Rating: 
Summary: This is the best of the "oh yeah I remember that" books
Review: This is a terrific book. It is not an important book, but it is full of terrific "oh yeah's" for anyone over 40 years old. This is because Schieffer's memoirs will jog your memory.Oh yeah, I remember when President Ford dumped his VP, Rockefeller, and put Bob Dole on the ticket. Oh yeah, I remember when Ford pardoned Nixon. Oh yeah, I remember when Tower's nomination to the Cabinet got derailed, a young congressman... what was his name? Oh yeah, it was Dick Cheney who eventually became Secretary of Defense. Much of Schiffer's career is the result of good and bad timing. And his book deals with this in a direct and self effacing way. Dan Rather was ahead of him at the White House, on the weekend news. Walter Chronkite and Leslie Stahl preceeded him in the "Face the Nation" slot. He is candid about his first, incorrect reaction to the Watergate breakin reports. His stories about the competitiveness of tv reporters and anchors have a refreshing honesty to them. But this is no kiss and tell book. When he relates a story about another reporter with a drinking problem, he does not disclose the name, or circumstances. He has the grace and dignity to leave out details that would have us all guessing who it might be. Schiffer is not a gossip, and I applaud him for that. The timing of the publication of this book could have been better. It was published in hard cover just the the US and the UK were preparing for war with Iraq. But, I suspect that Schiffer will take it in stride. Perhaps, the soft cover will come out at a better time. Schiffer's book is easy and delightful reading for anyone who has followed the last 25 or 30 years of national news. It won't change your life or the way you see things. It won't give you great original insight into the issues of these days. It will however provide hours of pure enjoyment as you read it. I highly recommend This Just In.
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Review of Past Decades to the Present
Review: Newsman Bob Schieffer takes the reader for a review of his very interesting life as a journalist from the period of the Kennedy assassination through the 9-11 tragedy. Much of the book is political history of past presidents and what took place during their administrations. Whether you lived through this entire period of time or not I think you will find this book to be engaging reading. Schieffer brings you behind the scenes and discusses the personality traits of various persons we have come to be familiar with over the years involving the television media. The book is slightly over 400 pages long, but it makes for easy reading even for those who are not especially interested in American politics from the newscasters point of view.
Rating:
Summary: Where's Bernie?
Review: A well written memoir of a newsman forced into today's version of "news" (read showbiz). One glaring omission - no mention of former colleague Bernard Goldberg (author of "Bias"), who made Dan Rather and is fellow prima donnas fume. I wonder what Mr. Schieffer really thinks about this?
Rating:
Summary: Early Years Good - Later Years Bland
Review: The first half of this book is engaging and a great read. Bob's tales of his career in Fort Worth in the 1960s are worth the cost of the book. The problem is that the farther Bob gets away from Fort Worth the less critical his eye gets and the blander gets his writing. By the time you reach the Larry Tisch years at CBS it's pretty much like a day-old enchilada, once it was good and now it's just mushy and bland. So read the first part and then set it down. You'll feel better about Bob and the book if you do.
Rating: 
Summary: Gently to the Left
Review: I bought my copy of "This Just In" while its author, Bob Schieffer, was in Jacksonville, Florida speaking at a luncheon with Kenneth Starr. At the book signing tables before the luncheon Schieffer and Starr were back-to-back greeting their respective book buyers. Even though each could literally reach out and touch the other by merely turning around, Schieffer, whose line was embarrassingly short, studiously avoided making contact with Starr. Starr on the other hand appeared too busy warmly greeting and chatting with his "customers" and admirers to even acknowledge Schieffer's presence. Right and Left had met outside the Beltway. Schieffer left immediately after the luncheon, pointing out that a snow storm was approaching Washington and that he needed to be ready to host Meet the Press in the morning. Starr signed books for another three hours. Now that I've read Schieffer's book I believe that his chilliness towards Starr reflects a subtle partisanship which infects his book. Mind you, Schieffer seldom says a bad word about anyone, a trait his book shares with Rather's "The Camera Never Blinks." If he disagrees with someone, he simply omits them (the only exception to the rule for both Schieffer and Rather is Barbara Walters, who appears to be fair game for both). Schieffer studiously applies the old adage "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all"--Walters being the exception to the rule. Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton get full chapters ("Jimmy" and "The Charmer") while Ronald Reagan's eight years as President gets one paragraph. Newt Gingrich fairs a bit better with three paragraphs but Gerald Ford's brief Presidency gets 18 pages. Schieffer apparently likes his Republicans amiable and ineffective. There is redeeming value in the book. Schieffer writes well. I can recommend the first half---the story of his climb into network news. But the second half, the part which begins when he lands his first job with CBS, begins the downfall of the work. He jealously guards his network's reputation and champions its interests. His view is passionately pro-CBS. From my brief view of Schieffer at the book signing, and from reading his book I believe that he is a gentle man, an introvert by nature, a man deeply devoted to his family
and loyal to his friends. He's the kind of guy who would be a good companion and friend. He would likely recoil at the charge that he is a member of the Left, but all history is interpretation. Decisions to include or exclude certain facts and people in his autobiography reveals Schieffer's political leanings and clearly as his refusal to speak with Kenneth Starr does. Schieffer's book is Gently to the Left.
Rating:
Summary: Reads like a great conversation
Review: Bob Schieffer writes as if he is talking to you, not at you. There is a humanity to his writing that is not only reflected in his comments on public events and well known people, but in his own honesty about himself.
Rating:
Summary: Stuck in Kansas
Review: Bob Schieffer's book is terrific. Schieffer makes anyone who is interested in journalism or who works in the field, feel good about their quirky desires to get the big story. In an unassuming way, he weaves the reader through his personal struggles, and accomplishments, modestly pointing out every time luck happened to come his way. His insights into war and politics seem especially relevant in this day and age. I'm 29 and love this book. My father is 60 and loves it. I would recommend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Splendid Book from a Longtime Journalist
Review: In a conversational, almost folksy style,Schieffer traces his career from small newspapers and radio stations in Texas to the summit of international broadcasting. In addition to providing an insider's view of how the media operates, the book helps readers recall America's most publicized events of the last forty years. Well worth reading, and enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: What a Just Read
Review: Bob Schieffer is an excellent reporter and as it turns out a superb writer. This behind the scenes view of 40 years of American history is a must read by anyone over 35. And this is the type of history book we all love to read covering the stuff that doesn't get in the paper or on the television. Schieffer has a wonderful style of writing. He makes you feel you're part of the story he's telling or better yet, he makes you feel he's telling you personally, while you're there. Great read for a long weekend.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting but I wasn't glued to it...like other books.
Review: Schieffer is a good news anchor and an excellent reporter. I've watched him on CBS for years. It's refreshing to hear the stories behind the stories that never seem to come out over the airwaves and I wonder why. If you're really bored you can read this one and probably enjoy it. However, it wasn't loaded with highly secret information I just had to find out. (...)
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