Breaking the Sound Barrier

by Amy Goodman, Bill Moyers (Foreword)

"You can learn more of the truth about Washington and the world from one week of Amy Goodman's Democracy Now! than from a month of Sunday morning talk shows. Make that a year of Sunday talk shows. That's because Amy, as you will discover on every page of this book, knows the critical question for journalists is how close they are to the truth, not how close they are to power."—From the Preface by Bill Moyers

Amy Goodman, award-winning host of the daily internationally broadcast radio and television program Democracy Now!, breaks through the corporate media's lies, sound bites, and silence in this wide-ranging new collection of articles. In place of the usual suspects—the "experts" who, in Goodman's words, "know so little about so much, explain the world to us, and get it so wrong"—this accessible, lively collection allows the voices the corporate media exclude and ignore to be heard loud and clear. From community organizers in New Orleans, to the courageous American soldiers who've said "No" to Washington's wars, to the victims of torture and police violence, we are given the extraordinary opportunity to hear ordinary people standing up and speaking out. Written with all of the fierce intelligence and passion for truth that millions have come to expect from Amy Goodman's reportage, Breaking the Sound Barrier proves the power that independent journalism can play in the struggle for a better world, one in which ordinary citizens are the true experts of their own lives and communities.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Journalism, History, Essays, Political Science

377 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Amy Goodman is an American broadcast journalist, syndicated columnist and author.

A 1984 graduate of Harvard University, Goodman is best known as the principal host of Pacifica Radio's Democracy Now! program, where she has been described by the Los Angeles Times as "radio's voice of the disenfranchised left". Coverage of the peace and human rights movements — and support of the independent media — are the hallmarks of her work.

As an investigative journalist, she has received acclaim for exposés of human rights violations in East Timor and Nigeria. Goodman is the first journalist to receive the Right Livelihood Award. Her brother is investigative journalist David Goodman.

Reviews

[Marilyn McEntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy Goodman is my favorite news source. These short pieces reflect the range of her courageous investigations into political process and her commitment to human rights. She is clear about her purposes, deeply ethical, and strict about standards of journalism that on so many other fronts have been eroded by corporate money. I recommend this any any of her other books; even more than that, I recommend comparing the news and analysis you get on democracynow.org with major media news and taking the measure of the difference.

[Lisa]

Heard speak at Green Festival, powerful message:RECLAIM OUR MEDIA from the profit makers/corporate non-persons, media more powerful than swine flu, war, disasters. Community radio and television: OUR RIGHT to public media access, don't let it go. Educate yourself, use your public access channels

[Jack Goodstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dated collection of news columns from 2006-2009.

[Juenbug · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it because I love Amy Goodman, and I am so appreciative of everything she, and the other people who work for Democracy Now!, do everyday to keep media open.

[Jan]

Amy Goodman is the best thing going in today's world of journalism. She is being joined by her protege Jeremy Scahill. Never miss Democracy Now!

[joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredibly interesting view into the tumultuous 2007-2009 political landscape. A time of economic unease and in a country still reeling from the impacts of 9/11, both at home and abroad. Growing up in this transitional politicial period, I of course remember when Bush was president and Obama's election, but being 10-12 years old, I was not politically aware in the slightest. This book acts as a time capsule to reopen that period, which answered many of my questions I had about during that time. Many stories are (sadly, usually) both a continuation and a running parallel to modern issues we still face today. Amy Goodman is a treasure!!!

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOW have I not heard of her before??? I love this book, but am totally bummed I'm a decade too late.....or am I???

[Casey HB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good and sad. Enlightening on the war of the earlier 2000's

[Alexandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodman is an independent journalist and host of Democracy Now, a daily TV/radio news program. She's unconventional and known for criticizing the mainstream media (among others) and asking, Who aren't we talking to?

"Breaking the Sound Barrier" is a collection of her syndicated columns from 2006 to 2009, grouped into themes including war, torture, climate change, media and elections. But don't think her columns are some radical left-wing editorials — they're not. Goodman is independent, and I think she means it.

Her columns criticize both mainstream political parties, calling for greater inclusion of third-party candidates and grassroots activism. And she's not too keen on the mainstream media either. Her arguments are refreshing because she calls attention to issues and grievances not even on other's radar. That's why I enjoyed this book.

Goodman's columns each run about two to three pages, and of course, I wish she offered more context or footnotes or more notes in general. But her reporting is thoughtful and thought-provoking, as it should be. The topics she writes about are both universal and personal. Goodman openly advocates for justice, and I don't have a problem with that because, well, isn't that what journalism is about? The whole, giving voice to the voiceless and holding our government accountable..?

Most of my classmates studying journalism at MU are doing so because they want to make some sort of impact on the world around them. They view their work as a public service. Goodman is an inspiration of the kind of journalism we each hope we can practice.

[Kimbolimbo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this book. I felt like I was listening to a 6+ hours of a radio show. The content wasn't very cohesive BUT she has a great voice. There is nothing annoying about her voice, I wish she'd read some of my favorite books for Librivox.org. I enjoyed the stories and situations she shared because they were different than the ones I normally hear over-and-over again.

[Cody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy Goodman's essays over the four or five year this book collects show Amy's honesty, conviction, principles, and insight are consistently on target. It's easy to dismiss criticisms and concerns as global events are happening, but historical context and hindsight vindicate Amy Goodman at nearly every turn. We should listen to her now.

[Matthew Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book in 2009, the information was new and interesting to me. Now that I've picked it up again, it reads more like a collection of dated newspaper articles. While the journalism is certainly high quality, it is more of a book to skim through than to read from cover to cover.

[Daniel]

I'm skipping around this collection of articles. I saw her speak in Philly and really enjoyed it. Democracy Now! is doing daily coverage of the climate summit from Copenhagen these days.

[LG · Rating 3 out of 5]

great coverage on many topics - very short pieces. to make it 5 stars, I would want more linkages or more depth.

[Naim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book as well as Amy Goodman's fine journalistic work exposes the vast limitations of our generally heard and seen corporately-funded (and skewed) news reporting (or lack thereof).