S. Lyons

Great story, great performance.

Reviewed: 02-08-25

I've recently come to the Nero Wolfe series, and I've listened to approximately a dozen books in the series. I would rate almost all as 5-star. But this is my favorite book so far. And for my money, Michael Pritchard is one of the best audibook narrators of all time (he also narrates the 1st half of the Spenser series).

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Engaging, Informative, Useful

Reviewed: 08-28-24

Belongs in the top flight of business/self-improvement books. An easy, enjoyable listen that was profoundly interesting, engaging, Informative, and useful. Maybe a little overly opinionated at the end as to the author's view of the "correct" solution to climate change. Nuclear = bad. Wind and solar = good. I'm given to understand that many thoughtful people disagree with this conclusion. But it's the last 5% or so of the book. And, maybe I need to lisfen to that last bit again. Probably will relisten to the entire book. It was that good.

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An all-time favorite

Reviewed: 05-23-24

My title probably understates my regard for this book. It is profoundly insightful, engaging, and comforting in its way. A book that I come back to again and again.

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One of the very best of its kind

Reviewed: 01-26-23

If you want to know what strategy actually looks like, this is the book. Gets pretty granular in part 2, reflecting, perhaps the author's academic background. But it remains engaging throughout. It is interesting, thought-provoking, and has genuine utility. Like most writings that focus on first principles, it has aged remarkably well.

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A Revelation

Reviewed: 03-08-19

In the end, one of the best non-fiction books I've listened to in recent memory. I mean that literally-in the end. It was a slow start, a continually improving and enthralling middle, and a very strong finish. Could probably go back to somewhere near the midpoint of the book and listen to it again already.

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Weird in all the best ways

Reviewed: 12-10-17

Full-cast narration was an enhancement. Exceptional book that defies categorization. Only connection I could make was to the poem The Second Coming, by W. B. Yeats (which a character in the book briefly quotes).

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Woods just doesn't write em like he used to.

Reviewed: 10-13-16

I used to wallow in the frivolous, yet truly engaging and diverting stories Woods would weave around Stone, Dino, Herbie, Peter, Teddy, et al. But I just don't anymore, as much as I want to. For me, the hook seems to be gone, sadly.

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Better Than the Last Two Installments

Reviewed: 10-26-15

I gave my first unfavorable review of this series in connection with the last installment, noting that the previous two installments had, for me, been off key, lost the magic, whatever. This one was better. Not as good as this series in its prime, but hopefully headed back in the right direction.

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Just Not as Good as Previous Installments

Reviewed: 07-30-15

I believe that I recognize and appreciate this series for what it is and what it is not. While not great literature, Woods has developed great core characters, and diverting, if largely implausible, storylines that, for me, have been perfect for audio books. I bet I've listened to at least 20 of the books in this series, and I have been consistently entertained and satisfied. I am in short, a faithful purchaser and listener of the books in this series. But this installment and the immediately preceding installment have, for the first time, been lackluster and disappointing. Here's hoping the author gets back on key in the next instalment.

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3 people found this helpful

Possibly the best audiobook I've listened to, ever

Reviewed: 04-10-12

Would you consider the audio edition of Up Country to be better than the print version?

Yes, Scott Brick does an excellent job for all of DeMille's books. This one is no different.

What other book might you compare Up Country to and why?

Maybe Stuart Woods'

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

For me, Brick owns DeMille's characters. Sort of like Tony Roberts for Stuart Woods' Stone Barrington book series, except that DeMille's plot and character development is far more robust than Woods' is in the Barrington series.

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

The main character's reliving of his experiences and battles in Vietnam. They were compelling, moving and had a ring of authenticity to them. They were not sappy, overwrought, trite, etc. Presumably, this is because DeMille was a combat solder in Vietnam in 1968.

Any additional comments?

The Vietnam War is a pretty well-worn book and move topic at this point, seemingly having been covered, interpreted, perhaps misrepresented, etc. from about every angle. For that reason, I almost didn't download it. But I am very, very glad that I did.

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1 person found this helpful