I was excited about reading Crunchy Cons by Rod Dreher because we’re crunchy and ideologically conservative, and the subtitle intrigued me. We got on the list at our local public library and waited it out. From the preface, the book caught and kept my attention. Dreher is a gifted and personal writer who is easy to read. Because crunchy cons are my kind of people, I often wanted to cheer as I read along.
Many of the ideological emphases of the book are ones we value in our family. We care about more than just the bottom line when we shop and are willing to pay more for products we “believe in” such as locally grown and organic foods, things that are well crafted, beauty and not just utilitarian function, etc. The process is important to us and not just the end result. I enjoyed reading the book because the many anecdotes reminded me that there are others out there who care about the things that we do, which can be hard to find the suburban South.
However, when I finished the book I was disappointed with it on several levels. First, it wasn’t very persuasive and it relied on ad hominem attacks and emotionalism to make points. If I didn’t already agree with Dreher, I probably would not have been swayed by him. Some of the chapters were weaker than others, for example, the chapter on home was mostly about buying a smaller, older house. Even though we are in the process of buying our first house and it is a small, 70 year old bungalow, it may not be the most crunchy thing to do for every family. Older homes aren’t as energy efficient, for example. Some aren’t laid out well for entertaining and building community with others. Also, the chapter on homeschooling wasn’t very grounded in reality and I think it might have been better tackled if he had emphasized that crunchy con families realize that education isn’t neutral and emphasized the many crunchy choices out there (alternative schools, coops, classical Christian schools, etc) along with homeschooling.
I think what disappointed me the most about the book is that Dreher didn’t fufill the subtitle which reads: “How Birkenstocked Burkeans, gun-loving organic gardeners, evangelical free-range farmers, hip homeschooling mamas, right-wing nature lovers, and their diverse tribe of countercultural conservatives plan to save America (or at least the Republican Party.)” How are we saving America? I’d like to know that, myself. I’ve seen that the paperback version that will be released in the fall has a new subtitle, according to Amazon, and I’d suspect it’s for that reason. If you are looking for anecdotal, warm writing about those in the Republican Party who “act lefty,” Crunchy Cons delivers. But I think I was expecting just a little bit more. (6.5/10)
Thanks for the review. . .
I just started reading that book a few days ago! It’s interesting to read your comments on it. I’ll let you know how I get on with it, bearing in mind that I live in the UK and am not an expert on US politics – but I am apparently ‘crunchy’ :0)
Great review.. I have a hold on it at the library, but dh wasn’t too impressed with what he heard about it… but the complaints were different.
Not planning to read it…even before I read your review.
and what if we’re all those things and still don’t like the Republican party? or the Democratic party for that matter?
I really enjoy your reviews. You should do that for money.
Back when I was 18, before the tech bust, I did actually write book reviews for money. I’d love to do that now, but no one is beating down my door!
can you do some kind of freelance thing or something? like get in touch with Books & Culture or something! I love that magazine! I don’t know what kind of experience or background you have to have or anything.
I agree Kristen.
The book sort of ‘peter’s out’.
I think makes a better conversation, a better newspaper article than it does a book.
Donna
good to know. i’m skeptical reading that subtitle alone . . .
you should write review on, ahem, college girl . . . :)
Good review. On the whole I found it a good book and had hoped it would be useful for explaining, or at least describing, agrarian ideals to a more urban/suburban audience.
My biggest problem with it was the chapter on the environment, which took a statist view of “fixing things.” Being the agrarian that I am, I can see that federal and state regulations might be necessary in the cities, but they are generally applied across the board, even into the rural areas which have completely different needs, and in many cases actually work against good stewardship of the land.
Brad, you should look into the Constitution Party. My husband and I vote CP whenever it’s an option, and Libertarian when it’s not.
I read another review of this….gosh, where was it? Books and Culture? It may have been First Things. One of those types of periodicals. And while the reviewer sounded pretty threatened and defensive about the whole premise of the book, the quotes he gave from the book sounded sooooo….pretentious. It reminded me of “Bobos in Paradise,” by David Brooks. I’ve skimmed thru the book and read the “manifesto,” but from my skimming and the (now) two reviews I’ve read, it does seem like the book is a little thin. Thanks for your review, and I’m so glad you guys are all moved in!