| Title | : | Glenn Beck's Common Sense: The Case Against an Out-of-Control Government, Inspired by Thomas Paine |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1439168571 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781439168578 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 174 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2009 |
In any era, great Americans inspire us to reach our full potential. They know with conviction what they believe within themselves. They understand that all actions have consequences. And they find commonsense solutions to the nation’s problems.
One such American, Thomas Paine, was an ordinary man who changed the course of history by penning Common Sense, the concise 1776 masterpiece in which, through extraordinarily straightforward and indisputable arguments, he encouraged his fellow citizens to take control of America’s future—and, ultimately, her freedom.
Nearly two and a half centuries later, those very freedoms once again hang in the balance. And now, Glenn Beck revisits Paine’s powerful treatise with one purpose: to galvanize Americans to see past government’s easy solutions, two-party monopoly, and illogical methods and take back our great country.
Glenn Beck's Common Sense: The Case Against an Out-of-Control Government, Inspired by Thomas Paine Reviews
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I picked up Glenn Beck's book the order and started reading it the other day. Borrowed it from the in-laws. I really liked Glenn Beck at first. But, the more I listen to this guy, Glenn Beck that is, the less I like his style, and the less I trust him. I think some of his ideas are good but he's so sensational. He doesn't provide evidence and real life examples to support a lot of his claims. His words are incendiary. He thinks he's transformational, but I don't think he is. I think he's inflammatory. I prefer a methodical, cool, collected method to making a case for change. I'd prefer to have someone who truly understands economics and finance to be the one calling for change. I don't want to be led off a cliff by some ultra passionate ranter. I want someone who's so confident in what they believe that they are calm as a summer's morn. They don't have to freak out and scream to get people's attention and they know it. They possess the truth, and that's what makes them so calm. They don't have to use sensational antics to make a point. They just state their case and let it be, knowing that truth will prevail in the end. Maybe that's too calm an approach to accomplish anything in the political arena, but I for one would certainly enjoy that kind of an approach much more than the one politicians and pundits prefer to employ in this day and age.
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I FINALLY feel like someone understands what I need to know about what is happening to America. Now I feel like I can explain to people where it is I stand politically.
Glen Beck does an excellent job of helping the american people recognize what those uneasy feelings are about the way things are being run in Washington. This is a book every single American ought to read. It's simple to read it's easy to understand and it rings truth loud and clear. -
I have been listening to Glenn Beck since a short time after September 11, 2001. I have listened to and watched Glenn eviscerate both political parties on both radio and television. Here is a man, despite what you may think of him personally or politically, who tells it like it is.
In his version of Common Sense, he illucidates areas in which our government has usurped our liberties in the name of "the common good." Both political parties have so mismanaged taxpayer dollars for their massive, wasteful government programs, that Bernie Madoff could sit in judgment of these crooks.
This book lifts the veil on government as a whole, and if you think Glenn Beck is a partisan shill, you have another thing coming. If you consider yourself a patriot and you consider yourself a thinking American, swallow your pride, shun your fear, and put aside your personal feelings and read this book.
The time is now to restore the United States of America to common sense government. The kind of government that can balance a checkbook, just like us. The kind of government that lives within its means, just like us. The kind of government that understands they work for us, not us working for them. The kind of government that refuses to uphold this elected aristocracy they have become. -
Having read Thomas Paine's Common Sense many times and highly recommend that others read it, the reader of this review may ask why I only rated this book "ok" and didn't rate it higher. Don't get me wrong. I believe a lot of what Glenn says on the radio and writes. My biggest sore spot regarding this book is the following:
It's not just the political class who has mastered the art of deception. There are other potentially deadly masters who will seek to exploit your frustration and sense of desperation. Many will warn you of government tyranny; they'll talk of secret societies, vast conspiracies, shadow governments, and the need for violent action. I urge you to stay away from these individuals and their ideas.
There is no "star chamber" that needs to be found out and destroyed, and there is no global conspiracy playing out. The individuals and groups that propagate those lies have their own agendas, but, like all radicals and revolutionaries, they will eventually seek to impose their rules and lifestyle on all of us.
Does Glenn forget that President Ezra Taft Benson, a past leader of Glenn's church (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which I also happen to be a member) wrote the forward to Gary Allen's book, None Dare Call It Conspiracy? A book which details the basic details of a master conspiracy? Or that his own book of scripture, The Book of Mormon, warns us repeatedly about the dangers of secret combinations, and more especially about one specific secret combination which would seek to "overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries?" Glenn seriously needs to read his own book of scripture and perhaps this primer as well:
Secret Combinations: Selected Quotes -
3.5 stars. After really being disappointed in
Arguing with Idiots: How to Stop Small Minds and Big Government, I did not go into this book with very high expectations. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that I really liked this. Let me say that, while agreeing with many of Beck's positions and ideas, I acknowledge that his arguments are fairly simplistic and done with an appeal towards the emotions rather than the intellect. This doesn't mean he isn't right (I happen to think he often is), it just means he doesn't provide the support necessary to persuade someone with the opposite political opinion.
However, political rhetoric is not really what this book is about. It is a simple, impassioned plea to all of us that we are heading in the wrong direction and that BOTH political parties have let us down completely. On this point, I think it is very hard to argue and I found Beck's writing to be very engaging.
Finally, the audio version I listened to (read by Beck himself) included the entire text of Thomas Paine's amazing
Common Sense which I thought was a terrific bonus. RECOMMENDED!! -
Putting my personal feelings of Glenn Beck and his motives aside for the first three of these points (which for the record of full disclosure are not favorable)... The book is problematic on multiple levels.
1) Writing - Having been subjected to more than enough Beck thanks to my Dad's addiction to Fox News, I can say that he writes EXACTLY the way he talks (capital letters included!). While this style obviously appeals to the masses, and I thought it was hip to do so in elementary school, I no longer find it scintillating. Only more obnoxious than his lackadaisical prose is his abuse of the cliché - clearly he must think he was being clever, I was merely annoyed. The work is a piece of rhetoric in the truest sense of the word, it is meant to persuade and not by reason or logic.
2) Sources and use of history - While he provided a source list in the back of the book, it is should be noted that it is a rather light list (and mostly internet sources, though these were news stories, so I won't fault him on that account). I will fault him however, for a complete lack of footnotes/endnotes, or even to break his source list down by chapter. Any person desiring to see where Beck pulled his data from will essentially have to take him at his word and he uses very heavily poll results with no clarification of who conducted and when the questions were asked. For as much as he quoted and drew upon history and historical figures, I would have expected to see some weightier historical works listed. Alas, there were none (or very few), but this should hardly be surprising as if he had read any, it would have certainly changed how he used these figures. Beck makes the same mistake so commonly made by people who try to utilize only a small portion of history or a person's life - fixating on the part that is useful and ignoring what does not squeeze into their overarching hypothesis. Thus, Beck sees no problems quoting T. Jefferson about the evils of state debt, while completely ignoring the fact that Jefferson was hardly the model of perfection in regard to his own personal finances and struggled with debt his whole life, leaving a tremendous mess for his relatives settle upon his death. I am thoroughly amused by Beck's use of Thomas Paine as a model patriot, and I urge anyone who does not share in this amusement to go read a biography on Paine, especially of his later years, well after Common Sense. If Beck had done this, perhaps he could engage Bill O'Reilly in a game of "Thomas Paine: Pinhead or Patriot - you decide!" and for the record, just let me say that it would be quite a debate!
3) Consistency - Or lack thereof... Beck flip-flops on rather key points of his argument, especially (and perhaps most amusingly) in regard to who he thinks American people are. He oscillates from a generally good perception of who Americans are (and his audience is) in the opening remarks, and by the end has shifted to railing against them for being irresponsible debt-mounters. Make up your mind Beck! Being nice to your audience in the beginning so that they will continue to read the next 100 pgs of your seething diatribe does not hide your spiteful opinion in the end!
4) Ideas... to each his own. I certainly enjoyed his chapter on the need for third parties and could not agree more. However, I personally find it hard to commit to agreeing with or against someone when their sources are clandestine, they change opinions midway, and they try to disguise their agenda while and at the same time thrusting it upon you in a Doomsday scenario. In essence, you could say I have the same issues with Beck that I have with JW's...but that's an entirely different discussion...
Amusing? Hell yes! Frightening? Certainly, but not in the way he intended! -
I considered 4 stars as Glenn is not primarily a writer, an author (though that my be a misnomer now as he's written a good number of books including children's books and at least one novel). But I think I can recommend this book very highly.
Some of you will be familiar with Mr. Beck from his radio program and commentary program on FOX News Channel. If you are, then the subject matter of this book will be no surprise to you. This is a forum where Glenn can not only state his positions, but lay out the reasoning, arguments, and evidence that back up those positions.
Some will agree with Mr. Beck here and some will I'm sure avoid the book completely because they think they know what he'll say. If you (as I) believe that America is in a dangerous position and that we may have a limited time to do something about it, you'll find that view backed up here. More, you'll find evidence that "we" are correct.
If on the other hand you are sure you disagree with Mr. Beck I can only ask that you be honest with yourself and have an open mind. Have you checked out what he's saying, or have you accepted reports from others as to his views and positions. Give the book a chance and if you come away disagreeing, then at least you'll know it is "you" who disagrees with him.
This is a short book, laid out fairly well and to the point. Each subject is given and then evidence for the authors position given. The evidence can be checked independently and the arguments are logical.
While Mr. Beck is emotional in his views, he is also logical in his arguments. So, risking being dismissed because I've given 5 stars to a book that I agree with I brave that opinion any way...
One last word. If you are one who believes "It could never happen here", or that conservatives are really the ones endangering America, I'd again ask you consider this book with an open mind. Don't put your brain on hold.
Just a thought. -
Given the title, of Glenn Beck's Common Sense, I initially thought this book would follow A. Man's 'Everything a man can say to a woman without offending' (the book is blank by the way)
The book was a much better read than Arguing With Idiots (i.e. shorter) and in much the same vein, is a 120ish rant about governmental overspend. I don't think people totally disagree with the risk of debt, but I guess its about priorities.
I suspect the most effort Beck put into this book was the insidious tactic of claiming to "know who I was"
He starts of revealing his obvious but offputting obsession with 9.12 post the 9.11 attacks. Bad move probably ruins the effect of the next few pages.
Starting with fairly normal guesses about 'me', eventually tries to tell me we possess an almost identical political philosophy and already agree with everything he'll be cramming out of the page in the next hundred pages.
Not too many shocks or revalations throughout the book. Beck makes make arguments like,
'the government wants to slap mecury warnings on cans of tuna, but also expects us to use power-saver light bulbs, whats up with that?'
Well Glenn, last I checked no-one was eating light-bulbs.
Generally speaking, Beck's arguments lack depth, specificity and any level of persuasion. He rants to the lowest common demoninator, fueling politcal cynicism and malcontent. I don't think that people should put blind faith in government but I'm sure if Beck is the one to save us from the political machine.
Finishing on an unusual note, Barrack Obama and Glenn Beck are on the same page with one issue. Both see the increase in American citizens registering as independants as a positive move for divided America.
Hell if those two can agree anything can be achieved. -
#1 New York Times bestselling author and popular radio and television host Glenn Beck revisits Thomas Paine's Common Sense and presents us with a modern version. In any era, great Americans inspire us to reach our full potential. They know with conviction what they believe within themselves. They understand that all actions have consequences. And they find commonsense solutions to the nation’s problems.
One such American, Thomas Paine, was an ordinary man who changed the course of history by penning Common Sense, the concise 1776 masterpiece in which, through extraordinarily straightforward and indisputable arguments, he encouraged his fellow citizens to take control of America’s future—and, ultimately, her freedom. Nearly two and a half centuries later, those very freedoms once again hang in the balance. And now, Glenn Beck revisits Paine’s powerful treatise with one purpose: to galvanize Americans to see past government’s easy solutions, two-party monopoly, and illogical methods and take back our great country. A timely message for today! -
Most of my conservative friends may be shocked that I didn't like this book, but I have to say it -- I didn't agree with Beck's claim to be a critic of both parties. He's so obviously a conservative Republican that it makes his diatribe shallow and hypocritical. He's great at pointing out the problems. His "solutions" are cliched and vague. Beck is an example of the sort of extremism that's radicalized and destroyed the Republican party. Even though the extremists may not control the party, they have considerable sway, and they've taken the party so far to the right that it no longer represents many of my views. Beck is right -- we need another party, but his definitions of what that party should be like are not mine. The best part of his book is that it includes Paine's original work, Common Sense. I must say Beck was brave to include it with his own work...or maybe Beck didn't see the irony in placing his own ideas next to Paine's!
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Jump inside the mind of Glenn Beck as you turn the pages of this book! See how he interprets Common Sense in today's society. After reading this book it is easy to see how he sees very little common sense in our government.
It was a fantastic read, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book!
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Let me start by saying I AM NOT A GLENN BECK FAN. I am not a rabid Republican and I tend to dislike politics in general. However, I thought this would be a thought-provoking book and it was. I agreed with many points and strongly disagreed with others. Some points I agreed on included the idea that both political parties seem to be majorly flawed, we desperately need term limits because career politicians are not good for anybody, and our national debt is out of control. I disagreed with his attitude toward the environment and thought his logic was frequently flawed and he tends to take things out of context to prove his point. Also, he attempts to pose as a non-partisan person but he is very clearly pro-Republican (not that it would come as a surprise to anyone). I would definitely recommend this book regardless or your political leanings because it makes you think a little harder about our political system. I also enjoyed reading Common Sense by Thomas Paine, which is included at the back of the book (and, I'm ashamed to admit, I don't believe I've read before...at least it didn't make a big impression the first time around if I did).
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Having never read any of Mr. Beck's books before I did not know what I was in for. It was not what I expected it to be. I found the book to be largely nonpartisan, as Mr. Beck thinks the Democrats and the Republicans are obstacles to his Libertarian philosophies.
Beck is not a great writer, he is an average one, and I get the sense he is okay with that. This is not a text written on an inaccessible, philosophic level, and unlike some reviewers, I don't see that as a bad thing. It allows readers of different talents and abilities to participate in the debate he is engendering.
I follow politics closely, and Beck was still able to come up with some details and facts that I knew little or nothing about. The book is also well sourced, which is an asset. You can't say some of his arguments are wrong when he presents the proof.
The inclusion of Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" at the end of this text is this book's real strength. If I had ever read all of it before, I don't remember, and the ideas expressed by that great American over two centuries ago have some profound things to say to us yet. The prescience of "Common Sense" today is truly astounding. There are parts of it that could have been accurately written about this country yesterday. Regardless of your political stripes, you should be able to see the value and wisdom in Mr. Paine's "little pamphlet". If you don't, you are too far gone. -
Never in my life have I even been more worried about the fate of the nation than I am now! I have little to no faith in most of the officials that are currently running the country (into the ground I might add.) I believe that most, if not all, politicians don’t give a dam about the country, only themselves! It does not matter what is good or bad for the country as long as it hurts their opponents whether they are in another political party or a US citizen. While do not agree with everything in Mr. Beck’s book, I do agree with much of it. And I fully agree that we are in serious trouble if we don’t, as a nation, take back control. I find it incredibly sad that many people are believing the propaganda…no not propaganda, down and out lies, that are being shoved down their throat. Mr. Beck’s book is a call to arms. He (and I) stress that it should be a “peaceful” revolt and I pray that millions of people hear the rallying cry and retake this nation. For I fear that if we do not act soon it will turn bloody!
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I like reading and listening to Glenn Beck...he tells it like it is, and doesn't take the side of the Republican OR the Democrat.
This book, inspired by Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" is a call to action...for American's to no longer sit idly by and let us be lied to by those in the government. We are to take responsibility for what is happening to our country.
It's not at all about religion, but some of my quotes are...
Quotes:
"So why is religion so important to the proper functioning of a democracy? Well, once again, our Founding Fathers had the answer. In a letter to the president of Yale Univ, Benjamin Franklin once wrote:
'Here is my creed: I believe in one God, the creator of the universe. That he governs it by his providence. That he ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable service we render to him is in doing good to his other children. That the sould of amn is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental points in all sound religion.'
It wasn't about any one particular creed, dogma, or church, but rather about all religions that inpsired men to selflessness, virtue, and godliness. Our Founders understood the thing that we try so hard to forget today; there is far more than unites us than devides us. Vuirtue, honesty, and character aren't the purview of any particular congregation; they can be found in any church that has God as its foundation. We have forgotten this lesson and instead of using religion as our anchor, we use it to shame or blame. To many in this country, those who attend church regularly aren't pillars of their community, they're freaks or extremists."
"The time has come for a second American Revolution---bring your passion, but leave your muskets at home. This revolution will take place in our minds and hearts."
"Those in Washington believe that there are many sheep and no shepherds. So we must let them know in the most unequivocal of terms: WE ARE NOT SHEEP, Americans HAVE NEVER BEEN SHEEP. We are shepherds---and if we don't soon reclaim our rightful place at the head of the flock, we will lose it forever."
"One day we will face our children and grandchildren as they ask us what we found more important and valuable than freedom. They will ask if our big, unaffordable homes, "free" universal health care, and "buy it now" lifestyle were worth enslaving them for.
How will you answer? "
"Assemble with passion, peace, and power, and march on Washington. Let your voice be heard and your anger be seen."
And some of my favorite things from Glenn Beck:
the 9.12 Project
(the912project.com)
The 9 Principles:
1. America is good.
2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my life.
3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
4. The familiy is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.
5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
6. I have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.
7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.
8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them; they answer to me.
The 12 Values:
Honesty
Reverence
Hope
Thrift
Humility
Charity
Sincerity
Moderation
Hard Work
Courage
Personal Responsibility
Gratitude
Amen! -
This book seemed a little dated at first, considering it was written in the early months of the Obama administration, and I didn't start reading it until eight years later, six months into the Trump administration. So many of the then-current atrocities by our government that Beck discusses--TARP, cash for clunkers, the trillion-dollar deficits--seem a little like ancient history now, even thought we're still recovering from the damage they did. But as I read farther, it occurred to me that the two main thrusts of his book seem as relevant as ever.
First, Beck castigates Americans for abandoning the principles on which our nation was founded, and which made us great. Self-reliance, tolerance, independence of thought, skepticism of government and political parties--we need to return to the these fundamentals.
And in doing so, the main point of the book is made, namely, we need to turn away from the two existing political parties, which are two sides of the same coin in pushing a Progressive agenda that, if successful, will be the end of our Republic. He says we need to eschew loyalty to or identification with parties, any parties, and instead seek out individuals of character and vision, and support them outside the party structure. I don't see how that can possibly succeed given the deep entrenchment of the Republican/Democrat system, but I appreciate the sentiment.
A very pleasant surprise was the inclusion, in the back of the book, of the complete text of Thomas Paine's original Common Sense pamphlet from January 1776, which I admit I had not read in its entirety before. Despite Paine going off the rails a bit towards the end in advocating for a Continental Navy (and delving into details too deeply), it is a stirring and approachable essay. -
Modeled after a classic but fails in comparison (which is to be expected - it is a classic after all!)
Glenn Beck piggybacks on a famous pamphlet ( Common Sense by Thomas Paine) in order to inspire like minded folks to action. This book is part of his successful 9/12 project and details 9 principles and 12 values and further reading that Beck feels would put America "back on course." (p.110)
Beck's book is intended to be a primer for those new to politics. For those of us who have been paying attention all along, there is little new here but it can be interesting reading just to see what Beck focuses on and how he states his positions.
Many of his points should be alarming to all Americans, including:
a) an out of control national debt (he rips on Bush and Obama with equal venom), a tax code that seems designed to dole out favors to political supporters rather than raise revenue (especially good on pages 39-41);
b) a Congress that exempts itself from its own workplace laws (p. 48);
Read more at:
http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2010/... -
"A charter is to be understood as a bond of solemn obligation, which the whole enters into, to support the right of every separate part, whether of religion, personal freedom, or property, A firm bargain and a right reckoning make long friends." This is from Thomas Paine's tract of the same name, also included. Paine argues eloquently for the abolishment of rule by a king, and upholds the need for a fundamental property right, but Beck fails to connect the dots and note that any majority government can and has resulted in tyranny if government may steal and coerce with abandon. Beck complains a lot but has no concrete solutions except to vote as usual - when it's people voting themselves handouts that got us into this mess in the first place. For solutions, look to more visionary ideas like Dr. Paul's Campaign for Liberty, Prof. Randy Barnett's Bill of Federalism, or the libertarian non-aggression principle: the nation can be saved by restoring fundamental rights of individual liberty and property.
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"They have set our house on fire and blocked the exits, all the while convincing us that there is nothing to fear because they are the fire department." is a true statement about our lulled situation. Are we ready to hear and act? I'd hope so, but alas, we've not seen enough pain to act.
Though "the cause of America is in great measure the cause of mankind," we still want our easy life, our comfort, our TV our NFL. Wake up, it is almost too late to reclaim our American dream. Hegel, Marx and the like would be smiling if they knew where we stood in the
Hegelian Dialectic.
The only way I see out of this is to learn history, learn from the greats that showed us the way. Learn the lessons they taught. Do something for your children, your grand children, even your great-grand children. Become independent. Educate yourself. Read only quality books. Demand better of yourself. Get an open mind and learn from everyone around you not only the closed mindedness you identify with. -
Political books are not really my cup of tea, but since politics is seeping into every field, I thought maybe I should pick up a book, put my "analytical" glasses on and dive into the realm of American politics...However, choosing Glenn Beck as my guide was not a very wise choice.
Beck is OBVIOUSLY a Conservative and he did not save any effort in showing it!!
He talks as if he is the reincarnation of the Founding Fathers who is sent to relieve the Land from the "cancer of Progressivism".
He does have valid points concerning the theft of the bureaucratic system and he has the figures to back his claims. Obama was torn to shreds in the most passive-aggressive manner and it was hysterical.
This is what irks me about Beck: he has such a hortatory diction and very in-your-face antics that it gives you the impression of being shouted at by an army lieutenant just before going into battle.
Beck's style is so dramatic and it took, in some passages, some apocalyptic proportions.
What he said was interesting nevertheless!! -
Well it could have been written better. Some parts were stronger than others. I enjoyed this book mainly because I believe in the subject matter.
I'll throw it 3 stars & leave you with my favorite passage.
"The Progressives view the Constitution as a living organism that evolves with time and changes depending on circumstances. Both the Progressives and the Founding Fathers view the Constitution as a set of handcuffs- but the difference is that our Founders believed that it was the power of the State that was to be cuffed, while Progressives believed it was individuals who were cuffed to the greater good of the group. One of those two positions will eventually win out and that will dictate how future generations live their lives." -
This is a must read for anyone that is concerned with the direction our Republic is taking and the out-of-control government. When I say the out-of-control government, I am not just talking about the President, but the entire government; to include both the Democrats and the Republicans.
Personally I think that this next election cycle we need to clean house and vote out all incumbents. It is time for a fresh start and to get back on track and start following the Constitution again.
Please read this book and recommend it to everyone you know! -
Everyone should read this book - NOW! It is short, but eye-opening. It is time for each of us to step up and insure that the great American Experiment is not lost forever. It really is just Common Sense.
