Book Review – ‘The MEGA Diaries’ by Tina Nguyen

Synopsis

An explosive, first-person account chronicling the rise of the MAGA movement from acclaimed political journalist Tina Nguyen, who began her career—and her education—on the ground levels of the conservative recruiting machine.

Her very first job was working for a little-known journalist named Tucker Carlson. She’s chugged Mountain Dews with the first Breitbart writers, poured over conspiracy theories from COVID-19 deniers, and visited the apocalyptic Patriot Church deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. The right is now a MAGA cult. And Tina Nguyen knows because she was raised by it, back when it wasn’t one.

In 2008, in the weeks leading up to the election of Barack Obama, Nguyen was a history-loving, politics-obsessed college student at Claremont McKenna College, drawn there by a boyfriend—and a research institute called the Salvatori Center for the Study of Individual Freedom. Swept up by pro-America rhetoric and promises of a career in journalism, Nguyen was drawn into the world of right-wing student activism, and the early days of the movement now known as MAGA. In The MAGA Diaries, she tells not only her story of loving and leaving the conservative movement (well before Trump), but the history of the right-wing, painting a shocking picture of how they recruit, train, and indoctrinate generations of young people in search of opportunity—think dinners with Peter Thiel, conventions that rival Coachella, and the ever-elusive promise of future job security—and shape them into the influential leaders and supporting cast of tomorrow’s Republican party. They are ruthless in building robust networks of power, even if it means demolishing entire civic institutions, from women’s rights to fair elections—and staging a coup when it doesn’t work out.

In The MAGA Diaries, Nguyen pulls back the curtain on the conservative machine for the first time, shining a light on the systematized on-ramp for young Republicans. These are the new leaders of the right, and it’s urgent we start paying attention.

My Thoughts

I will admit I am not MEGA at all, but I am one to try and educate myself and see how and why people do what they do or how they got somewhere.  When I was emailed about ‘The MEGA Diaries’ I was very interested in hearing this side of the story and how someone was able to be that close to MEGA but get out.

Tina Nguyen does a great job of giving her backstory on how she got to where she was.  This is important because this is how we get places in life and do the things we do. I found it interesting that while she was meeting these people and learning about what was going on she was questioning what was being said and what was being done.  Tina seems like someone you know you won’t agree on things, but you could have a civil conversation with and learn and find out why she thinks the way she does.

As we are in another political year and the MEGA movement seems to be there still and still be strong this is an important book to read to get a glimpse of the inside of this movement that even the author thought would never happen in our country.  This is a memoir and it takes me longer to read. I think because I am ensuring I take in everything said on that page.  ‘The MEGA Diaries’ was a good read; the flow was very well done, and she explained things and painted the picture so you wouldn’t get lost.  This is a three-and-a-half-star book and I think everyone should take the time to read this as like I said we are in a political year. ‘The MEGA Diaries’ is available wherever you get your books.

**I would like to thank NetGalley, and Atria/One Signal for the ARC copy of this book. Getting the ARC Copy did not influence my thoughts on the book as they are all my own.**