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.