Had higher expectations for this, given the title of the book.

If I knew Todd Starnes was just another sarcastic Fox News toad I'd have skipped it. The hypocrisy is 5 stars though.

Free speech for them and their religion but not others. This is actually just another screed from a paranoid Christian (or Southern Baptist to be precise) right-winger. The author likes to remind you, like you have poor-memory retention that he's from the South, and the South is just the best and sweet tea is second only to Christ's blood itself in life sustaining hydration. It got annoying very quickly. His ignorance (of which there are numerous) of the fact that the Southern twang drawl accent is universally derided as ignorant and racist was just sweet - not as delicious as sweet tea, but close enough. It's what we say in Australia: 'That's gold!'

Most of the references are his own...on Fox News. So if you knew the author's work you wouldn't have much need to read this.

Of the solutions it offers, which I was expecting, most were join your local bible study and study at two of America's most extreme Bible based universities (Liberty Uni by evangelical crooks the Falwells and something I'd never seen before Truett Cath-something [which I lost track off and since it has no index and the search function was broken for the ARC, it just made it more frustrating]). Seriously can not make this up.

One star for false titling, it would deserve 3 if it had better references and cases that weren't sensationalised and taken out of context. And it was titled 'My Southern Baptist Opinions on the Culture Wars'.

On two occassions I chuckled silently at the (weak) sensationalised media stories that turned out to be storms in a tea cup. Or baby breath over sweet tea. So it soon turned to a waste of time. Saddens me to say it, but there really needs to be some minimum education level or IQ for writers of books to save the world time. Perhaps it is a self-published title. Or a Christian publisher that will publish anything they think will remotely help their cause, however deluded and misguided. No wonder it took so long to read, an interesting book would have taken less than 10 hours over 2 or 3 days, but this took much longer and could only be read in short spurts over weeks, it was actually semi-abandoned for months, and then in a few hours I just skimmed through the last half (from 30% to 70% the rest is poorly formatted references taking up 30%).

Plus the preachiness doesn't end there, the very last pages invite you to some daily prayer e-mail list. What a joke. No wonder it flopped. Glad it was just an ebook from NetGalley and I could click to the next page quickly.

I did not have the opportunity to read this in a timely fashion.

The Deplorables Guide To Making America Great Again
By: Todd Starnes

First let me get this out of the way: When I saw the title, I downloaded the book to my digital library without reading the book description. I didn't know the book was about religion. Since we just had the 2016 Presidential. Election, where conservative Republicans were called “Deplorables” and POTUS Donald Trump's campaign slogan was “Make America Great Again”, I THOUGHT this book was about President Trump and his visions to Make America Great Again.

The book's in my library, and I always read whatever I add to my library. While I am not a religious person, I am an inquisitive person. I try to be a well-rounded person with fair knowledge of many different aspects of life.

My review and opinion of the book, as a non-religious person, will probably surprise people, including the author.
I enjoyed the book and strongly agree with the premise of the book.

The book is a very powerful read. It is very inspirational and thought provoking. Mainstream America needs to read this book. The book speaks to American patriots whom the Liberal Left haters call “Deplorables”. The speech is loud, clear and strong.

While I may not personally agree with a few of the author's Christian beliefs, I none the less, agree that Christians need to stand up, push back, speak up and be heard. The “CHURCH” (not just the people) need to stand up for Christian beliefs. I would encourage remembrance of others legal rights.

Whether others (insert Liberals) admit it or not, America WAS founded on Judaeo-Christian beliefs. Our founding fathers WERE Christian and our Constitution WAS written using Christian beliefs.
When I felt I needed to in the book, I substituted the word “American” for “Christian”. I found that there's really not much difference between the two when thinking of “Reclaiming America's values and heritage”.

The book encourages Americans, especially Christians, to push back against those that would force Christianity to be relegated to the back burners and eventually be destroyed. As Americans we need to take back our National heritage, our strengths and our basic beliefs. To stop others from silencing our voice. America needs to stand up against the Liberals whether in government, the courts, the media, our colleges, our Elementary schools, and on the streets where the liberals FORCE their liberal beliefs upon everyone. Liberalism IS NOT the voice of America!
Too long have the (Christian) American people sat idly by and watched our children be brainwashed, our legal system being corrupted, and our Nation being destroyed.

Author, Todd Starnes, is a proud southern conservative who speaks my language.

“Freedom is just one generation away from extinction” - Ronald Regan

In 2016 we almost became extinct as a free nation. As an American I find that terrifying! I believe these brainwashed liberal left (snowflakes) in all their delusional beliefs ARE the generation that will destroy America.
Someone needs to “bless their little liberal hearts”. *If you're from the South, you recognize that's NOT a compliment or form of endearment.

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review. Review will be posted on netgalley, goodreads and moonshineartspot.blogspot

This is my first book by Todd Starnes and I think it is safe to say that it will not be the last. What I appreciate most about this book is the fact that Starnes doesn't use it as a way to discuss the presidential campaigns of the various candidiates, or to convince anyone that his way of thinking is the right way of thinking. It stays true to the name and is a guide for those people who identify themselves as Deplorables.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. Although I knew about many of the things that Starnes mentioned, he defnitely gave me some new things to think about. And it was presented in such a way that forced me to really evaluate my thoughts and beliefs on many of the issues discussed.

At the end of every chapter Starnes gives what he referst to as marching orders. These orders are suggestions for how we, as readers, can become involved in the causes that we feel most passionate about. Change doesn't come from one man or woman in a position of power in the white house, but from us, the citizens of the country. If we want to see change, we have to work for that change. The orders that Starnes includes are great ways of becoming more involved in the community and are things that I definitely want to look more into.

This book is not designed to be a discussion book for groups of people from all political spectrums; it's a guide for those who already share many opinions and what they can do to make their voices heard. Having said that, this is a great book for those who do identify with this group and would like to become educated on issues that are affecting them right now and how they can become involved.

I'm glad that I have read this book and look forward to trying out other books by Todd Starnes as well as branching out my political readings so that I can have a more rounded view of current issues. Starnes has given me a push that will help me become more involved and I hope to start using some of his suggestions to help make this great country great again.

Glad that I am considered one of the deplorables. This book was awesome

Well, I've got to say that I was surprised by The Deplorables' Guide to Making America Great Again. When I got it, I wasn't sure if I would like it or find it silly; but it was really good! All of the stories of things that are happening today really showcased how PC we are all becoming and it's kind of scary in a way that people get offended over the littlest of things.

The book was written well and had some humor, which was great. I recommend this book.

*I received a complimentary eBook copy via NetGalley for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

I have too much political bias to give this book a fair, objective look. I thought that it would offer common ground to a liberal progressive like myself but I found myself getting angrier and angrier at the ignorance and prejudice that the author favored.

Todd Starnes has assembled in one easy-to-read book numerous events that have happened and continue to happen in America that will make you think we’re living in a world of McCarthyism once again. I had read of a few of the events, but the majority of them have not been reported on (imagine that!). Combined together in one list will really make you think. It’s scary, sad, and demoralizing but Starnes writes in a way that makes you chuckle at times. He lists his “marching orders” at the end of each chapter; a list of suggestions a quiet, normal conservative may consider in order to become more active. And no, these don’t include wearing masks, carrying bats, and smashing windows, marching in a vagina costume, spitting, or hitting people with used sanitary products.
He discusses the whitewashing of history, “neutral American accent” lessons (I really chuckled at this one), and various ways the minority is screeching and screaming to make the majority (aka Deplorables) feel that they are outnumbered.
He reflects on Obama’s eight years and the effects it has had on society. In regard to Obama flooding terrorist countries with our tax dollars, he notes that Obama must think “Death to America,” is the Muslim way of saying, “Hey, y’all.”
I’m not a devoted Christian like Starnes, but I respect him and his strength. Not too many people are willing to speak up and draw the ire of the left. Just reading the comments of his book show a big divide (exactly like Clarke’s “Cop Under Fire”). You either love it or hate it. The problem isn’t that one hates it. The problem is the senseless dribble they write to substantiate themselves. (I wait with bated breath for a comment below calling my review ‘senseless dribble’.) When I read the hates, I resume chuckling. They’re simply a continuation of examples from Starnes book, justifying everything he has said.
I strongly suggest this book to anyone who is drowning under all the negative headlines, screechy whines of grown children who crawl out of mommy’s basement just long enough to pee in the opposite sex’s bathroom, and those whose feelings are so, so terribly fragile. This is a nice, refreshing change.

Grab your sweet tea and take a seat on the porch swing because Todd Starnes is going to wax eloquently (and humorously) about what conservatives in general feel about our current culture. At times, it sounds a bit angry, but I think that's somewhat justifiable. The hypocrisy of the left, at one hand destroying the businesses of people who refuse to celebrate something they disagree with while at the other hand reserving the right to not do business with whom they disagree, does tend to rile folks up. I like that Mr. Starnes doesn't just spout off. Rather, he offers in his Marching Orders in each chapter practical ways we can change our own spheres of influence right where we are. It's tough living in an upside-down world that excuses and even applauds evil. Allow Mr. Starnes to help you process your thoughts and move forward with pride and confidence in making our country great again. I am not a Trump supporter, but I don't have to be in order to make my own corner of this nation a truly wonderful place to be.

I gratefully received this book as an eARC from the author, publisher, and NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.

The message in the book is a good one, but it really gets bogged down with the constant cascade of details....example after example after example. I get what the author is trying to say, but he doesn't saute his point; he charcoals it.

Well, I guess I'm a deplorable. I voted for Trump. Fox contributor Todd Starnes gives voice to many deplorables in his new book The Deplorables' Guide to Making America Great Again. While Fox News may be "fair and balanced," The Deplorables' Guide is definitely not balanced, although I would say he's fair. Starnes covers some of the hot issues from the 2016 presidential election, some of the hot cultural controversies from today's headlines, and a few odds and ends from political and cultural life in the United States. His perspective and positions are very clear. No one will be under the illusion that he might be a moderate Republican or a closet Hillary supporter.

Starnes doesn't have patience for the outrage coming from the left, the "perpetually offended snowflakes" who spend their days "waxing poetic about gender fluidity, taking selfies, and debating which lives matter and which lives do not." The social justice warriors are the legacy of the Obama administration. Writing as a Christian, Starnes calls on other Christians to stand against the erosion of conservative values in the U.S. "God's little lambs can no longer go silently where the Left leads us. Our duty is to be civil--not silent." The renewal he's calling for starts at home: "Making America great again does not start at the White House. It starts at your house, and mine."

Many of Starnes's topics and examples concern the marginalization of Christianity from public life. In schools, school events, and public gatherings even the most benign and non-sectarian expressions of faith are excluded. A marching band playing an arrangement of a Christian hymn? Forget it. Students saying "God bless America." No way. A football coach kneeling and silently praying on the field after a game? Get rid of him.

I had two questions as I read these accounts. First of all, don't many of these public expressions dilute the Christian witness? He quoted one principal who said "the children saying 'God bless America' had nothing to do with religion. 'It wasn't taught with any intention of having any type of religious overtones. . . . It was taught to show patriotism.'" Is Starnes comfortable to reducing God to our national mascot? To taking religious overtones out of religious expression? Second, it's one thing when a high school football crowd sings a hymn that the marching band is forbidden to play. But what if Starnes kids go to public school in Dearborn, Michigan, and the vast majority of the student body is Muslim? When the food is halal, they pray several times a day, and the dress code for girls requires head coverings? When Christians are in the majority, he's OK with the majority culture ruling the day. But he doesn't address the changing demographics in pockets of our diverse nation where Christians are becoming the minority.

Starnes also talks about the way Christians in business and entertainment are having their rights eroded. Some of the cases are well-known, but worth revisiting. Who would have imagined that government officials would try to block a business opening because of the founder's religious views? Chick-fil-a has faced that from a number of municipalities and universities around the country. Or a TV program being cancelled because of the stars' views? Ask the Benham brothers about their HGTV show. The goal of progressives is "to silence any speech they disagree with. . . . They are creating a generation of intolerance--a generation that is OK shutting down free speech and purging dissenting viewpoints."

Whether the election of Donald Trump will reverse any of these trends is yet to be seen. He writes, "we stopped just shy of complete moral meltdown, the crumble of our nations physical (not to mention spiritual) infrastructure." I join Starnes in his dismay at the moral turn our country has taken. But I wish his tone was less belligerent. A Christian's goal should be to influence culture by showing love and leading their neighbors into relationship with Jesus. I am certain Starnes would not disagree with me on that, but I can see how some would read The Deplorables' Guide and come away thinking that Starnes is in favor of ham-fisted cultural dominance.

The Deplorables' Guide is great reading for conservative Christians who want to commiserate about the decline of culture in America. Starnes is an entertaining writer, and I found myself laughing with him, cursing with him, and becoming convinced, as he said, to start making America great again in my little slice of the world. He provides "Marching Orders" at the end of each chapter, ways that you can change your own little world in hopes of make the greater world even greater. Liberals probably don't want to bother with this book. You might learn a little about how conservatives think, but mostly it will just make you angry.



Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

I am giving this book one star. It is not because I do not agree with Starnes (even though I don’t). It is because the organization of this book was poor, making his resulting “arguments” not well-defined or structurally sound. I am also giving this book one star because I felt that the author was trying too hard to reach a certain audience – namely those “deplorables” in the South; to do this he used phrases such as “cook my grits,” which were rather jarring against what I thought was supposed to be a more informational book on today’s political atmosphere. Because of this, I felt that he missed the opportunity to open a dialogue with a greater number of people on both ends of the political spectrum. But that was not the author’s point. The author’s point was to cause controversy by being “politically incorrect” and insulting liberals profusely every chance he got.

The author also failed to really talk about Trump other than noting his Christianity and conservatism (also, ignore the fact that he used to be a Democrat). He did not talk about his disparaging views in his policies. He did not talk about how some of Trump’s ideologies might affect everyday Americans, both positively and negatively. He did not talk about Trump’s campaign nor the continual stream of derogatory comments that were made.