Blog: A Review

I finally picked up a copy of Hugh Hewitt’s new book “Blog”. The first problem with the book is a biggy: no index. I had to skim through the whole thing to determine that Nihilist in Golf Pants isn’t mentioned. This brings us to the second problem. The book seems to focus almost entirely on the Mainstream Blogosphere (MSB) and mostly ignore the new blogosphere. You can’t turn a page without seeing Power Line mentioned, even though the public has overwhelmingly sided with new blogosphere blog, The Kool-Aid Report, in their ongoing feud with Power Line.

Hugh Hewitt’s book does do a good job of describing the likes of Instapundit, Power Line, and Little Green Footballs, but look what he has to say about the smaller, hipper, and edgier Fraters Libertas: “Did I mention Fraters Libertas (FratersLibertas.com)? They are also part of The Northern Alliance, in the way that the crazy aunt in the basement is part of the family.” (p. 109)

Clearly, Hugh does not understand the Fraters crew, leaving a huge void in the chronicling of the blogosphere. Is there anyone out there with the insight and perspective to write the history of Fraters Libertas?

I believe there is, and his name is James McPherson. Dr. McPherson is Professor of History Emeritus at Princeton University. He has written several books and has won a Pulitzer Prize in history. His credentials are impeccable, but what really shows that he has it in him to do justice to Fraters Libertas is this quote from his introduction to the Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant: “If Grant was an alcoholic, he should have felt pride rather than shame. He overcame his illness to achieve success and fame ...”

I have a feeling that Dr. McPherson would understand the new blogosphere very well indeed.