QUICK TAKES - May 5, 2009

Glenn Beck loves the publishing game.

The conservative commentator and bestselling author has reached an agreement with Simon & Schuster for a series of books -- fiction and nonfiction, for young and for old, in a variety of formats -- the publisher said Monday.

Beck has three books planned for this year, including “Arguing With Idiots,” a nonfiction hardcover book; an audiobook called “America’s March to Socialism”; and an e-book/paperback channeling of Thomas Paine, “Glenn Beck’s Common Sense.”