Give Me a Break : How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media...

Rating:
Summary: Stossel goes beyond typical right-wing claptrap
Review: Even if you disagree with Stossel's libertarian viewpoints, it is refreshing to see someone from a non-mainstream ideological spectrum get as much air-time and ink as Stossel. Stossel doesn't just go after the typical liberal TV straw men (though he does a fair amount of that), he also goes after big business leaders and other fat cats who rarely get questioned by American media.

Rating:
Summary: Sing it Stossel
Review: In this audiobook, John Stossel masterfully reads his work "Give Me a Break," the title being based on his series of segments for the ABC newsmagazine "20/20." However, there's so much gospel truth in this book that he could sing it if he wanted to. Well, okay, not gospel truth, and Stossel isn't perfect, but at least he's willing to say what he really feels and doesn't kowtow to anybody. He also seems to be willing to acknowledge his mistakes if someone can give him a good argument if he's wrong. He doesn't suffer from what he calls "the conceit of the anointed."

The book begins with Stossel's personal journey --- overcoming stuttering and breaking into news and consumer reporting. I learned some things I was previously only vaguely aware of about Stossel --- mainly his past in consumer reporting before deciding to go after government fraud. He explains the various situations and people he's dealt with, presenting amazing evidence of supreme illogic and stubbornness of some of government's and corruption's most hardened defenders. Included in this audiobook version are actual clips from these segments so you can hear it for yourself.

One of the best parts of this book is when Stossel talks about a time he confronted a third-world dictator. He explains that the segment is available for schools and says that he got letters back saying that he shouldn't have been so rude to this dictator. His response: that he's runing lifes and *somebody* ought to be rude to him. I couldn't agree more and thank goodness Stossel comes from a country that at least somewhat protects those freedoms.

If you've just been reading the main media blah blah blah, then prepare to have your eyes opened. Or, if you don't want to open them, they'll be forced open, assuming you actually pay attention.