This is a great book! I wish we had people with this kind of conservative ideology here in Brazil! It serves as a reminder for the Americans about what they are and how to keep it. I must also say that the Kindle edition is very good, being easy to read and navigate.

This book is a great beginner's manual on "How to Arm You against Socialism". There is a good reason I say "...beginner's manual..." Mr. Levin's book falls short of being a Junior or Senior year text on that subject. It fails because it does not specifically identify two primary points as the cause of the situation America is in. Those two points are related and one is an extension of the other. Furthermore, failure to identify these two points are the same reason his other works and many other authors fall short in providing America with advanced level knowledge supporting Liberty and against tyranny.

1. The first point is that rational philosophical training is totally missing in America at any and all levels of education;
2. The second point is that socialism relies primarily on altruism as a philosophical foundation; hence, without identifying the PRIME CAUSE of the socialistic movement, no proper defense against the movement is possible. This has long been the underpinning disadvantage American Conservatives have put themselves in. Mr. Levin needs to provide a deeper analysis of the philosophical tools needed by the American public to combat the enemy at the gates. Mark has a tendency to treat the symptoms not the cause.
The Left of America has waged a properly executed war against American ideals and morals. The war they wage has assaulted every aspect of the American people. They attack the world of aesthetics, art, music, movies, television programming, sports and news. Paintings, songs, plays, the theater, ballet, classical music, opera and even Country-Western music and movies all have felt the crippling attacks and no rational (or Conservative) retaliation has materialized.
They Liberal movement has relentlessly pounded the educational system in America until it is a joke. Universities set out to provide products (graduates) of such an intellectually corrupt nature as to make every field of work they touch a living nightmare. This fact is most evident in the manufacturing fields of America, which is almost non-existent today.

This book is worth a second and a third read it is so full of information on the "why" of politics.

Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto While Mark is quite acerbic on the radio (I happen to enjoy the soft tone as it crescendos to a belligerent scream), the tone of the book is decidedly more measured. The author paints the political landscape on two distinct playing fields--the Conservative and the Statist. It is important to note that his descriptions are not Republican and Democrat. He deals with most of the political, constitutional hot button issues that are making headlines today. From the perspective of this reviewer the chapters on the environment and immigration are very timely. The foundational purpose is a call to action of those who understand, believe and think in Constitutional categories. This is a book that every conservative will want to read, not because he will agree with 95% of it's content (even though he will), but for the education it provides in a very accessible way. Even for those that may not agree with Levin's conclusions wholeheartedly there will be much to appreciate, learn or to at least interact with. You will not come away from your reading dispassionately.

Mark Levin has done a marvelous job in writing "LIBERTY and TYRANNY". It is a must read for all people who call themselves Americans. Reading the book will give them some idea of what the Founding Fathers were about and how far so many people have lost their way in knowing what is in their best interest. I would recommend this book to all who wish to understand what need to be done to save what is left of America.

I recommend this book to anyyone who needs to learn what America is all about aswell as people who are already citizens but have forgotten what America is about.
This book will help you find your way and be a better and more informed citizen.
Thank you Mark for edjucating me.

Mark Levin writes a series of essays highlighting the conservative thought over against the "statist" (as he calls the liberals) agenda for our times. He calls his readers back to the Constitution, and principles of liberty that shaped our great nation. This is a must read for every freedom loving American regardless of their political party.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments

Chapter 1: On Liberty and Tyranny
Chapter 2: On Prudence and Progress
Chapter 3: On Faith and Founding
Chapter 4: On the Constitution
Chapter 5: On Federalism
Chapter 6: On the Free Market
Chapter 7: On the Welfare State
Chapter 8: On Enviro-Statism
Chapter 9: On Immigration
Chapter 10: On Self-Preservation

Epilogue: A Conservative Manifesto

Notes

245 pages of good stuff.

Mark Levin has done an excellent job pointing out how far our great Country has diverged from the path that our Founders set us on. It's almost depressing to read because you have to wonder if the damage the Liberals have done is reversible. I hope so.

I see a round table with six chairs. Seated on those chairs around that table are Socrates, Plato, Aristotle , Ayn Rand and Mark Levin.

What a genius. This man nailed the BS we have to stop in America before we lose her to the crazies. Great reading, may give some lefties a headache, the truth does hurt sometimes.

It was a boring read for me, lots of stats, but I hate to read. I did finish it after 4 weeks. I was educated and therefor it was worth my time.

This book is amazing. It tells you how we got to where we are now and what is going to happen if we don't drastically change direction. I would recommend this book to those who are seeking answers,.

This is a good overview of America's founding principles as not applied in recent ridiculous governance. Levin's work needs better editing. I have a copy for lending and I gave one to a friend.

Mr. Levin has somehow put in print what Ronald Reagan did for our country through his oratory eloquence and leadership. Never before has just one manuscript so concisely encapsulated the conservative position on all current and pressing issues of our day. Normally, a manual containing such documentation and historical facts would be too cumbersome to digest. Levin has not only made complicated issues easier to understand, but he has done so in a way that makes those who read his book compelled to get involved in the political process that for decades has been ignored by the average citizen. This book is awakening the spirit that was in place when America was first conceived. It is motivating readers to value the freedom that so many have sacrificed their lives for and making sure that our children and grandchildren know the America that made those who have sacrificed, more than willing to do so.

I thoroughly enjoyed Mark Levin's book. Instead of describing its excellent points, as others have done so eloquently, I would like to describe how it has achieved what I see as its intended purpose, which is to educate those of us who have not paid enough attention to our political environment as we should have.

With such low voter turnout across America in most elections, even in our Presidential elections, I believe that my situation is very common. I admit to not actively being involved in Politics much in the past. This is partly because I have felt that there were more productive things to do with my time, and partly because I've felt that I would not be able to make enough of a difference as one person.

To put it bluntly, I was politically asleep and expecting others to run our Country without my input. I thought they would do a "good enough" job of it. I admit I was wrong.

With this recent strong turn toward the left and toward Socialism, I have felt betrayed by my elected officials. It is books like this, Tommy Newberry's, Sarah Palin's, and others that have made me realize that I've made been making a big mistake by ignoring my political duty.

It was shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese so blatantly exposed their plan for domination of the entire Pacific region, that the Japanese realized they had awoken a sleeping giant, one that was willing to fight back.

Similarly, Barack Obama's attack on the successful of America has blatantly exposed the Liberal's plans to turn America into a Socialist State, and his move toward Tyranny has awoken the Sleeping Giant once again. Those who have not been involved before (like myself) are now becoming active. Levin's book is forming a grass roots movement of Patriots who are eager once again to defend our inalienable right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

America needs people who are willing to use their voice and vote in every situation where our Constitutional rights are in jeopardy. Patriots with upright principles, who not only build strong businesses and do good things for others, but who pay attention to politics and fight for our freedoms here at home, with our Votes and our Voices.

I believe Mark Levin's book is needed to educate all Americans, so we become a "Mighty Force" to defend Liberty and defeat Socialism. Levin is an outstanding writer who communicates the Conservative Manifesto extremely well. Levin makes it very obvious that the liberal agenda is one of Tyranny and it must no longer be viewed as anything but intentional. It is no longer a benign cancer, but active and aggressive and if left alone, fatal to America.

And in a similar regard, Tommy Newberry's book, The War On Success: How the Obama Agenda Is Shattering the American Dream is the perfect companion, because it provides the basics of what it means to be a successful American Patriot.

Patriotism is no longer being taught in our liberal educational system and it certainly cannot be gleaned from our liberal news media, nor from the liberal television and movie industries. Being a successful Patriot and Citizen of the United States is NOT just being born within our borders. It is holding to the ideals that create freedom and liberty and that gives us the ability to pursue happiness in whatever form we feel is right, so long as it does not infringe on the rights of others.

Both Levin's and Newberry's books teach us how to follow patriotic principles in politics, like our founding fathers did. Right now our way of life is being jeopardized and we must rise up to defend it. It is time to train an army of conservative voters how to preserve liberty, stop the war on success, and to defeat socialism.

The hour is late. Obama has already made huge progress against businesses and against our American free enterprise system and has moved us toward socialism and the removal of our personal liberties. I believe it is time for us to wake up and take action.

I realize now that doing nothing was the wrong decision for me to make. I hope that you will not make that same mistake. It is time to speak up and vote for (and fight for) Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness and to make America free from tyranny once again.

I give this book 5 stars, because it is not only well written, but because it accomplishes its' task of waking people up and educating us. This book is exactly what our Country truly needs.

The delivery was fine. The surprise was how difficult it was for me to read. It was scholarly written but difficult to read.

What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said! Mr. Levin is a remarkable individual, and will get you thinking whether you agree or disagree with him. After the book, I found myself reading the information that he mentioned in his reference notes. This is a must read for any American!

Incredible, inspiring, and informative. A verification of what US citizens like me believe our government SHOULD be like. If you are a US citizen and you are a little confused if your leader's last name is Stalin or Obama, this book will shed some light on why you feel this way.

This is a well written, organized book covering a wide variety of American and international issues confronting all of us and our posterity. It is insightful, accurate, well researched and educational in terms of conservative values and threats to our freedom, security and very survival as a nation.

Love, love, this book. Mark Levin clearly lays out the foundations this country was built on and how far we have strayed from this foundation. He offers guidance on how we can return to the ideals that have made America one of the strongest and greatest nations on earth.

This book is tremendous and should be required reading in all secondary and undergraduate institutions in this country. If educators truly want students to become well-rounded citizens, they will place this book in the curriculum.

This book gave me LOTS to think about, but you have to think deeper than just the words Mark uses.
Several sections are 'over the top', and most of the book implies a grand conspiracy of the 'Statist' that I don't think exists as a deliberate, organized movement, as Mark describes. The 'Statists' I know are not conspirators, nor are they pursuing some grand plan. The 'Statists' I know act for a series of 'noble causes', not as an organized movement. But this book has helped me to understand the 'Statist' better, and the perils of 'following your heart' where governemnt is concerned. Mark's book does a wonderful job of describing how each of these noble causes are combining to ruin what America was founded on, and of showing how blind adherence to noble causes has led us to where we are today. Not a deliberate conspiracy, but 'the road to Hell is paved with good intentions', and travelled by those who can't, won't, or refuse to see the overall effect of forced 'good intentions' on our liberties. Overall a very good book to understand why we are where we are, how we got here, and what we need to do about it.

Gosh, if I hadn't had Mark Levin to tell me what I, as a liberal, believe, I would have said that my values were these: I believe in the dignity of the individual, in my right to live freely and pursue my own ends as long as they do not interfere with another person's similar right, that I am a unique, spiritual human being who believes that good and evil exist and that moral behavior means choosing between them, and that I believe in the rule of the law--but no. Mark Levin tells me that instead, I believe in the supremacy of the state and tyranny. Well, hey, Mark, just because you say it, doesn't mean it's so.

One of the first things I learned as a student of history was to look carefully at the background of people who are supporting any particular view--people with an axe to grind are not reliable witnesses, nor are people who stand to benefit in some way. You wouldn't want to rely on a guy who sells wooden legs to tell you if you need an amputation. I believe that this is an example of exactly that--Mark Levin is selling books, and to make money from that, he needs to get people fired up, or to stoke the fires that others have already set. So he demonizes the 'enemy'--me--, and he does this by attributing to me views that I do not hold. He cites no evidence for his assertions, and he denies to the liberal the spectrum of views that he allows for the conservative. To say that he is disingenuous is, I think, putting it very kindly.

In this book Levin attempts to explain and justify conservatism, or his conservatism, in large part in contrast and opposition to what he calls Modern Liberalism/Statism. When he's expressing his conservative views, he can be clear and useful. His Conservative Manifesto at the end, for example, is concise and comprehensive, even if I disagree with his views.

However, when he characterizes the views he opposes and argues for controversial points, he all too often leaves reality far behind.

To be clear, I don't think this is necessary. I think there are important and worthwhile arguments for conservative views that don't require distortion and straw men, and there are many reasonable conservatives who make them. But this book too seldom provides them. I apologize in advance for the length, but I think these issues deserve careful attention, so I want to provide a couple examples to illustrate what I'm talking about, so the reader can better see what I refer to and reach her own conclusion.

The problems start right away. For example, Levin says on page 4 (with his italics indicated by asterisks), "The Modern Liberal believes in the supremacy of the state, thereby rejecting the principles of the Declaration [of Independence] and the order of civil society, in whole or part. For the Modern Liberal, the individual's imperfection and personal pursuits impede the objective of a utopian state. In this, Modern Liberalism promotes what French historian Alexis de Tocqueville described as a *soft tyranny*, which becomes increasingly more oppressive, potentially leading to a hard tyranny (some form of totalitarianism). As the word "*liberal*" is, in its classical meaning, the opposite of authoritarianism, it is more accurate, therefore, to characterize the Modern Liberal as a *Statist*."

I'm a liberal, I generally support the policies he associates with Modern Liberalism, and I know many liberals, but I don't know anyone who believes any of that, nor do we believe anything that implies such monumental twaddle. The truth is that both conservatives and liberals in the U.S. believe in balancing individual liberty with government power to carry out common goals, including maximizing individual freedom in the long run. We sometimes disagree about how to best make the balance, with conservatives typically preferring more government power over individuals in regard to some matters, e.g. abortion, national security and crime, and liberals in regard to others, e.g. gay rights and social welfare.

This is only one of many, many points where liberals and conservative have the same basic values that Levin pretends only conservatives believe in. Liberals believe in the importance and dignity of the individual, prudence, adhering to the Constitution in the same way as a contract, federalism, the free market, strong national defense, and so on. Many liberals also share Levin's metaphysical/religious views about Natural Law, Providence and so on (and some conservatives don't).

In addition to misrepresenting liberalism throughout, the book is filled with what are at best highly controversial statements about various issues presented as though they were established fact. Much-needed context and different perspectives are typically left out. Sometimes the assertions are just laughably false.

Again, it doesn't take long for the misinformation to begin. On page 5 the author says, "For much of American history, the balance between governmental authority and individual liberty was understood and accepted. Federal power was confined to that which was specifically enumerated in the Constitution and no more." On page 6 he marks the 1930s as the turning point away from this conservative policy to Statism.

Ridiculous. To pick only a few huge, obvious examples, there's no enumeration of a power of the federal government to acquire new territory, no enumeration of a power to create a national bank, and no enumeration of a power to compel a state to remain in the union. Such powers are arguably implicit in the practical requirements of enumerated powers, as the Supreme Court has ruled in many cases, but they're not spelled out, and each was vigorously argued to be unconstitutional for that reason, in the 19th Century. Lots of things aren't spelled out, and people of good will have always disagreed about what's implicit.

On the broader issue of government power/growth, google "Federal Government Growth Before the New Deal" by Randall G. Holcombe for a handy overview of that issue. (It's by a libertarian who opposes big government as much as Levin does, but has a better idea what he's talking about.) His thesis, supported by specific examples, is, "Popular opinion holds that most of the credit (or blame) for the incredible growth of the federal government should go to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal. While Roosevelt certainly was a willing participant in that process, the federal government began its amazingly rapid growth well before the New Deal, and it is unlikely that it would be much smaller today even had FDR never come along."

I could list untruth after untruth after untruth from this book, but these will serve as illustrations. The arguments get more specific and detailed in later chapters, and some of the information is well supported and gets at worthwhile points. But the book is riddled with misleading and false assertions no better than those given above.

It's easy to win an argument with a straw man, using made-up facts. But it shows nothing except the ignorance and lack of good faith of the person who clings to such arguments. It doesn't help distinguish conservatism from liberalism if you fundamentally misrepresent what liberalism is. It doesn't help establish the strength of conservatism if myth is substituted for reality.

It's no wonder this country is so polarized and politics so dysfunctional when such a poor effort to understand opposing views is accepted and even celebrated. Levin's attempt is no better than the way many liberals misrepresent conservatism and facts and think they've shown thereby how right liberalism is. It's a problem on both sides. The first step to doing better is seeing it for what it is, on both sides.

The Enlightenment values upon which America's constitution rests do not constitute a 'political ideology' in anything like the same sense that fascism or other forms of authoritarian doctrines do. Nor do these values resemble a religion, as Ann Coulter has implied. No one need ever be rendered silent by such idiotic claims and it is easy to explain the difference.

First, the Levin/Coulter claim (i.e. "Your liberal values are a religion too!"), even IF it were true, is a fallacious form of argument. Here's an explanation:
Tu Quoque is a very common fallacy in which one attempts to defend oneself or another from criticism by turning the critique back against the accuser. This is a classic Red Herring since whether the accuser is guilty of the same, or a similar, wrong is irrelevant to the truth of the original charge. However, as a diversionary tactic, Tu Quoque can be very effective, since the accuser is put on the defensive, and frequently feels compelled to defend against the accusation.
(Source: S. Morris Engel, With Good Reason: An Introduction to Informal Fallacies (Fifth Edition) (St. Martin's, 1994), pp. 204-206. h[...]...)

But fallacies aside, it is simply not true that there is anything analogous between tyranny and the liberal founding values of the Enlightenment that are enshrined in America's constitution. Tyrants dictate a definition of "the good life" for all of humanity or for an entire nation, so that the individual has no choice but to obey the externally imposed authority of a charismatic figure (or a divine entity), or be punished (either by the enforcers of the law, or by God's male representatives on earth, or in the fires of hell, or some combination of these). The motive to "be moral" in this situation is to avoid punishment and/or to seek rewards. In other words, the individual is "acting moral" for selfish reasons, which any sixth grader can recognize is a contradiction. In order for non-selfish (genuine) moral agency to be possible, one has to be free to choose it all by oneself, for good reasons that one really believes in, not just to save one's own ass.

America's founders understood, quite rightly, that there is a difference between selfishness and morality. Indeed, intuitively, we all know that being good is something different from seeking pleasure and avoiding pain - the latter are merely animal instincts, not moral virtues that warrant praise. On the contrary, the wish to avoid pain often seduces us into compromising our higher nature for immediate gratification.
This is why liberalism establishes the conditions under which individuals may choose values for themselves.

Liberalism is not an "anything goes" philosophy - because the individual is only permitted to pursue his own vision of the good life within certain limits. He cannot harm others in the process, nor prevent them from pursuing their own values (within the same limits, of course). Where self-regarding behaviors are concerned, such as matters of conscience (i.e. religion) and (consenting) sexual behavior, the state does not interfere with the individual. The US Constitution provides a framework of liberty within which moral agency is a genuine possibility, because the individual has choices to make about what he values. It does not dictate which goals, or ends, the individual must pursue in order to be 'good'.. It merely tells him what he cannot do to others while pursuing it. Vive la difference!

Levin's book is the quintessential example of what the modern conservative movement has evolved to. A movement in which the allegiance to party holds sway over the allegiance to the truth. What's most appalling in the read is how Levin, like most political commentators on the right, continues to blatantly spin and doctor what modern liberalism is about. It is not about the supremacy of the state or subscription to authoritarianism or totalitarianism. Liberals, or "statists" as Levin calls them, believe in the importance of individual freedom above all else. Contrary to what Levin writes, they don't love dictators and they're certainly not communists.

On conservatism and the founding fathers Levin writes on the belief that the conservative believes in the dignity of the individual (I would argue the liberal does too, but I'll get to that later). Human beings have the right to live, live freely and pursue that which interests him. Not because man or a government says so, but because there are God-given inalienable human rights. He goes on to say that his individual interests are tempered by a moral code rooted in faith and rejects ambiguity and moral relativism. As Americans we all believe that all men are created equal (yet the founding fathers that framed these beliefs in the Constitution were all slave owners for some reason)and we believe in the rights of the individual. Levin goes on further to say the individual is a unique spiritual being with a soul and a conscience. You'd certainly be hard pressed to find anyone that would argue against this. However, my biggest objection to the notion which these ideas are rooted in conservatism (and conversely what I'd really love to hear him respond to) is based on the fact that if conservatism is at it's heart about the adherence to freedom and liberty, why was it that conservative Republicans were fighting to continue segregation in the 1960s and it fell on the Democrats, or the statists, to take up the mantle of the civil rights movement. I'd like to you hear you explain that one, Mark!

What I find mostly comical is how he has the audacity to state the individual has a soul and God-given human rights yet at the same time argues against the extension of health benefits to all. I would argue doctor care in a time of one's illness is also an inalienable human right. Levin, it seems, disagrees. As with most conservatives, his moral code rooted in faith is suspiciously absent in the health care argument. There isn't anything in Levin's book that does anything to change the prevailing stereotype among liberals that view the conservative movement as a veiled white supremacist movement.

Levin does no service when he continues the trend of right wing authors and commentators propping up liberal straw men that contribute to the country's downward spiral towards increasingly hateful and polarizing political debate complete with the fear mongering and red baiting we've come to all know and love at the hands of the GOP.

This is a great book for anyone looking for a clear explanation of what seperates the liberal mindset from the conservative. It also gives the conservative a map to follow to regain the power that will get the U.S. back to it's founding principles. I would suggest this book to anyone who is a conservative or who is unclear as to which direction to look for answers to this country's problems.

I wish I had ordered more of this book. It is so profoundly true.
I'm giving it for a Christmas present.

I was very disappointed with this novel. It is just another "conservative" who attacks the "liberals" yet at the same time seems to forget the mistakes of past and present Republican politicians.

I was expecting a little bit more.

I was once a Jimmy Carter liberal, because I was young and only received my news via drive by media. Once I started working and seeing my hard earned paychecks going to higher taxes I sensed that something wasn't right. Listening to talk radio exposed me to great thinkers like Dr. Savage and the Great one, Mark Levin. This book should be required reading in all our public schools. Our kids aren't getting the history of why our country has been as successful as it has over such a short timeframe. This book is a gem and written plainly and to the point.
I highly recommend it. Conservatism is the only thing that is going to save our country.

Excellent book. A must read. No wonder it was at #1 on the NY Times bestseller list for so long.

I have been a police officer for over 20 years and I have some working familiarity with Constitutional Law. I need to. Treating citizens in accordance with the Constitution is a job requirement.

I love the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, but never so much as when I started to read Liberty and Tyranny. While I knew the "Tyranny" part in theory, I had not realized that I was (we are) so very close to knowing it experientially. Until of course I started to do all the work and read Alinsky and Clowerd-Piven. Our President, Supreme Court, House of Representatives and Senate are following these tactics and plans (as they have been for decades) almost to the letter.

I have stopped looking for the smoking gun...I now have to (we who love our Liberty now have to) disarm these Marxists of their loaded gun. It has been pointed directly at the heart of our Constitutional protections for years and the hammer is cocked.

The only thing that helped Ronald Reagan collapse the Soviet Union was the overwhelming strength and vitality of our economy. When our economy is destroyed, when our remaining liberties are exercised only at the permission of the government, what will save us?

WAKE UP AMERICA! You still think Mark, Rush, Sean and Sarah are all just big bags of wind? Google Saul AlinskyRules for Radicals and Clowerd-Piven The Nation. Read THEIR books and articles, then go read Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto. If these do not chill you to the bone then don't call the rescue squad. Call the coroner, because you are what we policemen call DRT (Dead Right There).

Thank you and God bless you Mark for your love of our Constitution and your knowledge of our enemy.


Alan G. Blaum

Mark Levin's book, Liberty and Tyranny (A Conservative Manifesto), has certainly become a polarizing lightning rod of controversy. In most cases, the dialogue has been relatively civil and even interesting to read. Though Levin's credentials are certainly apparent and warrant his writing a book on this subject, there are still a few malcontents who just can't seem to withstand the thought of someone disagreeing with their worldview. Agree with him or not, Levin's book is one of the most relevant and timely books published this year.

I don't intend to debate, debunk or criticize Mark Levin and his book. What I do intend to do is provide an actual book review for those trying to make up their minds whether or not to read Levin's book. My goal is to pass on my observations, a few opinions and summarize its content. At this point, there are almost 2,100 of the other kind of reviews on Amazon.com to keep you entertained.

I found Levin's book engaging, well written and his points well reasoned and clearly presented. His purpose was stated right from the beginning. His goal is to present the Conservative viewpoint, historically and as it impacts a variety of important subjects affecting Americans today. At the same time, Levin addresses what he views as the gradual and dramatic changes of the American government; its relationship to the Constitution as written, intended and applied by the Founding Fathers. He utilizes his expertise as an attorney to identify and isolate the systematic, and in his opinion, the illegal movement away from the boundaries set by the Constitution and rapidly toward a Socialist, government-dependent society.

Levin begins to develop his case by scrutinizing the administration of one of America's most revered presidents, Franklin Roosevelt. He shows how, in his opinion, during the Great Depression, FDR used misleading dialogue, economically unsound laws, and played on the public's woeful circumstances to push through what FDR called the New Deal. As pointed out by Levin, the New Deal was actually a compilation of former President Hoover's proposals and actually prolonged the Great Depression by seven years (13 years total). All the while expanding what was supposed to be a limited Central Government (according to the Constitution) into a huge, imposing and intrusive system, tearing at both State and personal liberty and creating an atmosphere of tyranny.

Levin describes Conservatism as grounded in the principles of personal liberty, driven by prudence toward free-market progress, by people of religious faith like the Founding Fathers, grounded in the letter of Constitutional law, and functioning by Federalism. He instead contends that America has become a birth-to-grave welfare state that no longer views Capitalism, private property and entrepreneurship free of undue government restrictions as the most beneficial endeavor of its citizenry. Nor is the Constitution, as written by the Founding Fathers, the law of the land.

"Statists" and "Statism" are two words Levin uses throughout his book to describe the philosophy of those he says are driving America toward a state of Socialism. Though I was unfamiliar with this term, Levin takes great pains to clearly identify what and who he is referring to, without naming names. Using this cleaver literary device, I presume he is saying, "If the shoe fits, wear it." Levin asserts again and again that, "America is so distant today from its founding principles that it is difficult to precisely describe the nature of American government."

I must admit, I learned a lot from Levin's book, especially from an historical point of view. He presented information that clearly cast new light on old events and subjects I simply took for granted as true, or untrue. His exceptional use of Endnotes allowed me to easily double-check his cited material and verify its validity. His background as an attorney really became apparent here. There were a few points at which Levin seemed to ramble on and I was not sure exactly where he was leading. For the most part, though, his points were clearly stated, cogent, and well supported.

Liberty and Tyranny is not an especially long book (just over 200 pages) and is divided into ten chapters, each one building on the previous chapters. The extensive section of Endnotes is impressive and pretty much a must for a book like this one. In the final section, or more specifically, the Epilogue, Levin presents what the entire book leads up to. Here Levin presents his 10-point Conservative Manifesto in some detail.

There is no question that Levin's book will remain controversial and be the focal point of intellectual, as well as terribly heated arguments for a long, long time. Whether you like it or not, Levin's book is well written and the arguments are compelling. So to simply write it off as the ranting of another crazy, Right Winger boarders on pure stubborn ignorance. I think if my worldview couldn't withstand the civil and intelligent arguments of another, then maybe I should take a good, long look at what I espouse.

And there you have it...Liberty and Tyranny (A Conservative Manifesto), by Mark R. Levin.

Rarely is there one book that defines a movement or a group as well as Mark Levin has defined conservatism in Liberty and Tyranny. This is a well-rounded, historical prospective which feeds reason to a starving civilization, a civilization which has abandoned reason and logic and replaced them with emotion and fraud. A civilization on this course will eventually starve to death without strong replenishment. Mark Levin has provided this sustenance in this magnificent manifesto.

I am very impressed with Mark Levin and find him to be a visionary.

B Smith
Mays Landing, NJ

Levin is on fire. He puts it very clear on entitlements, the way to prosperity, and what needs to be done to oppose big government enthusiasts.

Liberalism is a disease afflicting mankind today. Its against the rules of nature to stay sedentary to old customs and values when the world is changing. Nature dictates that when variables within the environment change, the human as an individual and as a whole adapt to accommodate the changes. This is what conservatism is all about. Liberalism is about adhering to all old set of traditions, as backward as they may be, and trying to adjust reality and facts to fit the worldview of the traditions. As a great conservative commentator once said 'Facts have a conservative bias!'.

I regard myself as a moderate and would say that I strongly agreed with maybe 25% of the author's positive viewpoints on conservatism (i.e. on how things ought to be) and was sympathetic on several other points. However, in reading this book I could not escape the overall structure and tone.

Mr Levin takes numerous groups which span a wide spectrum of beliefs and says that they basically fall into two categories: conservatives and 'statists.' Unfortunately, this structure is so flawed as to be basically useless: I can't think of anyone who would endorse everything that he attributes to the 'statists,' even though the author represents them as a homogeneous group. More or fewer people may agree with each point, but the philosophy as a whole doesn't describe anybody. In short, about half of the book is about something that doesn't actually exist at all. It would be one thing to use this structure in a conversation on the spur of the moment if it just suddenly came to mind, but it borders on being disingenuous and dishonest to use it as the basis of a published work, which ought to be carefully considered throughout.

This problem is compounded by his tone: the author is extremely hostile throughout. You'd almost think that 'statists' are the Devil's best friends, utterly corrupt in every possible way, without the least concern for other human beings. As a scholar of other issues where objectivity and politeness are the rule, I find it difficult to engage with contemporary American politics due to this lack of basic decency (from all sides). I cannot understand how this type of behavior is tolerated; it certainly isn't beneficial to conservatives or the United States.

Lots of great content, this guy could probably write a really great introductory-level book if he learned some more effective communication skills and stopped trying to get everybody riled.

This is simply one of the greatest books ever written. Mark Levin is truly one of the leaders of the Conservative movement and one of the big hopes to stop the trend to national socialism. Every thinking American should read this book ...... and soon!!

This book should be mandatory reading school kids since it's not being taught anymore.
If you were not taught America's founding, this book serves as a centralized basis for learning the Constitution and it's concepts. Freedom is what makes America great. Learn how and why we achieved it and why we strive to keep it against those who'd strip it from us.

To all of you out there even thinking of buying this book, you will never be the same! This is one of the best books I have ever read. I may be a history nerd but, this book puts everything our government should and should not be into black and white. Mark Levin is a man who is not only a genious, but explains everything so any one can understand what is really at stake, when it comes to big government vs. freedom. I feel good to be a conservative even though I've been a democrat may entire life. I read this book on a dare & I highly recomend it to all democrats & independents.

I feel that Mark Levin's Liberty and Tyranny is a must read..must have.. reference!! It is sad how few people understand the history of our country and government and what a remarkable system we have been blessed with..and what it will take to save America and once again be that Shining City on the Hill that we were founded to be and have been for generations!

Mark is a treasure as is his work!

Upon reading the title of my review,I would imagine most Americans would expect the slant of it would be Leftist and Anti-American,with a holier than thou smugness thrown in for good measure.Surprise!Surprise!,despite what Americans hear from Canadian media,there are actually some people of Conservative thinking in Canada,but they are seldom heard from on our Government Radio & Television--the CBC.The National newspapers like The Ottawa Citizen,and the Toronto Star express the Conservative viewpoint about as often as does Pravda or the New York Times.MSNBC,CNN and other Mainstream TV Networks are generally accepted as unbiased here and FOX is probably subscribed to by only 10 or 15 percent.One reason for that being that the standard cable packages don't offer it , and it must be subscribed to as an extra.There is an attempt to improve the situation underway by including Al Jezerra as an addition to the standard packages.Don't think I'm kidding--I'm not.The Government is presently considering adding $10/month to TV cabel rates to support "Local Broadcasting".Do you want to bet that will improve things?
There are an awful lot of reviews already written on this excellent book and well worth reading.Whether your mind is bent to the left,center or right;I think it does an excellent job of showing the differences on many issues that are front and center today.What Levin is attempting to do is to define those differences so that you can decide what is best for you personally and the country in general.I tend to agree with the author on most of what he says;except I might differ with him a bit on the use of the term "Statist" Where I disagree is in the need for a new term.The word Socialist" is already well defined and established ;and that is exactly what a "Statist" is;so why not call a spade a spade.I think he has fallen for the line these sorts use all the time.We don't need expressions like Intellectually Challenged" when we already have a perfect word available--"Stupid".
With the raging debate now underway in the United States over Socialized Medicine,Americans need look no further than Europe ,Canada ,Russia ,Great Britain and Cuba.Under no stretch of the imagination would the US be better off nor would the people get better health care or advances in treatment if it were to adopt Government health care.The evidence is everywhere and by far the most important thing is that once adopted,people lose control of the decisions and choices with their health,and it cannot be reversed.If you think health care is expensive now,wait till the bureaucrats get control of it.There are a lot of things that need fixing,but if you think politicians,bureaucrats and government take over is the answer;you are going to be sadly mistaken.
Things are tough today,and that is the nature of free enterprise ,when it shakes out its problems.It was seen during the Great Depression when Communists abounded with [...] , another name for Socialism,wasn't the system that provided the solution;and Socialism isn't the answer now.After all, they are the same thing.
Mark does not only address the questions of Socialized Medicine;he also explains the Conservative versus Liberal concepts of Taxation,Enviroment,Judges,The Administrative State,Government Education,Immigration,Entitlements,Foreign Folicy and Security,Faith and The Constitution, in what he calls A Conservative Manifesto.Here is where I differ with him again.We don't need to apply the word "Manifesto",a word much more descriptive of Socialist ,Communist or Facist dogma; than the Ideals that America has been built upon and succeded by following.
In most countries,including Canada,Judges are appointed for life by the party in power,not elected by the people as in America.Is that what Americans want?
If you want a glimpse of what embracing Socialism really means,look to your neighbors to the north;we have travelled much further down this road.There is an excellent book,"Blue Thunder--A History of Canada From A Conservative Perspective" ;check out my review dated September 10,2009.In America ,Democrats like to shy away from the term "Liberal" for obvious reasons.In Canada, the Left are quite comfortable with the term,when "Socialist" is closer to their ideals;and in fact a large number of our politicians are comfortable with and even openly call themselves Socialists.Recently, Canada named a politician by the name of Tommy Douglas ,as the greatest Canadian of all time.He was actually a Socialist in a party called New Democrats,given the credit for bringing Socialized Medicine to Canada;when in fact,it was done by the Liberal Party.You might not know it ;but tens of thousands of Canadians can't even get a family doctor under this system.At the present time ,the Media refer to our Government as Progressive Conservative when it is ,in fact, a Minority Government with 2/3 of the members of parliament Liberal and/or Socialist.
In my review on "Blue Thunder" ,I warn that one should be careful in what they wish for---they might get it!
Several reviewers quibble over Levin's term "Statists" as do I.
Let's call them what they are "Socialists" and a good definition for them is "people who have nothing,and don't want anyone else to have anything either---so let's redistribute the wealth".
As a parting thought remember this;
The three greatest employers in the world are;
The Chinese Army
The Indian Railway
and
The British National Health System
America is the best in many ways,but she succeded without Socialism.

I was taken by a recent poll that indicated that the the image abroad of America as a good country,has increased from 30% to 70% now that President Obama and the Democrats(Socialists) have replaced President Bush and the Republicans(Conservatives).This has to be the greatest change in world opinion of America in history,or is it the Liberal media at work again ,and wishful thinking along the lines of that old adage that "Misery Loves Company"?

I wrote my first review of this book before I had finished it and was criticised (rightly) for doing so. I have now fininshed and have not changed my rating. This is not a good book. I won't repeat all the reasons as I have already provided them - my only new observation is with regard to the term "statist." The author uses this term over and over and over and over and over (yes - it is ridiculous to be sure). The amzing thing is that he never actually defines his terms.

I consider myself fairly well educated (2 undergraduate degress: business and political science) and one post-grad degree (J.D.) and 55 years of life experience and I had never even heard the term used (let alone used ad-naseum like this) before.

Here is a definition (that I suspect Mark would find ok and this is is good as any as he does not define):
A political viewpoint "that sovereignty is vested not in the people but in the national state, and that all individuals and associations exist only to enhance the power, the prestige, and the well-being of the state. The fascist concept of statism, which as seen as synonymous with the concept of nation, and corporatism repudiates individualism and exalts the nation as an organic body headed by the Supreme Leader and nurtured by unity, force, and discipline." [From Political Science Dictionary]

Reading this and thinking about the ranting Mark does in the book it dawned on me that he has created a straw man and then spends hundreds of pages railing against that straw man. I would condider myself to be the kind of person the author is critical of (although I would not classsify myself as a "mindless drone") - at least close enough that I should be in the group of folks that is the "set" of persons within "statist."

The only problem is I am not in that set and neither is anyone else I know (with views opposite that of the author). To understand the authors arguments you have to adopt the definiiton (this one or one like it will be fine). You start with a belief that "soverignty is vested [inb the]state" and that the individual role is subservient to the state. Sorry folks - but I would join this author in ranting against anyone who believed such nonsense (if I could only find one).

How many of the mindless drones giving this book 5 stars actually understand the term, what it means, and how the use of it actually makes a different point than most of these nimwits think is being made.

So sad.

When you watch the mainstream news, a very bright face is put upon our national government...Obama and his team are doing a good job, much better than that hick Bush and his clan...things are looking up, the world at large likes us more because of Obama's charm. He has reached out to the terrorists, and now even they like us. All we have to fear is global warming, and Obama will take care of that in short order.

In spite of all this, you got this feeling....this feeling that something's not quite right...but what do you know?...you're just an average citizen...and besides, the woman on tv with the perky smile says our government is doing just fine...

Then you read Mr. Levin's book. He confirms that nagging feeling you've had, that feeling that all is not right. Our freedoms are evaporating, our money is becoming worthless, and many of our cherished ideals are being replaced by something that truly resembles tyranny--perhaps a "soft" kind of tryanny...but isn't that how most tryannies begin?

Thank you Mr. Levin. Your plain talk is something that our country sorely needs right now. Keep talking. Keep explaining.

Also recommended for the Holidays: Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices: A Holiday Novel of Hope and Healing

And for anyone who has ever loved an animal:Rescuing Sprite: A Dog Lover's Story of Joy and Anguish

This novel tells the inspiring story of one man's erotic journey from liberty to tyranny, and then back to liberty. That said, I think he's a closet liberal. Until I see a flag pin and a bow tie, I'm not convinced he represents the real america.

I've listened to Mark Levin. He frequently makes factual errors or just invents things that don't exist. He does this because he knows his audience eats it up and would never question his largely fictional stories.

It's interesting how much he appeals to the 26% of the population that lives in an alternate universe. The book is pretty shoddy. It's not anything the average person---in the 74% majority---would ever regard seriously.

Mr. Levin is a modern day F.A. Hayek. Liberty and Freedom makes a compelling case to the audience of today, that "The Fatal Conceit" of the Statist will indeed lead us, and is in fact leading us, down "The Road to Serfdom".

What a great book....bought one for myself and one for my brother-in-law....Mark Levin is the "best" he should run for President we would be in great hands...no wonder it's a best seller!

if u beleive in Jesus Christ and think the united states and it's constitution is a blessing from God u should read this book and share it with your family, friends and children because the united states and it's constitution is under severe attack by the devil and his liberal minded operatives.

I don't know if I will ever receive this book ordered a long time ago. I would be glad to review this book and give it a higher rating when and if I ever get it.