of the thesis (pull your children out of government schools and give them a thoroughly Christian education), the points didn't hit home as much for me -- he was preaching to the choir with me.
Could this win a family over from government schools to a classical Christian education model? If the family is Christian and politically conservative, then yes.
I appreciated Hegseth's willingness to outline where his views have evolved as a conservative over time.
There was a fair amount of the Fox News vibe in the book that turned me off at times.
I would have liked more focus on the "solution" to the problem; most of the book was spent outlining the history and negatives of our government education system. I liked his defense of tax credits for families to use toward education.
August 16, 2022
Such an important read if you’re concerned about education in America and/or considering Classical Education!
September 13, 2022
As a father, I found a lot of solidarity with this book, as my own children have had a mix of home and private-Christian schooling only. It's an empowering feeling to go down the road less traveled for your kids education.
The main theme of this book is called "The Western Christian Paideia", which is a Christian/Western understanding of the world, educating the child through that premise in the Greco-Roman model. Something that was present in the early church, and in some spheres throughout western history. To include many of our founding fathers.
The book also makes an apologetic for the Classical Christian Education model. How that WCP was lost slowly over the last 100 years, attacked by methodical progressives playing the long game, replacing it with a Progressive Paideia. That by and large the church checked out in the education battle. With one branch conceding the gospel truth going towards social justice and the other towards the spiritual only, forgetting the formation of the mind.
The author goes into great detail exposing the progressive movement and its slow encroachment into public education. (humanist, unions, colleges, etc.) Creating the chaos and mediocrity we now see in public schools in 2022. I really enjoyed the compare and contrast between the modern public school and the classical Christian school elements. I love that the classical model wants to provide unified truth behind a child's educational experience. The book has at least convinced me to look into this option for when my youngest starts school in a few years.
I think the author made the book a bit to complex in many areas. I think it will lose many parents that read it. I had to look at outside resources to get a better grasp of the WCP in more 101 terms. I also think the author is guilty of romanticizing history. As most people throughout western history did not have the luxury of receiving a formal classical Christian education. Nonetheless it was a contributing factor to the west and the Judeo-Christian ethic that built it. I'm not convinced that one model of education will do. But I agree with the idea that we need virtuous brick layers and doctors alike. That a Biblically infused approach in educating a child will help accomplish that.
As the author points out correctly it's not an educational model that will save souls and make disciples. However..... we do ourselves no favor by sending our kids to humanist camps for 16,000 school hours and then expecting them to come out with a Western-Christian-Worldview. (Paideia) As Voddie Baucham would say....(paraphrasing) " If you're going to send your kids to Caesar, don't be surprised when they come back Roman."
There's no saving the public schools, that I agree with. They're compromised and we (Christians, Conservatives) need to set up new educational infrastructures, which I totally agree with. I think the homeschool movement has done this far better than the Classical Movement which both started around the same time.
If you're concerned about education, the minds of your children, an alternative to your local public schools, this will be a good book to look into and give you things to consider. The Classical Model is very appealing. It's still a tiny movement but maybe this book will help grow that even more.
I give this book a 4 out of 5. Like I said there are some complexities in this book that I don't like. But overall, if you stick with it, it will cause you to think of better options for your own children.
The main theme of this book is called "The Western Christian Paideia", which is a Christian/Western understanding of the world, educating the child through that premise in the Greco-Roman model. Something that was present in the early church, and in some spheres throughout western history. To include many of our founding fathers.
The book also makes an apologetic for the Classical Christian Education model. How that WCP was lost slowly over the last 100 years, attacked by methodical progressives playing the long game, replacing it with a Progressive Paideia. That by and large the church checked out in the education battle. With one branch conceding the gospel truth going towards social justice and the other towards the spiritual only, forgetting the formation of the mind.
The author goes into great detail exposing the progressive movement and its slow encroachment into public education. (humanist, unions, colleges, etc.) Creating the chaos and mediocrity we now see in public schools in 2022. I really enjoyed the compare and contrast between the modern public school and the classical Christian school elements. I love that the classical model wants to provide unified truth behind a child's educational experience. The book has at least convinced me to look into this option for when my youngest starts school in a few years.
I think the author made the book a bit to complex in many areas. I think it will lose many parents that read it. I had to look at outside resources to get a better grasp of the WCP in more 101 terms. I also think the author is guilty of romanticizing history. As most people throughout western history did not have the luxury of receiving a formal classical Christian education. Nonetheless it was a contributing factor to the west and the Judeo-Christian ethic that built it. I'm not convinced that one model of education will do. But I agree with the idea that we need virtuous brick layers and doctors alike. That a Biblically infused approach in educating a child will help accomplish that.
As the author points out correctly it's not an educational model that will save souls and make disciples. However..... we do ourselves no favor by sending our kids to humanist camps for 16,000 school hours and then expecting them to come out with a Western-Christian-Worldview. (Paideia) As Voddie Baucham would say....(paraphrasing) " If you're going to send your kids to Caesar, don't be surprised when they come back Roman."
There's no saving the public schools, that I agree with. They're compromised and we (Christians, Conservatives) need to set up new educational infrastructures, which I totally agree with. I think the homeschool movement has done this far better than the Classical Movement which both started around the same time.
If you're concerned about education, the minds of your children, an alternative to your local public schools, this will be a good book to look into and give you things to consider. The Classical Model is very appealing. It's still a tiny movement but maybe this book will help grow that even more.
I give this book a 4 out of 5. Like I said there are some complexities in this book that I don't like. But overall, if you stick with it, it will cause you to think of better options for your own children.
February 27, 2025
While not as vitriolic as Domestic Extremist: A Practical Guide to Winning the Culture War, it still feels propagandistic. Lots of references to "those" bad people who are intentionally corrupting the American public education system. Any time you credit a singular motive to a certain group of people over 200+ years, I begin to doubt you. Sure, you can point to quotes from individuals at certain points in time. I've no doubt some people had the motives you describe. But claiming a vague, nebulous "they" are masterminds out to corrupt your kids sounds like a conspiracy theory to me.
Uses the term "paideia" to basically reference values in western civilization. He contrasts an ancient Christian Paideia with the modern Progressive Paideia. I like his emphasis on education as the liberal arts, as character formation, creating cultivated citizens with critical thinking skills, not just education as vocational training. I like his discussion and description of differences between terms like reason, knowledge, virtue, morals, and values. His proposed solution is to expand private classical Christian schools. This is fine, but it's never going to be the popular solution Hegseth thinks it is.
See also:
--The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting up a Generation for Failure
--Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity—and Why This Harms Everybody
--The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life
--The Abolition of Man
Uses the term "paideia" to basically reference values in western civilization. He contrasts an ancient Christian Paideia with the modern Progressive Paideia. I like his emphasis on education as the liberal arts, as character formation, creating cultivated citizens with critical thinking skills, not just education as vocational training. I like his discussion and description of differences between terms like reason, knowledge, virtue, morals, and values. His proposed solution is to expand private classical Christian schools. This is fine, but it's never going to be the popular solution Hegseth thinks it is.
See also:
--The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting up a Generation for Failure
--Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity—and Why This Harms Everybody
--The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life
--The Abolition of Man
October 9, 2025
Uneven but informative
I was a product of a private Christian school that gave me a good education. I think there is some oversimplification in the narrative, but its hard to argue with Goodwin and Hegseth on the merits. Working at Hillsdale College has only reinforced my longtime hunches about education; classically educated students are often superior to any others Ive encountered.
I was a product of a private Christian school that gave me a good education. I think there is some oversimplification in the narrative, but its hard to argue with Goodwin and Hegseth on the merits. Working at Hillsdale College has only reinforced my longtime hunches about education; classically educated students are often superior to any others Ive encountered.
August 2, 2022
I knew I'd hate this book as soon as I read the synopsis, and there was a good chance I'd permanently damage my ocular nerves due to the number of eye rolls per page, but I decided to read it anyway to see what the "other" side had to say.
This book is a paradox, full of conspiracy theories, misinterpretations, historical inaccuracies, half truths, and outright nonsense, all with the goal of inducing panic and hysteria among parents and fuelling the personal agenda of a select group of people (I'll let you guess which select group of people that is).
While there appears to be no editing, I believe the chaotic flow and repetitiveness were very intentional, similar to repeating the alphabet until you know it by heart.
The author criticizes public education and how inadequate it is, but is not above (ab)using that poor education to his advantage. That is why many of the book's intended target audience will agree that it was well researched and well reasoned, even if the "well reasoned" is actually a misinterpreted quote from an ancient philosopher.
It's amusing to me that the author stated that knowing Latin and ancient Greek is necessary for reading things from the source and knowing the truth rather than what has been translated and distorted, only to admit a few chapters later that he doesn't know either of those languages, implying that the truth eluded him as well. This is just one example of many inconsistencies the book has to offer.
Overall I'd say don't waste your time on the book, better spend it with your children.
This book is a paradox, full of conspiracy theories, misinterpretations, historical inaccuracies, half truths, and outright nonsense, all with the goal of inducing panic and hysteria among parents and fuelling the personal agenda of a select group of people (I'll let you guess which select group of people that is).
While there appears to be no editing, I believe the chaotic flow and repetitiveness were very intentional, similar to repeating the alphabet until you know it by heart.
The author criticizes public education and how inadequate it is, but is not above (ab)using that poor education to his advantage. That is why many of the book's intended target audience will agree that it was well researched and well reasoned, even if the "well reasoned" is actually a misinterpreted quote from an ancient philosopher.
It's amusing to me that the author stated that knowing Latin and ancient Greek is necessary for reading things from the source and knowing the truth rather than what has been translated and distorted, only to admit a few chapters later that he doesn't know either of those languages, implying that the truth eluded him as well. This is just one example of many inconsistencies the book has to offer.
Overall I'd say don't waste your time on the book, better spend it with your children.
August 15, 2022
This is nothing but catnip for the new fringe of “conservatives” who eschew knowledge or anything else that threatens their worldview. Anytime you need qualify your entire thesis with, “I don’t believe in conspiracy theories, but…” you should probably stop writing (or at the very least reading).
Even as a relatively conservative Southern Baptist, the notion that Christianity (and obviously only the kind of Christianity that happens to align with the authors’ beliefs) is the only valid foundation for a well rounded education system reaches a new level of arrogance. It’s also antithetical to Christianity to think you need to indoctrinate children into the “WCP.” And that’s the fundamental irony of the book. The authors are all for imposing a worldview on children, just not the “progressive” worldview (aka anything that is moving away from what they want).
To end on a positive note, it is fun to track how many times the authors can cram rightwing buzz words into the book to keep the intended audience happy.
And yes, I read the book.
Even as a relatively conservative Southern Baptist, the notion that Christianity (and obviously only the kind of Christianity that happens to align with the authors’ beliefs) is the only valid foundation for a well rounded education system reaches a new level of arrogance. It’s also antithetical to Christianity to think you need to indoctrinate children into the “WCP.” And that’s the fundamental irony of the book. The authors are all for imposing a worldview on children, just not the “progressive” worldview (aka anything that is moving away from what they want).
To end on a positive note, it is fun to track how many times the authors can cram rightwing buzz words into the book to keep the intended audience happy.
And yes, I read the book.
December 20, 2024
Wow.
Before his nomination for Secretary of Defense by President Trump, I was completely unaware of Pete. After watching some interview clips of him though, I decided to give his books a try and man am I glad I did! This book is amazing and put words to ideas and convictions that have been growing steadily in my heart for the past several years regarding how Christian parents should handle the education of their kids in these times. Pete outlines a compelling and terrifying story of how the Western Christian Paideia has been systematically corrupted and replaced with the Cultural Marxist Paideia - with disastrous consequences for the future of our country. He clearly explains why Classical Christian Education is the key to reigniting the Western Christian Paideia and saving not only our great country, but western civilization itself.
I can’t tell you how much I loved this book or how important I believe it is for every parent to truly understand the message Pete shares. PLEASE go buy this book and read it today!
Favorite Quote: “At the end of the day, Christianity will survive without America, but America cannot survive without Christianity.”
Before his nomination for Secretary of Defense by President Trump, I was completely unaware of Pete. After watching some interview clips of him though, I decided to give his books a try and man am I glad I did! This book is amazing and put words to ideas and convictions that have been growing steadily in my heart for the past several years regarding how Christian parents should handle the education of their kids in these times. Pete outlines a compelling and terrifying story of how the Western Christian Paideia has been systematically corrupted and replaced with the Cultural Marxist Paideia - with disastrous consequences for the future of our country. He clearly explains why Classical Christian Education is the key to reigniting the Western Christian Paideia and saving not only our great country, but western civilization itself.
I can’t tell you how much I loved this book or how important I believe it is for every parent to truly understand the message Pete shares. PLEASE go buy this book and read it today!
Favorite Quote: “At the end of the day, Christianity will survive without America, but America cannot survive without Christianity.”
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