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A review by lilyn_g
Spooked!: How a Radio Broadcast and the War of the Worlds Sparked the 1938 Invasion of America by Gail Jarrow
4.0
I have been fascinated by the War of the Worlds broadcast for what feels like ages. I had always sort of laughed at the idea that people could get so frightened from a radio broadcast. It couldn’t have been that good, could have it? Then a few years back, I actually listened to the broadcast for the first time. I was amazed. It was so well done that even decades later, it’s clear how people could have gotten freaked out. The drama is incredibly well done! Of course, if you listen through the whole broadcast, it is obvious that it’s just a play, but… things were different then. A lot more tense.
That is one of the strengths of ‘Spooked!’ It does a great job of making you understand exactly how Orson Welles’ broadcast could have freaked so many people out back then. It laid out the techniques he used, like the breaking news bulletins, the imitation of the President, etc. But it also dispels many of the myths about the impact the broadcast had. People are prone to exaggeration as it is, and sadly, actual fake news has been around for quite a while.
‘Spooked!’ is a very interesting read for both younger readers and adults. I wouldn’t recommend it for under 12 or so because it is a surprisingly dense book that isn’t really the “read in one sitting” type. The layout was very nice, though. I liked how Jarrow guides readers from the then to the now. The talk about viral hoaxes, the need to reason and seek verification, etc, are all very relevant to today.
Definitely worth checking out.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publicity company for review consideration
That is one of the strengths of ‘Spooked!’ It does a great job of making you understand exactly how Orson Welles’ broadcast could have freaked so many people out back then. It laid out the techniques he used, like the breaking news bulletins, the imitation of the President, etc. But it also dispels many of the myths about the impact the broadcast had. People are prone to exaggeration as it is, and sadly, actual fake news has been around for quite a while.
‘Spooked!’ is a very interesting read for both younger readers and adults. I wouldn’t recommend it for under 12 or so because it is a surprisingly dense book that isn’t really the “read in one sitting” type. The layout was very nice, though. I liked how Jarrow guides readers from the then to the now. The talk about viral hoaxes, the need to reason and seek verification, etc, are all very relevant to today.
Definitely worth checking out.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publicity company for review consideration