Rating: 
Summary: Anyone could have figured this out for themselves.
Review: You do not have to read certain books to be enlightened or taught. You don't need to be lectured especially about our USA politics to be able to figure it out. But sometimes we need to be brought to the general awareness of certain subjects which allows us to expand on our thoughts and knowledge, and that is what this book does. You can go on, on your own and say, now this is what I really think. I don't know if that is what Chris Matthews had in mind, but its all to obvious to me. Read a book that will do both, inform and cause thinking, Read Karl Maddox.
Rating:
Summary: a great read
Review: my life seems to parallel chris' in many ways so this book was a great read for me. he writes crisply and persuasively and hooks you in to keep it interesting. if you like his show you'll like his book, and it gives you some interesting background on him--that i've long wondered about! each chapter is a spicy short story on his view on a separate subject. really interesting political read--he's so persuasive without being bludgeoned to death.
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Summary: DISAPPOINTMENT
Review: I had looked forward to reading the book...but it turned-out to be quite a disappointment. Each chapter read like an incomplete thought. In the middle of the book Mr. Matthews discusses his time in the Peace Corps and his family...NOTHING FLOWED. I felt cheated and am certain the author is capable of much more...I would not recommend the book to anyone. I would also suggest that the publication be proofread prior to publication...note page 32, second paragraph, the word "In" should read "It." I am a daily viewer of Hardball...
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Summary: Matthews effectively brings yakkety-yak to written page
Review: You know that non-stop, mind-numbing yakkety-yakkety-yakkety-yak that emenates from your MSNBC during prime-time and causes your ears to bleed and your stomach contents to empty through your mouth? Well, Matthews has successfully brought that very experience to life in book form. It is a phenomenal feat - you are simply looking at words printed on a page, as in any other book, but the sentence structuring, punctuation, vocabulary and Matthews unique communication skills all combine to provide an unparalleled reading experience. You actually hear his LOUD, incessant yammering as you look at the words, and as with his tv show, you are not following anything he is saying. You are just mesmerized at his ability to perpetually spew his prolific verbosity while being absolutely devoid of anything informative or interesting or funny. And it just seems to go on forever, as if nothing, nothing in the know universe, can stop the indestructable power of his yakkety-yakkety-yak.
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Summary: What a terrific read!!!
Review: I sat down one evening to "start" reading this book. I didn't put that book down until I had finished it!Chris Matthews is admittedly one of my favorite cable guys to watch. I've always viewed him as fair, but never quite got a handle on who he is. Now I know, and I'm so impressed. How terrific to discover someone who knows what love of country means, and who values honor. This book is terrific. From his conservative beginnings to his turn to Democrat to the man he is now, this book keeps you wanting to know more. It is a patriotic page-turner from a man who truly loves his country. It was such a treat to read that I turned right around and purchased a copy for my boss, who is my Hardball "watercooler" pal. Thanks, Chris. Great book.
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Summary: Straight Talk of Chris Mathews
Review: Chris writes this book with the same no nonsense, straight from the hip, machine gun cadence with which he conducts his TV show "Hardball". I have never seen a man so unafraid to tell the world "WHAT I REALY THINK" as Chris Mathews. Regardless of who likes it or who don't...this is what he realy thinks. I love it.
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Summary: A PLEASURE to read this insightful CLASSIC!!
Review: "Hardball's" Chris Matthews has written yet ANOTHER political classic. His
book Hardball was already a political classic due to Matthews talent for cramming tons of perceptive political insight into short, conversational chapters written in a breezy style.
Let Me Tell You What I Really Think lives up to it's title: he outlines topics such as Al Gore, George Bush, Bill Clinton, JFK, Ronald Reagan etc. then at the end of each chapter under the title HERE'S WHAT I REALLY THINK he bluntly tells you. No hedging allowed. No political lines or spin. Just stuff from the gut -- and heart. Matthews is without question the best, most succinct newspaper columnist of his generation. Way before he hosted the confrontational Hardball, he wrote speeches for President Carter, had been a Democrat, Republican, Peace Corps volunteer, worked for Tip O'Neill, etc. What he was TOPS at was writing to-the-point newspaper columns...that often accurately predicted political outcomes (he won several awards for this talent). In this short, but opinion and idea-packed book, you can read the three pages on George Bush, written after the Sept 11 attack, and read the BEST, most insightful profile on GWB written by anyone yet. Read his Clinton chapter and he manages to actually give a new perspective on the former prez. Read the Al Gore chapter and he writes about a man he personally knows, explaining why he lost and will never be elected president (Gore's "know-it-all" personality did him in). Democrats and Republicans will alternatively love and hate this book, since he is not parroting a radio talk show host, member of Congress, or activist.
Matthews marches to his own political drummer, so various partisans go through stages thinking he is "on their side" or "against them." Wrong on both counts! Reasons why you MUST read and/or gift this book: 1. It's a pleasure to read. 2. His chapters on political leaders are the best ever written. 3. His chapters on America, democracy and American spirit burst with his own enthusiasm, ideas and specific examples. 4. His chapter giving career advice should be REQUIRED READING for young people or anyone who has a dream. Again, in a few short pages he gives basic advice so forcefully and documented that you can throw out ALL your wordy and costly motivational books and tapes...and just READ and re-read this chapter. That'll do it! 5. His personal stories about the Peace Corps, his family and his political evolution show someone who is truly a national resource. Great to read...great to gift!
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Summary: Good Mini Bios along with Mathew's, limited depth
Review: An entertaining book on several great political leaders such as Nixon, Kennedy, Bush, Gore, Clinton, Carter, O'Neil, Reagan and Churchill. They wet the appetite and provide interesting capsules that are noteworthy. The regrets on these bios is that they lack more depth and detail to give the reader a full appreciation of each man's statue. In addition, when Mathews brings up an interesting point, he fails to provide enough detail to fulfill the readers interest. Examples include his desciption of how Clinton constantly readjusted his political stance on issues to serve politics of the moment and how he let Paul Tongas carry the reality issues of the Democratic party in 1992 only to blundgeon him in the primaries. Another is his referencing his announcement shortly after the famous Quale-Bentsen, "...you're no Jack Kennedy debate" as a technical win for Quale without offering why? He's right when he says all anybody remembers is Bentsen's one liner. So remind us of what else happened! Even a footnote indicating his source of information would have been helpful. Although some of Mathews'
biographical sketches of himself are interesting, the book would have been better served if he limited his own bio and expanded on his primary subjects. A book that will appeal to people who don't require historical depth but disappointing to historians.
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Summary: Matthews Shoots From the Hip, Speaks from the Heart
Review: What is it that we find compelling in each other? If you are curious about what makes Chris Matthews tick, it's (almost) all here. His reverence for Winston Churchill. His crazy days in the Peace Corps. His 1950s Catholic school education. Matthews weaves personal history, opinion, and political anecdotes into a charming and deeply entertaining book. Ten succinct chapters each end with a summary that begins, 'HERE'S WHAT I REALLY THINK.' But did you expect anything less from the man who is famous for playing hardball? Matthews' discussion of a uniquely 'American Attitude' is especially relevent now. He declares that Americans are the most freedom-loving people in the world. How our love of freedom manifests itself in the coming years is perhaps a topic for a future book. Chapter nine, 'Worldly Wisdom,' is well worth the purchase price of the book in itself. Here we glimpse Matthews as professor. He offers three fundamental precepts for success, and it is a generous gift. Sugarplums like, 'When you ask someone for help, you are implicitly asking them to take a chance on you' and 'There's a magic that results when a person invests in you' are sprinkled throughout this chapter. He offers his advice heartily, and tenderly. I saw Chris Matthews speak about this book in a Washington DC bookstore appearance. He simply emanantes joy. It's not an act. The sparkle in his eye is no trick of television. He's the real thing. And his love of this country is palpable. To borrow from Matthews, HERE'S WHAT I REALLY THINK: This is a book you should buy, not borrow, because you'll want to return to it again and again.
Rating: 
Summary: I really think this book stinks
Review: I read this book on a return flight to the UK from Florida. I watched Hardball while on vacation there and enjoyed Matthews' direct style. He advertised the book at the end of his show so I thought I'd give it a try. It was a great disappointment and smacks of a quickly assembled cut and paste job. The best bits are near the beginning where Matthews describes America's love of freedom and its 'cowboy soul'. I also felt he was good on George W. Bush and Al Gore and later on Ronald Reagan. The rest was deeply unoriginal - too much on his mom and dad, too much on Kennedy and his 1960's youth (this is such a boring subject to those of us under 40)and amazingly for a brit such as I he praises Churchill (born into one of England's most aristocratic families) to the heavens while dismissing the UK as being class conscious and knocking our National Health Service (whose development from 1951-1955 Churchill oversaw). Dont get me wrong, Churchill's achievement during world war II was immense, but his overview of Churchill's career was so trite and simplistic it made me sceptical about the author's real understanding of history. As a great admirer of the USA, the book only confirmed my beliefs about the geographical incuriosity of Americans. Okay, so Matthews spent two years in Africa with the peace corps and toured Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall, but he observes these places only in the reflected glory of America and no real respect for alternative worldviews. So Chris, here's what I really think - America remains the hope of the freedom loving world, just show a little more respect for us and we'll love you all the more. And if you really want a British political giant who would meet your Democratic and Republican sensibilities, look to Ernest Bevin who was born into real poverty, became one of the world's most powerful trade union leaders but whose anti-communism led him to be instrumental in the creation of NATO.
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