| Title | : | Ron Paul's rEVOLution: The Man and the Movement He Inspired |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0062114794 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780062114792 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 304 |
| Publication | : | First published May 15, 2012 |
Despite such seeming contradictions, he has represented his conservative Texas district for twelve terms now, on and off since 1976, and has twice won the presidential straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference, where the right wing's most energetic young activists gather, in 2010 and 2011.
Paul has been condemned across the political and media spectrums as an unbearably radical kook since rising to national prominence with his 2008 presidential bid. But to his growing number of activist supporters, he is the only national politician standing for the Founding Fathers' vision of constitutional liberty. He has touched a constantly growing number of government skeptics who see the political status quo as increasingly unsustainable. In the early days of the 2012 primary season, Paul is capturing a surprising number of votes, highlighting a division between libertarians and big-government conservatism that will define the future of both the Republican Party and American politics.
In this indispensable guide, journalist Brian Doherty details Paul's career, traces the evolution of his ideas, and explores his significance in American politics. "Ron Paul's rEVOLution" introduces us to Paul's revolutionary ideological armies, many of them Americans previously divorced from the political process because they believe no one speaks for them. The Paul Revolution is a rising generation of cross-partisan activists concerned with government overreach. These supporters see this freethinking, plain-talking iconoclast as the lone leader prepared to grapple radically with the realities of a government crippled by debt that has dramatically expanded domestically and overseas.
Ron Paul's rEVOLution: The Man and the Movement He Inspired Reviews
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Overall, this is a great crash course in Paul-world, but if you’re looking for an exhaustive biography of Ron Paul’s life, from the Air Force to a small-town doctor to congressman to potential president, this isn’t it. While Doherty does touch on his young life, most of his focus is on his work since entering Congress. And if you wanted a tell-all about what occurred in the two presidential campaigns, this is also not your book (though given the level of secrecy and close-knit-ness within the Paul campaigns, you’re unlikely to get that for a while).
This book is, however, a fantastic, quick introduction to Ron Paul for people who wonder how he became a national figure. If you have a Ron Paul supporter in your life and you wonder what their attraction to him is, this is certainly a good read.
The other comment is that you can definitely tell that Brian Doherty is a fan of Ron Paul (he admits as much in the book). It’s not fawning and is certainly realistic, but the writer is absolutely libertarian (he is a writer for the libertarian monthly Reason magazine). That’s not a detraction, and in fact helps because Doherty understands the libertarian political world and does a good job explaining it. -
A very well written and documented book about one of the most influential political figures of our time; this book is not so much an autobiography of Ron Paul as it is about the movement he inspired and the overwhelming loyalty and dedication of his supporters. I thoroughly enjoyed it. As someone who supported and participated in his 2012 presidential campaign, I had the opportunity to experience the exciting atmosphere of his dedicated followers as well as the authentic message that he preached about the importance of liberty. I may not agree with every single thing that Ron Paul stands for but I do admire his honesty and passion. He never caved to the establishment and always stood his ground. Those are qualities very few people resemble, let alone politicians. I didn't give this book a 5 star rating because I think it was written too early, since he was just starting his 2012 campaign. I think it would have been more informative and exciting if the author waited until after at least the primaries were over to capture the energy of the movement as a whole. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Ron Paul, wants to know more about him, or is just generally interested in the liberty movement or libertarianism.
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'The great Ron Paul paradox is that he sells himself as the most conservative Republican alive because he wants to take America back to a golden age of low taxes, no bureaucracy, and the sovereignty of the states. Yet his campaign has been anything but conservative. His supporters seem more like revolutionaries than activists, while his small-government philosophy signs him up to positions that can seem more libertine than libertarian—guns on planes, surrender in the War on Drugs, gay marriage on tap.
For this reader, the most interesting thing that a Ron Paul biography could do is to unravel that paradox and explain how it fits into the grand history of American conservatism. Luckily, Doherty is an intelligent, informed observer who does just that. By the end of his super-smart book you have a good sense of Ron Paul the man and Ron Paul the movement and where both might go next.'
Read the full review, "Ron Paul's Paradoxes," on our website:
http://www.theamericanconservative.co... -
4 1/2 stars. After reading this book, I like where Ron Paul is coming from but still wouldn´t vote for him, and still dont trust him. As Ive writen elsewhere, a politian who thinks that government (ie politians) should have less power can´t possible be honest. No one is actually out to optain less power for themselves, it would be like tying your own hands behind your back!
On the other hand, I really like Doherty, and would enjoy reading the rest of his books. He´s got al the right attitudes. And I tack on a half star because the book mentioned " people that I´ve met out on the frontier: Jon Arden And Roger Pryune, (the later is the guy who gave me this book, probably not a coincidence) and another who I alsmost met and hope to meet in the future: Adam Crokesh. Having their names dropped gave me a sense that everything this bok says actually hapened, and hapened to real people. Mucho Gusto!! -
A really nice look at the Ron Paul phenomenon from a sympathetic fellow libertarian. The publication date of this book is a little awkward, as it stops well before the end of the 2012 campaign. The best stuff is the descriptions of the surreal rock-star like scenes as Paul is in the early stages of the 2012 campaign, and it's clear that the seeds sown in 2008 have really taken root and come to flower. A nicely detailed look at Paul's years in Congress, the 1988 run for president on the Libertarian ticket, the return to Congress, and a deeply embedded view of the 2008 campaign, combine with insightful explorations of libertarian theory. I remember watching Paul address 25-20 or so students someplace on C-Span in 1988—you couldn't get lower-key than this event, and to see how the libertarian idea has taken hold and spread since then is truly heartening to this libertarian.
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This book gave me a good background of information about Ron Paul, his platform, his values and information about his political career. Sometimes the information seemed a bit repetitious. However, I did develop a bit curiosity about this unique man called Ron Paul. I will definitely be exploring more resource material on this man. I believe his name will, one day, be a part of history. He is a man of convictions and principle- something very rare in our "political playground".
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Obviously Doherty's a fan, and the enthusiasm he shows for Paul adds excitement to the story. He doesn't figure out the whole thing about how that enthusiasm doesn't seem to translate into votes. Also, I could be wrong, but the moment doesn't seem to have legs - not much of a movement follows (and I don't count the Tea Party, which actually doesn't mind government as long as the members continue to get their benefits). An enjoyable read, though.
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For those who dare to pursue a world in which force at the end of a gun - or a pen, or a ballot - is foreign, and where people are free to live how they see fit...without a Central Bank of course (smile).
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It was fun to read about a diverse movement you have been a part of. I especially enjoyed reading about Ron Paul's behind-the-scenes interactions with others, and it made me appreciate his integrity even more.
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A must read for any fan of Dr. Paul
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Good, and exciting to read about the growth of the Ron Paul fan-base. A little repetitive at times, not always the most elegant segues, but certainly a book to read.
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A decent tour of the Ron Paul phenomenon, with heavy focus on the last two presidential elections.
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A lively and fun read, of course I'm biased. :)
