Moyers on Democracy

By: Bill Moyers

Narrated by: Bill Moyers

Bill Moyers on America today:

“Here in the first decade of the twenty-first century the story that becomes America’s dominant narrative will shape our collective imagination and our politics for a long time to come. In the searching of our souls demanded by this challenge . . . kindred spirits across the nation must confront the most fundamental liberal failure of the current era: the failure to embrace a moral vision of America based on the transcendent faith that human beings are more than the sum of their material appetites, our country is more than an economic machine, and freedom is not license but responsibility—the gift we have received and the legacy we must bequeath.
“Although our sojourn in life is brief, we are on a great journey. For those who came before us and for those who follow, our moral, political, and religious duty to make sure that this nation, which was conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all are equal under the law, is in good hands on our watch.”
—from “For America’s Sake”

People know Bill Moyers mostly from his many years of path-breaking journalism on television. But he is also one of America’s most sought-after public speakers. His appearances draw sell-out crowds across the country and are among the most reproduced on the Web. “And one reason,” writes noted journalist Bill McKibben, “is that Moyers pulls no punches. His understanding of America’s history is at least as deep as his understanding of Christian tradition, which is an integral part of his background . . . With his feet firmly planted in the deepest American traditions, Bill Moyers is helping to keep alive an oratorical tradition that is fading after two centuries. Trained by his career in broadcasting, he writes for the ear, his cadences and his repetitions timed to bring an audience to full realization of its role and its power.”
And that is the message of this book. Moyers on Democracy collects many of Bill Moyers’s most moving statements to connect the dots on what is happening to our country—the twinned growth of private wealth and public squalor, the assault on our Constitution, the undermining of the electoral process, the accelerating class war against ordinary (and vulnerable) Americans inherent in the growth of economic inequality, the dangers of an imperial executive, the attack on the independence of the press, the despoiling of the earth we share as our common gift—and to rekindle the reader’s conviction that “the gravediggers of democracy will not have the last word.” Richly insightful and alive with a fierce, abiding love for our country, Moyers on Democracy is essential reading in this fateful presidential year.©2008 Bill Moyers; (P)2008 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Bill Moyers has been my North Star, in his eloquence, his quiet passion and courage, and in the way he presents me and millions of others with the ideals of our nation, from our past to our present to our uncertain future. Always he offers the gifts of thoughtfulness and of hope.” —Studs Terkel

He ( Moyers ) made me laugh and made me cry.

A book I will remember reading and thinking this man is as good and wise of a man I will ever not meet and always wish I had.

You can't help but think critically

...about what it means to be an American as you listen to Bill Moyers. With the eloquence of a seasoned orator Moyers addresses West Point cadets, seminary students and mourners at Lady Bird Johnson's funeral. I'm on my second listen in less than a week.

Fascinating

Where does Moyers on Democracy rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

He is a person that you really must put everything down and listen to what is being said.

Which character – as performed by Bill Moyers – was your favorite?

Liked the Lady Bird eulogy

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Deep insights

Following the Money Trail

Both as a student of journalism and a practicing broadcast journalist for over 25 years I found this book to be a moving and eloquent summation of how we must reshape our journalistic destiny. It begins with a a full examination of the journalistic money trail starting with a full accounting of how the dollars are spent in commercial and non commercial television news.

Everyone needs to listen to this book!!

Loved it! SO informative and frustrating though to hear there is so much corruption in the world!