DPhipps

One of my favorites

Reviewed: 04-02-25

His writing is still witty and not getting overly repetitive. Love the story. The ever-expanding storylines are hard to keep track of. Fantastic read overall.

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Fantastic

Reviewed: 01-29-25

The writing is so good that you love the length of the book. You don’t want it to end.

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Taylor Swift Revenge Song?

Reviewed: 03-29-24

I am a fan of Walter Isaacson's work, but must say that in his book on Henry Kissinger he is far too biased against the subject, which surprised me and made the last half of the book difficult to enjoy. I've never read so many "buts" in a book as he couldn't give a positive critique without following it up with something negative to offset it. It was almost as if that was his way of coming across as unbiased, but while the book throughout was already tilted against Kissinger as a man, this attempt at a tit for tat heavily stacked the feelings of the subject in a negative way, and it felt less like unbiased reporting and more like an attempt to bringdown the man. It absolutely felt like the author had an intention when beginning the book of trying to cut the man down. I'm not sure what happened between Mr. Isaacson and Mr. Kissinger, but it definitely felt like a spurned lover trying to exact vengence, like a Taylor Swift revenge song.

I don't have any personal leanings towards the subject, don't relate to him politically and am a little too young to have experienced his time as a public figure. Therefore I was surprised at how exasperated I felt listening to the book. It wore one down hearing his constant belittling of the man.

The detail is extraordinary, and you have to really want to know Kissinger in order to dive into this book. It is unlike anything else as he literally goes through day by day throughout the book, and rarely skips multiple months of his life during the glory days. The research was truly incredible, which is one thing that makes Mr. Isaacson so good in his biographical works.

I did enjoy the detail and insight into the man himself, seeing his insecurities, pension for intrigue, and character and emotional nuances. After reading the book though I can't find him to be more flawed or emotionally unstable or difficult than Elon Musk, and yet Elon received far less of an attacking or finitely condescending biography from Mr. Isaacson, which by the way was one of my absolute favorite non-fiction works that I have experienced. Topping it off, I was really surprised at Mr. Isaacson's willingness to state his personal option and analysis as concrete fact so often, especially when it came to Mr. Kissinger's thoughts and beliefs. He did this throughout. When you agree with the conclusion based on the included information you let it go and I just found it a little surprising, but when there were instances when I didn't draw the same conclusions as him I found myself to be very surprised at his willingness to be so strong in statement of fact. That felt unfair to the subject without being in a forum in which the subject can rebut such conclusive statements.

Malcolm Hillgartner, on the other hand was absolutely exceptional. I am thoroughly impressed with his ability to mimic so many different voices and to do so clearly and consistently. It made listening to the book so much easier both in an ability to follow who was speaking, as well as in enjoyment. He deserves an award for this work.

In synopsis, similar to his Albert Einstein biography, this book felt definitely overly detailed unless you are studying specific events in political science in college, and was exhaustingly biased against the subject. I was still intrigued and able to keep listening, especially because of the voice reading the book, but found myself worn out from trying to keep an open mind when the negativity and constant belittling was so constant. Nonetheless you definitely feel like you have finished the book and know and understand Kissinger in a way that is difficult to do so through a written medium. I'd give it a 3.8 overall with a 5.0 for the reader.

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Reads like a historical research paper

Reviewed: 01-09-24

Tons of detail, but not like a detailed novel that adds to the enjoyment. The entire book feels like a research paper. All facts. Well done, but not really an enjoyable or at all thrilling listen.

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1 person found this helpful

Incredible

Reviewed: 02-25-23

Best self-help book ever written. More applicable to anyone’s life. Any other non-scripture I have read.

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Incredible

Reviewed: 02-17-23

Shoe dog 2.0. I loved the authenticity. Very easy read and am awesome story. Loved it

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Incredible Insight

Reviewed: 01-30-23

I have worked in varying areas of affordable housing for over a decade and this resembles my experiences better than anything else I have read or seen. So insightful and the best basis I have seen to be used for policy and practice changes in the affordable housing sector.

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Best self help book

Reviewed: 01-19-23

I’ve read a number of them, and this one is so engaging, so concise, and so inspiring.

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Best Book I’ve ever read

Reviewed: 04-11-21

Wow. This was so much better than I expected. Surprisingly inspiring. Each time I listened I had ideas about how to enjoy life more deeply. I have insisted other read this and I highly recommend it.

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Great book, but long ending

Reviewed: 10-04-17

Fantastic book and very interesting to look into Hines’ life. The end drags on too long about his personal travels and vacations, but otherwise a very interesting book.

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2 people found this helpful