Glenn Beck’s Heroic Attempt To Keep America Literate

by Glynnis MacNicol | 8:25 am, November 5th, 2009

» 5 comments

It’s not every day you see the New York Times expounding on the power of Glenn Beck (or being so SEO savvy with their headlines!). Particularly the Times estimable book section. But there you have it; the power of Beck is such that it can cross many lines.

I joked the other week that Beck was launching a book club, but apparently I wasn’t that far off. According to the Times when it comes to selling books Beck is a heavy hitter:

On his radio show and cable television programs, first on CNN Headline News and now on the Fox News Channel, Mr. Beck has enthusiastically endorsed dozens of novelists, a majority of them writing in the thriller genre. Mr. Beck, who now attracts 9 million weekly listeners on radio and 2.7 million daily viewers on television, often selects authors whose plots or characters reflect political stances that mirror his own. But he also promotes the work of authors who may disagree with many of his views.

“He’s our Oprah,” said Brad Thor, a writer of political thrillers who has appeared on Mr. Beck’s radio and television programs several times. “God love him, we’re very fortunate.”

I actually have no doubt that in some strange alter-reality Glenn Beck probably is the next Oprah Winfrey, but regardless if the man is saving publishing — and the NYT describes him as “may be the most passionate national media advocate for fiction, albeit in a particular genre” he deserves all the credit that can be heaped on him.

Book Club, Glenn Beck, New York Times, Oprah Winfrey

StewartIII

NewsBusters — NYT: Glenn Beck Becoming the New Oprah for Fiction Writers
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/11/05/nyt-glenn-beck-becoming-new-oprah-fiction-writers
http://www.facebook.com/people/May-Pelletier/1177078352 May Pelletier

We can take great comfort in the fact that Glenn is much more educated than Oprah and much much more intelligent.
carolb57

Glenn is the “most passionate national media advocate for FICTION?” Well then I guess THAT explains why he spews so much FICTION himself on his radio and TV shows, right? You are taking great comfort in the “fact” that he is much more educated and much more intelligent than Oprah? Have you done any research on that to back up your statement? Beck took one course at Yale University and dropped out, besides being a recovering alcoholic, drug addict and having unsuccessfully attempted to commit suicide–a real STABLE guy to exert so much influence on the rightwing radical lemmings of America. By comparison, Oprah learned to read before she was 3 years old, was an honor student in high school and won a full scholarship to Tennessee State University.
ImNotBlue

carolb57 says:
November 5, 2009 at 2:32 pm

Which one is responsible for Dr. Phil… I forget?
Sunnyr

Glenn Beck is a very intelligent, self educated man. That’s one of the reasons he is so well loved by his millions of loyal fans. He’s just a regular guy with a great sense of humor and a tad of self deprecation, which makes him a ROCK STAR! :)