Cronkite

Douglas Brinkley presents the definitive, revealing biography of an American legend: renowned news anchor Walter Cronkite. An acclaimed author and historian, Brinkley has drawn upon recently disclosed letters, diaries, and other artifacts at the recently opened Cronkite Archive to bring detail and depth to this deeply personal portrait. He also interviewed nearly two hundred of Cronkite’s closest friends and colleagues, including Andy Rooney, Leslie Stahl, Barbara Walters, Dan Rather, Brian Williams, Les Moonves, Christiane Amanpour, Katie Couric, Bob Schieffer, Ted Turner, Jimmy Buffett, and Morley Safer, using their voices to instill dignity and humanity in this study of one of America’s most beloved and trusted public figures.

Compelling Reminder of What News Coverage Used To Be

This history of Cronkite's life and career was a wonderful journey through major world events and the evolution of TV news coverage. Every sentence was interesting and left me wanting to hear more. And as always, reader George Guidall delivered.

One of the Giants

This was my first Audible book, and it was a terrific way to start. Like any good biographer, Brinkley provides a sense of history, culture, and setting as he tells Cronkite's story. To me, the most interesting aspects of the book involved Cronkite's role in creating what would become the standard format for the evening news, political convention coverage, and special bulletins (including the iconic moment when Cronkite confirms the news of the JFK assassination). The jostling for ratings between the networks, the forging of news standards (e.g. what kind of delivery, scripted or unscripted, is most appropriate for television news?), inside battles between Cronkite and other famous egos at CBS News, all provide rich material in this biography. They made it up as they went along with this new, unfolding technology....figuring out what worked and what didn't as television journalism evolved...and Cronkite was in the midst of virtually all of those decisions and developments.

Cronkite

Interesting book about Walter and the history of New in the USA. Lots of crazy moments.

Excellent!!

Great audio book …. Really enjoyed retelling of Cronkite’s amazing life and reporting on all the significant events which occurred on his watch.. made me miss days of ethical and reliably truthful journalism.

History made alive

Tone, pacing, details and wonderful narration!
This captures the eras and the man that chronicled them