Status
Available
Call number
Publication
New York : Broadway Books, c2008.
Physical description
x, 256 p.; 25 cm
User reviews
LibraryThing member fdholt
To understand Bill O’Reilly and his opinions on various subjects, you need to understand the forces that shaped him in his early years. Bill has written a memoir on growing up in Levittown, New York (in a single family home with a yard); attending Catholic schools in the area and Marist College
Out of the experiences of the past is the Bill O’Reilly of today. He is intolerant of abuse of children, including the Catholic Church’s ignoring of priests who abused children, as well as those who bully other children, and judges who release child offenders with a slap on the wrist. He investigates organizations who are supposed to help others with donated money and holds them accountable. And he is rude, sometimes to the point of obnoxious, with some guests. Like him or hate him, A bold fresh piece of humanity will help you understand him and the rest of the Boomer generation.
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in Poughkeepsie; and his early years as a teacher and a newsman. Some of the stories are funny, especially his description of his classes and some of the, as he puts it, “thugs” who were his friends and classmates. His 3rd grade teacher called him “a bold fresh piece of humanity” and it stuck. The section of food and what was served for dinner was hilarious but accurate. (I do know what sloppy joes were since our weekly diet at home for the same time period was similar. We just had buns dunked in coffee instead of cold cereal for breakfast.) The movies were terrible – read the description of Attack of the crab monsters - but the kids attended. And much of the book is serious. He describes his parents and growing up in post World War II America where he was oblivious to the financial struggles around him. In summer, he was expected to go out and play, returning for meals, No such thing as sitting in front of a computer or the TV set for hours on end. He describes the defining moment of our generation – the day Kennedy was killed. His book is a record of living in those turbulent, innocent times.Out of the experiences of the past is the Bill O’Reilly of today. He is intolerant of abuse of children, including the Catholic Church’s ignoring of priests who abused children, as well as those who bully other children, and judges who release child offenders with a slap on the wrist. He investigates organizations who are supposed to help others with donated money and holds them accountable. And he is rude, sometimes to the point of obnoxious, with some guests. Like him or hate him, A bold fresh piece of humanity will help you understand him and the rest of the Boomer generation.
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LibraryThing member jeanie1
ok book, am not sure why this is on the best seller list
LibraryThing member sergerca
One of the great things about O'Reilly's books is that they're written like he talks so you can read them a rapid clip and not miss anything.
This book is certainly the most personal one he's written, and I saw a lot of myself in his story. Unless you're a committed hater, you will sympathize with
I think these ideas were once accepted by nearly all Americans. That is most certainly not the case today, and O'Reilly is doing his part to try and change that. Agree or disagree with his tactics, or his aims, but the man is honest. He's upfront with what he believes and why thinks you should believe it to. "Relativism" is not in his vocabulary. It shouldn't be in ours either.
All of this just reinforces the fact that he is not an ideologue. He's just a traditionalist. The idea that he's a shill for the GOP or even conservative movement is ridiculous.
If you only read one of his books, read this one.
This book is certainly the most personal one he's written, and I saw a lot of myself in his story. Unless you're a committed hater, you will sympathize with
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how O'Reilly arrived at his world view. He's from a once typical middle-class background where friendship is more important than who you know. Where your parents aren't there to be your friend, but rather to teach you how you should behave in a civil society. Where schools were for education AND character formation, not a place where children go to receive undue adulation. Where hard work is more important than breeding.I think these ideas were once accepted by nearly all Americans. That is most certainly not the case today, and O'Reilly is doing his part to try and change that. Agree or disagree with his tactics, or his aims, but the man is honest. He's upfront with what he believes and why thinks you should believe it to. "Relativism" is not in his vocabulary. It shouldn't be in ours either.
All of this just reinforces the fact that he is not an ideologue. He's just a traditionalist. The idea that he's a shill for the GOP or even conservative movement is ridiculous.
If you only read one of his books, read this one.
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LibraryThing member poochness
I'm sorry; I just don't get the popularity of this book or the hilarity others find in it. I like to laugh, but I didn't find much here. I prefer his other books. I'm a big conservative and watch O'Reilly nearly every night, and I think he's the best interviewer alive. But, I didn't really find
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this book personal nor very interesting. There doesn't seem to be much passion in it. I don't need to know personal details about his marriage or his family. I am not trying to slam the book. If you like O'Reilly, you'll be interested enough to read the book but I don't find it as funny as many others seem to. For an autobiography, it was lacking in passion to me. Show Less
LibraryThing member judithrs
A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity. Bill O’Reilly. 2008. Don’t bother reading this unless you really, really like Bill O’Reilly and don’t mind his smugness and false humility. I like show most of the time, but I was very disappointed in this book. His description of growing up in Levittown,
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going to Catholic schools, and his relationship with his parents was interesting, but the rest you can learn from watching his TV program if you care. I cannot understand how this book could stay on the best seller list for so long, but I cannot understand why Dan Brown’s books are so popular either. Show Less
LibraryThing member MorganGMac
I don't generally read autobiographies, but O'Reilly's was pretty good. His writing style almost exactly matches the phrasing and cadence of his on-air speech, but I suppose that's to be expected of a reporter. He gives a slew of stories, ranging from light-hearted to downright sad, all aimed at
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giving the reader a clearer picture of how O'Reilly has come to see his mission as a reporter. Basically, because of his working-class, Catholic background, he has established well-founded principles of right and wrong, and he uses his position of political power to root out the bad guys and expose them as scum. No surprise for anyone who has watched his show. Show Less
LibraryThing member MaryClareLyons
Bill O'Reilly is a great entertainer. As "Factor Fan", I enjoyed learning about his life growing up in America. The only disappointment I had when reading the book was that there were too few Clem stories. If Clem were alive today, I would enjoy seeing him on the "Factor".He would have been a great
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Miller sidekick. Show Less
LibraryThing member lindap69
I enjoyed the funny stories about growing up in the 50's and the Catholic school experience. I found his constant praise for himself and all of his traits that he considers so admirable to be a bit tedious.
LibraryThing member mahallett
i know nothing of bill reilly. i listened to the life of christ for some reason and all his books are available on cd.
LibraryThing member MaryK98
Enjoyed immensely!
LibraryThing member ko40370
Notable for his dismissing comments about Tucker Carlson, who ironically would replace him 10 years later.
LibraryThing member danatdtms
I read this book in 2020, it was published in 2008 and would have been more relevant had I read it then when his O’Reilly Factor was still one of the hottest shows on TV. It’s an easy read, you won’t be deciphering convoluted sentences trying to figure out what he means. The writing is
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straight forward. He claims the book was written to explain himself and how his upbringing along with society at the time helped form his thinking and opinions. In between the lines of funny stories is an instruction manual of sorts of what to and not do in life. It was an enjoyable read for me, my early years were similar and I could directly relate; the Nuns – indelible. Show Less