Rating: 
Summary: Read 1/2 the book
Review: He is an apologist for becoming conservative, which I felt was unnecessary. The book gets repetitive. You should choose to read either the first half or the second half, but don't bother with the whole thing. Well written otherwise.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth the read
Review: This was an entertaining look at common sense returning to a man who's explored "the other side." Cheers to Stein for chronicaling his well earned metamorphoses. It is a thoughtful account. But it's probably not particulary fascinating for longtime or well read conservatives. Good book to recommend for friends who are teetering on the edge (and possibly those who recently voted for George W. after they were struck by a more conservative philiosphy.) Hardcore conservatives would probably want to stick with Alan Bloom, Thomas Sowell, Bennet, Olasky and Kimball for a little more substance.
Rating: 
Summary: Rush without the anger
Review: Harry Stein takes many controversial and emotional subjects and handles them with poise, grace, and logic. With compassion and acknowledgement for the "other side," he makes points that will have every conservative nodding in agreement and may leave many a liberal second guessing themselves--if dare they read the book. His points are well argued and he's damn funny too. Stein is commendable for making the points without the anger and hositility of Rush and with tremendous doses of humor too rare in the typical conservative rant that makes liberals think all conservatives are undersexed religious zealots. A good, fun read with profound truth--whether you're ready to face it or not.
Rating:
Summary: A Lack of Debate in America
Review: At its heart, this book, I believe, is an attack on the lack of debate of major issues in America today. Mr. Stein seems to have found some of his inspiration in friends and neighbors who have followed a similar path to their personal views. At every turn, he praises consistency in belief and exposes what he sees as hypocrisy among our nation's institutions. Striking a personal chord, he spends a fair amount of time talking about the state of university education and the demise (and hints of a comeback) of the true liberal arts education. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire book and was also thoroughly intimidated by the century old high school entrance exam. Not only would I recommend this to everyone in the middle and to the right, but to anyone with liberal leanings who are interested in exploring the rationale for their opposition's views.
Rating:
Summary: Thank you, Harry Stein
Review: I recommend this book to any 60's liberal come conservative, any closet conservative, and any post-liberal democrat who is torn between what he once held as truths and perhaps now is afraid to admit that an open-minded view may be labeled "conservative". This seems like a book that was written before any words were put onto paper. I've had a similar parallel evolution in thought and find myself frustrated among family and friends who wrap their liberal intolerance in "I feel, therefore I am right".
Rating:
Summary: An Entertaining Read
Review: Harry Stein began as a liberal, started thinking about the issues and the approaches to them espoused by the liberal orthodoxy including the NY Times, Feminists, Rev. Jackson, etc and lo and behold, discovered he no longer agreed. This book is an amusing exploration of his journey as well as a satire of liberal views. It also makes me realize I am not as alone in my views as watching CNN would make me think. And to top it all off, his daughter chooses the best college she could given these times, my alma mater, The University of Chicago. Great book, worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: In all things, moderation
Review: What, another diatribe against the liberal agenda? Who is it this time. Robert Bork? Pat Buchanan? Dan Quayle? Oliver North? No, it's Harry Stein, erstwhile liberal turned conservative (actually, more like moderate but to a leftist that's probably a distinction without much of a difference). He gives a recounting of how he turned from being a left-leaning liberal to the realization that the conservative voices he'd always disdained were actually starting to sound right, not simply right-wing. Along the way, he skewers most of the herd of liberal sacred cows: feminism (his favourite punching bag), affirmative action, multiculturalism, etc. On the issue of abortion he's still pro-choice, but at least he's asking the right questions: which is more sacred, "human life or the woman's right to choose". His anecdotes from the last 30 years of his life are both funny and chilling, humourously appealing and mouth-droppingly appalling. An entertaining read.
Rating:
Summary: Harry Stein speaks for a lot of us
Review: "How I Fought My Way Out of a Paper Bag" might be a better title for this book -- that was my sardonic thought as I progressed through this vastly entertaining, readable book. But before long I had to admit I shared in his moral struggles to emerge from the cocoon of self-righteous leftism; struggles that seem easy in hindsight, but which took both of us years and years and lots of critical thinking to overcome. It's hard because liberalism (as it has devolved in the last few decades) is not so much an idea as a spirit; a spirit of self-righteousness, of always being the Good Guy/Gal, of being "progressive" (as if anyone knew what we were progressing towards); and it's difficult to come to grips with a geist. Also, it's hard to face up to the fact that your beliefs may not, after all, be the conclusions of reason but simply feelings inculcated by TV, movies and the press. Harry Stein does a remarkable job in this book of tracing the emergence of his critical thinking from the web of leftist rhetoric. I believe that he emerges not as the right-winger he characterizes himself as, but rather as a true, traditional liberal; i.e. fair, open-minded, committed to justice. (I give the book 4 of 5 stars only because it is a bit disjointed. It sometimes seems assembled from many short pieces and the seams show. Other than that criticism I highly recommend the book.)
Rating:
Summary: Breath Of Fresh Air
Review: Mr. Stein presents us with a well written personal view of America's ongoing culture war, where it's been, where it is today and where it seems to be headed. Stein's analysis and anecdotes slay the sacred cows of issues like abortion, affirmative action and feminism (among others) in a lively style that makes for pleasant reading even when the message is not especially attractive to the reader. While it is doubtful that many of liberal persuasion will read this work, they should if they've got the courage of their convictions. Nor, as a neo-con, does Stein spare the far right of the political spectrum. No one's ox is safe. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
Rating: 
Summary: Beating a Dead Horse throughout!
Review: Although, I can relate to Harry's new found political philosophy, I would have liked to have had more issues addressed. He spent way too much time with feminism and not enough time with the issues of today. The tile should be "How I discovered the lies of feminism." Furthermore, do we really need more opinion oin Clinton's escapades?
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