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Nov 04, 2011

Joseph rated it:

I am a little reticent to write a review of this book. Once you start discussing politics, things can become heated. By way of disclaimer, I am likely what Mr. Beck calls a "Progressive" in his book. I do believe the founders of our country were great men. I think they did the best they could with the Constitution. But that does not mean that I think those men and that document are inerrant. I think this has been amply demonstrated: slavery, women's suffrage, and the civil rights

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0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Dec 25, 2011

Stephen rated it:

3.5 stars. After really being disappointed in Arguing with Idiots: How to Stop Small Minds and Big Government, I did not go into this book with very high expectations. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that I really liked this. Let me say that, while agreeing with many of Beck's positions and ideas, I acknowledge that his arguments are fairly simplistic and done with an appeal towards the emotions rather than the intellect. This doesn't mean he isn't right (I happen to think he often is), More...

0 comments like (5 people liked it)

Nov 13, 2010

Cathy rated it:

I FINALLY feel like someone understands what I need to know about what is happening to America. Now I feel like I can explain to people where it is I stand politically.

Glen Beck does an excellent job of helping the american people recognize what those uneasy feelings are about the way things are being run in Washington. This is a book every single American ought to read. It's simple to read it's easy to understand and it rings truth loud and clear.

2 comments like (5 people liked it)

Jul 15, 2009

Steven rated it:

Having read Thomas Paine's Common Sense many times and highly recommend that others read it, the reader of this review may ask why I only rated this book "ok" and didn't rate it higher. Don't get me wrong. I believe a lot of what Glenn says on the radio and writes. My biggest sore spot regarding this book is the following:

It's not just the political class who has mastered the art of deception. There are other potentially deadly masters who will seek to exploit your frustra

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4 comments like (9 people liked it)

Jun 28, 2009

Jim rated it:

I have been listening to Glenn Beck since a short time after September 11, 2001. I have listened to and watched Glenn eviscerate both political parties on both radio and television. Here is a man, despite what you may think of him personally or politically, who tells it like it is.

In his version of Common Sense, he illucidates areas in which our government has usurped our liberties in the name of "the common good." Both political parties have so mismanaged taxpayer dolla More...

0 comments like (6 people liked it)

Jul 15, 2009

Jongalt rated it:

So I read (listened too) "Common sense", with some trepidation and with the intention of being extremely objective.

Result:
He does a great job categorizing all the different topics and setting a standard by which to act in politics. I saw a lot of comments on sites like amazon that stated it was "lacking in any sense" but I would definitely disagree.

Many other posts on amazon stated that it was basically a rehash of Glenn Becks "religious be More...

0 comments like (5 people liked it)

Mar 16, 2011

Daniel rated it:

"They have set our house on fire and blocked the exits, all the while convincing us that there is nothing to fear because they are the fire department." is a true statement about our lulled situation. Are we ready to hear and act? I'd hope so, but alas, we've not seen enough pain to act.

Though "the cause of America is in great measure the cause of mankind," we still want our easy life, our comfort, our TV. Wake up, it is almost too late to reclaim our American dream More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 27, 2012

Laurie rated it:

Well, it could have been written better. Some parts were stronger than others. I enjoyed this book mainly because I believe in the subject matter.

I'll throw it 3 stars & leave you with my favorite passage.

"The Progressives view the Constitution as a living organism that evolves with time and changes depending on circumstances. Both the Progressives and the Founding Fathers view the Constitution as a set of handcuffs- but the difference is that our Founders believe More...

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Aug 04, 2011

Karl added it

Profound. Everyone should read this book. It is not pro Repubican or pro Democrat. It is about what happens when government spends money - when government grows in power. Both parties are guilty and Beck makes that case clearly. You may or may not agree with his conclusion but as a responsible citizen you must understand what is going on.

I simply cannot give this book a higher recommendation. It is short, simple and easy to understand and its only 6 bucks at Costco. Not only is this a MUS More...

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Oct 20, 2009

David rated it:

"A charter is to be understood as a bond of solemn obligation, which the whole enters into, to support the right of every separate part, whether of religion, personal freedom, or property, A firm bargain and a right reckoning make long friends." This is from Thomas Paine's tract of the same name, also included. Paine argues eloquently for the abolishment of rule by a king, and upholds the need for a fundamental property right, but Beck fails to connect the dots and note that any majori More...

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Aug 01, 2011

Samuel rated it:

I enjoyed this book very much. It is an overview of what is wrong with the American government, and what we can do about it. Clearly written and well researched, it reveals how the United States has strayed from the path that our Founding Fathers set for us. Our out of control government wastes money and crushes innovation with mindless regulations.

Those who think Glenn Beck's views encourage violence clearly never got past his "Note from the Author" where he bluntly sta More...

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Jul 25, 2011

Karen rated it:

Putting my personal feelings of Glenn Beck and his motives aside for the first three of these points (which for the record of full disclosure are not favorable)... The book is problematic on multiple levels.

1) Writing - Having been subjected to more than enough Beck thanks to my Dad's addiction to Fox News, I can say that he writes EXACTLY the way he talks (capital letters included!). While this style obviously appeals to the masses, and I thought it was hip to do so in elementary sc More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 05, 2011

Deborah rated it:

Let me preface this review by saying that I consider myself a political independent with some moderate views as well as some that would be shockingly conservative to many. I had heard alot about this book and other by Glenn Beck and am familiar with his TV and radio programs, although I am not a regular viewer or listener. I liked Beck's show better when it was on HLN and found some of his economic predictions in 2008 and 2009 amazingly accurate and on-target. I picked up this book wanting to More...

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Nov 13, 2010

Jonathan added it

Glenn Beck, the television personality, appended the original "Common Sense" of Thomas Paine to the end of his own book. I read Paine's book first and I would recommend it to anyone interested in history. It contains some curious data such the cost to build naval ships of various sizes in the late 18th century, but mostly it is polemic against monarchy and in favor of American independence.

Curiously, except the heated style, Beck's text has almost nothing in common with More...

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Oct 27, 2010

Laura rated it:

Like other reviewers I have read on this site, we need more "stars" in the rating system. I decided to read this for a couple of reasons. One of those reasons was because of a review on this site by a friend of mine. The other reason was because I was curious to see what he had to say. I find him much easier to read than to listen to or watch on tv.

I was surprised to find that the first 107 pages of the book are Beck's writings and his analysis of conditions in our coun More...

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Jan 22, 2010

T. rated it:

Given the title, of Glenn Beck's Common Sense, I initially thought this book would follow A. Man's 'Everything a man can say to a woman without offending' (the book is blank by the way)

The book was a much better read than Arguing With Idiots (i.e. shorter) and in much the same vein, is a 120ish rant about governmental overspend. I don't think people totally disagree with the risk of debt, but I guess its about priorities.

I suspect the most effort Beck put into this book More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jan 21, 2010

Laura rated it:

Those of you who will be quick to write this off as Democrat/Obama bashing would be grossly misinformed. This is a book highlighting how far we have gone off the path our Founding Fathers fought so hard to put us on. It shows the flaws in the system, and how grossly self indulgent a lot of our politicians are (and yes, he places the blame on both Republicans and Democrats equally). Goverment was created loosely and meant to be as such. We were to be a country of the people and by the people. Not More...

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Oct 25, 2009

Seth rated it:

I picked up Glenn Beck's book the order and started reading it the other day. Borrowed it from the in-laws. I really liked Glenn Beck at first. But, the more I listen to this guy, Glenn Beck that is, the less I like his style, and the less I trust him. I think some of his ideas are good but he's so sensational. He doesn't provide evidence and real life examples to support a lot of his claims. His words are incendiary. He thinks he's transformational, but I don't think he is. I think he's inflamm More...

9 comments like (9 people liked it)

Oct 20, 2009

Christopher rated it:

Never in my life have I even been more worried about the fate of the nation than I am now! I have little to no faith in most of the officials that are currently running the country (into the ground I might add.) I believe that most, if not all, politicians don’t give a dam about the country, only themselves! It does not matter what is good or bad for the country as long as it hurts their opponents whether they are in another political party or a US citizen. While do not agree with everything in More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 19, 2009

Brian rated it:

First off I find the statement that Beck made that President Obama is racist and hates white people to make no sense (which is the main reason why I didn't want to see what Beck had to say). Obama's Mom was white, his grandparents where white, so did he hate them? It doesn't make sense. Also I don't see anything directed at making white people go to the back of the bus, or legalizing lynching of white people or anything like that (that would seem to be an actual demonstration of hate). In all ho More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Sep 22, 2009

Francis rated it:

After finishing "Common Sense" I have gone over a few key points in my mind and formed my opinion and decided to make some changes in my life that I didn't realize I had the option of making. My favorite part of this book comes from Thomas Paine's writings on Kings and rulers of the like. My thoughts kept drifting to our current leader/ leaders'. Our constitution was written in order to prevent Kings from ruling our country, and that is what had made it so great, but slowly our constit More...

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Sep 15, 2009

Lyle rated it:

If you want to understand our countrymen who are protesting at tea parties around the country, read this book.

Glen Beck recites a litany of examples that he says show that government, our economy and our society have broken faith with prior generations. This helps explain why the average tea partygoer is older than the average American and why they are so agitated.

When Mr. Beck moves on to diagnose the problem, he lays the blame unequivocally at the feet of progressivism More...

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Aug 24, 2009

Rhonda rated it:

I like reading and listening to Glenn Beck...he tells it like it is, and doesn't take the side of the Republican OR the Democrat.

This book, inspired by Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" is a call to action...for American's to no longer sit idly by and let us be lied to by those in the government. We are to take responsibility for what is happening to our country.

It's not at all about religion, but some of my quotes are...

Quotes:

"So wh More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Mar 26, 2010

Joyceliv rated it:

Oh so much to say about this book. I don't think he put enough facts in the book to back up his opinions. It gave me anxiety that the government is going to fall apart and we will be owned by China and we will have hyperinflation and the dollar won't mean squat. So, I need to get my food storage in order and buy a gun. I have said for the past 2 years I am not a Republican or a Democrat; I'm a member of the Angry Party. Who wants to join? I do feel like things need to change, but how do I make c More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 15, 2011

Clinton rated it:

Glenn Beck’s Common Sense is an abstract version of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense. The book will probably never provoke any historical significance sighting any oppressive or tyrant acts of the current government as did Thomas Paine’s edition. However, Glenn Beck’s edition has some merit concerning our current government, yet it is far from erupting into a widespread public outcry for a revolution when considering two completely different political systems. Respectfully, the tax code and the finan More...

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Jul 29, 2011

Jason added it

Glenn Beck again tries to inject some "common sense" into American political discussion with this tribute to Thomas Paine's historic book of the same title in 1776. In fact, that full pamphlet is included at the end of this book. Glenn tells of things that "will make blood shoot out of your eyes" as he's fond of saying. Although he doesn't provide much in the way of solutions, pointing out the problems is still a worthy goal. He covers such topics as wild government spending More...

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Oct 05, 2009

Jason rated it:

I was just coming back from a conservative conference and had staunchly confirmed myself as a moderate independent before attending, but after the conference I feel like my values are more inline with conservatives. So I was sitting on the plane at a stop in Las Vegas, and I had just finished a book, so I decided I would download Glenn Beck's Common Sense.

I typically do not like reading political commentary's, let alone pay for them; however I started reading this book on the plane a More...

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Jul 08, 2009

Jasmyn rated it:

Marc and I are reading this together. He made it as pamphlet-like as he could so people could read it quickly and pass it along to their neighbors. Excellent book--go read it!

Done. Again - I would go get a copy. It makes so much sense and will help you understand what's actually going on in our country and what to do to help fix it.

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Jul 31, 2009

Brian rated it:

If you watch Glenn Beck and you should even if you disagree with the politics, otherwise you'll get one side of the argument and be ill informed. This book is a statement of his show on FOX. Many of the things if not all have been brought up on his show. They are pertinent to lovers of freedom and liberty from big government. Glenn is not pro Democrat or Republican he's pro constitution.
Glenn hits on the topics of the Taxes, Greed and the economic huxsters running our congress and Pr More...

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Dec 22, 2010

Michael rated it:

Actually really liked this book. I have been wanting to read it for quite awhile and finally got to it. Very quick read and only a little over 100 pages. I have to admit, I had a little trepidation that this was going to be a total bash on the Democratic party but was pleasantly surprised to read that we are all at fault at this point.

I am disturbed about how the government and world is right now and even more so about how it might be in the future. I know that my parents are not t More...

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