I love Keillor, the way he writes, what he
has to say, and this book didn't disappoint. It's completely unlike his
other books, though. He's written novels, anthologies, poetry, essays,
columns and articles, and I've read all of them (I think) but this one
was different. This one came from his heart and you could tell it.

The book was written before the 2004 election, but that hardly matters. This
isn't a diatribe against Republicans or against Bush, so it is pretty
much timeless, I think. Keillor's upbringing was a lot like mine, from
a place and time where people who worked hard for a living and believed
in helping their neighbors were all Democrats because that's who
Democrats ARE. Keillor spends about half the book discussing the basic
philosophical differences between Democrats and Republicans with a
directness and great insight into what it is, exactly, that makes them
tick. Personally, I feel he nailed it right on the head. He tells it
in such a way that the reader discovers that the label "liberal" isn't
something to be ashamed of at all.

A lot of the book is spent in his own personal memories of the 1950s
through the 1980s as this country went through massive changes and young
adults of the baby boomer generation formed their own political
opinions. I found this interesting because I'd had a lot of the same
thoughts and reactions to things like Kennedy's assassination, the war
in Vietnam, Nixon's resignation, etc.

I enjoyed this book a bunch and my only complaint is that it was far too
short. Like any other Keillor work, I was sorry to see it end. I give
it a 5. ( )

There is no doubt that Keillor is a talented writer. His nostalgia for the Midwest of his youth tended to remind me of the writing of Bill Bryson in The Lost Continent. But I had hoped that Keillor would have more to contribute to the political dialogue. Instead, he too often resorted to name-calling rather than reasoning. While fun to read, it ended up feeling sort of like political comfort food for Democrats. Enjoyable, but definitely not particularly meaningful. ( )

From his books and stories on the radio, I always guessed that Garrison Keillor was a reasonable and civil man who stood for the role of government in protecting the weak and helpless. And lo and behold, he writes a political book making just that case. Keillor's position is that the Democratic party is responsible for most of the legislation that has protected the rights of average (and not-so-average) Americans, and that the current meanness and forced conformity of the Republican party are detrimental to America. And as always, he writes with a folksy and earnest charm that makes it plain that he welcomes informed and civil discourse, and disagreement. Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter should read this book, although I doubt that it would make any difference. ( )

Prairie Home Companion creator shares his view of the current war between Republicans and Democrats, and liberalism and conservatism in this quick read. Sometimes he gets downright cranky, but always there is that midwestern sensibility in his prose. I enjoyed it. ( )