A useful overview... [that] captures the technological, economic, and cultural sweep of an industry that influenced... what would become the Global Village. -- Bill Ruehlmann The Virginian-Pilot An extensive, readable... informative, well-written study... Recommended. CHOICE A tour-de-force narrative of more than six decades of American television and its impact on U.S. society... An important contribution. -- Christopher H. Sterling Communication Booknotes Quarterly An excellent addition to any undergraduate library and also a nice addition to public libraries. -- Linda W. Hacker American Reference Books Annual A marvelous, detailed, and comprehensive narrative... This remarkable book, unquestionably one-of-a-kind, belongs in every reference library. -- Robert Fyne Film & History Positioned with the monumental works of Erik Barnouw, Asa Briggs, Christopher Sterling and John Kittross, Edgerton contributes a comprehensive study of American television's popular culture... The Columbia History of American Television should be on the shelf of every television historian and popular culture scholar, as well as the non-specialist. -- Donald G. Godfrey Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media A seminal work of meticulous scholarship... Welcome and highly recommended. -- James A. Cox The Midwest Book Review Highly informative... eminently readable... Edgerton tells a compelling history of the medium. His book would work well as a primer for general readers, as well as for scholars (particularly international readers) wanting to gain an understanding of the history, forms, and economics of the U.S. television system as well as pointers for further research from his meticulous referencing. -- Faye Woods Journal of American Studies [The book] is meticulous and inspired. Devoted to television, it is richly resourced, eloquently written, and nicely illustrated. -- Craig Allen American Journalism This book is best seen as an update of Erik Barnouw's widely read and concise history, Tube of Plenty: The Evolution of American Television. Moving beyond Barnouw, Edgerton has attempted to craft a unified narrative that simultaneously engages some of the more fine-grained scholarship in the field... A highly readable account of the development of a complex industry and cultural form. -- Michael Kackman Journal of American History A monumental and definitive account of American television. -- Jason Jacobs Media International Australia