Hated by All the Right People: Tucker Carlson and the Unraveling of the Conservative Mind is a non-fiction book by journalist Jason Zengerle

 

Hated by All the Right People: Tucker Carlson and the Unraveling of the Conservative Mind is a non-fiction book by journalist Jason Zengerle that examines the career and ideological transformation of the conservative pundit, using his story as a lens for the radicalization of the American right-wing media and politics.

 

Book Summary

The book is a character study that traces the evolution of Tucker Carlson, from his early days as a respected writer and commentator at The Weekly Standard to his position as a powerful, polarizing figure in right-wing politics after his time at Fox News. Author Jason Zengerle uses deep reporting to reveal how Carlson, once a measured reporter, turned towards extreme views to gain power within the Donald Trump-era Republican Party.

 

Key themes include:

The Media Landscape: The book details how the shift from traditional journalism to cable news and internet-driven outrage cycles rewarded extreme views over substance, influencing Carlson's path.

Transformation of Conservatism: Carlson's career offers a unique perspective on the broader changes within American conservatism, tracking its move towards a "populist authoritarianism" in the Trump era.

The Desire for Fame: Reviewers suggest a central theme is Carlson's "deep-seated character flaw" – the desire for attention and fame – which led him to sacrifice his earlier journalistic integrity for influence.

 

Reviews

Critics generally praise the book for being a well-written, deeply reported, and insightful account of a complex figure and the media ecosystem that shaped him.

The New York Times review describes the book as "breezy, entertaining and ultimately disquieting".

Kirkus Reviews calls it a "vivid account of the Age of Trump".

Reviewers from Crooked Media Reads praise it as a "riveting, wry, disturbing portrait of the man who made the Trump Age possible".

Some reviewers note that while it provides an excellent dissection of his media career, the book leaves some personal questions unanswered, such as the exact reasons for his firing from Fox News or how earnestly he holds his current views.

Where to Buy

The book was published on January 27, 2026, by Crooked Media Reads.