Artless: The Odyssey of a Republican Cultural Creative

by Gary Cole

Gary Cole tried to walk the fine line between the bourgeois and the bohemian, only to find himself on a journey of self-discovery that challenged his most cherished convictions. Replete with good humor and dry wit, ""Artless"" is a commentary on censorship's many forms-both overt and subtle. Finally, it is the memoir of a man who, against all odds, deftly carved out a niche for himself in two seemingly diametrically opposed arenas. At the apex of...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1932010122
• ISBN13: 9781932010121
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Ooligan Press
• Length: 295 Pages
• Weight: 1.02 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Important Topics

I met the author at a talk-book signing in northern Vermont. The most interesting thing he talked about was the idea that the Republican party should really be the party that supports the arts the best... to him, Republican meant the protection of personality liberty as well as personal responsibility. Now, of course, the Republican party is more equated with social conservativism... telling people what to do and how to behave... the precise opposite of the personal liberty idea. I am generally EXTREMELY anti-republican... this book, oddly, made me understand the problems with the party more clearly. If personal liberty and personal responsibility can once again become the main themes of what the party stands for... along with a bit more fiscal conservatism... well, I'd be less worried about republicans in power. Anyway... good stuff, good issues.

A well-written, honest memoir

I had intended for this book to be summer reading later this year; instead, I picked it up on a Friday night and dropped everything else until I finished it that weekend. It's a well-written, entertaining, and insightful book, and other Oregonians (like me) will likely enjoy the local references and tales of the arts community. Well done!

Tough topics handled extraordinarily well

Loyalty rewarded with betrayal. That seems simple enough and repeated hundreds of times in stories, yet this book is much more. The exploration of the true, current, and relevant events and themes is told not only as an excellent story but also in thought-provoking consideration of what can be and should be. Without being preachy, Gary presents difficult subjects in a way that is valuable for conservatives and liberals. It is the kind of book all citizens should read because it is about the meeting of culture and politics in the formation of the society we live in. It is the kind of book you want to read because it is an interesting story told exceptionally well.