Pinheads and Patriots: Where You Stand in the Age of Obama

Boring. I’ve wondered what makes Bill O’Reilly appealing and why he has become popular. After reading his book, Pinheads and Patriots, I’m beginning to understand. He judges and divides every person and issue in ways that can entertain and come across so definitively that any middle ground or gray area evaporates. One is either a pinhead or a patriot. That seems to play well to our divided society, especially along political lines. While behaving as a bombastic bully, he pretends to reflect the perspective of real Americans in a fair and balanced way. For those who agree with him, O’Reilly is an articulate spokesperson for their opinions. For those who disagree with him, he can raise one’s blood pressure with his rhetoric. Those fans of his show may not find much new on these pages; curious readers will find some insight into the author and his views, and those who disagree with him will probably not pick up this book. Overall, I found the book boring; without hearing the author’s voice, the words fall a bit flat on the page, reminding me that above all, O’Reilly is a showman who demands to be heard. When one can read his words slowly, there’s not much to think about, and his authority comes not from insight or perspective, but from having a soapbox in prime time.

Rating: Two-star (Mildly Recommended)
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