Free Republic

Much of Howard’s "magic" came from his ability to create emotional sincerity through the hatreds and bloodlust of characters like Conan the Barbarian.In an introduction to Frank Miller’s groundbreaking run on Batman, the nastiest version yet and the inspiration behind Christian Bale’s demonic portrayal, comic legend Alan Moore noted how new sensibilities exposed the politically incorrect flaws of superheroes. James Bond, Moore wrote, was an alcoholic burn-out and obvious hater of women despite, or maybe because of, his bed-hopping. Tarzan, according to Moore, was a white supremacist and by realistic standards would have no compunction about engaging in cannibalism. Given...

In Ryszard Legutko's latest book, 'The Cunning of Freedom: Saving the Self in an Age of False Idols,' the Polish professor and survivor of communism warns that the coercive attempts of modern liberals to redefine freedom are more destructive than liberating.Life under Communism was peculiar and paradoxical, observes Polish professor and politician Ryszard Legutko in his new book The Cunning of Freedom: Saving the Self in an Age of False Idols. It was rigid and confined by an “ideological straitjacket.” Yet the abolishing of the old forms and institutions also fostered a “permanent instability,” in which “no principle was secure...

"What's So Great About Christianity" by Dinesh D'Souza is a look at the reasons why Christianity is responsible for the success of the Judeo-Christian West and the positives Christianity has wrought around the world. What are the strengths of Dinesh D'Souza's book? And what are the weaknesses of D'Souza's Christian apologetic work?

Somewhere Winston Churchill said that all wisdom is not new wisdom. That is certainly true of Edward C. Banfield’s landmark book, The Unheavenly City, published 50 years ago. Many, if not most, of the people discussing urban problems today have not yet caught up to what Banfield said half a century ago. Education is a classic example. People on both sides of many education issues today would be appalled at Banfield’s plain-spoken truths. While people on one side of education issues speak of “inclusion” and “diversity,” people on the other side say such things as “no child left behind.” Banfield,...

The Election Heist Paperback – August 11, 2020 "A political thriller that feels so real, you’ll think it’s already happened. With scenes ripped from today’s most viral blogs, The Election Heist plays to the suspicions of millions of Americans who believe Russia hacked the 2016 elections, and millions more who fear that nefarious players could manipulate the results in the 2020 race. Packed with complex and believable characters, rapid-fire dialogue, and chilling details about the very real vulnerabilities of our election infrastructure, The Election Heist is written by investigative reporter, bestselling author, and former congressional candidate Kenneth R. Timmerman."

Science fiction and horror author Andrew Fox’s first novel was Fat White Vampire Blues. He’s continued to put out a steady stream of science fiction and fantasy that’s equally edgy and entertaining. For example, he recently released a short story collection titled Hazardous Imaginings: The Mondo Book of Politically Incorrect Science Fiction. And I had the opportunity to interview him. Tamara Wilhite: Hazardous Imaginings seems to be modeled off of Harlan Ellison’s Dangerous Visions. Is that intentional?

“The Perihelion” is a book by D.M. Wozniak. “The Perihelion Complete Duology”. It presents a United States several decades after the Second American Civil War. The United States is divided between the blue core cities and the "redlands", each with their own laws and culture. But the legacy of genetic engineering and systemic oppression mean tensions are slowly simmering in the blue cities themselves ...

Scott Adams was one of the first people to predict President Trump’s victory in 2016. He was shunned by liberals and had events dropped for merely appreciating the “master persuader” skill-set though he disagreed with Trump’s politics. That Scott Adams was attacked online, his livelihood threatened, his girlfriend de-verified on Twitter twice as liberal Big Tech companies sought to punish him and those associated with him drove him to endorse Trump after endorsing Clinton for his literal safety. He later called these liberal bullies "Hillbullies." After Trump’s win and the confused liberal elites trying to figure out how it happened,...

Seventy years after its first publication, C.S. Lewis's classic 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' remains resonant with readers young and old. Since its publication 70 years ago today, C.S. Lewis’s “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” has been translated into 47 foreign languages, made into a movie series that grossed more than $700 million at the box office, and was included in Time magazine’s list of the top 100 novels published since 1923.Featuring a land of magic, evil witches, and otherworldly creatures, the world of Narnia introduces millions of children to the fantasy genre every year. It’s...

While we often discuss expansion into the Solar System as a step leading to interstellar flight, the movement into space has its dark side, as author Daniel Deudney argues in a new book. As Kenneth Roy points out in the review that follows, it behooves everyone involved in space studies to understand what the counter-arguments are. Ken is a newly retired professional engineer who is currently living amidst, as he puts it, “the relics of the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.” His professional career involved working for various Department of Energy (DOE) contractors in the fields of fire protection...

Every so often, a leftist thinker breaks free from the orthodoxy to point out that policies favored by “progressives” can have adverse consequences. When that happens, it’s worth paying attention. We have such an instance with the publication of The Cult of Smart by Fredrik deBoer, a writer and one-time academic whose work has appeared in leftist publications such as The New Republic and Jacobin. He proudly proclaims his Marxism, saying that what all good Marxists want is a better, more equitable world. While he sees a lot to complain about—America still allows capitalism, after all—his particular target in the...

"You're Hired!" is Casey Mulligan's memoir of a year spent as Chief Economist of the Council of Economic Advisers. The book is pitched as an analysis of President Trump, "riveting first-hand accounts of President Trump’s engagement with policy and politics." I read it in part for that reason. Opinions on the current occupant generally reflect either kool-aid drinking, never-Trump disdain, or foaming-at-the-mouth derangement. Casey, one of the few remaining true-blue Chicago School economists, and an outstanding one who combines analysis and policy, is none of the above. I know him as a clear thinker and a straight talker. With an...

Dennis Prager is probably known for his 1998 book “Happiness is a Serious Problem” and similar titles, if not for his talk show. However, Dennis Prager's book “Still the Best Hope” can be described as an exploration of the world views literally fighting for dominance in the world.

Clinton Cash is a 2016 graphic novel about Hillary Clinton’s use and abuse of the Clinton Foundation, her political positions since Bill Clinton left office and other scandals. This book is unique for taking the form of a graphic novel while tackling multiple scandals and controversies in less than 150 pages. It is a shorter companion piece to longer book “Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill and Hillary Rich”. What are the pros and cons of this political “comic” book?

William Shetterley is an open communist and science fiction fan. He is unusual for criticizing social justice from the LEFT and reporting the early "cancel culture" trends in sci-fi and popular culture since the early 2000s.

The book Retire Inspired builds on Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps. Dave Ramsey’s advice is to pay off debt except for the house and start saving 15% of your income until retirement. But how much do you need to retire? How much do you need to retire with the lifestyle you want, which may require more based on desires or catch-up savings? Retire Inspired answers those questions. The author’s tagline is “it’s not an age, it’s a financial number.” The financial number you need to retire inspired, the amount of money you need in your retirement nest egg to retire...

“Economic Facts and Fallacies” by Thomas Sowell came out in 2008, but like many of Thomas Sowell’s other books on economics, it remains a classic. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this book? How does it compare to his other major works?

“Discrimination and Disparities” is a 2018 book by Thomas Sowell. While it addresses racism and class bias, it delves into many other disparities and forms of discrimination. It discusses the literal social and economic costs of disparities and actual discrimination while explaining how most disparities are not due to actual discrimination. What are the points in favor and against this Thomas Sowell book? What can you learn from this book that hasn’t been addressed in his many other works?

Michael Savage has used the catchphrase “borders, language, culture” to define how a nation is defined. Savage says that borders, language and culture are what must be protected for a nation to survive. Michael Savage’s book title “Government Zero” refers to the government that has given up its most basic obligation to protect the borders, language and culture of the people. His premise is that it has in fact betrayed that obligation.

"Forbidden Thoughts" contains a number of science fiction and horror stories challenging the concept of political correctness and right-think.