The Overton Window

By: Glenn Beck

Narrated by: James Daniels

Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

A plan to destroy America, a hundred years in the making, is about to be unleashed...can it be stopped?

There is a powerful technique called the Overton Window that can shape our lives, our laws, and our future. It works by manipulating public perception so that ideas previously thought of as radical begin to seem acceptable over time. Move the Window and you change the debate. Change the debate and you change the country.

For Noah Gardner, a 20-something public relations executive, it's safe to say that political theory is the furthest thing from his mind. Smart, single, handsome, and insulated from the world's problems by the wealth and power of his father, Noah is far more concerned about the future of his social life than the future of his country.

But all of that changes when Noah meets Molly Ross, a woman who is consumed by the knowledge that the America we know is about to be lost forever. She and her group of patriots have vowed to remember the past and fight for the future - but Noah, convinced they're just misguided conspiracy-theorists, isn't interested in lending his considerable skills to their cause.

And then the world changes.

An unprecedented attack on U.S. soil shakes the country to the core and puts into motion a frightening plan, decades in the making, to transform America and demonize all those who stand in the way. Amidst the chaos, many don't know the difference between conspiracy theory and conspiracy fact - or, more important, which side to fight for.

But for Noah, the choice is clear: Exposing the plan, and revealing the conspirators behind it, is the only way to save both the woman he loves and the individual freedoms he once took for granted.

After five back-to-back number-one New York Times best sellers, national radio and Fox News television host Glenn Beck has delivered a ripped-from-the-headlines thriller that seamlessly weaves together American history, frightening facts about our present condition, and a heart-stopping plot. The Overton Window will educate, enlighten, and, most important, entertain - with twists and revelations no one will see coming.

©2010 Glenn Beck (P)2010 Simon & Schuster

Cool book

Awesome story, sure would hate to see some of this stuff come true in real life though.

It Could Happen Soon

If you could sum up The Overton Window in three words, what would they be?

Even though this is a work of Fiction, Glen spells out a story that is, and even likley, to happen in the not so distant future.

I'm not a Glen Beck Fan, but the Audio Book is very good. It will keep you on the edge of your virtual chair, and stimulate your thoughts and beliefs as well. Rcommend it.

Thrilling and Chilling

Noah Gardner is a lackluster son of a highly powerful, political puppet master, Arthur Gardner. Noah is lured in by Molly Ross who intrigues him with her disdain as well as her passion for the cause of American freedom. She is part of a group known as the Founder’s Keepers, who seek to peaceably preserve American freedoms as set out in the Constitution.

Noah is embroiled in Molly’s schemes to gain access and information from his father’s computers. They learn that Arthur Gardner is part of a group of elite power brokers who are seeking to bring about a one world government. These men will use money, power, manipulation, bribery, coercion, and whatever other means necessary to achieve their goal. Molly (and the reader) learn of a tool known as “the Overton Window” which measures public opinion. This tool allows the monied powers to manipulate public opinion by setting up events that slowly push the boundaries of public acceptance closer and closer to the desired controls sought by the puppet masters.

Noah is kidnapped and it becomes clear that Molly used him from the outset. Yet he thinks there was more between them than the obvious lies. Noah again seeks to help Molly as a nefarious terrorist plot slowly unfolds -- a horrible act of violence that is being arranged by the puppet masters but will be blamed on Molly’s group.

The beginning was a bit slow as I wondered at the detailed descriptions of Noah’s obsessive interest in Molly. However that is understandable as the plot progresses. After an hour or two in I was glued to listening to this story until it finished. I was impressed with the writing skills as well as the characterization and plot. All of the elements reveal the extreme intelligence of the author – regardless of what one might think of his political and religious views. Does it contain a message on politics and religion? Yes - clearly on politics and subtly on religion. Is it a good thriller? Absolutely.

Beck starts the book with a preface that declares the work to be in the nature of “faction” – a fictional story woven around facts. The story presents a present day situation that should open eyes and make each of us look at the circumstances around us to see if we can really discern truth from intentionally manipulated PR. I loved the story and am anxious to begin the next book, The Eye of Molech, which I am reviewing for Simon and Schuster through Audiobook Jukebox.

Audio Notes: This story was good on its own but the narration enhanced my enjoyment and made it move much more quickly than if I had read a print or ebook version. James Daniels does a really good job keying into the character personalities. I will look for other works narrated by Mr. Daniels.

Loved it !

So-o much better than reading a dry non-fiction documentary type book. This book got it's point across in an entertaining, thought provoking and exciting story form. I loved it! I think this book is a "must read".

Scary!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot was well thought out. It was a good ride in the fictional mind of Glenn Beck.

What does James Daniels bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

James Daniels voice is easy to listen. He carried the conversations distinctly.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Is it really fiction?

Great fictional wrapper to a...

Good fiction by definition is believable. Beck has been able to wrap the reality of what is the
"overturn window" in our political life today into a very well written and entertaining fictional novel. Even the non-involved politically can enjoy the story although they'll miss the message. The narrator was excellent. I would recommend the time it takes to listen to this audible book.

Unrealistic

I am a fan of Glenn Beck TV, but the plot of this book seemed unrealistic to me. I think that was his intention. I believe he thinks that if he makes far enough out of our realistic possibilities that something more mild that we previously would have thought was not possible, but only just so, becomes possible. I am not really a judge of political thrillers, but the plot in this book seemed too much of a stretch for me to really enjoy.

Brilliant adaptation of historical fiction.

we loved it. car full of teens that disnt want to the road trip to end.

Great story

Great story with a ton of relevance today. Glenn does a great job with his facts behind the story. Real life and a great story mixed together.

Slightly Disappointed

Any additional comments?

Like most books I pick (for whatever reason), this one seemed to start a a bit slow. However it did get better - to the point I really couldn't stop listening. Downloaded it to my Android & took it with me everywhere. But I wasn't thrilled with the ending. It seemed hurried - like Beck just wrapped it up without as much thought as was put into the beginning & middle. Having read a few of Beck's book, this caught me by surprise. He usually wraps things up nicely.

Overall, it was a good book that brings the reader along nicely. And the performance by James Daniel was pretty good as well. I believe the ending would have been even more disappointing had it not been narrated as well as it was.