Gathered in John Burnett's book Uncivilized Beasts and Shameless Hellions are stories that all of America are familiar with. The difference is the John Burnett was there, he saw the action, he lived the times.

A radio reporter has to depend on his words to convey images without pictures. John Burnett covered the Waco conflict with the Branch Davidians. He talks of how the newspeople’s use of the words cult and compound may have affected the way that the people in charge may have handled things.

He speaks of the different wars he has covered from the fighting in Iraq to reporting from Kosovo, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Closer to home, he was in New Orleans during Katrina and notes how the bizarre became normal after a while.

John Burnett not only reports the news that he covered but he gives the reader a behind-the-scenes view, the tragedies and the triumphs that are never heard on the radio. John gives the listener a feeling for what is really happening, he shows sympathy when needed and outrage when felt.

This book was a truly amazing look at life behind the scenes. John Bunett is indeed a talented writer.