Customer Reviews

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

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2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(26)

 

 

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

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

John Stossel has been giving the world exactly what it needs: a shot of classical liberalism in the strict Austrian sense of the word. Leftists hate the book because it encourages free markets, and neoconservatives hate it because it spells out the obvious: Republicans have outspent Democrats for the last 75 years! Neoconservatives like more spending in their government pork than any other demographic, bar none. I expect that the book will ultimately be rated 4 stars, as the extreme left and rights will give this book a cursory glance and not the full attention it deserves. True intellectuals have no choice but to give it 5 stars. The facts are there people! Read the book! He has empirical data that is backed up not only by the "evil corporations" but also by the U.S. government. I would also like to add that Stossel has never pledged allegiance to any political party, but Libertarians know a great Jeffersonian when they see one. God bless you John. God bless you!

I really wish the reviewers of political books would actually read the works they review. This book should not be in that category. This book is not an Ann Coulter rant, it is more of a diary. Many of the reviewers below did not understand that.

For instance, the reviewer from La Quinta, CA just does not like the author. Obviously, he/she did not read, or was unable to understand the book. The reviewer says Stossel stated that the wealthiest 1% of taxpayers pay a marginal tax rate of 34%, then complains about loopholes. This is NOT what the author said, and shows that many of the reviewers have not read the book and are just here to state a political viewpoint. The actual story is about the author asking presidential candidate Al Sharpton how much of the total taxes should the top 1% pay. The Rev. Sharpton stated "somewhere around 15%". In fact the top 1% pay 34% of ALL taxes, not a 34% marginal rate. That means that the richest 1% pay a third of all taxes to the Treasury.

This book is not about politics per se, but the underlying bias that pervades the media as a whole and how the open arms that Mr. Stossel received in his early days were closed shut when he disagreed with the political bias of the media itself, exposing a hypocrasy. It's an easy read, not groundbreaking, but very interesting.

Newsflash: Crusading reporter discovers that not all is as it seems to be!

John Stossel has been a popular figure in television for many years. From his days as a consumer reporter on Channel 2 (WCBS-TV in New York) to his career with ABC, the author has made a name in exposing cheats, scams and chicanery. He once targeted the evils of business - big, small and everywhere in between. Mr. Stossel challenged claims of product effectiveness, waste, corruption and a myriad of other topics. For this, he received the admiration and affection of his peers.

And then, something happened! In a self-described epiphany, the author describes, in engaging and entertaining detail, his recognition that not all that is government is good, that not all that seeks to regulate and control behavior is necessarily pure and decent. He began to expose the absurdity that is often government, bureaucracy, and the self-righteous meddling of so called public purpose activists.

As Mr. Stossel refined his appreciation for the free market and increased his disdain for the unchecked exercise of freedom-threatening power of institutional advocacy, he began to look at how many aspects of advocacy not only fail to protect the interests of the general public, but in fact threaten the basic liberties of our American society. For this, he received the increasing scorn and disdain of his peers.

In GIVE ME A BREAK, John Stossel takes on government waste, legalistic excess and abuse, the junk science of the liberal left and the embrace of unbridled liberal advocacy by those in the media who worship at the altar of increasingly strident governmental rules and regulations. Echoing his role on 20/20, Mr. Stossel does so in an engaging style that is at once unpretentious, yet substantive and thought provoking. The book offers Mr. Stossel's refreshing views in his inimitable style, skewering the liberal media's sacred cows. Even more refreshing, he freely admits his own mistakes over the years as he journeyed to maturity and experience. His anecdotes are quite amusing, yet illustrate his points most effectively.

The only areas which give pause are the ones dealing with morality. His views in this area (solid libertarian philosophy) may not be accepted by many of the most strident free market advocates. Nonetheless, the book is a quick read, holding the reader's attention throughout. It is most entertaining, well structured from beginning to end.

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

I have always enjoyed John Stossel's reporting and looked forward to reading this book when I got the chance.

Stossel chronicles his career as a consumer reporter and correspondent for 20/20, ABC's news magazine. What is most significant in Stossel's book is his personal about-face regarding what we can do to improve public safety and prosperity.

Initially as a reporter, Stossel became famous for his on-camera confrontations. When working on a story about an individual or business that was ripping us off, he would confront them live on camera, often with entertaining results.

Over time, however, he began to get tired of these low-level crooks and schemesters and started to realize there were larger problems at stake. The rise of government regulation agencies were supposed to make people safer, but eventually were misused to stifle competition and discourage innovation. Trial lawyers, quick to push their client's tales of woe before Stossel's camera, never seemed to solve the problems they campaigned against yet always profited handsomely in the end.

Stossel's political outlook can roughly be described as libertarian. He's certainly not right-wing or left-wing, but he does believe that the private sector does it better (U.S. Postal Service vs. FedEx, JetBlue vs. Amtrak, etc.), deregulation and free markets are good, and we have got to end corporate welfare and the war on drugs. While I don't agree with all of Stossel's opinions, his views resonate with many of my own.

Obviously, many readers will disagree with Stossel's conclusions - that is natural. While I believe the book's second half is weaker than its first, Give Me a Break is certainly a thought-provoking take by a well-respected journalist. Those who appreciate Stossel's reporting will certainly enjoy reading this book.

For years Stossel's work has been standard fair in economics classrooms around the country. His lightning rod investigation and clear exposition make him accessible to everyone, yet his depth makes his arguments credible. Unlike simple yellow journalism, Mr. Stossel can, and does, carefully substantiate every claim with easily understood facts. Huzzah!, for a man who is willing to be honest even if it makes him unpopular.

P.S. If you don't agree with his work, by all means do us a favor and discredit it. Be careful, however; if you're honest with yourself, you may just have to re-think your own thinking.

Unlike what several rabid, partisan book reviewers would have you think, Stossel's book is not about liberal vs. conservative, Democrat vs. Republican etc. It is about government waste, stifling bureaucracy and lawyers run amok, all of which hurt each and every member of our society. Stossel speaks in a clear, reasonable voice, and states his findings in a way that welcomes verification. If you are a reader that appreciates truth, then you will love this book. So many times when reading it I simply had to put it down and just shake my head in satisfaction that someone is finally calling 'the system' on so many of its innate flaws. This book should be studied by all politicians who are interested in truly changing the way things are done in this country, but sadly, I don't think any such politicians exist; so then it is up to us individual citizens to demand that these taboo, politically incorrect subjects be spotlighted and addressed by our elected representatives. Stossel strikes a strong blow for all Americans. Bravo!

John Stossel specials were a major point in steering me more towards the Libertarian point of view. The first one was "Are We Scaring Ourselves to Death?" Since then, I made a point to try and catch all his specials.
Ten years later, Stossel's book reiterates his positions.
I find my own journey similar to his. As a former newspaper reporter, I, too, thought government, lawyers, and safety regulations were there to protect us from unscrupulous corporations.
Far be it from me to agree with everything Stossel promotes through his news specials and Give Me a Break segments. His points on prostitution and homosexuality are points I disagree. And while I agree that many drug laws need to be re-written, legalizing drugs will not eliminate the drug problems.
However, the older I get, the more I agree on how government agencies do not provide adequate protection for people. The older I get, the more I resent the idea government officials and lawyers "protecting" me and "deciding" what is best for me.
I see, for the most part, markets work better to stop bad products, and provide help for people. Private companies, on average, do better work than government workers.
Stossel boldy takes a maverick, iconclastic approach to journalism, much to the chagrin of his associates. That is the only reason people hate him.
Still, the book has its flaws. Sossel does not go very long on the Free Speech chapter. This is probably the most sacred of Amendments, and he does not elaborate on its importance.
The only other flaw is that the book mostly repeats many of the findings Stossel already has presented on many of his news pieces and specials. I wish he would have elaborated on more findings.
Still, this is a good read that hopefully will not just preach to the choir--but hopefully find new converts.