Rating: 
Summary: Down the middle sensibility....something lacking today.
Review: As a casual viewer of O'Reilly who finds his show very thought provoking and unusual amongst the myriad of cookie-cutter news magazines, I thought I'd give his book a shot.Before I even began the book, I am constantly amazed by the sheer volume of feedback that Mr. O'Reilly receives from 180 degrees polar opposite sides of the political ideology spectrum. One reviewer accuses O'Reilly of being a gun-toting Nazi, whereas the next will debase him as a card carrying member of the ACLU and liberal embracer. The fact that so many people do not know which way he leans, goes to show how our ideologies are melded by sound bites that the news media chooses for us, and what our parents and friends influence us as. This is where O'Reillys book challenges us as readers. Suspend what you have heard and accepted from the masses and read the truth. The truth that pulls no punches, is actually backed up by statistics and asks the questions you've always wanted to ask. What O'Reilly does espouse is a return to an American life in which people take responsibility for their own actions and does not blame society or their upbringing as a scapegoat. He points out the ludicrous and ridiculous matters in today's issues and wonders why we put up with it. Someone has to hold these people accountable, so like it or not, O'Reilly has taken it upon himself to be the voice of the minority. Why do the rich and politicians get away with things that the average Joe does not? Why do spend money on silly programs, and who allowed this to happen? Why do some criminals get better treatment than some honest people? And more importantly, why has the average American come to accept this as the norm? As I read this book, I truly believe he took a fair stance, criticizing both parties. Perhaps some may think he is a bit more critical of the liberals, but at the time this book was being scripted, we had 8 years of the Clinton administration. But don't fear that this book is heavy in politics. Quite the contrary. It is a fairly easy read, with chapters that are categorized nicely and are short. I was able to finish this in just a few days. Aside from politics, he takes on the rich and famous, family values, morals, ethics, greed, and happiness. O'Reilly will be the 1st to admit he may not have all the answers, and may not even be right, but he is willing to question things that we no longer do. Why then only 4 stars? O'Reilly can go off on a tangent at times, and in some subject matter I felt got off track and took away from the chapter's main topic. Also I found the first two-thirds more interesting than the last third. At this point, I felt some dead space was being filled. I would have liked some more substantive material than fluff. He can be preachy at times, but the reader must accept this as just a person's point of view. He also allows those that disagree with him some points in his book, and takes his own criticism quite well. I guarantee you will place this book down at times and be astonished at what goes on in some circles, and why this never makes the news. There is no conservative or liberal agenda here to appeal to those ideologies, just pure common sense.....something America has recently put aside.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing...
Review: O'reilly has a very interesting and semi-informative newsprogram. This book is not interesting and not informative. Hisblatent plugs for his novel and his TV show went way overboard. Iexpected a book about the subjects he discusses on his shows. I waslet down. Instead I heard O'Reilly continually trying to claim he isworking class. ...There are a few good chapters where he deals withcurrent affairs and politics but the bulk of it is "How to lead abetter full-filling life". Stick to politics O'Reilly. NOTHINGlike the Factor new program.
Rating: 
Summary: My Follow-Up Review on The Good, the Bad, and the Boring
Review: I took A LOT of heat for my scathing review of Bill O'Reilly and his book... But I stand by what I said. 1/4 liked my review. 30 didn't. Rather knee-jerk reaction from those who haven't read the book. I say this as a staunch conservative and paleolibertarian: O'Reilly is an unprincipled neoconservative who tries to be all things to all people. This book goes down a dead end and it is little more than a choppy commentary of Bill's thoughts on a myriad of issues from Al Sharpton to Sex. Factor this? Who cares about what O'Reilly thinks about Sean "Puffy" Combs, Pamela Lee, and SUV's. The author is just selling his name/face on a boring little book.
Rating:
Summary: You have got to be F&#*@%! kidding me
Review: If Bill O'Reilly deserves any accolades, it is for becoming the most influential, yet most uninformed, man on television. His show is nothing more than an excuse for him to demonstrate just that fact on a nightly basis, yet it is lapped up by people nationwide who I can only assume are even more uninformed than he is (a possibility I find truly mind-boggling.) Anyway, it is not his show that I take umbrage with, but this piece of claptrap spun as insight. For a man who prides himself on hosting a "no-spin" zone, O'Reilly sure knows how to play the game. Aside from the lies about his lower-middle class upbringing and blue collar persona, this book is chock full of blatant distortions and hypocrisies. His claim that his father never made over $35,000 may be true, but O'Reilly seems to forget to adjust for inflation, which makes that thirty-five grand equal to roughly $90,000 today. And his used car? A Lexus. I won't go into detail and attempt to list every little example of O'Reilly's lies, but I will point out one glaring piece of hypocrisy. In the chapter entitled "The Job Factor," he relates a tale from his days in Pennsylvania where he locks the clearly claustrophobic late night tv host in a coffin on air, simply because he didn't like him and he thought it would be funny. Yet, only 5 pages later, O'Reilly sees fit to remind us that "there is never any excuse for not being kind." Apparently I missed something, but tormenting an old man for fun does not seem like a nice thing to do. O'Reilly "insights" are banal reformulations of what is generally considered common-sense, so why seeing them spelled out in a book written by a total idiot is supposed to make them meaningful is beyond me. Perhaps the most ridiculous factor of this book are three of the final chapters where O'Reilly decides to settle once and for all the age old questions as to what is good, bad or ridiculous. If anybody on the face of this earth finds O'Reilly's love for Santa Clause, The Hardy Boys or Earth, Wind or Fire to be in any way relevant or interesting, they ought to seriously consider psychotherapy (or suicide.) The only thing I can say about this book is that the sheer surrealism of reading a chapter entitled "The Ridiculous Factor" in perhaps the most ridiculous book of all time could possibly a defining moment in my life.
Rating: 
Summary: O'Reilly Tells It Like It Is
Review: Like him or not, Bill O'Reilly is a well researched TV personality who asks the tough questions that others are either afraid to ask or simply aren't afforded the freedom to. You are entitled to your opinion of this book, but you do have to take his opinions for what they are. They are his views of what is good and bad in America and he is simply providing them in his book to provoke thought and discussion. The fact is that O'Reilly is a well researched author who presents his opinions in a consise easy to read way. He does not go into deep philosophical discussions using big words and overdrawn dialoge. He presents his views in layman's terms for the every day joe. While I may not agree with all of his stances on issues, I feel that he is well over 75% correct on most of them. If there were more journalists like him either to the left or right, the citizens of America would be a much more informed society. If you don't like him, you have every opportunity to watch any other news channel or show. Just don't count on them getting to the heart of a matter either good or bad.
Rating:
Summary: Hurray For Candid Opinions!
Review: This book, like much of Mr.O'Reilly's presentations, clearly expresses an interesting and candid range of opinions on American everyday life. With sharp wit, it addresses pressing issues within the social/political arena. Yet, there is another equally fascinating angle not touched upon --- the 'good, bad and completely ridiculous' in the life of management vs technical staff played out in high-tech R&D, which is presented with insight, wit and to the point humor in the highly entertaining book, "Management by Vice" (by C.B. Don). I really recommend it, if you enjoy The O'Reilly Factor and check out the memorable, satirical verses with expert illustrations. Both these books remind us to tolerate criticism (no matter what position we hold or aspire to)and to laugh at ourselves. For, all such candid writing is important to the positive development of our own lives, and ultimately to the continued growth of our civilized Democracy!
Rating:
Summary: Patronizing
Review: Patronizing and preachy. O'Reilly has some good ideas which are legitimate and debatable. The problem is that he presents his views as though they were the only proper and intelligent thoughts that ever passed through a human skull. The book is often one-sided and propagandic, so be careful about taking many of O'Reilly's points at face-value. Sometimes what's "ridiculous" in O'Reilly's terms is at least justifiable when the whole picture is presented (a lot of the "government waste" mentioned isn't as bizarre as the book makes it). O'Reilly is an entertainer in my eyes. For those of us who have grown weary of liberal-leanings, O'Reilly provides a VERY conservative voice. However, he's painted himself out as a caricature. He is shamelessly self-aggrandizing, and often thick-skulled. Unfortunately, he isn't a terribly honest man, either. Contrary to the portrait he's given of himself as an unbiased crusader for truth and justice, O'Reilly is a man with a political mission, and he shouldn't be seen as anything more. For instance, his campaign against the Clintons is sometimes outrageous. We all have problems, I think, with the way the Clintons handle themselves, but there is a point where politics become people. When Clinton tells a joke, its not an "...obvious ploy to fool people into believing he's a charming guy." as O'Reilly once suggested. Its just a joke. I also think the way O'Reilly has publicized the book is disgraceful. The constant self-flattery and promotion on the show is a little silly, but its the aggressive tactis that bother me. One day O'Reilly suddenly lashed out at Fmr. Pres. Jimmy Carter. He made a comment on his show to the effect of "... I wouldn't buy his book and neither should you." Not long afterward, Jimmy Carter's book passed his on the NYT Bestsellers list, leaving us to question his motives for attacking a man who hasn't been in the spotlight for over 20 years.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting
Review: Since I don't receive Fox News off my dish, I've never had the pleasure of viewing Mr. O'Reilly, although friends have recommended his show. They say he's entertaining. This book is interesting, sometimes amusing, and it is quite obvious throughout that Mr. O'Reilly is almost as opinionated as me, and possibly as arrogant in his beliefs. I find little in the book that I disagree with strongly, and nothing that is very enlightening. It is amusing, and my friends are right--it is entertaining. Probably it would mean more to me if I had watched his show and knew more about him. While I tend to agree that class is a more important determinant than race in achieving some measure of success in our society, I think he overstates its importance. His opinion seems to be colored overmuch by some of the stuffed shirts he has known, who consider it a faux pas to say "tuxedo" rather than "evening dress." I don't know any people who would elevate such a transgression to the level of importance that would lead to any discussion of the matter. I have known wealthy people who were crass and stupid, and poor people who had class and manners. I've known stupid people with Ph.D.s and very bright, highly literate and intelligent people who never completed college. I have even known an honest, hard-working politician. In brief, generalizations about people and professions, with which this book is replete, are generally vastly oversimplified. And that's another generalization. Apparently O'Reilly is of the opinion that he is a plain-spoken controversial maverick with much of interest to impart. It seems to me that this book is a frank attempt to cash in on his fame, and that there is little of great importance between its covers that contributes anything of value to the culture. Perhaps I'm wrong. Joseph H Pierre
Rating:
Summary: what a forlorn little book this is!
Review: There's nothing enlightening in the pages of this book - it is pure, old-fashioned American drivel. The book's shtick is honed, but its creed is unbelievable. From beginning to end, the content here is more demogoguery than journalism (witness the grinding chapter on the dynamics of public service, and the regressive huffing and puffing on the rearing of children) One cannot progress more than half a page in this tiresome epic without receiving yet another big helping of self-righteous gruel; a mush served in soured old schoolmarm style, pathetically old-fashioned, all charmless and prissy. The book (interminable, by the way, at a mere 200 pages!) manoeuvers the 'hot-button' issues one by one, pretends to break open each one, shake it free of the 'imprisoning' imposed on it by people who actually think, finally reducing it to the size of a few miserable scavenger notions of right and wrong. It can be a fascinating ride, as demogoguery often is, but one would be mistaken to set a moral compass by the vain, predictable and heartless conclusions drawn in this bestseller. I don't think I've ever encountered a book more obsessed with the idea that someone might possibly get something in this country that he or she doesn't deserve to have! What gets presented here is a mongrol drone of the most demeaning variety, a witless message that reads like a kind of upside-down Horatio Alger with his socks on his nose, thinking everyone smells what he smells! What a forlorn book this is; that it sits at the top of the bestseller charts is but another alarming bellweather of a culture in decline. My recommendation to anyone considering reading this book is to stick to the tabloids - for their honesty, if nothing else.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting read for the rebels among us.
Review: Wonderfully fun and entertaining book. As I wrote about Jesse Ventura's book "Ain't Got Time to Bleed" they both have one unique quality that almost all other books do not have. This book actually sounds, looks and gives us the impression that, Bill did in fact write this book. And that he took the information, ideals and philosophies from his own head, not some group of paid consultants and/or professionals who seem to have helped Hillary Clinton for instance. I would bet my boxers that she did not actually write, "It takes a Village." Perhaps that is why we like the O'Reilly Factor and then turn to the Factor on late night TV to see more honesty and straight forward commentary and debate. It is refreshing to find someone who just says what they feel and is believable in doing so. God, could it be that there is actually a no spin zone. Perhaps there is hope for America yet. Just the facts and back and forth discussion about real issues where the hypocrisy can be openly seen by us all and where you can tell the real bad apples by their unwillingness to visit the Factor. I agree with much of Mr. O'Reilly's ideals and assertions, and the page 19 quote from the individual about government spending is certainly indicative of most of our naïve citizens today. But that is both their fault and our education systems fault run by Demagogues that only us to be half educated. I did not agree with the page 177 comment though about friends. As a matter of fact I was breezing through this book with so much admiration and respect even though I did agree with most everything else that I was taken aback by the comments. I would much rather respect a person (especially a good friend) who puts his family especially his children (I have a great soft spot for kids) before his drinking, drug indulging, smoking, card playing, bar hopping, women chasing buddies. Than one who puts those things first before his wife, family and children any day. In any case this book is an easy read, fun, entertaining and insightful and hits at some significant social and political issues with a new perspective that should be shared by the vast majority of American citizens, but unfortunately isn't. Good book for everyone to look at. A great book Mr. O'reilly. Loved it. Keep writing. The only bad part was it was too short. But it did leave me wanting more. And you are right I am sure we all have recommendations of names and organizations to go on your good and bad list.
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