Arguing with Idiots: How to Stop Small Minds and Big Government | 
| Authors: Glenn Beck, Kevin Balfe
Publisher: Threshold Editions
Category: Book
List Price: $29.99
Buy New: $13.49
as of 3/9/2010 07:22 CST details
You Save: $16.50 (55%)
New (76) Used (39) Collectible (1) from $11.49
Seller: cseereader
Rating:  492 reviews
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st
Pages: 325
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.4
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 7.6 x 1.3
ISBN: 1416595015
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.932
EAN: 9781416595014
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Features:
| • | ISBN13: 9781416595014 | | • | Condition: NEW | | • | Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark. |
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
FUNNY.FRIGHTENING. TRUE. It happens to all of us: You're minding your own business, when some idiot informs you that guns are evil, the Prius will save the planet, or the rich have to finally start paying their fair share of taxes. Just go away! you think to yourself -- but they only become more obnoxious. Your heart rate quickens. You start to sweat. You can't get away. Your only hope is...
...this book.Glenn Beck, author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers An Inconvenient Book and Glenn Beck's Common Sense, has stumbled upon the secret formula to winning arguments against people with big mouths but small minds: knowing the facts.
And this book is full of them.The next time your Idiot Friends tell you how gun control prevents gun violence, you'll tell them all about England's handgun ban (see page 53). When they tell you that we should copy the UK's health-care system, you'll recount the horrifying facts you read on page 244. And the next time an idiot tells you that vegetable prices will skyrocket without illegal workers, you'll stop saying "no, they won't" and you'll start saying, "actually, eliminating all illegal labor will cause us to spend just $8 a year more on produce." (See page 139.) Idiots can't be identified through voting records, they can be found only by looking for people who hide behind stereotypes, embrace partisanship, and believe that bumper sticker slogans are a substitute for common sense. If you know someone who fits the bill, then Arguing with Idiots will help you silence them once and for all with the ultimate weapon: the truth.
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 492
 TIME magazine's "Mad Man" speaks out September 28, 2009
Frank J. Konopka (Shamokin, PA)
824 out of 1200 found this review helpful
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!
Glenn still has it! February 15, 2010
Michael J. Mandichak (Portage, PA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
In a sometimes humorous way, Glenn Beck provides irrefutable facts pointing to the fallacies of the Progressive and Liberal movements in their attempt to rewrite the U.S. Constitution for their own personal agendas. He tackles issues from the 2nd Amendment to Government-Subsidized Health Care. This latest book shows exactly why he remains a NYT Best-Selling author.
Logic February 19, 2010
Brandon Hahnel (Bellingham, WA)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
A logic-driven, step-by-step discussion on various political issues. Because of this book I have become a fan of Glenn Beck's position on many government issues.
It's great to read something that voers such a braod range of topics, yet contains almost no fallacies of logical argument whatsoever (e.g. ad nauseum, ad populum, hasty induction, etc). Despite what the opposition would have you believe about Glenn Beck, he doesn't use emotional arguments to work through a debate.
I resisted buying this book for a long time, but finally gave up and was presently surprised. January 5, 2010
Henry Resheto (Canada)
9 out of 13 found this review helpful
This turned out to be an unexpectedly good book, I mean I know Glenn Beck, every now and then I was watching his show at CNN Headlines and now still I am an occasional viewer of his show at Fox; I was thinking what else can he tell me in this book that he hasn't told me yet on TV? Surprisingly this book wasn't rehash of the same old talking points and the same old arguments; I found quite a bit of fresh thoughts in there and had a lot of fun reading it (actually, listening to it, as I had audio version read by Glenn Beck himself).
Also in response to some prior reviewers who wonder what happened to the "intelligent conservatism"? Intelligent conservatism does not matter; organizations like Heritage foundation and other conservative think tanks can produce tons of scientific (intelligent) reports, but no one will pay attention to them. Only personalities like Glenn Beck who know how to ridicule liberals and progressives, how to defame liberal elites and elected politicians, are capable of turning a tide of public opinion strongly against liberalism. Whether you like it or not, Jon Stewarts and Michael Moors of the world can only be counteracted by Glenn Becks and Ann Coulters of the world. Welcome to the 21st century!
This Book is for True Liberals October 14, 2009
K. Ako
192 out of 289 found this review helpful
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.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 492
|
|
|
|
