Description: Veteran newsman and Meet the Press moderator Tim Russert is known for his direct and unpretentious style and in this charming memoir he explains why. Russert's father is profiled as a plainspoken World War II veteran who worked two blue-collar jobs while raising four kids in South Buffalo but the elder Russert's lessons on how to live an honest, disciplined, and ethical life are shown to be universal. Big Russ and Me, a sort of Greatest Generation meets Tuesdays with Morrie, could easily have become a sentimental pile of mush with a son wistfully recalling the wisdom of his beloved dad. But both Russerts are far too down-to-earth to let that happen and the emotional content of the book is made more direct, accessible, and palatable because of it. The relationship between father and son, contrary to what one would think of as essential to a riveting memoir, seems completely healthy and positive as Tim, the academically gifted kid and later the esteemed TV star and political operative relies on his old man, a career sanitation worker and newspaper truck driver, for advice. Big Russ and Me also traces Russert's life from working-class kid to one of broadcast journalism's top interviewers by introducing various influential figures who guided him along the way, including Jesuit teachers, nuns, his dad's drinking buddies, and, most notably, the late New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, whom Russert helped get elected in 1976. Plenty of entertaining anecdotes are served up along the way from schoolyard pranks to an attempt to book Pope John Paul II on the Today Show. Though not likely to revolutionize modern thought, Big Russ and Me will provide fathers and sons a chance to reflect on lessons learned between generations. --Charlie Williams
Details: We enjoyed this book very much. Listening to Tim Russert's voice made it feel like you were sharing stories with an old friend. His appreciation of his humble beginnings and up bringing are very evident. You can see why so many people connected with how he delivered the important world happenings and made it relevent to all. A great story of how simple a fathers love can be. Do not turn it off until you hear the epiloge, very tender, especially now.
Review Summary: Big Russ & me
Date: 2008-09-22
Details: Wonderful reminiscences of his childhood and relationship with his Father. The book took me back to my childhood and fun times in the empty lot with kids. Being out all day. Riding bikes. Mom making donuts for the neighborhood kids while we were busy building snow forts or christmas tree forts. What fun times!
Review Summary: Wholesome Reading
Date: 2008-09-07
Details: A personal story of the relationship between a father and his son. This story personifies what a father/son relationship should be. The values of the father handed down to the son serve to bring that son into manhood and establish his outlook on life, his ethics and moreover his treatment of this fellow man. An excellent book and a must read for every father/son relationship.
Robert Allen, Author: A "Guest" of the Confederacy The Civil War Letters and Diaries of Alonzo M. Keeler, Captain, Company B, Twenty-second Michigan Infantry
Review Summary: Fantastic
Date: 2008-09-03
Details: This is a book that everyone should read! Makes you realize how important family is and what having moral values really mean. It also makes you think about what kind of person you want to be remembered as and especially what you would like to teach your children. I absolutely loved it. Wish we still lived in those days. The world has changed so much and I can't say it's for the best.
Review Summary: Tim Russert
Date: 2008-09-01
Details: Read this after the passing of Tim Russert.... what a wonderful son and father he was. It is a wonderful tribute to his Dad, Big Russ, and fond memories for his family to cherish always.
out of 146 Reviews
