© Columbia University Press
The Columbia History of American Television
Paper, 512 pages, 75 illus.
ISBN: 978-0-231-12165-1
$27.50
/ £19.00
October, 2007
Cloth, 512 pages, 75 illus.
ISBN: 978-0-231-12164-4
$50.00
/ £34.50
"A useful overview... [that] captures the technological, economic, and cultural sweep of an industry that influenced... what would become the Global Village." — Bill Ruehlmann, The Virginian-Pilot
"An extensive, readable . . . informative, well-written study . . . Recommended." — CHOICE
"A tour-de-force narrative of more than six decades of American television and its impact on U.S. society. . . . An important contribution." — Christopher H. Sterling, Communication Booknotes Quarterly
"An excellent addition to any undergraduate library and also a nice addition to public libraries." — Linda W. Hacker, American Reference Books Annual
"A marvelous, detailed, and comprehensive narrative . . . This remarkable book, unquestionably one-of-a-kind, belongs in every reference library." — Robert Fyne, Film & History
"Positioned with the monumental works of Erik Barnouw, Asa Briggs, Christopher Sterling and John Kittross, Edgerton contributes a comprehensive study of American television's popular culture. . . . The Columbia History of American Television should be on the shelf of every television historian and popular culture scholar, as well as the non-specialist." — Donald G. Godfrey, Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media
"A seminal work of meticulous scholarship . . . Welcome and highly recommended." — James A. Cox, The Midwest Book Review
"Highly informative . . . eminently readable . . . Edgerton tells a compelling history of the medium. His book would work well as a primer for general readers, as well as for scholars (particularly international readers) wanting to gain an understanding of the history, forms, and economics of the U.S. television system as well as pointers for further research from his meticulous referencing." — Faye Woods, Journal of American Studies
"[The book] is meticulous and inspired. Devoted to television, it is richly resourced, eloquently written, and nicely illustrated." — Craig Allen, American Journalism
"This book is best seen as an update of Erik Barnouw's widely read and concise history, Tube of Plenty: The Evolution of American Television. Moving beyond Barnouw, Edgerton has attempted to craft a unified narrative that simultaneously engages some of the more fine-grained scholarship in the field. . . . A highly readable account of the development of a complex industry and cultural form." — Michael Kackman, Journal of American History
"A monumental and definitive account of American television." — Jason Jacobs, Media International Australia
"Concise, complete, readable, and up-to-date, following television from its inception to its role in a global media age and placing it in cultural context. Destined to become a classic in the field." — Kathy Merlock Jackson, editor of the Journal of American Culture
"Gary Edgerton covers an astonishing amount of material, examining with great intelligence and insight the dynamic growth and development of television. His work is all the more noteworthy for the skill in which he covers politics, economics, sociology, technology, aesthetics, and cultural impact in a highly readable and deftly organized manner." — Brian Rose, professor of communication and media studies, Fordham University
"Gary Edgerton's book has wisely told a story that focuses on single and representative events rather than trying to be encyclopedic. And he pulls it off. This is an accessible and compelling narrative of the complicated forces that went into creating our most enigmatic of mediums." — Ken Burns, filmmaker
"With a sweeping narrative and a close eye for detail, Gary Edgerton has written a compelling, scholarly history of America's favorite art form, which will surely set the standard in the years to come." — Ron Simon, curator, television and radio, The Paley Center for Media