Radio Books

Ted Turner dreamed it. Sid Pike built it. The book's title, We Changed the World (Paragon House, 2005) -- is far from being immodest. The creation story of the CNN International satellite communications network evokes the American legends of stringing the intercontinental railway from sea to shining sea and the decade-long mission to land a man on the moon.

Sidney Pike apparently never heard of the words, "It can't be done," although there are certainly plenty of folk around shouting them in his ear. His task brings him to confront domestic and global communications bureaucracies and powerful political leaders around the world. Some suffer from such shortsightedness and ignorance that they cannot even comprehend the concept. Others comprehend it only too well, fearing the threat to their own vise-like grip on information. To accomplish the mission, he crisscrosses the globe many times, coming to feel that "home" is a Boeing 747. (He probably has enough Frequent Flyer miles to actually take up permanent residence in one.) From China to Bahrain, Argentina to Moscow, Iraq to Canada, Aruba to New Zealand, bit by bit, the International network grows, as Pike cajoles, explains, and hammers out agreements that inch the project forward. (The case of establishing the link in Guam is in itself a cheering vindication of the American yearning for the triumph of the underdog!)

In every case, Pike gives credit where it is due and pulls no punches about naming names where a hard punch in the nose is more appropriate ("Ted Turner is the worst deal maker I have ever known.") Even when the player is himself, Pike lays it down straight. On several occasions, his relation of a disagreement ends with "They fired me." His personal integrity and genuine belief in the value of this mission allow him to do no less. This sense of mission never intrudes into the narrative, but patently fuels the endeavor: a core belief in the power of free information exchange to ensure the viability of democracy. He's right, of course. For some portions of the world, the easy access to information that most of us take for granted is as dangerous to despotic power as an ICBM.

The saga is thrilling as a narrative alone, but sprinkled throughout are fascinating insights into the workings of the global communications industry, the inner wrangles of Ted Turner's corporate empire, and the arcana of trying to establish a new mindset for a twenty-first century world. Beyond that, it is both inspiration and proof-positive that "it" can, indeed, be done.
-- B. S. Horton, Ph.D., Technology Advocate. 2005.

The introduction of CNN's 24-hour cable news channel in 1980 changed the world of television, with satellite and cable providing a strong competitive alternative to tradition TV - and author Sidney pike was in the middle of the revolution, here explored in his We Changed The World: Memoirs Of A CNN Satellite Pioneer. Pike met with media and government leaders around the world trying to sell CNN programming, and was an early pioneer for the global television channels we know today. His memoir provides a first-person review of obstacles, achievements, challenges, and a rapidly-changing industry under transition to this day.

I thought this book would be okay but it turns out this book is the best book i EVER read- and i read A TON!SERIOUSLY, read this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it's about sabrina casting a spell that make every1 she talks 2 sleep- exept her and SAlem. and she can't go 2 her aunts 4 advice cuz they're sleeping- and won't wake up! and then she has to go 2 a scavenger hunt around the globe- WITH LIMITED MAGIC! she has 2 break the rules if she ever wants to get her friends and family awake again, but when more truoble stirs, will sabrina be able to finish the hunt- or will her friends and family face a lifetime of dreams and nightmares? U NEED 2 FIND OUT!!!

This book makes me feel to not stop reading!
I would love to suggest this book to everyone
else who loves to read Sabrina books!
well anyways have a nice day and dont
forget to order this wonderful book!
From Madihah

Steve Karmen gives you a close up look at the advertising business from his point of view, the ad jingle composer. What once was an advertising staple, the jingle, well remembered by this boomer, has morphed into a cloning of pop songs. The unique jingle has gone the way of the horse and buggy, never to return. Not cutting edge enough, the author laments. Karmen's writing is relaxed, you get the feeling he is telling this story just to you. A very interesting read, difficult to put down, you will get to the end much too quickly.

In a review printed on the back cover of 'Who Killed the Jingle?' Joey Levine writes "For those in the business and those planning on entering it, read it and weep." That pretty much sums up this book. Karmen discusses the importance of networking in the industry, legal issues, union issues, fending for oneself in the world of corporate giants, and the industry today. Karmen writes from a "good old days" approach - lamenting the disappearance of original and memorable advertising. Sadness aside, this is an invaluable book for anyone trying to make it in the aural advertising industry.

This book is okay. It doesn't give alot of info on Will Smith. It isn't like, got that WHAM in it that other bighgrophies of Will Smith do.

this book tells u everything u need to know about Will. From West Philli to now. Will Smith rocks....

I just reread this book to my daughter and loved it all over again. Does anyone know if Ted Allen is a pen name for Roald Dahl?

I read this book when I was little and it is just as good when I re-read it recently. The story, and the title, is unusual but the illustrations by Quentin Blake make the story come alive.

An essential book for children and those who will always be young at heart

It is a great book.everything explained so good.I congrate Rajan kuruppillai.I salute him.

This is the best book I have rerad on Wireless PCS. Each section has been explained from a layman point and so even a fresher can just read the book and catch up with it. Congrats to the Author on this fine peice of reference.

L. Frank Baum's Wizard Of Oz has created 39 official sequels, over a hundred unofficial sequels, nearly 40 films, and much more: so any collector seeking a comprehensive guide to all Wizard products must have The Wizard Of Oz Catalog to keep track of all the formats and take-offs. All forty Oz books in the original series, related books, films, videos, comics, radio shows and more are cataloged in entries which cover performers, plots, and more. No price guides, but this is intended as a catalog of Oz products.

...about Oz in all its permutations. This compendium of Oz knowledge was not only educational in all of its entries but it was fun to read, too. Sherman imbues his catalog with critics reviews, editorial comments and asides that make the factual information come alive with the Hollywood of old and today's fascination with the movie, books, and memorabilia.

There are capsule synopses of all the original books along with movie, radio, stage, advertising, and computer game adaptations as well as actor/production credits. Pictures and illustrations give an insight into the characters and the graphics of the time.

Some of the interesting info covered in the book:
1. Baum intended to break many of the unofficial "rules" for children's fairy tales
2. David's Lynch's movie WILD AT HEART staring Nic Cage is a retelling of the Wizard of Oz story.
3. Baum's widow decided to reject Disney's offer to purchase the rights to make an animated movie and instead sold the rights to an animator who failed to bring the story to the screen.

I bought this as a gift for a friend and wound up keeping it for myself.

"This may well be the best book on American radio ever written."
Paul Buhle, Brown University, author of Popular Culture in America, etc.

"A fascinating story told in a compelling fashion."
Ken Mueller, Radio Curator, The Museum of Television & Radio

". . . . masterly, . . . . . . Blue stands with Barnouw and Dunning, and that is high rank indeed."
Norman Corwin

". . . a tour de force of research and writing, . . . "
Prof. Tim Crook. Goldsmith' s College, University of London

" . . . an outstanding contribution to the literature on civil rights . . . "
David Honig, Exec. Director, Minority Media & Telecom Council

"an exceptionally probing and indispensable contribution to the history of American radio."
Paul Heyer, Wilfrid Laurier University

Words At War: World War II Era Radio Drama And The Postwar Broadcasting Industry Blacklist by freelance writer, educator Howard Blue is an enthralling, documented, and thoroughly "reader friendly" history of radio broadcasting in America during World War II, and the subsequent Cold War-era politically oriented crackdown that left a blight on the creative talent of on-air vocal drama that was quite as pervasive and detrimentally corrosive as the better known blacklists in the Hollywood film industry. A fascinating and extensively detailed presentation which is enhanced with an extensive index, and offering compelling insight into past (and ongoing) struggles between censorship and freedom of speech, Words At War is an important and highly recommended addition to 20th Century American History, American Popular Culture, Performing Arts, and Political Science reading lists. Indeed, Words At War would seem to have a renewed and contemporary application with respect to present-day communication issues with respect to America's current struggle against global terrorism both abroad and here at home.

Our daughter is obsessed with this book! The binding is kind of crappy and fell apart quickly, so we had it spiral bound. This was a worthwhile investment, as our kid can't get enough of this book.

What a fantastic A-Z book. There are many of this type around but this is among the best I've found. First of all, the amazing illustrations are bold, colorful and contemporary. The layout is superb pairing a simple, large letter pair (upper and lower case) with the name of the animal in a slightly smaller font on the one side with the animal counterpart on the next. Some of the featured animals are common (horse, sheep, lion, etc.) and some are more obscure(uakari, zorilla)but a guide to the less familiar is offered at the back. It is a bit heavy on the birds (9 letters are dedicated to our feathered friends) but this complaint is very minor given the quality and educational value of this book. Most definitely recommended.

This is a handbook filled with the latest information covering every aspect of shortwave radio listening. It covers broadcast times, frequencies, station information and reviews of the most popular radios and other related items.I would rate this as a must have book. Tom MI

The World Radio TV Handbook is a great source for information about radio and TV around the world. The book is very easy to use with stations being listed by country and frequency. There is a great station by frequency listing at the back as a cross reference. Also included are articles on radio listening and reviews of equipment. This is the best reference guide for world wide listening.