Customer Reviews

Voice of America

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We are using Voice of America A History to assist us in producing a Broadway musical ("voice") created by
Paxton Farrar (student at NYU and playwright). Though the musical is staged in the late 40's all of the
information about VOA for the decades discussed in Heil's book was tremendously useful in understanding
the dedication to the Charter and to journalistic truth. Voice of America is as important to listeners
all of over the world today as it was to the post WWII years. Alan Heil did an incredible job of
capturing the life stories of those involved with VOA and those dependent on it for truth about
the value of people and their quest for freedom. Bravo!

Alan Heil has given us the story of the Voice of America, the US Government's international radio stations, from the perspective of one of its longest-serving employees. Mr. Heil started with VOA in New York, and moved with them to Washington, DC in the 1950s. He tells the stories of the broadcasters and broadcasts as only someone on the inside can. This is a must read for anyone interested in International Broadcasting or American policy.

This book is very enjoyable reading. It's like a memoir or autobiography of Voice of America, definitely not a stuffy academic work.

I was listening to VOA radio during communism in Eastern Europe and it made such a big difference in our lives, gave us hope during the toughest years right before the Fall of the Berlin Wall. So it was intersting 20 years later to read a book about the history of the organization that shaped our lives and offered the only uncensored news we could get at the time.

I am reading the last few pages of the book this week and I have learnt so much about VOice of America but also broadcasting in the US. Alan Heil has done a superb job of researching and writing the book. I borrowed this one but plan to get my own copy, it's a must have for me and my fmaily.

Alan Heil has written a highly-readable book with excellent documentation. His keen insight into origin and development of the Voice of America was reflected in his writing -- and his numerous examples of VOA's impact upon foreign audiences was compelling. His front-row seat to the continuing challenges to VOA independence (and its integrity) make this a "must read" for any student of international communication and public diplomacy. Readers may not like the conclusions at the end of the book, but -- like the Voice itself over most of its years -- they are credible and "straight."

it's a good book, especially for someone that really need an information about the history of the voice of america.

I was looking for serious information about this major actor in the history of the Cold War. This book was is a huge disappointment, especially when you see the price you have to pay for it. The picture on the cover is nothing but shameless propaganda : "look, we're friends of the Muslims", seems to say the author. The inside is even worse : dispatched, unuseful information, unjustified criticism for the Reagan policy and NOTHING on the influence of the radio in the USSR. A serious scholar monography on the subject is still to be written.