Books by Charles L. Ponce de Leon

Elvis Presley was celebrity's perfect storm. His sole but substantial contribution was talent, a fact Charles L. Ponce de Leon is careful to demonstrate throughout his wonderfully contextual Fortunate Son. Even as the moments of lucidity necessary to exercise that talent grew rarer and rarer, Elvis proved his musical gifts right up to the end of his life. Beyond that, however, he was fortune's child. Fortunate Son succinctly traces out the larger shifts that repeatedly redefined the cultural landscape during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, using Elvis's life to present a brief history of American popular culture during these tumultuous decades.

Tracing the history of televised news, from the household names of the late 1940s and early '50s, like Eric Sevareid and Walter Cronkite, through the rise of cable, the political power of Fox News, and more, this book shows us an industry in transition, where news magazines and celebrity profiles vie with political news and serious investigations.