Norman Podhoretz (1930–2025)

This book makes a valiant but not totally successful effort to explain why Jews "earn like Episcopalians and vote like Puerto Ricans." The attachment to Jewish causes is well-known and legendary. Jews are active in academia, government and entertainment, as well as the professions. While most support Israel, on other issues most are quite liberal, almost socialist. Mr. Podhoretz tries to explain this contradiction.

He takes us on a long and rather interesting trek through European and then show more American history. Mr. Podhoretz demonstrates how, until Roosevelt, the Democrats/liberals were almost always aligned with the Jews. The Jews made Roosevelt his hero, notwithstanding his treachery. Thereafter things get more complicated. The Jews continue, with the notable exception of Jimmy Carter's 1980 election, to vote Democratic with more than a 60% margin. The closest he comes to a convincing explanation (spoiler alert) is a one-paragraph reference to genetics that I find rather convincing.

His lengthier explanation is that liberalism and tikkun olam have beome like a Torah in and of itself; and unfalsifiable religion. To me that's a cop-out; it's saying "it is because it is." However, the book is interesting and well worth reading, as much for provoking disturbing thought than it is for answering the question "Why Are Jews Liberals?" show less

I've read that neocons are optimists while paleocons are pessimists. That sentiment is certainly true of this short book. Podhoretz is certainly a Bush supporter in nearly every foreign policy decision, and is confident that the Bush Doctrine will survive. This is based on history's disproving of all other strategies (realpolitik, liberal internationalism).

While I was hoping for a treatise on how America needs to mobilize for what Podhoretz calls World War IV, this book is basically a show more rehash of how we got to where we are today (or better, where we were in late 2006). It's amazing to read the political comments made by both sides that showed the unity of opinion early on as compared to what the current situation. He also looks at the parallels to the domestic bickering in WWII and WWIII (the Cold War).

All in all, it's interesting and would be a good primer for those who've not paid too close attention the last 6 years. However, if you're looking for a book on suggested policies to win the war (something more Gingrich-esque) this is not it. show less

A shrill warning in 1980 that the Soviets were about to win the Cold War. It's especially absurd in hindsight, but it probably achieved its objective. It will make a nice addition to my "Red Menace" collection. (Podhoretz went on to warn that Iraq, and then Iran, was a direct threat to U.S. security. He's a putz, in other words.)

1737 Why We Were in Vietnam, by Norman Podhoretz (read 5 Aug 1982) Somewhat to my surprise I read this based on a recommendation by a conservative columnist. Podhoretz concludes we were in Vietnam for idealistic reasons, though it was imprudent to attempt what we did. I sturdily supported our Vietnam policy until 1968, when I became more dovish--but my heart was never really in my dovishness, though despising Nixon as I did I could be easy about opposing things he did. But this book is so show more rightist that it turned me off some, too. But the book is a good antidote to the liberal line on Vietnam. show less