Rather Outspoken: My Life in the News

I just finished reading this book. I recommend it to anyone who wonders how corporations influence the media. What I took away from the book is the following:

The fourth part of checks and balances in this country is a free press. It is enshrined in our Constitution and Bill of Rights, and is an integral part of informed voting and participation in our democracy. The public is entitled to receive information, despite making angry those who don't wish certain information to be known. Oftentimes, it is precisely that hidden information that MUST be known. The corporatization, trivialization, politicization of the press is a serious national problem that continues to grow worse. The problem is that the public is becoming more and more desensitized to the sensationalistic corporate "news" being aired today.

Lots more than that, but you'll have to listen for yourself.

A most excellent book.

Wake up call!!

No

No

Rather is rooted in the great age of journalism, He crossed swords with powerful corporate and governmental interests in his attempt to get at the truth during the G W Bush administration, and he paid a heavy price. This is a great story. Rather is a great man and a great American.

Yes. Although I will not be able to read the printed version. I love to listen to Dan Rather.He is an amazing story teller.

I liked all of it, and will re-listen to it.

No scenes, just great stories. An eye opener of inside journalism and our media, and how things are not always as we hear or see them. Our US network media does a lot of cut and paste.

It was perfect. I will re-listen to this book again.

It's perfect! Thank you Mr. Rather.

Educational, shocking, disturbing

Learning how news media controls what US citizens are and aren't privy to.

Whatever happened to our free press?

I stumbled across this excellent audiobook - equal parts personal memoir and professional wake-up call to fellow U.S. journalists - entirely by chance and was hooked instantly just listening to the preview. Rather's telling of his life's work and travels here and abroad, are recalled in his trademark no-nonsense fashion, seasoned with just the kind of behind-the-scene anecdotes and details that keep you paying close attention, chapter after chapter. From covering the White House, to Vietnam, 9/11, Afghanistan and so many more, he shares the stories behind the stories, and in doing so paints a vivd self-portrait of a devoted journalist (and Texan) borne of an unflinching, old-fashioned patriotism as well as a confessed obsession to "get it right", in many cases no matter the consequences, personally or professionally.

Just as importantly, Rather makes a strong case for how the last two-decades have dealt wicked blows to our free press, an institution he (rightfully) views as an integral part of our democratic process, and one in peril. His detailed recounting of his personal experiences with the Viacom-owned CBS contains revelations both stunning and sobering, and no doubt serve the perfect example of our need to preserve a press that is free of manipulation - and outright control - by a government which has strayed dangerously far from it's constitutional roots to become "... of the corporations, by the corporations, and for the corporations."

This is an engrossing, and important, listen.

A great listen and full of laughs. You'll make several mouthed expressions while listening to this!

I really enjoyed Dan's life story and how he got his moral grounding.

Dan speaks with integrity and excitement and you can feel the passion in his voice while listening.

The entire book moves you. The excitement of wondering where he goes to next creates a bit of excitement.

The love Dan feels for his wife and family comes through so passionate when you listen to this audio!

I have always trusted Dan Rather and appreciated his storytelling abilities. In this book, however, he has one agenda. His message is that "he was right and CBS was wrong." The story is interesting and I believe him but I just couldn't take his repeating and repeating the story from every angle imaginable. Beating and beating and beating the story to death. I should have trusted the Audible readers stars and not purchased this one. Never got beyond his first story.

I am Canadian, and grew up with the CBC, not CBS. So I bought this on a whim. What a great surprise. Mr Rather was much more interesting than I had anticipated, and - though melodramatic in parts - presents a compelling argument ( I say as a lawyer) that he was not treated well by CBS. ( As a trial lawyer I found this - which takes up the first 50% of the overall book- interesting but can understand lots will not). The second part of the book - his experinces in the Kennedy, Nixon, years, his time in Vietnam etc - well worth the time to listen. I found his character part of the appeal, surprisingly so. Less ego than I had anticipated.

And above all - what a treat to listen to that voice!

High recommendation

Much of the book focuses on the unceremonious ouster of Rather from CBS after what he called undue influence from the Bush administration after damning reports on Bush and his cabinet. The book also does a good job of giving Rather's formative years of building his career as well as his second act with HD Net thanks to Mark Cuban. Rather gives great personal memories into the major events of history from someone in a front row seat to the events that changed our world.

Yes, hearing him tell his story tunes you in to the real emotion behind it all.

I have great admiration for Dan Rather. It's never easy to go against the popular opinion but sometimes it is necessary. Dan is an excellent example of how to do that with grace and dignity.
I wanted to give him a standing ovation a the end of this book!!!