From the #1 "New York Times"-bestselling author of "Common Sense" and "Arguing with Idiots" comes a heart-stopping new thriller about the consequen...
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Jul 18, 2010
Ellen
rated it: 
“I think we are seeing where intellectualisam [sic:]has gotten us. Many brains and no commen [sic:] sense is a disater [sic:] as we can see with our current administration. Worldly knowledge is not doing so well for us right now. Intellectual work is killing this country right now. Let us get back on track and do what is right. Palin may not be the right person but anything is better than this group of geniuses we have now.”
~Anonymous Poster on Politico.com July 14, 2010
A com More...
23 comments
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Mar 08, 2011
Cathy
rated it: 
What happens when government and big business conspire to manipulate national and world events... oh, wait, that's already happening. Okay, how about this -- what happens when corrupt politicians and government officials ignore the laws of the land to bring about their own agenda... wait a minute, that's already happening, too! Well then, what happens when a radio talk-show host and TV personality writes a novel based on all the things he's discussing on his program that are happening in today
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Aug 26, 2011
Marvin
rated it: 
Yes, I'm actually reading this. Stop laughing, Michelle.
.....
It is well known the Glenn Beck did not write this. Mr. Beck said so himself. Although the idea "was all mine" he attributes the actual writing of the novel to three "contributors"; Kevin Balfe, Emily Bestler, and Jack Henderson. The last writer is already a published author and some critics have noticed that Beck's novel has a not-so-coincidental similarity to Henderson's Circumference of Da More...
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It is well known the Glenn Beck did not write this. Mr. Beck said so himself. Although the idea "was all mine" he attributes the actual writing of the novel to three "contributors"; Kevin Balfe, Emily Bestler, and Jack Henderson. The last writer is already a published author and some critics have noticed that Beck's novel has a not-so-coincidental similarity to Henderson's Circumference of Da More...
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Aug 05, 2011
I am a Glenn Beck fan but I have to say that The Overton Window just barely reaches mediocre. This may be because of my aversion to thrillers. The writing seems flat, but I feel the same way about Dan Brown and Scott Turow, yet everyone else finds these guys riveting – it must be the genre that I do not understand.
The Overton window as a political concept is the theory that at any given time and population will accept a political policy somewhere between a set of extremes. For instance no-one More...
The Overton window as a political concept is the theory that at any given time and population will accept a political policy somewhere between a set of extremes. For instance no-one More...
Jul 31, 2011
A very good entry into the thriller genre for Glenn. A quick read, but hard to put down, especially with the very short chapters that tease you to read "just one more". The plot is certainly plausible, and the close connection to the current political shenanigans certainly makes it spookily good right now, although that quality might be the same one that keeps it from being a classic after times have changed (unless things take a turn for the worse so that it seems almost prophetic lik
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May 21, 2011
Craig
rated it:
This book is a very fast read and I read it in just a few days. I will admit that although Beck and I are the same religion I despise the man. I think most of the pundits like him are worthless, thankfully though he's a few steps up from the arrogant Rush.
However I saw this book at the library and said what the heck. I picked it up and read through it very quickly. I was surprised that I liked it so much, it's very well written. The story scared the crap out of me as well. I have no More...
However I saw this book at the library and said what the heck. I picked it up and read through it very quickly. I was surprised that I liked it so much, it's very well written. The story scared the crap out of me as well. I have no More...
Feb 26, 2011
Christina
rated it:
Another Booksquirm Book Club pick. Thankfully, this book did not make it past month 2! Our 2 month assignment for this book had us suffer through the Prologue through Chapter 4. Here are the thoughts I posted for the book club.
Prologue - Chapter 2 observations:
How exactly did Mr. Beck think that I would take him seriously when he writes on page 8 "Top psychologists tell us in Maxim magazine..." Really??? You expect me to believe that people who are at the top of More...
Prologue - Chapter 2 observations:
How exactly did Mr. Beck think that I would take him seriously when he writes on page 8 "Top psychologists tell us in Maxim magazine..." Really??? You expect me to believe that people who are at the top of More...
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Feb 25, 2011
Mac
rated it: 
Whether the premise of this book it real or not, the window is REAL and I have watch it work its wonders on this nation's people for the past 69 years. You think $3.21 gas is not bad looking at the rest of so called modern nations, dumb...its the same gas that I used to fill Grandpa's old Packard up for $5.00 a tank, its not the gas has gotten more expensive, it that the USD (FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE) is WORTH LESS. The plastic numbered society is so easy, just give me my(equal)share and I'll shut
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Oct 20, 2010
Elizabeth
rated it:
The Overton Window by Glenn Beck (pp. 336)
A modern-day conspiracy thriller by one of the more polarizing voices in America. The problem with reviewing a fiction book by Glenn Beck is that his personality is so pervasive in the media that it’s hard to separate the book from the man and his ideology. I have no specific politic and consider myself pretty down the middle, so Glenn Beck neither offends me nor am I sitting front-and-center hanging on his every word like it was my 9 year More...
A modern-day conspiracy thriller by one of the more polarizing voices in America. The problem with reviewing a fiction book by Glenn Beck is that his personality is so pervasive in the media that it’s hard to separate the book from the man and his ideology. I have no specific politic and consider myself pretty down the middle, so Glenn Beck neither offends me nor am I sitting front-and-center hanging on his every word like it was my 9 year More...
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Oct 16, 2010
Doreen
rated it:
I know most of the stuff in this book really has occurred in real life. Even though this is a fictional book I wouldn't be surprised if it ALL was really going on (replacing names with people who currently hold power within the government). This book definitely makes you think about your own personal overton window. I like the notes at the end of the book. Next time I read this I will go through the notes at the end of the book as I'm reading.
[Side note: I don't believe in the 9/ More...
[Side note: I don't believe in the 9/ More...
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Sep 23, 2010
goddess
rated it:
Fun and exciting read; perhaps better than I expected. This book kept me interested from cover to cover (definitely a page-turner!), and the writing was 10 times better than some of the other fiction I've read of Beck. Those who watch/listen to his show(s) won't find anything new. I think Beck's goal was to target a wider audience.....like those who haven't heard his message before.
I only gave it four stars for a few minor, perhaps petty, issues: Molly never explains herself to N More...
I only gave it four stars for a few minor, perhaps petty, issues: Molly never explains herself to N More...
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Sep 22, 2010
Kristina
rated it:
To read this book, you must first clear your mind of all preconceived notions of Glenn Beck. Forget that you think he's a lying buffoon, and a garbage dump for every silly idea vomited out of the political spectrum.
Finished? Good.
Now read The Overtown Window and let all of those notions wash over you once more. Feel the anger boiling inside you, not because you are getting angry that something like this could happen in America, but because other people are reading this an More...
Finished? Good.
Now read The Overtown Window and let all of those notions wash over you once more. Feel the anger boiling inside you, not because you are getting angry that something like this could happen in America, but because other people are reading this an More...
Sep 10, 2010
Mary
rated it:
Interesting--but not too Convincing
Noah Gardner, the son of a powerful PR executive, is young and handsome and concerned mostly with having a good time. Politics are the fartherest thing from his mind. Then he meets Molly Ross, a beautiful young woman who is convinced our country is being taken over by evil forces. She belongs to a group of people who will do anything to save our way of life, even if it means dying for it. It doesn't take Noah long to fall in love with Molly, but he's More...
Noah Gardner, the son of a powerful PR executive, is young and handsome and concerned mostly with having a good time. Politics are the fartherest thing from his mind. Then he meets Molly Ross, a beautiful young woman who is convinced our country is being taken over by evil forces. She belongs to a group of people who will do anything to save our way of life, even if it means dying for it. It doesn't take Noah long to fall in love with Molly, but he's More...
Aug 26, 2010
Wayne
rated it:
A very scary book. The writing wasn't great but not bad for Mr. Beck's first foray into the world of fiction. I listened to the book and the narration was great. I really enjoyed hearing from Glen in the beginning and again after the completion of the book. I am a Glen Beck fan, so take my review with that in mind.
Some of my favorite parts were when Beck quotes the founding fathers through his protagonists. It was great for me to hear our founders words in many cases for the first time More...
Some of my favorite parts were when Beck quotes the founding fathers through his protagonists. It was great for me to hear our founders words in many cases for the first time More...
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Aug 22, 2010
Doran
rated it:
If you know me, you know I’m a pretty big fan of Glenn Beck. I’ve been listening to his radio show for about five years now and have followed his forays into television, live stage performances, and books. It may be no surprise, then, that I liked “The Overton Window,” Glenn’s latest book, a fiction thriller.
Now that I’ve said that, let me qualify it.
“The Overton Window” is a simple story, really. It has its plots and twists like a good thriller should, but its overall st More...
Now that I’ve said that, let me qualify it.
“The Overton Window” is a simple story, really. It has its plots and twists like a good thriller should, but its overall st More...
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Aug 20, 2010
T.
rated it:
Like my other Glenn Beck reviews, I feel it would be unethical not to begin by saying that I am not a fan of Mr Beck nor do I agree (for the most part) with his opinions.
In saying that I tried to take his work of fiction The Overton Window with a grain of open-mindedness, and plunged right in...
Or tried to. Unfortunately Glenn decided to introduce his novel with the old “some people won’t like this, but others will look past the politics” type spiel. One questions the dec More...
In saying that I tried to take his work of fiction The Overton Window with a grain of open-mindedness, and plunged right in...
Or tried to. Unfortunately Glenn decided to introduce his novel with the old “some people won’t like this, but others will look past the politics” type spiel. One questions the dec More...
Jul 31, 2010
Bigmg
rated it:
Really great read. Reason for 4stars is that the book is about 200-300 pages too short.
The premise is based on fact: that America is being run by ad agencies that sell their ability to create false realities in the minds of hundreds of millions of people--even billions--and then twist public thinking into a knot that politicians, huge corporations, government agencies, and the like all use to gain more power.
The idea of moving what the public is willing to believe into More...
The premise is based on fact: that America is being run by ad agencies that sell their ability to create false realities in the minds of hundreds of millions of people--even billions--and then twist public thinking into a knot that politicians, huge corporations, government agencies, and the like all use to gain more power.
The idea of moving what the public is willing to believe into More...
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Dec 11, 2010
Chrissy
rated it:
The Overton Window concerns the range of policies and principles that the public accepts as socially or politically acceptable at a given time. Show a man the most extreme on both sides, and perhaps you can push him to be more accepting of those ideas further to one or the other side, because they're not "as bad" as what he saw before.
In this novel, by Glenn Beck, we're given the tale of a public relations executive, Noah Gardner, who seems that he'd rather be anywhere else More...
In this novel, by Glenn Beck, we're given the tale of a public relations executive, Noah Gardner, who seems that he'd rather be anywhere else More...
Jun 27, 2010
Matt
rated it:
Not a bad first novel, I wonder if Glen really wrote it. I bought it on audible to listen to it on my commute and ended up listening to the end in the house because I didn't want to wait. But I didn't really have anything better to do so not as good as that makes it sound.
Oveton Window means the range of things that the public believes possible, and that by pushing the envelope toward unlikely things it actually makes the window bigger and prepares the public for what is currently More...
Oveton Window means the range of things that the public believes possible, and that by pushing the envelope toward unlikely things it actually makes the window bigger and prepares the public for what is currently More...
Aug 14, 2010
Rhonda
rated it:
Quite a thought-provoking book. Glenn Beck (with the help of three of his friends, I believe)writes a fictional thriller with the intent of causing his readers to 'think' about what they are being taught and manipulated into believing and accepting....based on the theory that the most extreme thoughts we are exposed to cause us to shift just a little bit at a time towards that thought becoming a reality.
His intent was successful...the novel was just a bit lacking in substance.
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His intent was successful...the novel was just a bit lacking in substance.
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Sep 01, 2010
Pamela
rated it:
Could I give this a 2.5??? This novel has some interesting ideas...most too close to truth and therefore very scary. He seems to espouse the theory that public opinion is carefully controlled by a select, powerful few and that government has become an insatiable cannibal...can't argue with that. However, Beck layers speeches, quotes, setups, and deceit, sometimes confusing the reader as well as the main character Noah. The scenario of the novel is quite intricate, even plausible, but charact
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Aug 28, 2010
Heather
rated it:
Glenn Beck...hmmm. The Overton Window as it stands today is the good start to an interesting and thought provoking story. Michael Crichton he is not. This book represents exactly what you'd expect from an intelligent political commentator...A rant about the common man versus the machine...messaging to incite action...but including a ridiculous view of how that battle would play out.
In this story, a powerful PR man partners with other powerful individuals within both government an More...
In this story, a powerful PR man partners with other powerful individuals within both government an More...
Jul 26, 2010
S
rated it:
I just finished reading The Overton Window by Glenn Beck. I have never read anything written by Beck before nor do I follow his television or radio show(s). Resulting from this, I don’t know what his political views are. I try to keep myself blacked out from the infiltrations of the news media as much as possible while still living in an electronic age. In “A Note from the Author,” near the beginning of the book, Beck writes that he “strived for” categorizing The Overton Window as a work of
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Jul 08, 2010
Jennifer
rated it:
I watch Mr. Beck's show occasionally, so I know why he wrote this book, and what he wanted to do with it. He wanted to show in a fictional setting how the concept of an Overton Window works, and perhaps worst case scenario what could happen. I think he also wanted to get some of the writings of the founding fathers out there in the mainstream. Unfortunately, the quotes from founding fathers were too long and the use of the quotes didn't always flow in a natural way. I often felt lectured - and I
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Jul 19, 2010
Richelle
rated it:
This is the first book I have read by Glenn Beck, and although I do not watch his show either, I am generally familiar with his political views. The characters and scenarios in the book are all fictional, but the plot involves many facts from recent events and headline news. Glenn described the book as being "faction" (fact and fiction) and he does include about 15 pages of sources that you can look up in his afterword following the story. I thought the characters seemed like two-d
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Jul 13, 2010
Eznark
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Mar 01, 2011
Jamie
rated it:
2 or 2.5 stars. Listened to this on audiobook
I have to preface this review with the important information that I have absolutely no prior knowledge of Glenn Beck. I have never listened to him. I've never seen him on TV. I could pick him out of a line up only because he puts his face on most of his book covers. I don't really know anything about him except that he is controversial and talks about politics. That's it.
So, that being said, I think I can be pretty unbiased and More...
I have to preface this review with the important information that I have absolutely no prior knowledge of Glenn Beck. I have never listened to him. I've never seen him on TV. I could pick him out of a line up only because he puts his face on most of his book covers. I don't really know anything about him except that he is controversial and talks about politics. That's it.
So, that being said, I think I can be pretty unbiased and More...
Sep 21, 2010
Devin
rated it:
A shameless piece of propaganda utilizes the protagonists dialogue and thoughts to present Beck's warped view of the world, which is incompatable with anything in the realm of rhyme or reason. Besides comparing Bill Ayers with Osama Bin Laden and accusing the government of infiltrating ONLY conservative groups, while ommiting the well-known fact of government infiltration into such groups as GreenPeace, Beck paints a propagandic picture of the world, ensuring that the readers will either put it
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Sep 01, 2010
Byuboston
rated it:
This book wasn't really good... at all. I have liked some of Glenn's other books, but this one just tanked. First of all, it was an attempt for Glenn to share some of his personal feelings about the government, and to try and show his audience both his opinions and the opinions of his critics. These opinions took up most of the text of the book. And many times the opinions he wanted to share weren't placed well within the context of the characters' discussions.
Something I have notice More...
Something I have notice More...
May 14, 2011
Lanny
rated it:
This book is an accurate representation of Glenn Beck's strengths and weaknesses. Beck is excellent at pointing out America' hypocrisy and problems. At least the first part of his story feels real because so much of it is at least somewhat true. At first, it really doesn't feel that far fetched.
I had two main problems with this book: I thought some of the writing was pretty lame, honestly. For instance, he allow all the main characters monologues so that you can see just how evil More...
I had two main problems with this book: I thought some of the writing was pretty lame, honestly. For instance, he allow all the main characters monologues so that you can see just how evil More...
