Rachel Maddow: A Biography

The first biography of the most popular anchor in cable news. Rachel Maddow has beaten the odds in a way that’s novel in today’s America: she uses her brain. In a world of banal and opinionated soundbites, she regularly crushes Sean Hannity’s ratings thanks to her deeply researched reports. In our highly polarized world, Maddow amiably engages the staunchest conservatives. And she never hesitates to expose their light-on-facts defenses. As a result, she´s become the top anchor for MSNBC and a beloved representative for all that progressive America holds dear. Her millions of viewers will be surprised and intrigued by all the little-known details of her life. Growing up in a conservative California town—and viewing herself as a perennial outsider—helped spark an early interest in activism. After attending Stanford and Oxford, she opted for a minimum-wage job as a radio DJ in a tiny Massachusetts market while finishing her Ph.D. She planned to pursue a career as an activist, but 9/11 changed all that, so she returned to local radio where she could help listeners by "explaining stuff." A stint at Air America raised her national profile, which led to her groundbreaking MSNBC show. After reading her biography by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Rogak, you´ll watch it in a whole new light.