Crunchy Cons: How Birkenstocked Burkeans, gun-loving organic gardeners, evangelical free-range fa...
When a National Review colleague teased writer Rod Dreher one day about his visit to the local food co-op to pick up a week’s supply o...
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reviews
Jul 18, 2008
Gigi
rated it: 
It took me awhile to get through this book. The writing style is a little dry and the same points are made over and over....I agreed with the points but it became very tiring.
I also felt there was a lot of generalizing being done and I didn't agree with it. I agreed with his main points, however, there was little flexibility. For example there is a chapter on homeschooling and even though I firmly believe in homeschooling I don't think it is the end all educational choice.
Havin More...
I also felt there was a lot of generalizing being done and I didn't agree with it. I agreed with his main points, however, there was little flexibility. For example there is a chapter on homeschooling and even though I firmly believe in homeschooling I don't think it is the end all educational choice.
Havin More...
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Jul 29, 2007
Doug
rated it:
Faith and politics is often an awkward mixture. Well-meaning people, inspired by their faith, get involved in politics for reasons of principle but find power instead -- and sometimes the power feels so good that compromises are made in order to keep it. The result is a political divide within the faith community where neither side seems to be what Jesus had in mind when he told us to give to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar.
Rod Dreher offers a fresh approach. He notes that o More...
Rod Dreher offers a fresh approach. He notes that o More...
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Jun 14, 2007
Elizabeth
rated it:
Family Post Modern
Identifies a new group emerging from the Republican Party. Moral conservatives who care about the environment, beauty, alternative schooling, organic foods, and are against big business and so on (versus the other group – Libertarians). Gets a little repetitive near the end but is refreshing in general. For truth seekers more than conservatives. My only problem with this perspective is the fundamental tenet of conservatism (see also Roots of American Order and Edmund More...
Identifies a new group emerging from the Republican Party. Moral conservatives who care about the environment, beauty, alternative schooling, organic foods, and are against big business and so on (versus the other group – Libertarians). Gets a little repetitive near the end but is refreshing in general. For truth seekers more than conservatives. My only problem with this perspective is the fundamental tenet of conservatism (see also Roots of American Order and Edmund More...
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May 16, 2008
Karen
rated it: 
Dreher details how he and his family practice left-leaning life choices for right-leaning reasons. He divides his musings into meditations on food, home, education, the environment and religion.
I applaud Dreher's effort to bridge the gap between left and right; however, I found his stance and tone a bit too self-righteous. He stands firm that he and his wife are making the absolute best choices that anyone can make. If you eat, live, educate or worship in any other manner, you ar More...
I applaud Dreher's effort to bridge the gap between left and right; however, I found his stance and tone a bit too self-righteous. He stands firm that he and his wife are making the absolute best choices that anyone can make. If you eat, live, educate or worship in any other manner, you ar More...
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Jul 26, 2009
Laura
rated it:
This was an important book for me. I've always felt that I was neither a Republican nor a Democrat - uneasy with the social policies of the Democrats and the economic policies of the Republicans. And, thanks to this book, I've figured it out - I'm pretty much a "crunchy con". Nik and I both marveled at how Dreher quoted so many of the authors we have been reading and enjoying - Wendell Berry, Neil Postman, Eric Brende (of "Better Off"), Matthew Scully ("Dominion..."
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Nov 16, 2011
Moira
rated it:
So, unlike many of the other reviewers, I'm not a crunchy con. I'm what Mr. Dreher would call a liberal. But, I'd wager I'm not exactly a liberal either (perhaps I'm a chewy liberal?). Still, my objective in reading this book was to find common ground and I did find it. In fact, much as it might kill him to think so, Mr. Dreher's crunchy cons have much in common with the infamous "99%." Strictly speaking, they are the 99% too.
Sure, there were things he said in this book tha More...
Sure, there were things he said in this book tha More...
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Jan 31, 2011
Michael
rated it: 
Under politics, on my Facebook page, I list myself as a "Crunch-Con." Sort of a tongue and cheek designation, but it's true: I am a pro-environment, anti-war, anti-globalization, Catholic conservative who loathes the excesses of both the Left and the Right in America. I believe in subsidiarity, natural law, and the classic virtues: prudence, temperance, justice, and fortitude. I don't like Big Government, and I don't like Big Business (especially multi-nationals). I believe that there
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Mar 27, 2009
Audra
rated it:
I really resonated with this book. I agree with Rod Dreher wholeheartedly - but especially when he points out that to BE conservative, we must BE CONSERVATIVE. That is, we cannot continue to allow the excesses of big business to destroy the American people, we cannot continue to allow excesses in general to destry the environment, and we cannot continue to allow excesses to destroy US. There is a POINT in having a belief system - and belief in consumerism doesn't do the same thing for us that
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Dec 16, 2009
Moses Operandi
rated it:
Dreher's book is quite interesting. It is from a Christian, conservative viewpoint, and yet it decries the Republican mainstream. It advocates a return to leadership in our leaders, instead of politicism. No doubt it has been long-sought-out. This book is one of the primary cornerstones of my worldview, and if anyone wants to shake up theirs, I recommend this book.
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Aug 01, 2007
Tanya
rated it:
It is a book about conservatives who "stand outside the conservative mainstream"... Three cheers for anyone who chooses to maintain their values while stepping outside of mainstream culture... Thanks Liz for loving this enough to get me to pick it up!!!
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May 08, 2011
Michael
rated it:
While I'm feeling increasingly uncomfortable recently with certain Republican trends (trying to police the whole planet, corporation worship and greed, manic consumerism, insane spending, etc.), I am still utterly mortified by the Democratic party's goals and their tactics. I really enjoyed reading this book, just because it felt great to know that the trepidation I am feeling is shared by many others. But Dreher seems to have written this book during a bit of a honeymoon phase with his new life
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May 29, 2011
Joseph
rated it: 
rod dreher is a d-bag of the highest order. the column he wrote under the same name as this book was filled with all sorts of race and gay baiting.
nonetheless, rod makes some good points here as he establishes a new counter cultural body made up of political and economic conservatives who are also "granola," ie, they like whole foods and chicken coops.
where rod d-bag fails is his ridiculous prose. i'm a bit tipsy writing this review, so now you know how it feel More...
nonetheless, rod makes some good points here as he establishes a new counter cultural body made up of political and economic conservatives who are also "granola," ie, they like whole foods and chicken coops.
where rod d-bag fails is his ridiculous prose. i'm a bit tipsy writing this review, so now you know how it feel More...
Jun 21, 2010
Scarlett
rated it:
Hm. Ok in general I liked this book. I have some positive and some negative observations about it, though.
Positive:
1. The reason this book appealed to me, and one of the reasons I think it is so important, is that it outlines a political (and cultural) ideology that doesn't fit into America's traditional right/left dichotomy. It is hard to explain to others when you don't just agree with the Reps or the Dems. While Dreher's philosophy isn't identical with my own, I appreciate More...
Positive:
1. The reason this book appealed to me, and one of the reasons I think it is so important, is that it outlines a political (and cultural) ideology that doesn't fit into America's traditional right/left dichotomy. It is hard to explain to others when you don't just agree with the Reps or the Dems. While Dreher's philosophy isn't identical with my own, I appreciate More...
May 27, 2009
Mary Anne
rated it:
Although I don't agree with all of Rod Dreher's opinions, this book makes sense and many of his ideas are realistic. This is not just idealogical rhetoric, but wisdom. Dreher is not at all sympathetic towards our nation's propensity towards over-consumption, and he makes a great argument against this type of "worship". He proposes and defines a more holistic type of conservatism, one that focuses on community and respect for the earth. I consider myself non-partisan politically, but un
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Apr 07, 2009
Travis
rated it:
3.5 out of 5
I first heard about Rod Dreher through the book The Relevant Nation, a book put out by Relevant Magazine profiling some of today's most innovative activists and artists. Like many of my leftist peers, I didn't believe there were any conservatives who cared about environmental issues, organic farming, or supporting local businesses. But according to Dreher, saying no to big business is one of the most conservative things you can do.
Even though I'm not sure if I More...
I first heard about Rod Dreher through the book The Relevant Nation, a book put out by Relevant Magazine profiling some of today's most innovative activists and artists. Like many of my leftist peers, I didn't believe there were any conservatives who cared about environmental issues, organic farming, or supporting local businesses. But according to Dreher, saying no to big business is one of the most conservative things you can do.
Even though I'm not sure if I More...
Oct 24, 2008
This book took me a while to read. That isn't necessarily a bad thing...it just means I needed to read some "fun" stuff along the way. Because this book is intense and thought-provoking. I am VERY glad I completed it, and I encourage anyone who is interested in living counter-culturally (and especially those who lean to the right) to read it as well. The author highlights some specific examples of "crunchy cons" and expounds upon why it's vital that we return to our "
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Nov 15, 2008
Theresa
rated it:
I started this book a long time ago - had to return it to the library - got it out again - had to return it again - now finally.... I have finished it, although it is once again overdue! I am glad I stuck with it. As a previous reviewer (Katie) stated, it does give you a different way of looking at conservatives. I found myself agreeing with many of this author's ideas of conservatism, although I would never classify myself as a conservative. I particularly liked his idea of the sacramental
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Apr 30, 2009
Darby
rated it:
there was one thing i loved about this book and two problems with it.
i loved that dreher calls conservatives to recover the meaning of the word "conserve," especially as it pertains to the environment, independent locally-owned business, and abandoned urban spaces. he makes a persuasive case that these causes, currently associated with liberalism, have a historically-grounded and logical place in conservative thought. great. more of that.
the first problem is More...
i loved that dreher calls conservatives to recover the meaning of the word "conserve," especially as it pertains to the environment, independent locally-owned business, and abandoned urban spaces. he makes a persuasive case that these causes, currently associated with liberalism, have a historically-grounded and logical place in conservative thought. great. more of that.
the first problem is More...
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May 26, 2009
Christina
rated it: 
I can't do it anymore.
I made it to page 152 over the weekend. And I just can't read anymore. And I can't keep "Crunchy Cons" on my "currently reading" list because I can't finish it. I can't. I won't.
And I could even be considered a "crunchy con." (Read note on my politics at the bottom.)
"Crunchy Cons" is a book about a group within the Republican party that has formed over the past few years. The group, while not partic More...
I made it to page 152 over the weekend. And I just can't read anymore. And I can't keep "Crunchy Cons" on my "currently reading" list because I can't finish it. I can't. I won't.
And I could even be considered a "crunchy con." (Read note on my politics at the bottom.)
"Crunchy Cons" is a book about a group within the Republican party that has formed over the past few years. The group, while not partic More...
Jun 15, 2008
Kathy
rated it:
I quite liked it this book. What is a "crunchy con," you ask? Let me attempt an explanation by quoting the rather unwieldy subtitle of Dreher's book: "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)." Despite the subtitle's rather cutesy invocation of some Bobo class marker
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Apr 30, 2009
Ann
rated it:
This was very thought provoking for the first half...and I even started a discussion thread on it, because I really wanted to be able to talk to someone about it. But by the second half of the book, I felt like the author had already made all his major points, and he was getting repetitive.
Also--for a book that was supposed to be about people who defy labels and stereotypes, I thought it spent an awful lot of time defining and categorizing "crunchy cons" and making that More...
Also--for a book that was supposed to be about people who defy labels and stereotypes, I thought it spent an awful lot of time defining and categorizing "crunchy cons" and making that More...
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Dec 02, 2010
Becca
rated it:
The premise of the book is that there are "crunchy conservatives" in America. People who act "crunchy" or do certain things that are apparently usually associated with liberals, but do it out of conservative motivations. For instance, people who are conservative Republicans but...buy vegetables through a co-op, homeschool, use cloth diapers, etc. They do these things not to save the environment (or whatever other cause applies) but rather because it saves money or promotes
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Feb 10, 2008
Katie
rated it:
from the subtitle and cover of this book, i was expecting it to be a somewhat humorous portrayal of the subject matter, some kind of light read to laugh at and not take too seriously. however, i was pleasantly surprised. i picked up the book because i love people who violate stereotypes. i really wasn't expecting to get so much out of it, since the book was written for conservatives. the book made me think about the views i have held of conservatives and republicans, (war mongering, gay bash
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Jan 08, 2008
Kristen
rated it:
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 More...
Many of the ideological emphases of the book are ones we value in our family. We More...
May 03, 2009
Sara
rated it:
I’m a self-proclaimed political junky, so I was especially excited about Rod Drehers Crunchy Cons: 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). Notwithstanding my love for politics, how could you not want to dive into a book with a subtitle like that?
Through what he calls “crun More...
Through what he calls “crun More...
Dec 13, 2009
Becky
rated it:
I agree with what others have said about this book...it was an interesting look into a kind of conservativism with which I can agree in several (but not all respects). It's nice to hear a conservative who believes in conserving the environment and local economies and many things that are very important to me. However, I agree with Ann that it was frustrating to have him say that these things are good because they are actually conservative ideas, somewhat saying that the ideas aren't good when
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Dec 21, 2008
Shannon
rated it:
Other than the book itself, which was extremely interesting and very well-written, the most interesting part of this book "experience" was the looks people gave me when they saw the title of the book I was reading. Some people seemed very seriously concerned, like I had deceived them in some way, and that I was an underground member of the Republican Party or something.
... You're starting to wonder now too, aren't you?
I'm registered independent, often vote Democ More...
... You're starting to wonder now too, aren't you?
I'm registered independent, often vote Democ More...
Nov 12, 2010
Aimee (Onyx)
rated it:
4.5 stars
Loved. This. Book. Dreher discusses how not all conservatives are cut from the same mold, (Amen!), shows how the mainstream of the Republican party has betrayed true conservative principles, and offers solutions for what ails the party and our country. By page 10, I was impressed. By page 20, I was saying, "Hallelujah! Someone finally understands me!" This book is written in a friendly, non-threatening, conversational style, and was thought-provoking yet easy More...
Loved. This. Book. Dreher discusses how not all conservatives are cut from the same mold, (Amen!), shows how the mainstream of the Republican party has betrayed true conservative principles, and offers solutions for what ails the party and our country. By page 10, I was impressed. By page 20, I was saying, "Hallelujah! Someone finally understands me!" This book is written in a friendly, non-threatening, conversational style, and was thought-provoking yet easy More...
Jul 18, 2008
Elisakers
rated it:
While I can't say I agreed with absolutely everything in this book, I agreed with a surprising amount of it My friend's dad said he couldn't read it because he felt as if he was talking to himself. So did I, only myself had never articulated these ideas, or even thought they were socially acceptable. So I guess I closeted my inner Crunchy Con!
Organic eating, supporting small farms and business, shopping local, focusing on family over career or income, remembering that we should tr More...
Organic eating, supporting small farms and business, shopping local, focusing on family over career or income, remembering that we should tr More...
Apr 03, 2008
Anne
rated it:
At least ten times a day, this thought occurs to me:
"There's got to be a better way."
Usually, because I'm a teacher, it concerns some minor widget of elementary classroom logistics and passes within 3 seconds of its awning. But other times it occurs over and over again about things that matter, like education as a whole, or food, or the communities we live in, or cars, or the political party I kind of stand for but can't stand. I don't even know what we mean b More...
"There's got to be a better way."
Usually, because I'm a teacher, it concerns some minor widget of elementary classroom logistics and passes within 3 seconds of its awning. But other times it occurs over and over again about things that matter, like education as a whole, or food, or the communities we live in, or cars, or the political party I kind of stand for but can't stand. I don't even know what we mean b More...
