Out of My Mind

by Andy Rooney

Every Sunday evening, millions of viewers tune in to 60 Minutes to hear Andy Rooney riff on everything from coffee percolators to the state of the union. Millions more read his weekly newspaper column. Why? Because Rooney tells it like it is. But Rooney fans have never seen him quite like this. Andy Rooney is plain frustrated by what's going on in America and the world. Why can't Americans—let alone our president—speak English anymore? How do we expect to fight a terrorist enemy that we can't even locate? And when did capitalism go so terribly wrong? This book isn't all heady stuff, though. Readers will also get the familiar—and hysterical—Rooney gripes about everyday foibles, such as the impossibility of physically locating your driver's registration, of purchasing a genuinely healthy breakfast cereal, or of enjoying a college reunion—unless everyone ends up in their nighties, that is. PublicAffairs is pleased to present its fifth collaboration with Andy Rooney. Loyal Rooney fans and anyone who enjoys a good laugh at life's absurdities will be thrilled to add it to the bookshelf during the holidays.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Essays

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

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

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

People who live in rural Pennsylvania are obsessed with gossip. Especially if it’s about something negative, even if it’s an obvious lie. Why is that ?

Here’s the explanation from Andy Rooney: “The truth is often less interesting than rumor or gossip.”

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

In spite of the fact that I could hear Rooney's voice in my head when I was reading this, it made for humorous bedside reading.

[Robert Sparrenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember first hearing Andy Rooney on 60 minutes when I visited my grandparents on Sunday night. I always enjoyed the disheveled office with books and papers tossed haphazardly around his office as he began his rant. The bushy eyebrows were an added bonus.
This book is a collection of his essays and most likely monologues on the show. It’s fun because if you were a fan of 60 minutes you can hear his nasally voice in your head as he rants about what is on his mind.
The book was written in 2006 so some of the topics are a bit dated especially in politics.

A fun book with Andy Rooney as your guide. Thanks Andy for the memories. We need more guys like you still.

[Sierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

We got a 3.5 star book here folks! I enjoyed reading this one much more than the other Rooney book I read. This one felt very long and many essays blended together. I liked that 50% of the book he shit on George W Bush. I underlined some quotes so here they are idk why I picked these:

“Does it seem right to spend more than eight times as much on war as education?” Page 89

Re the flag: “It should not be used as decoration or as just another vote-getting gimmick by candidates for office.” Page 93

“What I want for my president is the smartest person in America. Forget whether that person is experienced in politics.” Page 210

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started out great, but half way through I wanted to shoot myself.

[Kate Hayden · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 70 year old father bought me this book for Christmas. It's interesting to hear the insight of an old man but his opinions are outdated. He thinks he is quite liberal and it is funny to hear his old man train of thought. I like Andy Rooney and enjoyed his 60 Minutes segments but this book should be edited and cut in half. It is repetitive and slow, although it's like a time capsule of old man thinking capturing his views about the world. It's like a pre-blog blog of old man's view of the modern world.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

My father watched 60 Minutes every Sunday night. While I may not have been so interested in the content of the stories, I always liked the end of the show when Andy Rooney started with his "Did you ever wonder?..."" section.

This book is a collection of those stories, everything from Daily Life, Food and Drink, Politics, Money, the English Language and Sports. I can almost hear my father's chuckle as I read them.

If you liked those stories you will like this book.

[Sharon Neufer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoyed Andy's final segments on 60 Minutes and the book is made up of essays just like that. Even when I disagreed with Andy, I still appreciated the fact that he said what he thought and didn't care what "others may think." It's especially refreshing to read him complain about the same things I dislike!

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I borrowed it from the public library. If you know Andy Rooney from his segments on 60 Minutes, then you know what you are getting with this book.

See my blog note about the book:

[http://itinerantlibrarian.blogspot.co...]

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this old crotchity man and his thoughts. A compilation of essays divided into sections. Funny as all get out...in my opinion...but i have very similar views as him and watch him on 60 minutes... if you don't enjoy Mr. Rooney...Don't get this. :)

[Eric Castiglia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light reader. Mostly what you may have heard on 60 minutes. After half the book, I got tired of it and retired it.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might finish it some day. Just not now. Upward and onward!

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

One probably needs to be an Andy Rooney fan to rate this book 4 stars. I consider Mr. Rooney a modern day Will Rogers.

[Wm B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoy Andy's to the point.

[Catherine Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't say that I read everyone of the essays in this book. I did read most of them and really enjoyed them. I believe Andy Rooney could write an interesting essay about any subject.

[Isw2w · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to return to the library. But I liked what I did read.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short stories. Just like his 60 Minutes pieces.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I can hear Andy reading to me as I read the book. He wrote like he spoke and I am saddened that he passed away.

[Toesnorth's mom]

good!

[Cathy]

I liked Andy Rooney, but I couldn't finish this book - I found many of his comments offensive and annoying and gave up before I hit the half way point.

[Nancy McKinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andy is better at five minutes a pop but I still have a soft spot for the old guy.

[Chris Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book that had its moments. It is a series of essays just like his commentary, some were interesting, some not so much. Worth reading.