A review by katrinky
This Is NPR: The First Forty Years by National Public Radio

3.0

This is always how I prefer to read history books: from the perspective, and in the words, of the people who were there. "This is NPR" is organized as a series of essays, excerpts from actual broadcasts, and charts and photographs illustrating the rise over the last forty years of the inspired, inspiring programming millions of people rely on for their news and information. From harrowing stories of journalists who were reporting from somewhere (Iraq and China come first to mind) when they came under attack of experienced massive natural disasters, to funny, silly stories about the NPR Relay Race in 2008 (Team name sampling: Greased Cheetahs; Consider our Dust, Jerks), I got what felt like a thorough, personable walk through one of the best things the U.S. of A. has going for its radio programming. (I SUPPOSE that's arguable, but I'm pretty much not going to be convinced otherwise.)
I should also mention that the typography is super-stylish, and, SWOON, the book utilizes a very similar robin's-egg-and-tangerine color scheme to the 15th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style, which...matters a lot to me.
And now it shouldn't surprise you at all that I am EXACTLY the kind of person who checks books about NPR out from the library and reads them in her spare time. Heh. It's a fine life, carrying the banner.