Rating: 
Summary: A reality check on freedom
Review: John Stossel is known for his "in your face" reporting.
Everything was fine until he decided to look, not only in the private sector, but into the government sector as well. since then he has become, in the eyes of many, a biased reporter, a reporter who alter the truth for his own gain, or for some political agenda.
After listening to this book I learned that we are living in a fake sense of freedom, when actually, our lives are controled by a government that is taking care of it's own in the expense of the little people.
The book makes you laugh and outraged almost at the same time, it is written the same way Stossel does his t.v. reporting.
I highly recomend this book for anyone who wants to know what's really going on around us.
Rating:
Summary: Gimme some MORE!
Review: This is a thoroughly enjoyable book, in the PJ O'Rourke tradition that humor is the best medicine (the only at the moment!?) for the hilarious horrors and pitfalls of being, well, "governed". H.L. Mencken once said democracy is the worship of jackals by jackasses, and John Stossel has located a hell of a lot of both, it seems, looking to the marble walls of Washington for answers to life's not-so-funny questions.Not that we've never heard these accusations of the stupidity and vulgar complacency of modern "government" by other people than ABCs John Stossel. The Libertarians have warned for over 50 years that a day would come when, after treating liberal ideas about government being some kind of "fix all" as "just so" methods to help with every woe and misfortune in the world, the payday for all this largess would come back to haunt. Both for personal freedom and our wallets. And as many before Stossel pointed out, like the much-derided (in the universities, not in real life) Classical Economists, the bills are high--more than was squeezed from Middle Age peasants and a lot less value to our industries, our safety, and self-respect at that. If paradise on Earth is not to be found at upwards of 40% of the GNP gobbled by local, state and Federal taxes, Nirvana is simply not to be had. Stossel wonders aloud why hardheads in government at all levels don't get the message that our civilization might function better with LESS government grinding around in the wheels of our industry and lives rather than more. Instinctively, we know that government is not to be some kind of giant pinata, ready to burst open from majoritarian pressures to supposedly yield answers on everything from Cosmic Justice among the sexes and the workplace, "free" healthcare and other fantasies--all the way to what happens when hot coffee hits the groin while driving. So it goes. But, I like Stossel's book because he does a masterful job at organizing for our viewing pleasure (and humor) merely SOME of the most glaring trends in government interference and utter (deliberate!?) incompetence in government, in what my wife and I have always called "governance by deliberate skullduggery".
Whether 300K buck outhouses or salting your turnips, Nanny government has an answer you won't like but must accept. Or ELSE. In other words, either out of malice, or incompetence, or just plain ideological skullduggery to some ancient fatuous (mostly liberal) notions about the malleability of human nature, government is still trying to win our hearts by picking our pockets. Ever promising, further, the good times are just around the corner without worrying about nuisances like jobs, personal responsibility, accountability, and not cradling hot java between your legs. Perhaps its not eather or, but all the above. Ideology and malice and incompetence are, after all, powerful antidotes to common sense. I wish Stossel had spent a little more time on WHY he thinks government behaves this way and why so many people are throwing verbal brick bats at him, demanding this and that along with his termination from ABC, etc. But one step at a time. Stossel does hint that it is mostly UNenlightened self-interest of a dirty type (speaking of "greed") that keeps many politicians and lawyers and their pundits busy making rules for the rest of us and making owning a business a personal journey into the Abyss. Stossel recounts the days when he was actually hailed as a hero in the old muckraking sense by men like Ralph Nader, only to later catch absolute hell for piddling errors like the episode with so-called "organic" veggies, etc, etc. No one thought of him as amateur then when at the same time he stuck his arms in lions mouths and other gags to keep ratings flowing. What was of interest to me at the time I first read the book (twice by now) was not so much his arguments with the predictable loonies over the fate of mother earth, the indocrination of schoolkids with hateful and bizarre rhetoric about greenhouse baloney, or even the maddening support the rich tophat lawyers give and GET from big government and all their tobacco tears along with corporate jets, etc. Rather, it was the sudden shift in attitude some big government and bureacracy workers and their many supporters in the environmental and legal realms took (the Left especially) when he shifted his critical lenses from small time jewelry hucksters to the hallowed halls of big time government. Stossel's book also demonstrates, via his crucifiction among "mainstream" publications (and their calls for his utter torment for small mistakes and his attacks on the machinery of government), that it is after all NOT an uban legend that the major media are generally liberal. They most certainly ARE judging from their silence on the topics he brings up, and their responses to his attacks on their favorite governmental heros. As well as their more droll notions about what it means to truly be a ..."progressive."
The major media hide behind thin veils of alleged 'objectivity', call themselves moderates, and label anything that favors open markets and freedom-preaching as being "right wing." Ditto the universities and liberal feminists whom he tried to get an audience with only to find them holding to laughable notions about gender, etc. Or course, then there are the Phunny Pharm Far Left organizations that sing paeans to objectivity and "fairness and accuracy in reporting" that Stossel pointed out do nothing of the kind when the truth really needs to be tested on the grindstone. Thus for example FAIR, the avuncular Bill Moyers' TomPaine.com, and The Nation all took pedantic cheapshots at Stossel over a hippy-dippy organic food flap and testing for bacteria and pesticides. Not really so much over minor errors on something as goofy as Organic Foods containing "no" or "little" pesticides(Stossel explained the error between himself and the staff that was to do the testing), but rather the TRUTH that Organic foods are overall, NOT healther than ones raised on the large industrial farms (and they are not, as any real epidemiologist can tell you). My, the magical powers of illumination cast upon politicians'and pundits blank or evasive responses, before the camera's unforgiving eye.
Rating: 
Summary: Give Me a Break = Good Sense
Review: "Give Me a Break" is a great book, right in line with his reporting. Essentially, most of the points in his book are just plain good sense, that are unfortunately not common sense. Stossel covers our regulatory burden, our crippling legal system, junk science and the media (including himself) that promotes it, government using eminent domain to steal people's land, and the government's inability to help the poor. Instead he promotes the will of the free market, "looser pays" lawsuit reform, and the common sense of judging risk versus reward, rather than just focusing on the risk. Don't get caught thinking Stossel is just another limited-government Conservative. "Give Me a Break" promotes not only economic freedom, but social freedom as well. Stossel also criticises the war on drugs, prostitution, homosexuality, and other "vices", instead proclaiming that what we do with our own bodies is our own business. If I'm not hurting you, what right have you to imprison me it? He also points out the additional crime created by forcing several of these activities underground into the black market. Just as the prohibition created Al Capone's bootlegging empire, the war on drugs has given street gangs a lucreative enterprise. While few of these problems are new to me (the reason for 4 stars, rather than 5), I will definitely tune in to 20/20 more often. I also intend to immediatly start loaning "Give Me a Break" to friends and family members. Hopefully his examples, drawn from the 30 years of research in his journalism career, can help open their eyes to the need for smaller government, and more freedom and personal responsibility. If you hate capitalism, are looking for deep pockets to sue, live off the government dole, consider yourself a victim and milk it for all it's worth, or are a lawyer of the ambulance-chaser variety, you probably won't like this book.
Rating:
Summary: spectacular common sense
Review: Everything that has earned Stossel his place of respect among the myriad of television voices has been stated clearly and cleverly. A great read, can't put it down, don't want it to end!
Rating:
Summary: fun stuff
Review: a largely entertaining and casual romp through the corridors of irony within popular culture and government, delivered with charm and humor by one of the most loved libertarian commentators around. Fun reading!
Rating:
Summary: Stossel says -"get real!"
Review: Iconoclast Stossel takes aim at mediocre journalistic crutches. The assumption that lawyers and government officials have unbiased information is unchallenged by reporters all too often. Reporters are the "tools" of activist or the self-interested in these roles.
His favorite target is that government and its regulations can make things better than the market forces working on the same problem. He admits that limited governmental regulations are a necessity but the massive intrusion into everyday life by big brother (particularly during Democratic administrations) creates unwelcome drag on our liberty and pursuit of happiness. The junk science used by fear mongers will amaze you if you analyze it objectively (going past the sound bite). The popular web site junkscience^com, that has Stossel's book prominently featured, that has a long history of tracking the wackos out to affect what you can and cannot do. Take as example the anti-nuke radical that wants smoke detectors outlawed because of a trace radioactive element that it employs. There is a great satire of these wackos at dhmo^org where common water is made to sound sinister.
It is doubtful that Stossel will have the effect he might wish for in this tome. The entrenched interests that exist in a media driven by ratings will be difficult to change. It is interesting that he is most critical of Dan Rather the anchor of a rival network.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining but not thoroughly thought out!
Review: This book presents interesting and thought provoking ideas; however, it's also conclusory. Stossel doesn't present anything a thorough or skeptical researcher doesn't already know. Stossel makes numerous assertions about the deficiencies of big government and how he has finally seen the light (e.g. epiphany). However, the same mistakes Stossel claims he made in forming his past media driven views are made in forming these new assertions. For example, crack cocaine doesn't exclusively affect newborn babies because scientists can't rule out other things like alcohol abuse. And Congress almost gave away millions of dollars for fluke cold fusion research, but the scientific community effectively intervened without invitation. Overall, the book was entertaining, but based on Stossel logic he could very well change his mind and form new opinions once he has time to reflect. Stossel takes the same journalistic approach he criticizes (i.e. my 1st conclusion is my best), and runs with it. I suspect when Stossel reflects on the conclusion put forth in "Give Me a Break," the same further inquirey and law of unintended consequences that changed his mind the first time will change it again.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT JOURNEY
Review: John Stossel specials were a major point in steering me more towards the Libertarian point of view. The first one was "Are We Scaring Ourselves to Death?" Since then, I made a point to try and catch all his specials.
Ten years later, Stossel's book reiterates his positions.
I find my own journey similar to his. As a former newspaper reporter, I, too, thought government, lawyers, and safety regulations were there to protect us from unscrupulous corporations.
Far be it from me to agree with everything Stossel promotes through his news specials and Give Me a Break segments. His points on prostitution and homosexuality are points I disagree. And while I agree that many drug laws need to be re-written, legalizing drugs will not eliminate the drug problems.
However, the older I get, the more I agree on how government agencies do not provide adequate protection for people. The older I get, the more I resent the idea government officials and lawyers "protecting" me and "deciding" what is best for me.
I see, for the most part, markets work better to stop bad products, and provide help for people. Private companies, on average, do better work than government workers.
Stossel boldy takes a maverick, iconclastic approach to journalism, much to the chagrin of his associates. That is the only reason people hate him.
Still, the book has its flaws. Sossel does not go very long on the Free Speech chapter. This is probably the most sacred of Amendments, and he does not elaborate on its importance.
The only other flaw is that the book mostly repeats many of the findings Stossel already has presented on many of his news pieces and specials. I wish he would have elaborated on more findings.
Still, this is a good read that hopefully will not just preach to the choir--but hopefully find new converts.
Rating:
Summary: media bias? us?!? heck, no!!
Review: oh, the book's ok. not great, not wretched, just stossel telling his stories. chances are, the closer you are to the "libertarian" end of the political spectrum, the better you'll like the book. but as to that ol' "media bias" thing.....if you'll notice, on amazon's 'opening page' of the book, the review from publishers weekly is included. using the words "the conservative bernard goldberg". (the guy who wrote "bias") in "bias", goldberg tells us that HE'S NEVER VOTED FOR A REPUBLICAN FOR PRESIDENT. but because he dares criticize the media, goldberg is described as a "conservative". interesting.....and maybe stossel's onto something, eh?
Rating: 
Summary: Haven't I heard this before?
Review: "Give Me a Break" is just Stossel using what he learned in the book "Culture of Fear" (written several years earlier) and Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine and rewriting it to make a fast buck. Stossel points a finger at the sensationalistic media, but he engages in the same crap himself. I first learned of Stossel when I saw his report entitled "The Trouble with Lawyers." Since Stossel had been sued by someone and had to hire legal counsel to defend himself, he decided to paint all attorneys with the same, "they make millions of dollars off of the pain of their clients" brush using class action attorneys as the sole support for his position. Yet, he failed to mention the hundreds of thousands of attorneys working for legal aid societies, public defenders offices, and other not-for-profits on modest salaries, or the attorneys who spend their time assisting children as guardians or helping do estate planning for families with disabled children. If you want to get the information which is of value in this book, without all of the self-aggrandizing Stosselisms, you should read "Culture of Fear" instead.
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