Bob Schieffer's America

Bob Schieffer is an unapologetic newsman. It's facts and the truth behind the facts that he's after. No political agenda setting and partisanship for him. Yet for several years he has provided commentary for CBS. This work is a collection of 171 of his essays, on a wide array of topics. But, again, there is no partisanship. He tries to cut through the fog of political doublespeak to get down to the earthy realities. His style is straightforward, almost folksy at times. It's easy to listen to, even if you don't agree with all of his conclusions. The only downside is his tendency to drop his volume at the end of sentences, particularly at the end of entire works, making many of his final words hard to understand. R.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

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

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.