By The Book Reviews

Review by By The Books Reviewer

Ron DeSantis's "The Courage to Be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival" is a self-aggrandizing manifesto that offers little in the way of substantive policy discussion or introspection. Instead, it serves as a tedious exercise in political chest-thumping, replete with overused buzzwords and a glaring lack of depth.

From the outset, DeSantis inundates readers with his disdain for various "elites," a term he employs with such monotonous frequency that it loses any semblance of meaning. The Washington Post notes that the word "elite" appears more than 20 times in the 12-page introduction alone, setting the tone for a narrative steeped in grievance rather than governance. ([washingtonpost.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2023/02/27/ron-desantis-courage-be-free/?utm_source=openai))

The book's structure is a haphazard collection of self-congratulatory anecdotes, many of which are devoid of critical analysis or reflection. DeSantis's recounting of his political ascent reads like a laundry list of achievements, each presented without nuance or acknowledgment of the complexities involved. Kirkus Reviews aptly describes the memoir as "boldly grandiose, turgid, and remarkably unenlightening," a sentiment that encapsulates the overall reading experience. ([kirkusreviews.com](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ron-desantis/the-courage-to-be-free/?utm_source=openai))

One of the most glaring deficiencies is DeSantis's treatment of the COVID-19 pandemic. He boasts about keeping Florida open during the crisis, yet conveniently omits the initial closures of schools and businesses that occurred under his watch. PolitiFact highlights this omission, noting that DeSantis issued an executive order in April 2020 directing residents to limit their movements, a fact conspicuously absent from his narrative. ([politifact.com](https://www.politifact.com/article/2023/mar/02/what-desantis-book-courage-be-free-gets-wrong-abou/?utm_source=openai))

Furthermore, DeSantis's portrayal of his confrontations with corporate entities like Disney comes across as petty and vindictive rather than principled. His account of revoking Disney's special privileges in response to the company's opposition to certain state legislation is presented as a triumph over "woke corporatism," yet it lacks a thoughtful discussion on the implications of such actions for free speech and the role of government in regulating private enterprise. ([tingismagazine.com](https://www.tingismagazine.com/editorials/ron-desantiss-declaration-of-independence/?utm_source=openai))

The prose itself is uninspired and laden with clichéd rhetoric. Jennifer Szalai of The New York Times criticizes the book for being filled with "bland platitudes and culture war 'Mad Libs,'" suggesting that DeSantis's attempts to portray himself as a courageous leader are undermined by his support for restrictive policies. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Courage_to_Be_Free?utm_source=openai))

In summary, "The Courage to Be Free" is a lackluster and self-serving account that fails to provide meaningful insights into DeSantis's policies or the challenges facing Florida. Its repetitive and shallow narrative offers little to readers seeking a substantive understanding of the governor's leadership.

Recommendation: Not recommended.

written on: 5/1/2025