A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity

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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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This sceptical statement (hardly compatible with his fanatical endorsement of the Bush regime) is preceeded by a humorous anecdote (not his own but attributed to Theodore Roosevelt) that when members of the congress/senate are addressed they do not know whether they should reply 'here' or 'not guilty'. After all that he had offered his country, that man deserved the chance (more than anyone else)to express his views without being interrupted by his ill-mannered host. Normally people with the surname O'Reilly, like the vast majority of Irish people, are very charming and good mannered. I am quite sure that it is bound to be full of fanaticism and lies. Obviously there should not be too rigid censorship as this is contrary to the spirit of freedom and democray; however, in a democracy people (especially hardworking tax-payers) should be given the freedom to have access to a high quality mass media.

Infact, I was surprised to read about his academic qualifications since when one hears him speak it is not immediately apparent that one is listening to an educated person who speaks the English language correctly. I am surprised that O'Reilly can appreciate the wit of this remark since in his nauseatingly servile reports, he would not have the integrity himself to ever question any governmental atrocities. I did, however, read his brief biography in the Wikipedia site. If O'Reilly has so much violent energy to assault people just because they speak the truth (or to 'harrass' female colleagues)then perhaps he is fit enough to go to Iraq himself. He maintains that he invariably votes for the politician who will do the least damage to the country.

O'Reilly seems so keen on defending the warmongers that he does not care at all for the plight of the heroes serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. In America they are deprived of this. The people are not allowed to hear balanced impartial news and most 'news' must be filtered through the warped perception of warmongering pseudojournalists. Here one can see that, despite his expansionist, dictatorial views, during the Vietnam era, I do not recall reading that he was out there fighting for the country he declares he loves - conveniently he was busy at that time studying.

Yet he is an exception. While he is away his disgustingly overpaid job could be given to someone else more worthy (that is if Fox really want a worthy reporter). In browsing the introduction of Bill O'Reilly's book we are informed about his own supposed criterion for voting. Only by using the internet (and perhaps through satellite TV) can one really find unbiased news that is not twisted by uncouth slobs - who slouch over a desk as they push young men to go off to fight in an unjust war while they themselves 'live the life of '(O')Reilly' in the safety of their overpaid job.It is also sickening to hear the rude way in which he speaks to people who are sometimes the real heroes of the country. I am referring to an interview with a veteran marine (who had served his country for nine years) whom O'Reilly insulted; yet he stood up to his inquisitor's interrogation with dignity. Another young man (whose father was killed in the Twin Towers) was also insulted on another programme and the bullying TV host threatened to beat him physically. There his people would certainly have taught him good manners and what is means to fight for - not against - the oppressed. There is no need during this new economic crisis for his already obscenely high income to be further augmented with royalties from this trashy book.

Apart from the first page (viewable on Amazon) I had no interest in reading more nor wasting money on ordering the book. You would be better off giving the money to a homeless fellow-American on the street. Perhaps he has not spent enough time in that beautiful Emerald Isle of his forefathers. It is sickening in the extreme that a propaganda channel like Fox can operate in what is supposed to be a democratic country. Since he is so in favour of the war, then instead of letting him hide in a TV studio, why don't they give him the chance to go out there himself on the front line in someone else's place.

Bill O'Reilly is true to himself. Honesty is the foundation to living a life worth living. He believes and lives integrity and work ethics also as the support for this foundation in making a difference for yourself and others. An enjoyable read that made me smile.

This was the first of Bill O'Reilly's books I have read. I really thought it was a good story, although I couldn't relate to most of the stories because I am a lot younger than the baby boomer generation. Still, I found it to be a very good read and can't wait to read the rest of Bill's work.

This book is a real gem.it is funny and serious at the same time. Bill O'Reilly has a knack for telling a story and keeping it interesting, all while making his point. Even if you are not religious, this is a great book. If you are a Christian, it is even better.

An enjoyable look at growing up in the 50's, presented with O'Reilly's usual "pithey" style. Brings back lots of memories to anyone who experienced growing up in a working class family and attended Catholic school.Definitley makes you nostalgic for the "good old days" of expectations and personal responsibility.