Rating: 
Summary: An Intriguing Personal Journey from Liberal to Libertarian
Review: As a long-time resident of the greater NYC Metropolitan area, I have been familiar with the work of John Stossel since his appearances on WCBS-TV as an in-your-face consumer reporter early in his career. I took notice when he moved to network TV after being hired by Roone Arledge, and continued to enjoy his reporting even though I sometimes disagreed with some of his premises. I then became a viewer of his specials which often questioned liberal orthodoxy with such catchy titles as "Are We Scaring Ourselves To Death?" I regularly found these to be both informative and provocative. Thus, I was very pleased to meet when we both attended a conference several years ago. Since then I have seen him once or twice a year at other events that we have both attended and regard him as a casual friend since we share a common philosophical outlook with regard to the role of government in our lives. When I happened to see John at a recent meeting and he mentioned that he was about to have a book published, I asked him if I could get a review copy in order to review it for Amazon and his publisher agreed. Of course, I recognized that if I didn't like the book, a bad review might chill our friendship, but fortunately this is a thoroughly enjoyable recounting of John's career. As a disclaimer, I want to mention that my belief in the educational value of John's work (and its potential to be a catalyst for classroom discussion of the topics involved) has led me to also provide some modest financial support to intheclassroom.org, the organization which provides copies of John's programs and classroom guides to high school and college teachers interested in the material. I view this book as a semi-autobiography, because while it is John Stossel's story told in his own words it involves his professional life supplemented by anecdotes from his personal life only where necessary to inform the story. (E.g, in one case he uses his experience as a father of a boy and a girl to discuss his insights regarding the "no gender difference" agenda of radical feminists. In another instance he discusses his stuttering in the context of the ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act.) This book benefits from the author's long media experience; as opposed to many non-fiction books which I have found necessary to read in short segments interspersed with other tasks, this narrative flowed quite smoothly and the material was presented in sound-bite segments which were both interesting and comprehensible. There were many complex ideas, but the author's presentation benefited from having had to thoroughly analyze and understand them in order to present them convincingly on TV, a medium which is often geared towards viewers with short attention spans and their fingers on their remote controls. Stossel uses extensive examples throughout this book to illustrate how his consumer reporting led him to a better understanding of how the profit motive and capitalism encourage entrepreneurs to act in ways that provide enormous long term benefits to consumers despite the cheats and scoundrels that he so often successfully exposed as a zealous reporter. concurrently he noticed that the proposed "solutions" provided by government regulations and runaway lawsuits were often counterproductive in that the problems often remained or were sometimes even made worse. Attempts to redistribute the wealth accumulated by the businessmen who provided innovative goods and services meant that their innovation was often stifled, and government attempts to correct "market failures" led to such disasters as 'public housing " being trashed by tenants who had had no influence over the management of their developments and no economic interest in the property. The book is filled with examples of politicians selectively favoring their friends and enforcing the laws, often to the detriment of the least fortunate in our society. It also contains interesting material that his researchers assembled that questions the common wisdom in many areas. He presents some wonderful statistics concerning such controversial areas as the relationship between poverty and societal freedom and the relative danger which we face from different commonly perceived risks. (Are you aware that despite the general dread of toxic waste and massive spending on remediation, fire is responsible for the loss of five times as many days of life on average for an American as is toxic waste?) Stossel deserves great credit for actually letting the reality of his experiences overcome many of the preconceptions upon which his beliefs were based, and recognizing that many of the sacrosanct liberal solutions to people's problems were counterproductive despite the best of intentions. This is an easy book to read, since it is written in a conversational style. It is likely to make the extreme liberals who read it apoplectic, since the evidence which Stossel assembles is so antithetical to many of their beliefs. But it will also make many conservatives uneasy, since he is as critical of their attempts at social engineering and the limitations which they try to impose on personal freedom and the rights of privacy in the guise of morality as he is of the liberal's desire for government intervention in the economic sphere and attempts to impose their "politically correct" solutions upon us. Thus, he advocates legalization of drugs, not because he sanctions their use but because he views the "war on drugs' as very counterproductive to our society, other goals of our law enforcement community, and our international relations. I greatly enjoyed this book and strongly recommend it for anyone with an open mind and an interest in the libertarian view of the world. My one caveat is that there is some repetitive material in here for those who are familiar with the author's reporting and watch his programs regularly, but this was definitely not enough of a negative to affect my great enjoyment or my rating. Tucker Andersen
Rating:
Summary: This Epiphany Rattled the Elite Media
Review: Epiphanies are good things. They are psychological wake-up calls to clarity and truth. They cut through years of mental and societal conditioning to expose common sense like a bright copper penny at the bottom of a swimming pool. ABC consumer reporter (and co-anchor of the news show "20/20") John Stossel shares his epiphany through the pages of his entertaining and informative book, GIVE ME A BREAK. For years, Stossel developed a reputation as a fearless and relentless crusader by exposing rip-off artists, scams, boondoggles, and other unspeakable corruption--all in the interest of protecting the public at large from greedy and selfish corporations. For this, Stossel was an award-winning media darling, a welcome addition to the leftist culture that permeates and controls network news. But a funny thing happened on the way to liberal nirvana: Stossel began taking a look not only at the warts of the private sector, but at those who regulate the warts as well. And he found some troubling wart hairs--from a $330,000 outhouse paid by tax dollars, to a town in Missouri essentially bulldozed because dioxin found in the soil "might" be harmful to its inhabitants, to corporate "welfare queens" who grow even richer on the backs of hardworking taxpayers. Thus, after 15 years of reporting, Stossel's epiphany was born: government isn't the solution, it's the problem. We don't need more government to interfere and obstruct, we need less. And this revelation really hit below the belt: capitalism actually works. Accordingly, Stossel began broadcasting this heresy (giving credit to several people at ABC for having the backbone to air his opinions); he instantly went from media darling to pariah. The "totalitarian left," as Stossel phrases it, was incensed. Countless efforts were made to get him off the air, get him fired, yet Stossel persevered, and now shares his trials and tribulations in this delightful book. GIVE ME A BREAK is a quick, energetic read that will get you pumped up, regardless of your political persuasion. Stossel's writing style is identical to his broadcast narrative, making the reader feel comfortable and casual. Finally, this is anything but a conservative tome; it is a libertarian manifesto, as sacred cows on both sides of the spectrum are gored. Give me a break? No, give me an epiphany, instead. Highly recommended.
--D. Mikels
Rating: 
Summary: But where's the research?
Review: There's a page and a half in this book on Social Security disability. It's an example, Stossel says, of government giveaway gone amok. To prove this, he spends a paragraph each interviewing two drug addicts he met waiting on line at a Social Security office in San Francisco. That must have been the extent of his research. If he, or his researchers, had gone on to investigate the Social Security disability programs, that section, those carelessly tossed 300 words, would never have wound up in the book. Not if this book was supposed to be the result of hard-hitting investigative journalism. First of all, Social Security turns down more than half of all of its applicants. Unless you're over 50, the program simply isn't designed for you. Their approval and denial stats are posted right on the SSA website, so it takes 45 seconds to locate. Stossel didn't uncover that website in his research. How could you miss that, if you're trying to sell a story? Second, more importantly, addiction is not a disability for SSA purposes. If addiction is the material cause of your disability, you don't get Social Security money. That's the law, and that's coming from Congress. No matter what two people waiting on line in San Francisco (it had to be San Francisco, didn't it?) said. Most of the SSD section, however, is anti-lawyer hysteria. The final 60% of that section is railing on about lawyers suing people for money. What does that have to do with people applying for disability to reclaim money they paid into the system during their working lives? It's a non-sequitur. The section are carelessly written. They're not based on fact, or research, or investigation. That story could never have aired on 20/20. This casts doubts on much of the rest of the book. Perhaps, rather, Stossel should investigate why the government makes it so hard to get Disability, rather than paint scary pictures of drug addicts feeding at the Democrats' trough.
Rating:
Summary: Give Me A Case of These Books: Everyone Should Have One
Review: In the same relaxed style that has made his Friday night 20/20 broadcasts "must see TV" for open-minded Americans, interested more in truth than partisan politics, ABC co-anchor John Stossel delivers a book every citizen should read. Far from partisan, Give Me A Break leaves no sacred political cows untipped as Democrats and Republicans alike are toppled to the ground in this truly remarkable breath of fresh air. In breezy, easy-to-read prose, Stossel recounts example after example of how a risk-phobic, nanny government threatens to strangle the very creativity and innovation that have made America the envy of the world. Here you'll read about the $300,000 outhouse you paid for, the victim industries that profit from the misery of others, why trial attorneys and their lawsuits are more than a nuissance, among other hot topics. Give Me A Break is somewhat predictable (but no less valuable) if you consider Stossel's libertarian bent. However, what is truly admirable -- not to mention, radically bullet-proof- about his writing is his willingness to not only admit to errors, but to recount them in detail. Instead of giving his detractors ammunition to blow up his arguments, Stossel freely admits to his short comings and past mistakes and explains forthrightly where his thinking went terribly wrong. While I am not completely convinced that trial lawyers are the devils of democracy, reading this book opened up the subject for me as none of the regular broadcast or cable journalists ever have. Give Me A Break is a highly recommended book by a heroic journalist. -- Regina McMenamin
Rating:
Summary: As good as his reporting
Review: Maybe better because there is much more detail. Logical, well written - nice to see someone in the media with a different opinion. Would like to see more people with alternative viewpoints on TV.
Rating:
Summary: I Loved this Book!!!
Review: This book is a MUST read. I have always liked John Stossel's Give me a break on 20/20, but this book was even better. I thought the he was just another bias network news "journalist" but he is actually a REAL journalist and is looking for the facts. While reading this book, I learned things that I never knew and he helped confirm things I have always believed.
John Stossel is a good writer and I look forward any other books he decides to write.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read with a Great Message
Review: Some people in our country just don't get it. I don't understand how anyone can concede that "a little intellectual elite in a far distant capital, can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them for ourselves." That was the message of Reagan, and for much of his book, it is the message of Stossel. Stossel is one of the few reporters who actually knows what he is talking about. His book is filled examples of how the government fails, and how the free markets rarely fail. People sometimes think they are stupid, and so we need a government to take care of us, but we are not stupid, and we have shown under a free market system, that we can do just fine without big brother breathing down our necks. Hopefully, this book will open the door to libertarian ideology.
Rating: 
Summary: Heroic
Review: John Stossel explains within these pages how he began a career in journalism as a break from higher education and how he found consumer stories interested because no one else was doing them. His style, approach and honesty were informative and fun. But context is everything as John Stossel found out when his consumer warrior journalism took a close look at how the government operates. Soon the once loved-by-the-mainstream Stossel was categorized as some right-wing nut. Ralph Nader who once praised his genius now speaks of him with scorn. But Stossel's consistency of looking for the truth never wavered. His targets just became a little hard for the left to take. One of the most interesting points in the book is one that economist Walter Williams has made several times. Stossel says licensing agencies have done a great deal to keep people out of certain lines of work. He uses a good hair care example in Washington D.D. People in the profession sit on the licensing board that decides who gets the new licenses. The result is that consumers have fewer inexpensive choices and able-bodied people are out of work. Though Stossel doesn't say it as directly as Walter Williams, these kinds of licensing issues coupled with closed-shop union policies are a major contributor to black poverty. This is an easy to read book that you can get through in an afternoon if you're interested in Stossel, libertarianism or just where the heck all your tax money goes.
Rating: 
Summary: Give Me a Reference
Review: This book was a quick and interesting read. It was thought-provoking and I appreciated what Stossel had to say on a variety of topics. There were only a few spelling and grammatical errors.
My problem with this book is that Stossel backs up only some of what he says. He provides good rationale for some of his arguments, but sweeps through many of them. For instance, he thinks the FDA should be disbanded, but devotes only one paragraph to explaining why.
There are no endnotes and footnotes. One of his tables had no scale on the Y axis! There is no way to check his facts; we're supposed to trust everything he says. It's ironic that an investigative reporter would expect his readers to mindlessly accept his position on so many crucial issues.
If you choose to read this book, look forward to being exposed to some valuable insight and ideas. But put on your critical thinking cap first.
Rating:
Summary: Give Me A Case of These Books: Everyone Should Have One
Review: In the same relaxed style that has made his Friday night 20/20 broadcasts "must see TV" for open-minded Americans, interested more in truth than partisan politics, ABC co-anchor John Stossel delivers a book every citizen should read.
Far from partisan, Give Me A Break leaves no sacred political cows untipped as Democrats and Republicans alike are toppled to the ground in this truly remarkable breath of fresh air. In breezy, easy-to-read prose, Stossel recounts example after example of how a risk-phobic, nanny government threatens to strangle the very creativity and innovation that have made America the envy of the world.
Here you'll read about the $300,000 outhouse you paid for, the victim industries that profit from the misery of others, why trial attorneys and their lawsuits are more than a nuissance, among other hot topics.
Give Me A Break is somewhat predictable (but no less valuable) if you consider Stossel's libertarian bent. However, what is truly admirable -- not to mention, radically bullet-proof- about his writing is his willingness to not only admit to errors, but to recount them in detail. Instead of giving his detractors ammunition to blow up his arguments, Stossel freely admits to his short comings and past mistakes and explains forthrightly where his thinking went terribly wrong.
While I am not completely convinced that trial lawyers are the devils of democracy, reading this book opened up the subject for me as none of the regular broadcast or cable journalists ever have. Give Me A Break is a highly recommended book by a heroic journalist. -- Regina McMenamin
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