Well documented and interesting

This book reviews opinions from professors, lectures, college campus newspapers and similar items where the opinion trends in universities can be seen. The result is that in any aspect there is a very large bias towards left and extreme left in college. From an European point of view, it is surprising to see that USA is going through the same polarization as we are. Bottom line: do not pay for instruction in a USA university!

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True warning covered by circumstantial evidence.

Shapiro's 2004 book Brainwashed tries to answer why America (back then) was turning left - or, more importantly, why the youth was turning left. His answer: most American professors are Democrats, and they are unable to keep their opinions out of their classrooms, wreaking havoc along the way. These professors end up on boards, left-wing students start powerful associations, and students are bombarded with indoctrinating anti-American rhetoric.

As the other reviews already point out: the book isn't very well-written. Shapiro tries to present his case with wit, but it ends up being annoying. His sarcastic remarks don't add anything to the case, and some are truly unnecessary, leaving me rolling my eyes.

The cases he makes are very circumstantial and very specific to certain universities and professors, which doesn't say anything about the US educational system in general. Yet here lies the warning: the fact that these things happen does prove that some universities are (un)knowingly indoctrinating their students. Shapiro's example of him being sacked from the university newspaper proves that in 2004, some universities were not as liberal as they sought to be.

Even though the book is poorly written, the warning still holds today. In 2023, when wokeism and political correctness are topics of conversation, university professors and teachers play a pivotal role when. As Gen-Z heads into universities and colleges, students on both sides must learn how to respect each other's opinions, even when they don't reflect their own. If professors are unable to create an environment in which this happens (by only paving the way for left-wing or woke ideas), the strong polarization of the 2020s will never go away. This book, however, is due for a better-written refresh.

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some good, some bad

Good reply to liberal bias e.g. feminism and various forms of perversion, but littered with Ben's blind support of Israel, and anti-islamic rhetoric. Careful selection of anecdotes to support his views.

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5 people found this helpful

Remarkably weak

Following Shapiro’s content today, granted a few years after it was written is almost comical. Today he seems like ‘that witty guy from YouTube’. In this Book he comes across like a hurt child. He demands for universities to teach a conservative view they don’t possess - and in the next chapter complains that art classes thematically deal with sex and sex acts. He condemns universities ‘teaching homosexuality’, linking it to Bestiality and pedophilia. It reads like the book of a very religious outsider in university who is uncomfortable with gays and people hooking up.

Also very comical - he complains his professor suggested the bible was invariably written by several authors. Because you know there’s just one god. A few other highlights are crying about universities teaching man made climate change as a fact. Universities not teaching creationism on par with evolution. And many more.

Does have some entertainment value given how deluded some parts are, but I doubt that was intentional

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1 person found this helpful

If I could rate it lower, I would

Just terrible

I’m all for hearing different points of view, but this is a fantasy book. Within an hour you can see arguments fall apart and the foundation slip away to reveal a very very biased foundation.

The author seems more worried about seeming smart then factual.

If you are looking for a fantasy novel, sure, but it offers no value to the reader.

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1 person found this helpful

Hilarious

Is this guy for real? Reads like a parody of the very worst right wingers.

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1 person found this helpful

A biased book complaining about bias.

Totally one sided and anyone he disagrees with is a lefty of some description.

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2 people found this helpful

Disappointed

Being a big fan of Shapiro’s sharp logic, I was disappointed by this book. It’s just a hyperbolic rant.

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5 people found this helpful