Customer Reviews

Who's Looking Out for You?

5 star:		(179)
4 star:		(61)
3 star:		(27)
2 star:		(36)
1 star:		(243)

 

 

Bill O'Reilly

Who's Looking Out for You?

This book is Bill O'Reilly's self help guide for American citizens. Its not particularly insightful, but it is interesting. If you like his show it will give you some good biographical information and some insights into who he is and why. His main argument on the need to be cautious before crediting someone with looking out for you is well written and quite persuasive. People in power are not looking out for you; they are looking out for themselves, their image, their wallet, their friends and then maybe you (in descending order).

The book does have its moments. O'Reilly uses a great quote to open his assault on the decadence of government from Scottish historian Alexander Tyler: "A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largess from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over a loose fiscal policy." (p. 68)

Obviously, democracy can not survive a massive redistribution of wealth. Essentially, most in government (particularly liberals O'Reilly mentions) are not looking out for you! That being said individuals need to take personal responsibility for all of their actions and live their life accordingly. They need to look out for themselves! In this regard the book fulfills its main objective: it is truly fools gold to think that anyone (especially the government) but good friends and family will ever look out for you.

A veteran myself, I did not appreciate Mr. O'Reilly's jab in one of the sections on defense that, quote, "anyone who has been in the military and fought in a war is a Republican. A veteran who proclaims to be a Democrat should not have come back alive."

Very arrogant and insensitive from someone who purports to support the military.

When I heard about this book I thought it was be a good lift yourself up by your bootstraps associate with good people and you will succeed type books. As I read the book I realized it was just another rantival from a splotchy old white guy. He talks about how Ethnic Minorities (mainly Blacks and Latinos) need to all be model citizens and then their situation will improve. In theory it is sound but then one comes to the realization that Blacks & Latino's are humans too! When you're surrounded by ignorance and thuggishness you're more likley to emulate that lifestyle as well. He conveintly forgets that in the 19th century when the poor Irish immigrants lived in the slums they were tuggish and ignorant as well and it wasn't until a few good people stepped in and their situations improved that the Irish-American population improved its behavior as well. How quickly we judge others without first looking at our own pasts... You would be best served reading a more non-biased book say "The Oh Really Factor" by Peter Hart? Also does it bother you that it costs 18 bucks for his book and it's only 244 pages?

I used to understand O'Reilly's point of view but in the end his demagoguery just overwhelmed me. I'm pretty convinced that, at this point, it is distorting his perperspective not to mention his writing. He's now officially too defensive and bullying to be useful or taken seriously. Sorry...

Nothing new just the same old junk. If you really want to read this book wait until you find it in the bargain bin,under 5 bucks!

I too caught O'Reilly's interview with Terry Gross on NPR. Thank you so much Terry for saving me the cost of buying this book. I will never buy another one of O'Reilly's books, watch his TV show, or listen to his radio show. O'Reilly whined and complained that the interview was unfair. Bill, isn't that like the pot calling the kettle black??? O'Reilly was exposed as cry baby! He complained that he was being treated to tougher questions than Al Franken was on NPR. Then instead of defending his position on a question about a People Magazine review of his book, he ended the interview. Grow up Bill. You have made a living out of claiming your opinion to be fact, then shouting down anyone who disagrees with you by saying they are distorting the facts.

Bill is the ultimate spin doctor!! If he can't take the heat in a mild mannered interview on NPR, then he doesn't belong in the business, and he certainly won't get any of my business.

Skip the book and listen to the interview on NPR's website. You wouldn't want O'Reilly "looking out for you".

It frustrates me that so many of the reviews on here are either 1 star or 5 stars - there is a middle ground, you know! While I don't agree with many of O'Reilly's views, I do believe his television show is usually worth watching: he makes expert use of television as a medium, and is pushing 'news talk shows' in a new direction. Whether those who follow his model will do with such energy and passion is doubtful, but still...

I've not read any previous books by O'Reilly, but thought I'd give this one a try. While his voice comes through strongly at times, the book doesn't have the same visceral kick as the tv show - at times, the book is a little pedestrian and lame. Does anyone else have anything to say about O'Reilly's effectiveness as a writer? I just don't think he's very good at it.

I couldn't finish this book. I wasn't impressed with the first two and I'm just downright insulted by this one. I'm obviously not his intended audience. Too preachy for me. I don't need Bill to tell me right from wrong or how to live my life. I'd be more interested in his insights into current issues based on the kind of access to public figures and information Bill has that most of the rest of us don't. Just can't get into Bill telling me how to live a successful life. I've already figured that out...

There is a part of me that likes Bill O'Reilly. I respect his irreverence--his go against the grain nature. His penchant for calling out the truth in a fact-based way, combined with his self-deprecating nature, are refreshing as well. Despite the angry claims of a lot of O'Reilly critics, he does at times admit mistakes, as well as state opinions that go against Republicans and the Republican party. Sure, some of his emotional points of view, like denigrating ALL rap artists, are a bit over the top, but one can't expect to agree with everything someone says. In addition, his woe is me--they all hate me and they're all biased hooplah, which feeds into his own endless tirade of self-promotion, is tiring.

All of that said, there is little to recommend in this book. Yes, his views on people and institutions from various walks of life who aren't looking out for you are at times illuminating. But after awhile, one can't help but feel increasingly anxious reading this book. Are things really this bleak? Is there really such a stark "good versus evil" component in all walks of life? I'd like to think there is a bit more color and hope in the world. Bill's suggestions on how to operate in a world where so many folks aren't looking out for you, are pitifully inadequate. He freely admits his own mistakes in his career, but one should be careful before drawing any analogies between the world of broadcasting and almost any other field. As is the case in the world of acting, there are very few broadcasting slots at the top, the barriers to entry are actually pitifully low, and sexism and bad behavior are rampant. Lacking in Bill's suggestions are recommendations toward cultivating any form of "emotional intelligence," and chief among qualities of emotional intelligence is empathy. While developmentally, Bill has come a long way according to his own claims, it appears he could still benefit from some basic emotional intelligence.

The book is essentially 212 pages of very large type, with very little content. I was disappointed.

Yes, I actually read this book as part of a project to read and evaluate the slate of current political tomes. While less overtly political than some others - and than his previous books - O'Reilly's new self-help bent continues his themes of iconoclastic conservatism, and also, unfortunately, his style of bombast, pomposity and obsession. The obsession that O'Reilly - and many other conservative pundits - have toward Hillary Clinton is mistifying. Why not single out fellow NY Senator Charles Schumer - a much more vocal advisary? Because O'Reilly is, in the end, a self-aggrandizing bully. As I read his book I thought often of how O'Reilly would be willing to write me off almost immediately as a kook - simply because my views do not fall lock-step in with his. His attempts at projecting a softer image - from the title, the cover picture, and the attempt at concern for his fellow man - in the end collapse under his own inability to conceal his true nature - as a meanspirited blowhard who is only looking out for himself. One can only wonder when an overdue Limbaugh-esque fall from grace finds its way to O'Reilly.