Out of My Mind

October 2, 2006
Rooney, revered 60 Minutes commentator, weekly syndicated newspaper columnist, and best-selling author (most recently of Years of Minutes) delivers a collection of caustic, comic essays on topics ranging from the serious (Iraq, global warming) to the absurd (the outdated semi-colon, irritating cell phone ring tones) that proves he hasn't lost his cranky appeal. Written over the past four years, these highly opinionated and often chuckle-worthy vignettes are refreshingly candid and paint a fortified portrait of Rooney's frustrations with the state of the world. In 10 themed sections (including Daily Life, Politics and Sports), Rooney showcases his broad knowledge and voluminous gripes; though they won't dazzle the literati, Rooney's signature cynicism and stream-of-consciousness voice shine through. There is something for everyone in this collection: election junkies will find the petulant "Crab Grassroots Campaigning" particularly amusing; pack rats and recyclers alike will identify with "We're Wasting Away" (the perfect case of "sad, but true"); and those who just plain love Andy will cherish his quirky lists in "Things I Love to Hate" and "Things to Do Today." In the preface, Rooney asks himself, "How much do I have to say that anyone cares about reading?" Luckily for him-and for us-he has an entire book's worth.

October 23, 2006
Rooney, revered 60 Minutes commentator, weekly syndicated newspaper columnist, and best-selling author (most recently of Years of Minutes) delivers a collection of caustic, comic essays on topics ranging from the serious (Iraq, global warming) to the absurd (the outdated semi-colon, irritating cell phone ring tones) that proves he hasn't lost his cranky appeal. Written over the past four years, these highly opinionated and often chuckle-worthy vignettes are refreshingly candid and paint a fortified portrait of Rooney's frustrations with the state of the world. In 10 themed sections (including Daily Life, Politics and Sports), Rooney showcases his broad knowledge and voluminous gripes; though they won't dazzle the literati, Rooney's signature cynicism and stream-of-consciousness voice shine through. There is something for everyone in this collection: election junkies will find the petulant "Crab Grassroots Campaigning" particularly amusing; pack rats and recyclers alike will identify with "We're Wasting Away" (the perfect case of "sad, but true"); and those who just plain love Andy will cherish his quirky lists in "Things I Love to Hate" and "Things to Do Today." In the preface, Rooney asks himself, "How much do I have to say that anyone cares about reading?" Luckily for him-and for us-he has an entire book's worth.

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2006
The reader can almost hear Rooney's meandering delivery of his " 60 Minutes" commentaries in this essay collection. In his inimitable rambling but cogent style, Rooney delivers probing questions, sound observations, and occasional whimsy. Rooney concedes that he is no great writer, but he has a wry sense of the everyday life that puts both the large issues and the small stuff into perspective. The essays focus on philosophy, food and drink, work, politics, war, sports, money, his life, and the English language. In an essay on the enormous amount of trash Americans generate each day, he notes that when we speak of throwing things away, "there's really no such place as 'away.'" Rooney riffs on marriage statistics and adds some of his own "homemade statistics" as observations of the likelihood of lasting unions. Rooney also defends the profession of journalism, questions Tom Brokaw's assertion that Rooney's generation--who fought World War II--was the greatest, and wonders why so many Americans speak English so poorly. Rooney's observation on war: Americans learned more firsthand in a day about the progress of World War II than we will learn in a year about the current war as long as the military controls information. Responding to inquiries about when he will retire, Rooney declares: Never. "I am never happier than when I am working." Fans will adore this collection.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)