Radio Books

My husband and I were listening to this tape on the way back from a family trip. We got so engrossed in the story that we missed our freeway exit and it took an extra half hour to get back on route!

A new radio actor named Tony Randall (later of the Odd Couple on television) was one of the cast members of this interesting 15 min. per day installment program. These are two of the best stories from the series.

These stories are perfect for a stormy night, or anytime at night. Most effective if you're alone. You'll become addicted like I did, and wish that there was a 12 step program to join.

Once you listen you will be hooked for more. Better than T.V

"I Love A Mystery" (known to its fans as ILAM) was perhaps the greatest radio serial of all time.

Created by Carlton E. Morse (who also was behind the great radio soap "One Man's Family) it featured the adventures of the staff of the A-1 Detective Agency: Jack, Doc and Reggie.

Many of the shows of this series are gone, alas, but for those that remain (like these two) show why it was so popular with adults and kids alike; great shuddery atmosphere, action too wild to be called wooly, memorable villains and blood and gore galore!

This show is a must for any collector of OTR. Additionally, this particular collection offers two of the best remaining ILAMS.

Brian Misiaszek, MD

(PS While I cannot post it here, I have a web page on this series which can be located via various web browsers)

Michael Dolan has lived as a professional journalist in the Middle East for over two of the five decades he covers in "Israel at the Crossroads."

Assignments have continued to be awarded to him from leading media outlets throughout the world.

His balanced firsthand reporting of the events surrounding the struggles for the land of Israel begins with a detailed examination of Arab as well as Jewish history. He follows up with a delineation of the religious aspects of the ongoing conflict from both perspectives of Islam and Judaism.

Mr. Dolan's friendships with individuals from both camps is evident in his delicate presentation of the people centered, according to Scripture, as 'the apple of God's eye.' {Deuteronomy 32:10; Zechariah 2:8}

TL Farley,
author,

When Now Becomes Too Late { Print Edition }

When Now Becomes Too Late { Kindle Edition }

{ Prophecy : The Rapture In Brief }


Distant Reaches { Print Edition }

{ True Life Adventures In Ireland, Boston and On The North Atlantic }

I found this book very interesting and quite informative. It gave a very objective and yet consise perspective on the modern developments in Israel and its continuing struggle with the Palestinian drive for Independence. I thought that the information on religious differences was also of much interest.

The Middle East Crisis has been a major TV news topic for at least the last 30 years. Nevertheless, most Americans have no clue what is going on over there. We continue to try to understand the situation based on Western logic while not understanding that the involved parties have a perspective that does not fit Western logic, bargaining, or compromise. This book gives a terrific overview of the topic.

I found this book very interesting and quite informative. It gave a very objective and yet consise perspective on the modern developments in Israel and its continuing struggle with the Palestinian drive for Independence. I thought that the information on religious differences was also of much interest.

This is an excellent account of the history of the Jewish state and it's conflicts with the Arab world, including the Palestinian issue.

The book has a Biblical foundation and provides an objective analysis of the present situation.

This book is well written and easy to understand. It provides an insight from both sides of the conflict and much of the account is based on the personal experience of one who has experienced much of the conflict first hand & who lives in Jerusalem. Someone who has also reported on the ongoing conflict for a major media network.

I share the author's interest and love for the Holy Land and a large percentage of his opinions. I have listened to David Dolan speak on the subject and he possesses a wealth of information, knowledge and experience.

Highly recommended.

With delightful, tongue-in-cheek humor, P. G. Wodehouse continues the adventures of Bertie Wooster, an often silly member of the upper class who depends on his much more sensible "gentleman's gentleman," Jeeves, to keep his life from falling apart. In this novel, Wooster has been growing a mustache for the two weeks that Jeeves has been on a shrimping holiday, and he fears that Jeeves will not like it. Sure, enough Jeeves does not, and neither do any of his other friends--except for Lady Florence Craye, his former fiancée, now engaged (to Bertie's great relief) to Stilton Cheesewright.

The fate of the mustache is only the starting point for Wodehouse's comedy of errors, however, as Bertie goes from London to his Aunt Dahlia's country home, where Lady Florence, Stilton Cheesewright, and Percy Gorringe, a young man who wants to produce a play based on Lady Florence's book, are also in attendance. As Lady Florence and Stilton Cheesewright play out their on-again, off-again romance, Percy is casting longing eyes at Florence, who is flirting with Bertie, once again.

As is always the case with Wodehouse, events quickly become more complex. Percy wants Bertie to invest one thousand pounds in the play. Aunt Dahlia, wanting to sell her magazine, decides to "salt the mine," secretly selling her pearls so she can serialize a novel by a famous romance author to make the magazine more attractive. Her husband, at this point, decides to have the pearls appraised. Bertie takes Florence to a nightclub to "do research for her new novel," and he is arrested. Not surprisingly, it is the resilient Jeeves who comes to the rescue, time and time again, proving that good sense and grounding in the real world are far more important than the silly pretensions of Bertie and his friends.

Wodehouse's gentle satire of upperclass life makes his novels appeal to a broad spectrum of readers. His word play, consummate sense of irony, and ability to make dialogue sound simultaneously absurd and realistic create a fast-moving set of outrageous scenes in which Jeeves, the "gentleman's gentleman" proves to be the real hero, the one person who knows how to live in this silly world. Mary Whipple

In this novel, also published as Bertie Wooster Sees It Through, farceur supreme P.G. Wodehouse brings together all the elements for a delightful Bertie and Jeeves adventure: the endangerment of Bertie's bachelorhood, threats to his physical well-being, Aunt Dahlia's magazine Milady's Boudoir, the necessity for Bertie to steal jewelry, the possibility that Aunt Dahlia will have to part with her marvelous cook Anatole, and more.

Bertie's narration, always a joy, is in particularly fine form in this novel, and, as always, Bertie's engagement is broken off when his fiancee decides to wed another, Anatole stays with Aunt Dahlia at Brinkley court, and things in general turn out for the best, thanks largely to Jeeves's genius. Any veteran reader of Wodehouse's work knows that this will be the case, but Wodehouse's genius is such that the book is an absolute joy, anyway, on the first reading or the seventh.

I listened to this again for the first time in over a year. It has lost nothing. Every humorous incident is just as funny the second time around. Wodehouse has an ingenious way of pulling you into comedic situations and you're suddenly there before you realize it. Jonathan Cecil is one of the best of the Wodehouse narrators.

To the ever growing Audio Partners catalogue of complete books on tape can be added yet another of those hilarious Jeeves novels, this one called "Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit." Written in 1954, this Bertie Wooster epic brings in many characters familiar from earlier works (Roderick Strode, Aunt Agatha, Uncle Tom, Frances Craye, Stilton Cheesewright) and many all-too familiar situations. Yes, Wodehouse does repeat himself, but I look upon it as ringing the changes. A line of bells is a line of bells, but their various combinations are what make things interesting.

Again Bertie is trying to avoid both marriage and having his spine broken in an increasing number of places, again having to purloin a valuable object to help out his only likable aunt, again depending on Jeeves first, middle, and last to extricate himself from dilemmas of his own doing and (at least in this book) those of others. Of the four actors assigned to read these novels and short stories on Audio Partners tapes, I think Jonathan Cecil is the best. He gives Wooster just that goofy intonation and all the other characters their due, making this set of four audio tapes a real humdinger. I have grown to realize that it is not so much that Wodehouse says funny things as that he says ordinary things in a funny way. That is why almost all of the Jeeves adventures are narrated first person by Wooster himself.

Just the ticket to cheer one up after a hard day or during a long boring drive.

As a PS, there is a very good life of Wodehouse by David A. Jasen put out by Schirmer Trade Books, "P.G. Wodehouse: A Portrait of a Master." It makes an easy read and brings you closer to the creator of the dreamworld in which lives the Woosters and the rest.

P.G. Wodehouse writes in a Dave Barry meets Agatha Christie style which makes you laugh out loud. P.G. Wodehouse was Agatha Christie's favourite author for a good reason. He gives you a visit to England in 1930 (or thereabouts) and plots with every twist you can imagine. In this one, Bertie, the upperclass twit, gets himself into the usual fix, and Jeeves finds a way out. The plot carries you along and keeps you in both suspense and stitches. Please listen to it if you have even a smidgen of the blues! If you have kids who are intelligent teens, this is a great family car trip book.

Can't say anything bad about it. My Children have all of these in this series and really enjoy them. Makes them think! I have had some great discussions with my children after they have listened to these CD's. Great stories with Biblical discussions of Creation vs. Evolution. WOW! We are Loving it!

Jonathan Park Volulme V: The Explorers Society: Jonathan Park Radio Drama (Jonathan Park) Fun and exciting! We enjoyed listening to these with our 9 and 12yo sons on a very long road trip. It speaks of various places around the world and peaked our interest to find our more about the subjects & locations. Great for geography and history buffs as well as those who want to explore the creation side of the evolution/creation debate.

The Jonathan Park audio dramas are some of the finest entertainment you can purchase for your family. They are exciting and fun, but at the same time educational. Our children, ages 7 through 14, listen to these dramas over and over.

This set and the entire series are superb for kids. The action and adventure in the stories grip children's imaginations. The morality is wholesome and parents have nothing to fear on that end. Science is woven into the stories and kids learn a lot (I have learned my share too!). Supplemental materials are available on an online website to reinforce the science behind the stories. My kids listen to them over and over. I should note that I am speaking of two boys, ages 6 and 8 and they have been listening for about 2 years.

This is a keeper in our home. We have all 5 sets and love them all. My kids have really learned a lot about evolution vs. creation. They listen to them over and over!

The interview subjects in this book really get down to the nuts and bolts of writing comedy for radio. Excellent material, well organized and presented. There's a lot to learn here.

Anyone with an interest in classic comedy writing will find this book to be an absolute treasure trove. It is a fascinating and comprehensive work consisting of interviews with the men (almost exclusively, men) who created the industry of modern comedy writing and, thus, the television industry as we all know it. I enjoyed every page!

What a delightful book! Full of insights into the process of writing comedy and how "lively" live radio and TV could be. Paints a clear and not always pretty picture of some of the funniest folk in comedy, including Bob Hope, Eddie Cantor, Fred Allen. The format lets the writers express themselves, and it's not always good memories they're sharing. A must for any fan of old-time radio, comedy, writing, and television. The stories are not always sweet and nostalgic, but accurate and, above-all, honest. I loved this book!

I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed Gerald Nachman's "Raised on Radio." I liked the format: each chapter was laid out by writer's name, his recollections and thoughts on the shows he worked on, and his credits by medium; (radio, TV, Movies, etc). You really got a feel for who was a major talent vs. who was lucky in show business. The writers really didn't get their due from the public, now here's your chance to find out who was responsible for "making" certain stars legends!

Jordan Young's interviews with some of Hollywood's top radio comedy writers in the thirties, forties and fifties gives the reader interested in show business nostalgia so much more than could be reasonably expected. While I was reading the book, I felt that I went back in time and I throughly enjoyed every hour.

We don't read transcripts of old radio shows--instead, we get a front row seat on Sunset and Vine in Hollywood and find out--through the writers--all that went on before the show went on the air and how the whole frenzied process began again immediately after the show went off the air.

I always wondered how these old radio shows were put together. What we learn is that each comedy star had his own system. While Eddie Cantor may have employed a hundred writers in a chaotic fashion over his long radio career with only modest results, Jack Benny had a long-time stable of six or seven writers and by consensus, had established, along with Fred Allen, the "gold standard" in radio comedy.

I loved this book!

When I left England to live in the United States for one year last August, there was only one book I took with me - Alistair Cooke's `Letter From America'. What else could I have taken? Cooke saw into America like no other Brit (or no other non-American, for that matter).

Starting at the mid 1940s, the book winds its way through post-war America nearly right up until the authors death in 2004, picking out the best of his weekly broadcasts. The subject matters range from politics, history, current affairs, entertainment and the topics from the New England fall, jazz, Robert Kennedy's assassination and O.J Simpson.

But it is not the subject matter that makes this book so special (for we already know about most of them anyway) it is none other than Cooke's insight and writing style. The articles flow like the finest novel or poem (which is probably attributed to Cooke's background in theatre). Each time you come back to read the book again it feels as though you are receiving the opinions of a familiar friend, and not some distant journalist.

There are drawbacks. Cooke was often criticised, and quite rightly so, for ignoring the darker side of the American dream. The other possible drawback, depending on your viewpoint, is that Cooke was a committed conservative, especially in the latter half of his career. Many of the final articles from the late 90's and early 00's lament the current position of America and (what he saw as) the sliding standards of journalism. Maybe, but you also can't help feel that he was by this point slightly out of touch.

These minor quibbles, however, cannot undermine Cooke's overall achievement of helping us better understand this important nation, which could be described as love letters to America.

Alistair Cooke is an observer of the American social fabric, of our heros, of our blemishes, of our short history and sense of place. His first hand accounts of American and Americans is not unlike a nation looking at itself in a mirror. He is at times generous with his observations. At other times he is very British in his ability to be critical with a smile. He can describe a familiar person and make us see the person anew. The book is a pleasure to read, each chapter a new adventure of wit and insight. He wanders a bit but his style makes you enjoy the journey and look forward to the next excursion.

For many years I listened to Alistair Cooke's ' Letters from America'. The calm, erudite voice , the super- civilized tone , the suggestion of great intelligence somehow always promised to provide insight into America that no one else had. The British Tocqueville of the airways who knew more about the Americans than the Americans knew about themselves.
Yet somehow I more often than not felt a certain disappointment in the communications. Reading them without the Cooke tone and pause, without his special emphasis diminishes them further. There is it seems to me a great deal of observation and color , and not enough striving for deep general understanding.
And there is too in the calm of Cooke's tone something strange and distant.The many rich voices of America, its ways of shouting and making itself felt are not transmitted strongly here.
Nonetheless in close to sixty years of reporting there are numerous insights and observations and much that entertains.
I think of Cooke's elegy for his old friend Isaiah Berlin. I think of reports made from all kinds of whistle stops on Presidential campaigns. I think too of his capacity for friendship, and how that does move through these letters and give them a warmer feeling of comraderie.
I think also of Cooke's basic real affection for America, his interest and appreciation of much what is good and beautiful in it.
I think too of how many listeners he delighted with his wit, and dry humor and clear - cut language.
This is a lifetime work of special meaning and value for the many thousands who waited each week for those fifteen minutes of his often most delightful and insightful talk.

Alistair Cooke's wonderful Letter from America broadcasts were heard world-wide and were an institution for close to 60 years. In that time, Cooke - UK born but for most of his life a resident of New York City - sought through his thoughtful pieces to convey the complexity of life, of society and of politics in the United States.

In this collection of essays, organised chronologically, Cooke takes us from post-war America through to mid 2005, and his subject matter ranges from the specific relatively "small" topics (for example McLaren's dogged creation of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park) through to large, world-changing subjects including the Vietnam question and the assassinations of both John and Robert Kennedy. The latter is a riveting account because Cooke was there when it happened and his journalistic and observational skills come through as finely honed, dispassionate yet all the more powerful.

What gives this volume real richness are two things in particular.

First; Cooke has an unfailing grasp of history. In writing each week's snapshot of a changing nation, he manages to contextualise what he sees, and to draw upon both his enormous grasp of history and his unparalled contact with top politicians, writers and artists over 60 years. In today's age of soundbyte editorializing and glib simplifications (history seen through the eyes of Forrest Gump, if you will), Cooke's essays are thoughtful, well researched and highly reasoned. As a reader I'm struck by how prescient his comments are, and I'm also struck at how relevant his thought provoking comments about previous political events resonate in today's unfolding history.

The second facet of this rich gem is Cooke's beautifully crafted writing style. He wrote these essays for radio and perhaps this is why they read so beautifully. In his portrait of Charles Lindbergh, for example, he talks about the man for 500 words - creating a vivid, recognisable picture before he even mentions the name of his subject. In so doing, Cooke furnishes the reader (or listener) with the frisson of a delightful guessing game (he's talking about Lindbergh, right?) that allows us to hear more about the subject matter without letting us backfill the story with our own preconceptions. His humour is delightfully wry, and his ability to choose surprising and sometimes quite earthy quotes from the history makers of the past 60 years provides additional pleasure. Cooke clearly laboured over each and every essay to ensure their seamless recipe of wit, fact and observation.

This volume is a remarkable collection of essays: a format that encourages thoughtful, enjoyable bedside reading. In devouring this marvellous book, you are taken to the heart of a complex nation. An easy 5 stars; I'd add that this book makes an excellent gift, regardless of which way your friends vote.

When I left England to live in the United States for one year last August, there was only one book I took with me - Alistair Cooke's `Letter From America'. What else could I have taken? Cooke saw into America like no other Brit (or no other non-American, for that matter).

Starting at the mid 1940s, the book winds its way through post-war America nearly right up until the authors death in 2004, picking out the best of his weekly broadcasts. The subject matters range from politics, history, current affairs, entertainment and the topics from the New England fall, jazz, Robert Kennedy's assassination and O.J Simpson.

But it is not the subject matter that makes this book so special (for we already know about most of them anyway) it is none other than Cooke's insight and writing style. The articles flow like the finest novel or poem (which is probably attributed to Cooke's background in theatre). Each time you come back to read the book again it feels as though you are receiving the opinions of a familiar friend, and not some distant journalist.

There are drawbacks. Cooke was often criticised, and quite rightly so, for ignoring the darker side of the American dream. The other possible drawback, depending on your viewpoint, is that Cooke was a committed conservative, especially in the latter half of his career. Many of the final articles from the late 90's and early 00's lament the current position of America and (what he saw as) the sliding standards of journalism. Maybe, but you also can't help feel that he was by this point slightly out of touch.

These minor quibbles, however, cannot undermine Cooke's overall achievement of helping us better understand this important nation, which could be described as love letters to America.

This book is a unique piece of literature from the Great War. What sets this apart from others, like Sassoon or poet Owen, is that it gives a picture of how it was not only at the front, but also at home, and that it includes a woman, Vera, in it who communicated with her 4 closest friends through letters. An excerpt of these letters is, in edited form, available in this book.
The letters, written real-time one could say, in stead of polished as novels are, give an interesting insight on how life was back then, how youth thought, how war affected the people of the generation swept in it, and how human nature somehow manages to conserve its hope for the future. The fact that all 4 of her friends died in these events and that their generation is almost no more, makes the title and this war stand even more apart. Essential reading.

I have been interested in Vera Brittain since her autobiography, Testament of Youth, was featured on Masterpiece Theatre in the 70s. I came across this new book by chance when looking for Testament, which my book group is reading and enjoying this month. This collection of letters not only recaptures Vera, her brother, and three close friends, it adds great dimension to their WWI experience. This is a book I will treasure a long time.

Anyone who is interested in WW1 and the men and women who lived it, should read this account of the war first hand!

This is what the war really meant to people, both in and out of the trenches, for these are the letters written from and to them.

A thought provoking book, that it is true, is even more shocking.

It is about a generation of people that we should never forget.

Ever since 14 July 1988 when I read Chronicle of Youth with absorbed attention and keen feeling I have been fascinated by Vera Brittain. This fine work, without duplicating Chronicle of Youth, sets out the letters written by her and her brother and friends till all her correspondents were killed in the war. This is a poignant work, well worth reading. One stands amazed and impressed by the eagerness of these Englishmen to serve their country, even though they knew the hell that the Western Front was, and though so much was repellant about the condition under which they soldiered.

Anyone who is interested in WW1 and the men and women who lived it, should read this account of the war first hand!

This is what the war really meant to people, both in and out of the trenches, for these are the letters written from and to them.

A thought provoking book, that it is true, is even more shocking.

It is about a generation of people that we should never forget.

This book gives a great overview of the Code, and is an excellent read. It goes through CW's history, as well as presents a view of what it might be like in the future. It is a well-written text written by an expert. Highly recommended!

Now that Morse code is no longer required for ham licensing, only those people with a real interest in this historic mode of communication will study it.

Buy it now, before they're all gone.

A._ B---. C-.-. D-.. E. F..-. G--. H.... I..

J.--- K-.- L.-.. M-- N-. O--- P.--. Q--.-

R.-. S... T- U..- V...- W.-- X-..- Y-.-- Z--..

?..--.. fullstop.-.-.-
this morse code was written by Samuel Morse that's the name
of the man who invented morse code

This book may appear somewhat dated, since with its early 90's publication it was written before personal computers had made quite the inroads into taking the pain and frustration out (a lot of it at least) of learning Morse code. It is a solid survey of the code, its origin, history, uses, and how to learn it. Cupled with a shareware CW trainer (such as Morse Academy, SuperMorse, NuMorse, for PC, or MorseTrainer for Mac) it is all you really need to get conversant in code. A good starting point, and a bargain at the price.

This book helped me on the history and learing the Morse code. This would help all ages in my oppinion!This book dwfiitaly gets five stars!

For a long time, I have studied Marconi since I am an amateur radio operator. I have visited his two stations on Cape Cod and even wrote a short web article about the first message he sent from Cape Code to England. Yet I found much new information in this book. Some of the comments tied loose ends together for me. If you are interested in early radio or Marconi, I suggest you read this book. It is paperback book size, but has a vast amount of information and pictures written by someone who knew him well.

I was held captive by a book that is a generous tribute of a loving daughter to her Father, Guglielmo Marconi. Degna Marconi allows us an insight into a chapter in her family history, and introduces us to the science behind her Fathers' inventions, his passion, his single-mindedness, his genius.
Marconi grew up in Bologna, at the center of his Mother's world. Without formal schooling, bright and gifted Guglielmo was allowed to develop at his own pace. Inspired by a book on Benjamin Franklin, his imagination was fired up, and he started experimenting with electricity and passing signals across distances. Later as a young adult in Great Britain, Marconi together with a small group of dedicated and passionate men and scientists made his ideas a working reality. The rest is history, and we all are beneficiaries.
Last summer when I stayed at Cape Cod, I took a detour and a walk at South Wellfleet. Marconi Station is no longer there, but the display tells us of messages that were relayed for the first time over great distances, between Great Britain and America. One of the early demonstrations of importance of communicating over long distances was when the signals were received, informing the world of the tragedy of the maiden voyage of Titanic.
While most of us still grapple with understanding the way signals travel, the ideas and inventions of Guglielmo Marconi have become a life transforming reality. As a mother living in Melbourne, Australia, with a daughter in New York, and a daughter in London, I bow to the genius of Marconi. His work made it possible for us to remain close, it made the "tyranny of distance" more bearable.
This book is more interesting than any fiction. Degna Marconi writes with literary skill that is outstanding.
We are closer to understanding Guglielmo Marconi, the man, when we read his own words: "genius is gift of work continuously applied"
Recommended reading!

This book by Mrs Marconi was extremely touching; we know so much about Marconi the inventor, the public figure but what makes this book so original is that it was so clearly written by someone who knew him well and loved him even more. Set side by side are descriptions of his scientific breakthroughs and very intimate glimpses of him as a person, many of them humorous and understanding.

The book is also very well written, interesting but at the same time readable and enjoyable. I have lent my copy of the book to many of my friends.

Review: My father, Marconi

What magnificant reading this is! This book is a must for those who would agree that a good biography is incomparably more valuable than even a great work of fiction. Degna Marconi has succeeded in recording her father's life with both scrutiny and filial affection. She has maintained a very high level in every aspect: what she tells us about scientific evolution in its historical context is witty, precise and fascinating whereas her personal touch never errs on the side of biased family pride. She is as good an author as her father was a man of science!
This portrait of Marconi and his times at the beginning of the era of global communication is all the more interesing right now a hundres years after it all began.
"My father, Marconi" should be on the shelf of anyone who prefers reflection to mere consuption.

Susanne Regehr

If I had to pick the one book (and there are many out there) that best describes Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of wireless communication, this would definitely be it. This book, written by Marconi's eldest daughter, Degna, is one of the best biographies I have ever read, in part because of the enormous charisma of the subject and in equal part because of the obvious respect and affection with which he is treated by Degna Marconi.
With only a vague idea of who Marconi was and fearing a book filled with technical jargon I picked up this book with a little suspicion at first. What a wonderful surprise! Degna Marconi's story was engaging from the first few paragraphs and rivetting up until the end. I quickly became engrossed in this fascinating story of a young man who, instead of going to university, spends his days experimenting with sending radio signals across his parents' garden, using homemade equipment and information gathered from scientific magazines, and then his tireless struggle to improve and promote his inventions which takes him first to London, then Canada, and the U.S. Degna Marconi presents the historical and scientific facts in a clear and concise manner without sacrificing detail. The work is both rewarding for those interested in science as well as those of us after a good read. Indeed, the charm of this book is that it reads like a real page turning novel. Loads of little anecdotes and commentaries colour the story without obscuring it. The reader gets a wonderful insight into a world of wealth and luxury, cut-throat competition and scientific innovation.
The book describes the novelty and excitement of Marconi's first experiments and then moves on to describe Marconi's struggles to patent his inventions, circumvent his ever more numerous competitors and expand the range and use of his technology. In fact, Marconi emerges not only as a brilliant scientist but above all as an energetic and resourceful entrepreneur. This account of Marconi's work to establish radio as a practical and useful alternative to other more established technologies (such as the telephone) is thrilling to read and is as relevant today as it was 100 years ago. I especially enjoyed reading about the heroic radio operator who continued sending S.O.S. signals from the sinking Titanic and about Marconi's long, lonely and often frustrating struggle to establish radio contact across the Atlantic.
Marconi's private life was no less exciting and tumultuous. The book's description of Marconi's love of the beautiful Beatrice O'Brien, his efforts to win over the undecided Beatrice and their wedding is entertaining and often humorous. The strain of Marconi's ever increasing work and fame on his family, the tragic divorce that neither he nor Beatrice really wanted and Marconi's complicated relationship with his children, especially his son Giulio, are all described with subtle and touching insight. Degna Marconi is also able to convey Marconi's charm and subtle sense of humour. Highly recommended.

My son loves all of the AIO stories and can't stop listening to them at bedtime. Problem is he stays up too late listening. These are great stories with solid moral themes. I also think they enhance a childs listening and imagination skills.

This is a great CD. There are many good lessons. Our family enjoyed it. Our favorite was the last story!

I haven't listened to it but I have heard and read about it. WELL! It sounds so cool. I like most of the new ones more than the old ones. SSSSSOOOOO it's the BBBBBBBOOOOOOMMMMMBBBBBB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This a masterpiece! Warning: Commenly known to get you addicted to Focus on the Family Kid Audio stuff! (It happened to me) I was CAPTIVATED. Heres a sneek peek:
Jimmy Barclay is working for a gossiping magizene and has dropped out of school. (PSSST! He`s even growing a beard now!)
Bernard Walton is suddenly losing customers.
Trent DeWhite overcomes his fear of oral reports.(VERY funny)
We hear some more of Bernard`s MAGNIFISANT storytelling (the Girl in the Sink & Bernard and Saul)
And so much more!

Take my my word for it, you`ll be missing a lot if you don`t listen to this aulbum!!!!!!!!!

1.
SOUNDS LIKE A MYSTERY
Odyssey is abuzz when a national treasure come to town -- especially once it gets stolen! First Nick Mulligan, then Rodney Rathbone seem to be the likely culprits. But the truth shocks even Whit, who may have found out too late... An exciting whodunit that speaks about the dangers of deception, whether big or small.
Theme-Dishonesty

2.
THINK ON THESE THINGS
When Mr. Whittaker modifies the Imagination Station to help Trent and Marvin with their story problems, the two boys are very excited. They're understanding math like never before. But then Trent discovers that he can use the Station to talk back to teachers, with no consequences. How far will he go in his virtual rebellion?
Theme-Thought Life

3.
FAIRY TAL-E-VISION
Ever wondered what TV would be like in Fairy Tale Land? KYDS Radio shows how sin never pays with "TV shows" like "Emergency Room: Three Blind Mice" and "6 Minutes: The London Bridge Collapse."
Theme-Consequences of sin

4.
STARS IN OUR EYES
What is a hero? Tamika thinks that a popular star on "Most People Love Sydney" fits the bill... until Mr. Whittaker gets Tamika an interview with the celebrity herself! At the same time, Connie, Wooten, Tom and Bart hear that a Hollywood producer wants to make a commercial for Whit's End, and each of them offers their wacky ideas.
Theme-Heroes

5.
SUNDAY MORNING SCRAMBLE
Sunday means church for the Washington family, and on this morning all of them are especially rushed. Ed, Elaine, Tamika and Marvin learn an important lesson about preparing for worship when putting on their Sunday best and competing in a Scripture memory contest becomes a real hassle... especially when a certain neighbor pays them a visit--Bart Rathbone!
Theme-Worship

6.
POTENTIAL POSSIBILITIES
Our friends in Odyssey find out a key truth about not neglecting their gifts -- and a surprise from Tom Riley's past! After years of making A's, Trent has finally made it into the Gifted Class at his school. But will he lose friends if he takes on a new level of academics? Meanwhile, Tom Riley discovers that Aubrey is quite the horsemaster and urges her to compete in a horse show.
Theme-Using your gifts

7.
CALL ME IF YOU CARE
Connie's cell phone is picking up mysterious messages from someone named Cindy. She's obviously trying to reach someone important, but who is William? Connie and Whit set out to find out what it's all about and discover a wonderful message of forgiveness.
Theme-Reconciliation

8.
TRUE CALLING
Irving and Solly are back and help teach Mandy an important lesson about talent. Everyone discovers that God does have a plan for our lives and will reveal it in due time.
Theme-Fear

9.
...AND THAT'S THE TRUTH
Tamika takes her Sunday School lesson to heart when she starts telling people what she thinks - honestly. Too bad she missed the `in love' part of the message. Jack, in the meantime, has a struggle with his new employee who needs to hear the truth but Jack is hesitant to share. All ends well for most everyone.
Theme-Speak the truth in love

10.
A LAMB'S TALE
Tamika donates her beloved lamb to a local toy drive and then decides she really wants it back. We follow the lamb's tale throughout the story and find that her original sacrifice is exactly what she needed to do.
Theme-Sacrifice

11.
A GLASS DARKLY
Trent wrestles between being in detention and auditioning for the local symphony. He keeps getting caught at the wrong place at the wrong time and earning more and more detention which certainly decreases his odds of making it to the auditions.
Theme-Trusting in God

12.
THE COOLEST DOG
Marvin is the lead in his new band and isn't interested in taking advise from anyone; especially Tamika, who is the best musician in the bunch but isn't even part of the band. Much ensues, and the group learns that pride and selfishness come before the fall.
Theme-Pride