A quirky, entertaining book about the history of radio

I wasn’t sure what I expected when I picked up this book, but I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. Technology books can be very dry, but Rudel focuses on the personalities behind the contentious introduction of radio.

To my bemusement and amusement, Rudel starts the book with a brief history of John R. Brinkley, a snake-oil salesman who made his fortune implanting goat glands into men with erectile dysfunction problems. (Yes, you read that right.) And the book gets more entertaining from there with back-stabbing, regulatory wars and radio stations that were illegally broadcasting so powerfully that a station from Iowa was interfering with one in Philadelphia. A book definitely worth reading for the entertainment value alone.

And a plug: I’m reading this book because our subject book group, the Daytimers, is doing the subject “Radio” for their Monday, January 19th meeting. Come and join a book group where you can always read a good book!