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Pinheads and Patriots: Where You Stand in the Age
Television host, razor sharp political pundit, and #1 bestselling author Bill O’Reilly focuses in on where we all stand in the Age of Obama in Pinheads and Patriots. In this brave, hard-hitting, provocative volume, the author of Culture Warrior and A Bold, Fresh Piece of Humanity guides Americans through the extensive transformations sweeping their country and explains exactly what these profound changes mean for every one of us.
288 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Bill O'Reilly
61 books2,953 followersBill O'Reilly's success in broadcasting and publishing is unmatched. The iconic anchor of The O'Reilly Factor led the program to the status of the highest rated cable news broadcast in the nation for sixteen consecutive years. His website BillOReilly.com is followed by millions all over the world.
In addition, he has authored an astonishing 12 number one ranked non-fiction books including the historical "Killing" series. Mr. O'Reilly currently has 17 million books in print.
Bill O'Reilly has been a broadcaster for 42 years. He has been awarded three Emmys and a number of other journalism accolades. He was a national correspondent for CBS News and ABC News as well as a reporter-anchor for WCBS-TV in New York City, among other high-profile jobs.
Mr. O'Reilly received two other Emmy nominations for the movies "Killing Kennedy" and "Killing Jesus."
He holds a history degree from Marist College, a master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University, and another master’s degree from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Bill O'Reilly lives on Long Island where he was raised. His philanthropic enterprises have raised tens of millions for people in need and wounded American veterans.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/billor...
In addition, he has authored an astonishing 12 number one ranked non-fiction books including the historical "Killing" series. Mr. O'Reilly currently has 17 million books in print.
Bill O'Reilly has been a broadcaster for 42 years. He has been awarded three Emmys and a number of other journalism accolades. He was a national correspondent for CBS News and ABC News as well as a reporter-anchor for WCBS-TV in New York City, among other high-profile jobs.
Mr. O'Reilly received two other Emmy nominations for the movies "Killing Kennedy" and "Killing Jesus."
He holds a history degree from Marist College, a master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University, and another master’s degree from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Bill O'Reilly lives on Long Island where he was raised. His philanthropic enterprises have raised tens of millions for people in need and wounded American veterans.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/billor...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
January 2, 2011
This book is a #1 New York Times Best Seller for a reason.
I've read several of the previous books by Bill O'Reilly including: The No Spin Zone, Who's Looking Out For You, The O'Reilly Factor For Kids (I'm still a kid at heart), Culture Warrior and A Bold Fresh Piece Of Humanity. I even read O'Reilly's only novel -- Those Who Trespass: A Novel of Television and Murder. And I watch the O'Reilly Factor almost every weekday night, either at 8pm, or the repeat showing at 11pm.
So you could say I like the guy a little bit. O'Reilly is a lot like me; a right of middle person, not influenced by the pinheads who populate the far left, or the far right ends of the political spectrum. Certainly he's not as far right as the man whose show follows his, Sean Hannity, who never gives the Democrats, or liberals even one tiny accolade, no matter how exemplary their actions may be.
In his No Spin Zone, O'Reilly tells it like it is, and woe to his guest who doesn't answer the question he asks and goes off on a tangent, or inane talking point. I had drill sergeants in boot camp less intimidating than O'Reilly when he's hot. Just ask Barney Frank, who O'Reilly filleted from throat to sternum, then down his flabby back.
Every evening, O'Reilly ends his show with a segment called Pinheads and Patriots. Some nights a person who had been a Pinhead in the past, now does something that elevates them to Patriot status. And vice versa.
O'Reilly begins “Pinheads and Patriots” with the definition of a pinhead by A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. “Pinhead – a simple fellow, a fool. So small a head contain but few brains.”
Then he follows with the Urban Dictionary's version. “One who lacks the intelligence of the 'normal' sector of the human population; one who cannot handle the most mundane tasks due to lack of common sense and intelligence.”
Then he names names.
Patriot -- The late Tony Snow, who was a Fox News anchor, then later chief spokesman for the Bush White House. Snow died after a two-year battle with cancer. O'Reilly wrote, “Tony Snow is the bravest man I ever met.” He explains why.
Pinhead -- Democratic Congressman Barney Frank, who O'Reilly lambastes under the heading “The Cowardly Lion.” Frank, the chairman of the House Financial Services committee, more than anyone else was responsible for the present mortgage crisis. Frank oversaw the disaster of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and even said months before the collapse that things were fine and dandy with those two mortgage giants. Yet when he appeared on the O'Reilly Factor, Frank refused to accept even one iota of blame. He said he was a “victim of economic chaos.” Pinhead for sure.
Since President Obama is on the cover facing O'Reilly, you'd think O'Reilly had him lined up for Pinhead-dom. Not true. O'Reilly points out several instances where Obama was a true Patriot. He cites the time at a Town Hall meeting on Father's Day, when Obama said to men who father children and leave them: “Just because your father wasn't there for you, that's not an excuse for you to be absent, also – it is all the more reason for you to be present. You have an obligation to break the cycle and learn from those mistakes, and to rise up where your own fathers fell short and to do better than they did with your own children.”
Truly the words of a Patriot.
Before the Presidential election, Obama shunned any interview with Fox News, except with one person --- Bill O'Reilly. In “Pinheads and Patriots,” O'Reilly gives us the complete transcript of his interview with Obama, which lasted about 30 minutes. Then at intervals, he explains how things Obama said in the interview either panned out, or didn't pan out for the President. He also takes Obama to task for not admitting he was wrong about the surge in Iraq. Obama admits in the interview that the surge worked, but stops short of giving then President Bush any credit at all.
The back and forth went like this:
Obama: What I have said is – I have already said it's (the surge) has succeeded beyond our wildest dreams.
O'Reilly: Right, so why can't you just say, “I was wrong about the surge?”
Obama hems and haws, but never once did he say “I was wrong.” And as we have found out in the 21 months of his Presidency, he may be incapable of saying he was wrong about anything, except maybe about the White Sox winning the World Series.
One of the best chapters in the book is entitled, “My All-Time Favorite P& Ps.” Without me giving away who's-who and what's-what, O'Reilly gives his opinion on, amongst others, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Andrew Jackson, U.S. Grant, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, Robert Kennedy, both Bush's, Cesar Chavez. John Edwards, Madonna, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and George Soros. Some of his conclusions may surprise you.
On O'Reilly's website, the book sells for $27.95, but he throws in a nifty “Pinheads and Patriots” tote bag. I got mine at Amazon.com for less than 16 bucks, and because I have Amazon Prime, I got free shipping (but no tote bag).
“Pinheads and Patriots” is must reading for any O'Reilly fan. And even people who are not too crazy about O'Reilly, should enjoy reading this even-handed book too.
Unless you're a Pinhead. Then there's nothing I can do for you anyway.
November 9, 2010
1.5 to 2.0 stars. Let me begin by saying that I like Bill O'Reilly and agree with a number (though not all) of the positions he takes in this book. That said, this book was a BIG disappointment. Despite "preaching to the choir" on those matters on which I agree with his conclusion, I thought Bill's arguments were overly simplistic and did not provide the level of detail necessary to be persuasive. I was reading it going "come on Bill, you are on the right track now dig in a little and provide some helpful analysis." The analysis never came.
I did like the chapter in which Bill opines on people as being either pinheads or patriots as well as the transcript of the interview with then Senator Obama, which I thoguht was interesting). Both of those saved the book from getting the dreaded 1 star rating.
I did like the chapter in which Bill opines on people as being either pinheads or patriots as well as the transcript of the interview with then Senator Obama, which I thoguht was interesting). Both of those saved the book from getting the dreaded 1 star rating.
September 25, 2010
I "like" Bill O'Reilly, on the whole, but I don't always agree with him. Some of you who have read other reviews and comments by me will know that I am of a "somewhat" conservative mind set. :) If you are under the impression the O'Reilly is a (so called) "died in the wool" conservative, then you don't know him. He is abrasive, confrontational, very self assured and does his best to be fair. Personally I believe he's incorrect in some of his beliefs and assumptions, and correct in others.
That's what this book and others like it are...opinion and defense of opinion. After all, if you don't believe you're right (correct)...why do you hold a given opinion?
This is an interesting book dealing largely with President Obama but also discussing Mr. O'Reilly's "take" on other people both historical and contemporary. It's a fairly cogent take on things and even if I don't agree with the author I find his opinions somewhat... understandable.
I have one "niggle"... I found a couple of (possibly minor) factual errors (for example he says Audie Murphy was drafted. Murphy tried repeatedly to enlist and finally with his sisters help managed to enlist at 17. He also stated that General Eisenhower didn't "sack" General Patton. Actually he did sack Patton but later gave him another command under his old second in command General Bradley...just a couple). These are not big and do not take away from his overall take on these people (or others) but I think fact checking would have increased the books credibility.
But (to use the same word again) overall I like the book and can recommend it. Even if you think you will disagree, consider trying it. The transcript of the interview with the president and his actions since the interview alone make worth the time.
Also if you haven't watched, listened to or read Mr. O'Reilly before, but think you know about him from third party sources... read it for yourself. He might surprise you. He's not my favorite commentator, but as I said I believe he does his best to be open minded and evenhanded.
4 stars.
That's what this book and others like it are...opinion and defense of opinion. After all, if you don't believe you're right (correct)...why do you hold a given opinion?
This is an interesting book dealing largely with President Obama but also discussing Mr. O'Reilly's "take" on other people both historical and contemporary. It's a fairly cogent take on things and even if I don't agree with the author I find his opinions somewhat... understandable.
I have one "niggle"... I found a couple of (possibly minor) factual errors (for example he says Audie Murphy was drafted. Murphy tried repeatedly to enlist and finally with his sisters help managed to enlist at 17. He also stated that General Eisenhower didn't "sack" General Patton. Actually he did sack Patton but later gave him another command under his old second in command General Bradley...just a couple). These are not big and do not take away from his overall take on these people (or others) but I think fact checking would have increased the books credibility.
But (to use the same word again) overall I like the book and can recommend it. Even if you think you will disagree, consider trying it. The transcript of the interview with the president and his actions since the interview alone make worth the time.
Also if you haven't watched, listened to or read Mr. O'Reilly before, but think you know about him from third party sources... read it for yourself. He might surprise you. He's not my favorite commentator, but as I said I believe he does his best to be open minded and evenhanded.
4 stars.
May 14, 2012
I read this in an afternoon. It's an easy read not only because O'Reilly has a casual style but there is nothing in here that is very heavy. If you watched his TV show you pretty much know every thing here.
Even though I may be risking my hard-earned liberal credentials, I actually like Mr. O'Reilly. Yes he is arrogant. I've been called that more than once myself. He can also be a bully which is my main complaint concerning his TV presence. Yet, while he is in most ways a traditional conservative he does not descent into the mindless realms of Hannity and Coulter. He will even occasionally admit (GASP!) when the other person has a good point. That makes him the fairest of all Fox News personalities even though I agree with Jon Stewart in his comment that saying Bill is fair is like calling him the thinnest kid at Fat Camp. O'Reilly tries to be fair with Obama in this book, as most of it deals with our current president, and in most cases he is. I even agree with a few of his criticisms. The bottom line is Bill is a conservative and will never see eye to eye with a liberal president. Yet he rarely descends to name calling and hate-mongering.
The most fun part of the book is O'Reilly's takes on who is a pinhead and who is a patriot. Some of the answers may surprise you. Whether you agree or not, this is a fun quick read. I ended up giving it three stars but frankly I expect a political opinion book such as this to make me think a little more.
Even though I may be risking my hard-earned liberal credentials, I actually like Mr. O'Reilly. Yes he is arrogant. I've been called that more than once myself. He can also be a bully which is my main complaint concerning his TV presence. Yet, while he is in most ways a traditional conservative he does not descent into the mindless realms of Hannity and Coulter. He will even occasionally admit (GASP!) when the other person has a good point. That makes him the fairest of all Fox News personalities even though I agree with Jon Stewart in his comment that saying Bill is fair is like calling him the thinnest kid at Fat Camp. O'Reilly tries to be fair with Obama in this book, as most of it deals with our current president, and in most cases he is. I even agree with a few of his criticisms. The bottom line is Bill is a conservative and will never see eye to eye with a liberal president. Yet he rarely descends to name calling and hate-mongering.
The most fun part of the book is O'Reilly's takes on who is a pinhead and who is a patriot. Some of the answers may surprise you. Whether you agree or not, this is a fun quick read. I ended up giving it three stars but frankly I expect a political opinion book such as this to make me think a little more.
October 31, 2012
I get the distinct impression that O'Reilly wrote this book just to fulfill a publishing contract. The book is 33% Bill giving you his subjective opinions of various people, 33% Bill riffing on whatever random topics pop into his head, and 33% filler. Is Lassie the golden retreiver a Pinhead or a Patriot? Read this book and find out! Also included is a transcript of an interview O'Reilly once conducted with Obama. It might have been interesting IF the editors had fixed all the grammar and removed all the stuttering and IF O'Reilly hadn't interrupted every few seconds, thereby completely destroying the flow of the conversation. PINHEADS AND PATRIOTS is a lazy effort from someone I know is capable of doing a whole lot better. I especially hate the obnoxious title and goofy cover art, but I do appreciate that O'Reilly tries to find some good in most of the people he talks about, including Obama. Only in extreme cases does he designate people solely in the "Pinhead" camp.
September 10, 2019
Bill O'Reilly does his usual schtick. A shallow overview of various historical people and deciding whether they are pinheads or patriots. I think he wrote this in a couple of hours off the top of his head.
May 28, 2013
Okay so in general I despise these kinds of books. Some pompous ass on one side or the other of to political aisle telling me what is best for me. O'Reilly lays a great deal of emphasis trying to asert that he is an independent. After reading this I have to say I am almost more likely to believe that the Pope is a Protestant first. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with being a Republican, ore a Democrat or whatever political persuasion you choose, but when you hide it in a book like this the question has to be why?
For the most part after reading the book, I think it is more he is fooling himself.
He is kind of funny in a way. He stresses how fair he is going to be and then turns around and proves that mostly he will be, but he does have an anti-left slant. Again not all that unexpected. However he does some pretty confusing things when he starts talking about what makes someone a Patriot or a Pinhead. I think he might need a new copy of Webster's.
His definition of a Patriot is someone who puts others ahead of themselves. ... Ah what? Did I miss something growing up? What part of severing your Nation is involved in that definition? By that definition the Pope is a Patriot, the current one that is. And while he may be the King of the Vatican City, I don't think that his washing the feet of Prisoners on Easter makes him a Patriot. A nice guy, a good Catholic, sure, Patriot no.
For an clear example of how unbalanced his view on this he decides that G. HW Bush is a Patriot for what he did as President, but since he only has a small an unclear presentation of what that was it is kind of odd. He completely ignores the fact that Papa Bush severed in WWII and was shot down. I am surprised that the VFW hasn't written a massive protest on that definition. Of course I just might have missed it.
His use of Pinhead can be fun sometimes as well. He rags on Madonna for moving to England and adopting a faux British Accent. And not giving enough of her money to non-trendy charities. This from someone that says things like how much money is too much, they earned it they can do with it what they want.
The one that really got me was the rant on an individual where he listed the reasons why he was a Pinhead and number one was the fact that he was an Atheist. I have to say that even suggesting that someones religion, or lack thereof, has anything to do with whether or not someone is Pinhead, actually makes you one. Religious fanatics are always a pain in the kester, since they are always arguing about whose God is the right one. Hell just accept the fact that there are a bucket load of people out there that don't believe like you do and you will be much happier in life.
He also makes a big deal about wanting the government to be non-intrusive and spend less money. Then has the gall to suggest that the way to deal with illegal immigrants is for the Government to call up the National Guards of the various states involved. Something that is both intrusive and spendy as hell. Ignore how well it would or wouldn't do in regards to stopping illegals from coming into the country, calling up the National Guard of any state with affect the economy in two ways. First most of those individuals have jobs, jobs that their employers have to hold for them for a certain amount of time. Yep no economic impact there. Top that off with the fact that now they are on the National Military salary, that means that the National Government has to spend the money to keep them in the field. Something that states have wisely declined to do on their own. And he points to this as his well thought out plan. Makes me glad he is just a mouth piece for Fox News and not a government official.
All in all the book was more balanced than any other in the genre I have read. Which is faint praise indeed, but when you are running with the likes of Micheal Moore and Ann Coulter it is to be expected. I would suggest if you are going to read a political viewpoint book, this one is a good one, just make sure that when you are done, before praising him and walking the line he puts forward, do the research and fact check him. After all if he thinks that BP is actually a British Company some fact checking is in order.
For the most part after reading the book, I think it is more he is fooling himself.
He is kind of funny in a way. He stresses how fair he is going to be and then turns around and proves that mostly he will be, but he does have an anti-left slant. Again not all that unexpected. However he does some pretty confusing things when he starts talking about what makes someone a Patriot or a Pinhead. I think he might need a new copy of Webster's.
His definition of a Patriot is someone who puts others ahead of themselves. ... Ah what? Did I miss something growing up? What part of severing your Nation is involved in that definition? By that definition the Pope is a Patriot, the current one that is. And while he may be the King of the Vatican City, I don't think that his washing the feet of Prisoners on Easter makes him a Patriot. A nice guy, a good Catholic, sure, Patriot no.
For an clear example of how unbalanced his view on this he decides that G. HW Bush is a Patriot for what he did as President, but since he only has a small an unclear presentation of what that was it is kind of odd. He completely ignores the fact that Papa Bush severed in WWII and was shot down. I am surprised that the VFW hasn't written a massive protest on that definition. Of course I just might have missed it.
His use of Pinhead can be fun sometimes as well. He rags on Madonna for moving to England and adopting a faux British Accent. And not giving enough of her money to non-trendy charities. This from someone that says things like how much money is too much, they earned it they can do with it what they want.
The one that really got me was the rant on an individual where he listed the reasons why he was a Pinhead and number one was the fact that he was an Atheist. I have to say that even suggesting that someones religion, or lack thereof, has anything to do with whether or not someone is Pinhead, actually makes you one. Religious fanatics are always a pain in the kester, since they are always arguing about whose God is the right one. Hell just accept the fact that there are a bucket load of people out there that don't believe like you do and you will be much happier in life.
He also makes a big deal about wanting the government to be non-intrusive and spend less money. Then has the gall to suggest that the way to deal with illegal immigrants is for the Government to call up the National Guards of the various states involved. Something that is both intrusive and spendy as hell. Ignore how well it would or wouldn't do in regards to stopping illegals from coming into the country, calling up the National Guard of any state with affect the economy in two ways. First most of those individuals have jobs, jobs that their employers have to hold for them for a certain amount of time. Yep no economic impact there. Top that off with the fact that now they are on the National Military salary, that means that the National Government has to spend the money to keep them in the field. Something that states have wisely declined to do on their own. And he points to this as his well thought out plan. Makes me glad he is just a mouth piece for Fox News and not a government official.
All in all the book was more balanced than any other in the genre I have read. Which is faint praise indeed, but when you are running with the likes of Micheal Moore and Ann Coulter it is to be expected. I would suggest if you are going to read a political viewpoint book, this one is a good one, just make sure that when you are done, before praising him and walking the line he puts forward, do the research and fact check him. After all if he thinks that BP is actually a British Company some fact checking is in order.
August 2, 2011
Milking the Cash Cow Once Too Often ..., October 7, 2010
Love him or hate him, Bill O'Reilly has formulated quite a successful career out of being opinionated. Having a perennially top rated program and a slew of bestsellers, the man commands attention. The "pinheads and patriots" segment on O'Reilly's television program can be amusing, annoying and thought-provoking ... his book, however, falls flat.
The book sounds promising, but it fails to deliver anything new or exciting. The first chapter seemed to hold promise for what was to come ... O'Reilly assigns "pinhead" or "patriot" status to the current President's handling on the "hot issues", including the War in Afghanistan, the BP oil leak, health care etc. To make things fair, even George W. Bush gets the "P and P" treatment from O'Reilly. Unfortunately, as opinionated as O'Reilly is known to be, the "kid gloves" assessment of both Bush and Obama comes across as pandering and predictable. Predictability and pandering are recurring themes throughout the book as O'Reilly rehashes his opinions on the same issues and people that he's been lauding or slamming on his television show for years. Nothing new or exciting is revealed in "Pinheads and Patriots" and, as usual, O'Reilly's strong position in the beginning of an argument is often tempered later in order to appear "fair".
In my opinion, the biggest flaw in the book is that O'Reilly doesn't start rattling off the list of "pinheads" and "patriots" until halfway through his book and once we get there, it bombs. Prior to the "P and P" list the reader is required to devour the author's opinions on the same topics we hear about ... day in and day out. Actually the first half of the book would be better off being part of another book altogether. The actual listing of "pinheads" and "patriots" is extremely disappointing as O'Reilly cherry-picks a handful of Presidents, celebrities and pot-stirrers and glosses over either the highlights or lowlights before assigning the appropriate "P". The list is fairly predictable, as is O'Reilly's assessment of those listed.
What's missing? The recipe that makes the television segment so popular, that's what. The television show delivers a little bit of everything ... from a crass Roseanne Barr incident to an average citizen committing a selfless, heroic act. The book needs variety and interesting, exciting subject matter like the segment of O'Reilly's show delivers. With all the "pinheads" and "patriots" he's branded over the years, I would have thought his book would have included more than Carter, Reagan, Madonna and Willie Mays.
While I was disappointed with the core of O'Reilly's book, I would be remiss to ignore what I thought was the book's biggest asset - the final chapter, a transcript of O'Reilly's interview with Obama before the 2008 election. In addition to the transcript (which includes every stutter and "um"), O'Reilly inserts updates on several of the topics discussed to illustrate whether or not the President succeeded or failed to deliver on his promises. This particular chapter, although oddly out-of-place with the book's "pinhead and patriot" theme, is very revealing.
Overall, "Pinheads and Patriots" falls short in that it doesn't come close to being as entertaining as the the television segment. This book's contents and it's release date appear to be nothing more than a cheap bestseller opportunity for the author to capitalize on the vitriolic political atmosphere accompanying the coming mid-term elections. With the exception of the Obama interview transcript, "Pinheads and Patriots" is a disappointment.
Love him or hate him, Bill O'Reilly has formulated quite a successful career out of being opinionated. Having a perennially top rated program and a slew of bestsellers, the man commands attention. The "pinheads and patriots" segment on O'Reilly's television program can be amusing, annoying and thought-provoking ... his book, however, falls flat.
The book sounds promising, but it fails to deliver anything new or exciting. The first chapter seemed to hold promise for what was to come ... O'Reilly assigns "pinhead" or "patriot" status to the current President's handling on the "hot issues", including the War in Afghanistan, the BP oil leak, health care etc. To make things fair, even George W. Bush gets the "P and P" treatment from O'Reilly. Unfortunately, as opinionated as O'Reilly is known to be, the "kid gloves" assessment of both Bush and Obama comes across as pandering and predictable. Predictability and pandering are recurring themes throughout the book as O'Reilly rehashes his opinions on the same issues and people that he's been lauding or slamming on his television show for years. Nothing new or exciting is revealed in "Pinheads and Patriots" and, as usual, O'Reilly's strong position in the beginning of an argument is often tempered later in order to appear "fair".
In my opinion, the biggest flaw in the book is that O'Reilly doesn't start rattling off the list of "pinheads" and "patriots" until halfway through his book and once we get there, it bombs. Prior to the "P and P" list the reader is required to devour the author's opinions on the same topics we hear about ... day in and day out. Actually the first half of the book would be better off being part of another book altogether. The actual listing of "pinheads" and "patriots" is extremely disappointing as O'Reilly cherry-picks a handful of Presidents, celebrities and pot-stirrers and glosses over either the highlights or lowlights before assigning the appropriate "P". The list is fairly predictable, as is O'Reilly's assessment of those listed.
What's missing? The recipe that makes the television segment so popular, that's what. The television show delivers a little bit of everything ... from a crass Roseanne Barr incident to an average citizen committing a selfless, heroic act. The book needs variety and interesting, exciting subject matter like the segment of O'Reilly's show delivers. With all the "pinheads" and "patriots" he's branded over the years, I would have thought his book would have included more than Carter, Reagan, Madonna and Willie Mays.
While I was disappointed with the core of O'Reilly's book, I would be remiss to ignore what I thought was the book's biggest asset - the final chapter, a transcript of O'Reilly's interview with Obama before the 2008 election. In addition to the transcript (which includes every stutter and "um"), O'Reilly inserts updates on several of the topics discussed to illustrate whether or not the President succeeded or failed to deliver on his promises. This particular chapter, although oddly out-of-place with the book's "pinhead and patriot" theme, is very revealing.
Overall, "Pinheads and Patriots" falls short in that it doesn't come close to being as entertaining as the the television segment. This book's contents and it's release date appear to be nothing more than a cheap bestseller opportunity for the author to capitalize on the vitriolic political atmosphere accompanying the coming mid-term elections. With the exception of the Obama interview transcript, "Pinheads and Patriots" is a disappointment.
August 21, 2021
Since this book came out almost elevan years ago, I'm behind the curve in reading it. However, I'd like to know O'Reilly's mindset now that we know Obama served two terms and went even further left once he got re-elected. Even though this is a dated book in regard to past events, I still enjoyed reading the subject matter. O'Reilly's list of Who's Who for either Pinhead or Patriot status was interesting. For the most part, I agreed with his rationale. As with all of O'Reilly's books, don't let this one pass you by. I liked it!
July 31, 2012
When I first started to read this book, I actually contemplated putting it down as I didn't think that I could endure a seemingly endless critique of President Obama! Happily, whilst Obama-bashing forms an underlying thread to the majority of Bill O'Reilly's narrative, there are more light-hearted and genuinely entertaining aspects to the book which allowed me to carry-on.
The point of the book it seems, is to try and identify as to whether you are to left or right of Bill O'Reilly's centrist - thinking, and thus, determine where you fit ideologically within the political economy of President Obama. As a Briton, I am unsure about where I fit within the schema. I am generally opposed to the ideals of the G.O.P and the Tea Party. This may make me a "Communist", (i.e.: to the Left of O' Reilly). I do not consider myself to be "a Liberal" and I oppose the "Occupy" parasites. This means that I am to the Right of the Democrats and more in line with O'Reilly's centrist-thinking. Consequently, this may mean that I am Patriot - only time will tell.
Perhaps the most interesting sections of the book included the deconstruction of political and cultural figures throughout American history into Pinhead; Patriot, and Hybrid categories. Principally, if you work hard; live a virtuous and inspirational life, and dedicate yourself to the betterment of the United States, you are a Patriot. However, if you make a living by being a "Gangster Rapper"; misguided politician, or drug-abusing celebrity, you are a Pinhead. Fair enough so far!
The Hybrids; rare in number, are generally good people, but with a questionable element to their existence which, in mitigation, is overpowered by their general Patriotism. It is a useful schematic to employ in everyday life, and, as O' Reilly suggests, is entirely subjective. Generally, the majority of the Pinheads that O'Reilly puts forward have been correctly labelled, some of the Patriots are questionable though.
Despite my initial reservations, I enjoyed the book. It was a light-hearted read that did make me laugh-out loud in places. It will now live on my "American Bookshelf" somewhere between books by Glenn Beck and Ann Coulter.
The point of the book it seems, is to try and identify as to whether you are to left or right of Bill O'Reilly's centrist - thinking, and thus, determine where you fit ideologically within the political economy of President Obama. As a Briton, I am unsure about where I fit within the schema. I am generally opposed to the ideals of the G.O.P and the Tea Party. This may make me a "Communist", (i.e.: to the Left of O' Reilly). I do not consider myself to be "a Liberal" and I oppose the "Occupy" parasites. This means that I am to the Right of the Democrats and more in line with O'Reilly's centrist-thinking. Consequently, this may mean that I am Patriot - only time will tell.
Perhaps the most interesting sections of the book included the deconstruction of political and cultural figures throughout American history into Pinhead; Patriot, and Hybrid categories. Principally, if you work hard; live a virtuous and inspirational life, and dedicate yourself to the betterment of the United States, you are a Patriot. However, if you make a living by being a "Gangster Rapper"; misguided politician, or drug-abusing celebrity, you are a Pinhead. Fair enough so far!
The Hybrids; rare in number, are generally good people, but with a questionable element to their existence which, in mitigation, is overpowered by their general Patriotism. It is a useful schematic to employ in everyday life, and, as O' Reilly suggests, is entirely subjective. Generally, the majority of the Pinheads that O'Reilly puts forward have been correctly labelled, some of the Patriots are questionable though.
Despite my initial reservations, I enjoyed the book. It was a light-hearted read that did make me laugh-out loud in places. It will now live on my "American Bookshelf" somewhere between books by Glenn Beck and Ann Coulter.
October 30, 2010
Given the release of a number of anti-Obama books at an unsurprising time in the election cycle, O'Reilly makes a marketing genius move and sells his book as more of an objective, almost magnanimous observation of Obama and his presidency so far.
Of course there is no doubt where O’Reilly’s allegiance lies, despite his tactical attempts to appear moderate and motivated by nothing other than patriotism. The guts of this book is run-down of the latest presidential term, and essentially what O’Reilly thinks is wrong with it, and I will admit that O’Reilly’s self-descriptions of objectivity are not all smoke and mirrors. He does take the time to analyse Obama’s stance on various issues and provides a (somewhat) in depth discussion on many issues.
Once O’Reilly finishes with Obama things get a little off track however and we are treated to a list of important Americans, ranging from past presidents to Tiger Woods, and whether Bill thinks they are pinheads or patriots. There is little of worth in this section (which is why Pinheads gets bumped down to four stars) each individual only getting a superficial and glib description, and the whole section seems a little like unworthy stuffing in a non-fiction book which claims to be so important.
O’Reilly’s true strength of course is the ability to tap into the feelings of his audience and provide them with what they need, while O’Reilly’s work is far from being truly intelligent, he succeeds in making his prose seem well thought out where other polemic writers succeed only in making trite arguments to rationalize their point of view.
With a front cover depicting himself confronting the American president, there is no doubt that O’Reilly’s prediction that some critics will hassle him on his ego will come true. Very few commentators have the audacity to market themselves as O’Reilly does, but there is also no doubt that it works for the Fox News Bloviator.
Of course there is no doubt where O’Reilly’s allegiance lies, despite his tactical attempts to appear moderate and motivated by nothing other than patriotism. The guts of this book is run-down of the latest presidential term, and essentially what O’Reilly thinks is wrong with it, and I will admit that O’Reilly’s self-descriptions of objectivity are not all smoke and mirrors. He does take the time to analyse Obama’s stance on various issues and provides a (somewhat) in depth discussion on many issues.
Once O’Reilly finishes with Obama things get a little off track however and we are treated to a list of important Americans, ranging from past presidents to Tiger Woods, and whether Bill thinks they are pinheads or patriots. There is little of worth in this section (which is why Pinheads gets bumped down to four stars) each individual only getting a superficial and glib description, and the whole section seems a little like unworthy stuffing in a non-fiction book which claims to be so important.
O’Reilly’s true strength of course is the ability to tap into the feelings of his audience and provide them with what they need, while O’Reilly’s work is far from being truly intelligent, he succeeds in making his prose seem well thought out where other polemic writers succeed only in making trite arguments to rationalize their point of view.
With a front cover depicting himself confronting the American president, there is no doubt that O’Reilly’s prediction that some critics will hassle him on his ego will come true. Very few commentators have the audacity to market themselves as O’Reilly does, but there is also no doubt that it works for the Fox News Bloviator.
April 6, 2011
I was really disappointed with this book. While I don't always agree with Bill O'Reilly, I usually find him extremely entertaining. My first problem with this book is the subtitle. Pinheads and Patriots: Where You Stand in the Age of Obama. He doesn't really have much to say about how all this effects us. This book is basically an extension of short segment at the end of his television show. While it works as a very short television show segment, it doesn't work well as a 242 page book. Mr. O'Reilly spends some time explaining his definitions of Pinheads and Patriots. He insults a critical readers intelligence by finding the need to explain that no one is perfect and that even a patriot can have moments of pinheadedness. Then he proceeds to tell us in what ways he believe President Obama is a pinhead. Most of his arguments are known by anyone that has watched his show or is willing to receive news from more than one source and really pays attention to what the man promised, what he says vice what he does and has not done. In otherwords, Mr. O'Reilly points out the obvious and he doesn't like most of what he has seen from the President on balance. To make sure I am honest with this review he does point out the items he beleives that President Obama has done well, but on the balance he is not a fan. He then goes through famous historical figures and celebrities and proceeds to tell us where they fit on the Pinhead or Patriot scale. Finally he wraps up the book with the transcript of his interview with President Obama during the Presidential Campaign. That was the most interesting part of the book to me. He has candidate Obama's exact words, with Mr. O'Rielly's comments on how the then candidates promises have turned out up to the time of the writing of this book.
Overall I am not in the least bit impressed with this latest offering from Mr. O'Reilly offering.
Overall I am not in the least bit impressed with this latest offering from Mr. O'Reilly offering.
September 15, 2012
For starters, the last chapter of the book was so annoying to read because it was O'Reilly's entire interview with Obama...I mean, word for uh, ummm, well, word. I got headache reading that part so several pages into the interview is where I stopped reading it.
However, I did enjoy the book in bits and pieces but the I found the usage of the words PINHEAD and PATRIOT over and over to be so beat-to-death that I began to picture a pushpin or a minuteman whenever the words came up.
Finally, this book was really nothing more than a series of rambling ideas that popped into O'Reilly's head as he was writing this book. He even made the point of writing that at the beginning of the chapter where he randomly selected people from history to label as a pinhead or a patriot.
The only reason I picked up the book was because I got it on sale for $5 and thought it might make for an interesting read. I clearly got $5 worth of information out of it...and not a penny more.
My last thought is that there was no point to this book. All of this information could have been covered in one of his shows or segmented over a week's worth of shows (which I do believe he did do) which makes me a pinhead for wasting $5.
However, I did enjoy the book in bits and pieces but the I found the usage of the words PINHEAD and PATRIOT over and over to be so beat-to-death that I began to picture a pushpin or a minuteman whenever the words came up.
Finally, this book was really nothing more than a series of rambling ideas that popped into O'Reilly's head as he was writing this book. He even made the point of writing that at the beginning of the chapter where he randomly selected people from history to label as a pinhead or a patriot.
The only reason I picked up the book was because I got it on sale for $5 and thought it might make for an interesting read. I clearly got $5 worth of information out of it...and not a penny more.
My last thought is that there was no point to this book. All of this information could have been covered in one of his shows or segmented over a week's worth of shows (which I do believe he did do) which makes me a pinhead for wasting $5.
March 20, 2013
I listened to the audiobook version of Patriot or Pinhead, narrated by Bill O'Reilly. Because the author was narrating, it sounded much like his television show. I really enjoyed the concept of the novel, where he analyzed the first eighteen months of the Obama administration as well as looking at contemporary people as well as people throughout history to analyze whether they qualify into the category of patriot or pinhead. What I most enjoyed about the book is the level of research that O'Reilly put into his opinions. These weren't knee-jerk reactions. He put a good deal of analysis, and used a fair-handed approach. For the individuals and situations he commented on, he usually gave positive and negatives, with the exception of Jane Fonda, who made his pinhead hall of fame.
I thoroughly enjoyed the way he broke down such people as Lassie, Marilyn Monroe, Robert Kennedy, and some of our past presidents. When he analyzed JFK, he gave some strong positives and some negatives, showing that there are generally two sides to a coin, and things aren't always black and white. The book was both entertaining and informative, and regardless of your political affiliation, worth reading.
Carl Alves - author of Blood Street
I thoroughly enjoyed the way he broke down such people as Lassie, Marilyn Monroe, Robert Kennedy, and some of our past presidents. When he analyzed JFK, he gave some strong positives and some negatives, showing that there are generally two sides to a coin, and things aren't always black and white. The book was both entertaining and informative, and regardless of your political affiliation, worth reading.
Carl Alves - author of Blood Street
January 24, 2011
Waste of time. How does one man grind out so many books? By avoiding true insight and substance.
O'Reilly is not a bad guy. He clearly has skills as a marketer and self promoter but of what he says and does is packaging. He appropriates the term patriot to mean someone with whom he agrees and a pinhead not. Alliteration is not substance and the perpetual use of the term patriot is grating.
He relishes his luddism and promotes his experience as a traditional journalist.
O'Reilly employs the same writing style as Obama: Detail the extreme positions of an issue and proclaim yourself in the sensible center. This sort of rhetorical trick sooths the reader who has an aversion to confrontation without articulating and defending a solid position. The technique amounts to self promotion devoid of argument.
Here are a few quotes to offer a flavor of the book.
"Will this world be taken over by robots? Maybe."
"I don't use twitter. I pay people to do that."
"No computer can beat me in a debate."
O'Reilly is not a bad guy. He clearly has skills as a marketer and self promoter but of what he says and does is packaging. He appropriates the term patriot to mean someone with whom he agrees and a pinhead not. Alliteration is not substance and the perpetual use of the term patriot is grating.
He relishes his luddism and promotes his experience as a traditional journalist.
O'Reilly employs the same writing style as Obama: Detail the extreme positions of an issue and proclaim yourself in the sensible center. This sort of rhetorical trick sooths the reader who has an aversion to confrontation without articulating and defending a solid position. The technique amounts to self promotion devoid of argument.
Here are a few quotes to offer a flavor of the book.
"Will this world be taken over by robots? Maybe."
"I don't use twitter. I pay people to do that."
"No computer can beat me in a debate."
July 15, 2014
Made it about halfway through the first chapter of the audio book version of this title before the gag reflex kicked in. Although I may agree with Bill O. on many issues, I wonder why he seems so focused on making us see he is the smartest person when it comes to classifying people. Add the blatant self promotion of his TV show and it becomes an infomercial, in my humble opinion. However, if you are a die hard fan of this guy, it may just be what you are looking for in a political nonfiction title. If so, enjoy. I'm moving on to other books.
October 6, 2011
It you watch his show you already know a lot of this, but his word for word 2 interviews with Obama were interesting. The first one was when he was a candidate and the other was Super Bowl Sunday. Too bad the mainstream media didn't pick up on some of Bill's first questions, our country might be in better shape today as people might have figured out he is not what we needed as a president.
May 26, 2012
This is a profoundly stupid book, full of unfunny sideswipes and misconstructions of the world we really live in today. I honestly expected more of O"Reilly, from what I know of him, but this first introduction to some of his writing really awed me as to how baseless and immature this kind of public pandering to bigoted ideas can be.
January 12, 2011
Before you think this was an anti-Obama screed, it's not. While O'Reilly defiitely disagrees with some of Obama's policies he does not classify him as a pinhead.
O'Reilly also had some interesting things to say about technology.
O'Reilly also had some interesting things to say about technology.
April 15, 2016
Bill O'Reilly's book is as egotistical and arrogant as is his show. I do not like his style….down south where I grew up and live, his lack of civility and respect does not sit well. There were some interesting observations and opinions, but manner of the author overall was depressing.
June 2, 2015
This book was not on par with his others. I loved A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity but was relieved when I finished this one.
June 10, 2018
I wanted some political ebooks to read, so I was going through the ones available through my library, and was somewhat bewildered to find most of them had intense right wing slants. But, fair enough, I've read a lot of politics lately and most of it had been very left leaning, so why not give the opposition a chance, in an effort to be aware of all arguments out there?
I chose Bill because my disdain for him also has a strain of begrudging nostalgia; my grandparents who raised me watched his show at dinner time every evening, and one Christmas I received 'The O'Reilly Factor For Kids' from both sets of grandparents. Fox News was actually the first exposure to politics I had. Scary stuff.
Anyway, as bullet points:
-Bill didn't bother to write a well organized book so I'm not going to bother to write a well organized review, enjoy this 'loose thought' list of points.
-This book is written to the lowest common denominator and still manages to infantalize them. Weird, as he's certainly well educated. Does his mind work in this messy, shallow way, or is it him expecting the least from his audience?
-There's a hilarious passage where Bill goes full 'old man shakes fist at the sky' and complains about technology and among other points, expresses amazed cheer that the reader is !reading!a book!on paper! Nope, sorry my dude, ebook. He also rants against Twitter and how opposed he is to that concept, another bit that didn't age well, as you can see by following @billoreilly on twitter.com. Or, sorry, does it not count if you just make it to shill for book sales? Sorry, I don't know the rules of moralizing wood slush and ink.
-Speaking of not aging well, the book is peppered with "Obama should do what I say or he won't see a second term!" Again, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ . Now, I was really busy being fifteen in 2010, so I may have missed some of the finer details of political affairs, but in general it's both fascinating and terrifying to see how drastically some things have changed in eight years.
-Reluctantly I must admit, this jerk is definitely more sober in book form than he is on tv, and he distances himself from some of the more hateful far-right things that one expects from his camp, so, kudos, I guess. (He claims to be an Independent but lets be fkn honest with ourselves, sir.)
-At the same time he includes passages from interviews that prove what an obnoxious and yes, arrogant, man he is, and his inability to let people talk if he doesn't think they're going to say what he wants to hear. And not just if they get carried away on a tangent, like he claims, but he legit won't let them finish short sentences.
-As per expectation, liberal perspectives are misrepresented to make them seem foolish and ill-thought out, and while by all means he should feel free to argue against things he doesn't believe in, Bill spends much of this book arguing against things that...really.... no one believes in?
-It's really just so badly organized and short and lacking in a single coherent message I have to assume he just wanted the royalties, and that's fair, I suppose.
-But seriously read just the anti-tech chapter, it's the funniest thing I've seen in ages.
I chose Bill because my disdain for him also has a strain of begrudging nostalgia; my grandparents who raised me watched his show at dinner time every evening, and one Christmas I received 'The O'Reilly Factor For Kids' from both sets of grandparents. Fox News was actually the first exposure to politics I had. Scary stuff.
Anyway, as bullet points:
-Bill didn't bother to write a well organized book so I'm not going to bother to write a well organized review, enjoy this 'loose thought' list of points.
-This book is written to the lowest common denominator and still manages to infantalize them. Weird, as he's certainly well educated. Does his mind work in this messy, shallow way, or is it him expecting the least from his audience?
-There's a hilarious passage where Bill goes full 'old man shakes fist at the sky' and complains about technology and among other points, expresses amazed cheer that the reader is !reading!a book!on paper! Nope, sorry my dude, ebook. He also rants against Twitter and how opposed he is to that concept, another bit that didn't age well, as you can see by following @billoreilly on twitter.com. Or, sorry, does it not count if you just make it to shill for book sales? Sorry, I don't know the rules of moralizing wood slush and ink.
-Speaking of not aging well, the book is peppered with "Obama should do what I say or he won't see a second term!" Again, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ . Now, I was really busy being fifteen in 2010, so I may have missed some of the finer details of political affairs, but in general it's both fascinating and terrifying to see how drastically some things have changed in eight years.
-Reluctantly I must admit, this jerk is definitely more sober in book form than he is on tv, and he distances himself from some of the more hateful far-right things that one expects from his camp, so, kudos, I guess. (He claims to be an Independent but lets be fkn honest with ourselves, sir.)
-At the same time he includes passages from interviews that prove what an obnoxious and yes, arrogant, man he is, and his inability to let people talk if he doesn't think they're going to say what he wants to hear. And not just if they get carried away on a tangent, like he claims, but he legit won't let them finish short sentences.
-As per expectation, liberal perspectives are misrepresented to make them seem foolish and ill-thought out, and while by all means he should feel free to argue against things he doesn't believe in, Bill spends much of this book arguing against things that...really.... no one believes in?
-It's really just so badly organized and short and lacking in a single coherent message I have to assume he just wanted the royalties, and that's fair, I suppose.
-But seriously read just the anti-tech chapter, it's the funniest thing I've seen in ages.
Read
August 13, 2011Dear Bill,
Just finished reading “Pinheads and Patriots” it was our book club selection for the month, interesting choice don’t you think? I thought the book was interesting and thought provoking so bravo for that. I have also come to understand why you act the way you do on air, I used to think you were rude, now I understand the goal of your behavior.
I take issue with your choices on who to highlight as pinheads and patriots. Where are the worth while women? Are their no historical women that influenced the history of this country? Come on Bill your choices are lame and because of that you are a pinhead in this regard.
My comments and suggestions, these after the briefest time of reflection:
Marilyn Monroe? Bill your lust is showing, you chose her because you lust after her, she is not a patriot, you are a pinhead here.
Madonna? She is not worth the ink used to print her name, you are a pinhead for wasting my time and yours. You are showing your lack of respect for women in general for choosing such lame women.
Suggestions:
Abigail Adams, big time patriot.
Margaret Sanger, mixed reviews, ultimately pinhead.
Rosie the Riveter, you combined all Vietnam Vets into one category, Rosie represents all the women that did their part to make WWII successful, Patriots, my mother was one of them if you would like to interview her.
Rosa Parks, patriot.
Oprah Winfrey, maybe the most powerful women in the world. I’m not a big fan of hers, but she has earned my respect, I’d like to know your opinion if she is a pinhead or patriot.
Just finished reading “Pinheads and Patriots” it was our book club selection for the month, interesting choice don’t you think? I thought the book was interesting and thought provoking so bravo for that. I have also come to understand why you act the way you do on air, I used to think you were rude, now I understand the goal of your behavior.
I take issue with your choices on who to highlight as pinheads and patriots. Where are the worth while women? Are their no historical women that influenced the history of this country? Come on Bill your choices are lame and because of that you are a pinhead in this regard.
My comments and suggestions, these after the briefest time of reflection:
Marilyn Monroe? Bill your lust is showing, you chose her because you lust after her, she is not a patriot, you are a pinhead here.
Madonna? She is not worth the ink used to print her name, you are a pinhead for wasting my time and yours. You are showing your lack of respect for women in general for choosing such lame women.
Suggestions:
Abigail Adams, big time patriot.
Margaret Sanger, mixed reviews, ultimately pinhead.
Rosie the Riveter, you combined all Vietnam Vets into one category, Rosie represents all the women that did their part to make WWII successful, Patriots, my mother was one of them if you would like to interview her.
Rosa Parks, patriot.
Oprah Winfrey, maybe the most powerful women in the world. I’m not a big fan of hers, but she has earned my respect, I’d like to know your opinion if she is a pinhead or patriot.
May 8, 2011
Are you an extreme Lefty, extreme Righty, or perhaps a little on the Left, or a little on the Right.How about the middle of the road,or a moderate,maybe a Liberal? Or perhaps the standard run of the mill Democrat or Republican!(are there such a things) So many cliques, so many factions, one misspeak will change your affliliation.
Have no fear Mr O'Reilly will help you determine who are currently camping out with.
I enjoyed the book. I'm a neophyte when it comes to Politics, but this was easy to understand.
If Political science was written like this in the tomes of Highschool I may have gotten hooked.
Mr. O'Reilly doesn't pull punches, and tells it like it is, or was.
By the third chapter I was thinking Mr O'Reilly is the most egotistical person I've read. He understands this will creep up in the readers mind and he actually comments on it. He then lets you decide if he's a Pinhead or Patriot.
How can one not like him. He's honest,and Patriots are honest. So Mr. O'Reilly states. He does tell you he took a class on persuasion.
His ratings of Pinhead or Patriot for several famous people is unique. Even Presidents long buried received Mr. O'Reilly's badge of good or bad.
The book to me was insightful, thought provoking, and his rhetoric flows easily. I may not agee with him on many things, but he assures me I have that right many times throughout the book.
The last few chapters really made me think. Mr O'Reilly digs into the present day political crises. He gives the different political views and how they may affect us in the future.
A must read, if only to get an idea what's going on in politics during Obama's time.
July 13, 2011
Saw PINHEADS & PATRIOTS on the shelf at the library and decided to give it a try. This book is not in the CULTURE WARRIOR or BOLD FRESH PIECE OF HUMANITY category. P&P is not nearly as feisty as CULTURE WARRIOR nor as amusing as BOLD FRESH. This book seems to be a bit more temperate and even gives a kindly nod to many of those folks Mr. O'Reilly identifies as Pinheads. For this reader, the book deals with the President Obama issues in an even-handed and fair manner. He gives the President kudos where he thinks they are deserved and tosses an occasional "razzberry" where he feels it is appropriate.
About 75 pages or so of the book are devoted to an instant-replay of the 2008 interview with then Senator Obama. What a waste of time. All those pages seemed to illustrate were that was that neither man was inclined to let the other finish a sentence or complete a thought without interruption.
Then there are the 66 pages devoted to a diverse group of folks from Madonna and Audie Murphy to George Soros, Chief Joseph and Babe Ruth who, because of their personal actions, are categorized by O'Reilly as either pinhead or patriot. This section is mildly informative with its historical tidbits such as of how certain words like "lobbyist" came into being or the brutality of Andrew Jackson toward the Native American population.
Overall, based upon the depth of thought and the material being presented, this book could easily fall into the "beach read" category. This is one of those instances where you should save your cash and take advantage of the services offered by your local library. After all, it's your taxes that are paying for that building and its contents.
About 75 pages or so of the book are devoted to an instant-replay of the 2008 interview with then Senator Obama. What a waste of time. All those pages seemed to illustrate were that was that neither man was inclined to let the other finish a sentence or complete a thought without interruption.
Then there are the 66 pages devoted to a diverse group of folks from Madonna and Audie Murphy to George Soros, Chief Joseph and Babe Ruth who, because of their personal actions, are categorized by O'Reilly as either pinhead or patriot. This section is mildly informative with its historical tidbits such as of how certain words like "lobbyist" came into being or the brutality of Andrew Jackson toward the Native American population.
Overall, based upon the depth of thought and the material being presented, this book could easily fall into the "beach read" category. This is one of those instances where you should save your cash and take advantage of the services offered by your local library. After all, it's your taxes that are paying for that building and its contents.
Read
September 21, 2012SUMMARY: When Bill O'Reilly interviewed then-Senator Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential elections, the two had a lively debate about the nation's future. Since that time, America has changed rapidly—some would even say seismically. And many believe these shifts are doing more than just rocking the political and social climate; they're rocking the American core. What are these changes? Who, in addition to President Obama, have been the biggest forces behind them? What exactly do they mean for you, the everyday American citizen? How are they affecting your money, health, safety, freedom, and standing in this nation? Which are Pinheaded moves and which are truly Patriotic? In his latest spirited book, O'Reilly prompts further debate with the President and the American people on the current state of the union. After five consecutive, no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is megabestsellers, you can count on Bill to offer blunt and constructive political commentary. And as he did in his popular memoir, he offers some introspection too, looking back at his own actions and those of past Pinheads and Patriots who have inspired a code of conduct for such taxing times. As always, O'Reilly is fair, balanced, and uncompromisingly tough when guarding the American way. Only Pinheads would fail to fight for what they love most about this country or to embrace some measure of change to make it better. The rest of us Patriots will read this book to discover the difference between the two.
August 3, 2015
This wasn't my favorite book, but I enjoyed it. The other books I've read by Bill O'Reilly are The No Spin Zone and Killing Lincoln. Killing Lincoln was a very impressive book. Read my review. Pinheads and Patriots was very similar to The No Spin Zone in that this was a book reflecting O'Reilly's viewpoint on the state of things in America. The positive to a book like this is O'Reilly's voice in very conversational making it an easy read. Also, he seems to have a sense of humor about himself, and it is reflected in his writing. Unfortunately, I read this book several years after its release, so the commentary was, in a way, old news and on the President's first term. However, I did find it interesting to read O'Reilly's predictions prior to Obama's reelection to see how things in comparison really panned out. The book is better than its title, which I don't like. I would add there is an interesting section in which O'Reilly does a quick historical- and opinion-based rundown of political and historical figures of the country. This section was the most fun for me. Overall, I enjoyed the book. However, O'Reilly's efforts in books like these do not hold a candle to his "Killing" series, which appear to be as historically accurate as they are riveting.
February 7, 2015
I didn't read this book in 2010 when it came out. As a regular viewer of O'Reilly's show, it just seemed repetitive at the time. I rediscovered it while going through some stacks of books last month. Amazing how nothing has changed much on the political scene in five years. ACA is now law, but Americans are still divided on whether healthcare is affordable, or as accessible. Even now, all portions of the law have not been enacted. Terrorism is alive, well, and seemingly increasing its march through the Middle East and touching the U.S., Europe, Canada and Australia. If anything, radical extremist violence has worsened with the United States military withdrawal in Iraq and the rise of ISIS. Putin is still running roughshod over Russia's neighbors. The book isn't all on Obama, or politics. One of the most entertaining sections is how O'Reilly rates some past presidents, historical figures, and celebrities. Most enlightening is the transcript of O'Reilly's interview of then Senator Obama on the Factor in September 2008. That alone is a recommended read--Obama's own words in context--not the cherry-picked media sound bites from supporters or detractors. A quick read--if you haven't allready, check it out.
October 11, 2012
I liked that Bill O'Reilly is the reader on the audiobook - it simulates watching The O'Reilly Factor with my eyes closed. He makes some sound arguments, backed with fact, data and explanation. I also liked his chapter where he takes several historical figures as well as more current celebrities and pleads the case of whether each falls into the category of pinhead or patriot. I appreciated his insight into some of our lesser known presidents, like James Buchanan and Warren Harding, but I would have enjoyed reading about more historical women patriots, of which there are several from which to choose - Abigail Adams, Martha Washington, Deborah Read Franklin, or Martha Jefferson, just to name a few. I did agree, however, with all of those that he rated pinhead, and realize that this list could be much more numerous if space and length were not considered.
Though a bit wordy, it was interesting to listen to O'Reilly's 2008 interview with then Senator Obama. Plus, O'Reilly paused several times to add his own analysis of where the Senator erred or required further explanation. Overall, a worthwhile read.
Though a bit wordy, it was interesting to listen to O'Reilly's 2008 interview with then Senator Obama. Plus, O'Reilly paused several times to add his own analysis of where the Senator erred or required further explanation. Overall, a worthwhile read.
December 11, 2015
I thought Bill's arguments were simplistic, but about right for the average level of understanding on USA politics. He provided sufficient analysis to be credible, but not enough to drone on and on. With a TV show and many books, you have to wonder if he has a personal life? In one chapter, he opined on historic characters--the concepts are well known: Willard Hotel used as President US Grant's watering hole--he was attached by "lobbyists" after tipping a few...e.g. Good chapter. It's well known that things that happen inside the DC beltway are unique in the world and don't reflect reality except in that limited circumstance. I used this book as a glimpse inside the current administration and I think that O'Reilly was fair in his judgements. Surprised me in a couple of cases. The audiobook, with author and narrator the same, sounds somewhat like his TV show. Yes he is arrogant. Since he's an entertainer, it's all about ratings and sales---makes you feel sheep dipped for the purchase--glad I got it from a library. If I want more O'Reilly, I'll probably watch his TV show...oh, you need cable for that? Sorry, Bill,no cable in my house!
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