11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Content: Fantastic. Formatting for Kindle: Horrible., September 1, 2010
A Kid's Review
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.
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922 of 1,351 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
TIME magazine's "Mad Man" speaks out, September 28, 2009
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!
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