Here is the inside story of one of our most important government services, a history of an organization known to millions of people around the globe but to only a handful of Americans. Heil's book celebrates this nation's dedication to the practical application of its democratic foundations―our freedom of speech and press. (Walter Cronkite)
Voice of America: A History, the first comprehensive history of hte VOA since the mid-1980s,... is a valuable account that deserve a wide readership, both within the Foreign Service and among the general public. (Steven Alan Honley Foreign Service Journal)
For those wondering why, in the presence of global commercial news networks, there is still a need for the Voice of America.... Heil's comprehensive history of America's largest publicly funded overseas broadcasting network surely provides a most comprehensive answer. (The Economist)
[Heil's] familiarity with both the nitty-gritty and the larger issues surrounding "the Voice," as the VOA is commonly known, does much to make the story come alive, as do the anecdotes and transcripts of radio broadcasts he intersperses throughout the narrative... this is a valuable account that deserves a wide readership. (Foreign Service Journal)
Voice of America: A History effectively chronicles an important corner of American cultural history. (Seattle Times/Post Intelligencer)
Heil's book is a must read for anyone who is interested in enhancing America's standing in the world. (Walter R. Roberts Mediterranean Quarterly)
Heil, who spent 36 years at the Voice, was uniquely placed to writeVoice of America: A History, a comprehensive and captivating insight... stretching from the launch of the service in February 1942 to its 60th anniversary. (Morand Fachot DIFFUSION online)
Anyone looking for a richer understanding of recent international information activities will find this work worthwhile. (Laura A. Belmont Register of the Kentucky Historical Society)
The breadth and scope of this book mean it is essential reading for all those involved--or with an interest--in public diplomacy, international affairs and the media. (Morand Fachot International Affairs)
Well worth a place in the library of every instructor of the history of America media. (American Journalism)
Voice of America is an important contribution to the history of international broadcasting and a well-written potpourri of interesting information. (John Jenks Jhistory, H-Net)
