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I commenting on one book anigbrowl and not at all about the naming of others. It is a pretty common practice on political and business books of all stripes to go for the most provocative title.

In fact, I am commenting on the contents, not the title.

I have not read Victoria (2014) by William S. Lind, so I have no comment on that.



The two books I mentioned were debated as much for their content as for the provocative title, though I might add that the use of a provocative title to maximize sales by manufacturing controversy is hardly something to be celebrated, but rather represents the decline of political discourse.

Regardless, I don't think that unhappiness of a work's subject with the portrayal therein necessarily carries any weight. Demonstrable inaccuracy would be a valid critique, but portraits can be both truthful and unflattering.


"The two books I mentioned were debated as much for their content as for the provocative title, though I might add that the use of a provocative title to maximize sales by manufacturing controversy is hardly something to be celebrated, but rather represents the decline of political discourse."

I also notice that I didn't say if I agreed or disagreed with the practice, nor have I read either book. Marketing is quite a nasty subject in its own right.

"Regardless, I don't think that unhappiness of a work's subject with the portrayal therein necessarily carries any weight. Demonstrable inaccuracy would be a valid critique, but portraits can be both truthful and unflattering."

raisspen found a nice review that points out the flaws https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13162277


Well...it was nicely written. Argued, not so much. I don't think we're going to see eye to eye on this, and I'm not interested in carrying any water for Hochschild - I have yet to read the book and it's focus seems too narrow and shallow to me - I don't really need another explanation of how conservatives think because I've immerse myself in conservative thought and conversations systematically for a good 15 years now.




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