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Shooting Straight: Guns, Gays, God, and George Clooney
From ultimate media insider Piers Morgan, an adrenaline-fueled account of life at CNN, exclusive stories about his celebrity encounters, and details about his high-profile decision to take on the issue of gun control at its historical tipping point.
When Piers Morgan arrived in the US, he was a thoughtful outsider and observer of our country—a modern-day Alexis de Tocqueville, if a limousine-chasing British tabloid editor could be called that. From rushing to the roof of the studio that filmed America’s Got Talent so that he could broadcast live breaking news about the tsunami in Japan, only to rush back and judge a singing, dancing Christmas tree; from being snubbed by Bill O’Reilly, who pretended not to recognize him (despite the largest cable news marketing campaign in television history) to, moments later, consenting to take a picture with O’Reilly’s daughter, who happened to be a big fan of America’s Got Talent (Bill was immediately scolded by security for “photographing the talent,” which is a comeuppance more artful than one could make up); from declaring in no uncertain terms that the 2011 shooting of Gabby Giffords would change American guns laws as surely as the 1996 massacres in Dunblain, Scotland, and Tasmania, Australia, had done, only to rail in disbelief the following year at the Newtown, Connecticut, massacre in 2012, and the gun lobby’s insistence that it was “too soon” to discuss the problem of guns in America.
The hit HBO series Newsroom posits that America needs a newsman who has a point of view, who does not suffer fools, and who does not give “equal time” to idiocy. Watching Piers Morgan, one gets the sense that he is as close to the character Will McAvoy as we have in this country presently. A scrappier version of Anderson Cooper. A thinking man’s bruiser.
Piers gives an adrenaline-fueled account of life at CNN and a reflective and heartfelt account of his continuing love affair with America, including his high profile participation in the gun debate. He is also happy to weave personal material on his wife and family, so you have a sense of really knowing the man.
When Piers Morgan arrived in the US, he was a thoughtful outsider and observer of our country—a modern-day Alexis de Tocqueville, if a limousine-chasing British tabloid editor could be called that. From rushing to the roof of the studio that filmed America’s Got Talent so that he could broadcast live breaking news about the tsunami in Japan, only to rush back and judge a singing, dancing Christmas tree; from being snubbed by Bill O’Reilly, who pretended not to recognize him (despite the largest cable news marketing campaign in television history) to, moments later, consenting to take a picture with O’Reilly’s daughter, who happened to be a big fan of America’s Got Talent (Bill was immediately scolded by security for “photographing the talent,” which is a comeuppance more artful than one could make up); from declaring in no uncertain terms that the 2011 shooting of Gabby Giffords would change American guns laws as surely as the 1996 massacres in Dunblain, Scotland, and Tasmania, Australia, had done, only to rail in disbelief the following year at the Newtown, Connecticut, massacre in 2012, and the gun lobby’s insistence that it was “too soon” to discuss the problem of guns in America.
The hit HBO series Newsroom posits that America needs a newsman who has a point of view, who does not suffer fools, and who does not give “equal time” to idiocy. Watching Piers Morgan, one gets the sense that he is as close to the character Will McAvoy as we have in this country presently. A scrappier version of Anderson Cooper. A thinking man’s bruiser.
Piers gives an adrenaline-fueled account of life at CNN and a reflective and heartfelt account of his continuing love affair with America, including his high profile participation in the gun debate. He is also happy to weave personal material on his wife and family, so you have a sense of really knowing the man.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2013
13 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Piers Morgan
31 books48 followersPiers Stefan Pughe-Morgan (born Piers Stefan O'Meara), known professionally as Piers Morgan, is a British journalist and television presenter. He is editorial director of First News, a national newspaper for children.
Morgan branched into television mainly as a presenter, but has become best known as a judge or contestant in reality television programmes. In the UK, he was a judge on Britain's Got Talent. Morgan is best-known in the United States as a judge on the show America's Got Talent, and as the winner of The Celebrity Apprentice. On 17 January 2011, he began hosting Piers Morgan Tonight for CNN in the timeslot previously occupied by Larry King Live before the retirement of host Larry King.
Morgan has authored eight books, including three volumes of his memoirs.
Morgan branched into television mainly as a presenter, but has become best known as a judge or contestant in reality television programmes. In the UK, he was a judge on Britain's Got Talent. Morgan is best-known in the United States as a judge on the show America's Got Talent, and as the winner of The Celebrity Apprentice. On 17 January 2011, he began hosting Piers Morgan Tonight for CNN in the timeslot previously occupied by Larry King Live before the retirement of host Larry King.
Morgan has authored eight books, including three volumes of his memoirs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
April 18, 2014
Prior to reading Shooting Straight, I read a ton of reviews (including reviews on Goodreads) that said the majority of the book is about Piers' gun rights campaign. I finished this book today and I learned that this is about 10% of the book. The rest is a behind the scenes take from Piers Morgan himself about his show, his personal life, and his career. It was really interesting to see different events over the last 3-4 years from his perspective. I also really liked that it was in the diary format. It was kind of like a really long timeline.
I haven't read Piers' other books but I want to now, especially if they precede the events in this book. He's a really good writer and his stories are surprisingly very interesting, most especially when they involve interviews with big-name personalities.
I haven't read Piers' other books but I want to now, especially if they precede the events in this book. He's a really good writer and his stories are surprisingly very interesting, most especially when they involve interviews with big-name personalities.
October 6, 2013
This book is written in a journal style, with entries coming every few days. Most of the book focuses on his new job at CNN and how he got adjusted there. Even if you don't agree with his gun views, most will find this a fascinating read.
January 2, 2014
Before reading SHOOTING STRAIGHT, I knew little about Piers Morgan's background. His book contains interesting stories and was well-done.
At first I wondered about the diary format for the entries in the book but it made sense and was a good device. I enjoyed reading SHOOTING STRAIGHT. If you want to know more about Piers Morgan and the business of creating a show at CNN. I highly recommend it.
At first I wondered about the diary format for the entries in the book but it made sense and was a good device. I enjoyed reading SHOOTING STRAIGHT. If you want to know more about Piers Morgan and the business of creating a show at CNN. I highly recommend it.
December 12, 2013
The book had a lot of interesting and funny stories about his encounters with celebrities on and off his show. His courageous public views on gun control are some things that need to be said. I guess it takes someone originally from outside the country to take a logical view and put things in perspective.
January 16, 2014
Fantastic read, candid and honest.
May 3, 2019
This guy has no business being in TV--he has no discernible talent, yet at one point was on two different networks in prime time appearing against himself! As a judge on America's Got Talent he was a joke, since he has no entertainment talent himself nor is American. For his nightly talk show, it's hard to understand why CNN would select him to replace Larry King when Morgan had never done live TV news interviews before. (Even King often slammed the choice.) The book just proves that Morgan was totally wrong for American TV and that his instincts about our country and politics are completely off base.
On the other hand, the book is an interesting read for someone who wants to know what goes on behind the scenes in television news. The producer made Piers Morgan look intelligent and prepared, often when the host had no idea who the guest was. The network PR people hyped him to be someone he wasn't, and his own publicist saved him from some stupid foot-in-the-mouth moments.
The biggest disappointment was to hear him claim his family was his priority, when in truth he had nothing to do with his family most of the time. His kids from his first marriage were in England and he only saw them a couple times a year. His new wife and baby rarely saw him here. As so many celebrities do, he claims to place family first but then doesn't match his actions with his words. He should have never accepted two TV jobs at the same time, for it meant his family got low priority. And it also meant he did a lousy job at both.
What ultimately makes this a one-star book is Morgan's cluelessness about America and why the country is the way it is. He demeans First Amendment rights and Second Amendment rights. The book has way too much anti-gun rhetoric and it's filled with false claims or "facts" like people are born gay (when confronted by a guest who asks for his proof he says he has none but feels it in his gut!)
He slams anyone conservative, Christian, or right-leaning Republican. He grossly over-praises some of our worst presidents (Carter, Clinton) and supports liberal Republicans he thinks will be elected to the presidency someday (Chris Christie, seriously?). Piers Morgan's instincts are pretty much always wrong, as proven in this book. Page after page details his mistaken thoughts on people and politics. And ultimately, after the book was published, Morgan's show was canceled. He has basically never been seen in America again. He had no business being on TV here, couldn't conduct a good interview without a producer feeding him questions in his ear, and showed no appreciation of the freedoms he had when living in this country. Piers Morgan is ultimately a failure.
On the other hand, the book is an interesting read for someone who wants to know what goes on behind the scenes in television news. The producer made Piers Morgan look intelligent and prepared, often when the host had no idea who the guest was. The network PR people hyped him to be someone he wasn't, and his own publicist saved him from some stupid foot-in-the-mouth moments.
The biggest disappointment was to hear him claim his family was his priority, when in truth he had nothing to do with his family most of the time. His kids from his first marriage were in England and he only saw them a couple times a year. His new wife and baby rarely saw him here. As so many celebrities do, he claims to place family first but then doesn't match his actions with his words. He should have never accepted two TV jobs at the same time, for it meant his family got low priority. And it also meant he did a lousy job at both.
What ultimately makes this a one-star book is Morgan's cluelessness about America and why the country is the way it is. He demeans First Amendment rights and Second Amendment rights. The book has way too much anti-gun rhetoric and it's filled with false claims or "facts" like people are born gay (when confronted by a guest who asks for his proof he says he has none but feels it in his gut!)
He slams anyone conservative, Christian, or right-leaning Republican. He grossly over-praises some of our worst presidents (Carter, Clinton) and supports liberal Republicans he thinks will be elected to the presidency someday (Chris Christie, seriously?). Piers Morgan's instincts are pretty much always wrong, as proven in this book. Page after page details his mistaken thoughts on people and politics. And ultimately, after the book was published, Morgan's show was canceled. He has basically never been seen in America again. He had no business being on TV here, couldn't conduct a good interview without a producer feeding him questions in his ear, and showed no appreciation of the freedoms he had when living in this country. Piers Morgan is ultimately a failure.
September 12, 2019
Piers Morgan hits America going from tabloid editor and celebrity name-dropper to another person completely exasperated by the highly lucrative siege mentality of the gun-nutters and the NRA's complete contempt for non-gun owning people of the United States. This blight on the American social scene I think is why so much of the Anglo-sphere's focus has shifted back to London and the UK as a more favourable society to live in. America's larger population creates a lower common denominator for the gun lobby's venality to appeal to.
December 13, 2023
I'm sorry Piers, but considering you're a citizen of the English Realm and not an American you get NO say in our politics or our constitution. So us gun-toting Americans will ignore your limey bum and your opinions on the Second Amendment. I will finish reading your book, but pardon me if I skim and skip over all your gun bashing bs.
June 24, 2023
There's nothing to learn in this book. It's just a diary and jotted down 8random notes. Quite disappointed because I did think there would be more. I'm stopping now, I don't think I will go on any day.
December 21, 2017
I'm a marmite fan and I am also a Piers fan..Loved it
May 4, 2014
I enjoyed this book for what it was. It's really just a bit of anecdotes and memoirs of what occurred leading up to his show taking over for Larry King and some of the more noteworthy news stories and show moments over the first three years. It reads like a personal diary, really. The irony of reading this book now of course is that his show has been cancelled. I can't say I was a regular viewer or monitored his ratings but they must have really dipped in the final year for the show to totally go away so quickly, seeing as the book ends in the Spring of 2013 and things seemed particularly rosy for the show at that time. It's a shame though. I would watch it from time to time, and I always loved that he was the one big celebrity voice of reason in the anti-gun movement. I have a trivial love hate relationship with Piers. I love his common sense on guns and his British wit and humor, but I tend to not like him on Saturday mornings as he's an avid Arsenal fan, and I'm a Manchester United fan. Like I said....trivial. Luckily he really doesn't mention Arsenal in this book, which is nothing short of amazing. Anyway, I push through his absurd soccer moaning to keep with the more important real world stuff. His twitter is a pretty good follow. I don't want to get into a big political rant, especially in a book review, but I will say my view on guns took a sharp turn on July 20, 2012. That's when my friend Jessica Redfield was murdered in the Aurora movie theater massacre. I never particularly liked guns prior to that. My feelings went starkly negative on them thereafter. The whole situation is forever surreal, but adding one more surreal moment is reading along as Piers talks about her (and her lovely mother, who fights the good fight against guns in her daughters memory) in this book. It's weird to read those pages and think to yourself...I used to laugh with that sweet girl, right here in my office or at the hockey game. Knowing someone killed in such a tragic way is an experience that too many of us in this country have had, and I can tell you from personal experience, it is awful. But of course everyone continues on with their "this will never happen to me" state of mind. You're wrong. Anyway, the logic presented here on the gun topic is absolutely spot on. I'll just leave it at that. The other staggering thing that occurred to me as I read through this was how many major news stories have happened in the last few years.....and how we've already forgotten all of them. In this instant social media news cycle, nothing stays in our minds for longer than a few hours
(or days if it's particularly awful) and then it's on to the next story. That's about all any news story gets anymore. It's quite insane and even I was a bit embarrassed to think to myself.....I can't believe I haven't thought about this news story or that news story recently. The most staggering being Sandy Hook, of course. It's a sad and depressing commentary that Sandy Hook could happen and the only thing we did about it as a country was majorly increase gun sales in the wake of proposed legislation that we all knew never had a chance. Talk about a bunch of cowards for leaders. I really can't think of anything worse than young children being blown away like that....and even that moved us all to do......absolutely nothing. It's an awful feeling. Staggeringly depressing for us as a society. But life goes on, doesn't it? It always does. Anyway, this book really highlights the ever changing and rapidly moving news cycle. It's always on to the next big disaster and even the most horrible things are forgotten far too easily and quickly. It's also a really interesting look at what happens behind the scenes making a big live news broadcast. I enjoyed it. It's an easy read.
(or days if it's particularly awful) and then it's on to the next story. That's about all any news story gets anymore. It's quite insane and even I was a bit embarrassed to think to myself.....I can't believe I haven't thought about this news story or that news story recently. The most staggering being Sandy Hook, of course. It's a sad and depressing commentary that Sandy Hook could happen and the only thing we did about it as a country was majorly increase gun sales in the wake of proposed legislation that we all knew never had a chance. Talk about a bunch of cowards for leaders. I really can't think of anything worse than young children being blown away like that....and even that moved us all to do......absolutely nothing. It's an awful feeling. Staggeringly depressing for us as a society. But life goes on, doesn't it? It always does. Anyway, this book really highlights the ever changing and rapidly moving news cycle. It's always on to the next big disaster and even the most horrible things are forgotten far too easily and quickly. It's also a really interesting look at what happens behind the scenes making a big live news broadcast. I enjoyed it. It's an easy read.
February 25, 2017
Learned specific news and gun related details about UK / US. Politics around his jobs between 2010/ 2013 through Morgan's diary. He shared his many opinions with the reader. Quite the character! Uses Twitter like The Donald.
January 9, 2014
His views on the US gun control issue are interesting, although it seems a bit strange that a "foreigner" being given his position would be so vocal about this, surely there must be persons within the US news hierarchy who deserved this position, I only know him from the few and I mean few times I watched Brittain's got talent,and he seemed the most sensible of the 3 characters on that show. As a gay man, the word "Gays" on the cover caught my attention and I need to give him credit for his views on the issue,but again nothing earth-shattering.
I started reading the book, then felt it was a lot of name-dropping about who he knew and started skimming those persons I thought might be of interest, Morgan obviously has connection in order to have this "writing" published, he obviously feel Ophra and Streisand are characters of interest,and wealth and importance, in any case kept on skimming the book, and found nothing of personal interest, and simply put it down.
I started reading the book, then felt it was a lot of name-dropping about who he knew and started skimming those persons I thought might be of interest, Morgan obviously has connection in order to have this "writing" published, he obviously feel Ophra and Streisand are characters of interest,and wealth and importance, in any case kept on skimming the book, and found nothing of personal interest, and simply put it down.
July 31, 2021
Piers Morgan is someone I love to hate or a guilty pleasure; I can't really decide. This book is not his best. It is very gun related and how Congress refuse to change the law with lots of antidotes of mass shootings so it didn't sit comfortably for me. However, Piers is a journalist and the book was well written and did hold my attention to the end but at times it was a slog and quite repetitive, especially the political analysis of the second amendment and how it is not relevant in today's society, which I do agree with. It couldn't have been shorter because it is diary based and therefore covers 365 days, so expect this. There is also a lot about his career at. CNN & Fox News which didn't really interest me. I struggle with my own without reading about anyone else's success. I personally would've preferred a different format, less about Piers' opinions and guests he has interviewed and it too be shorter as the point had been well made by about three quarters through.
November 10, 2015
This book covers the start of Piers Morgan taking over from Larry King on CNN. How he found his feet as a CNN host, and how he found his passionate cause in gun control.
A brilliant, no holds barred, in your face book, that is entertaining, thought provoking, and shocking in equal measure.
Highly recommended, regardless of where you stand on gun control. In fact, the gun control issue doesn't come into it until quite late in the book, given that the book is written in diary format. I like this format from Piers. It makes it easier to see the linear progression of his experiences.
Piers Morgan writes like he speaks, full of fire, passion, and self deprecating humour.
Gave it five stars mostly because I remember all the events of the book, and how I felt about them, this gave the book more resonance for me.
A brilliant, no holds barred, in your face book, that is entertaining, thought provoking, and shocking in equal measure.
Highly recommended, regardless of where you stand on gun control. In fact, the gun control issue doesn't come into it until quite late in the book, given that the book is written in diary format. I like this format from Piers. It makes it easier to see the linear progression of his experiences.
Piers Morgan writes like he speaks, full of fire, passion, and self deprecating humour.
Gave it five stars mostly because I remember all the events of the book, and how I felt about them, this gave the book more resonance for me.
June 11, 2014
I loved Morgan's book, and I applaud him for his courage to stand up for more common sense in the U.S with gun rights. In 1996, 26 students in Scotland were shot and 16 were killed. Scotland passed some of the strictest gun control laws, and they have not had a school shooting since then. I don't think the U.S needs all of the restrictions that Scotland has, but things are getting out of hand. Aside from his views on guns, this book provides an informative read about Piers Morgan's life. I really knew very little about Morgan's life other than he had appeared on America's Got Talent. So I was kind of shocked when he replaced Larry King. Nevertheless, he has earned my admiration and respect.
November 13, 2013
Watched an interview today on Book-TV which was hosted by the National Press Club. Piers was allowed to speak uninterrupted for the hour. I liked what I heard and I share his incredulity over America's lack of action re gun violence--the 1996 Dunblane, Scotland, massacre occurred while he still resided in Great Britain where/when 18 children were killed. It was, in effect, a Sandy Hook and laws were subsequently enacted. He wonders what it will take for common-sense gun laws to be enacted in America, and he continues his personal crusade against guns on his show. Unfortunately, 50% Americans are so full of the disease they don't recognize the symptoms.
June 22, 2014
I always enjoyed watching Piers Morgan on the talent show but admire and like him so much more for having read this book. It's written in a journal/diary format with entries every few days. The entries provide background information on a news show (CNN) and antidotes about people he has interviewed.
I especially enjoyed his comments about gun control. Why can the rest of the world get it right and reduce or eliminate mass shootings but we continue to let it go on year after year?
Now that I've finished this book, I will definitely read his others as well. Well done, Piers!
I especially enjoyed his comments about gun control. Why can the rest of the world get it right and reduce or eliminate mass shootings but we continue to let it go on year after year?
Now that I've finished this book, I will definitely read his others as well. Well done, Piers!
January 28, 2014
Simply put, I am a fan of Piers Morgan. I was excited to read this book and learn more about him, his career, and his views on certain issues. However, I was distracted by the format of the book. It was written as journal entries, and a lot of it felt out of place. There were "celebrity meetings" thrown in that didn't seem to belong there. Granted, there were a few that did. The book did not flow as I would have liked it to. Overall, I learned some things, and it made me laugh, too.
March 25, 2014
5 stars for his position re gun control, zero for his editors et al promoting this book as being mainly about that position. So, for me, net 2 stars. I've never watched his show - but I'm left with the feeling my time would've been better spent on the interwebs and -tubes following the trail of his thoughts on the topic, rather than reading this quasi diary of the first year or two of his CNN show.
December 2, 2013
I probably should not review this book as I did not make it much past the first few chapters. I was open to Morgan's arguments on reasonable gun control (similar to that in GB) that might cut back on the awful tragedies like Columbine or Newtown, but the evidence was sparse. I rarely watch his show...and when I do I prefer Piers Morgan to Rachel Maddow.
December 14, 2015
I love Piers. Highly entertaining, written in diary form covering a three year period. Numerous stories of his encounters with celebrities and interesting tales of what happened with guests in the studio prior to going on Piers Morgan Live. And the endless run ins with these pro-gun nutters in the US!! Great read.
August 16, 2024
Wanted to read of of Piers's books as I'm fascinated by the degree of polarisation about him. He tries hard to define his early days in the US as a gun-reform advocate, but there was always a sneaking suspicion in my mind that he was doing so with an eye to the ratings. Even after 11 years, the state of America remains about the same.
August 15, 2015
Just as readable and gossipy as his first two diaries, if a little more of a serious tone this time. We see Piers transition from talent show judge to serious news anchor. Really interesting tales from inside the media world as ever.
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February 11, 2016This one is a good one. i enjoyed reading about how he got the CNN job and the ins and outs of getting an interview. he's out of the job now, but I enjoyed his rans about gun ontrol, though, we've not been able to get any legislation enacted and the carnage goes on!!!
October 27, 2013
Even if you don't like him or his views - great insight into cable news! Loved the name dropping and fascinating behind the scenes conversations!!
December 9, 2013
Entertaining and quick read. Some interesting behind the scenes scoops from his controversial interviews and his heartfelt thoughts on gun violence in America.
November 30, 2013
Loved it as much as I love following PM on Twitter. A good read.
January 10, 2014
Really interesting stories. Looks like he has alot of support for gun reform.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews