Out on the Wire

<p><b>A <i>Library Journal</i> Best Book of 2015 <p/>Go behind the scenes of seven of today's most popular narrative radio shows and podcasts including <i>This American Life</i> and <i>RadioLab</i> in graphic narrative.</b> <p/>Every week millions of devoted fans tune in to or download <i>This American Life</i> <i>The Moth</i> <i>Radiolab</i> <i>Planet Money</i> <i>Snap Judgment</i> <i>Serial</i> <i>Invisibilia </i>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. <i>Out on the Wire</i> offers an unexpected window into this new kind of storytelling--one that literally illustrates the making of a purely auditory medium. <p/>With the help of <i>This American Life</i>'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 <i>RadioLab</i> talks about chasing moments of awe with scientists while <i>Planet Money</i>'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 <i>Out on the Wire</i> demonstrates that narrative radio and podcasts are creating some of the most exciting and innovative storytelling available today.</p>