For the past thirty years, David Mamet has been a controversial and defining force in theater and film, championing the most cherished liberal values along the way. In some of the great movies and plays of our time, his characters have explored the ethics of the business world, embodied the struggles of the oppressed, and faced the flaws of the capitalist system.
But in recent years Mamet has had a change of heart. He realized that the so-called mainstream media outlets he relied on were irredeemably biased, peddling a hypocritical and deeply flawed worldview. In 2008 he wrote a hugely controversial op-ed for the Village Voice, "Why I Am No Longer a 'Brain-Dead Liberal,'" in which he methodically eviscerated liberal beliefs. Now he goes much deeper, employing his trademark intellectual force and vigor to take on all the key political and cultural issues of our times, from religion to political correctness to global warming.
Mamet pulls no punches in his art or in his politics. And as a former liberal who woke up, he will win over an entirely new audience of others who have grown irate over America's current direction.
Download and start listening now!
"It has been a while since I wished there were a six star option. This is really a great book. It is insightful, moving, challenging and the writing is smackaliciously pungent. He writes like Rowdy Roddy Piper wrestled. Rhetorical figure four leg locks and sleeper holds all over the place. "
— Jason (5 out of 5 stars)
A Manichean analysis from a strident new voice from the Right---for liberals, something intended to ignite antagonism; for the like-minded, a buttress against the opposition.
— Kirkus" As a fan of Mamet's work, I really wanted to like this. It was so dry, I gave up after two chapters. I don't have the time to plug through it. I did enjoy the interviews he had with a few talk radio hosts about his book. "
— Lisa, 2/18/2014" Mamet tends to ramble here (though I hate to say it of a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer!), but his ideas and imagery are striking and powerful. A thoughtful, memorable book, definitely worth a read. "
— Gina, 2/18/2014" Playwright David Mamet leaves liberalism behind.....provocative and interesting whether you agree or not. "
— Maureen, 2/16/2014" Absolutely fascinating and from my own experiences true to life. "
— Joseph, 2/8/2014" The chapters titled "The Ashkenazis" and "The Secret Knowledge" are worth the price of the whole book. Welcome, David Mamet, out of never never land and into harsh reality! We need you. "
— Marilou, 2/7/2014" Liked the book. It's kind of rambling, and the chapters don't really connect to each other in any obvious way. It's more like several essays strung together. I actually had to quit reading the book about halfway through, because the author was making too much sense, and he was making me mad at the current state of the country and the idiocy of the politicians currently in power. "
— Heather, 2/6/2014" This book so clearly delineates the authors passage from one point of view to another. I would highly recommend to anyone. "
— Karen, 1/17/2014" Could have been a compelling, convincing, nuanced political commentary by a guy who recently "came out" as conservative. Instead, it's obvious he has drank the Kool-aid (he thanks Glenn Beck and Mark Levin in the acknowledgements - I'm sorry, but...) "
— Bradford, 12/10/2013" Very good, draws a lot from Hayek, Friedman, and Sowell. "
— Jared, 12/3/2013" Great book that is badly badly written. "
— Diana, 11/10/2013" What a glorious book. This was a wonderful book. Yay. What a book. "
— Douglas, 11/9/2013" Unsubstantiated claptrap from a playwright who I used to hold in very high esteem. Disappointing. "
— Jack, 10/2/2013" Funny and well written. It's not for everyone, but it's an easy read. A journey through Mamet's thoughts on why he's no longer a liberal. "
— Voracious_reader, 4/12/2013" So far he is a literary genius, and his political insight is very interesting. Book is excellent "
— Jp1961, 12/9/2012" It has been a while since I wished there were a six star option. This is really a great book. It is insightful, moving, challenging and the writing is smackaliciously pungent. He writes like Rowdy Roddy Piper wrestled. Rhetorical figure four leg locks and sleeper holds all over the place. "
— Jason, 10/24/2012" You should all read this book--esp. if you think your politics might not agree. "
— Darryl, 9/21/2012" A mixed bag. I certainly agree with some of Mamet's contentions, but his fact-checking is spotty and his prose is more indignant than persuasive. "
— Shane, 6/24/2012" The writing style took me a lot of getting used to, but once I got into it I could start to appreciate the unique perspective of the author. "
— Robert, 5/21/2012" David Mamet gives his unique insights into the belief systems of people of a liberal persuasion as he details his conversion to a more conservative world view. The style is personal, direct and deliberate. And funny. The Secret Knowledge made me laugh in more than a few places. "
— Bill, 1/2/2012" Quite the political manifesto. Very impressive. Solid logic throughout. "
— Jeremy, 11/7/2011" A mixed bag. I certainly agree with some of Mamet's contentions, but his fact-checking is spotty and his prose is more indignant than persuasive. "
— Shane, 9/11/2011" What a glorious book. This was a wonderful book. Yay. What a book. "
— Douglas, 8/15/2011" Very good, draws a lot from Hayek, Friedman, and Sowell. "
— Jared, 8/4/2011" I can honestly say I wholeheartedly agree with about 60% of what Mamet rights here. The remaining 40% may as well be written in Greek. "
— Tim, 7/24/2011" David crossed over to the conservative side from the liberal side after 60 years! He presents arguments for the conservative political philosophy quite well. "
— Robin, 7/14/2011" Playwright David Mamet leaves liberalism behind.....provocative and interesting whether you agree or not. "
— Maureen, 7/5/2011David Mamet is one of the foremost American playwrights. He has won a Pulitzer Prize and received Tony nominations for his plays, Glengarry Glen Ross and Speed-the-Plow. His screenwriting credits include The Verdict and The Untouchables.
Johnny Heller, winner of numerous Earphones and Audie Awards, was named a “Golden Voice” by AudioFile magazine in 2019. He has been a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award winner from 2008 through 2013 and he has been named a top voice of 2008 and 2009 and selected as one of the Top 50 Narrators of the Twentieth Century by AudioFile magazine.