A Library Journal Best Book of 2015
Go behind the scenes of seven of today's most popular narrative radio
shows and podcasts, including This American Life and RadioLab, in
graphic narrative.
Every week, millions of devoted fans tune in to or download This
American Life, The Moth, Radiolab, Planet Money, Snap Judgment,
Serial, Invisibilia and other narrative radio shows. Using personal
stories to breathe life into complex ideas and issues, these beloved
programs help us to understand ourselves and our world a little bit
better. Each has a distinct style, but every one delivers stories that
are brilliantly told and produced. Out on the Wire offers an
unexpected window into this new kind of storytelling--one that literally
illustrates the making of a purely auditory medium.
With the help of This American Life's Ira Glass, Jessica Abel, a
cartoonist and devotee of narrative radio, uncovers just how radio
producers construct narrative, spilling some juicy insider details. Jad
Abumrad of RadioLab talks about chasing moments of awe with
scientists, while Planet Money's Robert Smith lets us in on his
slightly goofy strategy for putting interviewees at ease. And Abel
reveals how mad--really mad--Ira Glass becomes when he receives edits
from his colleagues. Informative and engaging, Out on the Wire
demonstrates that narrative radio and podcasts are creating some of the
most exciting and innovative storytelling available today.
