Become Demonic
Here's some weekend reading for you: Ann Coulter's new book, Demonic: How the Liberal Mob is Endangering America. This book is her very best one, and in my view it's the most broadly philosophical book she's ever written.
Ann, as you all know, is a hilarious, acid, sharp, and utterly fearless writer. But more importantly, she's a great friend to Ricochet.
A few weeks ago, Ann made a proposal: if I cook dinner, we'll host a live chat between her and Ricochet members about her book, the ideas it puts forth, and (knowing Ann) everything else in the world. It'll be sort of like a virtual dinner party. You just have to 1) read the book, so you'll be able to join in fully; and 2) be a member of Ricochet, which are two things you'd probably do anyway, right?
So, save the date.
You're Invited
Wednesday June 29th
Starts at 6:30PM Pacific Time
Dress: optional. (It's the web)
See you there....
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Comments :
Re: Become Demonic
Can't wait! I love Ann. Her columns blow me away with wit and insight. She's a national treasure.
The owner of the paper I used to write for knew her in college. He told me that Ann has no public personality in addition to her private personality. What you see of her is exactly who she was in college.
I like that.
Edited on Jun 23, 2011 at 10:14amMay '10
Re: Become Demonic
Hey Rob -- What about Blue Yeti and maybe Lance and anyone else interested host a simultaneous Turntable session. Wouldn't be required of course but could be really fun. I already have several ideas for the soundtrack to Ann Coulter discussing Demonic.
Feb '11
Re: Become Demonic
Wonderful! I just finished the book - a quick and enjoyable read, not convinced of everything; but worth the time, provoked a renewed interest in the French Revolution and very entertaining.
May '10
Re: Become Demonic
This was my first Ann Coulter read....er....listen. I just finished the abridged version, read by Ann. Now I am going to have to buy a hard copy......I don't want to miss a thing! Her comparing and contrasting the French and American Revolutions was such an eye opener. The book is full of great information that's delivered with a wit and humor that make it hard to put down. I just wish she had read the unabridged version herself.
Aug '10
Re: Become Demonic
You beat me to the plate, Tommy: "national treasure" is not an exaggeration. She's a tremendous asset to the conservative cause, and - I venture to say - she's doing God's work too. Her champagne-bubbly laugh is a frisson of delight. The new book is weapon of mass enlightenment.
Edited on Jun 23, 2011 at 11:42amApr '11
Re: Become Demonic
Great book. Can't wait to participate.
What's on the menu?
May '10
Re: Become Demonic
Inquiring minds want to know....what are you serving for dinner?
Jan '11
Re: Become Demonic
Thank God for Kindle - started reading it today.
This is a question about Ricochet etiquette, and I openly ask this of Rob Long (this is his post), The Logo, and whoever's on the editing hook at the moment.
If we come across cool stuff to discuss, should we wait until the podcast, or can we start immediately? Should we save the ideas, or prepare for them ahead of time?
It's a free forum, and I suppose anyone can start anything if they want. But in the interest of having a collective good time, I'm perfectly happy to abide by an editorial decision.
Jul '10
Re: Become Demonic
Inquiring minds want to know.... which dress option will Coulter be making?
Re: Become Demonic
I read Ann's latest on the flight to China. The connection of crowd psychology research to liberty-destroying mass movements of all kinds, including liberalism at home, is thought-provoking and on-the-mark. Don't miss Ann's synopsis of the French Revolution--the mother of all modern tyrannies has never been explained more accurately or concisely.
Feb '11
Re: Become Demonic
Great Idea! I say you also try the same format with Mark Steyn',s new book when it is released as well. That is of course if he is up for the task.
Aug '10
Re: Become Demonic
I just finished chapter 9 "The Sixties: The Mob Goes To College". I'm in shock. I had no idea how violent the Weathermen, SDS and the Black Panthers were. I can't believe how many of these unrepentant people were then given positions "teaching" the next generation.
Oct '10
Re: Become Demonic
River: You beat me to the plate, Tommy: "national treasure" is not an exaggeration. She's a tremendous asset to the conservative cause, and - I venture to say - she's doing God's work too. · Jun 23 at 11:39am
Edited on Jun 23 at 11:42 am
Ann Coulter is an intelligent, articulate, insightful, and hard working defender of conservative values but she is not a "national treasure". This smacks of the "liberals' tendacy to idolize their political leaders" and "their compulsion to create messiahs" that she describes and demeans so well in her book. Don't paint her with the same brush that liberals do to their imaginary messiahs.
Oct '10
Re: Become Demonic
I think Tommy was channeling Peter's breathless adulation of his hero du jour.
I'm enjoying the book - it's interesting how easy it is to forgot the liberal (and liberal media) enormities of the recent past. How to tell the story of the French revolution is very much a battleground between left and right in France even today.
Sep '10
Re: Become Demonic
As I mentioned somewhere else on Ricochet, I'm likely unable to make the live chat and am buried in an obscure work of medieval philosophy that won't allow me to read Demonic in time for the deadline. But, I do have a question that perhaps someone can pass along. I'm long familiar with the work of Rene Girard and The Scapegoat, Violence and the Sacred. I understand that Girard is notoriously elliptical in his writing style, but found no reference to his work in your book (which is fine, I'm not complaining) and was wondering if you think it has relevance (mimesis, mimetic theory, etc). Cheers, PseudoD
Aug '10
Re: Become Demonic
Al Kennedy
River: You beat me to the plate, Tommy: "national treasure" is not an exaggeration. ...
Ann Coulter is an intelligent, articulate, insightful, and hard working defender of conservative values but she is not a "national treasure". This smacks of the "liberals' tendacy to idolize their political leaders" and "their compulsion to create messiahs" that she describes and demeans so well in her book. Don't paint her with the same brush that liberals do to their imaginary messiahs.
I agree that idolatry is a vice that must be avoided, but saying that people like Ann Coulter, Mark Steyn, Jonah Goldberg, et al are national treasures isn't idolatry.They are powerful forces for reason, sanity, integrity, and bravery; the roots of civilization itself.
When a medal is pinned on a courageous soldier for great sacrifice and bravery, is that idolatry? Clearly not, in my opinion. I don't think you realize how vicious and brutal the atmosphere is for people like Ann. They aren't safe from sociopaths and the deranged, who can pop up John Hinckley Jr.-style at any time. The grinding stress of defending one's self from the Regime Media and its distortions is daunting.