Truth Worth Telling

April 1, 2019
Declaring that "values matter," the 60 Minutes reporter and former CBS Evening News anchor examines a number of values, virtues, and vices he sees in America--and around the world. In his debut, Pelley combines memoir, exposition, and exhortation to chronicle his long and honored career. His strong opinions, however, are not partisan: He assails our current president but also the Clintons and others, regardless of party, who have failed to adhere to the virtues he identifies, such as gallantry, devotion, gratitude, and vision. The text is organized thematically. The author begins with the efforts of the FDNY during 9/11 and ends with what reads like a "go-forth-and-do-good-work" graduation speech to new graduates at a journalism school. He includes tributes to (and denunciations of) well-known figures--e.g., George W. Bush, whom Pelley treats kindly and appreciatively for his 9/11 leadership and then takes to task for the Iraq War--and figures whom he escorts from the wings into the limelight. Among these are a military nurse in Iraq, the parents of Sandy Hook students, and Bao Tong, a member of the Chinese government who spoke against Tiananmen Square--and has paid a lifelong price. Occasionally, Pelley inserts between chapters a minisection entitled "Field Note," mostly anecdotal, personal comments about his experiences or observations during his reporting days. One recurrent theme is the importance of free speech and the free press. He worries about the current climate, rife with the proliferation of fake news on social media. Pelley is consistently generous in his praise of his colleagues; producers, camera operators and many others earn high marks in the author's gradebook. Of Bob Simon, for example, he writes, "I learned more from [him] than any other colleague." Piercing tributes to values and those who embody them mixed with crisp, detailed accounts of reporting in highly hazardous locations.

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Starred review from April 15, 2019
A TV newsman confronts war, terror, economic collapse, and presidential deceit in this tumultuous memoir. Pelley, a 60 Minutes correspondent and former anchor of CBS Evening News, combines firsthand observations, interviews with newsmakers, and reported profiles to recapture the stories he covered. An opening piece on the September 11 attacks mixes his on-the-spot impressions of the collapsing World Trade Center with an intimate profile of a fire department chief coping with the disaster; a chapter on the 2008 financial crash puts him in the room as Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke struggle to bail out the economy, then probes the big banks’ mortgage frauds; and a recap of the 2016 election reviews the dissembling and derangements of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Many chapters are devoted to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: Pelley watches U.S. helicopters bombard the enemy; slogs along on counterinsurgency patrols; confronts President George W. Bush over the lies told to justify the invasion of Iraq; and examines the kidnapping and torture of prisoners by the U. S. military and CIA. Pelley’s narratives are a riveting blend of investigative reporting, color commentary, and personal reminiscence; they make a convincing case for why journalism still matters.

April 15, 2019
Journalists speak truth to power, but more important, they bring power to truth. Cognizant of the current state of distrust of the media, veteran newsman Pelley focuses on universal human traits as he examines the essential role of journalists to hold a mirror to our better angels and, at times, worst enemies. Throughout his career with CBS News, Pelley has witnessed the shocking and the sublime, and he has interviewed diverse individuals, from presidents to prisoners-of-war, who were the willing architects or unwitting victims of a specific set of circumstances that made them worthy of the world's attention. Pelley's resolute devotion to his profession is illustrated by the standards he seeks to maintain while practicing his craft. The results of his conscientious approach shine in profiles of everyone from combative CIA director George Tenet to courageous Chinese dissident Bao Tong. But it is in his advice to young journalists that Pelley's wisdom shines brightest, for he is a fervent advocate of the honor and necessity of a free and intrepid press.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)

May 1, 2019

In a passionate defense of the role of journalism in maintaining democracy, award-winning journalist Pelley (60 Minutes) makes his case by drawing on stories of hope from 25 years of covering news. His goal is to open our minds by offering glimpses of people overcoming obstacles to further the greater good. Each chapter is named after a virtue. Beginning with gallantry, the author recounts the harrowing story of the response of the New York Fire Department and others to 9/11. His vivid descriptions remind us of the horror of that day and the generous reaction of many. The section on selflessness tells of Lieutenant Colonel and nurse anesthesiologist Paulette Schank's valiant effort to save the life of wounded Kenny Lyon, and other troops, in Iraq. On the lighter side, an account of Bruce Springsteen illustrates authenticity, and another on Elon Musk highlights vision. Pelley himself represents gratitude for all who have contributed to his success. VERDICT In an era when journalism and journalists are under attack, this is a reminder of the power of story to recognize the best in each of us and society.--Judy Solberg, Sacramento, CA

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2019

The multi-Emmy-award-winning Pelley, curently a 60 Minutes correspondent, doesn't simply recount three decades' worth of experience on the news front. He also considers what values allow people to make a crucial difference. With a 250,000-copy first printing.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.