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A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity: A Memoir
One day in 1957, in the third-grade classroom of St. Brigid’s parochial school, an exasperated Sister Mary Lurana bent over a restless young William O’Reilly and said, “William, you are a bold, fresh piece of humanity.” Little did she know that she was, early in his career as a troublemaker, defining the essence of Bill O’Reilly and providing him with the title of his bras...more
Paperback, Large Print, 384 pages
Published
September 23rd 2008
by Random House Large Print
(first published January 1st 2008)
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Oct 24, 2008
Lisa
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
those who hate Bill, yet have never watched his show but blindly spew the mantra of the left
Shelves:
nonfiction
What more could you ask for? It's easy to read and understand, funny, and will give you a perspective you may never have considered. For all those people who hate Bill O'Reilly, yet have never watched his show or read any of his books but blindly spew the mantra of the far left, please read this book! You may be surprised by the humble beginnings of that little hellion also known as Bill O'Reilly and the experiences that made him what he is by smacking him around. How would today's educators/pol...more
Was there any doubt I would read this book first?
Any doubt that I would like it?
I didn't think so.
Here's what I found appealing about the book:
1) It was genuinely entertaining. Bill is a great writer, and can tell a fantastic story. I can identify with many of the hijinx he pulled that got him in trouble - his telling of the events are worth the read alone.
2) He examines the reasons why he holds the beliefs that he holds. "Why" you believe something is a very important question. I couldn't...more
Any doubt that I would like it?
I didn't think so.
Here's what I found appealing about the book:
1) It was genuinely entertaining. Bill is a great writer, and can tell a fantastic story. I can identify with many of the hijinx he pulled that got him in trouble - his telling of the events are worth the read alone.
2) He examines the reasons why he holds the beliefs that he holds. "Why" you believe something is a very important question. I couldn't...more
I absolutely loved listening to this book on tape, even though I do think Bill O'Reilly can come across as a bully on tv. It was so interesting hearing his stories growing up in a poor neighborhood, his insights into the presidents he has interviewed, his belief of the difference between how a president growing up poor (eg Bill Clinton) and a president who came from a rich family (George Bush) approach problems, things he would have done differently, and all interspersed with lines from songs. H...more
I only recently started watching "The Factor" on the FOX news channel and like Bill O'Reilly though I change the channel when things become too confrontational.
This book was interesting and entertaining, and I found myself agreeing with most of his basic ethics and political principles.
He seems like one of the good guys and has great arguments so I don't think he needs to be confrontational, though that seems to be one of his hallmarks.
This book was interesting and entertaining, and I found myself agreeing with most of his basic ethics and political principles.
He seems like one of the good guys and has great arguments so I don't think he needs to be confrontational, though that seems to be one of his hallmarks.
I know a lot of people don't like this guy, but he is really smart and I think he sincerely tries to make a positive difference in the world. He gives great perspective to his personality and attitudes in this book.
A lot of people hate Bill O'Reilly because they think he's a rabid partisan. The fact is, he may have conservative views, but his job (as he defines it) is to expose people in power of any stripe who abuse their power, take advantage of others, or stand idly by and let horrible things happen that they could have stopped. This book is a memoir in the sense that it recounts stories from Bill's young life and early career, but it's really a "Who I am" book - each chapter looks at one "thing" or "co...more
Oct 10, 2008
Summer
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
politics-current-events
I love my Bill O'Reilly!
I think I've only read one of Bill O'Reilly's other books (I think it was his original) and I also read his novel "Those Who Trespass" (which wasn't half bad that I can remember, but it's been a few years), but I've always liked O'Reilly. Yeah, he's a blowhard. Yeah, he had that fairly creepy sex scandal with one of his underlings a few years back. But I think he busts people's asses who need it, and he doesn't rest on his laurels. He's always riled up about something. I like that. I thought the...more
I read this book in response to many people at work trash talking the guy. When I asked them exactly why they didn't like him, they usally responded with something like, "He's just crazy"... follow up discussion revealed that none of them actually watch his show. Sooo...I started watching the "The Factor" myself, then happened to see the Bold Fresh book while perusing the new releases and I picked it up. It's a quick, easy read and I found it enjoyable. Bill seems like a guy with solid values, (...more
While I enjoyed reading this book, I became bored towards the end. Also, he described his father as a person who didn't have much to contribute towards family conversations. I believe this to probably be true of almost every father who was raised during the depression and should/could have been pointed out by Mr. O'Reilly. I am sure his friend' fathers were like his father.
I know there are many who don't like O'Reilly but I think he is the fairest interviewer on TV. He always lets both sides have their say, even if he is a little arrogant. (did I say a little?)
Bold Fresh tells about his life and how he came to hold the viewpoints he holds today.
Call me whatever you want, I like O'Reilly and The No Spin Zone.
Bold Fresh tells about his life and how he came to hold the viewpoints he holds today.
Call me whatever you want, I like O'Reilly and The No Spin Zone.
I loved this book! Bill O'Reilly talks about his life & how he got to be that way. I loved the parts about his childhood & when he worked at Carvel as a teen. Parts of it made me laugh out loud. I recommend this book to everyone, whether you're an O'Reilly fan or not. He talks about important values like self reliance, education, religion, & politics & relates it to his life.
Feb 09, 2009
Taylor
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Any one with any political view.
While currently I'm not totally done with this book, I've got (at most) ten pages left. Unfortunately, it's usually the people who are already fans of Bill that read his books, all too many just pass on the mantra of others and don't form their own opinions, not even giving him a chance. I believe that whether or not you're a fan it's a must read. Although the book isn't as personal as most expected, it still shines the light on how his opinions were formed using nostalgic memories and O'Reilly'...more
Writing a review for a Bill O'Reilly book almost seems like a moot point. The man is such a controversial figure, if you don't like his views, you won't like the book. If you're an O'Reilly fan, you'll be in the Amen Choir of readers.
This book is Mr. O'Reilly's story of how he developed the thoughts and beliefs he now holds. He delves into his childhood, upbringing, schooling and the influences in his life that guided his thought and moral formation. With limited prior exposure to his views, I...more
This book is Mr. O'Reilly's story of how he developed the thoughts and beliefs he now holds. He delves into his childhood, upbringing, schooling and the influences in his life that guided his thought and moral formation. With limited prior exposure to his views, I...more
I already like Bill O'Reilly, especially after reading one of his previous books. And especially because I know he has the ear of regular Americans. Isn't he the only guy on TV that has better ratings than Glenn Beck? That's saying something!
This isn't exactly an autobiography, and it doesn't include much political commentary. It's mostly what it say in the subtitle: a "memoir". Bill tells of his childhood, teen years, college life and up through his early working years as a young adult. There...more
This isn't exactly an autobiography, and it doesn't include much political commentary. It's mostly what it say in the subtitle: a "memoir". Bill tells of his childhood, teen years, college life and up through his early working years as a young adult. There...more
Bill O'Reilly was called a "bold fresh piece of humanity" by a teacher/nun in his Catholic gradeschool. He tells stories from his life and explains how they shaped his political views. One thing I like is how he explains his political opinions as a result of personal experience, common sense, and faith. I especially enjoy his take on good vs. evil: "My core belief...is that life is a constant struggle between good and evil. That each person has free will and must choose a side. Refusing to choos...more
This book shocked and appalled me. As I turned the pages I could feel my hands curl in feverish angst, my vision blurred with frustrated tears and despite being unable to see or even turn each page I couldn’t deny the reality hammering on my senses.
I agreed with Bill O’Reilly on some issues.
My only exposure to O’Reilly has really been a funny musical mash-up, the O’Reilly vs Bale video and a small section of interviews that interested me. I have to say after reading this book, I now consider O...more
I know very little about Bill O'Reilly, and have only seen his show when channel surfing. I only read this book because someone asked me to, and I wish I hadn't. Throughout the book, O'Reilly refers to himself as "the bold, fresh guy" rather than using personal pronouns "I" and "me". This got pretty annoying after the 20th time.
O'Reilly basically tells his life story, explaining how events in his childhood shaped his attitudes and personality today. That may be interesting for a fan, but I wasn'...more
O'Reilly basically tells his life story, explaining how events in his childhood shaped his attitudes and personality today. That may be interesting for a fan, but I wasn'...more
Jul 30, 2009
Mary Campbell
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
open-minded progressives
Recommended to Mary by:
Margie Friend
Shelves:
public-policy
I am something of an apologist for Bill O'Reilly because, when he was still on the radio, his show came on at the time I took my nap, and I thought that he was funny and smart and that he was NOT an ideologue. His ego is as bloated as his detractors claim, and I've read that he can be difficult to work with, but he makes no secret of either quality and does, in fact, poke fun at himself, unapologetically, however.
Sometimes I take an early nap and have to listen to Sean Hannity (or turn off the r...more
Sometimes I take an early nap and have to listen to Sean Hannity (or turn off the r...more
Aug 17, 2010
Jeff Carpenter
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
biography,
political-science
In this book, Bill attempts to define how his opinions, which can be strong, were formed; how his life experiences shaped his thinking, and how these things made "one of the most controversial human beings in the world". In this attempt he is successful, in my opinion, as I can identify with many of the life experiences, especially as a child, that he talks about.
He discusses in great detail his childhood, his school years, his early college years, and some of his early career, coming up through...more
He discusses in great detail his childhood, his school years, his early college years, and some of his early career, coming up through...more
I don't think one can appreciate the humor of this book unless he or she has seen The O'Reilly Factor. I don't know O'Reilly well, but I found his stories humorous because I could picture him in the moments since I've seen his show on more than one occasion. I could also picture my husband in a lot of the same scenarios. I think I appreciated that aspect of this book a lot. It gave me some insight into why my husband loves watching The O'Reilly Factor so much.
I think Mr. O'Reilly is a really sma...more
I think Mr. O'Reilly is a really sma...more
One day in 1957, in the third-grade classroom of St. Brigid’s parochial school, an exasperated Sister Mary Lurana bent over a restless young William O’Reilly and said, “William, you are a bold fresh piece of humanity.” Little did she know that she was, early in his career as a troublemaker, defining the essence of Bill O’Reilly and providing him with the title of his brash and entertaining issue-based memoir.” These are the words that Bill O’Reilly has defined himself with for all his life. This...more
I enjoyed this book. People should read it.
That's the pithy version of my review. One of the mysteries of the universe, however, is how someone whose father was seemingly always pithy in his comments ended up with a son who is a master bloviater. Although this is a mystery that may never be fully solved, O'Reilly does shed a great deal of light on his upbringing and the values that still drive him to do what he does.
At times intense, often funny, usually insightful - this is a book worth reading...more
That's the pithy version of my review. One of the mysteries of the universe, however, is how someone whose father was seemingly always pithy in his comments ended up with a son who is a master bloviater. Although this is a mystery that may never be fully solved, O'Reilly does shed a great deal of light on his upbringing and the values that still drive him to do what he does.
At times intense, often funny, usually insightful - this is a book worth reading...more
I read this book because someone I love and respect asked me to. I was about to undertake a four hour plane flight so I figured I could devote that time to it: I wasn't going to be doing anything else. Anticipating the possibility that my resolve could weaken I ensured that all other reading material was packed away!
I like autobiographies: I always find other people's lives interesting. So despite the fact that I had never heard of Bill O'Reilly, I thought I might well find his life story of int...more
I like autobiographies: I always find other people's lives interesting. So despite the fact that I had never heard of Bill O'Reilly, I thought I might well find his life story of int...more
This book was great to listen to, especially since O'Reilly himself was narrator. As a result, I think that the reading itself became more dramatic, enthusiastic and enjoyable. I discovered many interesting things about O'Reilly's childhood, family and career path. He shares some amazing experiences that have helped form who he is today. Despite his bloviated nature, his tough guy charisma and his no-nonsense approach to most topics, I have to admire the guy. He never gave in to drugs, alcohol,...more
Sep 15, 2010
Eileen
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
bookclub-selections,
non-fiction
I knew nothing about Bill O'Reilly when I began this selection for my new book club. I am not a Fox News watcher but I did recognize his Photo on the inside back cover. I asked around about him and did hear quite a bit both positive and negative about the host of "The O'Reilly Factor". I watched his show the night before the meeting so I could see him and get another perspective.
His memoir includes highlights of his upbringing and early work life with a heavy emphasis on his catholic school ed...more
His memoir includes highlights of his upbringing and early work life with a heavy emphasis on his catholic school ed...more
An okay book it is somewhat amusing, entertaining and informative. There are equal parts drum beating (his own) and chest pounding as he bloviates (artfully I must say) about pinheads and nitwits and the unfairness in life that he crusades against. Loved the Men of Adventure stories (I have always wanted to be able to get friends together to do Women of Adventure trips, but never have, so I am jealous!) I would enjoy hearing more MOA tales. Overall nothing ground breaking or earth shattering but...more
Of the Bill O'Reilly books I have been forced to read, this is by far the best one yet. Using his own personal experiences growing up in middle-class America to explain how his worldview was shaped, readers finally get to see the man behind the "no-spin zone." Even if you don't like him, at least you will gain some respect for him after reading this. However, the book falters when he abandons the above described formula that makes this book good. Chapter 9: Conservatives vs. Liberals is a good e...more
I enjoyed Bill's charming anecdotes about growing up in NY as a middle-class kid. I love the story about the alarm clock in the neighbor's tree. He always believed in a little man-made harmless justice. I like Bill O'Reilly. I totally had the wrong impression about him about t 2 1/2 years ago when he was making publicity about a scandal involving the women on his show. He was painted as a sexist guy who crossed the boundaries by the mainstream media. Now, I realize that they were just out to bad...more
This is O'Reillly's story in his own words about how "O'Reilly became O'Reilly. Born in 1949, this narrative begins in 1957 when he was in the third grade in St. Brigid's School in New York. The nun in-charge of the third grade at this time was Sister Mary Lurana, in frustration, bent over him as he sat at his desk and said to him "William, you are a bold, fresh piece of humanity". He relates his experiences of growing up, going out into the world on his own, and working his way up to the positi...more
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Bill O'Reilly is an American television/radio host, author, syndicated columnist, and political commentator. He is the host of the cable news program The O'Reilly Factor. Prior to hosting The O'Reilly Factor, he served as anchor of the entertainment program, Inside Edition.
O'Reilly also hosts The Radio Factor, a radio program syndicated by Westwood One, and he has written seven books.
http://us.mac...more
More about Bill O'Reilly...
O'Reilly also hosts The Radio Factor, a radio program syndicated by Westwood One, and he has written seven books.
http://us.mac...more
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