Sincerely, Andy Rooney

by Andy Rooney

Andy Rooney's weekly commentaries on 60 Minutes and his twice-weekly syndicated newspaper columns-addressing everything from deceptive cereal packaging to the existence of God-have made him America's best-known critic of the quotidian. As you might imagine, he gets a lot of letters in response to his often iconoclastic views. As you might not expect, he writes a lot of letters, too.

Now Rooney has collected the funniest, wisest, and most interesting of his letters, spanning several decades and addressing issues both momentous and trivial. He responds to complaints from viewers; he corresponds with old friends; and he writes to his children about the things he cares about most. Variously caustic, hilarious, and sage, these unfailingly entertaining letters reveal not only Rooney the iconoclast but Rooney the American Everyman. Sincerely, Andy Rooney is Andy Rooney at his best-and a wonderful gift book that will make readers chuckle and think twice.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, Memoir, Essays, Humor

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Andrew Aitken "Andy" Rooney was an American radio and television writer. He became most famous as a humorist and commentator with his weekly broadcast A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney, a part of the CBS news program 60 Minutes from 1978 to 2011.

Reviews

[Alexw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, witty book about his life's problems and how he handles those problems.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, I was not very impressed with Andy Rooney’s poem mix. I remember enjoying his television commentary, but this book was basically the ramblings of a grouchy old man.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just found an old reading journal where I wrote: "Andy Rooney, long-time TV writer, compiled many letters he has written over the years into a book. Many were humorous to some degree, but it wasn't a great read"

[Kacee Moreton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andy Rooney, through the letters he wrote and published in this book, seems such a fun, witty, no BS kind of person.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Andy Rooney's weekly commentaries on 60 Minutes and his twice-weekly syndicated newspaper columns-addressing everything from deceptive cereal packaging to the existence of God-have made him America's best-known critic of the quotidian. As you might imagine, he gets a lot of letters in response to his often iconoclastic views. As you might not expect, he writes a lot of letters, too.

Now Rooney has collected the funniest, wisest, and most interesting of his letters, spanning several decades and addressing issues both momentous and trivial. He responds to complaints from viewers; he corresponds with old friends; and he writes to his children about the things he cares about most. Variously caustic, hilarious, and sage, these unfailingly entertaining letters reveal not only Rooney the iconoclast but Rooney the American Everyman. Sincerely, Andy Rooney is Andy Rooney at his best-and a wonderful gift book that will make readers chuckle and think twice."

I think I changed my mind about what I thought of Andy Rooney. From seeing his comments on 60 Minutes, I thought he had some wonderful things to say. In reading this book, I thought his letters were mostly rude and like he thought he was the best thing since sliced bread.

[Anson Cassel Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

A professional reviewer once called Rooney’s style “distinctive whining,” and reading through this book of deliberately undated letters reminded me of a long-ago attempt to tackle that masterpiece of satiric pessimism, Ambrose Bierce's Devil’s Dictionary (1911). Even Bierce, clever as he was, stops being funny after the first dozen pages. There’s just so much “distinctive whining” one can take.

Although Rooney does provide the reader with some idiosyncratic humor, the tone of constant complaint is soon wearing. Go lend an ear to some grumpy old men at the local senior center. They won’t be as articulate as Rooney, but they will have just as much logical basis for their prejudices, and their complaints will at least have the benefit of being up-to-date.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is made up of letters he has written to various people in his life. I enjoyed him much more on 60 Minutes than I did reading this one

[Jayhawk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I prefer reading Andy's essays.

[Beverly Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book of letters that Andy Rooney wrote. I think, however, that you need to be familiar with Andy Rooney to enjoy it.

[Dave · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hundreds of letters, often without much context. It was like hearing one side of a phone conversation. I got four good laughs out of the entire book, and that was it.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The section on War deserves a5 . I also enjoyed reading his view on religion.

[Hessa Falah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very entertaining book to the last page.

[Denelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always loved Andy Rooney's commentary on 60 MINUTES, so when I saw this book in the lot my father sent me, I decided to read it.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always enjoyed him on 60 minutes, this book was just as good.