Sweet and Sour

Rooney's 10th book collects his syndicated columns--which many find to be better pointed than his contributions to 60 Minutes --from the last three years. It begins with a few pieces that present a kinder, gentler pop philosopher waxing sentimental about homes and families--unfortunately, a kinder, gentler Rooney is a duller, flatter Rooney as well. Happily, he soon hits his stride with typically trenchant columns about the ubiquity of advertising, lowering taxes on the rich now that he has discovered that government guidelines classify him as rich, motel rooms that cost $151 per night, ``antiques'' that are simply junk, his proclivity for losing things, the hypocrisy of political candidates' concession speeches and the illogic of the Postal Service's two-letter abbreviations of state names. Arranged according to subject, the eight sections range from ``Home and Away'' to ``First Things, Last Things.'' Most of the selections are compelling, engrossing and gripping--those being the adjectives Rooney says he would like reviewers to use in assessing his books. (Oct.)