The title here is clearly aimed to shock. This is an American book by Jonah Goldberg, a columnist for The Los Angeles Times. The New York Times described it as "deliciously amusing .. witty intelligence that deals in ideas as well as insults". It is rather portentously subtitled "The Secret History of the American Left from Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning".

He is arguing that the word "fascist" is now used solely as an insult aimed as those on the right and has lost any real meaning.

Conversely he is attempting to suggest that the true heirs of fascism are those on the left who are attempting to "control our lives" and whose methods and thoughts, whilst espousing 'liberal' causes are in fact totalitarian.

So this leads to a rather tortuous argument about why smoking bans or security cameras are in fact "fascist". But of course he doesn't stop there; he covers the whole gamut of what he sees as left or liberal issues like gay marriage, abortion and politics. For example he states, "the white male is the Jew of liberal fascism".

He is of course having a rant against what we now all believe are culturally appropriate and acceptable norms. It is not a book I am particularly comfortable or would recommend. There are parts of it that simply make you very cross.

A brilliant example is the suggestion that "is there any doubt that a young Hitler would have given Dead Poets Society a standing ovation?"

I do not buy the general thesis. Whatever the facts are about the origin and meaning of the word "fascist" we now all use it in a sensible way to describe right-wing totalitarianism and usually racist thought.

But perhaps there is a kernel of truth in the fact that there are authoritarian streaks in both right and left-wing politics. And he is right to point to a certain intolerance that can creep into arguments pursued by those on the left while advocating political change.

Interestingly he points out that Barack Obama, who was for years a Chicago community organiser, was trained by disciples of Saul Alinsky. Apparently this guy is also greatly admired by Hillary Clinton. He is the author of Rules for Radicals (1971). I can't say I have ever heard of this person but apparently he is the "Godfather" of American community activism.

He worked in Chicago in the 30s and he invented a method of community organising which borrowed tactics from the Catholic Church and from the trade unions.

He taught how to organise in the streets and in 1940 founded the Industrial Areas Foundation which pioneered the community activism movement.

He exploited middle class morals to achieve his ends and believed that working through friendly organisation was the essence of political organisation.He mastered the art of unleashing preachers as frontline activists in his mission "of rubbing raw the sores of discontent".

An interesting quote from Alinsky about change: "Change means movement. Movement means friction. Only in the frictionless vacuum of a nonexistent abstract world can movement or change occur without that abrasive friction of conflict."Is this what Obama was meaning when he argued "Change has come to America".

Perhaps what is most unsatisfactory about the account is the coupling of 'liberal' with fascist. The essence of liberalism is the emphasis on individual freedoms.

So there will be liberals who would object to smoking bans because of the restriction on an individual's right to determine if they wish to smoke even knowing the consequences.

Tying 'liberal' to 'fascist' just does not work in an English context, though Americans do tend to rather despise 'liberals' and we use that as a "boo" word.

I must say that whilst I disliked most of this book I am grateful to it for this background on Obama.

And it should also encourage us to think that in pursing ideologies or cultural changes we need to work through consensus building rather than always expecting knee jerk absolutist solutions or legislation that bans things.

• Stephen Bubb is chief executive of ACEVO

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