The B.S. Factor

The Theory and Technique of Faking It in America

By: Arthur Herzog III

Narrated by: Charles Henderson Norman

Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Fakery and hypocrisy in American communications are the subjects of this outspoken and hilarious audiobook. Uncovering our thought-pollution problem for perhaps the first time, Arthur Herzog exposes Executalk (“name of the game” for “point” or “purpose,” “ball-park estimate” for “rough guess”), Quote Facts (opinions made to seem like facts by virtue of being quoted), and Complex Complex (the compulsion to make things more complicated than they need to be), to mention only a few of the current crimes against logic and language.

The perpetrators of these atrocities include Fadthinkers, Word Mincers, Sci-Speakers, Copy Cant-ers, and Anything Authorities, those who, having succeeded in one field, appear on TV talk shows as experts on everything else. Without the B.S. Factor, success in America is almost impossible, says Herzog, and he goes on to call for a new breed of “radical skeptics” to clear away the B.S. that is now engulfing our country.

©1973, 2003 Arthur herzog (P)2014 Arthur Herzog

Critic reviews

“An entertaining and witty attack.” ( Publishers Weekly)

“Mr. Herzog has diagnosed the sickness brilliantly.” ( The New York Times Book Review)

Old School

What made the experience of listening to The B.S. Factor the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed the narrator's performance of the book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The B.S. Factor?

When I realized this was a polemic from a by-gone age and resolved to enjoy it as such.

What about Charles Henderson Norman’s performance did you like?

He is a good narrator. Despite the age of the content he managed to present it in a fair and unbiased way. The narrator kept an even presentation the entire time. At no point did he over dramatize.

If you could give The B.S. Factor a new subtitle, what would it be?

For use by grad students performing rhetorical analysis of the classic 1970's polemic. Only.

Any additional comments?

My reading has become so prescribed. I am spoiled by only the best out there. This was a fair amount of content to plow through, and it felt disjointed. Also, this audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com. So that said, should I keep on reading these out there books. ABSOLUTELY!

The end of lies

This book steadfastly and unceasingly leverages a vision of prospective leadership. It couples American ingenuity and determination while managing to renewably coexist in an era of performance-based deliverables. This new audio edition offers an upgraded quantity of time-tested reciprocal concepts.

If the previous paragraph made you want to claw your eyes out, this book may be for you. B.S. is being showered upon us from every direction -- commerce, politics, journalism and academia -- and Herzog is there to sniff it out and try to sprinkle a little (new & improved?) deodorizing powder on it. Yes, this book is old. If you weren't around in the sixties and seventies, you probably won't understand some of the references...which just makes it all the more remarkable that Herzog's criticisms are so urgently relevant today. The presidential debates would be so much more bearable if the candidates -- and, more importantly, the electorate -- exhibited some radical skepticism.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com.

The book is B.S.

Where does The B.S. Factor rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The bottom!

What was most disappointing about Arthur Herzog III’s story?

Boring!

Would you be willing to try another one of Charles Henderson Norman’s performances?

Yes. Not a bad narrator.

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

How to bore the public in one easy lesson.

Any additional comments?

This subject could have been so entertaining.

The B.S.Factor

Where does The B.S. Factor rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Among the top.

Who was your favorite character and why?

This book is NON FICTION. Arthur Herzog invested words such as JET SET.

What does Charles Henderson Norman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Charles Henderson Norman has a GREAT VOICE

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The entire book.

Any additional comments?

A must book for anyone interested in language