Andy Loves His Books

Andy Rooney On Why He Is A Book's Best Friend

(CBS)  This segment was originally broadcast on April 22, 2007.

The following is a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney.

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I haven't heard about it yet, but I imagine CBS is planning a big surprise party for me because I'm coming up to my 1000th commentary on 60 Minutes. You've probably forgotten some of the most memorable things I've said. I know I can't remember anything memorable.

The interesting thing for me though is that everything I've ever done on camera has been saved on videotape. Keith Kulin, the editor, has a storeroom and he saves everything whether it's worth saving or not.

It's going to be interesting to see whether books or videotapes end up being the most used reference tool. I hope its books.

Before there was such a thing as a book, thousands of years ago, nothing got saved. We don't know what the cavemen thought about caves even though they tried to write on the walls.

I love the books I have in my office. There are about 600 of them and if I knew everything in all of them, I’d be the smartest guy in the world.

Well, I don't know everything in my books. Sometimes when I get up in the morning, I can’t even remember where my socks are.

I don't really like dictionaries but I have several good ones and I'm always looking at those.

One of the best reference books ever written, "Modern English Usage," is written by a man named Fowler. If you do any writing at all, you can’t be without this. We're lucky to have English as our language because it’s the best language in the world but it’s not easy.

One of my favorite books of all time is "A Preface To Morals" by Walter Lippmann. Lippmann was one of the best writers and thinkers there ever was.

You can’t be a good writer without being a good thinker. This is a depressing thought for a writer.

I have four volumes by Charles Darwin. I don't usually like books with leather jackets but I treasure these.

Another book I treasure is "The Modern Researcher" by my friend Jacques Barzun and Henry Graff. Jacques is the smartest person I've ever known. He's going to be 100 years old in November. Jacques still has all his marbles and I hope I live long enough to go to his birthday party.

I love my books. I wouldn't trade these books around me for a million dollars. Don't tempt me with an offer though because I have duplicate copies of all of them.

[jahcobi]

Thanks for the books Andy.

[middleman8]

moldy dust collectors.

[heero2020]

Andy Rooney, congratulations on your 1000th year with CBS. Couldn''t happen to a better guy.

[blogthis1]

OMG lighten up. It''s a comical commentary.

[messiahx4eve]

Ah kin speek an spel goud rednek wurds cos ah jest lak my heero, ole'' W an me an mah cuzzin liv in crawferd rite twix mr. bush''z outhose.

[moglislok]

Everyone has opinions about everything and everyone. When an opinion is justified by evidence and facts then it gains more credibility. For nearly 20 centuries the official language of business, science, philosophy and government was Greek, with the fall of the Byzantine Empire (1453) a rich history of civilization ended. There are no good bad or best languages. Nevertheless the richness of a language is based on what kind and what quality of works its users managed to make over time.
The west copied from the Greeks the way to Live and Think, most of the English words have Greek roots especially in medicine.
I believe that an opinion is welcomed but it%u2019s more widely socially accepted when its founded on solid reasons based on facts.

[fireceos]

Oh, Gosh!!! I MUST apologize. I think I criticized an article Mr. Rooney wrote in the recent past. I had no idea of his stature, (or age, if you will.) Mr. Rooney, write anything you like. Enjoy yourself, and I hope you are not working too hard. If so, retire, enjoy yourself, and take a break.

[pvperson]

Before you *** all over me for misspelling "language"...Colette, I have arthritis and my fingers don''t always do what I want. That''s my excuse for the way I am, what''s yours?

[pvperson]

Colette........It''s easy to have the "Best" of something. The best nation is America, the best language is English, the best favor is peppermint, the best color is red, etc., etc., it''s called opinion. Do you have that word in any of your five lanuagages or is it too chauvinistic and arrogant?

[cdahanne]

Dear Andy,

I just heard you say "We''re lucky to have English as our language, because it''s the best language in the world, but it''s not easy." I assume you speak several languages fluently, otherwise what basis would you have to say either that English is best, or that it''s a difficult language? I speak five languages, and I consider English an easy language to learn.
I am very offended by your chauvinist statement.
How can anyone say there is a "best language"?
Is there a "best culture" then? Is there a "best nation," a "best race"?
Your statement is terrible in its arrogance, especially since it is broadcast all over the world.

I am deeply offended to say the least.

Colette Dahanne.

[dahl3116]

ANDY!!! ANDY !! ANDY!! I love my books, too. But, NOW I can carry 150 books in the palm of my hand (electronic devices). You missed a great opportunity.

[jbeckett5]

Books or tapes: Neither. Tapes are hard to random access. Books are heavy, especially as many as I like to have available. PDFs forever! I can carry dozens of them on my laptop and they don''t increase the weight a bit.

[etheline-2009]

Sorry that I am a week late. Just want to compliment Andy on his Memorial Day commentary.As a WW2 army infantryman, I believe Andy''s comments were right on target and I could not agree more.
D.H.

[hypnotoad72]

Gaaah! I apologize for the second paragraph; as usual I'm the fool for not remembering to *proofread*...

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The English language puts the pronouns before the nouns. Other languages don't. Translate "I like the green socks, please." into other languages and the result is invariably "I like the socks green, please." I understand the logic in both variants, but there is something more... distinguished with having the adjective before the noun. If nothing else, the latter statement suggests the one who likes green socks wants a pair of socks dyed green. The former statement leaves no room for misinterpretation. Assuming you write it out properly the first time like how I hadn't... :)

[hypnotoad72]

English IS the best language.

It is the most complex.

The English language puts the pronouns before the nouns. Other languages don't. Translate "I like the green socks, please." into other languages and the result is invariably "I lock socks green, please." I understand the logic in both variants, but there is something more... distinguished with having the adjective before the noun.

And the English language is also geek-friendly. Which other languages have complex words defining similar, simpler words that mean the same thing? "Dilettante", "obsequious", "obstreperous", and best of all "kitty litter"?

What bothers me is the aggregate of media programs, managers/supervisory staff, and other folks of authority that demand the simplest of words be used. What is wrong with going out to read the definition of a word? Is the process so slow it's not profitable; research for its own sake, and everything else deemed wrong in this country?

[bobs71]

Andy , Shalom Y'all
Andy where are the Hero Cops , all I saw at Columbine and Virginia Tech was a bunch of fat cops hiding behind trees and cars waiting for the shooting to stop . The first officers on the scene should should have rushed in and shot anyone with a gun in their hand ,
Yes , I have been there and done that in a more intense scene.
Door gunner in Viet Man on medivacs and Recon emergency extracts.

The cops in our town were called out where a mother called them because her son wouldn't rake his meds . A retarted guy .He wouldn't let them in . They called SWAT and the kid opened the door and waved a small piece of pipe at them .
14 SWAT officers shot him and the Texas Rangers said it was a good shoot .
So we have our share of Candy *** Cops here too.
Where have all of the Heroes gone .
I guess they are all in Iraq
Bob Scott
Odessa ,Texas

[rajohnson67]

I received an email claiming that Mr. Rooney wrote the commentary below and I'd like to know if it is true:

...Surprised CBS let him get away with this even though he's right.
AMEN ANDY ROONEY !

Right on, Andy Rooney!
Andy Rooney said on "60 Minutes" a few weeks back:

I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except numbers. The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory are things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America.
Try to have things like the United Caucasian College Fund, Cloud Magazine, White Entertainment Television, or Miss White America; and see what happens. Jesse Jackson will be knocking down your door...

[kevyn10]

Mr. Rooney,
I always glean something useful from your commentary whether or not I agree with your opinion. I think it is because you seem to be able to present a subject or concept simply. This is a marvelous ability because there is no distracting clutter.
I value this commentary because of the reference books listed. I admire those who can communicate efectively via the spoken or written word and a good reference book can show me how it is done.
The comments accompanying the commentary are also interesting.

[booyaw_77]

.. deyz call me.. *** man.

[booyaw_77]

.. so yah. Go on.. read yer books. You still.. as dumb as ever. Mr. Journalist..