Book Review: Out of my mind by Andy Rooney
I've been a huge fan of Andy Rooney and his off beat commentary since I first saw him on 60 minutes back in the late 70's.
I've read a few of his books and articles and found his unique view on life, people and ordinary things insightful and hilarious.
Not long ago, I picked up Rooney's most recent book "Out of My Mind" and stuck on my Bathroom bookshelf. When nature sends down orders to launch the chocolate torpedoes, I usually read a few pages.
Andy Rooney writes for the bathroom audience. Each story is about a page to a page and a half long, as not to make the reader's legs fall asleep.
After several bowel movements I have come to the conclusion that Rooney has become a bitter old man. His stories are no longer witty. His political views are jaded and based on faulty logic and tired old liberal lies.
I attribute this change in attitude partly to the fact his wife of 60 years recently passed away.
This would be enough to take the humor out of anybody.
Even mundane subjects that Rooney normally covers like buying cars and going to the garbage dump have taken on a sad, melancholy tone. It's almost as if Rooney is using this book as a vehicle to come to grips with his own mortality.
I still like the guy and will always retain my fond memories of him.
If you want a good laugh, try reading Most of Andy Rooney or Common Nonsense
Labels: reviews
posted by Bill Rowland @ November 25, 2006
9 Comments
9 Comments:
I'm with ya on the Rooney. He's always leaned left, but, was always funny. Now, he's just sour. I think if he'd just tame those eyebrows...he'd get a new lease on life! ...or maybe not
Ohh Hammer, you always bring me to laugh half dead.
Poor Rooney, it's a kind of sad that it turnes that way, I'm sure he doesn't realize it himself that he is changing.
I don’t think that losing his wife and facing his own immortality has much to do with it. He has always had a critical and cynical side. I think that mostly it’s just that he sees the world he knew and loved changing and he doesn’t like it.
And much of his writing is satire. It seems odd to me that he is viewed as a liberal, he seems to jump the fence a lot. Well, he is liberal in the sense that he wants the world his way. But liberal’s can be as destructive as christians. Mutter, mutter.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Rooney
I agree with your take on Rooney Hammer...and yes Tony he does need to do something with those eyebrows. Every time I see the man I want to break out the tweezers. Man that would be an all day job!
Last time I saw him on 60 minutes, he looked like a mortician did his make up. I loved his Ali G interview.
I think I'm a little behind.. I thought the man had died????
I was thinking the same thing about Rooney last time I saw him, he looked terrible and he's become so bitter. Its sad to see, because under the political satire I used to be able to see the laughing man.
What has distressed me for the past many years about him is that he's neither funny nor satiric nor on point. Just boring. One must leave when one's usefullness is done. And that may sound cruel, but gee whiz it's tv.
Andy Rooney's bit at the end was always my favorite part of 60 Minutes when I was a kid... I could have slept through the rest. When I realized how far to the left he leans, I didn't think he was funny anymore. Then I realized it's not what he says, but how he says it. I can laugh without agreeing.
"When nature sends down orders to launch the chocolate torpedoes"
I'm adding that to my collection of phrases you've used to describe what goes on in your bathroom. Yes, I collect very strange things.
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