Rating: 
Summary: a great book very informative
Review: Let start out saying i thought this was a great book even though being union affilated i did not agree with mr. stossel's views concerning that avenue.Even if you are not a fan of the news program 20/20 you should read this book,i will say that i like 20/20 an especially mr. stossels give me a break.This book covers a few topics but things gear toward how people generally consumers are cheated and lied to and this bookmade me wonder if we as a nation perpetrate fear.Reading this book it is no wonder the author has many that do not like from companys,lawyers,govermant officials and even his own colleagues
but this should be i good thing there should be people out there that are exposing how we are being cheated and misled. The author shows how the news media wants to report stories about exploding lighters shark bites numerous other things that grab peoples attention and grab headlines but when you look at the overall picture they are not as a serious a problem as the media makes out.The media wants to report how things are harmful to us which would be a goodthing but when it is shown wrong or only a half truth they do not to report that part because it is not glamours or attention grabbing.I thought it was interesting what Mr.Stossel had to say about the Erin Brockovich moive and other cases along those lines things you really never hear about. I liked how he pointed out after september 11th the goverment wanted to start homeland security to maintatin the airports but shows many examples how goverment wnats to get involved with different things thinking they can do a better job then the private sector where they really do it better and cheaper.
Did you know that alot of the so called high dollar makeup and lipstick that say they are made with "there qwn special formula" are the same as the cheap brands made by the same company.
There are many things that caught my attention in this book and it really gives you things to consider there are more i would like to list but you should buy this book give it a read one example he gives goverment beauracy and overspending is in a pennsylvania national park they built a 330,000 outhouse didnot even have running water and to go even farther they built one in montana that cost 1 million
Rating: 
Summary: Give Me a Break!
Review: Stossel's catch phrase is "Give me a break!" and very often I agree with him. I don't always agree, but I usually like his style. I don't like when he starts in with the "holier than thou" attitudes and he does that frequently enough that it is bothersome. It is most bothersome on a story he writes about rich people building homes in areas where the homes are at risk from floods. He seems to abhor these rich clowns doing this, but then admits that he is one of them AND that he has taken advantage of the system. He used his federal insurance to rebuild his home where it never should have been built to begin with. That is pure hypocrisy. If you are pointing the finger at others for their failings, then you must hold yourself to a higher standard. Stossel fails here to the tune of thousands of dollars - OUR tax dollars. Can a person sit there and declaim, "Give me a break," when indeed the break has already been given? Stossel needs to read his own book from the perspective of someone making $35,000 a year.
Come on, John. Give me a break! If you think the system screws poor people, why are you making money from it?
Rating:
Summary: Essential readingg... part 2
Review: Chapter 8 is based on his TV special "Welfare for the Rich". One of the more stupid quotes in this chapter is: "Allowing business to fail is a key ingredient of the creative destruction that allows capitalism. Those who fail, move on to jobs where their skills are put to better use. It makes life better for the majority." Again, John shows that he has never been in the shoes of the average people; most of whom don't like the over volatility of the job market. It seems to make them stressful and thus leads them to make irrational judgment calls. Chapter 9 titled "The Trouble with Lawyers" is when John tries to prove to the public the problem with "helping the disabled." Chapter 10, on page 183, he says: "Why am I a 'friend of industry' because I like free market? Many in industry despise free-market, and try to use cronyism and government connections to rig the system to avoid free market competition. I'm a friend of entrepreneurship, but is there something wrong with that? Entrepreneurship brings us many of the best things we have." Actually what's wrong with that is that it is (largely public subsidizes) scientist who bring us these best things. The only thing entrepreneurs are doing is capitalizing off material, society paid to have researched. Chapter 11 titled "Its Not my Fault!" is about people not taking responsibility for their selves. However, it's only 15 pages, and skims through the issues to the point you have to step back and say: There has to be more to this topic than these mere annotates. Chapter 12 deals with poverty and how it's handled in the US. Something tells me that Doug Henwood could have a field day counterattacking his argument in this chapter. Some of the items that stood out in this chapter are: on page 220, when he brings up Charles Murray's book "Losing Ground, which suggested that welfare kept people poor because it rewarded dependency, my colleagues were horrified. Maybe they where horrified because you where using a source from a racist. On page 224 he say's: "They gave them [sweatshop workers] the self-respect what work alone brings." My favorite quote is on page 224: "How much would get done, if it all depended on human love and kindness?" Priceless! Chapter 13, on page 240, John says: I'm repulsed by greed, too," Then on the next page he says: "Railing against greed is a demonstration of lazy thinking by the left." He notes economist Walter William believes that the pursuit of greed is good, it drives us to many good thins. I'm sure parents, who have little kids, who watch Saturday morning cartoons, see how good greed is to their kids mind; when the kid sees a cluster of commercials that the parents cannot afford, and which are of no intellectual value to the kid. Chapter 14 is basic libertarian capitalist material. Like most of them, John criticizes the government's involvement in the drug problem, but unlike libertarian socialist Noam Chomsky, he does not ask the simple question: Why would they even start this policy, and after decades, still keep it running on tax dollars? Chapter 15, on page 285, John writes: "Government doesn't create... produce miracle drugs, or invent the computer chip." That is a lie. These items where (and if they where associated with the Reagan "Star Wars" institute, they still are) items largely invented by using government subsidies (i.e. tax dollars). At the core of this book is nothing more than (economic) Social Darwinism [from Herbert Spencer]. This explains why John would bother to quote a fellow libertarian capitalist Charles Murray - author of the racist pseudo-science book "The Bell Curve". I still consider this essential reading, if only to get a better glimpse of the future of capitalist, and the Republicans and Neoliberals who are leading us toward it.
Rating:
Summary: A tour de force of intellectual honesty
Review: John Stossel is one of the few reporters to emerge from the stupor of mindless media liberalism to rational observation. In many respects 'Give Me A Break' is a textbook on systems thinking. Stossel destroys a multitude of liberal and conservative paradigms by demonstrating the second and third order consequences of self-serving governmental, social and economic positions. Stossel understands, like few others in the media, that there are trade-offs, and often-unintended consequences, with every decision. Stossel's book is balanced, humorous and irreverent; it relentlessly unmasks the uncomfortable realities underlying the massive clouds blue smoke generated by special interest groups. If you are looking for a great read that will expand your understanding of contemporary social issues, then by all means purchase this book.
Rating:
Summary: stossel's journey and growth of ideas
Review: I've been a fan of John Stossel for more than 20 years.
I've always found his "give me a break" segments very entertaining. But what strikes me about the book is his growth of ideas from the "common" knowledge (lawyers are out to help you, the goverment is out to help you) to "leave me alone".
He ties in his views with his life. He's very much the
"accidental" media personality. While he's called a "right-winger" but some, he's really a libertarian. if you have an open mind, an watch his reports, you should definitely read this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Even the Title/Subtitle Confused Me (and why no footnotes?)
Review: The Cover of the book is just as misleading as the rest of this mess. I, like many readers, find interest in Politics, media, liberty, and how all 3 interrelate. I figured Stossel could shed some light on just how much the Media safeguards its stories (and whether or not the media is as Conservative as logic would dictate, since it is run as a Corporation with Profit responsibility to shareholders). I guessed that Stossel, originally a watchdog for consumers, would recount how mad he had made advertisers (who, in turn, complained to ABC). After all, the Cover said "Give me a Break" right underneath where he says "Scourge of the liberal media". I misread the Book's cover language as sarcasm over the whole "liberal media" fiction.
Instead, Stossel sets out to explain that at some point he started reading Reason magazine and became a Libertarian. Wow...big deal...who cares? Republicans preach freedom & free trade, only to ignore personal freedoms like abortion, drug use, or -- as Stossel points out-- Midget tossing. Democrats are holier than thou & may allow personal freedom, but they seek to make government an answer for "fair" distribution of wealth. Both sides are inconsistent.
So, even if Libertarianism is a refreshing view that we are not allowed to hear very often, is it worth a whole book to document that John Stossel became a Libertarian?? I dont think so.
Perhaps most importantly, Stossel footnotes or documents nothing. He gets on his soapbox about veracity of information, but fails to show where he found the longwinded stories that he retells.
Stossel could have made a much better book if he had explained why the Media never even discusses how silly the Republicans and Democrats have become. Stossel misses a great opportunity to explain how the Media and 2 Major parties stifle 3rd party thought (and thoughts on Liberty in general).
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: Give Me a Break is a great book.
I found it quite helpful.
Rating:
Summary: The bad rating is from his exporting ideas
Review: The negativity comes from his capitalism ideas. I just watched the 20/20 show on 1/28/05 and he says "not allowing exporting is un-American." Really? Sorry John but we are constantly told to "buy American". It was made Walmart. Now, Walmart cheats their employees and the American shopper and is the #1 importer. It took a state representative and an analysis to show me how Walmart and exporting jobs ruins the lower class and America. A company supplying Walmart with union workers will only save a few hundred thousand a year by outsourcing their manufacturing after paying taxes on the import merchandise. The jobs Walmart creates are lower paying jobs with late night or weekend work with poor benefits. That money the company saved by exporting can easily be recouped by reducing the CEO and executives salary. Oh, and simply make the CEO a 2 year contract. They don't get paid the $50,000 a year for both years if they don't fulfil the entire contract. Yes, many will take the experience and look for another job but 2 years for a CEO is not bad since they turnover that often anyway.
edworkforce.house.gov/democrats/WALMARTREPORT.pdf
From his book: Ben and Jerry's is the perfect example of limited capitalism. 5 or 7 times any employee is acceptable. Stossel says it didn't work because Ben and Jerry couldn't find an acceptable CEO candidate. Bull, a candidate who won't accept a $100,000 salary and possible $10,000 signing bonus? Fine, get someone with a $50,000 a year salary with $75,000 bonus. That is incentive. I know plenty of 30 year olds with an MBA and several years experience who will work for that. I know plenty of 40 year olds who would too. His example in the book was one CEO who made 30 million and said he didn't have to work another day in his life. Fine, let's increase the tax for those in the higher end bracket from 37% to 47% with no loop holes to reduce their tax bracket. They don't really create more jobs with that money just more money for themselves. That's all they are really doing. GM has always made money but executive greed keeps them importing the parts for Chevy and exporting jobs to Mexico keeps the prices competitive. But why can't GM executives just accept a $75,000 salary? That's plenty to live on in the Detroit area. The day someone shows me how they have "earned" $200,000 a year I will give them credit but no one has. I have worked with the Department of Defense and many private sector corporate executives. All of them that make that much are expendable and don't earn it. But how do we stop the greedy ones at the top when they make the rules? That's the problem right there. Unions may have their problems but they fight for the average worker. That is why Walmart got rid of their meat department, they formed a union and the greedy Sam Walton heirs didn't like it. Please email if you are worth more than $200,000 a year. I have got to hear how, md457@hotmail.com
Rating: 
Summary: A Nice Change of Pace
Review: First I should mention that I have been a John Stossel fan, since I first saw one of his Give Me a Break segments on 20/20. Because of this, I was eager to finally have the opportunity to read this book, though, one might say I am a little bias in my review since I have already stated, I like the guy. However, sometimes, when you read a book written by somebody who you are use to seeing on TV, you tend to come away dissapointed. Well, I didn't and I was suprised at how much I actually enjoyed reading Stossel's book.
It is not a complicated book, which requires a PhD to read. The pace is smooth, quick and written pretty much in the same manner he presents his TV episodes. So, if you are looking for an indepth philosophical arguement by reading Give Me a Break, you found the wrong book. Not that John Stossel is some lightweight. He clearly demonstrates an unique understanding at how modern America works from his years of experience being a consumer reporter. Throughout the book, Stossel provides real life examples he himself has reported on, and which have been seen on TV. Because of this, you feel a sense of trust building as you move through the pages.
The other nice thing about Give Me a Break, is the light nature tone throughout the book. Sometimes, when an "insider" writes a book like this, you get a sort of vindictive feeling coming from them. The language can be harsh, brash and leaves no punches behind, which can be disappointing and undermines the authors argument. For example (Al Franken, Ann Coulter, Benard Goldberg, etc). Not that the books are bad, just they leave a bitter taste in your mouth. However, John Stossel avoids this unfortunate path and Give Me a Break remains light hearted, yet serious about its intent. He dosen't pull unfair punches and tries to provide an unbalanced look at each issue by actually stating the verbal or written responses of individuals who were part of the book.
Over all, the book is a good, easy to read, vision of modern America that pretty much stays in the middle of the issues. I tend to prefer heavier, more philosophical reads, but sometimes a book such as Give Me a Break comes along and you find yourself simply enjoying a unique experience without some of the anguish of thinking the world is coming to an end you get with others. If you are looking for a simple, yet informative book, the I highly recommend John Stossels, Give Me a Break.
Rating:
Summary: Food for Thought -- Comfort or Confrontation?
Review: "Give Me a Break" is an easy read, and potentially a very challenging one. Stossel compels us to think outside our boxes on a wide variety of issues. Depending on what cherished notions you hold dear, this can be very comforting or very confrontational. For instance, his investigative reporting style is very well suited to exposing consumer scams like breast enlargement through hypnosis, supposedly unique cosmetic formulas, envelope stuffing, and price-fixing on milk in New York City. Any reader can take these accounts at face value because the subjects were caught on lying tape. End of story.
I am much less comfortable with his style when it comes to scientific issues. He offers credible arguments on subjects like sodium intake, dioxin and breast implants, but not on issues like global warming, food safety, and genetically engineered organisms because he does not cite his sources, so there is no way to check his facts. Some of what he writes is not accurate according to published research, and these issues have much broader consequences that are not addressed at all. [Yes, I know organic produce is more expensive for marginally superior nutritional value. But related issues like economic devastation through crop contamination by increasingly pervasive GMOs should not be ignored.]
I applaud Stossel's effort and courage in taking on excessive regulation, ruinous legal practices and wasteful government. These sections really did more to clarify my understanding of Libertarian thought than any I'd read previously. In particular, his examples of welfare abuse by the wealthy, the tobacco settlement, and free market capitalism are a breath of fresh air.
The major disagreement I have with him is his clumsy use of the term *greed* with regard to profit, compensation and capitalism. Any business owner knows their business has to make a profit to continue to exist. No problem there. And I personally don't care how much profit Monsanto makes. The issue that many activists have with some corporations is *recklessness* -- the pursuit of profit without adequate regard for the consequences of those directly or even indirectly affected by their products or services.
I read this book to challenge my thinking and beliefs. It certainly did that. I've come away with a much stronger commitment to doing my own due diligence, and digging deeper for all the facts on matters that I care about most.
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