Arguing with Idiots

Customer Reviews

• TIME magazine's "Mad Man" speaks out  Sep 28, 2009 (614 of 866 found this helpful)

  During the Middle Ages, it was somewhat common for religious arguments to be presented in written form. This format usually involved two characters, each with a different point of view. There would be questions or statements by one character which were refuted by the other character, who was a stand-in for the author's belief. With this book, Glenn Beck has revived an old format for a new age.
  
  The book is divided into ten chapters, each one covering a single topic, and there are questions which are responded to by Beck's character. In addition, there are also little side comments, sometimes called "A.D.D. Moments" and sometimes direct quotes by people Beck doesn't agree with, said quotes putting those people in the worst possilbe light.
  
  Love him or hate him (there appears to be no middle ground) Beck wirtes cogently (if often humorously) and well. He states his point of view on one subject and then moves on to another. Beck claims that he is a Libertarian rather than either a Democrat or a Rebublican, but I'm sure liberal readers (if there are any who actually finish this book) will be coinvinced that Beck is just another member of the "vast right-wing conspiracy" to quote Hillary Clinton at the beginning of the Monica fiasco. I don't know what he is, because he takes almost as many shots at the GOP as he does at the Dems, so I'll take him at his word about his party leanings.
  
  Beck is conservative in the sense that he opposes "big government" and what he calls the "Nanny State", which is one that hovers over just about every aspect of American life. He fears that we are going into that situation, and there are enough signs around (for those who want to recognise them) that he might (just might) be correct. I'm a big believer in the policy of "wait and see" so I don't make any judgments on his theories and opinions.
  
  The book will infuriate some (liberals) and comfort others (conservatives and libertarians) but it certainly is not a boring read. For those who publish reviews on Amazon or elsewhere, please at least read the entire book before opining. It's the only fair way to do it!

• Glenn Beck does it again...  Sep 22, 2009 (133 of 203 found this helpful)

  In his new book, Glenn Beck states at one point that it is unlikely any progressives will be reading it. Glenn doesn't care for progressives. He says that since FDR and his New Deal, every president (with the exception of Reagan) has been a progressive. He derides George W. Bush as "progressive-lite".
  
  Beck quickly establishes his perch on his soapbox. He says many of the things we might expect: big government is evil, shut off the borders, unions are evil. He identifies a host of "idiots" along the way: Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Bill Maher, Keith Olbermann, Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama, the usual cast of suspects.
  
  He does pull out some surprises though, and I'll allow you to discover those for yourself.
  
  Get ready for a big surprise though; as Beck rolls out the book today he was interviewed by Katie Couric, you know, the woman who first ambushed Sarah Palin and exposed Palin's unpreparedness. Glenn told Katie in the interview that "I think John McCain would have been worse for the country than Barack Obama." I'm not making this up. Glenn charts his own course. It isn't about Democrats or Republicans...

• Good Arguments, Restated  Sep 23, 2009 (405 of 620 found this helpful)

  Glenn Beck has a unique ability to irritate those on both the left and the right. Keith Olbermann accuses him of being a tool of the GOP. Mark Levin thinks he is a lightweight who's "afraid" to call himself a Conservative. Both men are wrong, because both men (unlike Beck) are deeply invested in the electoral success of their political parties. Beck, on the other hand, is deeply invested in the success of certain principles no matter who promotes them. Conservatives who think that Beck is hurting the cause by attacking the GOP might do well to remember that Republicans have not nominated a true conservative for the presidency in over 20 years, and they have paid a steep price as a result.
  
  From the start, Beck makes clear that "Idiots" does not refer to Liberals. Idiocy, rather, is a state of mind, and it can affect both the left and the right. However, Beck is indeed a conservative who believes in the original intent of the constitution, so naturally progressives of all stripes are the primary targets."Idiots" is a good book, with clear arguments against all varieties of conventional wisdom. I would only advise that a lot of these arguments don't lend themselves to a basic overview. After putting this book down, pick up more in depth explorations of the economy and politics by Jonah Goldberg, Thomas Sowell, Thomas E. Woods, etc.
  
  Incidentally, I am not persuaded by the claims that Beck steals the ideas of others and claims them as his own. Again, anyone who listens to Beck knows that he is very open about who he reads, and is frank about the fact that he has learned much from them. Stating conventional wisdom is not plagiarism. And, if he hasn't mentioned you, he probably hasn't read you.

• Arguing with idiots may be a waste of time; reading book isn't  Oct 23, 2009 (11 of 17 found this helpful)

  Full disclosure: I watch Beck's show every night and listen to the radio program when possible. I know he is not a journalist and am fully aware that he is a recovering alcoholic and rodeo-clown.
  
  Now for the review: I love this book! It is an easy read. Beck's "voice" is clear in the writing and you will probably feel as if you have just had a lengthy conversation with the writer. You may view this as a good thing or a bad thing. I was delighted. The book doesn't contain a great deal of information that is new. If you are keeping up with current events, read the news on the internet, and watch FOX/listen to talk-radio, you may have heard most of the facts and stories in the book. Despite this, the book is a pleasure to read thanks to the style Beck uses and it is an invaluable resource if you plan to do what the title suggests, namely "Argue with an idiot." Each chapter tackles a specific topic and walks the reader through the most likely liberal/progressive/idiot positions, offering criticism and opposing views. This makes the book a great resource and easy to use.
  
  I recommend this book to anyone - yes, even to idiots. It is a great conversation starter. Along with "An Inconvenient Book" and "Common Sense" it is one of the few books my high school students ask if they can borrow. I have a room full of great books and most of them are gathering dust. Beck's books get read. I don't know of a higher compliment to pay a book than that.

• Read it and then YOU can decide where you stand on major issues!  Oct 22, 2009 (11 of 17 found this helpful)

  This book is filled with valuable information and facts that easily refute many of the arguments you hear from special interest groups and the politicians and media they control. Read it and then decide for yourself where you stand on each of the issues he discusses.
  
  For example, in his chapter on Gun Control and the argument that "Gun controls works in other countries" to reduce crime, Glenn provides information and the website from an 2007 news article that reveals the truth about gun-related crimes in Britain and how they have actually risen dramatically since gun-control laws have been enacted. I visited the site and read information that backs Glenn's claim on this.
  
  I don't always agree with Mr. Beck, but I am very happy I read the book because it definitely provides a lot of important information about important issues--and he does it in a very interesting and entertaining way. For The layout of the pages is very attractive.
  
  While I don't like some of the cheap shots he takes at people he doesn't agree with, I do think this is a very good book. And, after reading the book, I would have to say that I do question if many of the one-star reviewers actually read the book. Too bad this nation seems so polarized on so many issues since that prevents us from solving many of the problems we face.