The Glenn Beck/Jon Stewart Book Exchange

Those who lament the ongoing deterioration of public discourse agree a few things:

1. Not enough people read books anymore.
2. People insulate themselves, tending to expose themselves only to ideas they already agree with and avoiding information that doesn't fit their preferred world view.
   
3. When opposing ideas are discussed, they are too often in the form of shouting matches.

I would like to propose an even to counteract all of these....

On Comedy Channel's The Daily Show, Jon Stewart often interviews authors. He seems to have read most of the books he discusses, which makes the interviews more informative . Among the most interesting interviews are those with authors he disagrees with. These conversations are lively yet cordial, and when they run too long for the time slot, they are available to view in their entirety on The Daily Show's website.

Over on Fox News, Glenn Beck also reads a lot of books, mostly those spinning Conservative/Libertarian versions of history. He has those authors as guests on his show.

I also recall a few years ago the effect that Oprah Winfrey had on the publishing industry. She talks about books she likes, and sales of those books soar.

So in the interests of promoting the reading of books, of people exposing themselves to a wide range of perspectives, and of intelligent political discussion, I propose that Glenn Beck and Jon Stewart do a Book Exchange on their shows. It will work as follows:

1. Jon Stewart will read a book selected by Glenn Beck which espouses the views expressed on the Glenn Beck Show.
2. Glenn Beck will read a book selected by Jon Stewart which espouses views that Stewart feels Beck and his audience ought to hear.
   
3. The event will be announced on both shows a month or so in advance, with the titles announced, so that viewers will have the opportunity to read both books first.
4. Stewart will appear as a guest on the Glenn Beck Show to discuss the book he selected Beck to read. On the same day, Beck will appear as a guest on The Daily Show to discuss the book he selected for Stewart to read. I suggest that each host is a guest they discuss their selected books so that regular viewers of each show will hear ideas more likely will challenge their own.
   
5. Both shows may edit the book exchange segments to bit their broadcast time slots, but both segments will be available in their entirety for viewing on each show's respective website.

Let's post this on each show's website, make this happen, and stimulate some more intelligent discussion!