Rating: 
Summary: One Line Describes Tim Russert
Review: I am only 1/2 way through the book and feel like I'm sitting with a couple of cold ones listening to Tim tell some childhood stories. Something that some of my friends of over 40-45 yrs do on a regular basis...a few great laughs and lessons for those younger as they sit with us and listen to the tales.
One line that I just read explains how this person, Tim Russert, has become the man that he is. I just finished the story on "baseball." The line was related to his hope as a youngster to become a baseball player..."It definitely could happen." With that optimism tied to his intelligence and drive, no wonder he is as successful as he is today. Anything is definitely possible.
For those of you that criticize the writing style, get out a cold one ... gather with friends ... and listen to yourself tell stories of fun times. That is the point of the book...remember the stories and the lessons that we learned. These stories are to be shared with those that can benefit from them.
Speaking from experience, it is very difficult to write a book; let alone being on the NY Times best seller list! Congratulations to Tim Russert and his family and friends who supported him through this effort!
Rating: 
Summary: A True American Dream
Review: I first heard of this book only a day before it's release last week, while Shawn Hannidy interviewed Tim Russert on his radio show. I consider myself a news hound and beleive Russert is the best at what he does. He reminds me of a ' junkyard dog' with that ' growl' look he has. After listening to the 5 CD's in two days while driving I found out alot about my own father and my life growing up in the fifties and sixties, or where the parents of those who did. Tim reads the Audio version with such feeling and emotion that you are transformed into his life, and since I was born and raised in a Jewish family and area,and married a Catholic goddess this book gave me invaluable insight to the stories she has recounted of her own family growing of in South Dakota. We both agree that among the fifty or so audio books we have listened to over the past year this makes our TOP FIVE list. This past week, as some of you know, while interviewing Colin Powell from IRAQ on MEET THE PRESS ' LIVE' an aide of the Sec't of State pushed the camera away from Powell when Tim asked him a 'delicate ' question'. Out came that junkyard dog look of Tim's and he said to The Secretary of the United Staes on LIVE NBC TV " Mr. Secretary this is quite inapprotriate". How many of the Mr. Softies like Larry King,Katie Couric, Matt Laurer,Diane Sayer,etc. would have handled that awkward situation like Tim. Like all the message's in his book state, Be prepared for anything. I would stongly recomend this book to anyone over forty. It probaly wouldn't be that interesting if you where not a ' baby boomer or a parent of one. That about 60% of us! Great writting,story telling and the value of friends and family Tim. I will continue to be a faithful Meet the Press viewer. Thanks for reminded how our parents build this country. As Brokaw wrote they really are ' The greatest generation' and as Yogi says "It over till it's over" You have many fans here in Philadelphia!
Rating: 
Summary: Simply Wonderful
Review: I just think it's wonderful that a great newsman like Russert has taken the time to pay tribute to his father. It ranks right up there with Cokie Roberts' tribute to her marriage, and to Emma Sam's tribute to her kids. On television, Russert comes across as a supremely confident, highly articulate, exceedingly professional journalist. One of the most courageous things I have ever seen a journalist do occured about 2 weeks ago when Russert was interviewing Colin Powell, who was on a satellite feed from Jordan or someplace. Russert asked him about the kababs or the drinking water or something, and suddenly, the camera shifted off to some palm trees. Russert, being the tough as nails, no beating around the bush, cutting edge reporter that he is, forcefully asked that the camera be turned back on Powell, and boldly insinuated that one of Powell's own staffers had interfered with the camera. Although Powell pretended like nothing had happened, and Russert just let the whole thing slip by without saying anything more about it, one could not help but feel that American journalism was in fine hands with the likes of Russert looking into all the nooks and crannies of the Iraq war. On his show, Russert spends most of his time asking if John McCain will run with Kerry, or if Kerry really threw his own medals away or if Laura Bush's appearance on the Tonight Show will have any impact on the voters. Yes, he has never spent much time questioning his guests from the White House, Pentagon, Congress, etc about the lack of WMD, or the missing connection between 9/11 and Iraq, or about civilian casualties of the war, or about treatment of prisoners overseas (even after the photos were released), or about what in the world George Bush is talking about half the time, or about Rumsfeld's hypocritical statements about the Geneva conventions at the start of the war, or about Condaleeza Rice's incomprehensible responses to any question asked of her, etc. Still, one must feel comforted that a man of Russert's impeccable character and burning quest for the truth is on the job, and will ensure that we remain informed of what is really going on in the world. Big Russ, we thank you for all the lessons you have taught little Russ, for our lives are richer because of his weekly, hard-hitting interviews.
Rating:
Summary: South Buffalo Idyll
Review: I loved this book, mostly because I grew up in Buffalo around the same time as Russert and all the little area references resonated the time and the place: Malecki's hot dogs,Sattler's,Loblaws,etc. However, I didn't feel that Russert was telling the whole story-nobody's life is that perfect. There is very little mention of his siblings and even less about his mother. He also glosses over his parent's divorce somewhat breezily.One more bone to pick:Russert seems to think that South Buffalo has the only Irish Catholics in the city-he calls one local pol a rarity: a North Buffalo Irish Catholic-not rare at all,Tim, visit St Margarets,St. Rose or St. Mark's the next time you're home. Overall a great book-a love song to Buffalo-why do we all love it so much? Go Bills!!!
Rating:
Summary: Good advice
Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. I grew up (and still live in) South Buffalo, NY, and I can attest that things are pretty much the same as when Tim Russert lived there. I did stand in front of my friend's houses and yell their names to "come out and play!" I even had the same teacher Mr. Russert did, about 20 years later!! I really liked this book though, not only because I am familiar with the neighborhood and all the goings on of the Irish Catholic setting, but because of the life lessons it teaches about getting to where you want to be through hard work, and a little advice from dad.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable Memoir
Review: I really enjoyed Tim Russert's wonderful memoir. In all lot of ways I felt as though I was reading about someone I had grown up with. He does a tremendous job of capturing the mood of growing up Irish Catholic in the '50's and '60's. A VERY ENJOYABLE READ!!
Rating:
Summary: A great memoir and tribute to a great father
Review: I started this book on sunday morning and finished it by midnight.I skiped lunch because the book was so gripping.
Tim Russert is always straight from the heart.After reading this book,I have more love and respect towards my parents.Thanks Tim for such a nice book.
Rating:
Summary: Big Russ and Me is a very good book.
Review: I was interested in reading Big Russ and Me, because Tim Russert is one of the most respected journalists and one of the best political minds in the media. I wanted to learn more about this man who has been on television so much the last 2 decades. As the title states, this book is about the relationship and lessons a father teaches his son. Russert not only talks the relationship he has with his father He talks the relationship he has with his own son Luke and the passion of sports they both share. Tim Russert has so much respect and love for his father, and he explains clearly why in this book. Big Russ, or Tim Russert Sr. prepared and inspected parachuttes during World War 2. He later held down later down 2 jobs as a trash collector and a newspaper delivery truck driver and never missed a single day of work in his life. Tim Russert learned from his father the value of hard work and to take pride in whatever he did. Russert talks about the things he loves like baseball, food, cars. Russert is also proud of his strict Catholic upbringing, working in a church as a teenager, and attending Catholic schools throughout his life. He also talks and the other people who inspired him throughout his life like his 7th grade teacher Sister Lucille who made him editor of his school newspaper and gave him a love of writing and reading. Father Sturum was another teacher and influence who taught him discipline and accountability. Tim Russert worked as Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan's assistant in the mid 70s. Moynihan became his political and intellectual mentor. The late senator taught Russert how to respect true intelligence, ask good questions, and how to disagree agreeably. This is a skill Russert does so well as moderator of Meet the Press every week. Big Russ and Me is a very entertaining and heartwarming book about the lessons we learn from other fathers. It is also about how teachers and coworkers can play such an important part in our lives. I enjoyed it very much.
Rating:
Summary: Surprising, wonderful book
Review: I was lucky enough to get an early copy of this book in galleys from the publisher before it came out -- and finished it in one day. Although I've never met Russert, it's not the type of book you'd expect from anyone who works in Washington. It's rich with great descriptions and moving, humble, simple life lessons that resonate long after you close the last page. I was taken far more with Russert's early life in Buffalo than with his later years in Washington, but that in no way diminishes the overall book. Lots of titles are over-hyped today, but that's not the case with this one. It's a beautiful love letter to the Dad, family, and community who raised him.
Rating:
Summary: Good book, but not great.
Review: I watch Meet the Press, so when I found out Tim Russert was writing a book about his life, I decided I wanted to read it. I picked up this book this morning and read right through it, cover to cover. It is an okay book, and a very easy read written at the 8th grade level (I do not mean that as an insult, I think he was writing this book for a wide audience). It tells the story of Tim Russerts life and the lessons he learned. For example, it talks about his father holding down two jobs, and how he had accumulated over 200 unused sick days by the time he retired. Yet it goes over the top, suggesting that anyone who takes a day off has a bad work ethic. The book does have a few passages that made me chuckle, like one of Russert's bosses in the sanitation department who last name was Mr. Scalavzeviz (or something like that) which nobody could pronounce, so they all called him Mr. Sonuvabitch. I hesitantly recommend this book, and forwarn people that there is a preaching like quality to the book that might rub some the wrong way, even though I do not think Russert intended it that way. But all in all, it was a good read. If you watch Meet the Press, this book is a good opportunity to gain some insight about the moderator.
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