More Riffs, Rants and Raves
By William O'Shaughnessy

      This is William O'Shaughnessy's third book about the great issues and leaders of our time, spanning over thirty years of history. I'm not sure that the title, More Riffs, Rants and Raves, does justice to this massive volume of interviews, essays and colorful commentaries. As president of Whitney Radio and editorial director of WVOX and WRTN in Westchester County, New York, O'Shaughnessy is a true American voice. He writes with intelligence, insight and eloquence.

    The very size of this book was enough to convince me that I would probably not read the whole thing. I was wrong. It is a fascinating collection of the O'Shaughnessy wit. The interviews with Nelson Rockefeller as vice president, when he was planning his campaign for President and the 1985 Earthquake victims were particularly compelling. The section about and by Mario Cuomo gave me insight into the greatness of the man and his ideas on America's political culture.

    O'Shaughnessy's easy writing style demands that you go back to this book again and again. You can read it straight through, or browse around and find your favorite politicians, writers and the movers and shakers. His interviews on September 11, 2001, were sensitive, and reading them brought back my feelings of that terrible day.

     This book will have an honored spot on my bookshelves. I usually do not read books over again, but this one will be an exception. I've already book-marked some favorite interviews for future reference.