Liberal Fascism

The Secret History of the American Left

By: Jonah Goldberg

Narrated by: Johnny Heller

"Fascists", "Brownshirts", "jackbooted stormtroopers" - such are the insults typically hurled at conservatives by their liberal opponents. Calling someone a fascist is the fastest way to shut them up, defining their views as beyond the political pale. But who are the real fascists in our midst?

Liberal Fascism offers a startling new perspective on the theories and practices that define fascist politics. Jonah Goldberg reminds us that the original fascists were really on the left and that liberals from Woodrow Wilson to Franklin Roosevelt to Hillary Clinton have advocated policies and principles remarkably similar to those of Hitler's National Socialism and Mussolini's Fascism.

Contrary to what most people think, the Nazis were ardent socialists (hence the term National Socialism). They believed in free health care and guaranteed jobs. They confiscated inherited wealth and spent vast sums on public education. They purged the church from public policy, and inserted the authority of the state into every nook and cranny of daily life. The Nazis declared war on smoking and supported abortion, euthanasia, and gun control.

Do these striking parallels mean that today's liberals are genocidal maniacs, intent on conquering the world and imposing a new racial order? Not at all. Yet it is hard to deny that modern progressivism and classical fascism shared the same intellectual roots. The modern heirs of a "friendly fascist" tradition include the New York Times, the Democratic Party, the Ivy League professoriate, and the liberals of Hollywood. The quintessential Liberal Fascist isn't an SS storm trooper; it is a female grade-school teacher with an education degree from Brown or Swarthmore.

These assertions may sound strange to modern ears, but that is because we have forgotten what fascism is. In this angry, funny, smart, contentious book, Jonah Goldberg turns our preconceptions inside out and shows us the true meaning of Liberal Fascism.

©2007 Jonah Goldberg (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Certain to attract interest...across the political spectrum." ( Booklist)
"Provocative and well-researched....Seriously argued and funny." ( Publishers Weekly)

Well constructed case

This book carefully constructs the author's case that modern liberalism or progressivism is tantamount to modern facism. The historical framework of both Mussolini and Wilson are eerily familiar to things that we are seeing today. The concept of "central planning" and its popularity within the progressive movement is Orwellian in every sense. Excellent, thought provoking book. I will agree with one of the reviewers that the narration is a bit overdone, but the content is worth it.

Tricky thing, fascism. <br />

Enjoyed it in Audio. Reading it would have been torture.
Must read for all minds
I'm caught in the review. help

Good listen

Will probably listen to it again, there's too much information to absorb at one time.

A more clear picture

it's interesting, the way the term Liberal has been twisted into a pretzel. On one side is Freedom, and on the other, government control. it obviously doesn't matter anymore what you call yourself. That's always the real choice... Freedom vs government control. But it's never clearly explained in the light of day to most people.

Serious book to grapple with for all

Outstandingly written, cogently argued and persuasive. The author names and reviews aspects of recent history that have been ignored; the historical survey and analysis alone worth the cost of the book.