How to Win Friends

Revelling in her persona as a gutsy, independent woman who is simultaneously tough and alluring, Russell, an anchor for CNN Headline News, encourages other middle-aged women to follow her example in seeking adventure and romance. In spite of her efforts to be funny and outrageous, her riffs about maintaining one's appearance and navigating sex--which are combined with vignettes from her life--make for a rambling, seldom amusing book. Russell doesn't lack for accomplishments: her successful, self-propelled media career began on the radio before she joined CNN 15 years ago. Along the way she acquired a young son, two black be