FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
MSNBC's crack political pundit, Chris Matthews, weighs in with his takes on such issues as the 2000 election fiasco, Bill Clinton's stormy tenure in the White House, the constant squabbles between Democrats and Republicans, and the September 11th attacks on New York City and Washington. Along the way, he clues readers in on his own experiences working for Jimmy Carter and Tip O'Neill. Matthews once again plays Hardball, and his many fans will be thrilled to get this strong dose of intelligent and lively opinion.

Matthews seems to revel in the fact that he eludes simple labeling -- he's more of an independent than a traditional liberal or conservative. Despite his labors under Carter and O'Neill, he's fond of Ronald Reagan and is no big fan of Al Gore (who he feels never caught on with voters because they saw him as negative and condescending). He's unsure about George W. Bush but was impressed at how he "beat" Gore despite all the perceived shortcomings.

Matthews saves his strongest praise for the titanic political presence that Winston Churchill embodied during World War II. In the aftermath of 9/11/01, many readers may have come to agree with Matthews and found themselves wishing for a Churchill clone to help guide the country through the rocks and shoals ahead.

Matthews comes off as far more than the typical blustery political talking head in these pages. Indeed, he bares his soul on more than a few pages, and he does a great job at explaining how he's reached his current status as an independent thinker. (Nicholas Sinisi)

Nicholas Sinisi is the Barnes & Noble.com Nonfiction Editor.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Chris Matthews has been playing "hardball" since the day he was born. From his first political run-in in the first grade to his years working as presidential speechwriter for Jimmy Carter, Matthews grew up loving his country and dreaming of his chance to protect it. In Now, Let Me Tell You What I Really Think, Chris Matthews is at his brilliant, blunt, bulldogged best. From the Cold War to the Clinton years, Matthews gives the straight-up account of what it means to be an American. Matthews tells us about his "God and Country" Catholic school education in Philadelphia, complete with Cold War air-raid drills, and his early enthusiasm for politics. He shares with us his life's adventures -- two years in Africa with the Peace Corps, the challenge of running for Congress in his twenties, and his three decades deep in the "belly of the beast" of American politics -- using his own experiences to give us an irreverent look at who we are and whom we trust to lead us.

SYNOPSIS

Examining the politicians in Washington, Chris Matthews has made his name as a razor-sharp journalist. In Now, Let Me Tell You What I Really Think, he rallies those who "work hard and play by the rules.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Chris Matthews (Kennedy and Nixon) was a speechwriter for President Carter before he became the interrupting and opinionated host of Hardball with Chris Matthews. In Now, Let Me Tell You What I Really Think, his third book, the author does just that. It's "what you'd get if you were sitting across the table from me," Matthews writes meaning, of course, a lot of stories about politics and politicians, a few meandering personal reflections and an energetic, forceful push toward getting everything all out. For those who would skim, the author provides section summaries under the heading "Here's What I Really Think." But when revelations can be as banal as "in order to win the game, you first need a seat at the table," one suspects Matthews hasn't written down all his secrets yet. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Here is another celebrity journalist who believes that the public needs to know more about his opinions on current events. Matthews (Hardball), host of the MSNBC and CNBC weeknight program, Hardball with Chris Matthews, also serves as a substitute weekend news anchor for NBC, offers commentary for the Today show, and is a nationally syndicated columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. In this engaging account, he explores his personal history, including his middle-class Republican Catholic upbringing and his two years of Peace Corps service, to analyze his current political positions on contemporary culture. Although his experiences as a presidential speechwriter for Jimmy Carter and top aide to House Speaker Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill gave him an insider's view of politics, Matthews sees himself as a spokesperson for the ordinary citizen. The opening segment on George Bush was rewritten at the last minute to portray the President's leadership style positively in light of the events of September 11. Those interested in Matthews's views will enjoy his appealing writing style, and public libraries where works by journalists circulate well should consider ordering. Judy Solberg, George Washington Univ. Lib., Washington, DC Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews