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AWARDS

• Selected as “OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC TITLE” by Choice, The Journal of Research Libraries.

• Named one of ten BEST NONFICTION BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2000 BY BookLovers Review.

• Named “BOOK OF THE YEAR” for 2000 by AmericanReview.net.

• Personally selected by Ralph Nader for "Ralph's Picks" in the Public Citizen newsletter.

• Selected as one of "Polly's Picks" by Polly Gossett, the book review editor of the Charlotte Observer.

• Selected as a "Reader's Choice" in the Jerusalem Post, October 2001

REVIEWS

One of the most incisive critiques of television and its cultural impact I've read in years. Mr. Scheuer makes his case with a precision and clarity that will resound with anyone who's ever wondered ... how we managed to let our national political discourse become an incomprehensible blur of sound bites and 30-second campaign spots.

- Aaron Barnhart, Electronic Media

Valuable ... I found thinking about...Jeffrey Scheuer's argument more stimulating and enjoyable than simply nodding along with a number of other books. And in making his case he offers a number of incidental insights that are original and ring true. When Scheuer is talking about TV, he's completely convincing, and capable of coming up with new insights into an often-explored topic., [adding] many new wrinkles.

- James Fallows, Washington Monthly, November l999

[Scheuer's] argument is fascinating and challenging ... Scheuer does us all a service in pointing out the counterintuitive reality that television has been ... the 'handmaiden' of conservatism ... an important book, especially for an election year.

- Diane Roberts, Atlanta Constitution, March 26, 2000

A deeper, more provocative analysis ... [written] in a clear, non-academic style ... [an] intriguing hypothesis ... The Sound Bite Society is impassioned criticism that will get an argument going about where television and liberalism [are] headed.

- Television Quarterly, January 2000

Jeffrey Scheuer, a levelheaded and knowledgeable critic of the mediascape... convincingly shows us how certain modes of television exactly mirror the conservative agenda...

- A.S. Hamrah, BookForum, Spring 2000

The Sound Bite Society delighted me as a true intellectual discourse, an essay in the realm of ideas. It challenged me and taught me.

- Ysrael Medad, The Jerusalem Post, October 16, 2001

Breaks new intellectual ground... lively and invigorating... a delicious writing style...deeply incisive.

- Julia Keller, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 16, l999

Scheuer's unusual, provocative analysis goes beyond the usual description of TV's shortcomings as infotainment ... [a] brilliant analysis of TV grammar and how it prohibits complex discourse. Required reading for all communication and political science collections, all levels.

- Choice, February 2000

Strongly argued ...a fresh perspective... a compelling examination and valuable read for anyone who watches TV.

- Book, November/December l999

An insightful but profoundly unsettling volume.

- Langdon Winner, Dissent, Spring 2000

A new 'must read' book ... Sound Bite is an intellectual bungie jump off a suspension bridge. It's a bold, fresh, creative, thought-provoking book ... It's beside the point that Scheuer ultimately splatters all over the pavement due to some miscalculations of the bungie cord length. The freefall is exhilarating and worth it!

- Marty Lasley, AmericanWasteland.com

Exceptional...Unusually well-argued and supported.

- the eye (Toronto), March 30, 2000

Insightful ...a striking and profound critique of television ... a truly masterful treatment ... excellent and well worth all the critical praise it has received. Scheuer has the rare ability to blend difficult analytic and theoretical content with an inspiring and rhythmic literary style. The result ...is a book that is philosophically rich, culturally enlightening, and a joy to read.

- Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 2001

Other reviews and discussions have appeared in: Virginia Quarterly Review; Le Monde Diplomatique (Paris); Ha'aretz (Tel-Aviv); Medien Tenor (Germany); Arbetet (Sweden).