The Road Taken

by Michael Buerk

'Dawn, and as the sun breaks through the piercing chill of night on the plain outside Korem it lights up a biblical famine, now, in the Twentieth Century.' Those words opened Michael Buerk's first report on the Ethiopian famine for the 6 o'clock news on October 24th 1984. His reports sent shock waves round the world. Hundreds of millions of pounds were raised and millions of lives were saved. The Live Aid concert, a direct consequence of Bob Geldof watching that broadcast, was watched by half the planet.

Michael Buerk has reported on some of the biggest stories in our the Flixborough chemical plant fire, the Birmingham pub bombing, Lockerbie. He was in Buenos Aires at the start of the Falklands War; he reported the death throes of apartheid in South Africa.

He has been the face of the BBC flagship evening news for many years and has fronted everything from the popular BBC1 series 999 to the erudite Radio 4 programme The Moral Maze.

He has won every major award and is universally admired and respected for his intelligent and honest journalism.

He is also loved by his colleagues, not least for his wicked sense of humour. His accounts of his first live radio report as a young reporter competing with the town drunk and his producer's solution to the problem of an uncontrollable panel on the Moral Maze are a joy to read.

He also reveals the private Michael Buerk, his bigamist father, his long and happy marriage to Christine, his delight at fatherhood.


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Biography, Autobiography

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I expected this book to be well written, interesting, an insight into the workings of the BBC and so on but it is much, much more. It is an incredibly moving story of a talented, modest man who was in the right places at the right times to reveal some of the most important stories of the last 40 years.
It is also funny, horrific and that word again: moving. I was interested in Michael's take on the BBC both during his main career, when the book was written and his thoughts on its future. As someone who has lost confidence in the Corporation and its current politically-correct, cynical, smug, leftist programming and news delivery, the reader can make up his/her own mind. A worthy five stars for a worthy individual and autobiography.

[Brian Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Buerk has led an extraordinary & utterly improbable life as a BBC correspondent and presenter. THE ROAD TAKEN covers that life in detail, on occasion perhaps too much detail. Buerk is a fine writer and his account is a perfect balance of humor and pathos. There are many laugh-aloud moments. There is also much seriousness; and it was probably a good coincidence that I read his account of the 1984 Ethiopian famine while sitting in a Starbucks, which kept me from openly crying. Buerk’s written account is even more moving than the actual broadcast (it’s still available on YouTube. Watch it.).

It’s obvious that Buerk is careful in his judgements of colleagues. Everyone seems to have their good points. I’m skeptical that the world is like that, even the BBC, especially as Buerk is known for holding, and expressing, some rather strong opinions. I also suspect that TRT is loaded with inside jokes, most of which undoubtedly went right over my head (“I’m not sure what happened to Kate [Adie] but she must have made her mark somewhere.”). (p. 94)

Buerk concludes with a critique of his industry. His fears from 2004 are spot-on and even more so today.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never a fan of 'celebrity' autobiography, I found that much of the first half of this book did nothing to modify my prejudices! I disliked the frequent rather snide, gossipy references to his colleagues and, basically, wasn't interested in discovering intimate details of his family and private life. However, whilst not entirely free of these irritations, I did find the second half of the book more interesting and engaging. This was where he concentrated on recounting and analysing his experiences when reporting from various war zones and trouble spots across the world, reinforcing my opinion of his impressively incisive, journalistic skills. I also particularly liked his reflections on what factual news reporting should be like and his concerns about the ways in which television news is increasingly being 'dumbed down'. His defence of the need for a public service broadcasting organisation, free from commercial pressures, made a welcome change to the usual criticisms of the BBC, which have become ever-louder in the twenty years since he wrote this book!

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an old book and was selected as an almost free for a second book a year ago. Actually this book is well worthy of being a main choice. The humour isn't obvious in the first couple of chapters but the later observations of BBC idiosyncracies is worthy of a comedy show.

His pursuit of the story and glory is exemplary to anyone who is energetically ambitious. On the other hand you could say he was away too often and taking too many risks for a family man. Having read a couple of biographies about war correspondents it seems risk taking is what they do, although Michael isn't a war correspondent he fringes one.

So reaching Apartheid, famine and the like my interest is waning as it seems a bit much at Christmas. Also Michael is foreseeing how measuring popular demand will limit serious programming and the ability to give a high minded message.

This is an interesting a well written book.

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy a journalists eye-view of some of the big world events and this author reported on a few, including from Ethiopia, with his report leading to Live Aid to name but one. It is an engaging book and well worth a read and probably better if you actually were watching him on TV at the time.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Buerk is quite the writer, in every way possible. He is full of courage and information about his work as a reporter (far and wise). And he is "seriously funny", in an understated way. From a happy but challenged childhood to a shaky start into his chosen profession, Buerk's life impressions are memorable. Loved this book.

[Rob Allard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, it was a long and dense book. Not a light read. some of the phrases and references were lost on me so I didn't understand all the anecdotes. but it had several genuine laugh at loud moments and went into detail on bits of history I know little about, which was interesting. felt a little bit too self congratulatory at points.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best autobographies I have ever read

[Philip Carman · Rating 5 out of 5]

V interesting - almost didn't read start reading it as thought it could be too heavy but glad I did

[Richard Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intreguing insight into the world and lifestyle of this most respected broadcast journalist.