Title: The Ranting of an Uneducated Reactionary
Author: Oscar Phillips
Publisher: Shyman and Shyster Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-578-23844-9
Genre: Opinion
Pages: 342
Reviewed by: Arthur Thares
Pacific Book Review
Politics is easily the touchiest subject in American culture now and in the foreseeable future. Whether we like it or not, it is a huge part of our daily lives, and everyone has their opinions about it. While most people keep their opinions to themselves or quietly whisper them in the confines of a “safe space,” author Oscar Phillips has immortalized his opinions in the form of a 342-page book. Many of these opinions may be controversial, the author holds no punches in this ode to capitalism.
As the title suggests, Oscar Phillips spills his unfiltered thoughts onto the pages of this book. It is a collection of political opinions ranging from the Reagan years all the way to today, with the common themes of anti-socialism and pro-conservatism. He takes on many hot-button issues, including race, religion, and of course, a particular disdain for those on the left side of the aisle. As with all political opinions, some people will love Phillip’s take while others will despise it, but one thing that people will agree on is his passion for the subjects he discusses. While many of these topics are very serious, Phillips does his best to add levity with humor where he can.
The book is an amalgamation of essays Phillips has written throughout the years combined with new content. There is not much organization in the chapter progression, but that is expected from a book with the word “ranting” in the title. That being said, the chapters are concise, and there is no problem following Phillip’s ideas. He uses vocabulary which most readers will understand, and many complex ideas are simplified for the reader. The conversational tone of the book makes it a relatively quick read even at its significant page length, and readers will find themselves trying to talk to Phillips through the pages for better or worse.
A book like this walks the line between sharing ideas and being trapped in its own echo chamber. People who lean conservative will likely enjoy this book, though it doesn’t challenge many of their ideas. In contrast, people on the liberal side will find this book challenges many of their ideas. However, people don’t generally enjoy their ideas being challenged, especially concerning politics. Whether you agree with the author or not, he makes passionate arguments that he clearly believes in, and it is up to the reader to decide if his opinion aligns with their personal beliefs.
