This book shows its age a bit, even in the technology described for radio transmission.

However, it's a great love letter to radio. I also learned a bit about Vowell. A lot of what she talks about - Clinton-era politics, Nirvana, Hole and other mid-90's alternative bands - takes me back to my own days as a college DJ.

Apparently, Vowell is only a few years older than me. Since I loved radio and that was a fun part of my life, this was a great trip down memory lane for me.

She gets into politics a bit, but nothing polarizing. Well, unless you're a Rush Limbaugh fan - in that case, you probably won't read this. I was surprised by her opinions on NPR and wonder if they would still hold 15 years later.

So, if you love radio, this is worth checking out. If not, it may not be for you.

Overall, despite its age, the book offers a unique perspective on radio and the cultural context in which it exists. It's a nostalgic read for those who have a passion for this medium and a chance to learn about Vowell's thoughts and experiences.

Whether you're a long-time radio enthusiast or simply curious about the subject, this book may have something to offer.

I always kind of imagined Sarah Vowell and her NPR-siblings, Ira Glass and David Sedaris, sitting around a table shooting the snarky breeze. Meanwhile, her NPR-grandpa, Garrison Keeler, and all her NPR-aunts and uncles (the various anchors from All Things Considered) sit outside discussing old times.

What I should have guessed is that like all families, the youngsters hold a certain amount of disdain toward their descendants.

Vowell's contempt for the NPR news-division is just one of many, mostly arbitrary nuggets of trivia from this somewhat odd volume. It's essentially a diary she kept in 1995 while listening to the radio non-stop and documenting her thoughts. And it really does read like a diary. There are no plot-lines or greater points. Just her thoughts at given moments, as varied as the scattered content of the AM/FM bands.

There's some critique of the blossoming Right-Wing Talk Radio industry. Accounts of her own college experiences manning the turn-table. An almost cliched obsession with Kurt Cobain and his perceived genius (I'd love to hear her current thoughts on this). And the cliched looking down her nose at pop-music radio stations, with brief commentary on the rock-music industry. It's all somewhat interesting to varying degrees.

But I can only give it a 3-star review as there seems to be no point. I noticed near the end of her year of writing, she starts to talk about how desperate she is to turn the radio off. A fair sentiment. But I realized I wasn't as invested as I thought I'd be. There was no real weight to her writing as no effort was made to establish it. From page to page, there was no focus.

That isn't to say there's nothing interesting in "Radio On". On the contrary. It's a fascinating glimpse into the mid-ninties from a novel perspective, written with her distinct voice, which I enjoy. It's also fascinating as a look back on her roots. While her writing voice is the same, she's evolved from the hipster cultural critic here to the pseudo-historian of her recent works.

If you're a fan of Vowell, this isn't a masterpiece, but it's definitely worth a look.

Normally, this would be a rather uninteresting topic. Sarah Vowell spent a whole year listening to the radio daily and writing about it. However, I found it extremely nostalgic. I believe it's because it all occurred in 1995. 1995 was a momentous year for me. I graduated from high school, embarked on my college journey, and discovered vodka. All in all, it was a truly significant year. But it wasn't just big for me. It was the year following Kurt Cobain's death, when Courtney Love was just starting to seem a bit wild (not as extremely crazy as she is now). It was also the year of the Oklahoma City bombing. Moreover, it was a time when the music on the radio was truly excellent. Ms. Vowell might have a different opinion, but I adored "Jagged Little Pill" by Alanis Morissette, "Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" by The Smashing Pumpkins, and every single song released by Hootie and the Blowfish. At times, the reading could be long and a bit sleep-inducing, but overall, it served as a wonderful reminder of one of the most important years in my life.

This was one of Sarah Vowell's first books.

As such, it lacks the biting commentary that I'm accustomed to. Instead, it is more observational than critical.

That being said, it was interesting to journey back to 1995.

Here, I could see the events that were truly a part of my junior year of high school, such as the death of Kurt Cobain.

There were also events that didn't even register with me at the time, like the rise of Rush Limbaugh and the beginning of Whitewater.

It's fascinating to look at these events through the lens of this book and gain a new perspective on that particular period of my life.

The lack of harsh criticism in this early work gives it a different flavor, one that allows for a more objective examination of the events and their significance.

Overall, it was an engaging read that took me on a trip down memory lane.

Vowell listens to the radio every day throughout the year of 1995 and documents her experiences in writing. It's truly a quintessential piece of 1995. Reading it nowadays is like unearthing a time capsule and being transported back to that era.

What I particularly enjoy is her grumpy tone. While it may not be an absolute must-read, especially when compared to the high caliber of her more recent works, it still serves as an entertaining diversion. It offers a unique perspective on the radio landscape of that particular year and allows readers to catch a glimpse of the cultural and social atmosphere.

Although it may not have the same depth and significance as her later books, it has its own charm and value. It's a light-hearted and enjoyable read that can provide a break from more serious literary fare. So, if you're in the mood for a bit of nostalgia and a touch of humor, give this book a try.

OK, turn the radio on and embark on a year-long (1995) journey of searching the airwaves for meaning. What awaits?

Apparently, a significant amount of NPR and political talk radio. There is also some music - a substantial portion of country, rock oldies, and even some offerings from her favorite band, Nirvana. A considerable part of the text is dedicated to lauding that band and Kurt Cobain.

However, I could not truly discern any major conclusions that Vowell arrives at based on her year-long research. Nevertheless, I can sense that overall, she did not have a great fondness for most of what she heard throughout that year. It seems that her exploration of the radio landscape was a complex and perhaps somewhat disappointing one, with a mix of different types of programming that did not necessarily lead to a clear understanding or revelation.

Sarah Vowell AND Radio from the mid 90s - it's truly a combination that's hard to go wrong with!

With her typical acerbic wit, Ms. Vowell pens her musings on radio listening for one year, covering cities like SF, Chicago, NY, and Montana.

She drops some classic NPR names such as Ira Glass and Nina Totenberg, thinks back fondly on Kurt Cobain, and voices her dislike of the Grateful Dead, especially on the occasion of Jerry Garcia's death.

This book is really evocative of a time when I, too, listened to the radio quite a bit. What is most frightening is that after all the years that have passed, so much is still the same. Impeachment is still a topic of discussion. Rush Limbaugh is still a prominent figure. Newt Gingrich is still in the political spotlight, and of course, Ira Glass is still beloved by many.

The radio has always been a source of entertainment, information, and connection, and this book reminds us of its power and significance.

So, I decided to pick up this book.

My main intention was to get myself all fired up for producing this radio show this month.

Also, it's because Sarah Vowell's segments on This American Life are nearly always my absolute favorites.

This book did touch on a couple of interesting points.

However, it never really stuck with one thought for a long enough time to truly see where it was headed.

Or, even better, how it might have changed over the course of a year and been influenced by the project.

I'm really not sure what someone who isn't a radio enthusiast would gain from reading it.

I did find the diary format to be refreshingly simple.

Although it might have been a little bit gimmicky.

But once again, I was left feeling frustrated because there didn't seem to be any real growth in understanding the medium throughout the entire duration of the book.

It felt like the author was just skimming the surface and not delving deep enough into the subject matter.

Overall, it was an okay read, but not as engaging or enlightening as I had hoped it would be.

Two things I have a deep affection for are diaries and the radio.

Written more than 10 years ago, art graduate student Sarah Vowell has the habit of listening to the radio daily and recording her commentary. 1995 is a period that I can clearly recall. I remember during the summers when my mom was making lunch, I would be listening to talk radio. There were figures like G. Gordon Liddy, Rush Limbaugh, and NPR. These are exactly the same people that Sarah Vowell comes across. However, it is truly interesting to look back and understand the more profound implications of talk radio and what was happening in the world at that time. How radio was representing or not representing the political climate and the movements in alternative rock, such as Cobain's death, Courtney Love, Smashing Pumpkins, and Cleveland's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

I like this for its striking relevance to 2009. It also allows me to view the world I was growing up in with adult eyes, a world that I only had a very limited understanding of back then.

A fascinating read indeed, especially now more than 15 years after the fact, considering how dramatically the very medium that Vowell observes has changed.

I would be extremely interested to see her produce a follow-up. However, the Web has transformed radio and audio entertainment to such an extent that I'm doubtful whether one could create the same book with the same element of surprise and a controlled discussion solely based on what played on the dial, as opposed to what podcast one actively chooses to download and listen to.

I'm also curious to know - now that she herself has been such a regular and active contributor - how her opinion of NPR and its hosts has evolved... or perhaps not.

Mostly, though the nature of radio has changed, it's intriguing to witness the political, social, and cultural arguments that remain constant. Maybe some of the participants have new names, and perhaps the rhetoric has become more hyperbolic, but ultimately, we're still debating the same issues... and many of the key players haven't changed at all.

I wonder if I would have derived as much enjoyment from reading this when it first emerged. Nostalgia undoubtedly played a significant role.

I first heard of Sarah Vowell when this book was published and mentally added it to my reading list.

Then I discovered her on NPR and Salon and read almost everything she wrote, except for her debut.

As it turns out, this was a fortunate omission. The book isn't completely terrible, but it doesn't hold up well over time. Mid-nineties/twenty-something Sarah was a rather unpalatable hipster. In the book, she shows contempt for middle-brow culture, is impatient with political compromise, and is angst-ridden in a way that ceased to be charming around the time my own daughter became a teenager.

If we had been contemporaries, I might have liked this back then. However, since I'm about ten years older than her, if I had read this when it was new, it probably wouldn't have been a pleasant experience.

If you truly believe that Sheryl Crow and Hootie and the Blowfish pose an existential threat to society and that nothing will ever be good again after Cobain's suicide, then by all means, read this book. But if you're not trapped in the grunge underground, it's best to stick to her later works.

For all intents and purposes, this book should not have been interesting. I mean, come on! Someone's musings on what they heard on the radio for an entire year? Really? This is supposed to hold my attention?

I should have known that Sarah Vowell is probably the only person that could make this book an interesting ride through America, the world of music, politics, art and the radio. Ms. Vowell is one of the most intelligent, witty, smart and honest people out there. Her unique perspective and engaging writing style bring these seemingly ordinary topics to life.

Everyone should read her essays! She has a remarkable ability to connect the dots between different aspects of our culture and society, and to offer insights that are both thought-provoking and entertaining. Whether you're interested in history, music, or just a good read, Sarah Vowell's work is sure to delight and inspire you.

So, don't be fooled by the seemingly unassuming premise of this book. Give it a chance, and you'll be rewarded with a fascinating journey through the mind of one of America's most talented writers.