O'Reilly's arguments have never seemed that formidable to me. I often agree with his radio show and TV show but nevertheless they seem to lack the careful thought and articulation that many of these topics deserve. Poor Bill comes off as a blowhard… even when he's right.
This book is the same way. He's saying the right thing and it needs to be said, but I feel like his writings aren't as well crafted as they ought to be. In fact they read more like transcriptions of what he may have spoken verbally. If he took this shortcut, it would explain a lot, writing requires a lot more thought and craftsmanship than speaking. The only thing Bill O'Reilly does that I consistently think is insightful and thought provoking is his "Talking Points," a short monologue that must be written out in advance.
Here's the best part of his book (p.206), the words to live by for those fighting the culture war:
- Keep your promises.
- Focus on other people, not yourself.
- See the world the way it is, not the way you want it to be.
- Understand and respect Judeo-Christian philosophy.
- Respect the nobility of America.
- Allow yourself to make fact-based judgments.
- Respect and defend private property.
- Develop mental toughness.
- Defend the weak and vulnerable.
- Engage the secular-progressive opposition in a straight-forward and honest manner.
Good stuff, O'Reilly. Not original or particularly well said, but good nevertheless.
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