Bill O'Reilly (1) (1949–)
Author of Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever
For other authors named Bill O'Reilly, see the disambiguation page.
About the Author
Bill O'Reilly was born in Manhattan, New York on September 10, 1949. He received a bachelor's degree in history from Marist College, a master's degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University, and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. He show more started his broadcasting career in Scranton, Pennsylvania before moving on to report and anchor in other places including Dallas, Boston and New York. He worked with CBS and ABC News and was the host of the first version of Inside Edition. He began to work for FOX News in 1996 and is currently the host of The O'Reilly Factor. He has won numerous journalism awards including 3 Emmys. He also writes a weekly column that appears in more than 300 newspapers. He is the author of numerous non-fiction books including Pinheads and Patriots, Kids Are Americans Too, Killing Lincoln, Lincoln's Last Days, Keep It Pithy, Killing Kennedy, Killing Jesus, The Last Days of Jesus, Bill O'Reilly's Legends and Lies: The Real West, Killing Patton, Hitler's Last Days, Killing Reagan, Old School, and Bill O'Reilly's Legends and Lies: The Civil War. O'Reilly's books, The Day the President Was Shot: The Secret Service, the FBI, a Would-Be Killer, Attempted Assassination of Ronald Reagan; Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan; and Old School: Life in the Sane Lane made the New York Times Bestseller list. 030 (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Wikipedia commons
Series
Works by Bill O'Reilly
Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever (2011) 3,644 copies, 141 reviews
Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II's Most Audacious General (2014) 1,844 copies, 41 reviews
Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault That Changed a Presidency (Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series) (2015) 1,287 copies, 28 reviews
Killing England: The Brutal Struggle for American Independence (2017) — Author — 812 copies, 20 reviews
The O'Reilly Factor: The Good, the Bad, and the Completely Ridiculous in American Life (2000) 691 copies, 8 reviews
The No Spin Zone: Confrontations with the Powerful and Famous in America (2001) 657 copies, 5 reviews
Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever (2012) 495 copies, 4 reviews
Hitler's Last Days: The Death of the Nazi Regime and the World's Most Notorious Dictator (2015) 378 copies, 2 reviews
Confronting the Presidents: No Spin Assessments from Washington to Biden (2024) 261 copies, 8 reviews
The Day the World Went Nuclear: Dropping the Atom Bomb and the End of World War II in the Pacific (2017) 134 copies, 5 reviews
The Day the President Was Shot: The Secret Service, the FBI, a Would-Be Killer, and the Attempted Assassination of Ronald Reagan (2016) 111 copies, 1 review
Associated Works
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins [2000 film] (2000) — Actor — 75 copies, 1 review
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Other names
- O'Reilly, William James, Jr. (birth name)
- Birthdate
- 1949-11-10
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Marist College (BA ∙ History ∙ 1971)
Boston University (MA ∙ Journalism)
Harvard University (MPA ∙ 1996) - Occupations
- reporter
television host
sexual harasser - Organizations
- The Boston Phoenix
ABC
CBS
Fox News
Creators Syndicate - Awards and honors
- Dallas Press Club Award
- Relationships
- Kalb, Marvin (teacher)
- Short biography
- William James O'Reilly Jr. (born September 10, 1949) is an American journalist, author, and former television host. During the late 1970s and 1980s, he reported for local television stations in the United States and later for CBS News and ABC News. He anchored the tabloid television program Inside Edition from 1989 to 1995. O'Reilly joined the Fox News Channel in 1996 and hosted The O'Reilly Factor until 2017. The O'Reilly Factor was the highest-rated cable news show for 16 years, and he was described by media analyst Howard Kurtz as "the biggest star in the 20-year history at Fox News." He is the author of numerous books and hosted The Radio Factor (2002–2009). Since 2017, he has hosted the No Spin News podcast which he founded.
Bill O'Reilly is a trailblazing TV journalist who has experienced unprecedented success on cable news and in writing fifteen national number-one bestselling nonfiction books. There are currently more than 17 million books in the Killing series in print. He currently hosts the 'No Spin News' on BillOReilly.com. He lives on Long Island. - Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- New York, New York, USA
- Places of residence
- New York, New York, USA
Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA
Manhasset, New York, USA
Fort Lee, New Jersey, USA
Levittown, New York, USA
Miami, Florida, USA - Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Reviews
I have just finished this book for my RL book club.
I found it to be sloppy (the authors think Herod's mercenaries couldn't speak with 1st century Jews because they didn't know Hebrew, they say the Northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Philistines rather than the Assyrians, Philo is described as a historian, etc etc.).
The historical parts are full of errors and unsupported statements, the parts directly about Jesus are simply re-hashed Sunday School versions of Bible stories. It's show more neither historically nor spiritually enlightening.
Yes, I'm sure a lot of the snark to the book comes from people's disagreement with the big name author's political positions and public persona. Not being an American I don't have a dog in that fight. But also a lot of the criticism of the book is entirely well-deserved. show less
I found it to be sloppy (the authors think Herod's mercenaries couldn't speak with 1st century Jews because they didn't know Hebrew, they say the Northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Philistines rather than the Assyrians, Philo is described as a historian, etc etc.).
The historical parts are full of errors and unsupported statements, the parts directly about Jesus are simply re-hashed Sunday School versions of Bible stories. It's show more neither historically nor spiritually enlightening.
Yes, I'm sure a lot of the snark to the book comes from people's disagreement with the big name author's political positions and public persona. Not being an American I don't have a dog in that fight. But also a lot of the criticism of the book is entirely well-deserved. show less
I can't deal with the big stuff, so let's do the small stuff. This is a pretty competent thriller, with a Machiavellian murderer, a heroic detective, and a good woman caught between the two of them. There's sex and death and high stakes confrontations. I'm pretty sure I read like five novels by Ken Follett with pretty much the exact same plot. Buy it at the airport, leave it at the airport, feel no shame.
Except for the big stuff, which is that this was written by TV "journalist" and serial show more sexual harasser Bill O'Reilly. And this is where it gets super weird. See, the protagonist Shannon Michaels is basically Bill O'Reilly's id, an Irish-American TV journalist who gets a story stolen from him by a bigger name at the network in Buenos Aires in 1982 (something that actually happened to O'Reilly), and who then goes on a rampage of revenge against the people who wrecked his career, using his IRA training (yes, really) to kill them in ironic ways without leaving any evidence. Stopping Shannon is Tommy O'Mally, an Irish-American cop with a shitty ex-wife, who's basically another layer of O'Reilly's id. And between them this super idealized East Coast prima donna, slumming it as the crime reporter at the New York Globe.
This novel is pretty good when it sticks to what O'Reilly knows, the backstabbing politics of TV news. Whenever a woman shows up... I have seen aliens depicted with more psychological realism and understanding than the female characters in this book. Good ones exist to be seduced by the powerful men, bad ones are ugly, crazy, probably secret lesbians, and deserve to die. A decent book, that is unintentionally hilarious in retrospect. show less
Except for the big stuff, which is that this was written by TV "journalist" and serial show more sexual harasser Bill O'Reilly. And this is where it gets super weird. See, the protagonist Shannon Michaels is basically Bill O'Reilly's id, an Irish-American TV journalist who gets a story stolen from him by a bigger name at the network in Buenos Aires in 1982 (something that actually happened to O'Reilly), and who then goes on a rampage of revenge against the people who wrecked his career, using his IRA training (yes, really) to kill them in ironic ways without leaving any evidence. Stopping Shannon is Tommy O'Mally, an Irish-American cop with a shitty ex-wife, who's basically another layer of O'Reilly's id. And between them this super idealized East Coast prima donna, slumming it as the crime reporter at the New York Globe.
This novel is pretty good when it sticks to what O'Reilly knows, the backstabbing politics of TV news. Whenever a woman shows up... I have seen aliens depicted with more psychological realism and understanding than the female characters in this book. Good ones exist to be seduced by the powerful men, bad ones are ugly, crazy, probably secret lesbians, and deserve to die. A decent book, that is unintentionally hilarious in retrospect. show less
Excellent book detailing the final days of WWII and the bombing of Japan. The history is presented very factually and interspersed with personal stories that give it depth and immediacy. I consider myself quite informed regarding the history of this period, and I was surprised at how many of the details were brand-new to me. The extent of the research is obvious.
There were so many egos operating in the political and military arenas. Perhaps it requires that sort of conceit to be effective in show more such a weighty time. Who could make those kinds of decisions, lives and deaths of so many hanging on your every move, without having an enormous sense of self-importance. I would never want the responsibility and yet we should all be so thankful for those who do not shy away from that responsibility when it is unavoidable.
It is always worthwhile to look at our past, to know our history, to examine our mistakes. It is important to remember how we came to be where we are and to contemplate where we might be had we made different decisions. I would like to think we profit from the exercise, although I admit that at times it seems there is no evidence that this is true.
I read Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy and found they added nothing significant to my understanding of those events. In contrast, I felt this book did add quite a lot to my knowledge of these events. show less
There were so many egos operating in the political and military arenas. Perhaps it requires that sort of conceit to be effective in show more such a weighty time. Who could make those kinds of decisions, lives and deaths of so many hanging on your every move, without having an enormous sense of self-importance. I would never want the responsibility and yet we should all be so thankful for those who do not shy away from that responsibility when it is unavoidable.
It is always worthwhile to look at our past, to know our history, to examine our mistakes. It is important to remember how we came to be where we are and to contemplate where we might be had we made different decisions. I would like to think we profit from the exercise, although I admit that at times it seems there is no evidence that this is true.
I read Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy and found they added nothing significant to my understanding of those events. In contrast, I felt this book did add quite a lot to my knowledge of these events. show less
Killing the Rising Sun, Bill O’Reilly, Martin Dugard, authors; Robert Petkoff, narrator
On December 7, 1941, the United States was caught unawares and unprepared by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Thousands of victims were sent to a watery grave, to remain there, buried at sea in their ships. At the time of the attack, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the President. His health was failing, but the world was largely unaware of that, as well. After his death, it fell to the new President show more Harry S. Truman, to make a monumental decision that would ultimately cost many lives, but also would finally end the war that had claimed millions and millions of lives. It would also save countless American lives.
This book is about the events surrounding the development and eventual unleashing of atomic weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, causing massive destruction and an enormous loss of lives coupled with thousands of horrific injuries. Many believed then and many believe now (one in that corner was Douglas MacArthur), that it was unnecessary to drop the bombs to end the war. They believe that somehow either diplomacy or an invasion would have been a better avenue to follow, would have resulted in fewer civilian casualties and deaths; however, that would have continued the loss of American lives and of other allied troops since the Emperor of Japan refused to surrender unconditionally and refused to end hostilities. His soldiers would fight to the death to avoid facing the humiliation of returning home as cowards and failures.
As the reader learns of the heinous tactics and behavior of the Japanese during WWII, it will be difficult not to agree with President Truman’s decision. Many will find it difficult to feel that the dropping of the bombs was unjustified. The Japanese were often more brutal and barbaric than the Germans, though I must admit I was stunned to believe that even more despicable behavior was possible than that of the Germans. They were extremely vicious and evil in their treatment of the Jews and others they deemed to be of a lesser race. However, more POW’s survived as German captives than as Japanese captives. The Japanese government did not follow the Geneva Conventions, they tortured and murdered their POW’s, they captured women who came to be known as “comfort women” who were forcibly raped by their troops; they sanctioned murder and pillage when they conquered a territory; they even engaged in cannibalism. They were responsible for the “rape of Nanking” and were utterly barbaric in the way they behaved and in the choices they made when it came to those dwelling in the lands they conquered. They were expected to fall on their swords rather than return home alive which would mean they were cowards, traitors who failed their Emperor and the Land of the Rising Sun.
The book describes the situation in graphic and descriptive terms, making it clear that it might have been impossible to end World War II utterly, in any other way. Accurately following the history of events, the authors bring the story behind the bombings to light for all to see. It is a well-written and well-narrated history of the events of that time. I would highly recommend it to those who might still question the judgment of President Truman and to those who want to learn more about the reason it was necessary or even considered. Often, hindsight is 20/20, but it doesn’t take into account the emotional stress or physical danger that America was confronted with at the time. show less
On December 7, 1941, the United States was caught unawares and unprepared by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Thousands of victims were sent to a watery grave, to remain there, buried at sea in their ships. At the time of the attack, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the President. His health was failing, but the world was largely unaware of that, as well. After his death, it fell to the new President show more Harry S. Truman, to make a monumental decision that would ultimately cost many lives, but also would finally end the war that had claimed millions and millions of lives. It would also save countless American lives.
This book is about the events surrounding the development and eventual unleashing of atomic weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, causing massive destruction and an enormous loss of lives coupled with thousands of horrific injuries. Many believed then and many believe now (one in that corner was Douglas MacArthur), that it was unnecessary to drop the bombs to end the war. They believe that somehow either diplomacy or an invasion would have been a better avenue to follow, would have resulted in fewer civilian casualties and deaths; however, that would have continued the loss of American lives and of other allied troops since the Emperor of Japan refused to surrender unconditionally and refused to end hostilities. His soldiers would fight to the death to avoid facing the humiliation of returning home as cowards and failures.
As the reader learns of the heinous tactics and behavior of the Japanese during WWII, it will be difficult not to agree with President Truman’s decision. Many will find it difficult to feel that the dropping of the bombs was unjustified. The Japanese were often more brutal and barbaric than the Germans, though I must admit I was stunned to believe that even more despicable behavior was possible than that of the Germans. They were extremely vicious and evil in their treatment of the Jews and others they deemed to be of a lesser race. However, more POW’s survived as German captives than as Japanese captives. The Japanese government did not follow the Geneva Conventions, they tortured and murdered their POW’s, they captured women who came to be known as “comfort women” who were forcibly raped by their troops; they sanctioned murder and pillage when they conquered a territory; they even engaged in cannibalism. They were responsible for the “rape of Nanking” and were utterly barbaric in the way they behaved and in the choices they made when it came to those dwelling in the lands they conquered. They were expected to fall on their swords rather than return home alive which would mean they were cowards, traitors who failed their Emperor and the Land of the Rising Sun.
The book describes the situation in graphic and descriptive terms, making it clear that it might have been impossible to end World War II utterly, in any other way. Accurately following the history of events, the authors bring the story behind the bombings to light for all to see. It is a well-written and well-narrated history of the events of that time. I would highly recommend it to those who might still question the judgment of President Truman and to those who want to learn more about the reason it was necessary or even considered. Often, hindsight is 20/20, but it doesn’t take into account the emotional stress or physical danger that America was confronted with at the time. show less
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- Also by
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- Popularity
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- Rating
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