Rather Dumb: A Top Tabloid Reporter Tells CBS How to Do News

This is a must read for anyone in the news media, as well as for all students contemplating a career in journalism. Mike Walker's smartly written, informative and amusing book should be mandatory reading in university journalism and communications programs. It's the best damn text on the business, period! Even seasoned newsfolk (Dan Rather and the entire CBS News division maybe?) could learn more than a few things from Walker. Bravo, Tabloid Boy!

The notion of a National Enquirer columnist chastising network uber-anchor Dan Rather might strike some as odd, but in his book Walker skillfully demonstrates that he and his publication pay far more attention to accuracy and credibility in their reporting than so-called "mainstream journalists." A breezy, well-written, downright funny look at Rather and other bungling members of the media elite.

When you hear Mike Walker on the radio and see him on TV he always seems to be such a nice guy. I even met him once and he was genuinely nice. So when I saw the title to this book I thought it was "Rather Mean." But after reading the book, you realize Mike Walker is not trying to be mean at all. He seriously scrutinizes this whole Rathergate affair as if Dan Rather were on trial and Mike Walker was the judge. I also didn't expect this book to be so damn funny --- but it is! This book made me shed more than a few tears laughing.

I remember reading Walker's O.J. Simpson book that caused Judge Ito to stop the trial and that was quite a page-turner, but I really think he has hit his stride with this hilarious polemic. I actually found myself laughing out loud throughout the book and reading passages to my wife. I enjoy listening to his Mike Walker Game on Howard Stern and he is always entertaining when he pops up on TV, but reading him rake Rather over the coals for using faked documents that a journalism student would have taken the time to verify is thoroughly enjoyable. Walker reveals a lot of bizarre things that I never knew about Dan Rather. I am no fan of President Bush and wondered if Walker might have some sort of right wing agenda, but that notion was shattered in a final chapter that hits you like a sledge hammer. Overall, this book is eminently readable and worth your time.

I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of Mr. Walker's book on the shameful Dan Rather and his cronies at CBS. I have admired Mike's snarky and sarcastic writing through his National Enquirer columns, but Rather Dumb tops any of his previous writings. His insightful analysis of what's wrong with "mainstream" journalism today is written in a snarky and hillarious style that's guaranteed to have you laughing out loud.