A Tower in Babel (A History of Broadcasting in the United States to 1933, Vol. 1) [Hardcover]

Erik Barnouw (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 1966 | ISBN-10: 0195004744 | ISBN-13: 978-0195004748 | Edition: First edition.

Tells how radio and television became an integral part of American life, of how a toy became an industry and a force in politics, business, education, religion, and international affairs.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Erik Barnouw, now retired, was Chief of the Library of Congress's Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and recorded Sound Division, and long headed Columbia University's film division.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 344 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; First edition. edition (December 31, 1966)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195004744
• ISBN-13: 978-0195004748
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,058,709 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive study of broadcasting., April 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Tower in Babel (A History of Broadcasting in the United States to 1933, Vol. 1) (Hardcover)

"Tower of Babel," along with its companion volumes, "The Golden Web" and "The Image Empire," are the most thorough accounting of the evolution of broadcasting. For the layman, it may be a bit too thorough, but for anyone who has a serious interest in broadcasting, it is a must-read. (I suggest that anyone who works in the industry read it as well, to get a perspective on what radio and television were designed to be.)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If it ain't broke, don't fix it...necessarily, July 23, 2001

By 

basixdj "Bear" (Elizabethtown, Ky United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Tower in Babel (A History of Broadcasting in the United States to 1933, Vol. 1) (Hardcover)

With the corporate takeovers and conglamirates flying wild, it's refreshing to be able to sit back and view what it was REALLY like in the 'pioneer' days. I was fortunate enough to get into radio while it was still fun and had a bit of a mystique to it. This book portrays how it started off as a science and caught on like wildfire. Unfortunately, today alot of the 'humanity' has been taken out and replaced by computers and satellites, but like Nickolodeon and TV Land, this book allows readers to see things as they WERE. Alot of good history for today's broadcasters and the curious.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tower in Babel, December 26, 2003

By 

Fran Murphy "frannim" (Kensington, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Tower in Babel (A History of Broadcasting in the United States to 1933, Vol. 1) (Hardcover)

I first read this book when I was a student in TV back in the mid '70's. The stories behind the birth of modern media remain fascinating. I literally could not put the book down and went on to read the other two in Barnouw's trilogy. It was an incredible insight into the sometimes crazy world I was about to enter and I have never forgotten how riveted I was to every word!