Radio has become such a background part of our lives, we forget just how astounding an impact it has had on our culture and psyche. Susan Douglas brings it all back to the foreground in her book "Listening In." This is not just a chronicle of the development of the media, this book takes us deep into the social impacts of radio, and how it changed how we react and interact with each other. Douglas has perfectly captured the feel and "tone" of different periods of radio listening, and explores a lot of the psychological aspects of how radio let us sample and explore different parts of our American cultue in a safe and nonthreatening way.

As a present-day radio fanatic, the book gave me hope: hope that the medium hasn't been corporatized into complete blandness. Radio will continue to evolve, just like our American culture.

Whether your're a radio technology type, an old time radio fan, or just a student of American history, you'll find something to love in this book.

Please take note that Susan J. Douglas' (Times Books, 1999) is no mere history of radio. It was triggered by a request from the Sloan Foundation that was preparing a series of books on technology and American culture; and the emphasis is not on the details but on the general effect radio has on us from its beginnings. And take another note. This is too enjoyable a read to be considered a textbook.

My favorite chapter was the one called "Radio Comedy and Linguistic Slapstick." Here only a few comics are used as examples to support her several theses, one of which is the emasculation of the American male by the use of such high-pitched speakers as Jack Benny and Joe Penner. Of course there is lots of room for argument, but she does let the facts speak for themselves (pun intended).

The other chapters are "The Zen of Listening," "The Ethereal World," "Exploratory Listening in the 1920s," "Tuning In to Jazz" "The Invention of the Audience," "World War II and the Invention of Broadcast Journalism," "Playing Fields of the Mind," "The Kids Take Over: Transistors, DJs, and Rock 'n' Roll," "The FM Revolution," "Talk Talk," "Why Ham Radio Matters," and "Conclusion: Is Listening Dead?"

Which of us has not been affected in many of the ways Ms. Douglas points out in this book? Therefore, which of us can afford to miss being shown how radio has helped make us what we are? And I do hope she produces a similar book about television.

I've got Douglas' book today for her take on ham radio (I'm part of the Amateur Radio community) and I was very impressed with the rest of the book. Though I wrinkled my nose at the over-emphasis on the gender conflict in radio, Listening In reminded me of a time when people participate in a common culture instead of idly sitting by listening to the umpteenth Top 40 hit made by over-commercialized "plastic" bands.

The ham radio chapter was simply great and I give Dr. Douglas her due for mentioning the American Radio Relay League as the national association for hams. From this chapter, I can see why hams have a nurturing touch in their approach to life! The section on radio comedy is well done (the comedy bits are good for a chuckle or two). I recommend it to those who have a deep affinity for radio and communications.

Practical Insights into the Mechanics of Conflict January 6, 2003
I read this book nearly 10 years ago and found it very helpful. As a pastor of over 23 years and a survivor of a few humdinger conflicts, it was comforting to know that conflicts have patterns. It also helped me control my own responses.

I wouldn't wish church conflicts on a dog, but they seem to come (to most of us in the ministry, not dogs!) no matter what precautions we take. But they can often be contained early, and this book can help. It will also help you accept that conflict is common and to be expected, therefore leading us to the conclusion that one should be as prepared as possible. The chapters are all pretty good, but those written by Speed Leas excel.

The time to read this book is before (or early on)conflict begins. Every pastor needs to be prepared for what is inevitable. Lay leaders (board members, etc.) can also benefit from this book. Also helpful would be Terry Muck's book, "When to Take A Risk."

The authors approach Church Management from their various perspectives, but all seem to have a grip on managing a church, everywhere from facilities to staff to offering security to planning.

This is a fine book with some great specific suggestions.

This story is fast paced, excitting, and full of 007 style adventure. Only it a lot more hard edged than the bond series and more violent.
If Jack Novak was incharge of the drug war we would have a better chance of winning! The author and his character have a healthy, but seldom heard view point in this age of left wing, political correct, do-gooders who only bring society closer to the brink!

Join Timothy and Tabitha as they search for the source of a ghostly noise, and their delight when they discover what it really is! Plenty of cooperation as the whole family joins in, and suspense without fear for even the youngest reader. I stumbled upon this book in the public library and ended up buying a copy because my daughter couldn't bear to return it.

Since I came to the United States (from Russia) I have watched hundreds of movies...they have helped my vocabulary. And now this wonderful book is giving me a view of how good movies were. The book has hundreds and hundreds of interesting movie quotes: I could not put it down!

I believe that after THE GOSPEL, This is THE most important truth that anyone can ever hear. In fact, I often describe it as "THE GOSPEL FOR CHRISTIANS." If believers really embrace this extremely motivation truth, their lives will never be the same again.

Since reading "This Was Your Life?" in 1999, there is not a day that I do not think about living for THAT DAY instead of just TODAY. I have now bought over 400 copies of the book and about 20 copies of the video series.

I have distibuted these copies resulting in overwhelmingly positive and grateful responses. Most people have had similar reactions to mine and have in turn ordered more books to give to the believers they knonw. There is just no way to measure the far-reaching impact this book will have on eternity.

This book should be read by every follower of Christ. It motivates the reader toward significant change. I wish I had this guide much earlier in my Christian walk. I would not have wasted so many years seeking man's approval and praise. I am now focused on working for Christ's honor and glory.

The authors guide the reader through a personal soul-searching exercise that peels away all self-deception until the individual's true core is exposed. Then, they guide the reader to an uplifting knowledge of how to truly follow Christ. The book is filled with practical instruction on how to change.

I have already given away ten copies to friends. After reading it, several have said to me, "This is exactly what I have been looking for!"

This is a wonderful book! It's an urgent warning and a compelling call to understand our accountability for our lives. It is thoroughly referenced, comprehensive, and slyly humorous. This slim volume powerfully guides the reader into searching personal reflections and into a deeper relationship with God. Rick Howard is Pastor of Peninsula Christian Center in Redwood City, California. The Judgment Seat of Christ is Rick's lifetime message which he has given in 80 countries around the world. Jamie Lash is Director of Student Development at a Christian university in Dallas, Texas. He leads seminars and writes on Christian growth. Jamie is perhaps best known in the Washington, D.C. area for his popular "Victory Seminar" program wihch was heard on WCTN radio. In 1987, Jamie saw Rick Howard's video on The Judgement Seat of Christ. He says it was the most powerful lesson he had ever heard. He contacted Rick to see if he had written a book on the topic. That conversation led to a collaboration of the two men. Heavenly rewards is a neglected subject and many believers know little of what the Bible teaches about it. But just imagine meeting the King of Kings and Lord of All with every thing you ever said, or did, or even thought, exposed in His glorious light! This Was Your Life explores what scripture tells us of the hereafter while guiding us to a more abundant life here and now. The 15 short chapters have titles such as "Encountering the Christ of Revelation," "Stay Out of His Chair," "Olympic Motivation," and "Seizing the Time." Each chapter is unique and nourishment for the spirit. The discussion questions included make this gem of a book an excellent choice for a family or study group to read together. If you long to hear Jesus say, :"Well done, good and faithful servant" -- this book is for you. If you plan to read only one spiritual book this year, This Was Your Life should be the one to read and reread.

Has handy info sheets on mixing with chemistry and fix times.

Covers virtually anything do do with black and white processing. Provides all the 'How To" so lacking in other books. Does not omit non-Ilford developers, but includes charts for them as well. But the book is certainly for the serious ameteur or pro, and is very technical. I really need the data provided on a daily basis, so the techical aspects don't bother me -- they're a plus! But others may find the book too much and wish simpler explanations. I'm biased here.

This book is a manual of b/w photography in the whole. The book is filled with useful information on how to develop your films and create good enlargements and also has a good storing and caring instructions for your precious films and photographs. Useful procedures like knifing and toning is also covered. The book contains information on various tools, like "the difference between diffuser and condenser enlargers" and many more. Great book for every b/w enthusiast.

There is not much to say about this book: a series of murky images of naked men printed on high quality black stock paper.

I am sure that this made for an interesting opening at an art gallery but without more explanation about the artist or a more comprehensive artist's statement, much of the impact is lost.

I was drawn to this book by its bold concept, and was pleased to see a beautifully produced book. Unfortunately, the potential of available light photography is stretched here beyond breaking point. The images are mostly nondescript blurs that could have been shot almost anywhere--except for the fleeting hints of naked men. I guess this book is sort of a Rorschach test. Apparently, some see genius in the writhing light and shadow. I see underwhelming photos in attractive packaging.

Passing by the art section in good bookstores I kept noting people paging through a dark black book about night and swimming or something like that. It stayed in my mind's eye. After reading "Nighswimmer" by Joseph Olshan and still a bit under its spell I finally picked up this art photography book. Now I've spent time inside the place the book creates and find it wholly mesmerizing. Yes, the images are tough to discern.....like looking for faces in the fog much the way lust feels after midnight. But it is the spontaneity of the moments and the sensitivity of the layout of the book that create a shoreline of approaching and receding waves: this is the way longing feels and looks. Though spare, the commentary is as terse as nervous whispers and adds greatly to the overall effect of this journey. Can't see much here? Then as in all good art, infuse your imagination and go where it feels either best or most dangerous. I like this book.

Nice photos, but how much faith can you put into the text when simple errors stick out like sore thumbs

For instance:

Man Called X: Ken Thurston did not have a girlfriend and had nothing to do with the Cafe Tamborine (that was an entirely different program.)

Jack Moyles did NOT replace Frank Sinatra as Rocky Fortune. That series ended when Sinatra left it. Moyles DID star in Rocky Jordan, an entirely different show.

It is little things like this and make the book suspect for me. How many more errors are in this book? What can one take as fact and not with a grain of salt?

Excellent concept, faulty execution. I would not buy this book again and am considering returning my copy for credit. I do not consider this book to be a valuable reference item. Casual reading yes...reference work...no

This book, The Encyclopedia of American Radio, is an excellent, comprehensive compilation of facts and photos relating to radio shows and personalities of the past that were part of Radio's Golden Age...the thirties, forties and fifties. It is a very fond look back at those days when we all gathered around the family radio and listened to such great shows as The Lone Ranger, The Shadow, The Lux Radio Theater, Jack Benny, et al. The amount of information given in this book is vast and the Appendices, which lists hundreds of dramatic anthology shows and personalities not given separate entries in the book, is extensive. An amazing achievememnt and it is Fun to read and not dull, which is more than I can say for other less well written Radio Encyclopedias that have been published in the last few years. Congratulations, Mr. Lackmann, for a job well done.

Ron Lackmann's Encyclopedia of American Radio is a wonderfuul and useful book about Old Time Radio. It is the only book I have found on the subject that gives both show descriptions and biographies of many major radio personalities. I have found other books that are filled with far many more errors than are found in this book, and yet those books seem to get favorable reviews from certain somewhat bitter people. I have been told that authors writing for vanity publishers often write favorable reviews for their own books on similar sujects and nasty picky criticisms of other people's books on similar subjects in order to undermine work done by others. How awful. I found the illustrations in Lackmann's Radio Encyclopedia especially nostalgic and very provocative of a time gone by. I understand the bvook won the POpular Culture award as Best Reference book for 1997...which was well deserved. The extensive APPendices is also most impressive.

This is a long book, maybe one of the longest London wrote, but no matter, you can take it in small doses, because the book is a straight narrative with no suspense, no drama, only London's wishful fantasy working overtime. No matter the obstacle, and London lays them on with heavy-handed doses of pessimism, the lily-white hero and heroine, Billy and Saxon, easily overcome each while giving the author plenty of opportunity to express his famous prejudice against all non-Anglo Saxons. London also builds his case for scientific farming, sustainability, as a method that will win out every time. While in truth, London was an abject failure at farming with every experiement ending in disaster. The tale is sugar coated fantasy, London dreaming his couple into everlasting happiness. The coincidence at the end is not to be believed. It's pure sap written in the twilight of his career when his talents appear on the wane. It's the only London book I have read to date that I would not recommend on any level.

I felt that the book was technically well written, but the story, subject, and outcome, were all very melo-dramatic and predicatble. The love story was unimaginable, the plot "twists" were that of a second rate novel, and the outcome completely unlikely in real life, even back then. I live in the California valley, and I have been through every town that is tramped through in this book, and only by Mr. London's sheer talent for writing did I keep enough interest to finish it. There are better, more rewarding books in London's canon than this.

I read this book after biking through a lot of the California towns London mentions. I pedaled through Glen Ellen and saw some of the missions. Since I am male, I could relate to the character of Billy. He is an early 20th century renaissance man. I never got bored with this book. It has a lot of personal meaning to me. I come from some of the "old stock" Billy and Saxon refer to. Tons of detail. I had to read it twice to get all the details. If you like northern California and want to know what it was like 100 years ago, read this.