A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity
by Bill O'Reilly
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Book Summary Information
Author: Bill O'ReillyBrand: Random House
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-09-23
ISBN: 0767928822
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Broadway Books
Book Reviews of A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity
Book Review: Bill as an inspiration?
Summary: 5 Stars
"If they hate you, they will watch you" - Bill O'Reilly, wittily looking back to his childhood, talked about his father watching a news anchor he couldn't stand, regardless his father watched the show EVERY NIGHT.
My sister and I drove up to Richard Nixon's library in Orange County to hear Bill O'Reilly speak about his new best seller A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity. It was my first time at Nixon's library and it felt mysterious to be in Yorba Linda, because I find President Nixon the most compelling character that ever lived in the White House. Prior to entering the White House East room where the event was held, the women behind us pointed out that my sister and I were the only people under 40 and we all shared a good laugh. With an hour to spare, we reserved our seats and received our books. The crowd was very much what I expected, upper middle class, over 40, conservative, and yes they were very pleasant folks. There wasn't much to do so I immediately started reading the book. A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity is truly a funny and easy read, nothing philosophical or scholarly about it or O'Reilly. In his book, O'reilly admits himself, "If you know my work, you might have figured out that I am not a philosopher or a dreamer." At seven p.m on the dot, Bill finally emerged. Fans stood up and enthusiastically cheered him strolling through the crowd. Bill towered over the podium and spent the hour briefly talking about his book, politics, mocking Larry King and other Networks and of course bloviating about him self. Oh Billard... :) I noticed, there were a couple of times Bill was lobbying for FOX when he pocked fun of CNN and MSNBC credibility. I didn't expect him to be so hilarious. He said that despite the number of individuals that disdain him, 90% of the people he meets are respectful. There are times, however, when he encounters some "loonies." He spoke about one occasion when he was walking down the streets of New York and some lady creeps to him and says "how do you sleep at night?" and he goes, "I take a lot of pills" and kept on walking. His message was, don't mind what people think of you and keep doing your own thing. I found him far more entertaining in person. He was very animated, his body language, parlance, jokes synced with the same Bill O'Reilly on The Factor show that I can't get enough of. Bill also prophesied on the next Administration. He expressed his concerns and joked about Obama closing down Guantánamo bay detention camp, requirement of the CIA to abide the Army Field Manual during the interrogation, and extra being careful about NOT making detainees uncomfortable in any way. He went on defending U.S foreign policy vs. France foreign policy; simultaneously, scorning French for accusing us of being too "harsh" with the detainees, when they lock up their own prisoners for a month without a trial. I found this particularly interesting and I plan on investigating this further. Overall, I definitely think it was worth coming down to hear him speak and see him in person. Although I disagree with Bill almost 70% of the time, his view and "interpretation" of the world, if you will, he brings an interesting and vital side to my views and I admit his traditional values keeps me in check. After all, America was built on conservative beliefs and perhaps that's the reason I live in the greatest country on earth. Regardless of what of many foreign critics assert about Americans, we are very compassionate, tolerant and open minded humans. And like I always say, progress is achieved with a clash of ideas. So don't get stuck on just one side of the tracks.
A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity: I'm was almost half way through the book and I couldn't put it down. I thought I would never say that but Bill O'Reilly is a such an inspiration, specifically when he talks about FEAR. This is no doubt his best section in the book. Not to mention, the book is so humorous, it is rare that I find any memoir interesting or funny. In fact, most of them tend to be self-centered, of course, Bill likes to compliment himself as well but he does in such cleaver, witty way, I couldn't roll my eyes once ;). His writing style is injected with sarcasm, something I always admire a writer for and try to implement in my own writing. This book helped me understand how O'Reill's world view was shaped. Sister Mary Lurana takes all the blame. Importantly however, I learned more about the origins of true conservative values, I can't promise that I would subscribe to similar views but it had literally expanded my mind. As I was reading this book, I kept going back to my notes and adding thoughts on Bill himself, the book, and conservatism in general. A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity seems to be written so effortlessly yet it's truly an up-lifting read. I feel really embarrassed for saying this, but prior to reading this memoir and attending his event, I thought of conservatives as these outdated, ancient people who impede societal progress. And similar could be said about Bill, I just echoed everyone else's thoughts of him with out bothering to research his persona, how I underestimated. I can't stress enough the importance to 1. rely on yourself and do your own research, especially if you're going to judge someone & 2. understand opposing viewpoints. The further I read the more eager I became about putting O'Reilly on my "hero list." (yes I do have that list - not in physical form of course). Trough out the book he relentlessly recalls the 60's and his disciplined position on drugs and alcohol. I was impressed and I myself take a similar stance. There a lot of things being said about Bill O'Reilly and every one of those things were sort of debunked for me tonight.
Very interesting book, worth the buck!
Summary of A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity
The year was 1957, the month September, and I had just turned eight years old. Dwight Eisenhower was President, but in my life it was the diminutive, intense Sister Mary Lurana who ruled, at least in the third-grade class where I was held captive. For reasons you will soon understand, my parents had remanded me to the penal institution of St. Brigid?s School in Westbury, New York, a cruel and unusual punishment if there ever was one.
Already, I had barely survived my first two years at St. Brigid?s because I was, well, a little nitwit. Not satisfied with memorizing the Baltimore Catechism?s fine prose, which featured passages like ?God made me to show his goodness and to make me happy with him in heaven,? I was constantly annoying my classmates and, of course, the no-nonsense Sister Lurana. With sixty overactive students in her class, she was understandably short on patience. For survival, she had also become quick on the draw.
Then it happened. One day I blurted out some dumb remark, and Sister Lurana was on me like a panther. Her black habit blocked out all distractions as she leaned down, looked me in the eye, and uttered words I have never forgotten: ?William, you are a bold, fresh piece of humanity.?
And she was dead-on.
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 issues-based memoir.
And this time it?s personal. In his most intimate book yet, O?Reilly goes back in time to examine the people, places, and experiences that launched him on his journey from working-class kid to immensely influential television personality and bestselling author. Readers will learn how his traditional outlook was formed in the crucible of his family, his neighborhood, his church, and his schools, and how his views on America?s proper role in the world emerged from covering four wars on five continents over three-plus decades as a news correspondent. What will delight his numerous fans and surprise many others is the humor and self-deprecation with which he handles one of his core subjects: himself, and just how O?Reilly became O?Reilly.
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