About book The Kingdom And The Power: Behind The Scenes At The New York Times: The Institution That Influences The World (2007)
Once upon a time, in the land of New York, there was a powerful and prestigious newspaper called the Times. It printed "all the news that's fit to print." Everyone thought it was the greatest and most perfect newspaper in the history of the world.It wasn't.Gay Talese's book, The Kingdom and the Power, provides an inside look at one of the world's most prestigious newspapers. The level of detail in this book is impeccable, garnered from a slew of interviews, documents, and letters. The Kingdom and the Power tells the tales of Timesmen that ran the institution, those that worked at it, and those that will always be remembered by it. It tells of the many managing editors, of the woes of copyboys, of the mishaps of reporters, of the printers' strike, and of the ruling family of publishers, descended from the very first- Adolph Ochs.The book is little more than a string of connected anecdotes- amusing to read, of course, but there is no powerful story until the last few chapters of the book. Still, it is just story, not central plot. It hasn't the traditional beginning, middle, or end. The paragraphs, sometimes over a page, are tedious because the sentences that comprise them are long themselves. This book's course is best likened to a rambling path- it is long and scenic, and certainly worth the time, but it goes off on tangents. It is a lengthy but well-written discourse that does not take you from point A to point B, but all over the place; when you are finished, you have learned a lot of things, but you still don't know what the point is. It is a wonderful read, so go ahead and enjoy the scenery, but don't get lost. Work your way steadily down the path, and you will be rewarded.This book, published in 1969, should be archaic. The ideas, one might expect, are dated, the concepts unsuited to the current day and age. Sure, in fifty years setting type might seem to readers of the time what hieroglyphics seems to us today; even today the notion that one computer being introduced into a large corporation is a big advancement seems ridiculous. But the writing is such that this book is and always will be timeless.Talese's style itself is similar to the course of his book. It creates wonderful sights and sounds for the reader just from the musical quality of the writing. The language is accessible to most readers; a dictionary may be of use if the reader wishes to indulge in the wordplay to its full extent. Of wordplay there is a great deal. When I read the beginning of this book, I was drawn instantly by the introduction:"Most journalists are restless voyeurs who see the warts on the world, the imperfections in people and places. The sane scene that is much of life, the great portion of the planet unmarked by madness, does not lure them like riots and raids, crumbling countries and sinking ships, bankers banished to Rio and burning Buddhist nuns- gloom is their game, the spectacle their passion, normality their nemesis."After reading the book, it can be said that this passage alone is the premise of the book. But it is better said that most of the focus is not on the world's imperfections, but those of the Times.This book teaches not only about the ins and outs of print journalism, but also about the political hierarchy of the workplace. The tension, the factions, and the emotions of the Timesmen create an incredibly real psychological picture of humans, and of human nature. Because, when it comes down to it, The Times is truly a human institution.Read The Kingdom and the Power. Learn the lessons it has to offer. This may be one of the best books you ever read- and you will be glad you did.
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