Customer Reviews

Arguing with Idiots: How to Stop Small Minds and Big Government

5 star:		(363)
4 star:		(41)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(18)
1 star:		(125)

 

 

The way in which the print version of this book was formatted for the Kindle results in a thoroughly confusing read.

I believe that the information and arguments Glenn Beck makes in this book are well researched and presented, and leave Progressives with little or no room for their specious beliefs. It is an important read for any person who is unsure to the actual truth in life and who care about our country and wants help the "idiots" in their life get onto a path of conservative enlightenment.

In the print version of this title, Mr. Beck uses various colors and formatting to present not only the main text but supplemental information in the form of graphics, cartoons, images, and special commentary under special headings such as "A.D.D. Moment," or "Celebrity Guest Idiot," to name two.

This use of various formatting allows a reader to logically progress through the book as it lays out arguments and answers in a logical format. A reader can, at his or her will, stop at the end of a argument or section, as they choose, and go back and read the extra information.

In the Kinlde edition, this is not possible and leaves the reader confused and lost. In this version these supplemental items appears as regular text which interrupts the flow of the ideas being presented, usaully with no warning to what is going on. They appear in seemingly random locations within the primary flow of the text, sometimes even interrupting a sentence or paragraph midstream, then jumping to another stream of thought, and then after reading another "Kindle page" or two, jumping back (again with no warning) to the main text. As I read this book, I would often have to stop and go back in an attempt to mentally construct what the format of the text of the book was supposed to be.

Additionally, for many of the graphics which contain textual information in addition to the illustration, it is extremely difficult to read due to the small size in which it is presented on the Kindle screen. This left me wondering whether I was missing something important in argument being made, and how relevant was the information I was missing.

Unless this edition is reformatted into a "Kindle friendly" format, or you have no other option but to access to this book using the Kindle, I would avoid this version of the book and go through the trouble of getting the print version.

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!

I just finished listening to the audio adaptation of this book, and it was absolutely hilarious. Beck seems to be one of those people that you either love or hate and this book won't make much of a difference, but I for one, do like his humor.

If you're conservative you know what it's like to go against the grain. I remember in school, a fellow classmate saying we were doomed if Ronald Wilson Reagan won the presidency - the letters of his name equal 666. When Reagan turned the economy around (much the way Obama is doing now - tho less decisively) I dealt with people every day who claimed Reagan trashed the economy. They either grew up after the miracle or weren't paying attention or more likely, didn't care - it was about being on the stronger side - about how much they could bully their beliefs into reality. And bullying/avoiding being bullied oneself was all that it was about? Whether Global Warming (while it gets colder every year), minorities living in fear of hate-crimes, or women's rights activists and scholarship, if you're conservative you know what it's like to be on the wrong side of 'bigotry'. At some age you'll likely reach the point where you don't care anymore. Glenn Beck doesn't care. He's one of us. It seems to make him a good writer. I even wonder if he'll run for office. On the back cover he quotes pundits calling him an, "idiot", "blowhard", "death lover". Their objections only serve to prove him right?

There's a danger in this attitude. Perhaps it is anti-knowledge (tho doesn't everyone only read what they agree with). It's certainly anti-status quo. Perhaps seeking out this kind of knowlege is an uphill climb, perhaps those of us on the right are just stupider. I mean bigger stupid. For me this attitude may be especially dangerous (I'm a conspiracy theorist, and Glenn Beck is sympathetic towards some of these theories). . . when you no longer believe that the news is slanted, but that events and personalities themselves are made up for the effect they will have on the public. . . I suppose the main theory out there is that 'jews' run hollywood and the media, and the publishing houses in NY, and if thats not bad enough are trying to build a one-world governemnt. In my opinion. . . anyone going on about that, with a platform, is likely part of the conspiracy. There's a conspiracy to want us to believe that. How devious can they get? How nefarious can some of us get anyway.

Glenn Beck does do a good job of presenting the world the way we see it. Beck makes some good and unusual points and is often very funny. I give Arguing With Idiots 4 stars because it does present a hidden side and because of the extreme high quality of the printing of the book. It's like a textbook, with graphs, charts, offset printing (i do wonder about some of the color). It's 299 pages, tho with all the charts and inserts there's really around 200 pages of material. I should admit somewhere here that I'm a social conservative. Let me just say, I don't think it's the right time for libertarians, the tea party, or anarchy. Would I vote for Beck? Depends which conservative he's running against.

Because many conservative talking points are dealt with here, in some ways to me it seemed like a rehash of 'Bias' by Bernard Goldberg. If you do want to know some of the latest ideas on the right this would be a good book to pick up (there may be a better one but I don't know what it is). This book is one-sided so it does give me some room to nitpick, below, and I disagree with Beck on a couple of issues. Because it's one-sided, it doesn't always go in depth, however, Beck does go into great and convincing detail on the chapter on gun control and the second amendment, showing that he can do a thorough job when he chooses to and has the room.

Because of the cover I was wondering if there would be irony here. The only point I noticed this, perhaps, is on the chapter about unions. He notes that "the fastest growing union in the country, fired 75 of it's 220 employees". If the fastest growing union in the country only has 145 members, unions must not be so powerful and dangerous.

I completely disagree with Beck on the chapter 'The Nanny State - saving you from yourself one right at a time'. Some of the chapter may have been intended to be 'irony', but because of my resistance to the material, perhaps, I didn't notice. He does perhaps go over the top using 'sarcasm' to note, "seat-belts laws save lives. So What? A 5 mph speed limit would save even more lives, as would staying locked in your house all day". Beck challenged me in this chapter. I found myself changing my beliefs to deal with Beck's arguments. If individual freedom is being championed, and people need not be required to 'wear seat belts' then it's up to the car makers to create safer cars, restaurants to prepare healthier foods, internet providers to create a wholesome web-environment. . . I found myself making a 'liberal' argument. I do feel the left has gone even farther away from protecting life and human dignity than what even the libertarians are proposing. People need protected, even if only from themselves. Fulfilling this most basic need is about more than just protecting peoples money, from corporations. And more than just protecting certain individuals from 'oppressors'. Perhaps you need to discover their humanity in the first place before you can begin protecting them? It might even explain 'Glenn Becks' sort of callous attitude.

Perhaps it's peer pressure that drives this - and I'll use Beck's own words - race toward idiocy, on the part of the new right. Perhaps it's not some kind of peer pressure, and they just want to smoke dope, watch violence on television, support homosexuals, surf porn or engage in any other perversion - that doesn't offend women, and play the numbers - it's not peer pressure at all, they are voting their vices? I will admit I at least had to 'argue' with Beck and it's an interesting topic. I believe there was a Sci Fi story titled, With Folded Hands, that explored how protecting humans could actually destroy their humanity. Glenn Beck himself points out that, "Nannies are truly a bipartisan, eclectic, cross-cultural group. . . Of course they do all have one thing in common: They're all idiots".

He follows 'The Nanny State' up with, perhaps, a bizarre chapter about how it's not so great owning a home, 'Owning a Home - Waking Up From the American Dream'. He really doesn't use statistics to show renting is better than buying. Tho he trashes home ownership he doesn't mention anything about it's alternative at all, renting. It's the shortest chapter in the book. Beck does wonder why liberals don't make an issue of the huge tax breaks home owners get by deducting their mortgage payments. It Is a way to 'tax' older Americans or those who've already finished paying off their houses. In a sense 'taxing' those most able to pay. Beck doesn't bring this up. Just to be a jerk and make a note of my own, since I call, giving a tax-break to home buyers a 'tax on every one else'. . . let me also say I do not consider reducing taxes on corporations 'corporate welfare'.

Negatives

Beck notes Amtrak is losing money yet charges only $133 for a Los Angeles to New Orleans train ticket when it would cost $350 to make the drive. I was just conservative enough to assume the price of the ticket was already adjusted to a point where it would generate Amtrak the greatest net profit. I'm completely ignorant on the issue (but to reveal my own thoughts) in an age of cars and buses train travels seems kind of backwards (as much as I like to ride them).

Beck rates all the US presidents and gives Franklin Delano Roosevelt a low rating. Perhaps (a very big perhaps) there's room to make this argument but it certainly puts Beck out of the mainstream. It invites the continuing revision of Ronald Reagan's legacy.

In the End

Beck reproduces excerpts from the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and makes comments about specific passages. I felt it would have been better if he had just printed the whole thing, it's what only 30 pages? Let me correct that, the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights together are 8 pages long. Beck uses 33 pages of his book to present about 20 percent of the Constitution. At times Beck uses humor in a place where facts should be and then never bothers to put in the facts. I guess you can't always do both at the same time. I'll take Becks humor, he's pretty funny at times. I suppose. . . if I were a rabid liberal, or even tilted toward the left, I might find Beck's irreverance frustrating, or even think, 'Ah ha, he's avoiding the issue. He's a buffoon'. I didn't feel that way. To me it was a (funny) joke. It comes off though perhaps as if the joke is his argument. Perhaps in these modern times, it is.

I felt it was a good book all in all. Because it's a bit against the status quo, and because it's such a quality product, and probably a little bit because of peer pressure, it gets 4 stars from me.

I like this book only because it presents an alternate perspective that is extremely uncommon in media today. I consider myself a classical liberal that will listen to all perspectives and parse out the propaganda from the truth if possible. I LOVE THE LUXURY OF FREE SPEECH. Trashing others because they have a different opinion without proper debate exposes a narrow mind. Arguing with personal insults and slogans is NOT proper debate. I see this in previous reviews of this book. I'm especially irked by this because I am Chinese American & I've heard from my older relatives that this was what the Maoists did in the Cultural Revolution. This is a really dangerous way to go & I wish people would refrain from such barbaric behavior.

This book does coverage on political issues and does cite references that are difficult to find in the local newspapers or national magazines. In fact I've noticed that many of the news articles in my local newspaper (e.g. from AP, etc.) will omit key facts in news coverage. In my own independent spot checks on facts, this book is much more correct than it is incorrect! It's not because Glenn Beck is such a great journalist. Its because the news media is doing such a lousy job in journalism. Even amateurs are better than 'professional' journalists with an agenda to shape the political will of their readers. There is a difference between objective journalism & suave propaganda. Readers have to work to discern the difference.

It's unfortunate that books like Arguing With Idiots is needed just to get an alternate view for a balanced perspective. It takes a lot of discipline to be well informed today. Bottom line: Buy this book.

This is the first Glenn Beck book that I have read. I will sometimes listen to him on the radio but he is hard to find in the DC market. I dont know if that is part of a vast left wing conspiracy or inability to compete with Redskins sports talk hosts.

My first reaction to this book is that it is about the same as all the other right wing tomes from Limbaugh, O'Reilley, Liddy, Buchanan, etc. Beck is most like Limbaugh in that he is a broadcaster who uses humor and great story telling to bring political issues to the masses. He likes to remind us that he is a self-made man, who nearly succumbed to his addictions.

Beck is very bright and writes well but I thought there was not much new here until I got to the very interesting chapter on the Constitution. While not a constitutional scholar, Beck has clearly done his homework. He explains how each section got there, what the framers meant, and how their meaning has been perverted by the likes of Bill and Hillary Rodman Clinton.

I dont know Beck's show well so not sure of the reason he uses an unusual construction to this book. Most of the text is Beck pontificating on guns, abortion, big government, and deficits. But then, maybe for comic relief, we have interjections from two other characters. One is the idiot from the book's subtitle who throws in the whiny Keith Olberman quips, although not so well spoken and thought out. Then there is a third character who is Beck writing in postscripts and bad jokes under the pretext of an ADD moment. I dont think there is much funny about ADD so this falls flat. The idiot is beyond idiotic, typically only good for one New York Times headline so not sure that is helping either. I think it would be funnier if Beck did the straight part as Jim Rockford and the idiot as Angel with maybe a few follow-ups from Rocky, if issues relevant to a Bakersfield truck driver would come up.

The other issue that Beck is clearly passionate about and we dont hear enough about today is states' rights. Good to remind folks this has nothing to do with poll taxes or segregation but is now a constitutional mechanism to give unreserved powers to the states and the people. There are some interesting cases working their way through the courts now. One has already failed in California, where the federal government somehow won the right to regulate marijuana grown, processed, sold, and consumed solely in California. Montana is going down the same path with a state law that would prohibit federal regulation of guns manufactured, sold, and owned in Montana by local residents. Maybe the powers of the Washingtonians will finally be pulled in just a bit.

This stream of drivel helps anybody who is interested understand why Beck is no longer on Faux News. Disorganized, unresearched, unsubstantiated propaganda, typical of Beck.

Great history lessons and exceptional book, great illustrations very well put togethr on fine quality paper. Great work Glenn! The best arguments for conservative minded and free individuals around the workd.

I first heard of Glenn Beck back in 2004, somehow stumbling across him on talk radio. I found his show to be quite hilarious(that moron calling segment was classic).

I didn't get to listen to him often, but I remember being entertained.

So the other day I was shopping for Christmas presents and came across this audio book. What's another gift going to hurt? A gift to me, from me that is.

Pros:

+ I found it to be very informative. The historical events presented were factual in nature. You can feel confident that your fact checking will line up.
+ I found his opinions to be informative as well. The evidence he uses (to base his opinions on) is solid.
+ It's full of Glenn's humor. I definitely laughed a bit.
+ This book has a great "independent" feel to it. It doesn't sound like partisan rubbish.

Cons:

- I found a few portions of the book to be boring.
- There's a lot of information crammed into one book. Your brain might hurt a little.
- You probably won't enjoy it if you're a fan of big government.

The few portions I found to be boring were limited. In fact, I "read" this book in a record amount of time. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I think you will too.

**Also, if you're one of those people who's only heard negative things about Glenn Beck then you should definitely get this book. Judge for yourself and don't let others judge for you.**

This book has got to be one of the worst things I've ever read. It is completely slopped together with absolutely minimal amounts of research (in fact in many of the footnotes, Beck just references himself or some Blog post). There is really not much evidence or research to back up many of his claims; Beck seems much more interested in providing blanket statements and talking points to some legitimate - and sometimes downright baffling and absurd - conservative viewpoints.

I understand that there are die-hard Beck fans that just eat up whatever this guy says, but honestly, this book is not well researched and is written for about a 3rd grade reading level. I read tons of books; conservative, liberal, whatever the viewpoint may be, but this is by far one of the worst books I've ever read. If you're looking for a good conservative book try Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto it's much better than this drivel. Or even check out one of Ron Paul's books: "End the Fed" or "The Revolution".

When research is provided, Beck simply neglects to provide any comparison data. A great example of this bias is evident within the first few pages: Beck claims that AMTRACK - a rail transportation company created and run by the federal government - has cost tax payers $30 billion dollars in government subsidies (over 30 years) and will subsidize trains and tickets that don't fill to capacity - the most notorious being a train that goes between California and Louisiana that subsidizes each ticket around $200 a person. While this is a ludicrous number and something that should be changed, the average cost to the American Taxpayer for AMTRACK is less than $4 per person, per year. What Beck doesn't tell you, is in that same time we subsidized the private airline industry over $2 trillion (over those same 30 years). Now if anyone where to sit down and actually do the math, you would understand the the single most costly form of transportation in this country, is airline travel. The second most costly is the public highway system. AMTRACK is actually one of the most efficient forms of transportation available in this country. This is fact. AMTRACK rents rails from private industry. This is part of their subsidized costs. This allows for freight transportation on railways to be subsidized in part by the rail rental. AMTRACK simply stimulates the private freight industry by operating and renting their rails; making things cheaper for all of us. So while Beck probably could have used the public highway system or private airline industry as a great example of how government can provide huge amounts of money to promote inefficiency, he takes the low road and goes for AMTRACK. With a budget of nearly $800 billion a year in this country, $1 billion to AMTRACK is around 0.125% of the annual budget. He might as well attack the post office for delivering mail; don't worry, he does.

Now this piece of information is in the first chapter of the book. These facts I stated here in this review, counteracting Beck's entire argument, can be found by typing in "Amtrack" into Google or even visiting the official Amtrack website.

If you read this book in the hopes of arguing with your friends and neighbors on various conservative viewpoints, you will be able to provide some interesting talking points, but you wont be able to argue for long if your opponent is well versed on the subject; or has a computer connected to the internet.

But don't worry, it has pictures and fun facts spanning nearly every page, so you won't get bored with all those "facts".

Those who are really interested in what Glenn Beck does should probably read the book: Charlatan: America's Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam.