And the Completely Ridiculous in American Life - The Good

Bill O'Reilly should not be compared to beat journalists in your daily newspaper or news readers on your local TV news. It perplexes me that some have ripped him for not being "objective" in his well-written and thoughtful book. He is a news analyst, and only a journalist in as much as he gathers the pertinent facts before hand. His show is based on a philosophy of vetting out the so-called objective journalism based mainly on talking points. Bill goes out of his way to explain the premise of his show regularly.
For someone who graduated from one of the best public school journalism programs in the country, I believe O'Reilly meets the objectivity quotient by not taking sides and being tough on everyone. As he states in the book, he is a watchdog, not a lapdog.
This book is not Journalism 101, anyway. It's Life 101, a text many Amercians should read.

This is a great read. Whether you agree with Bill O'Reilly or not doesn't matter. He is opinionated and doesn't mind sharing his opinions with the reader. His book is set much like his show. Small vignettes that are broken with bold face headlines. His book covers his view of the world and his personal beliefs. He doesn't ask you to believe what he believes, only to think it through. O'Reilly covers his upbringing through his rise in the news industry. He doesn't apologize for his arrogance because he believes it is well deserved. He tends to be on the political right side of most issues, but that doesn't stop him from skewering the conservatives when he feels they are ducking the hard questions. His best stories are about his dealings with celebrities and their nutty views. A throughly enjoyable read

With "The Good, the Bad, and Completely Ridiculous in American Life," tele-journalist Bill O'Reilly gives us his personal take on American society and how to get buy in this great country of ours. O'Reilly tackles just about every major issue, from the Clinton Administration and Abortion(he sure doesn't have much good to say about it...) to Dating.
O'Reilly is very strong in his beliefs. With this book he sets aside all the political-corectness in our society and gives us a book that is filled with political compassion. O'Reilly sets aside the media filler and gives the reader an interesting take on the news, and the average American Life. Those who just dismiss O'Reilly and his book are people who basically don't agree with him. Don't get me wrong, I don't always agree with the man, but his views should be respected and discussed, not dismissed just because you don't particularly agree with him.
O'Reilly is a compassionate journalist, and with this, his first non-fiction book, he gives us an interesting take on our lives and the lives of those who serve our country.Again, if you're looking for a book that will open up your mind to a variety of political views (especially on the drug problem in this country) read Bill O'Reilly's "The Good, Bad, and Completely Ridiculous in American Life." I truly hope O'Reilly is here to stay.

This is a very good political book. I enjoy watching his talk shows, especially during when the elections were going on. This book is great. It discusses current issues like sex, drugs, parents, etc. But the book gets a bit old after awhile because O'Reilly is so arrogant, claiming so on and so forth how he is the greatest reporter alive. After about 10 chapters, i was pretty burnt out from reading it. but it does have some good material and points out some good things, and bashes people like Jesse Jackson and Hillary Clinton. I reccomend this book if you like his talk show or show an interest in the politcal field. otherwise, stay away from it.

This book is quite insightful. O'Reilly offers a lot of his own advice for living a good, honest life. This book has a lot to offer people of differing political bases.
If you have ever watched The O'Reilly Factor you probably know how Bill O'Reilly thinks, and you will read a lot of those same opinions in this book. However, I think the highlights of this book are all of O'Reilly's short anecdotes, stories, and life experiences scattered throughout the entire book. They are about growing up, politics, the media, and tons of the silly and stupid things people have done. These stories and personal experiences are entertaining by themselves, and they are the main reasons why I recommend this book.

O'Reilly unequivocally has THE best show on TV - the only one that I absolutely CANNOT miss. After reading this, I feel like I know what makes O'Reilly tick - and what ticks him off(too many things to list). O'Reilly tells about his many(and I use the term loosely) run-ins with the powers that be - from his dirty bosses along the way to the pampered rich and famous of today. O'Reilly gives his sage advice on a plethora of topics ranging from "The Sex Factor"(respect your partner) to "The Job Factor"(be punctual, bring energy and creativity to work, & stay with projects until completed and then follow up results and you will become indispensable). Along the way, O'Reilly opines about everything imaginable under the sun - including his double date with The Donald - imagine that! A good, quick read worth a look for all O'Reilly fans. The spin stops here.

I like O'Reilly. His politics may not always parallel mine, and his view of society may be a bit shallow; but he is not blind. He is truthful and will always detest corruption and graft whatever its origin maybe. No matter what the topic, O'Reilly's thought process is clear and focused.
The book itself is very fast-paced and very easy to read. This certainly adds to the book's attractiveness as a weekend read. O'Reilly covers a lot of ground here. Politics, sex, religion, children, the media.... He certainly does not stick to any topics to the point of repetition.
Unfortunately, I feel this book doesn't serve a purpose. One cannot help but feeling that Fox News was quick to cash in on the sensational popularity of "The Factor." This book is very short and can be read in a few hours. However, the book is incredibly shallow at times. It seemed that one afternoon back in March, O'Reilly became interested in religion -- so he wrote a chapter on it that day. Then the next day, maybe he had a twitch to talk about politics. Another chapter down. The book follows no clear, linear path. It's all random thoughts, interspersed by senseless "This Just In" interruptions.
For instance, O'Reilly elaborates way too much on his family and his past. Acknowledging your parents is a wonderful thing to do, but O'Reilly doesn't seem to notice he is obsessed his parents. He strains to present his family as normal and caring. But why would anyone devote so much ink in such a short book to their guardians? Does he think that his readers truly care deeply about his family? The parents would have been fine to bring up in the "Parenting Factor" and the "Child Factor," but he constantly kicks the dead horse long after the flies have settled in.
Come on O'Reilly. TV commercials are bad enough at interrupting engaging interviews. But this was your chance to go beyond the TV show and truly invoke some truly advanced discussion. We are all adults reading this book, so why go soft on the critical thinking? The book is a fun, quick read, but something that will quickly drift from your mind.

Perfect book. While I can see how some people may react to O'Reilly in the sense that he is very frank and speaks his mind, this book was refreshingly charming and open in how it deals with the state of politics, cultural, interpersonal relations, child-rearing and how life in America was once lived. Basing a lot of his opinions, of course, on his experiences, O'Reilly is precise and to the point. Bing. Bang. Done. It's playful and deadly serious at the same time. And it's a nice read, allowing you to think, to murmur, to "tisk-tisk", and to respectfully disagree. Kudos.

The O'Reilly phenomenon is difficult to understand. Here we have a man who towers so high above his peers, who seems to effortlessly capture a large audience and whose book climbs to the top of the charts as if lifted by some unseen hand. While such things might defy explanation this book impressively portrays O'Reilly's television show and even has the occasional bite of wit and humor. With almost caustic-like poetry O'Reilly unleashes his opinions on gays, Pamela Anderson, his old nemesis Geraldo Rivera, conspiracies behind the assassination of JFK, and his fond fascination for shows like Baywatch, and even his profound envy and contempt for David Hasselhoff. I must say that such refreshing candor from someone of O'Reilly's stature was truly moving. Who knew that he secretly wished to be a German pop rocker? Although I imagine that he might have recently changed his views seeing how the Germans did not support the United States in this war.
Nevertheless O'Reilly is truly a magnificent gentleman, a man whose demeanor harkens back to Victorian England, a time when there was order and class, and duty was not such a dirty word. Obviously O'Reilly's personal philosophy will seem atavistic in such a libertine society like modern America where the young are alienated, rebellious and yet barely literate. O'Reilly's toughness might not have much of a market, but I find it admirable that he sticks to his guns, that he never flinches from controversy and calls things like he sees them. A very disciplined guy, he notes that "chaos breeds more chaos," and parents, teachers, and all those in authority over children must be responsible and act as role-models. This is why he comes down so hard on the Catholic Church, despite being a votary. Advice such as this might sound discordant in a culture that wallows in debauchery and hedonism, but ultimately O'Reilly's clarion call to dot your I's and cross your T's will provide the young, especially those trapped in the inner-city ghetto, with a moral framework to apotheosize the American Dream.
O'Reilly's history as a tabloid talk show host and a purveyor of lurid news stories for Inside Edition really symbolizes his duality. In his first incarnation he seeks out the dark underbelly of the world, traveling on the "Girls Gone Wild" tour bus, then he becomes a leading polemicist discussing the merits of marginal tax rate policy, nationalized healthcare, and Aquinas' five proofs for the existence of God. I was astounded to learn that in this book O'Reilly mentions how he thinks most philosophers have misconstrued Aquinas' proofs for God's existence, and that in reality Aquinas' ideas are actually closer to Leibniz's. In his chapter on those whom he most admirers he discusses his heroes like Bobby Kennedy, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Gustav Fugger, Rasputin, Catherine De'Medici, Heinrich Himmler, and the Habsburg Dynasty. Ironically, he mentions how he likes to dabble in the occult and tries to use subliminal messages and Masonic symbolism in luring viewers to his television show. While such confessions might put a damper on those who believe his success is genuine, it shows more honesty and frankness than virtually in other talk show host. All in all, this was a vitally important book and should be read by everyone.

Sometimes it is really instructive to read a best-seller after the bloom is off of the rose. I read The O'Reilly Factor: The Good, the Bad, and the Completely Ridiculous in American Life just before the current sex scandal broke. Actually, I listened to it as I picked grapes. I found the first part of the book where O'Reilly talks about his youth endearingly honest. He paints himself as a wild kid with an authoritarian father. Unfortunately, Bill O'Reilly has reached the age where he has become his father. What a pity. It was that restless youth that lends him his lovability as a personality. You can almost hear the strains of "Luke, I am your father; come to the dark side."

I was fortunate to be in Scranton (if one is ever fortunate to be in Scranton) when O'Reilly was starting his writing career on Uncle Ted's Ghoul School. Funny stuff. Now, nearly 30 years later, reading the behind the scenes stories has particular richness and meaning. Yes, Bill I was one of those people up late nights watching those "moronic monster movies". It was the priceless schtick during the breaks that made the show worth watching.

After going through the various factors of life in general such as class, money, sex, dating, parents, etc., O'Reilly gets into his opinion chapters highlighting the bad, the ridiculous, and the good. It is interesting to note that on the same page under "The Bad" he listed abortion and onion-flavored potato chips, but not in that order.

However, it is in the chapters of "The Ridiculous" and "The Good" where vintage really pays its dividend. I leave you with passages from these respectively to ponder:

"PRESIDENT WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON. What a ridiculous waste! Full of promise, intelligence, and charisma, this man will go down in history alongside Warren Harding and Richard Nixon as the most corrupt presidents of the twentieth century. What a legacy for an Arkansas boy with a modest background who made it to the most powerful office in the world. It's not only ridiculous, it's pathetic...

Bill Clinton is sentenced to be the butt of jokes for the rest of his life. This is poetic justice, but I'm still furious: It is not enough justice for this man...

No matter what political philosophy you hold, you cannot question that Bill Clinton was awarded the greatest honor in the world-and then he blew it. No pun intended. The next time you see the President, please tell him he is ridiculous-and always will be. I know it, and you know it. Behind that display of self-confidence, he knows it, too. I guarantee you."

"JANET JACKSON. Don't know why, but I like her. It's time for her brother Michael to be installed in Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. I mean now. But Janet is a lively performer who seems to understand the meaning of the word "melody." This, of course, separates her from most of the other top rock performers of the day."

Now, how's that for ridiculious?

Priceless!

If you take this book for more than entertainment you will probably be a little disappointed. If you want to laugh and groan, then this is a book you should read. O'Reily is pompous, arrogant, opinionated, brash, egotistical, sarcastic, blunt and harsh at times, but he is entertaining.
This is better than anything Rush Limbaugh put out. It's entertaining.
O'Reilly doesn't pull punches with anyone. He's entertaining.
If you are looking for deep political or moral insight, look elsewhere. If you want to be entertained, this is a book you ought to read.

Whether commenting on the sexual peccadilloes of our national leaders or decrying the hypocrisy of limousine liberals, Bill O'Reilly has a way of making his point that not only convinces you, but makes you wonder how on earth anyone could believe anything else. Sometimes this is infuriating--that is, whenever I disagree with him--but more often it is thought-provoking and usually quite funny. If you're the sort of person who shouts back at your television, you might find this book a little grating, but everyone else will enjoy it.

"Bill O'reilly's personal view of many things affecting our society" pretty much sums this up. The topics range from raising a child to the media as it affects our society. Much of what he writes are his personal views and opinions.

Whether you believe them or not this book is good to read just to become familiar with someone's opinion who regularly reports on the topics written about. Whatever your opinion of him (good or bad) reading a book like this has it's merits either way. If you believe the opinions, you have another reference. If you don't believe the opinions, you have a contrasting viewpoint for your arguments.

What you should NOT do is buy this book hoping to form an opinion for yourself just from his opinions and suddenly agree or disagree what he says without checking into it.

---*** THE BOTTOM LINE ***---

This book is someone's opinion. Treat it as such.

That being said, it is worthwhile to read and would be ideal to borrow, but worth purchasing as well.

I enjoyed reading The O'Reilly Factor because it was unlike any political book I have ever read: there was humor, irony, and simplicity. The book addresses the idea that the individual is capable of achievement through discipline, determination, awareness of what's going on in America, and facing the truth. Out of all the chapters, I focused on three I thought are important: The Money factor, the Media factor, the Politics factor.
He implies that one can learn to use the media to protect oneself from being controlled. O'Reilly gives us a important point: "The only reason a news source is on the air is because you keep them on the air by turning them on your TV." (p.41) The individual has some power in controlling the media. He advises the reader that "You and your family have to learn how to use the media, or they will use you" (p.39)
Another implication he makes is the American government does not spend consciously, but the individual must. The power and glorification of money is making this country regressive. He sarcastically states, "Throwing our tax dollars away has become the new national pastime, replacing baseball!" (p.19) The government in his opinion spends taxpayers' money in wasteful programs. "Money spent wisely can buy you personal freedom. With enough money you can ignore unreasonable demands and avoid humiliating financial situations: They won't be able to control your life, (p.21)" he states.
Lastly, he implies that the individual is capable of being politically aware to the extent that Washington will not fool him/her with their deceit. The reputation tagged on to politicians have contributed to the political ignorance that the masses reveal. He says that many of us are too lazy to research the latest corruption going on in Washington. Politicians want to keep us entertained and gratified so that we would not look into their dirty business.
According to O'Reilly the individual can achieve through awareness of the current events in America, but when most people discover the amount of corruption in Washington, they become cynical. This cynicism can prevent the individual from achieving any real change in Washington corruption. When faced with the truth, many find it an obstacle to achieve. On the whole, I recommend this book because of Bill O'Reilly's way of informing the reader in a personalized way. Whoever reads this book will feel as if O'Reilly is talking to them. The book is geared toward aiding the individual through advice and motivation. It encourages the individual that whatever his/her situation he/she is able to achieve by working on valuable characteristics, such as determination and discipline. It makes the individual aware of himself/herself and the forces around him/her that influence him/her

This book is anything but subtle which should be no suprise to fans of Bill O'Reilly. The book is essentially a 300 page, very enjoyable rant. Bill packs a punch like no one else and has no sacred cows. I found my self laughing out loud and wanting to give out "high fives." If I had to give only one citisism it would be that Bill has almost become a characature of himself and tries a little too hard. That hardly mars a very enjoyable book. I'll be buying a case of these for Christmas presents.

O'reilly, as usual, takes a logical and smart approach to many topics in this book. Some are controversial, such as sex, religion, politics, and race. Others are much more personal such as his views on Parenthood, relationships, and friendships. His points are very cleary made, and whether you agree with them or not, his ideas are backed up by data and common sense. I would have given his book a 5, but the writing style took a little getting used to and seemed a little too fragmented. Overall though a good read. Read this book!

...so how could I not read his latest and greatest? It's very well done, esp. if you want an overview of O'Reilly's perspective on everything in life. He has a great writing style I think, very much like the way he speaks on his show. He fancies himself to be an "independent", but I do think he has right leanings which is fine by me. Buy this book and read it in a day. Help out Bill who doesn't want to lose his high ranking on the bestseller's list. ;)

OK, so O'Reilly would not label himself a conservative. However, most people have lumped him into that category. I am not sure that in itself is correct. O'Reilly seems intelligent and moderate in many things a conservative would not be. For example, on gay pride, he states that he has nothing against being gay, but don't show your displeasure in goofy marches. Any sex should be kept in the bedroom. This shows the common sense of Bill O'Reilly as opposed the goofy opinions of some conservative commentators. Bill O'Reilly makes intelligent summations in this book that are hard to argue against.

This is an intelligent read for the politically minded. Although, I think O'Reilly has a big ego, his opinions are wise and bear the test of time.

This book was somewhat autobiographical, for the most part. Some of the stories are boring, while others are fairly exciting. Politically speaking, Mr. O'Reilly offers some good insights and solutions to some problems that face society today. Religiously speaking, a large portion of his opinions are contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church. I got kinda of bored during the middle of the book, reading it for the sake of finishing the book, and no other, but he regained my attention during the last three or four chapters.

Lots of people dont like Bill O'Reilly because his views and his show hits home.... Hard. The truth hurts folks, might as well get used to it. Bill is right on target with the ills and corruption in our political system so widely accepted by americans who choose to turn the other cheek. Every american should read this book. I used to be one of those people who didnt like him, but now I realize how ignorant I was. I wish there were more journalists like Bill out there.

This book is brief, simple, and straight to the point as it discusses Bill's feelings on fifteen simple factors that are split into various segments and blurbs. However, I really enjoyed this book because it was unlike any political book I had ever read before. This is so because it included humor, irony, and simplicity and addressed the ideas that individuals are capable of achieving great things through discipline, determination and awareness of what's going on in life in America by facing the truth. O'Reilly gives his own advice on subjects like race, class, sex, parents, success, fame, and of course, the good, the bad, and the completely ridiculous. Then he backs his subjects up with the facts and nothing but the facts! Some of the book also includes anecdotes from his childhood and career from way-back-when until now and he uses those to support his subject as well. Many people attempt to dismiss Bill O'Reilly and label him as a "conservative," despite his repeated insistence of political independence, without delving into his views carefully and logically. I think he certainly possesses plenty of conservative viewpoints, but he also holds a great many "liberal" views as well making his claims possibly "independent". The message of this book is for Bill to express to you the good the bad and the completely Ridiculous in American Life throughout fifteen different subjects which are back up by tons of facts. I didn't have to read into the message very much because of what he said I basically agreed with or had already heard before. I didn't find any of his point very shocking or completely ridicules however I found them more so funny and humorous especially the chapter on dating.

O'Reilly is entertaining on TV, but when you take away his interrupting privileges, he doesn't have as much to say as I had hoped. I read this book expecting Bill to expand upon the views he mentions on TV (Jesse Jackson, Hilary Clinton, etc.). I figured the television format just didn't give him enough time to articulate about these issues, and that the book would give him the time he needs to present a detailed argument. Bill doesn't even mention these issues till the last few chapters of the book, at which point he barely glosses over them. The bulk of the book consists of Bill telling the reader how to raise children and interact with friends. Bill really doesn't tackle any issues in this book. He's more interested in having a Hallmark moment with the reader. Despite my disappointment with the book, I will still enjoy watching Bill get into a good shouting match with Neil Cavuto.

Bill offers his opinion on everything from drugs, to sex, to religion. He always backs up his opinions with facts or ridiculous stories. For example, Mayor Willie Brown of San Francisco wanted to give credit card readers to bums so people could give money to them in that way rather than just throwing coins into their cups!
The ridiculous chapter is dead on, identifying Bill Clinton, Janet Reno, Rosie O'Donnell, Al Sharpton, skin piercing, cliches, and the tax code as such. The bad chapter also hits the nail on the head. It says that SUV's, Roseanne, Warren Beatty, abortion, Barbara Streisand, phone solicitors, Ted Kennedy, tattoos, Michael and Jesse Jackson, Martha Stewart, and Johnnie Cochran as detrimental to this country. This book was written in 2000, Bill must have known something that we didn't, because since then, Clinton admitted to knowingly giving false testimony under oath, Reno lost the democratic primary for Florida governor, Sharpton lost the 2004 democratic primary for President (and a whole lot of other elections) we now have a do not call list, we've had two major tax cuts, Michael Jackson almost went to prison, Jesse Jackson (a reverend) admitted to fathering a daughter out of wedlock, Stewart went to jail for lying to investigators, and Cochran is six feet under.
The good chapter correctly names positive influences on our nation, like Bill Cosby, Bill Murray, Mike Meyers, Charlton Heston, Clint Eastwood, and The Wizard of Oz as bright spots in our culture.
In conclusion, read this book. It will change your outlook on things if you read with an open mind. Some think Bill is conservative, if you read the book, you will find otherwise.

Although Bill O'Reilly seems to be a decent individual, I was thoroughly disappointed with this book. Most surprising is that Bill O'Reilly could have gotten as far as he did in the journalism business while being such an aweful writer. I try to finished every book I start even if it's not all that enjoyable to read, especially if I'm going to criticize it later. But I've read several different books by political writers all over the spectrum, and Bill O'Reilly's book is by far the least enjoyable to read and certainly among the least inciteful or profound. An alternative title for this book could be 'A List of Bill O'Reilly's Opinions Excluding Any Significant Analysis or Reasoning'. This was a BORING, UNENJOYABLE book. If you feel you must buy this book because it is too important not to read you're mistaken as I was, but buy a used copy so you can save a buck. Whatever you spend it's too much!

Now that he has launched a major talk radio show, with one of the biggest rollouts in radio history, more people are going to wonder about Bill O'Reilly -- who he is and what he really thinks.
The O'Reilly Factor is a perfect place to start. In 214-fast-moving pages O'Reilly produces a fast-paced collection of commentaries on everything from politics to family, money, friendship, sex, media, drugs,(often ludicrous) celebrities -- and more.
What seemingly sets O'Reilly apart in his commentaries on Fox News and his shows is that although he's coming from somewhere politically, he will to look at gray areas in often black and white issues...and even concede a few points to those who disagree with him. No where is this more apparent than in this collection of commentaries artfully organized with bold-faced headers like "THIS JUST IN," or "RIDICULOUS NOTE," or "BULLETIN." As in his Fox News Special on the media and America's children, O'Reilly masterfully uses media and artfully presents his material. This book is so conversational it's like you're listening to O'Reilly in his home or watching his show.
O'Reilly mixes facts with some bluntly-written opinion, but clearly tries to make his case and win over the reader, rather than just state it. But aside from the specific issues, I loved this book because of the way he weaves in autobiographical material about his childhood -- and about the snakepit he found himself working in when he became a reporter. In his account, he was idealistic and clearly naive and walked straight into office political buzzsaws while working as an Emmy-winning newsman for various networks.
My favorite chapter (which you don't usually see mentioned in a review): His chapter on the importance of cultivating and maintaining friendships. He says what some people don't want to say: friendship is a TWO WAY street which means being there for your friend and returning phone calls QUICKLY.
"Some of my old friends wouldn't make the time to keep our friendship alive, and they drifted away," he writes. "I miss them, even though I'm annoyed by their stupidity."
More than his other book, The No Spin Zone, in The O'Reilly Factor you get vital -- and fascinating -- glimpses into who Bill O'Reilly IS and what makes him tick. In my case, I truly liked what I found and enjoyed every minute of the discovery.

One of things that this outstanding book demonstrates is that COMMON SENSE is still alive here in America! Bill O'Reilly doesn't give anyone a break, he cuts through the male bovine excrement and presents the truth! If you vomit when you watch ABC, NBC, CNN, and the Commie Broadcasting System try and spin the news to the left and the Democratic Party, or if you think the media is run by right wing extremists, EITHER WAY THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ. O'REILLY GOES AFTER EVERYBODY WITH ANY MERCY WHAT-SO-EVER! The proof of his success is that he always NAILS THEM! After you read this book you will be taping his show on the Fox News Channel.

Most of the reviewers that gave this book one star never read this book but took the opportunity to spew personal attacks and their biased liberal agenda. In the interest of being fare, I didn't read the book but thought I would give it 5 stars to cancel out some of the mindless reviews.

If you want a laugh, scan through some of the reviewers and then read their review history. They are nothing but personal attacks on many popular conservative journalists. What a joke.

Ok .. I finally read the book. I actually enjoyed the book more then his show.

For the ignoramus professor of journalism who tore into this book saying it is poor reporting, wake up stupid, the book is news commentary, just like the show: it goes beyond reciting the headlines and 5 W's and H. Bill is engaged in a noble profession of commenting on the news. He is at the circus of life and he has a front row seat. We don't have time to go to the circus ourselves, so he is not just our eyes and ears (journalism professors, please no shouting yet, let me finish). but a trusted, knowledgeable sage. He tries to tells what to think about, not what to think. He not only reports, he analyzes--that is he points out contradictions, he digs for information from bipartisan sources, he questions the sacred cows of society (like Jesse Jackson), and he takes hits from both Republicans and Democrats who both accuse him of being from the opposite party. That is a good measure of independent analysis--if people from both parties feel like Bill is stepping on their toes with his big feet. I will fault the book for one thing--no where does it say just how big his feet are. Are there people who bought the book who have never watched his show? I doubt it. But if there are such people, you are in for the greatest treat of all. You discovered him in print and will get to watch him on TV to see just how knowledgeable, courageous, and entertaining he is. What is most suprising about watching O'Reilly that can't be conveyed in the book? His self-control. He has more self-control on the tube than I would have. He also possesses a wonderful sense of humor of the highest level: self-deprecatory humor, as exemplified throughout the book and in his letters from disgruntled viewers who disagree with him. News commentators on the network evening news programs in the 1970's and 1980's (David Brinkley, Eric Sevareid, Harry Reasoner, Howard K. Smith), those wise sages who commented on the news--that is, analyzed the news--these are the closest people doing what O'Reilly does today. I speak not of Anchormen on network news, but of news commentators who engaged in labeled news analysis. In the 1970's and early 1980's, even the major networks felt it was important to analyze news as long as it was labeled. Walter Cronkite would label Eric Sevareid's like this: "That's the news tonight. And now for a commentary from Eric Sevareid. Eric?" Sevareid would then make some sense out of it all, pointing out if it ever happened before, and what it might lead to. So, for the journalism professor who tore into the book in front of his journalism class, wake up, stupid, O'Reilly is not an objective reporter giving a saint and a sinner equal time. He has his thumb on the truth side of the scale. Thbvbvyou are saying news commentary is not reporting. You are saying an apple is not an orange.

O'Reilly breaches subjects many people are afraid to write about. His chapter on class discrimination is of particular interest. His book only gets 4 stars because of the lack of a chapter on education. He skims the education card lightly in his other chapters. I would have liked to have seen a whole chapter devoted to this important subject. I agree with most of his opinions.

For the ignoramus professor of journalism who tore into this book saying it is poor reporting, wake up stupid, the book is news commentary, just like the show: it goes beyond reciting the headlines and 5 W's and H. Bill is engaged in a noble profession of commenting on the news. He is at the circus of life and he has a front row seat. We don't have time to go to the circus ourselves, so he is not just our eyes and ears (journalism professors, please no shouting yet, let me finish). but a trusted, knowledgeable sage. He tries to tells what to think about, not what to think. He not only reports, he analyzes--that is he points out contradictions, he digs for information from bipartisan sources, he questions the sacred cows of society (like Jesse Jackson), and he takes hits from both Republicans and Democrats who both accuse him of being from the opposite party. That is a good measure of independent analysis--if people from both parties feel like Bill is stepping on their toes with his big feet. I will fault the book for one thing--no where does it say just how big his feet are. Are there people who bought the book who have never watched his show? I doubt it. But if there are such people, you are in for the greatest treat of all. You discovered him in print and will get to watch him on TV to see just how knowledgeable, courageous, and entertaining he is. What is most suprising about watching O'Reilly that can't be conveyed in the book? His self-control. He has more self-control on the tube than I would have. He also possesses a wonderful sense of humor of the highest level: self-deprecatory humor, as exemplified throughout the book and in his letters from disgruntled viewers who disagree with him. News commentators on the network evening news programs in the 1970's and 1980's (David Brinkley, Eric Sevareid, Harry Reasoner, Howard K. Smith), those wise sages who commented on the news--that is, analyzed the news--these are the closest people doing what O'Reilly does today. I speak not of Anchormen on network news, but of news commentators who engaged in labeled news analysis. In the 1970's and early 1980's, even the major networks felt it was important to analyze news as long as it was labeled. Walter Cronkite would label Eric Sevareid's like this: "That's the news tonight. And now for a commentary from Eric Sevareid. Eric?" Sevareid would then make some sense out of it all, pointing out if it ever happened before, and what it might lead to. So, for the journalism professor who tore into the book in front of his journalism class, wake up, stupid, O'Reilly is not an objective reporter giving a saint and a sinner equal time. He has his thumb on the truth side of the scale. Thbvbvyou are saying news commentary is not reporting. You are saying an apple is not an orange.

O'Reilly breaches subjects many people are afraid to write about. His chapter on class discrimination is of particular interest. His book only gets 4 stars because of the lack of a chapter on education. He skims the education card lightly in his other chapters. I would have liked to have seen a whole chapter devoted to this important subject. I agree with most of his opinions.

I find myself agreeing with Bill O'Reilly about 95% of the time. He definately stands up for the little people and it is hard to tell- is Bill a Dem or a Repub? Doesn't matter- as he is equally critical of both when necessary.
Personally, I think he's wrong about tattoos though, as I have four AND a good job... but I see his point.

Factor in : Gossip, self-help and 6'4'' of egolatry. If you like it or if you need it you're going to find it on the book.
You can think about the book as an eight hour long O'Reilly show without guests.
I read it thinking that as it comes from a journalist it would have some interesting information. Instead it's opinionated. I'm happy I could borrow it for free from the library. I would hate have spent my money on it.
Anything good? Well, I kind of like the way he ridicules the SUVs.
Leonardo Alves - December 2000

C'mon Bill. Address it, already. It will be amusing to hear you spin your way out of your contradiction. It's good TV.
Few things more entertaining than when one of Murdoch's right wing puppets puts his foot in his mouth, then has to back peddle:

Bill O'Reilly - March 18 Good Morning America:
"if the Americans go in and overthrow Saddam Hussein and it's clean, he has nothing, I will apologize to the nation, and I will not trust the Bush Administration again." . . . if he has 8,500 liters of anthrax that he's not going to give up, even though the United Nations demanded that he do that, we are doing the right thing. If he doesn't have any weapons, then we are doing the wrong thing."
Bill O'Reilly - April 22, The O'Reilly Factor:
"if weapons of mass destruction aren't found,... I will have to apologize because I bought into it..."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, January 09, 2004
By Bill O'Reilly

Things might change, but right now it looks like the CIA overestimated the weapons of mass destruction (search) threat in Iraq.

This of course is embarrassing to the U.S. and President Bush should address the issue. If U.S. intelligence made a mistake then let's admit it -- there are too many America-haters making propaganda with the situation and some of them are right here at home.
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace -- a left-wing organization -- is accusing the Bush administration of purposely misleading the country. But if you buy that argument you also have to buy that Bill Clinton, Dick Gephardt and Tony Blair were also in on the big con for they saw the same intelligence Mr. Bush did and came to the same conclusion: Saddam was harboring deadly weapons and could easily distribute them to terrorists.
So the lie theory is bull, but the mistake is real and it's a big mistake. The Bush administration should own up.
Maybe it will and there is a slight chance Saddam will tell the world what really happened to the sarin gas and other stuff. A slight chance.
Americans are a forgiving people and we all make mistakes. We are now living in an age of ideological demagoguery where honest mistakes are turned into lies by ruthless, dishonest individuals. It makes me sick.
But in order to be forgiven the mistake must be acknowledged and so far the President has failed to do that.
To be fair he may be waiting for the final Kay report and that's legit. But Mr. Bush should be careful with this WMD deal -- he has alienated many of his supporters with the immigration decision and the president cannot afford to have his core become disenchanted.
Full disclosure is always the best policy especially when American troops are dying. Mr. Bush has enjoyed the confidence of most Americans up to this point but that confidence should never be taken for granted.
And that's The Memo.

Class envy, sex, the twisted media, drugs, personal relationships, marriage, pop culture, politics, racism, God; he tackles these issues any many more. This may be O'Reilly's best book. He breaks up the paragraphs in each chapter with "Talking Point", "Viewer Time-Out", "Ridiculous Note", and "This Just In"; this adds to the humor and fun. His program on Fox radiates loud and clear in this short read. The last two chapters are entitled Bad and Good respectively; each highlights an organization, object or person that fits the bill (pun intended). I may not agree with him on some of the important issues, but I still enjoyed the book.

Wish you well

Scott

Personally I like Mr. O'Reilly because he does not care if you are the prince of England, because once you enter that No-Spin-Zone, it is all over for you. Mr. O'Reilly hits America with a dose of reality and most of what he has to say in this book is straight forward, and it is not sugar coated like most anchor's out there are.
Mr. O'Reilly brings the facts, and what should be done in order to save this society we call America.
Good work, Mr. O'Reilly.

I'd recommend this book to high school and college students. Mr.O'Reilly takes a look at life without the impediment of rose colored glasses. Skeptical, his life observations, whether or not you agree, are based upon reason and clear observation. Although I wouldn't consider the book of any great pith and moment, its' preachments are entertaining, brief and to the point. The topics he covers, and the opinions he gives, could make for good dinner time discussion amongst parents and kids. It's definately worthwhile reading.

Bill O'Reilly slaps it home with this "survival guide" for the regular guy/gal. Mr. O'Reilly does his best to keep it balanced while covering everything from shady politicians to necessity of a good deodorant.It's like stopping for a beer with him after the show. I bet he'd rattle off 200 pages of dialogue before you can respond! Thanks Bill, for bird's eye view with the worm's eye perspective. P.S. Saturday Night Fever didn't view a Brooklyn sub-culture...it created it! Brooklynites had to go to Long Island or Manhattan to disco. (Remember Speakeasy or Adam's Apple?)