August 11, 2008
Veteran CBS newsman and Frontline
anchor Schieffer (This Just In
) compiles 168 essays spanning his career from the Nixon administration to the present day. He reminisces about the pretelevision era when politicians “had to be entertaining to hold a crowd”; with tongue-in-cheek rhetoric, the author creates his own exploratory committee because “everyone else seems to be doing it.... and people for some reason send them million of dollars.” In a critique of the current administration, Schieffer laments that “we had elected an administration that feared the future.” The hypocrisy of American foreign policy is brought to the forefront in a discussion about democracy, war and the loss of humanity in politics. As an ardent fan of human interest journalism, comic personal writing and America, Schieffer portrays citizens optimistically while harshly criticizing the current policies in Washington. Schieffer's ruminations are appealing (though hardly groundbreaking), but a choppy organization and a tendency toward repetition and overemphasis on a few themes detract from an otherwise humorous, albeit simple, collection of essays.
November 1, 2008
Emmy Award-winning CBS newsman Schieffer has witnessed many of our nation's greatest and saddest moments. In this collection of brief essays and commentary, he shares what he considers to be his most relevant and timeless writings. Some are poignant; others call forth grins (a self-identified "independent," Schieffer unhesitatingly attacks both parties while also scrutinizing the current state of political affairs). With its hint of rasp, Schieffer's mature voice simultaneously evokes a bit of crotchetiness, hope, and bemusement. But his habit of ending at a soft volume may render the last word or two of his sentences inaudible for some listeners. Nonetheless, many are sure to agree with his take on America. [Audio clip available through us.penguingroup.com.Ed.]Lance Eaton, Somerville, MA
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