Book Review: “Top Of The Morning: Inside The Cutthroat World Of Morning TV” By Brian Stelter (2013, 320 Pages)

The definitive insider’s book.

Brian Stelter is the senior media correspondent for CNN and the host of Reliable Sources. He was still a media reporter for the New York Times when he wrote this book.

“Top Of The Morning” narrates the epic battle between American TV morning shows, and the topping of “Today” by “Good Morning America” after fifteen years of uninterrupted leadership. “Today” had become complacent and had to deal with the ouster of the unprofessional, utterly self-centered Ann Curry as co-host.

The stakes in the morning TV battle are very high. “Today” and “GMA” bring so much profit that they subsidize the rest of their network’s news coverage. The leading morning show is indeed a billion-dollar franchise.

Even if it’s a little gossipy, this book is very informative and will appeal to anyone interested in the media industry.

Written in pop culture style, it is a very engaging look into the frantic machine that is morning television.

RATING: B.