Sal

Something for everyone

Reviewed: 06-25-24

The reader is great, especially when doing Trump's voice in the author's retelling of conversations. Getting behind the scenes looks at The Apprentice is interesting and funny. As I expected, the author is anti-Trump-the-politician but without setting any political context or discussing any policies. He repeats the "Trump is a racist" charge with stories that demonstrate exactly the opposite. He laments what !Trump! as President has done to the country. TDS much? Yes, but it comes across as hopelessly blind and laughable. If you hate Trump you'll love this book. If you understand Trump's historic role as the USA's best hope today and the way he drives his opponents crazy, you'll love it.

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1 person found this helpful

Good book, tough listening

Reviewed: 04-17-24

The knowledge of the author and his ability to weave history's narratives is very good. Because of that I slogged through the staggered, stilted reading by the narrator. I think poor production editing might have contributed to the effect. I increased the playback speed to 1.2. After an hour or two it became tolerable through my acclimation.

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2 people found this helpful

Interesting despite the limited intended audience

Reviewed: 12-02-22

The intended audience is Christian leaders. That said, Trueman's analysis is entirely interesting and largely relevant. He traces today's nihilism to "expressive individualism" and the worship of "psychological Man" by way mostly of Rousseau, Marx, Freud, and Darwin(?!). What civilization has lost over the past 400 or so years, he says, is the metaphysical grounding provided by Christianity based on culturally accepted doctrine; the Enlightenment was the beginning of the end. He sees modern culture as being similar to 2 A.D. when Christianity was anathema and outlawed and presumably he would welcome an eventual return to the Dark Ages over today's culture. His dogma/faith prevents him from considering that what is needed is a return to and completion of the Enlightenment: reality-based objective metaphysics and morality. Ayn Rand and Objectivism completed that task, intellectually anyway.
But, as I said, Trueman's is a worthwhile read.

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Perhaps my favorite Baldacci to date!

Reviewed: 06-04-22

Good story. Good pacing. Good characterization. Great reader in Mr Ballerini.
I highly recommend it. I can't wait to read the next in this series.

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Mixed bag

Reviewed: 12-12-21

They are informative and interesting when they stick to evolutionary facts and offer personal stories/insights/advice but way off with their societal prescriptions. Those prescriptions evidence an utter lack of understanding of recent history, political history/theory, and economics. It's as if they don't know about the discovery/identification of natural, individual rights. For example: fossil fuel farming is unsustainable, Man is destroying the planet, freedom is in conflict with justice, "we" should consider emulating the Mayan(!) culture by building more public works rather than fostering individual freedom (to reproduce and make choices about one's own life, mostly). One wonders whom they envision as the overlords of their "steady-state" utopia.

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Good first half, disastrous second half

Reviewed: 11-26-21

I loved the first 1/2 of the book. There we are taken on a ride through the history of skiing, ski towns, and the people who helped popularize the sport. The second half is an avalanche of woke angst and fantasy coupled with heavy climate-alarmist nonsense. The book closes with an extended section on the author's personal life regrets and doubts but I didn't mind that SO much since it was 1st-hand, personal, interesting information, however depressing.

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1 person found this helpful

Pure naturalism of the most boring variety.

Reviewed: 10-13-18

Dull boring naturalism. Not even a great job by reader Jenna Lamia could make it worth the time however.

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Seductive follow-up to Genesis (Idolatry Book 1)

Reviewed: 01-18-17

Who was your favorite character and why?

Skye is my favorite. So far she is the one who has most to live for and to become, but she is surrounded by those who would crush her--and she does not realize that yet.

What about Robin Field’s performance did you like?

Mr. Field portrays with aplomb the many characters as individuals. The singing is quite a treat.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I enjoyed the opening scene in which Paige Keller, a journalist, awakes in idyllic surroundings that turn out to be very deceptive.

Any additional comments?

Genesis (Idolatry Book 1) is a must-read before A New Eden. I re-read it before reading A New Eden and I'm glad I did.
I only wish all the books were available NOW!

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Well reasoned, meticulously researched & presented

Reviewed: 12-17-16

Where does Creating Christ rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Finally, there is a well reasoned, meticulously researched & presented, historically accurate explanation for the birth of Christianity.The authors are able to set the historical context with copious annotating, and make their case after having each done 30 years of research. It is an important work.

Any additional comments?

It comes with high-quality pdf with all the images and notes.
The reader is perfect in all respects: pace, pronunciation, tone, inflection, etc.

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9 people found this helpful

A Masterpiece; a Classic is Born

Reviewed: 07-06-16

If you could sum up Sleepy Hollow: General of the Dead in three words, what would they be?

Enthralling, surprising, satisfying.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

It did. Every scene escalates the story in some way, whether it is in the main suspenseful, mysterious story-line or in the numerous subplots of self-discovery and affirmation.

Which scene was your favorite?

Any one with Hedwig. I love a good portrayal of a villain, not as a brilliant mastermind but as a man with a mind that is willfully deluded and self-defeating.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, both and frequently. Gleaves's style itself also affected many of my reactions: his words flow beautifully and enhance the story on every page.

Any additional comments?

The reader, Eric Michael Summerer, is THE perfect reader for this. It is a fully produced audio book..
One must read books one and two in the series first.
I look forward to more.

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