Everyone Is Entitled to My Opinion - Hardcover

Brinkley, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0679450718 ISBN 13: 9780679450719

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996

Synopsis

No matter how seriously we take our politics, Americans love a light touch, a raised eyebrow, a generous chuckle--which is why millions of us tune in to Sunday morning television for the bracing cocktail of wit and practical wisdom dispensed, along with the news, by the inimitable David Brinkley.  His closing remarks, like an exclamation point after each broadcast, may illuminate the week's events or they may range widely through the oft puzzling human condition--but they're always worth waiting for.

In this one-of-a-kind book, we get the undiluted Brinkley.  He marvels at government regulations that require cans of paint to bear a label reading "Do not drink paint."  He nominates Richard Nixon as Official U.S. Government Scapegoat.  He commiserates with an Oklahoma mayor who must earn extra money by collecting beer cans and claiming the deposits.  He reminisces about a White House that welcomed casual picnickers on its lawn.  He forgives George Bush for passing out in Tokyo.  He observes that "if we can put a man on the moon, we could put Congress in orbit."  He skewers lawyers, bureaucrats, Washington insiders, hypocrites of all stripes.  He commemorates absurdity--and hence suffers fools gladly.

In short, Everyone Is Entitled To My Opinion is David Brinkley at his unbeatable best.

About this title

Review

This is a selection of Mr. Brinkley's favorite short commentaries, compiled from those he delivered over the last 15 years as host of "This Week With David Brinkley." Brinkley brings his weighty bearing, rich tones, dark humor, and acerbic wit to bear on the problems of the day and editorializes on the political questions of Washington. He is often funny in his irreverent dismissal of politicians and his world-weary resigned attitude to intractable issues both large and small is curiously appealing.

From the Back Cover

"[A] gem . . . [Everyone Is Entitled to My Opinion] provides both a nostalgic look at the famous curmudgeonly sweetheart of TV news and a reminder that good reporting sometimes comes packaged in the small ironies of daily life."
--San Francisco Chronicle

"A simply wonderful collection . . . Amusing, astounding . . . You will laugh and you'll become thoughtful but most of all you will enjoy this book."
--The Ellenville Press

"Gentle, courteous, and restrained though his manner may be, his comments contain a neat rapier-thrust of amiable malice, and in the course of the book many pieces of armor are pierced. . . . [Everyone Is Entitled to My Opinion] will pleasantly beguile."
--Library Journal

About this edition

• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0679450718
• ISBN 13: 9780679450719
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 175