Customer Reviews

The O'Reilly Factor for Kids: A Survival Guide for America's Families

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(63)

 

 

Not a bad book. It reads like a book more for ten year olds rather than for a young adult. My daughter (10) thought it was a bit simplistic but she reads and understands well beyond her level. I vote my conscience and voted for Clinton twice and for the life of me I cannot see where people get that this book is some type of conservative platform - it's a children's book with what I thought were good overall moral values. If you are looking for a book from a far left or right viewpoint written by an award-winning author then skip this book. It plays it right down the middle with allot of common sense ideas - ideas usually absent these days in kids lives.

Let your kids give it a try - it is after all geared toward them.

As a college professor with 3 children and 5 grandchildren, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it heartily to parents wanting what's best for their children. A lot of the advice in this book might be considered "common sense" but really, it isn't all that common at all, considering the way many parents raise their children today (ways which, in my humble opinion, do much harm to their children's potential for future success).

If you have a child in high school or college, I highly recommend another book entitled "How to Ace Your Way Through College and Still Have a Life." It's the best college survival/success guide to come along in years, and like Mr. O'Reilly's book, shares smart, straightforward, sage advice.

Dr. Henry R. Toof
Cambridge, MA

Boy oh boy, as a father with kids who regularly watch the Factor I was looking forward to this book. But I have to tell you: it's a disappointment! Poorly written, little actual advice of a substantive nature, more platitudes and homilies that you could have written for Bill yourself. This one really looks like Bill is milking a cash-cow to death, and with the economy the way it is, we could all spend our money more wisely than purchasing this book. I hope that doesn't make me a "pinhead."

Factor for kids misses the mark completely.

As someone who watches a lot of Bill O'Reilly, I can't say how much I was surprise by this book. What was he thinking? The factor is a political show for adults. Trying to do a tie in book for kids based on the factor is the dumbest thing ever! Didn't he consult with anybody? O'Reilly is a great success and should have had enough connections to pull this off, or at least be warned off of trying this disappointing idea.

Trying to slog through this book was just painful. It is like advice from grandpa trying to be hip. I really can't imagine any kids being so into Bill O'Reilly that they would want to try and drag themselves through this dry read. It has no real insights and is really and idea who's time has not come.

Parents, before you think; I should buy this for my child for all the insight it will surely provide, read my review. If you do happen to buy the book , your money will be wasted.
1. Because your child won't read it and
2.This book doesn't teach anything we havent already heard.

This book reads like a corny tv special that annoys very bored Americans. Mr. O'Reilly's writtings could relate to a child, but only because of the low reading level.

Since I know that Bill meant well with the book, I will provide two stars, but perhaps thats saying too much. His attemp at using "slang" was disgusting along with the way he tried to make kids think he could relate to them(even if he can in some issues). He has vitually no experience in divore or ridicule, as many other CURRENT teens across the nation has, and shouldn't have bothered with this book anyway. Maybe a REAL teen should have wrote the book? But why a 50+ man grappling for new fans. Again, don't buy this one its a waste of money and time.

Ill admit it, I got tricked into buying this book.

Deciding on how to rate this book was a bit difficult for me. After all, it is written for kids and I read it with an adult perspective. Had I been rating it myself, I would have probably given it three stars. I discussed it with my daughter who also read it and she rated it a five, so I'm simply averaging our perspectives on the book.

O'Reilly put forth a good effort at relating to kids on subjects that are very important to them, along with several others that may not seem as critical to younger people. He gives decent advice in a way that is geared to reach younger people who are the intended audience.

Many adults may find some of the advice a bit superficial, but his approach may be an effective way to reach younger readers who could be bored by an in-depth look at some of the issues. He also includes sections of `Instant Messages' that relate some of his advice in Internet lingo that may make it more entertaining for kids.

Some of the topics that he touches on are: friends, bullying, parents, teachers, drugs, sports, alcohol, sex, smoking, clothing, and TV. He also hits things like death, stereotypes, having fun, God, and helping others.

He does a very good job of identifying `toxic' adults for the readers and giving them sound advice on avoiding them. He also does a good job at pointing out pitfalls of certain behaviors in a way that isn't an automatic turn off to teens. There are several of his personal experiences shared in the pages that may be helpful as object lessons.

Although I don't think many are going to confuse O'Reilly with Solomon, his words of wisdom are much more sound than a lot of what kids are being fed in TV, movies, music, and public schools for that matter.

O'Reilly takes on a lot of topics that many parents avoid when discussing things with their kids. In an ideal world, all parents would discuss issues like these with their children and give them solid advice. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen many times. For kids who don't have the benefit of wise counsel from their parents, this is a pretty decent book to help impart some wisdom.

I'm one of Mr. O'Reilly's biggest fans and I got this book for my 14 year old son, but both of us found the book lacking in substance. Sure, there was basic advise, but it ended up being more 'fluff' than true advice. I assumed it would be packed with great information, but it wasn't. One could almost read the book in one sitting.

I found the book interesting and informative.

I hope everyone realizes that any book review by anyone that makes personal attacks on the author should be disregarded entirely.

I haven't read all the reviews, but the first few that trash the book seem to be written by adults. As a reader of other books written by the author, I read the book and found it to offer good advise and insights for kids, and is written in a way that doesn't talk down to them. In fact, the book conveys respect and concern for kids. Two of my granddaughters asked me to buy them a copy of the book, saying their friends like it a lot. I'll give them my copy and ask them to write a review after they finish reading the book. Let's encourage the kids to have their say. After all, it was written for them. I'm sure the author would appreciate reading their reactions, good or bad.

Whether or not you love or hate O'Reilly there's something alluring about him. It's what keeps hundreds of thousands of the faithful tuned in to both his radio and Fox show on a daily basis.

I have to admit that I was hoping this book would be something that would encourage critical thinking. It's been proven that the best way to educate someone ethically is to ask questions and let the student draw their own conclusions. Unfortunately, the tone of this book is blend of several styles of prose that can be confusing to a younger reader.

In some parts, we find him soapboxing the moral high horse to a degree that I half expected "when I was your age" to start the next paragraph. In others you'll find yourself being led by the nose to reach his conclusions. The thinly veiled "tests" are a perfect example of this approach.

There are shining points, however, where he makes poignant observations about bullies and sibling rivalry. Then again, these are some of the safest waters to tread since the invention of the after school special.

Essentially, Bill is a little too old for the forced vernacular and while it may make him plenty of "bling-bling", he'll likely find himself "kicked to the curb" by all but the most shut-in of youth.

A disappointment from such a dynamic orator.