The Powers That Be

Despite its heft (being 771 pages long), The Powers That Be was an extremely entertaining read. Halberstam's style of writing is intimate. It is as if he is taking his reader into his confidences - leaning in to tell the reader secrets in a hushed, yet knowledgable voice. His prose is not gossipy, but rather matter of fact. Yet, there is a hint of society tell-all about it. In one particular section Halberstam states Edward Murrow was "ungodly handsome" (p 40), but then does not offer proof by way of pictures or real description. The reader simply has to take his word for it. Halberstam deftly wraps the political and economic climates around the historical who, what, where, when and why of all media giants. Events like the Great show more Depression, World War II, the Cold War, Communism, and Vietnam all played a crucial part in influencing print, radio and television communications. How the world received information changed all landscapes - political, economic, social, forever. show less

This is a long book for what it says. A mass of details were accumulated about people who are powers in the American Media, and discharged upon the public. There's not much analysis of the data, but it's quite a mine for later researchers. I also think the subject's egos were massaged a bit by their voluminous coverage. Readable, if you have the time at your disposal.

1662 The Powers That Be, by David Halberstam (read 2 Oct 1981) This is an account of CBS, Time, The Washington Post, and The Los Angeles Times since the nineteen thirties, and it was unfailingly interesting even though awfully anecdotal. It apparently is based largely on interviews and is footnoteless. So much judgment is involved and one wonders if everything really was as the author says. But it was absorbing and I am glad I read it.

A daunting and somewhat overwhelming history of some of the media outlets that have shaped modern American history - CBS, Time, the LA Times, the NY Times, and the Washington Post. Some time has passed, and the relationship of the media is constantly in flux. Nevertheless, it is still extremely important to understand how much the media can influence a society's way of thinking and perception of events.

With 736 pages to read, I almost did not start reading this fabulously informative book. For someone like me who is now 69 years of age, it developed that once I started the book I could not put it down. It was extremely engrossing to learn how close the print and communications industry have been to our political leaders throughout the years. For me however, it was especially a marvelous insight into what was really going on during the period I was in law school (1962-1965) and when I served in the U.S. Army (1966-1968), a time period that fully absorbed all my time and demanded all my attention away from the Media industry. I only wish all of us had enough time to read such information contemporaneously to the events covered in this show more book. In any event I do agree with all of the 4 book reviews which precede mine. show less

This book changed my whole way of thinking about the Media. It is amazing. The history of this new source of power to influence the masses and how it was handled is fascinating.A must read. Then rent the movie Network.

One of the most important books covering individual media corporations. All are still around 30 years later and amazingly the 3 print publications are still...yes still IN PRINT. A must read for any who regularly read these publications or watch them on TV, or watch CBS.