In an effort to understand the Appalachian "airwaves of Zion" -- the locally-produced small-church gospel shows on the radio on Sunday mornings -- Professor Howard Dorgan visited a number of radio stations and churches in central Appalachia. He used four of these visits as "case studies" which are used to make broad representations about this limited form of televangelism. He notes the extreme enthusiasm with which the preachers go about their radio show (and in their churches as well), trying to fully narrate each voice inflection and physical movement as it happens. It would have been so much more helpful to have recorded these segments and included them as a companion CD, especially since Dorgan states that the number of these radio shows are steadily declining (due to changes in radio ownership, the costs involved in producing these shows, and the age of the major participants).

Professor Dorgan tells us at the beginning of his book that he loves Appalachian religious traditions (having written several other books on the topic), and he tries to give us a "you-are-there" feeling in the slice-of-life vignettes in this book. He follows a similar structure with each of those case studies: showing the history of the (almost always poor) community where the radio station is located, offering a quick summary of other (religious) radio shows on that radio station, then describing the progress of a sample show before giving a personal history of the main characters who produce the show (including a side visit to each one's church). Dorgan tries hard to restrain himself during some of the most "uplifting" or emotionally compelling moments, in an effort to provide the most factually neutral representation of his findings. That also prevents him from being critical of his subjects at times.

In some ways, the book is disappointing as it doesn't do much to dispel standard Appalachian stereotypes: the not-highly-educated people, the breakaway churches with a dozen or so congregants, the socioeconomically depressed communities. Yet those might be the ingredients to produce these faith-based programs, and even allowed them to thrive. Dorgan had noted that the shows are in decline; the book was written before the Internet age where it's fairly easy to start your own podcast, but the preachers rarely use any technology more advanced than an electric amplifier. While it's likely that the preachers would argue that "God will always find a way," one wonders what will take the place of these old-time shows in an area that could use a lot of hope. ( )