| Glenn Beck's Common Sense: The Case Against an Out-of-Control Government, Inspired by Thomas Paine |  | Author: Glenn Beck
Publisher: Threshold Editions
Category: eBooks
In Stock
Rating:  1143 reviews
Sales Rank: 6,016
Format: Kindle Book
Media: Kindle Edition
Edition: Original
Pages: 192
Number Of Items: 1
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.3
ASIN: B002BDVUGM
Publication Date: June 16, 2009
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Product Description
#1 New York Times bestselling author and popular radio and television host Glenn Beck revisits Thomas Paine's Common Sense.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 1143
Not really a fan, nor a hater.. but the book makes common sense March 10, 2010
Robert Kirk (Reno, Nv)
36 out of 47 found this review helpful
I like to think of myself as an independent thinker. This book does a great job of breaking down some pretty big problems with government and society. If you are a parent or younger than 40, I finished the book with a bit of different perspective. I actually am not a fan of Mr. Beck, never seen his show. However he does seem to make some very valid points, especially about the economic troubles facing our nation. So, it's a fast read and if you are open minded, it's interesting and does make common sense.
3 stars for Beck's, 5 stars for Paine's June 4, 2010
B. Wilfong (Newark, OH)
15 out of 20 found this review helpful
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.
 Entertaining, but it could have been so much more August 4, 2010
Long Hitter (Florida)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
In this book, Glenn Beck makes a fairly solid case for a significant reduction in government involvement in the day-to-day lives of Americans. In doing so, he is fairly balanced with his criticism of both the right and the left; however, he only scratches the surface in many areas, and his lack of sufficient reference to any works cited makes verifying his claims to be a bit more cumbersome than it needs to be.
Beck astutely points out many of the pitfalls of Medicare parts A, B, and D. In chapter 2 he refers to Medicare, just like Social Security, as a "massive Ponzi scheme where the number of those who've been promised benefits greatly exceeds our ability to pay for them." An example of this is the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (that was passed by the Republican controlled congress and President Bush in 2003) that amassed more than $17 billion in unfunded liabilities between 2006 (when it was enacted) and 2009....in addition to the $68 trillion chasm already created by Medicare A and B.
In chapter 4, he builds a case against politicians and how they use the dirty old tactic of Gerrymandering to ensure their own reelection and to keep any like-minded opponents from taking over. He makes several good points here that I'm sure anyone reading would find interesting.
He also discusses, at great length, the corruption and immoral behavior exhibited by politicians in Washington. I agree with his opinion that elected officials should be held to a higher standard and that the leadership on the Hill and in the White House should not tolerate any deviation from acceptable behavior.
Despite the number of interesting points the author does bring up, I really got the sense from this book that Glenn Beck is more interested in virtually zero government because according to him, government can do little more than intrude into good citizens' lives. In very few instances does Beck discuss with any effort how government can benefit people. Had he done so, and clearly articulated a case how government should function, the arguments put forth in this book would have been much stronger. In summary, this work is nothing really special but might be worth the read as it is only 100 or so pages long.
 Beck makes his point, but misses Paine's Reasoning. August 31, 2009
Alan Smithee (SRQ)
336 out of 498 found this review helpful
As a fan on Thomas Paine (especially Common Sense and Age of Reason), I was very much excited to read Beck's book. After the first few chapters, I realized there is almost NO connection at all to Paine's work. It seems that it is more of marketing ploy to attach one's name to Paine and use a famous title of Paine's work that inspired a nation, to generate book sales. That initial frustration got me off to a bad start. That is of course in no way reflects Beck's view or his writing. However, I was "fooled" thinking this was a revisit of that classic work "Common Sense" to modern times. Unfortunately the book, other than title, has little if any connection to Paine's work.
Ironically - for those unfamiliar to Paine's work, but a fan of Becks - I wonder how they would find Paine's "Age of Reason" - it would almost stand to reason that he would lose half (if not more) of his supporters if he visited "Age of Reason" - he might even lose his show on Fox. Note any reference to that work is completely devoid in this book (which is a shame - if it where REALLY a tribute or inspiration of Paine - which I begin to wonder.)
However, are we to judge or compare Paine to Beck? Of course not and this certainly is NOT even close to measuring up to any of Paine's works. But the question is it worth the read?
Beck's writing is very weak and many cases repetitive. Not able to grasp tangible arguments he sometimes ventures down ad hominem methods - which lower the value of his arguments. It is important to note that regardless if I agree or disagree with some of this points, his methods and suspicions are conjecture and rudimentary. The connections to past affiliations can lead to suspicion, but certainly does not make the case. It's is logical in approach, but fails in Reason - and that is probably the greatest flaw in Beck's work (as compared to Paine).
Paine used "reason", not just logic to forward his view and arguments, Beck falls flat in this regard. Beck's approach is simple (and I hate to say, but kindergarten) logic. If X is Y, and Y is Z, then Z must be X. On the surface you can make some very stunning conclusions, but the logic is flawed by reason - (unfortunately).
I say unfortunately because Beck has some important points to make and does bring dialogue to the table as per the state of our federal government. This is an important debate as to where we are going, what our future holds, what is the role of the government. However, his ability to string a fluid thought process together with not just logic, but also reason, in order to give weight to his message fails. It is geared way below the bar and is so embarrassingly written for such an important topic that he does his view a disservice.
Beck's problem is not his message, it's his delivery. It reads poorly and a ranting narrative trying to connect minutia based on logic. It most certainly will charge both the left and right (just like his show), but don't expect intelligent debate.
5 stars for a rehash of Beck's message, introducing people to a great and important work (Common Sense). If you love his delivery and his message - then by all means - purchase this book.
1 star for offering any intelligent debate that goes beyond a basic dot-to-dot connection on some frivolous examples. I really wanted this to be an inspirational book, but it significantly falls flat. Unfortunatly it reads as if the town jester is giving an inspiring message.
-5 (that's negative) stars - for making any connection to one of the most important works in U.S. political history, "Common Sense". I would suggest reading "Common Sense", "Age of Reason", "Federalist Papers", and "Anti-Federalist Papers" - to see not only how logic and reason collectively work together, but to gain insight as to what Beck is TRYING to accomplish in this very rudimentary work. At the very least he brings awarness.
The book should be called "Beck's Sense" (logic without reason)
This great quote by Paine explains why the book fails to deliver its important message:
"The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is Reason. I have never used any other, and I trust I never shall."
Reviewers Politics: Libertarian/ Laissez Faire
"Common Sense" (common depression) August 19, 2010
togas
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Once again Glenn Beck is correct with his analysis of current events. Unfortunately, I feel a hopeless future for our country. Too much opposition to our "old" way of life. Too many people of power out for themselves. Look at Al Gore alone. He's just there to further his coffers. Is there love for his country or just his pocketbook? We all know the answer. He is of power. Power controls. God bless us. God forgive us.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 1143
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