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NPR: The Trials and Triumphs of National Public Radio Later Printing Edition

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Michael P. McCauley (Author)
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Michael P. McCauley (Author)
3.6 out of 5 stars 5 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0231121606
ISBN-10: 0231121601
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We the People: The Modern-Day Figures Who Have Reshaped and Affirmed the Founding Fathers' Vision of America by Juan Williams
"We the People" by Juan Williams
In a fascinating work of history told through a series of in depth profiles, prize-winning journalist, bestselling author, and Fox political analyst Juan Williams takes readers into the life and work of a new generation of American Founders. Learn more | See related books
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 216 pages
  • Publisher: Columbia University Press; Later Printing edition (June 14, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0231121601
  • ISBN-13: 978-0231121606
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,002,904 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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2.0 out of 5 starsWell researched history, lack of critical faculty
By Z. Stiegler on October 8, 2008
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
First, the good: McCauley's research is admirable, and if what you're looking for is a history of NPR as a network/institution, this book excels in that respect.

However, I take issue with McCauley's general approach. From its first pages, it is clear that he is a cheerleader for NPR. Which is fine - a lot of people love NPR, and I'm not of the belief that scholars should mask their passions. However, McCauley's love of the network produces a rather biased narrative.

There is an overwhelming lack of critical views in the book. While McCauley occasionally raises criticisms that circulate about NPR, he quickly dismisses them with little reasoning or support. This is perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the book. I'm not asking for McCauley to advocate such criticisms, but I at least expect a project such as this to address them thoroughly, even if to construct a well reasoned counterclaim. In this respect, McCauley inadequately addresses NPR's alleged catering to elite, upper middle class audiences, acceptance of corporate underwriting and address/inclusion of minority audiences and programming. (In the book's final chapter, McCauley essentially argues for the ghettoization of minority audiences by creating entirely new NPR networks, which he concedes is financially unreasonable.) There is also no address over the highly controversial position NPR took against the LPFM license beginning in 1999.

Thus, the book paints a rather rosy picture of NPR without really investigating the issues. But as I said, it does provide a concise institutional history, and that is the source of this book's value.
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4.0 out of 5 starsMeticulously Researched Non-Profit Corporate History (whew!)
By Bart King on July 25, 2006
Format: Hardcover
I'll confess that NPR (the book, not the radio network) was not quite what I expected. I anticipated a semi-lightweight book that combined weighty historical events with a deft, humorous hand, sort of like NPR itself. Opening it up, I looked forward to reading misty-eyed reminisces with Scott Simon and Terri Gross, or Bob Edwards and Susan Stamberg relating their experiences during the early days of NPR.

Nope. This book may be a relatively quick read (130 pages, not counting the extensive end-notes), but it is a dense, meticulously researched, and quite serious history of the genesis and evolution of NPR. Particular attention is paid to the political processes that spawned it, as well as to the funding and leadership crises and challenges that it has experienced.

In short, while this isn't the fun stuff, it is the "brass tacks" important stuff.

While on-air personalities are not ignored, they get no more text allotted to them than NPR producers, news directors, and human resource managers. Thus, NPR (the book) is a non-profit corporate history. As someone with a high tolerance for the minutiae, I liked it. And others may as well, provided they know what they are getting into.
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4.0 out of 5 starsHad me going until the end...
By Professional Strong Man on August 24, 2008
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
McCauley's book started off strong with a detailed documentation of NPR's first 25-30 years. Without focusing too much on the personalities behind the stories, he does a very good job discussing the network's ups and downs - the portion on "Project Independence" is the best I've ever seen on the topic. The book is a relatively easy read as the other commenter mentioned (130 pages with about 45 pages of bibliographic information), plus McCauley's writing style is neither too "academic" or pedestrian.

That said, the final chapter ("A civilized voice") seemed out of place. For me, it was a rambling clunker compared to chapters 1-4, which were written neatly and cleanly. McCauley offers some suggestions for NPR to survive in the next several decades, but goes from one point to another while not really providing any depth or detail in his suggestions.

The particular bone I have to pick is with HD Radio technology. McCauley pays it very little lip service earlier in the book and then never brings it up again. Why? Why not use HD's multiple channels to help put diverse messages and content out there for NPR to possibly gather larger audiences? While I am not a huge advocate of HD Radio technology (I think it has some very exclusionary features), anyone who denies its existence and eventual prominence isn't paying attention.

The other problem I have with chapter 5 is McCauley's seemingly "oh well" attitude toward using public radio as a tool for diversity. Rather than challenge the status quo of NPR programming and operations, McCauley concludes with Bruce Hornsby wrap up ("that's just the way it is"). After all, since the majority of NPR's listeners (and the ones who donate the most) are college educated, why even try to reach those who are not?Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsInside History of NPR
By Scott Sherman on July 21, 2005
Format: Hardcover
No scholar or writer knows more about the history of National Public Radio than Michael McCauley, and his book is packed with fascinating tidbits and shrewd insights about an institution many of us are addicted to. Very little of substance has been written about NPR, and this book, which contains fragments from scores of interviews the author conducted with NPR insiders, is the place to begin. The footnotes also make good reading. --Scott Sherman
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4.0 out of 5 starsExtremely well-researched and documented study (if coming up short on making a strong case)
By Giuseppe C. HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE VOICE on November 3, 2010
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Excise the last 35 pp., which are footnotes and sources, and what remains is a rather compressed study of a major network and its history. Regular listeners of NPR will resonate with McCauley's references to specific programs and announcers (including photos) throughout the years as well as be reminded of the controversies, obstacles, challenges, political attacks that have dogged a public network whose goal of being "a civilized voice in a civilized community"--a clear alternative to the commercial media--will strike many as a resounding success. Others may find such a stated goal as overly modest, especially for a network that also acts as an impartial, unbiased "window" unto the world at large and at home--offering information and entertainment that is far more diverse and universal that what the word "civilized" has (unfortunately) come to signify in modern "populist" America. And, of course, some on the fringes will be determined to see the book as more "leftist propaganda" from a liberal voice among the insidious forces that presumably control the media (fortunately, the absurdity of that last statement is recognized by most thoughtful Americans for what it is).

I may be more than a little Pollyannaish with that statement. During their respective post-election press conferences on Nov. 3, our contrite President said he planned to work for consensus, assuring the American people: "I do believe there is hope for civility; I also believe there is hope for progress." The vindictive Senate minority leader, on the other hand, said: "The American people have made their wishes clear. Our top priority for the next two years should be to deny President Obama a 2nd term. The people we elected tried to dismantle the free market. We will stop the liberal onslaught.Read more ›
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