The radio preachers in Dorgan's book are nothing like the flashy televangelists that one sees regularly on television. Rather, this is religious broadcasting at its most grassroots level. These are "real" people from Appalachia who have what they believe is a mission. They are people who have a deep-seated faith that has seen them through the turbulent times often inherent in Appalachian life. Dorgan treats his four subjects with sensitivity and respect.
Released in 1993, the book addresses what Dorgan sees as a vanishing part of Appalachian life -- the live Sunday radio preacher. Having just returned from those portions of Appalachian in which these preachers have broadcast, I was pleased to hear that seven years later the genre is far from dead, although I would suspect that Dorgan's assessment is a definite trend.
"The Airwaves of Zion" is a unique book that will be readily taken to heart by those interested in Appalchian Religion and/or Religious Broadcasting.