Too Dumb to Fail

How the GOP Betrayed the Reagan Revolution to Win Elections (and How It Can Reclaim Its Conservative Roots)

By: Matt K. Lewis

Narrated by: Matt K. Lewis

From a leading voice among young conservatives, an impassioned argument that to stay relevant the Republican Party must look beyond short-term electoral gains and re-commit to historic conservative values.

In 1963 Richard Hofstadter published his landmark book Anti-Intellectualism in American Life. Today, Matt Lewis argues, America's inclination toward simplicity and stupidity is stronger than ever, and its greatest victim is the Republican Party.

Lewis, a respected conservative columnist and frequent guest on MSNBC's Morning Joe, eviscerates the phenomenon of candidates with a "no experience required" mentality and tea party "patriots" who possess bluster but few core beliefs. Lewis traces the conservative movement's roots, from Edmund Burke to William F. Buckley, and from Goldwater's loss to Reagan's landslide victory. He highlights visionary thinkers who understood nuance and deep ideology and changed the course of the nation.

As we approach the 2016 presidential election, Lewis has an urgent message for fellow conservatives: embrace wisdom, humility, qualifications, and inclusion - or face extinction.

©2016 Matt K. Lewis (P)2016 Hachette Audio

A great book for the conservative

Would you consider the audio edition of Too Dumb to Fail to be better than the print version?

I would.

What did you like best about this story?

The information about certain events I never knew before.

What about Matt K. Lewis’s performance did you like?

Everything The man's an excellent narrator.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

How the Time For Choosing speech that made Ronald Reagan's political career came to be.

Any additional comments?

A must-have for any political fans, and conservatives in general.

Informative...wish he hadnt read it himself

A good wat to get a better perspective on conservative views, history and future.

E.J. Dionne wrote a similar book; buy that one.

Would you try another book from Matt K. Lewis and/or Matt K. Lewis?

I would not likely buy another book from Matt K. Lewis. I feel as though he cherry picked a few sources and was keen to omitfacts on a variety of topics; Southern Strategy, Climate Gate, Right Wing Media Influence, etc. Most of his arguments go like this, "Some believe that Republicans are anti-intellectual; but I know five guys are Republicans and they are very intellectual."

Did Too Dumb to Fail inspire you to do anything?

It inspired me to read a better book about the conservative movement; E.J. Dionne's recent book titled, "How the Right Went Wrong."

Any additional comments?

I feel that he wanted his audience to feel he was being objective; yet paid no credence in doing so. Every time he'd mention a Democratic position or belief, he'd add a smug, snarky statement that misrepresented those positions. Again, read "How the Right Went Wrong" by EJ Dionne; it has much better and more in-depth research into the conservative movement. Lewis just scratched the surface and omitted a lot of the darker history of the Republican party.

Intriguing Book and Subject

Intriguing Book. Matt does an exceptional job narrating. Can’t wait for the next book to come out.

Opposing viewpoint

So as a liberal atheist Democrat, I occasionally like to expose myself to the opposition viewpoint in order to broaden my appreciation of my conservative friends and their opinions. Matt Lewis does an excellent job articulating the conservative worldview (particularly from an evangelical perspective). He also displays keen insight into the challenges facing the Republican Party in particular, and the conservative movement in general, in an era of social media, constant news headlines, partisan news outlets, and the plethora of talking heads on both sides of the aisle. While I certainly don't agree with Mr. Lewis on much, I do appreciate his candor, and expect that the Republican establishment would benefit from a hard look in the mirror. This book is that mirror.

One of the Best!

Definitely one of the best books on what has happened and happening to the Republican party.

loved this book

Even a casual political observer or pop culture lover will tear through this book. Read it.