of the ten books on Beck's 9-12 Project required-reading list. Zaitchik has referred to the Skousen chapter as "the most important" and "the most interesting to research and write." Critical reception Chris Faraone in his review for The Boston Phoenix referred to Common Nonsense as an "impressive feat" resembling "a piñata stuffed with damning testaments to Beck's astoundingly flawed character" with "stories of (Beck's) savage hypocrisy on nearly every page." Faraone goes on to remark that: The Anchorage Press deemed the book the "definitive Beck biography", while Joe Conason of Salon Magazine described the book as "gripping" and "thoroughly researched", Mark Schmitt in The American Prospect referred to the book as "superb", and applauded Zaitchik for showing how "Beck's blackboard schemes" display "the oceanic audacity of his self-serving ignorance." Creative Loafing described Zaitchik as "a talented and incisive wordsmith", supposing that "a book like Common Nonsense is intellectual defense against (Beck's) rantings that have made him a cult hero among the Tea-Party set." Henry Stern in Willamette Week opined that Zaitchik is an "engaging writer who takes down Beck with strong research and entertaining turns of phrase", while diagnosing Common Nonsense as "a useful corrective to the hagiography that Beck’s acolytes subscribe to." The Boston Globe depicted the book as "a scathing profile that follows the powerful pundit from a single-parent home in rural Washington state to conservative superstardom." Beck fans reaction After the release of Common Nonsense, Zaitchik states that he sustained a "barrage of email bombs from the Beck Nation." According to Zaitchik, most of it was "triggered by religious web sites" with angry people telling him to "Go back to Russia" (where he worked for a time as a journalist) or "Go to hell." After the incident Zaitchik remarked that he "came away knowing not to underestimate the power of Glenn Beck," describing him as a "fascinating character", comprising "a blend of P.T. Barnum, Jimmy Swaggart, Aimee Semple McPherson and the old tent revivalists." References Further reading by Zaitchik The Making of Glenn Beck: Part I for Salon magazine, September 21, 2009 Glenn Beck Becomes Damaged Goods: Part II for Salon magazine, September 22, 2009 Glenn Beck Rises Again: Part III for Salon magazine, September 23, 2009 Glenn Beck’s Manhattan of the Mind for The New York Observer, June 8, 2010 Adapted excerpts from Common Nonsense Brother Beck Presents: Glenn Beck’s Mormon Masterpiece Theater Past is Prologue: