Give Me a Break CD : How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media...

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Summary: I am NOT a libertarian but I liked this book.
Review: First, I am not a supporter Capitalism. That being said, I liked this book. It is absurd for people (people on the left) to criticize Stossel for certain things he has said here and there without respecting him for some of his ideals. I'll tell you. I'm not a conservative nor am I a libertarian. I wouldn't even lump myself in with the "liberals".

There are some things I agree with in this book, some I don't. I don't really agree with his free market theories but I can see where he's coming from.

John Stossel is a man who is not afraid to tell someone bluntly that they are a crook or a liar. He did something similar to Donald Trump. ANYONE who does THAT, gets some respect from me.

The ONLY criticism I have is that often times in the book, John Stossel does NOT give footnotes or any indication on where he got some of his information. In some places, he does... but most times he does not. This works against him. If he took lessons from someone like Noam Chomsky (who uses heavy footnotes) then the book would be much better. Which reminds me, I would love to see a debate between Chomsky and Stossel. Not because I think Stossel is even close to Chomsky intellectually but because Stossel is so in-your-face and Chomsky is pretty laid back.

Anyway, the book is good and if you are a leftist/activist and can't stand the thought of reading this book, then you are as close minded as the parents you're trying to rebel against.

Open your mind. Its okay to read a book and disagree with some things and agree with others.

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Summary: A Champion Of American Ideals
Review: Give Me A Break is just that...a clear and thoughtful dissection of societal myths clouded by politics, greed, self-victimization and stupidity. Stossel exposes the government, activist groups, corporate executives and even his own ilk in the news media. This is a no hold barred analysis of the corruption of truth by all aspects of the social fabric. If ye be rich or poor, civilian or politician, intellectual or layman, conservative or liberal, watch out your in his line of sight. Stossel's underlying theme is libertarian at its core; he espouses the wonders of democracy, individualism and capitalism to succeed in the improvement of mankind. All this scrutiny of fraud and promotion of free market democracy are touchingly conveyed through Stossel's personal and professional struggles which, he learns to overcome and contends with. This book is riveting, eye opening and hopeful. Although you may not agree with some of Stossel's points, his compelling stories and persuasive arguments will challenge your understanding of reality; he opens your mind and leaves you energized with hope. Stossel is truly a passionate champion of truth and American ideals.

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Summary: Stossel goes beyond typical right-wing claptrap
Review: Even if you disagree with Stossel's libertarian viewpoints, it is refreshing to see someone from a non-mainstream ideological spectrum get as much air-time and ink as Stossel. Stossel doesn't just go after the typical liberal TV straw men (though he does a fair amount of that), he also goes after big business leaders and other fat cats who rarely get questioned by American media.

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Summary: Sing it Stossel
Review: In this audiobook, John Stossel masterfully reads his work "Give Me a Break," the title being based on his series of segments for the ABC newsmagazine "20/20." However, there's so much gospel truth in this book that he could sing it if he wanted to. Well, okay, not gospel truth, and Stossel isn't perfect, but at least he's willing to say what he really feels and doesn't kowtow to anybody. He also seems to be willing to acknowledge his mistakes if someone can give him a good argument if he's wrong. He doesn't suffer from what he calls "the conceit of the anointed."

The book begins with Stossel's personal journey --- overcoming stuttering and breaking into news and consumer reporting. I learned some things I was previously only vaguely aware of about Stossel --- mainly his past in consumer reporting before deciding to go after government fraud. He explains the various situations and people he's dealt with, presenting amazing evidence of supreme illogic and stubbornness of some of government's and corruption's most hardened defenders. Included in this audiobook version are actual clips from these segments so you can hear it for yourself.

One of the best parts of this book is when Stossel talks about a time he confronted a third-world dictator. He explains that the segment is available for schools and says that he got letters back saying that he shouldn't have been so rude to this dictator. His response: that he's runing lifes and *somebody* ought to be rude to him. I couldn't agree more and thank goodness Stossel comes from a country that at least somewhat protects those freedoms.

If you've just been reading the main media blah blah blah, then prepare to have your eyes opened. Or, if you don't want to open them, they'll be forced open, assuming you actually pay attention.