Rating: 
Summary: Excellent read
Review: A quick, insightful read! It's an inspiring view of what's possible in politics and of great political leaders. On a few occasions he wanders off subject but his masterful portrait of the political landscape (past, present and future) is well worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: As deep as a puddle
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book Great News Reporter
Review: I liked the way Mr. Matthews presents his views and insight on political topics of today and yesteryear. The only thing I would change would be the section on his time in the peace corps. While it is interesting I would sooner hear more of his views on the Mid-East, China, etc....All in all a great read.
Rating:
Summary: here's what i REALLY think
Review: When Chris Matthews wants to tell me what he really thinks, it makes me think he hasn't been telling what he really thought before, or else, why write a book about it. It makes me think I've been duped...... It's sort of like starting a sentence, "To be honest...," because if you are honest all the time you don't need to preface what you say by starting "to be honest."
Rating: 
Summary: I Wish You Hadn't
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Chris Mathews can do better
Review: While Mr. Mathews does tell us briefly what he really thinks, the book is a series of rememberances about famous politicians he has known or observed and some others that he admires. While he does tell us what he really thinks, it is in short paragraphs scattered throughout the longer stories. I am also a fan of his TV program, but when he begins the book by telling us why he interrupts guests on his show while they talk, it doesn't set a good tone for the rest of the book. The book seems to be quickly written and not too well thought out.
Rating:
Summary: As lively as the "Hardball" program
Review: This is a good quick read in which Chris Matthews expands beyond some of the things you know about him from his "Hardball" show, and talks a little bit more about today's political events. Like so many other books, it probably would have been better had he been able to wait a few months more to go more in depth about the September 11 terrorist attacks, but he still touches on them, and how they changed the Bush presidency. Chris Matthews is fair. He's as opinionated, but not as bombastic as Bill O'Reilly. True, he also interrupts his guests a lot, but this book will tell you why. This book also sheds light on the media bias that Bernie Goldberg discusses in his book. Some of the things Matthews says in this book repeat what Goldberg says, without the appearance of axe-grinding. The only complaint, I wish this book were longer!
Rating:
Summary: A little better than most in this genre-
Review: Lately, I've been reading books written by political pundits, and many times, I have to doublecheck to ensure that I'm not reading the same book over and over again. Perhaps I should have expected it, but I'm a little surprised by the lack of novelty in these works. However, Matthews' book is slightly better than most in this genre due to his interesting anecdotes that follow each chapter. Usually, these anecdotes further illucidate his "theory" established in the preceding chapter. But even when they don't clarify his ideas, they never failed to entertain. In addition, I enjoyed Matthews' extensive use of direct quotations of conversations he had with various political players. These added a strong degree of credibility to his ideas as well as kept interest throughout. As far as Matthews' theories? Nothing new here, especially if one is a fan of Matthews' television program (or "show," as his dad calls it). All things considered, this is an entertaining read, but one shouldn't expect to be challenged. (As a side note, I'm once again surprised by the number of grammatical errors and typographical errors that pass by reviewers, editors, the author, etc. Beyond the glaring error in the plug for his show in the afterword section, there are a few subject-verb agreement problems, etc.)
Rating:
Summary: This is not a worthy follow up to Hardball
Review: If I only cared. My brother bought me this autographed book for my 27th birthday. Like him, I was looking forward to a follow up to Hardball, which I had thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately, this book just rambled on listing various people and subjects with some background and then what he really thinks about them. Whew, now I can go on with my life, I know what Chris Mathews really thinks about aids in Africa. This book is only for the most die hard Mathews fans.
Rating:
Summary: What you see/hear on TV is what you get
Review: I have to open with a disclaimer that I am a huge fan of Matthews. I'm a political junkie and watch all the talking heads on cable TV. Chris is head and shoulders above the rest. (Dare I say I have a grudging respect for Geraldo?) He has a staccato-like writing style, just like he fires off questions to guests on his show. (Where's Hilly, Chris?) The book contains, fact, opiniion, and vignettes about pols he has known and worked for, and he plays no favorites. All interesting stuff, and short to boot. This is a 2-beer or 2-shot book. If you like his show you'll enjoy his book. The only question he didn't answer for me is whether as a good Irish Catholic he drinks Protestant or Catholic whiskey. You rock, Chris.
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