Crunchy Cons: How Birkenstocked Burkeans, gun-loving organic gardeners, evangelical free-range farmers, hip homeschooling mamas, right-wing nature lovers, ... America (or at least the Republican Party) by Rod Dreher

Jul 18, 2008 Gigi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: political

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.

Having said that I woul...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: familypostmodernism

This book helps to identify and name a new group emerging from the Republican Party (mostly). Moral conservatives who care about the environment, religion, beauty, family and marriage, alternative schooling, organic foods, and are against big business AND big government. (They are not pure Libertarians either since they believe in the option of having strong local and possibly State government.)

The book gets a little repetitive near the end but is refreshing in general. At its heart it's for tr...more

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Apr 30, 2009 Darby rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 that dreher contradicts his calls f...more 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 that dreher contradicts his calls for conservatives to return to the cities by waxing misty-eyed about those crunchy cons who remove to the country to raise their organic veg and homeschool their offspring in a purer place. what are we supposed to do, rod? buy the craftsman bungalow or the rural acreage? (he goes on for an entire chapter on the virtues of the craftsman bungalow. and i agree, they're great, but a whole chapter?)

and that brings me to problem two. i was raised by proto-crunchy-cons who moved us out of the city in 1985 to homeschool in the country, eat food from the local co-op and generally be unstained by the world. we ate venison, had carob instead of chocolate, and pulled our own onions out of the ground. it had its good parts. but on the whole, it was an isolated, insular existence. access to a variety of cultural experiences and diverse people was severely limited, or impossible without long drives. it may sound idyllic in _crunchy cons_ but it was lonely. my parents worked hard to keep us from being the stereotypical, unsocialized homeschoolers, but we knew many families during that time who really suffered as a result of their decision to isolate in this way. i can tell some crazy stories. my point is, rod wrongly idealizes (idolizes?) this way of life. it's fraught with pitfalls just as unsettling as those faced by families in other contexts. just ask me about the allens. or the newtons. i mean it.

so there's my two cents. and i think his blog is much worse than the book, especially lately. i want to know what's new in eastern orthodoxy, but all the end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it posts of late leave me cold. so now you all should read it and push back. what am i missing? (less)

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Jul 29, 2007 Doug Trouten rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Christians looking for an authentic approach to politics and culture

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 on the left,...more

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May 16, 2008 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, environmental

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 are an inferior c...more

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Feb 27, 2012 D.M. Dutcher rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, politics

It's a great book, even if you don't agree with it. In the book Rod defines and describes what he calls a Crunchy Con-a social conservative that rejects current conservative thinking and turns to a weird hybrid of both conservative and liberal ideas. Crunchy Cons tend to be orthodox in their religion, but also localist and environmentalist. They also are critical of capitalism and materialism, and even the free market. You'd at first think them lifestyle liberals, but their core is conservative,...more

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Jul 26, 2009 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

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..."), etc.

Some quotes that I res...more 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..."), etc.

Some quotes that I resonated with:
"My ideal of Home: a place of grace, joy, fellowship, and belonging that was also old, simple, comfortable, and charming to its foundations."
"Because our view of marriage is the traditional 'till death do us part' one, we don't believe we are free to define our marriage to meet our own desires. Rather, we conform our desires to the spiritual reality of the vows we made."
"Even if the evidence were inconclusive [about global warming:], given the catastrophic results of a global temperature rise...would compel the prudent conservative to act as if the worst was likely. The price of being wrong is incalculable..."

He talks about how we have to frame the environmental problem as also an economic, national security, public health, and family values problem.

Some of his main points (at the end of the book) for how we can live more conservatively - and note, this does not mean to live more like a good Republican:
1. Toss out the television - "How can we ever hope to think on the Permanent Things if we fill our minds with nothing but ephemerality?"
2. "Divest ourselves of stuff we don't need, and begin to train ourselves and our families to live simply. Remember William Morris's dictum: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
3. Consider some form of homeschooling.
4. "Choose the goods we consume mindful of whence they come." He specifically mentions food, particularly meat and vegetables.

He also talks quite a bit about being deliberate in choosing how to incorporate technology into our lives - not just blindly accepting every new advance in technology as the greater good.

As an aside, he also advocates abolishing both the death penalty and abortion. I haven't read many other people who would advocate for both. I've never understood how someone could be for one and against the other - as the Democrats and Republicans are.

All in all, a great, thought-provoking book. You should read it. (less)

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Nov 16, 2011 Moira rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: being-human

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 that made me cringe or pr...more 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 that made me cringe or probably went on a bit too long (Yes, arts and crafts bungalows are cozy and homey. Cozy homes make for a nice homelife. Got it. I, too, am fond of architecture and aesthetics. And, I'm not fond of McMansions. Yet, I'm not sure that makes all McMansions less good as homes. What about "home is where the heart is"?) Still, altogether it made me happy to see the similarities I hope existed and I like seeing someone who has many political views opposed to mine be able to see how he was close-minded on some issues (strictly in the name of conformity and party thinking) admit it and call himself out on it. And, not only did he call himself, he called out members of his own party. We're all guilty of this--anytime we adhere to "group-think." But, I wish I could see more members of the party I end up allying with most often do this too.

What was particularly interesting to me was to see what some "conservatives" are trying to conserve as opposed to others and the difference between "pre-Reagan conservatives" and "post-Reagan conservatives." If you're not partying with the GOPartiers, you might not know this distinction and why it's important; I didn't.

All in all, I was happily surprised to find that we American humans do have a lot in common--no matter our "party affiliation." I still do believe and hope that there's a chance we can speak to each other and work together and look past our labels and the areas we are artificially and distractingly put in opposition. Yet, if we realize how much we are alike and how many of us actually have the same goals, how much more could we accomplish _for the people_? (less)

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Jan 31, 2011 Michael Cremin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 is Truth,...more 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 is Truth, as well as many truths. All of this makes voting difficult, as you can imagine. There are few (read: no!) politicians, or parties, that completely reflect my political beliefs, and--like so many people--I end up settling for what I believe is the lesser of two evils (which is just a figure of speech. I don't think there are many evil people running for office in America. There are certainly many that I disagree with, though!)

Rod Dreher is my kind of guy: he likes the same books that I like, thinks about many issues that way that I think about them, and has identified how difficult it can be for people who dissent from so much of what's taken for granted in our political mainstream and our culture. I don't let me kids watch television, I am certain that the federal government is too damn big, I won't eat factory-farmed meat, I'm not a pacifist but I hate war, I belive in God, family, and country as the three most important things in the world, I loathe how market-ideology has come to dominate nearly all of our thinking about what's important in this country, I'm pro-life, I think people have become far too dependent on Washington, and...you get the idea. It's all over the place, and I'm okay with that. It's nice to know that there are other people out there who love the environment (which Conservatives should spend a hell of a lot more time trying to conserve) and hate popular culture (which many liberals defend, mindlessly, in my opinion). Along with the author, I belive that the family is the most important institution in a society, and that We the People--not Them the Government--should be taking care of a lot more of our problems than we are currently doing.

So Amen to Crunchy Cons! I loved it. I would suggest this book to anyone who wants to consider how difficult it can be for someone to pick a party or a candidate. With that said, Dreher is definitely a conservative, not a lefty. Great book! I hope he writes more. (less)

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Mar 27, 2009 Audra rated it 5 of 5 stars

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 be...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Dale rated it 2 of 5 stars

Neat idea but bad follow through

I grabbed Crunchy Cons: The New Conservative Counterculture on impulse as I was leaving the local purveyor of books. You see, I am a "Crunchy Con" of sorts, being an avid recycler. But, this book really failed to reach me. In fact, I felt like I was being preached at with certain topics being outright hammered into my skull due to their repetitive re-occurrence.

Pluses:

-The book addresses the fact that the conservative movement is not monolithic and their are a va...more

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Apr 23, 2008 Moses Operandi rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who can see past a stupid subtitle and realize that there is a good book hiding under it

Shelves: readandenjoyed, worldview, alltimefaves, favorites

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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Sep 21, 2012 Ezzy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Although I agreed with the author on a lot of points, it was mainly the ones that make him a liberal (no matter what he'd like to call it). So he's extremely religious, doesn't believe in sex or abortion, and that's more important to him than any other issues- so he votes Republican.
Basically, he wishes there was a party that's socially conservative but fiscally liberal. I'd like a pony, but I'm not going to get one.

I do like how he points out many of the hypocrisies of the Republican party- suc...more

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Aug 01, 2007 Tanya rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: yes!

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 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

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...more

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May 29, 2011 Joseph Rice rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: social-studies, politics-and-economics, philosophy

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 feels reading rod's dreck.

read it if y...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Nathan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-recommend-to-students, economics, local-community, technology, life-as-it-was-meant-to-be, human-dignity-and-purpose, against-enlightenment-modernism

I shouldn’t be doing this—too many papers to grade. But I have to get this review out of my system. So here goes.

Now that I have three children who will have to make their way in this world, I’ve found myself thinking a lot lately about the direction our culture is headed. So in the last couple years, I’ve started to read writers like Wendell Berry (What Are People For?) and others who critique American values and offer a better vision for the future. As a result, I became interested in reading...more

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Jul 03, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I would give this book five stars for the content, because I thought it was brilliant. The author seemed to put 99% of my beliefs as a "Crunchy Conservative" into words. I found myself nodding along and dog-earing page after page. But I absolutely loathed how he set up the chapters. They were all one big run-on paragraph. Yes, he did technically separate things out into paragraphs, and it was easy to read. BUT. The chapters were looooooooong, most of them 30+ pages, with no breaks, headings, etc...more

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Jun 21, 2010 Scarlett Sims rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: leisure, political, real

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 his trying to expla...more 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 his trying to explain that there aren't just two sides to the story.

2. One specific thing that I liked was Dreher's insight into the right's hypocrisy on some issues. Mainly, that they fight sexual immorality/sin as a way of pandering to their constituents but many other actions considered immoral according to the Christian faith are ignored, tolerated, or even promoted (he specifically mentions greed and the right's (and left's) focus on material goods and prosperity).

Negative:
1. Even when Dreher was stating an opinion I agreed with, which was at least 50% of the books if not more, I sometimes was annoyed with the way he was presenting it. Sometimes I felt he was making something into more of a black-and-white issue than it was (such as his feelings on architecture) and sometimes I didn't like the way he felt that holding one belief logically flows into holding other beliefs because a lot of the time I would agree with one thing he said, but not with what he claimed followed logically.

3. The book isn't quite as political as I thought it would be when I picked it up. He explains that it is really more of a cultural ideology. He does give some suggestions of things that a "crunchy con" would support towards the end of the book.

4. He kept using the word libertarian in a way I didn't agree with, saying that today's republican party (well, 2006's) was very libertarian where I think most libertarians would disagree with if not be offended by that statement. Even economically, which is mainly what he was talking about, policy hasn't been in keeping with libertarian ideology recently.

Overall I think this book is worth reading. Even if you aren't a "crunchy con" I think it's useful for people on opposite sides of the spectrum, or similar sides, or whatever, to take the time to learn about others beliefs and lifestyles. I know very few people who would agree with everything Dreher says, but I think it would be beneficial for people to realize that there is such a wide range of political belief in this country. Most people I know refuse to admit that and whichever side they are on, they take an "us and them" mentality, refusing to acknowledge the humanity of people with whom they are in disagreement.(less)

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May 27, 2009 Mary Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 until I read...more

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Apr 07, 2009 Travis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: social-political-issues

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 would be considered a "...more 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 would be considered a "crunchy con," or any kind of conservative for that matter, I agree a lot with the crunchy con philosophy. According to Dreher, modern society has become so obsessed with materialism and efficiency that we have lost touch with the things that really matter: faith, family, community, beauty, etc. And this is something that, as Dreher writes, the Republicans are just as guilty of as the Democrats. Throughout the book he talks to many individuals that present an alternative to the extreme consumerist way of life.

And that's one reason I enjoyed the book so much. I usually don't read political books--whether they are from a liberal or a conservative point of view--because they're mostly full of finger pointing and name calling. I think we are already aware of the problems of this world, but no one is saying what to do about it. This book actually presents another way of life. Dreher says we all don't have to start farms and grow our own food (he confesses that, unlike some of the people he interviewed, he's not much of a farm boy), but the book at least gives the reader ideas of how to live a simpler life.

Unfortunatley, like most conservative pundits, there are moments when Dreher gets too preachy. Judging by the way he talks about public schools, you would think that public schools are seeping with devils who want to corrupt kids with sex and atheism. Dreher also goes into great detail about how old bungalows look better than modern day McMansions.

Desite its flaws, Crunchy Cons has some facinating ideas that should interest both liberals and conservatives.(less)

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Oct 24, 2008 Robin added it

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 "authentic traditions" in ord...more

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Nov 15, 2008 Theresa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Theresa by: Katie

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 natu...more

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May 26, 2009 Christina rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Insecure "crunchy cons" or politicos with a lot of patience

Recommended to Christina by: Emmet

Shelves: crap-no-one-should-read, non-fiction, journalism, political

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 particularly organized (that would seem to go against its nature), generally belie...more

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Jun 15, 2008 Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 markers, a crunchy con, ac...more 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 markers, a crunchy con, according to Dreher, is not simply a Republican who wears Birkenstocks. Crunchy connery, as Dreher conceives of it, is neither a political ideology nor a lifestyle choice, but a kind of cultural sensibility, in the tradition of Russell Kirk, which informs politics and lifestyle choices. To be a crunchy con is to reject the economic libertarianism of the mainstream Republican party and the sexual/lifestyle libertarianism of the mainstream Democratic party. Crunchy connery is countercultural because it renounces the "consumer choice uber alles" philosophy that seems to typify much of mainstream culture. The book is not an anti-capitalist rant; it recognizes the free market as the system most conducive to general human flourishing, but it suggests that when the free market becomes the model, not only for our economic system, but also for the ordering of our personal lives and choices, we're in trouble.

Inevitably, the charge of self-righteousness will be leveled at a book like this. Since the book is partly about the best way to live one's life, the best way to find meaning and purpose in one's existence, it cannot completely avoid a preachy tone, but Dreher does his darnedest to make the preaching folksy and self-deprecating, and he mostly succeeds. He comes across as sort of the Garrison Keillor of orthodox/traditionalist Catholics, and while I think that's the best way to ingratiate himself with the general public on this issue, I can't help pining for some Jonathan Edwards-esque prose. I don't know about the rest of you, but I sometimes find it rather bracing to be told that we're all sinners in the hands of an angry God.

Anyway, I'm ultimately less interested in Dreher's attempts to define a "movement" or carve out a place for "crunchiness" within mainstream conservatism than in his personal conversion tale, which I find quite appealing. Anyone for whom the exhortation to " sell all you have and follow Me" has some resonance, cannot fail to be affected by a book like Dreher's. It's the element of personal witness (Dreher's and his interviewees) I find most compelling here, and I think the book is ultimately more adept at recognizing the longing of many traditional conservatives for a way of life that's more consistent with their cherished principles than it is at consolidating a crunchy conservative "base."(less)

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Apr 30, 2009 Ann rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 a new label. Example: I...more

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Dec 02, 2010 Becca rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: didn-t-finish-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 good family values or...more

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Feb 10, 2008 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: male-author

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 bashing,...more

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Jan 08, 2008 Kristen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, borrowed

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 m...more 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 our first house was small, 70 year old bungalow and we are looking to buy that sort of home again when we can, 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, Christian schools, etc) along with homeschooling.

I think what disappointed me the most about the book is that Dreher didn’t fulfill 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.(less)

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May 03, 2009 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: political junkies

Shelves: readin07

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 “crunchy conserva...more 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 “crunchy conservatism,” Dreher calls for a return to true conservative values. He argues that today’s Republican Party has perverted the traditional conservative values of the importance of family, of home and of fiscal responsibility. For Dreher and his Crunchy Cons, today’s Republicans are not superior to their Democratic counterparts, only the lesser (barely) of two evils.

Dreher rounds up a diverse group of families and individuals that are living the Crunchy Con lifestyle and tells their stories. Although they come from different parts of the country and live in very different ways (some live in urban communities, others have moved to large farms to live more self-sufficiently), they share many common bonds that make them Crunchy Cons: centrality of the family, distrust of both big government and big business, intentionality in their choices, especially in the realms of what they eat, where they live and how they educate their children, and, typically, some form of religious belief.

Shouting “amens” in my head after nearly every chapter, so much of Dreher’s Crunchy Conservatism resonated with me. The platforms of the Democratic and Republican parties and, especially, the politicians representing those parties, do so little to excite me these days. Crunchy Cons gave me hope that there are other people out there fed up with the rancor of today’s political environment, bored by the lack of choices offered by the major political parties, and saddened by the amorality and self-absorption evident in so many of our politicians.

As I reached the end of the book, I was hoping for a call to action, a practical way to make Crunchy Cons less of an idea and more of a movement. Dreher doesn’t offer much in the way of useful advice or a sure-fire way to Crunchy Con membership, but I think what Crunchy Cons lacks in practical guidance, it makes up for in giving a voice to the yearnings that many of us have been feeling for some time. Many of us are living unsustainable lives, or at least lives that don’t mesh with our values. Dreher is calling for a return to intentionality in everything we do - even if it is something as simple as deciding where to buy your next tomato. I’m still processing what that kind of intentionality means to me, but I can’t help but think that making more thoughtful choices in all aspects of my life will only deepen my relationships with my community, with my family and with our Creator.

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Crunchy Cons: How Birkenstocked Burkeans, gun-loving organic gardeners, evangelical free-range farmers, hip homeschooling mamas, right-wing nature lovers, ... America (or at least the Republican Party)

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