Diane Rehm has hosted a show on WAMU in Washington, D.C. since 1979. Newsweek calls The Diane Rehm Show one of the most interesting talk programs in the country. In Finding My Voice, this nationally acclaimed public radio personality shares the fascinating story of her life. Diane grows up with rigid Christian Arab parents who give her little self confidence. Her father is distant, and her mother has a violent temper. Diane's first husband is as inaccessible as her father, and her life as a housewife is disappointing. But when she begins working at WAMU, she embarks on a path of self-discovery and transformation. Behind the microphone, Diane finds her true avocation. In addition to her successes, in the final section of this book she recounts her frightening battle with a neurological disorder that has demanded all her courage and resourcefulness to overcome. Finding My Voice is more than the biography of a remarkable woman. It also traces the rise of public radio and its role in the nation's capital. Hearing the author read makes it even more captivating.
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"Great NPR host is stricken with spasmodic dysphonia, in which the basal ganglia in the brain thll the vocal cords to contract too tightly. She takes injections of BOTOX or botulism toxin, a bacterial toxin that paralyzes muscles."
— Cindy (5 out of 5 stars)
" interesting. I listen to her everyday on the radio, just wanted to know more about her "
— Allison, 2/4/2014" I was pleasantly surprised that Ms. Rehm was willing to bare her soul in this book about her upbringing and her marriage, not to mention her career. I greatly enjoyed the book. "
— Patmcclain, 1/29/2014" I listen to NPR all the time and found it interesting to discover Diane Rehm's story in an audio book during my commute. "
— Anita, 1/15/2014" I found this a rather dryly written memoir for such an interesting person. "
— Jill, 1/14/2014" I love Diane Rehm so I loved reading this, her autobiography. She has a most interesting life story, full of funny things, sad things, and also, some very strange things (ocelot in your backyard tree?). I don't love her writing style, though I think her interview/talk radio skillz are awesome. "
— Emily, 1/13/2014" 3.5 stars. Found this an interesting book as I identified with her troubled relationship with her mother. "
— Georgia, 1/12/2014" Enlightening biography of the well known NPR talk show host. "
— Deb, 12/29/2013" I ma an avid listener to "The Diane Rehm Show" so it's a little odd that I only read her memoir now, ten years after it was first published. Interesting to read about her background and the forces that shaped her, her entry into broadcasting and the condition that almost cost her her career. "
— Nick, 12/21/2013" I love listening to Diane Rehm on NPR! She is such a good interviewer - she asks good questions whether she's talking to a panel of politicians or someone who just wrote a book about their dog. And always classy. It was interesting to hear more about her own life story. "
— Heather, 12/9/2013" Rehm, the NPR host, is candid about her problems: her abusive mother, less-than-perfect marriages, years in psychoanalysis, and troubles with her vocal chords. I found it an uplifting read. "
— Ai-Ling, 12/7/2013" An engaging memoir of the NPR radio host -- a little too self-absorbed. "
— Penny, 11/30/2013" diane rehm is a great thinker and even better learner. her prose is straightforward and unadorned as she matter-of-factly recounts her childhood and professional life and struggles to make sense of her developing psychology. a lovely read for her fans. "
— D, 11/18/2013" I love listening to Diane, and I feel as though I know her and she's part of my life. This book was open and honest, nearly Too Much information type honest, but I'm glad I read it. "
— Lise, 8/19/2013" Rehm, host of her own nationally syndicated call-in talk show on National Public Radio, writes of the challenges and triumphs in her life. "
— pati, 8/19/2013" Diane Rehm is a facinating and talented woman. I enjoyed learning about her life. "
— Lindsay, 6/24/2013" I've listened to Diane Rehm for years so it was interesting finding out more about her. She talks about how she got her start in radio, her childhood, her marriage ... I enjoyed her anecdote about interviewing author Tom Clancy. "
— Becky, 4/7/2013" This isn't up there with my favorite memoirs (those would probably be "The Glass Castle" and "Personal History"), but I enjoyed it nevertheless. I found it to be an easy read. "
— Jill, 1/20/2013" As an added bonus, I got to read this in range of WAMU's signal, on my parents' back porch! "
— Kristen, 1/11/2013" Pretty good if you are a fan of her show on NPR. If not, probably not of interest. "
— Anita, 12/15/2012" Like that it was read by author. "
— Barb, 9/7/2012" An insightful read about a delightful woman. "
— Meredith, 6/24/2012" If you listen to Diane Rehm, you'll be interested. Otherwise, not so interesting. "
— Johnna, 6/5/2012" Glad to have read it--got me to get out the book she co-authored w/ her husband...intriguing and look forward to the discussion w/ Brighton book club as well. "
— Stephanie, 6/2/2012" I am a big fan of the Diane Rehm show on NPR. This is a very interesting autobiography. "
— Annmarie, 4/13/2012" I like Diane Rehm, and this book was interesting because of that, with a lot of her history a revelation to me. But it is not "fine litterature", so only gets two stars. "
— Melitta, 3/27/2012Diane Rehm has hosted The Diane Rehm Show on WAMU 88.5 FM in Washington, DC, distributed by NPR, since 1979, a show with a weekly listening audience of two and a half million.