The Art of Talk [Hardcover]

Art Bell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1998

Intensely private radio personality Art Bell, who lives in the middle of the desert 65 miles west of Las Vegas--where he broadcasts his radio shows--finally comes forward with his fascinating autobiography.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Paper Chase; First Edition edition (August 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879706776
• ISBN-13: 978-1879706774
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #663,682 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read if you're an Art Bell fan., February 10, 2004

By 

Fanshawe (SC, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Art of Talk (Hardcover)

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I have only discovered Art Bell within the last year or so, unfortunately (wish I had started listening earlier). But I felt compelled to learn more about this fascinating guy.
I have to echo what others have said in that the book isn't edited well, although an editor *claims* in the intro to have worked on this with Bell. If so, I'd have to say she didn't do a very good job of it. The book is written in sort of category-like chapters...sort of an outline of his life and its events. It doesn't flow well. I found it was better just to pick up and start reading anywhere. Things backtrack, repeat themselves, so in reading this way you sort of got the full gist. It seems like Bell just sat down at a computer and started writing, sort of chronologically but not always. I wonder if the editor (supposedly one of his fans) was perhaps intimidated or awed and didn't want to change much? I really don't have any other explanation.
On the other hand, although the writing style wasn't polished, I found this to be rather a good thing at times as it was more conversational and you certainly did feel like you were talking to the man. Art seems to be mostly a simple guy, not into glitz and glamour, so it seemed more "real" and closer to the truth.
Warning...if you are not an Art Bell fan, I'm sure you will be disappointed. Although there is information about talk radio, the bulk of the book is stuff about his life. Which is basically what I wanted to read about anyway.
I would like to see an updated version, since things have changed drastically with Coast To Coast, etc., since this has come out.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a great book but..., May 5, 2003

By 

Martin Andrade "Media Gurgitator" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of Talk (Hardcover)

Art Bell was not a good writer when this book was written. This book reflects this. Lately, having read some of Art Bell's columns in the After Dark Newsletter, his writing has greatly improved. This is the first hurdle you have to jump if you are to enjoy this book.

Another hurdle, you have to be a fan of Art Bell. In this book he discusses some of his personal history, but doesn't go into a lot of detail. He also does not give any tips to people interested in talk radio.

Personally, I loved it.

So, if you're willing to handle substandard writing, lack of depth, and aren't interested in getting into the profession of talk radio, then you will like this book. If you fail to meet these criteria, don't buy this book. If you are interested in conspiracy, UFO's, and weather, by all means buy some of Art's other books, this one does not go into any of that though. This book targets a very small market of people; before you buy, make sure you're in it.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Reading!!!!, August 8, 2000

By 

Mike Sivilli (Bayonne, New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of Talk (Hardcover)

This is Art Bell's first book, and it is his autobiography. Art is the former host of the worldwide radio programs Coast to Coast AM and Dreamland. If I weren't in the radio broadcasting business myself, I would probably say that this is a fascinating story. But, it turned out to be quite what I expected from a fellow broadcaster. Nonetheless, it is interesting to get to know the man behind the voice that I was so accustomed to hearing night after night. Besides his childhood, education, domestic life, and career, Art discusses how he used to get callers and guests to talk on the air, and even relates his feelings toward what he heard and was broadcasting. This is good reading for Art Bell fans or for those interested in the radio broadcasting business.