William J. Torgerson

A high school grad of 1989 and connoisseur of 80s music, I really enjoyed this book. The story spans the time from when the above pictured moon-landing footage was used to promote the network all the way to long after I stopped watching and reality TV took over. Lots of behind the scenes tales about Madonna, Michael Jackson, and bands such as Van Halen, Motley Crue, and Bon Jovi.

The book can become a collage of sorts, drawing heavily on longish quotes from those central to the network. I liked the book about NBC, the Jobs biography, and I hope Netflixed comes to audible soon. My kind of stories!

I mentally noted chapter 13 for when I began to get really interested in this book. Once I got past childhood and into Roger getting his first job, this really picked up for me. Given Roger's lifetime of watching movies, it was interesting to hear his opinions on film and about all the experiences he's had talking with filmmakers and actors. Lots of excellent travel stories related to film festivals.

Oh yeah! Getting started in TV was also a great story. Roger's wife Chaz is an inspiration. What an amazing woman.

I waited a little too long to write this review, but here we go: I'm from Indiana and grew up playing basketball, and I enjoyed Wallace describing his years travelling the Midwest and the dodgy style of gritty tennis he played. He relished the heat, the bugs, and the surprise gusts of wind while others complained of their foul luck. Memorable pieces on the IL state fair and a trip on a luxury cruise liner. Listened to this as I read Michael Martone's The Flatness and Other Landscapes. A good pair.

The writer's phrase "antidiscipline" grabbed my attention. Sometimes I'm not sure about my professional move toward being interdisciplinary rather than an "expert" on a really narrow topic. This book helps me take confidence in the direction I'm headed as a writer, teacher, and filmmaker.

Didn't realize Michael's history, starting with the trouble he stirred up when he was 17 and received his first invitation to address congress. Lots of amazing and surprising stories in here!

When Michael pestered Roger Ebert to attend his film premiere. Also, the phone call from John Lennon.

I listen when I run or when I commute. Time flew!

Moore showed good enthusiasm in his reading. He took a very conversational tone.

No. The print and audio versions worked different for me, both in a good way.

This isn't a book with characters, really. Not sure I think much of these questions to review books. Let me decide on my own content and structure for a review.

The idea of all this free time that could be used to do public good.

It made me want to buy the paperback so I could look more closely and use in the writing courses I teach.

I plan to write more later. Choose "Golden Lines" and publish to Goodreads and Wordpress. I'm "Prof. Torg"