Finding My Voice

Rating:
Summary: You won't forget Diane Rehm.
Review: "Finding My Voice" is as interesting, moving and uplifting as anything you'll read this or any year. Diane Rehm, the noted NPR radio host from Washington, DC, tells of her fascinating and often difficult life with amazing grace and openness. A daughter of Middle Eastern immigrants, Diane Rehm's childhood was marked by loneliness and occasional violence, yet she persevered and eventually raised a family. She unexpectedly en- tered broadcasting in her late thirties and joined

WAMU, Washington's public radio station, to deve- lop one of America's unique and thoughtful talk shows- now syndicated to many NPR stations. Nothing, however, prepared Diane for the ul- timate challenge- a mysterious condition that rendered her voice nearly mute. After years of therapy, she was diagnosed with spasmodic dyspho- nia- a rare neurological disorder affecting vocal cords. Through treatment, therapy and faith, she has returned to the air- and received much support from both prominent Washingtonians and her regular listeners. More than a "disease of the week" story, "Finding My Voice" is a moving and incredibly thoughtful look at a woman you'll be proud to know. You'll walk every step of the way with Diane as she tells her many stories- some painful, some joyous- and shares her many meaningful views on the media, on family, and on life. This is one of the few books that I feel will make a difference in my life. You won't forget Diane Rehm- I know I won't.

Rating:
Summary: How Low Can You Go?
Review: "Finding My Voice" is one of those books whose content is intimately intertwined with the author. I cannot review such a book without commenting on the author. Such a book proves that "celebrity" authors, such as Ms. Rehm, make it that much more difficult for those of us struggling for the attention of publishers and "Rick Reynolds, Super Hollywood Power Agents" and trying to put important words on paper.

I am sorry that Ms. Rehm had a terrible childhood and has seen fit to forsake her Lebanese heritage in favor of entertaining Zionists on her radio program as they justify the slaughter of Palestinian men, women and children for the continuation of the Zionist entity and for the dubious and questionable Biblical justifications allowing such slaughter.

A stroke of luck brought Ms. Rehm's now trembly voice to NPR (National Police Radio) and Washington, D.C.'s WAMU. Ms. Rehm, a high school graduate, took the place of a volunteer for an on-air slot leaving listeners to suffer with her apologetic, non-confrontational, Larry King-type program where she, as former station manager Kim Hodgson remarked engages in "positive, unconditional regard" for guests. This means that when she entertains guests such as war criminal Henry Kissinger and former national security advisor Sandy Berger she allows them to lie on the air unchallenged by her, who refuses to do so, or callers, whom she cuts off the air. I have been the victim of such terminations, despite the fact the WAMU, which is subsidized by American University student tuition and the American taxpayer through NPR, a U.S. government controlled entity. Despite this policy, Ms. Rehm attacked a guest, Gore Vidal, for being homosexual, hardly a fitting policy when your a supposed liberal. When Noam Chomsky appeared on AU's campus, Ms. Rehm, who at first refused, then was forced to allow Mr. Chomsky to appear on her program. She was unable to attack him because of his superior intellect and cogent arguments.

I believe that the American reading public should stop subsidizing the lifestyles of the rich and ridiculous by refusing to buy such claptrap as "Finding My Voice." I believe that writing should say something to the reader. it is a literary and social contract whereby the author agrees to provide something new and original that will educate and entertain. "Finding My Voice" is not a retirement program for the already wealthy living in a two story, red brick colonial home in Bethesda, Maryland and counting members of Washington's ruling and media elite as friends. How about Knopf giving real writers a chance for a change?

Rating:
Summary: Compelling, intriguing and Honest
Review: "Finding my Voice" is an honest and an open account of Mrs. Rehm's life and the various experiences and challenges which have made her the person she is today. Having been raised in a similar ethnic background, I found the early chapters to resonate with some of my personal experiences. I simply couldn't put it down. The style of writing and language enable for comfortable reading. Moreove, the chapters which deal with self evaluation, facing personal and family challenges and overcoming vocal restirctions are a testimony of the resilience and strength of the human spirit. My wife has also read the book, and she shares my appreciation of it.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling, intriguing and Honest
Review: "Finding my Voice" is an honest and an open account of Mrs. Rehm's life and the various experiences and challenges which have made her the person she is today. Having been raised in a similar ethnic background, I found the early chapters to resonate with some of my personal experiences. I simply couldn't put it down. The style of writing and language enable for comfortable reading. Moreove, the chapters which deal with self evaluation, facing personal and family challenges and overcoming vocal restirctions are a testimony of the resilience and strength of the human spirit. My wife has also read the book, and she shares my appreciation of it.

Rating:
Summary: You won't forget Diane Rehm.
Review: "Finding My Voice" is as interesting, moving and uplifting as anything you'll read this or any year. Diane Rehm, the noted NPR radio host from Washington, DC, tells of her fascinating and often difficult life with amazing grace and openness. A daughter of Middle Eastern immigrants, Diane Rehm's childhood was marked by loneliness and occasional violence, yet she persevered and eventually raised a family. She unexpectedly en- tered broadcasting in her late thirties and joined

WAMU, Washington's public radio station, to deve- lop one of America's unique and thoughtful talk shows- now syndicated to many NPR stations. Nothing, however, prepared Diane for the ul- timate challenge- a mysterious condition that rendered her voice nearly mute. After years of therapy, she was diagnosed with spasmodic dyspho- nia- a rare neurological disorder affecting vocal cords. Through treatment, therapy and faith, she has returned to the air- and received much support from both prominent Washingtonians and her regular listeners. More than a "disease of the week" story, "Finding My Voice" is a moving and incredibly thoughtful look at a woman you'll be proud to know. You'll walk every step of the way with Diane as she tells her many stories- some painful, some joyous- and shares her many meaningful views on the media, on family, and on life. This is one of the few books that I feel will make a difference in my life. You won't forget Diane Rehm- I know I won't.

Rating:
Summary: Diane's Voice Carries Better Than Her Pen
Review: As a big fan of "The Diane Rehm Show," I guess I'm somewhat biased, but I truly think this is an excellent, honest, heartfelt book. In "Finding My Voice," Diane comes across as the same admirable person we all know from her radio talk show --honest, direct, curious (about ideas and above all about people), down-to-earth, warm, caring, determined (even stubborn) and - despite her lack of a college degree (who cares?!?) - highly intelligent. In my opinion, the really interesting parts of the book deal less with Spasmodic Dysphonia than with: 1) Diane growing up as a girl in a traditional Arab-American family in the 1940s and early 1950s with a depressed, anxious, abusive mother; 2) the obstacles (professional, personal) which Diane -- and many talented young women -- were forced to overcome to achieve something for themselves in the male-dominated society of the 1950s and 1960s; 3) Diane "finding her voice" in a growing radio career, and in a broader sense the overall growth of talk radio - for better ("The Diane Rehm Show" and others where people can have a civilized discussion and actually are encouraged to think for themselves) and for worse (Rush Limbaugh and "Dr. Laura" - blech - where people berate each other, preach to each other, or mindlessly "ditto" the host); and 4) Diane's constant struggles to overcome deepseated feelings of insecurity and of not being worthy, despite (or even fueled by) her growing outward success.

Besides that, there are also some memorable moments with some really bizarre/obnoxious guests - Tony Randall and Tom Clancy stand out in particular - and some really excellent ones - Race Hoss and Jimmy Carter, for instance. And unlike many celebrity autobiographies, in "Finding My Voice" this does not come across -- at least to me -- like mere gratuitous name dropping. Instead, they are an integral part of Diane's story, illustrating some of the best and worst which she has faced in her radio career.

Finally, "Finding my Voice" shows us that -- whatever she may feel about herself (and whether or not she'll ever truly believe it) -- Diane Rehm IS an amazing person who deserves every bit of success and happiness she has achieved in her life. I'm just thankful that Diane finally DID manage to "find her voice," and hope that she doesn't lose it for years and years to come! P.S. Thank goodness for public radio -- and for everyone who supports it!

Rating:
Summary: Thank goodness Diane Rehm "found her voice!"
Review: As a big fan of "The Diane Rehm Show," I guess I'm somewhat biased, but I truly think this is an excellent, honest, heartfelt book. In "Finding My Voice," Diane comes across as the same admirable person we all know from her radio talk show --honest, direct, curious (about ideas and above all about people), down-to-earth, warm, caring, determined (even stubborn) and - despite her lack of a college degree (who cares?!?) - highly intelligent. In my opinion, the really interesting parts of the book deal less with Spasmodic Dysphonia than with: 1) Diane growing up as a girl in a traditional Arab-American family in the 1940s and early 1950s with a depressed, anxious, abusive mother; 2) the obstacles (professional, personal) which Diane -- and many talented young women -- were forced to overcome to achieve something for themselves in the male-dominated society of the 1950s and 1960s; 3) Diane "finding her voice" in a growing radio career, and in a broader sense the overall growth of talk radio - for better ("The Diane Rehm Show" and others where people can have a civilized discussion and actually are encouraged to think for themselves) and for worse (Rush Limbaugh and "Dr. Laura" - blech - where people berate each other, preach to each other, or mindlessly "ditto" the host); and 4) Diane's constant struggles to overcome deepseated feelings of insecurity and of not being worthy, despite (or even fueled by) her growing outward success.

Besides that, there are also some memorable moments with some really bizarre/obnoxious guests - Tony Randall and Tom Clancy stand out in particular - and some really excellent ones - Race Hoss and Jimmy Carter, for instance. And unlike many celebrity autobiographies, in "Finding My Voice" this does not come across -- at least to me -- like mere gratuitous name dropping. Instead, they are an integral part of Diane's story, illustrating some of the best and worst which she has faced in her radio career.

Finally, "Finding my Voice" shows us that -- whatever she may feel about herself (and whether or not she'll ever truly believe it) -- Diane Rehm IS an amazing person who deserves every bit of success and happiness she has achieved in her life. I'm just thankful that Diane finally DID manage to "find her voice," and hope that she doesn't lose it for years and years to come! P.S. Thank goodness for public radio -- and for everyone who supports it!

Rating:
Summary: Thank goodness Diane Rehm "found her voice!"
Review: As a big fan of "The Diane Rehm Show," I guess I'm somewhat biased, but I truly think this is an excellent, honest, heartfelt book. In "Finding My Voice," Diane comes across as the same admirable person we all know from her radio talk show --honest, direct, curious (about ideas and above all about people), down-to-earth, warm, caring, determined (even stubborn) and - despite her lack of a college degree (who cares?!?) - highly intelligent. In my opinion, the really interesting parts of the book deal less with Spasmodic Dysphonia than with: 1) Diane growing up as a girl in a traditional Arab-American family in the 1940s and early 1950s with a depressed, anxious, abusive mother; 2) the obstacles (professional, personal) which Diane -- and many talented young women -- were forced to overcome to achieve something for themselves in the male-dominated society of the 1950s and 1960s; 3) Diane "finding her voice" in a growing radio career, and in a broader sense the overall growth of talk radio - for better ("The Diane Rehm Show" and others where people can have a civilized discussion and actually are encouraged to think for themselves) and for worse (Rush Limbaugh and "Dr. Laura" - blech - where people berate each other, preach to each other, or mindlessly "ditto" the host); and 4) Diane's constant struggles to overcome deepseated feelings of insecurity and of not being worthy, despite (or even fueled by) her growing outward success.

Besides that, there are also some memorable moments with some really bizarre/obnoxious guests - Tony Randall and Tom Clancy stand out in particular - and some really excellent ones - Race Hoss and Jimmy Carter, for instance. And unlike many celebrity autobiographies, in "Finding My Voice" this does not come across -- at least to me -- like mere gratuitous name dropping. Instead, they are an integral part of Diane's story, illustrating some of the best and worst which she has faced in her radio career.

Finally, "Finding my Voice" shows us that -- whatever she may feel about herself (and whether or not she'll ever truly believe it) -- Diane Rehm IS an amazing person who deserves every bit of success and happiness she has achieved in her life. I'm just thankful that Diane finally DID manage to "find her voice," and hope that she doesn't lose it for years and years to come! P.S. Thank goodness for public radio -- and for everyone who supports it!

Rating:
Summary: Diane's Voice Carries Better Than Her Pen
Review: Believe me, I am a devoted fan of Diane Rehm's. She is the most articulate, knowledgable, talented talk show host in the country. Thus I was disappointed by her autobiography. Of course, because her outstanding talent is interviewing, I guess I can't expect her to be a brilliant writer as well.

I thought she harped on her sad childhood too much. Over and over again she blames her mother--and her father less so--for emotionally crippling her entire life. Many of us have had less than happy childhoods, and many of us have suffered some type of abuse, but most of us get over it--or at least don't go around continually blaming our flaws on our parents and/or childhood. I certainly didn't expect Diane Rehm to do so. She seems much too mature and wise for that.

The other disappointment I have is the writing itself, which is not as smooth and polished as it should be. (Where was the editor?) There's also some repetition of passages from one chapter to another, as if the author had forgotten she had said this same thing earlier in the book.

Rating:
Summary: Diane Rehm is an inspiration to anyone facing adversity
Review: Diane Rehm shows that even celebrities can have insecurities and be vulnerable to life's ups and downs. She shows true-grit to not only overcome typical childhood and adult difficulties but also the rare speech disorder known as Spasmodic Dysphonia (SD). As a fellow-SD'er, I also have a need to "find my voice" as I work for a major international corporation. Despite faxes and email, it is necessary to communicate in person. So I fully understand what Diane has been going through.

"Finding my Voice" is an excellent vehicle for people needing some motivation to overcome any adversity, especially those with vocal difficulties. She finally gets to discuss her Spasmodic Dysphonia on page 187 and it continues through to book's end on page 246.

She only briefing touches on the fact that there is an international support group for Spasmodic Dysphonia. NSDA provides education, information, contacts, literature and commaradrie. Those with a computer can reach the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association (NSDA) at [e-mail]. Their support can be as much or as little as you want.

Diane's book provides a good foundation to get to know her as a person, starting at early childhood and going through to present day. She is truly an inspiration to anyone facing adversity.