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The Overton Window

3.43 of 5 stars 3.43 · rating details · 3,137 ratings · 709 reviews

A plan to destroy America, a hundred years in the making, is about to be unleashed . . . can it be stopped? There is a powerful technique called the Overton Window that can shape our lives, our laws, and our future. It works by manipulating public perception so that ideas previously thought of as radical begin to seem acceptable over time. Move the Window and you change th...more A plan to destroy America, a hundred years in the making, is about to be unleashed . . . can it be stopped? There is a powerful technique called the Overton Window that can shape our lives, our laws, and our future. It works by manipulating public perception so that ideas previously thought of as radical begin to seem acceptable over time. Move the Window and you change the debate. Change the debate and you change the country.

For Noah Gardner, a twentysomething public relations executive, it’s safe to say that political theory is the furthest thing from his mind. Smart, single, handsome, and insulated from the world’s problems by the wealth and power of his father, Noah is far more concerned about the future of his social life than the future of his country.

But all of that changes when Noah meets Molly Ross, a woman who is consumed by the knowledge that the America we know is about to be lost forever. She and her group of patriots have vowed to remember the past and fight for the future—but Noah, convinced they’re just misguided conspiracy-theorists, isn’t interested in lending his considerable skills to their cause.

And then the world changes.

An unprecedented attack on U.S. soil shakes the country to the core and puts into motion a frightening plan, decades in the making, to transform America and demonize all those who stand in the way. Amidst the chaos, many don’t know the difference between conspiracy theory and conspiracy fact—or, more important, which side to fight for.

But for Noah, the choice is clear: Exposing the plan, and revealing the conspirators behind it, is the only way to save both the woman he loves and the individual freedoms he once took for granted.

After five back-to-back #1 New York Times bestsellers, national radio and Fox News television host Glenn Beck has delivered a ripped-from-the-headlines thriller that seamlessly weaves together American history, frightening facts about our present condition, and a heart-stopping plot. The Overton Window will educate, enlighten, and, most important, entertain—with twists and revelations

no one will see coming.(less)

ebook, 336 pages

Published June 15th 2010 by Threshold Editions (first published January 1st 2010)

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Jul 14, 2010 Ellen rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: novel

“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 commenter on GR yester...more

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Mar 08, 2011 Cathy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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's...more

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Aug 26, 2011 Marvin rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: conspiracy lovers with less than a fifth grade education.

Recommended to Marvin by: Glenn Beck. He looked directly through the TV screen and said "Please buy this".

Shelves: kindle

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 Darkness. Be that as it may, the trick for the...more 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 Darkness. Be that as it may, the trick for the book reviewer is how to review a book that is the stated author's ideas but not his actual printed words. My solution is to separate the writing and the ideas.

The writing...

You think that with all Beck's money he could have bought better writers. The first thing that shouts at you is an overwrought cartoon style of prose. Descriptions like "liberated chestnut curls framed a handsome face made twice as radiant by the mysteries surely waiting just behind those light green eyes" and a sexually charged moment that include the phrase "Don't tease the panther" (It works for me in those pick-up bars...not!) represent the highlight of literary prose in this book. Basically, it makes Dan Brown look like John LeCarre but mercifully not so excruciatingly painful as the Left Behind series.

The plot, what there is of it, isn't much better. A powerful group of goverment leaders and evil corporation types are planning to detonate a nuclear bomb and attribute it to well-meaning tea partiers and defenders of the constitution in order to create a world-wide Fascist government. Our hero Noah Gardner, the son of the main conspirator, discovers this and attempts to foil the plot. Not really. He's too busy being smitten by the beauty of Molly (the one who is teasing the panther) and being drugged up and waterboarded to really do anything. Frankly, nothing much happens. There is a murder in the first 10 ten pages of the book that is simply dropped. The rare action is all anti-climatic as is the ending. (Hint: watch for a sequel) The "plot" is simply a way to tie in a bunch of lectures that illustrates Beck's ideas. Even this was accomplished much better by Ayn Rand. So on with...

The ideas. Well, It's Glenn Beck. Yes, I've read Beck's non-fiction books and I would recommend them over this if you wish to get a sampling of where he is coming from. I'm not going to dissect his philosophy except to say he tends to an extreme libertarian viewpoint and is an expert as selecting facts out of history, and out of context, to support even the oddest conclusions like net neutrality is a plot to take away your freedom of speech.. The ideas expressed in The Overton Window seems a bit muddled at times. After all, we're talking about a plot to destroy the constitution that started with Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Since he throws in the ACLU, corporations that sell bottled water, and every world leader, "Them" seems to be rather all-inclusive. The bottom line is that Beck is preaching to the choir with this novel. It won't change anyone's mind. Beck fans will love it and Beck haters will hate it. Again, dubiously comparing it to Ayn Rands' novels of ideas like Atlas Shrugged, at least Rand makes you think. Beck lovers will nod their heads and say "See. I told you" while the rest of us place the book in the recycle bin and beg for another book by... well...anyone... even Dan Brown or Ayn Rand!

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Aug 05, 2011 John Harder added it

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 wo...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Jason Mccool added it · review of another edition

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 like some oth...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Spencer Roesch rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Overton Window by Glenn Beck, is a thriller novel about a journalist names Noah who has no interest in politics. He meets up with a woman, Molly who tries to get Noah to publish a story about a 100 year plot to take away freedoms in America. Despite the fact that Noah likes Molly, he thinks she is a crazy conspiracy theorist who is just scared of government. That changes when an unprecedented terrorist attack on the U.S. which makes 9/11 look like a walk in the park. Following this attack ma...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Marcio Scheibler rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

O livro puxa muito mais para o lado da reflexão do que da ação. Mostra detalhes do que acontece “debaixo dos panos”, principalmente nas partes política e econômica. Trechos de maior movimentação na obra acontecem com mais gás no último terço do texto.

A expressão “Janela de Overton” registra como pensa a maioria da sociedade num dado momento sobre um determinado assunto. As posições, claro, variam do absolutamente contra ao absolutamente a favor. Para se deslocar essa janela de um lado para o out...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Matthew Herring rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Glenn Beck is no Ayn Rand. Well, his ideas are very much in the same vein, but his paid ghost writers are nowhere near the level of a decent thriller writer, say a Patterson, Coben, or Cornwell. The plot is just an excuse to string sermons on the horrors of large government together. And while it tries to weave in enough action to keep it interesting, it mostly stalls out and returns to the preaching before anything of worth can happen. This is what happens when you try to shoehorn a story aroun...more

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May 21, 2011 Craig Meads rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 doubt there'...more

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Feb 26, 2011 Christina rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: booksquirm-book-club, adult-fiction

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 the psychological field would rea...more

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Feb 25, 2011 Mac rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 u...more

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Oct 20, 2010 Elizabeth rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 old in his fir...more 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 old in his first Oscar winning role at the school assembly.

That being said, this book is awful. To call it a thriller is really stretching the word. It’s choppy, lacks a fundamental central plot that actually moves, has incredibly static stereotypical characters, one wishy-washy main foil who’s supposed to make you think but really just comes across as a patsy, and contains way too many ripped-from-the-headlines-while-in-buddy-cop movie moments, not to mention that it is horribly edited. (‘Law and Order’ has the patent on being derivative of itself.). And on the very long list of military, conspiracy, and political thrillers I’ve read feels like it was written by committee in an ‘Intro to Fiction Writing’ Discover Center class. It’s actually offensive to call it a thriller.

It’s clear that the only reason that this was published is that it was written by Glenn Beck. Without his name attached, this would have never been published. What boggles my mind is that it’s been so persistent on the best seller list. Regardless of your politics, a good political thriller can be appreciated by any political view, but this leaves me slackjawed. Even the open ending - ON A THRILLER- left me wanting to punch a wall. Mr. Beck, these were a very lazy 336 pages for a man who can spout the equivalent words in a day and be more interesting.

So where’s the good stuff? Beck does pull inspiration from a wide-scope of news articles, government published documents and historical writings. His intent to try to get the average person to think about how a few behind the shadows fringe groups are (potentially) influencing the direction of America (you decide) gets made, but again at the failing of a decent story and clear plot line. And while, yeah, you made your point, you can have written a much better book with the same content if you edited, provided a more interesting main character who wasn’t just a talky mouth piece, or changed the format to a Socratic chapter-by-chapter questioning of different aspects of the documents you cite. Adding the flavor without the layered substance makes for a poorly presented idea if your goal is to be thought provoking and fact based.

Beck has a clearer voice in his radio and TV programs when he’s off the cuff than what was presented here. Good for him for trying. Bad for him that he foisted on the public what clearly is a rambling first draft that should have been refined. If part of your goal is to teach by example, here you’re shooting yourself in the foot by communicating to the world that a name and some fast, poorly written fiction with jumbled ideas is exactly what the Founding Fathers had hoped for in the future and potential of America that you so often revere and expound.

Also, to the thriller authors who supplied review blurbs for the dust jacket: I respect your writing, but you need to stop having your agent and PR people submit these quotes. You obviously did not read the book.
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Oct 16, 2010 Doreen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 9/11 rumors of ou...more

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Sep 23, 2010 goddess rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

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 Noah and he keeps...more

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Sep 22, 2010 Kristina rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: People who need a good laugh.

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 and viewing Beck as a righ...more

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Sep 10, 2010 Mary Verdick rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 not intere...more

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Aug 26, 2010 Wayne Wilson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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. I was in...more 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. I was inspired by these words and I came to a realization that I have not been the best citizen of the USA. I have let my own feelings of frustration and maybe fear of being ostracized by my liberal friends keep me mostly silent as our country has moved further and further from the ideals of our Founders.

I am resolved to no longer sit silent when I hear my friends and relatives promote their progressive ideas. I must be willing to sacrifice popularity and friendship for freedom.

I liked the fact Beck doesn't blame the democrats for all the problems nor are the bad guys given some party designation. In fact Beck goes after Bush's policies with more venom than Obama's policies. The bad guys are all the politicians who have sold their souls for power and reelection. One stunning statistic quoted in the book is that congress has a 15% approval rating, yet a 90% of congress are reelected. This points directly to us the voters who think some other state's senator is doing a terrible job but ours is really serving us well by getting us all that federal money. It is this short sighted thinking by the electorate that has given us politicians who have no honor.

In the end I have come to the conclusion that it is mine and each of us that have lost our honor. We no longer take the long view of what is best for the future we are selling our souls for the quick fix. We are not willing to sacrifice our own comforts to help insure the comforts of our children and generations to come.

Loved the book.(less)

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Aug 22, 2010 Doran Barton rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 story arc is pretty straig...more

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Aug 20, 2010 T. Edmund rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 decision to do this as obvi...more 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 decision to do this as obviously any non-fans will likely just get more annoyed (judging from my reaction) and fans don’t need any encouragement, and generally speaking, even if it is in a foreword an author must be cautious with what material they present within their product. Beck’s apologetic introduction succeeds only at reminding us that he is a political commentator with what many consider extreme (if only in irritation value) views and not in fact a fiction author.

Anyway once you get past the foreword we get onto the real fiction. Beck spins a tale of Noah, the son of a Public Relation’s trillionaire who stumbles into a relationship with a rebellious, maybe terrorist, activist.

Beck doesn’t do too bad with this tale – the tension formed by Noah being caught between his scheming father and revolutionary girlfriend is well done, that’s even with the worst dialogue since the 80’s. While it is fairly clear in Beck’s writing that Noah’s father is the villain, there is also good drama in trying to determine whether Noah’s GF is on the side of right, or at least actually interested in Noah beyond manipulating him for personal gain.

Not too shockingly there are many downsides to Beck’s novel. To say his prose was stilted would be like saying Edmond’s Cookbook lacked flair – Glenn takes American plain-speak to another level (perhaps appealing to his fans again). Gunfire is described as sounding like a paper bag being popped too close, everyday incidence is used as comparison in analogies and by far too much of the story was told in summary rather than really happening to our main character.

In terms of plot – Overton Window could have been a short story if you cut all the political ranting out (you could probably just insert links to Glenn’s youtube and get the same dialogue), it was pretty obvious Beck was trying to reach Orwellian 1984 greatness, especially with his “the enemy won, but we fight on” feel good ending but ultimately the plot felt to unlikely, too exaggerated, and with two pointless characters thrown in like forgotten edit outs.

Overall Overton was better than I expected – while much of the premise was ridiculous, and some scenes like when Noah's love interest pretends to be Natalie Portman were similarily stupid, there weren’t quite as many caricatures as I predicted there would be and there was some genuine drama in the plot. Reading the book didn’t leave me wanting to claw my eyes out. (why I am risking my eyes by reading such books? Don’t ask)

Still the book is an absolute hack job of writing – fair enough, if I already had fame I would capitalise on it through writing, I might take a couple of courses first though... (less)

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Jul 31, 2010 Bigmg rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 areas of complete madnes...more

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Dec 10, 2010 Chrissy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 than under the thumb...more

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Jun 27, 2010 Matt rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, thriller

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 unthinkable....more

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Aug 14, 2010 Rhonda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010

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.

Favorite Quotes:

Mol...more

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Sep 01, 2010 Pamela rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 character d...more

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Aug 28, 2010 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 and public organi...more

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Jul 26, 2010 S rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 “fac...more 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 “faction.” Beck defines books in this literary category as “completely fictional books with plots rooted in fact.” As I read the novel, I attempted to analyze which parts of it were based in fact and which were creatively imagined. At times, which turned out to be a self-imposed annoyance, I tried to figure out what Beck personally believed to be the truth. Due to these analysis attempts, I often was dragged out of the fictional world created by the novel and forced to determine whether Beck was trying to convince readers that this was the truth or whether he was trying to poke fun at people that thought this way. Even though this was annoying at times, it illustrates that Beck wrote the novel so objectively that he should be applauded. He did not present his views such that one side appears completely righteous and the other side appears as total lunatics.

The Overton Window was on my recently created To Read list. I decided that it would be the next book to read because I wanted to finish a novel while on vacation. I am a slow reader and the page count in this book was lower than the other novels on my list. It turned out to be a good choice although I did not wind up finishing it entirely while on vacation. As I said, I’m a slow reader. I saw some comments from other readers complaining that the book was too short for them. It turned out not to be too short for me. Although, I can easily see why others would say it was too short. It seemed that the Prologue, Epilogue, and Afterword were included to act as filler so that the book would be marketable as a standalone novel. The Afterword itself, where Beck lays out some of his source material, was about ten percent of the overall length of the book. The bit devoted to the story seemed short relative to the book as a whole.

The novel portion of the book is somewhat sophomorically written but it does present some things to really think about. The plot is decent and there are some twists and turns, even though they may be run of the mill in design. The character development however was lacking. Beck winds up explaining why his characters are behaving certain ways or why they hold their beliefs instead of showing us. Overall, though, I did like the book. And I would recommend it for a quick read, as long as you read faster than I do.

How fast do you read?(less)

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Jul 08, 2010 Jennifer rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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...more

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Jul 19, 2010 Richelle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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-dimensional ste...more

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Jul 13, 2010 Eznark rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. It's a terribly written book about a terribly stupid terrorist plot (masterminded by a PR firm) foiled by a terribly stupid protagonist (the PR dudes son, of course). The writing is really bad, the dialog is hilariously atrocious and the ending...doesn't exist. I imagine the sequel will be out by November as there is no conclusion. It's about as deep and thoughtful as a single episode of a bad conspiracy TV show.

That said, he does accomplish a few things and it's clear that these were the reason...more

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Mar 01, 2011 Jamie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: general-fiction

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 evaluate this book as a...more 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 evaluate this book as a book, and not as a reflection of the man himself or his ideas.

This book is supposedly a thriller, but it's really not that thrilling at all. It's a mildly entertaining (until the end) story of the son of a big shot PR billionaire who gets entangled with a group of people intent on overthrowing the corrupt government through terrorism. The book seems to present two absolute extremes--those who further the corruption of America for the almighty dollar, and those who would go to any violent means necessary to return the country to its former glory.

I actually really liked the first third or so of this book, but then I lost a lot of interest when the plot got farfetched and/or boring. It didn't seem to go anywhere. The introduction painted this story as something that would make you afraid to read it, that somehow the ideas presented in the book conveyed a horror so close to real life people would fear for their country. I was excited to read it, and disappointed when nothing of the sort was actually in the book. The groundbreaking idea wasn't there. What *was* there was a so so novel that left me scratching my head. If you read the blurb on the dust jacket, everything it uses to draw you into reading the book actually occurs in the last three chapters. It's not even really the focus of the book. The book seemed to highlight the relationship between the two main characters way more than anything else.

The ending was lame, simply put. It wasn't that thrilling and was actually kind of sad. It didn't inspire me to action, or lead me toward an ideal.

The idea of the "overton window" was interesting--that people can be nudged subtly toward a previously unthinkable point by making slow and steady progress with current conceptions of extremes. I think this does happen in real life.

Overall...meh.(less)

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About Glenn Beck

Glenn Edward Lee Beck is one of America's leading radio and television personalities. His quick wit, candid opinions and engaging personality have made The Glenn Beck Program the third highest rated radio program in America and Glenn Beck, one of the most successful new shows on the Fox News Channel. His unique blend of modern-day storytelling and insightful views on current events allowed him to...more

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An Inconvenient Book: Real Solutions to the World's Biggest Problems

Arguing with Idiots: How to Stop Small Minds and Big Government

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