Fans of Michael Moore often characterize him as a lone voice of truth in a sea of corrupt officials, exposing big corporations and the government of tampering with America for their own personal gain. But what happens when this lone voice of truth isn’t actually sticking to his facts? David T. Hardy and Jason Clarke explore this idea in Michael Moore is a Big Fat Stupid White Man. These two authors came together to write this book to fight against the “fervent prophet of the far left,” having both created their own anti-Michael Moore websites.

The background for this book is substantial. The subject, Michael Moore, is one of today’s most prominent left-wing activists. Generally, he speaks out against large corporations and high-ranking officials, always on the lookout for the little guy. He’s been in the media since the mid-eighties, starting small by working for liberal newspapers in Michigan and San Francisco , and working his way up through writings and films. His first notable work was 1989’s Roger and Me, a documentary exploring the supposed corruption of General Motor’s then CEO, Roger Smith. The smash hit film inspired Moore to continue his attacks against corporations and politics, and he continued to make more films and write books. Hardy and Clarke’s work follows some of Moore ’s more notable works. They consist of 1997’s Downsize This!, a book exploring corporate lay-offs; 2002’s Stupid White Men, a book investigating the American WASP; 2002’s Bowling for Columbine, a movie attacking the NRA and American Gun Control laws, and 2004’s Fahrenheit 9/11, a film denouncing the Bush Administration and the war on terror.

This book follows Moore ’s exploits since the eighties, going through these major works and analyzing their flaws. Each chapter is composed of either original work by the two authors or a piece from other works that contain similar sentiments. By the end of the book, the reader has seen critical evidence debunking many of Michael Moore’s claims in his published works.

Hardy and Clarke’s book succeeds on many levels. They cite numerous sources, covering about forty pages of research at the end of the book. The sections they themselves wrote offer insight and intrigue into one of America ’s most well known propagandists. They analyze various aspects of Moore ’s work, from fact-checking to the use of camera tricks. They also incorporate dry wit into all their passages to keep the reader’s interest level up, since they are delving into very specific aspects of the films and books Moore has created. They are very thorough in their approach, going step by step through many of Moore’s specific book passages or movie clips and comparing them to the research they have done, uncovering inconsistencies.

Another well conceived idea was the use of other authors’ contributions to beef up the content of the book. By providing a range of sources, they accomplish what Michael Moore (being a lone voice of truth) fundamentally cannot: bolstering their argument through multiple sources. These sections carry a very different (albeit boring) tone, but they illustrate their points every bit as well. These short pieces range from journals across the country and the rest of the world, such as the Times of London and The Australian. They provide an interlude to the harsh narrative of Hardy and Clarke and offer outside perspectives that allow for a fuller understanding of Moore ’s doctrine and tactics.

Of course, any book with an agenda as harsh as targeting a single man is going to have its short- comings. Their point is lost in translation when they attempt to use sharp wit to sting Michael Moore as much as they can. Also, some sections are based purely on circumstantial evidence (interestingly enough, in the same way Michael Moore portrays his evidence). Using tactics employed by the person who is the subject of their polemic detracts from the credibility of their arguments.

Despite the shortcomings, this book was a great read. It accurately depicts Michael Moore’s growing popularity, and rightfully steps in to provide an alternate perspective. Moore ’s views are, according to Amazon.com, “rabidly liberal, populist, and anti-big business,” and he capitalized on the already growing fear of corporations and politics. There must be opposing views, and Hardy and Clarke fill that void very well. All in all, Michael Moore is a Big Fat Stupid White Man provides an excellent counterargument to Michael Moore’s own works, providing a great dialogue between those on the left and those on the not-so-left.