Customer Reviews

Now, Let Me Tell You What I Really Think

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Why should I care what Chris Matthews' really thinks? The purpose of this one is to tell people how he feels about certain issues, to show people whether he is a conservative or a liberal. But I found that although the book was interesting at times, it lacked the true opinions of Matthews' on huge issues and focused more on his path to his current status instead. Pages at a time were spent on Matthews' opinion on political leaders like Nixon, Kennedy, and Reagan. True, Matthews really did say what he thought of these men, but who cares? I wanted to hear the dirt -- the real issues that affect Americans' daily lives like Social Security, taxes, etc. Matthews oftentimes appears as a fence rider, especially in his commentary on current politicos like Clinton, Bush, and Gore.

Published soon after the attacks on the World Trade Center, it often seemed that Matthews rushed this book to the presses with a few obvious grammatical errors that editors missed. In short, this book seems like a weak attempt to make a buck for Matthews. The book is listed by publishers as 256 pages, but it only goes to page 215, and the first chapter doesn't start until page 19! Additionally, a title page between each chapter knocks an another 20 pages off the book. In the end, the actual 175-page (or less) book lacks substance and appears more like fluff.

My favorite two parts of the book actually were quotes/commentary of other men.
1) "All men dream; but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did." T.E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom
2) Matthews on Winston Churchill: "Churchill took charge of his own destiny. He placed himself at the center of the action." Placing oneself in the center of action is key.

Looking over the notes that I took for each chapter, it is very apparent that this is not Matthews' best attempt at a book. "Hardball" is a wonderful insight to politics and I highly recommend it, but "Now, Let Me Tell You What I Really Think" leaves the reader with little to reflect on and much to be desired.

You do not have to read certain books to be enlightened or taught. You don't need to be lectured especially about our USA politics to be able to figure it out. But sometimes we need to be brought to the general awareness of certain subjects which allows us to expand on our thoughts and knowledge, and that is what this book does. You can go on, on your own and say, now this is what I really think. I don't know if that is what Chris Matthews had in mind, but its all to obvious to me. Read a book that will do both, inform and cause thinking, Read Karl Maddox.

I must confess at the start that it is hard for me to be objective about Chris Matthews. I have regularly watched his CNBC show HARDBALL for over three years. In this open letter to his fans, we learn a little more about how his strong opinions were formed and why it seems he enjoys what he does so much. Being part autobiography and part political opinion, the book is a quick read. Containing opinions on JFK, Nixon, Reagan, and his former bosses, Jimmy Carter and Tip O'Neill, to name a few, much of what Chris has to say will sound familiar to his fans. Some of it, especially his opinions on Nixon, will surprise us. For those who already know Chris, this book will be a pleasure to read. For those who don't, it will provide a glimpse of what his show is like: fast paced and refreshingly honest.

This short, slender book is big on potential but lacks real bite. Matthews, a charming and engaging man, hosts a good show. "Really think", however, is less than two hundred pages (in a tiny book, about 275 words per page) of vignettes about people and their lives followed by Matthews' customary, "Now, let me tell you what I really think."

He uses lines from popular movies, like "Maltese Falcon" and "The Wild Bunch". He remembers where he was when JFK and RFK were shot. He shows that he is a real boomer. He adopts his father's Republican admiration of Eisenhower, becomes enthralled by JFK's Catholicism and magnetic personality, dips his toe in the Goldwater pool (along with Hillary Clinton, he explains), joins the Peace Corps, comes back to Washington and eventually becomes an assistant to liberal congressman (capped off with Tip O'Neill), all before he launches his media career. I'm not sure that this makes him the "journalist" he describes himself to be, more likely he relishes the role of "entertainment", a charge he gladly accepts.

His thoughts on family, on knocking on doors (to get a seat at the table), and Jesuit education are most interesting and saved for last. But I was disappointed. After about two hours of reading, "Really think" ended and came up short.

If you don't care what Chris Matthews really thinks, then I guess this book is not for you. However, if you're a fan of the show (probably the best political talk show on television), a political junkie who shares Matthews' enthusiasm for the "game," or just someone who'd like to hear an independent voice when it seems all one can hear are the shrieking protestors on the streets and the smug talking heads on FOX, then this book IS for you. It's a very quick read, but chock-full of biography, history, and (lots and lots of) opinion. Matthews is a Democrat, but with a very independent streak. Top advisor to Speaker Tip O'Neil in the House in the 80's--when O'Neil was the voice of opposition to Reagan's programs, Matthews nonetheless admires President Bush and has contempt for what he sees as Clinton's snakiness. But one could not say he has become a "neocon" either, for he's still proud of his old boss; and his idol remains JFK. His opinions on abortion, government, and America's role in the world cut to the quick and are often right-on. In short, the book's a lot of fun, a quick read, and worth your time. So is the show...on MSNBC weeknights at 7. He may have a motormouth, but that's because he's got a lot of great stuff to say. Best book so far is "Kennedy and Nixon" about the odd friendship and rivalry between these two leaders, it's told almost as an epic novel. Great stuff.

I'd always enjoyed Matthews via his column or appearances on the McLaughlin show...this book however is fluff. After the fine biography he put forth in Kennedy & Nixon Matthews obviously took note of the loot O'Reilly pulled in and figured to get in on it. His chapters are extremely short and the analysis the same. Saying nothing at all new about either Al Gore or Bill Clinton, I found his pages on his childhood actually more interesting. Sad to say that was merely because the other chapters were so bad. A book that adds nothing to any debate goin on anywhere.

I read this book on a return flight to the UK from Florida. I watched Hardball while on vacation there and enjoyed Matthews' direct style. He advertised the book at the end of his show so I thought I'd give it a try. It was a great disappointment and smacks of a quickly assembled cut and paste job. The best bits are near the beginning where Matthews describes America's love of freedom and its 'cowboy soul'. I also felt he was good on George W. Bush and Al Gore and later on Ronald Reagan. The rest was deeply unoriginal - too much on his mom and dad, too much on Kennedy and his 1960's youth (this is such a boring subject to those of us under 40)and amazingly for a brit such as I he praises Churchill (born into one of England's most aristocratic families) to the heavens while dismissing the UK as being class conscious and knocking our National Health Service (whose development from 1951-1955 Churchill oversaw). Dont get me wrong, Churchill's achievement during world war II was immense, but his overview of Churchill's career was so trite and simplistic it made me sceptical about the author's real understanding of history. As a great admirer of the USA, the book only confirmed my beliefs about the geographical incuriosity of Americans. Okay, so Matthews spent two years in Africa with the peace corps and toured Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall, but he observes these places only in the reflected glory of America and no real respect for alternative worldviews. So Chris, here's what I really think - America remains the hope of the freedom loving world, just show a little more respect for us and we'll love you all the more. And if you really want a British political giant who would meet your Democratic and Republican sensibilities, look to Ernest Bevin who was born into real poverty, became one of the world's most powerful trade union leaders but whose anti-communism led him to be instrumental in the creation of NATO.

In one comment - I was disappointed with this book. I was looking for some really opinionated, cut to the bone discussions about topics most pundits and politicians stay away from. I wanted something hard and in your face - after all that is what he is know for and the title of the book implies that the reader is in for some good old fashion straight talk. Lets face it that is why you buy the book, for the most part I really do not care too much about what he thinks, I am interested in new opinions and arguments. What the author gave us a lukewarm and close to politically correct set of comments that really did not get me excited.

Overall my opinion would be Blah Blah Blah, nothing new or that earth shaking. It is not all bad, there are some interesting comments here and there and the author did not spend too much time in writing the book so you can get through it in a few hours. It really has no historic value as he really did not dig too deep into any one topic and the entertainment value is not too high either.

I always wondered where this entertaining, though elusive pundit really stood on issues. After reading his book, I wish I hadn't. I liken the experience to a big, ripe apple that tastes like water and chemicals once you've actually taken a bite.

Chris Matthews is everything Americans seem to be drawn to -- sharp, attractive, exhilarating -- with nothing inside. Though, refreshingly free from ideological rhetoric (which is what attracted me to him in the first place), I found nothing more than a thoughtless nationalism, based on sentimental reverie.

Chris Matthews: just another baby boomer, moved by his times, then watered down to nothing by the years that followed.

Chris Matthews, of Hardball fame, nicely writes a small, yet entertainingly insightful book on the media and politcal landscape of America. He has many good chapters and commentary that deals with "hard work", media political wants, and hot button issues.

This book is not long and therefore, only can delve into a subject at its surface level. This may be a strength, as our fast paced nation prefers quick information. Hopefully, people would be inspired to read more on important subjects.

Matthews' insights on George W. Bush, Al Gore, and Bill Clinton are especially interesting, considering he favors Bush and he is a lifelong Democrate. His insight on politcal language is something I have noticed for somethime and he brings this out nicely by using the topic of abortion as backdrop (his point is abortion and language). I disagree with his final conculsion on how to solve the problem, but it is nonetheless, interesting.

A good book. It can be read in one afternoon and the information is easy to digest. It is a little pricey for its size and some topics desreve just a little more analysis.