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This Is NPR: The First Forty Years
"Always put the listener first" has been NPR's mantra since its inception in 1970. Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, NPR's programming attracts over 27 million listeners every week. This beautifully designed volume chronicles NPR's storied history, featuring dozens of behind-the-scenes photos, essays and original reporting by a who's who of NPR staff and correspondents, transcripts of memorable interviews, and an audio CD of the most memorable programming throughout the decades. Beyond an entertaining and inspiring tribute to NPR's remarkable history, this book is an intimate look at the news and stories that have shaped our world, from the people who were on the ground and on the air. With contributions from Steve Inskeep, Neal Conan, Robert Siegel, Nina Totenberg, Linda Wertheimer, Scott Simon, Melissa Block, P.J. O'Rourke, David Sedaris, Sylvia Poggioli, Paula Poundstone, and many more, this is the perfect book for any NPR supporter, fan, or devotee.
267 pages, Hardcover
First published October 13, 2010
131 people are currently reading
833 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
May 15, 2016
This was a too short blast from the past. I wish they'd covered a few more of the stories of the day, but the ones they did cover were great. They also included some of their attempts at humor, like the maple tree explosions. They've done a wonderful job & I don't listen to them often enough.
It's funny how my memory works. I remember the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal of course, but it's in the context of the sex. I'd forgotten that it came out because Lewinsky's testimony in the White Water scandal was suspect & further investigation by Starr turned up a good reason for her to lie. It's pretty amazing & scary how the most important aspect of the investigation was lost.
Hearing the story of the peace protests in DC was wild. I was pretty young at the time (11 or 12) when this was going on, but remember the shock & outrage these evoked in the adults & teenagers around me. The gov't & police had dealt with rioters before, but none quite like these. They weren't adults, minorities, or violent, so the way they were handled became a huge issue. Hearing the first hand reporting (NPR reporter to policeman, "Sir, why are you arresting this man?") was... I don't know. Words fail me. I can't describe it succinctly. How we viewed police at the time clashed with the individual rights in a way that forever changed both for me & the nation. No adult could answer any of my questions about it properly. It was a huge crack in the facade of adulthood for me.
The other stories were good, too. Highly recommended even though it isn't as comprehensive as it could be.
It's funny how my memory works. I remember the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal of course, but it's in the context of the sex. I'd forgotten that it came out because Lewinsky's testimony in the White Water scandal was suspect & further investigation by Starr turned up a good reason for her to lie. It's pretty amazing & scary how the most important aspect of the investigation was lost.
Hearing the story of the peace protests in DC was wild. I was pretty young at the time (11 or 12) when this was going on, but remember the shock & outrage these evoked in the adults & teenagers around me. The gov't & police had dealt with rioters before, but none quite like these. They weren't adults, minorities, or violent, so the way they were handled became a huge issue. Hearing the first hand reporting (NPR reporter to policeman, "Sir, why are you arresting this man?") was... I don't know. Words fail me. I can't describe it succinctly. How we viewed police at the time clashed with the individual rights in a way that forever changed both for me & the nation. No adult could answer any of my questions about it properly. It was a huge crack in the facade of adulthood for me.
The other stories were good, too. Highly recommended even though it isn't as comprehensive as it could be.
March 3, 2017
I love, love, love NPR! It's my primary news source and I have great respect for the staff and the excellent, fairly balanced work they do. This book told the fascinating history of NPR, which debuted in the early 1970s. I read this book on my Kindle and it most definitely was not meant to be read on a Kindle. The layout was awful, with headlines wrapping around to the next sentence and the next page (breaking words in half), using different unappealing typefaces in different sizes. The photos were so tiny, I would need a magnifying glass to see them. The book featured essays by NPR reporters but quite often, I wasn't sure who was reporting the story I was reading. They also included some people and didn't include others. For example, they included the story of Bob Edwards' sudden replacement, which angered many people, but then other than a brief mention of what happened, they don't go into detail about why Juan Williams was terminated. I know Diane Rehm's show isn't officially produced by NPR, although it's broadcast on NPR, but they mention other shows not produced by NPR, but are part of NPR's schedule, such as Car Talk or This American Life. How could they have left out Diane Rehm? Or Terry Gross? I'm sure they had their reasons, but they're such big names, they seemed like major omissions to me. But, the creation and history of NPR is fascinating. Many of the founders, or early reporters for NPR, are still there today! When NPR was started up, a conscious decision was made to include as many female as male reporters. That's still evident today. This book was somewhat of a disappointment to me, so I think I will try listening to some of the NPR audio books. That is, after all, their medium!
January 21, 2014
I've been an NPR fan for all of my adult life,so reading this book felt like getting in touch with a lot of old friends. It was great to see the faces, hear the voices, be told the back-stories behind many shows, learn about the successes and failures, how the programs are put together, how technology has profoundly changed radio, how reporters have put their lives on the line in war-torn countries. An amazing book! As a bonus, there was a CD of a few clips from the past 40 years. I do wish the CD was much longer.
May 25, 2016
This is pretty much the autobiography of National Public Radio. It is really a collection of short memoirs from many NPR employees along with a few transcripts from broadcasts. The most interesting parts to me were those covering the time period before I ever began to listen. The stories from days of splicing together tape seconds before it went on air give interesting, behind-the-scenes views of life in the early days of NPR. I liked reading about the birth and evolution of All Songs Considered as well.
July 24, 2011
While I loved everything in this book, my main complaint is that there isn't enough of it. It's the entire history of NPR compressed into less than 275 pages filled with photos and other graphics. This all is organized well and looks terrific, but I felt like I was reading a Wikipedia article about the history of NPR - a well-written one, to be sure, but it was terribly brief nonetheless. I want to be clear - everything about this book is awesome. There's just not enough of it.
August 6, 2016
Come for the photos of NPR stars when they were young, stay for some interesting behind-the-scenes anecdotes.
March 5, 2014
Man, I love NPR.
April 20, 2017
Good, in a "I'm-an-NPR-nerd" and enjoyed the different perspective on historical events from the last 40 years. Definitely one from which I was easily distracted, though.
September 18, 2016
40 years of US history, through the lens of NPR.
February 24, 2017
An excellent look at an excellent news outfit. I'm a fan of the book and NPR.
January 28, 2011
"I leaned back and took it all in...and fell in love" (Vivian Schiller, NPR's CEO).
In so many ways, this history is National Public Radio in book form. Just like NPR, it took me a while to get accustomed to the format of the book. Once I did, though, I was entranced. The format of the book merely separates each of NPR's decades in existence, and the result is somewhat choppy, especially at first. It is not a streamlined narrative, and there are shorter stories and memories in "blurb" form throughout (it reminded me of listening to WNYC and getting bits of a local host interspersed with Morning Edition topics). I couldn't get myself interested in this format until I hit the 90's, possibly because that was a time I could remember, or that's when NPR became a more streamlined organization, or maybe a little of both.
There are moments when an old NPR correspondent tells a story that is clearly meant to be humorous, and I found myself trying desperately to understand what's so funny. It was like awkwardly staring at my dad, trying to get his joke. At times I was reminded of Molly Shannon and Ana Gasteier on Saturday Night Live doing "The Delicious Dish" ("tomorrow we will talk about the Nebraskan delicacy: toast"). But then there were moments when I fully shared NPR's geeky sense of humor and laughed right along with Melissa Block's story about walrus meatballs.
All in all, this history of NPR's first forty years just served to solidify my love for public radio and its high journalistic standards. I was deeply impressed by the multiple mentions of the collegiality and collaboration of NPR's staff: no one is too "low on the totem pole" to have a meaningful opinion when it comes to deciding on content. In the current media climate, I am so grateful for what NPR is doing and will continue to do, even as they experiment with new formats and ventures. I was also very impressed, as a fundraiser, with a few pages towards the end that ultimately constituted a "soft ask", as those of us in fund-raising call it. After pages and pages of waxing poetic on NPR's past (mixed in with some honest self-criticism when necessary), the book mentions NPR's largest supporter and her bequest of 222 MILLION dollars. Then it discreetly shows a chart of how many people listen to NPR and how few of those listeners make a gift to public radio. Well, NPR, you got me. I promise to make you one of my giving priorities (even if that doesn't amount to anything close to 222 million).
All of this is to say that I loved the book, just as I deeply love NPR and all of its rich programming. Also, Ari Shapiro is a FOX. Who knew?!
In so many ways, this history is National Public Radio in book form. Just like NPR, it took me a while to get accustomed to the format of the book. Once I did, though, I was entranced. The format of the book merely separates each of NPR's decades in existence, and the result is somewhat choppy, especially at first. It is not a streamlined narrative, and there are shorter stories and memories in "blurb" form throughout (it reminded me of listening to WNYC and getting bits of a local host interspersed with Morning Edition topics). I couldn't get myself interested in this format until I hit the 90's, possibly because that was a time I could remember, or that's when NPR became a more streamlined organization, or maybe a little of both.
There are moments when an old NPR correspondent tells a story that is clearly meant to be humorous, and I found myself trying desperately to understand what's so funny. It was like awkwardly staring at my dad, trying to get his joke. At times I was reminded of Molly Shannon and Ana Gasteier on Saturday Night Live doing "The Delicious Dish" ("tomorrow we will talk about the Nebraskan delicacy: toast"). But then there were moments when I fully shared NPR's geeky sense of humor and laughed right along with Melissa Block's story about walrus meatballs.
All in all, this history of NPR's first forty years just served to solidify my love for public radio and its high journalistic standards. I was deeply impressed by the multiple mentions of the collegiality and collaboration of NPR's staff: no one is too "low on the totem pole" to have a meaningful opinion when it comes to deciding on content. In the current media climate, I am so grateful for what NPR is doing and will continue to do, even as they experiment with new formats and ventures. I was also very impressed, as a fundraiser, with a few pages towards the end that ultimately constituted a "soft ask", as those of us in fund-raising call it. After pages and pages of waxing poetic on NPR's past (mixed in with some honest self-criticism when necessary), the book mentions NPR's largest supporter and her bequest of 222 MILLION dollars. Then it discreetly shows a chart of how many people listen to NPR and how few of those listeners make a gift to public radio. Well, NPR, you got me. I promise to make you one of my giving priorities (even if that doesn't amount to anything close to 222 million).
All of this is to say that I loved the book, just as I deeply love NPR and all of its rich programming. Also, Ari Shapiro is a FOX. Who knew?!
December 19, 2016
I really enjoyed hearing stories that encapsulated most of my adult life. Many were very emotional, and anyone who reads the book will likely shed at least a few tears over a remembered youth, as well as a reminder of some of the horrible things that have happened in our lives, including what occurred during the fall of Saigon, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and 9/11. What really struck me about the book was just how scammed I currently feel given what has occurred in this country during the previous two years. Throughout the reporting of NPR over the years, it seemed as though most "good" people were on the same page about how life should move forward with compassion, and dedication to the general welfare of everyone in the world. It was hard not to weep when remembering the Vietnam War and thinking that all of us looked at wars as something to be ended and annihilation of the poor and destitute as a bad thing that we, as a country, should be above. Then there was the segment about Obama's election ... so full of hope about how the country had moved beyond the prejudice of the past in a "post racial" society. Little did we know that we weren't really beyond much of anything, and that so many were just waiting to unleash their hatred and repressed prejudice. And as for wars? I can't say that the U.S. is alone in not getting to a level of common sense in which it becomes the collective object to try to get along as opposed to undermining (or killing) the "enemy." It seems the world has learned no lessons at all. The book, while being a wonderful trip down memory lane, was also a sad reminder of just how little humankind has progressed in these past 40 years.
October 31, 2017
If I could, I'd split my rating: 4 stars for regular listeners and fans of NPR; 3 stars for those who don't listen to NPR or aren't otherwise familiar with them.
The book chronicles the highlights of the first 40 years of NPR's existence up through 2009 or so. It centers on the greatest historical events of those years and NPR's role in bringing those stories to its listeners.
At times the essays run to a modest tooting of NPR's own horn--how they were there first, told the story best, succeeded against all odds and survived personal dangers and horrors.
Other essays have a "little engine that could" theme--especially the early years when no one knew what NPR was about, they ran on a shoestring budget, and somehow got the story first, or told it best, and did it with subpar equipment and facilities and an undermanned news department.
That said, for NPR fans, this is a nice encapsulation of their growth and increasing role in the national and international news business. There are some nice reminiscences of NPR pioneers and "legends" like Susan Stamberg, Bob Edwards, Cokie Roberts, and Nina Totenberg. We hear the story behind the story in many cases of reporters risking their lives in places like Iraq and Afghanistan during the wars there.
Note: I read the kindle version and some of the photos require you to enlarge the font in order to see them clearly.
The book chronicles the highlights of the first 40 years of NPR's existence up through 2009 or so. It centers on the greatest historical events of those years and NPR's role in bringing those stories to its listeners.
At times the essays run to a modest tooting of NPR's own horn--how they were there first, told the story best, succeeded against all odds and survived personal dangers and horrors.
Other essays have a "little engine that could" theme--especially the early years when no one knew what NPR was about, they ran on a shoestring budget, and somehow got the story first, or told it best, and did it with subpar equipment and facilities and an undermanned news department.
That said, for NPR fans, this is a nice encapsulation of their growth and increasing role in the national and international news business. There are some nice reminiscences of NPR pioneers and "legends" like Susan Stamberg, Bob Edwards, Cokie Roberts, and Nina Totenberg. We hear the story behind the story in many cases of reporters risking their lives in places like Iraq and Afghanistan during the wars there.
Note: I read the kindle version and some of the photos require you to enlarge the font in order to see them clearly.
September 21, 2014
I'm not sure if most people read this cover to cover, as it does seem to be a coffee table book more appropriate for brief glances and 1-2 page reading stints. It took me a year or so of off and on reading before picking it up and plowing through the last 150 pages or so. This may have been a mistake, as I grew tired of the formulaic half page contributions devoured in large chunks.
That said, I think that the book's content is really solid and fairly encapsulates the history of NPR. It's written from an insider's position which makes me question whether there are more incidents of ruffled feathers ala Bob Edwards that didn't make it into the mostly pleasant account of the storied public radio conglomerate. But what a joy to see pictures of the names I've come to know so well over the radio!
Perhaps my overarching criticism is that I'd like to see a comprehensive history of any one of the many programs featured here. The tidbits are tantalizing, but often seemed to offer me a summary of what I already knew about familiar shows.
Nevertheless, worthy of a read by any NPR fan young or old - just try and break it into smaller chunks.
That said, I think that the book's content is really solid and fairly encapsulates the history of NPR. It's written from an insider's position which makes me question whether there are more incidents of ruffled feathers ala Bob Edwards that didn't make it into the mostly pleasant account of the storied public radio conglomerate. But what a joy to see pictures of the names I've come to know so well over the radio!
Perhaps my overarching criticism is that I'd like to see a comprehensive history of any one of the many programs featured here. The tidbits are tantalizing, but often seemed to offer me a summary of what I already knew about familiar shows.
Nevertheless, worthy of a read by any NPR fan young or old - just try and break it into smaller chunks.
June 5, 2012
posted this on facebook today
Finished listening to NPR audio cd The first 40 years and parts of the last cd had me near tears with moving reporting. But I also got some laughs out of this story which I'd heard about but never heard http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...
Here's a link to other NPR Hoaxes/April fools story
can't find the one i most want to find and share though the pickle ranch: family run http://www.npr.org/series/4568853/rep...
I love NPR , as I've talked about here http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2010... and here,http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2007...
and am really enjoying this audiobook collecting some of its best and most memorable stories
one of the stories is by John Burnett who i interviewed here
http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2007...
Finished listening to NPR audio cd The first 40 years and parts of the last cd had me near tears with moving reporting. But I also got some laughs out of this story which I'd heard about but never heard http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...
Here's a link to other NPR Hoaxes/April fools story
can't find the one i most want to find and share though the pickle ranch: family run http://www.npr.org/series/4568853/rep...
I love NPR , as I've talked about here http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2010... and here,http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2007...
and am really enjoying this audiobook collecting some of its best and most memorable stories
one of the stories is by John Burnett who i interviewed here
http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2007...
October 8, 2019
To preface this, this is a review of the audio recordings. This was hard to rate. It was a confusing mix of emotions, and a crazy run through history, almost like a radio recorded-forest gump tale. Parts of it were small, seemingly meaningless; however I think those quiet moments of joy, those moments of tender laughter, were important to give weight to the heaviness of some of the other content. The front-line account of the war protests in the 70s were very disturbing. The accounts of the challenger disaster were disheartening. The most moving, probably the accounts of war-torn Rwanda, brought me to tears. But there was hope in the midst of all this too: hope from the Velvet revolution in Prague. Hope in the peace that has come to the Balkans. Hope even for people in the Sudan and Afghanistan. I think this time capsule of our modern history is important, and while I think they could have gone a little deeper into some topics (I was surprised the 9/11 story felt almost abrupt) I cannot say this was not good when my main complaint was that it left me wanting more.
June 28, 2012
This was a gift from a dear friend who in so many ways is very bright - but she does NOT listen to NPR (National Public Radio) - I know - it is incomprehensible. However I do - so I just loved this book. It is like a 'coffee table' book although not as large - but it's one to browse through - it also comes with a CD (which I did not listen to.) The best thing about this book are what I learned about NPR (National Public Radio) like the following: I finally got to see what all the broadcasters looked like and they looked nothing like I imagined them; I was surprised to discover how many of these same broadcasters were with NPR (National Public Radio) from the the very beginning and are still working there - it must be a wonderful working environment - and finally the stories of war - they are always hard to listen to and aren't any easier to read.
March 8, 2017
NPR has long been a part of my life. Driving to work before dawn or sitting in the driveway so as to complete the story, I knew a familiar voice would be there. I depended on those voices to let me know what the world was up to, clear up my confusion on a issue, teach me something new about that I thought I knew all about, and brought the voices of people and their lives so I felt like I wasn't alone on the planet. The names of Cokie Roberts, Noah Adams, Susan Stamberg and so many others were the names of old, dear friends who made me consider, laugh even shed a tear.
This book tells how they made it happen and keep on happening. I think I will re-read the book now, in the car, in the driveway, while the radio plays B.J Leaderman's themes.
This book tells how they made it happen and keep on happening. I think I will re-read the book now, in the car, in the driveway, while the radio plays B.J Leaderman's themes.
June 16, 2011
I enjoyed learning more of the history of NPR, even if the way it was presented seemed rather disjointed. The old photos were great, and it's always kind of neat to put faces to people you only hear day in and day out. Various anecdotes from producers, reporters, and managers added to the overall story, but the format of pull stories on every other page made my eyes jump, and I wasn't sure what to read first. But after learning how shows were scrapped together at the last minute and to see how far NPR has come in 40 years, it reaffirms my belief that public radio is VITAL to the larger media landscape.
August 16, 2011
A fun book for any NPR fan (and should be read by those who don't know NPR).
NPR grew over my adult life. This book gave me a "Forrest Gump" feeling, because I remembered so much of what they (the NPR names I've always known) tell about in the book.
Hey, I always assumed that the people on NPR must have "faces for radio" -- maybe worse; after all, PBS personalities aren't cute! But the NPR personalities, besides having great voices and memorable names, are goodlooking. Who knew?
I took a long time to read this book because it was my treat. Anyone giving up their cup of Starbucks could replace it with a few pages a day of "This is NPR" and not miss the caffeine!
NPR grew over my adult life. This book gave me a "Forrest Gump" feeling, because I remembered so much of what they (the NPR names I've always known) tell about in the book.
Hey, I always assumed that the people on NPR must have "faces for radio" -- maybe worse; after all, PBS personalities aren't cute! But the NPR personalities, besides having great voices and memorable names, are goodlooking. Who knew?
I took a long time to read this book because it was my treat. Anyone giving up their cup of Starbucks could replace it with a few pages a day of "This is NPR" and not miss the caffeine!
August 28, 2016
Truly enjoyable and informative, as usual!
As with anything NPR, this book provided an "armchair moment", an opportunity to find out about just what it took, and still takes, for NPR to deliver quality reporting on a wide variety of topics. From the effect of developing technology (from analog editing with razor blades, to precision digital user friendly interface), to the contributions of NPR staff whose passion for informing their listeners is matched only by their investigative skills, this work presents an interesting perspective of 40 years of history and service by NPR. Thanks, guys, for everything you've done and continue to do.
As with anything NPR, this book provided an "armchair moment", an opportunity to find out about just what it took, and still takes, for NPR to deliver quality reporting on a wide variety of topics. From the effect of developing technology (from analog editing with razor blades, to precision digital user friendly interface), to the contributions of NPR staff whose passion for informing their listeners is matched only by their investigative skills, this work presents an interesting perspective of 40 years of history and service by NPR. Thanks, guys, for everything you've done and continue to do.
October 19, 2015
This book is a series of smaller recollections by NPR staff and contributors put together into a brief history of the National Public Radio station. This isn't a complete history, and it isn't meant to be, but the stories are spread out through the hears from the 70's to the present and paint a fairly representative picture of NPRs evolution over the years. The last part of the book with the business plans for the present and future weren't quite as interesting to me as the behind the scenes stories of how the stories we heard on NPR made it to the airwaves.
May 4, 2019
The book is OK. The best thing is the CD audio that comes with it, with samples of early NPR broadcasts, including anti-Vietnam War protestors being gassed by police, a call-in show with President Carter, David Sedaris's piece on Santaland, the military's bad attitude towards' soldiers with PTSD, and AIDS patients' struggles with medication...
Worth getting just for the CD... Listening to it was like going in a time tunnel....
Worth getting just for the CD... Listening to it was like going in a time tunnel....
January 3, 2013
Highly recommended for fellow NPR devotees. Great little history of the organization and the people involved. Get the paper version though because my ebook version was jenky and the photos (which were fun seeing the faces that correspond to the voices I know so well) were, at times, difficult to see.
April 19, 2015
A fun little book by people at NPR celebrating themselves. It tells the history of NPR by collecting the personal viewpoints of the people involved--just like an NPR program, but without a pledge drive. My favorite part: learning what the news anchors names really are. It's Steve Inskeep, not Steve-inski. That had confused for years!
April 2, 2016
This was a history of NPR, which sounds like a boring topic, but instead of being discursive, it is anecdotal, with reporters, administrators, and guests chipping in to tell their 1-2 page stories. A few transcripts from episodes are included, as are lots of photos. It's nice to see what those voices really look like.
March 24, 2017
As an NPR fan, I enjoyed reading some of the backstory of the organization's founding and growth. Some sections were more interesting than others. Reading transcripts of some of the news stories was a bit tedious. The tone was quite self-congratulatory overall, but I enjoyed the sections written by various hosts. It's worth a skim for NPR fans.
March 12, 2011
Interesting info--I appreciated the variety of ways that information was distributed (transcripts, pics, etc.). I wonder if this book were published in a year's time (instead of now) if the funding controversy would have been included.
December 30, 2012
The fortieth anniversary history of NFP - which (I hate to admit it) I've been listening to for all for years. Not a boring history, but a behind the scenes look at the people who made NPR what is, and the stories they told. throug words, not just pictures. must reading for the public radio fan.
May 16, 2013
I love NPR, so of course I'd love a book written by all the players. I've always felt the reporters were kind of like friends who brought the news, and this book just cemented that belief. Loved the photos.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews