Grubby

Generally agree but conclusions and

Reviewed: 07-10-22

Especially in light of current events this is a very informative read and provides an interesting backdrop to how Strongmen work snd is informative on how they rise snd fall.

My issue with the book is the out and out pro liberal policies and that all r conservative leaders are bad and all left wing leaders are good. Please note I’m not a fan at all of Donald Trump, but one would be a fool to think.President Biden has been successful. The cheerleading for Biden and how everything he believes is correct started to get a bit over the top. Additionally, although written prior to Dobbs, I think liberal reaction to Dobbs and earlier with Biden looking to change the numbers on the Supreme Court is exactly the type of Strongman policies that are so offensive.

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Solid But A Bit Too Much

Reviewed: 06-03-18

Let me say upfront I’m a mwm who is conservative but no fan of out current President. I was leery of buying this book as I am anytime a news anchor writes a book. While this was a very fine book I got the feeling Mr. Baier went out of his way to make tell a story without the full back story. Just one small point would be when describing the meeting between Gorbachev and Reagan in Geneva. How Reagan appeared to be the young vibrant politico and the impression that sent to the world. An absolute direct correlation would have been when Kennedy and Kruschev met in Geneva. The greeting too much more than just a picture. In short, I think the book should have ended without comparing President Trump to President Reagan. I felt like Mr. Baier was trying too hard to draw a parallel between the two. Mr. Baier would have given himself and his book more credibility by not making those comparisons (for one I don’t think President Trump sees the positive in everything while President Reagan seemed to) and giving a broader historical narrative even if it did mention a democrat.

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Great Read & If Even Partly True

Reviewed: 05-26-18

I read the summary in the WSJ so thought I would give it a listen. The downfall of Theranos and how it got to where it gets to were always of interest to me. To be frank, in many ways it shows what I have told my kids that if you dont got to the best schools and know the right people it is 10x harder to get ahead in life - a lesson I wish I had learned. All someone had to do was call one trained phlebotomist or hematologist to see she was living in a fantasy world.

More to the point, as I said in my title, if even half the account is accurate (and with how things have played out I would say closer to a 100% is true) how is she and her CEO/boyfriend not in jail - and for a long time. Can you imagine some middle class person stealing 100s of millions of dollars from these people? Do you think that person wouldnt be sitting in a SuperMax right now? That she is free to still breath free air is breathtaking.

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1 person found this helpful

Great Read-A True Gem

Reviewed: 12-19-17

What did you love best about African Kaiser?

Everything regarding this book and production weee top rate. The story was fascinating (and I particularly liked how,the author brought up today’s PC culture and how it can be horribly misplaced) with a part of WWI that I feel is little known. If you want to be entertained from beginning to end and enjoy learning new things regarding topics you have previously studied, this is the book for you. Please understand it s for complete WWI novice to those who read about the subject endlessly.

What was one of the most memorable moments of African Kaiser?

The manner in which the author made the book a “thriller” from page one although one knew what was going to happen. Additionally, the relationship between Vorbeek and the native soldiers was fascinating.

What does Paul Hodgson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brings the book to “life”in that he hits the right tone every time. Whether it is the despair of the surrendered, the chivalry of the foes or the understanding of how one today unfairly judges those of the past.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely

Any additional comments?

African Kaiser is a listen that all other audio books should aspire.

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Very Imformatuve-Author Lacking as Narrator

Reviewed: 12-19-17

If you could sum up The Future Is History in three words, what would they be?

The narrator has great insight into Putin’s Russia. I felt it was a bit too personalized but that could have been due to author narrating the book. This was a big mistake for several reasons but to name one her inflection and accent were a bit over the top.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Future Is History?

Unfortunately it was the constant annoyance of the author reading the book. It was verily informative but was lost in the narration.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Masha Gessen?

No

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A lot of Holes

Reviewed: 09-11-17

In reality this book concentrates on one squadron and really just a few ships in that squadron. Additionally the primary focus seemed to be on the Solomon campaign and gave passing discussion to further engagements. When thinking of destroyers during WWII I really don't know how you can omit the Battle of Leyte Gulf and Battle off Samar in particular. But for the items it covered the book had its moments but it seems that the author really just wanted to concentrate on the Battle of the Solomons and how how destroyers engaged in that battle. That part of the book is very good and the author should have just concentrated on that engagement and the ships involved.

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7 people found this helpful

Not Bad, Little Random

Reviewed: 09-13-16

Not as good as his more recent books and somewhat random in how it is organized but it would have to be in order to tell whole story. In some ways I found the parts about Russia the most interesting but really not connected to the overall storyline of the book. Overall I believe the focus of the author should have been more on France and the US but that would have been a much shorter read. Seems like Russia was "thrown in" to make a more complete story. But overall very solid and enjoyable.

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1 person found this helpful

Now I Understand Why My Parents Were So Mad

Reviewed: 08-09-16

This is a very well written and read book (although one must chuckle when Mr. Toobin wryly comments on a participants lust for attention) and a story I didn't fully understand. I now appreciate why my parents, and all their friends, we're so incensed when President Clinton included Patti Hearst in his notorious pardon spree. If you want to know the full and true story of Patti Hearst this read will be well worth your time. Only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the condescending tone of Mr. Toobin when describing certain actors (although, to be perfectly honest, with Mr. Francis Lee Bailey he hit it right on the head), what I perceive as his hypocrisy for nettling some for being attention hounds (just once can there be a legal case Mr. Toobin doesn't give his opinion on?) and the writing style of inferring something but not fully telling you the whole detail until later.

But overall it was was well written, well performed and in all honesty, shows the dishonest chameleon that is Patti Hearst.

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9 people found this helpful

Great Book Providing Many Unknown Facts

Reviewed: 12-04-15

What did you love best about After Hitler?

It was a very easy listen and best of all had many personal stories that you rarely hear about at the end of WWII. For instance, I never had any idea who the last battle death in WWII was, the details of the Free Russian Independence Army and many other great tidbits that are in this book. In short, it is very little on Hitler and quite a bit on the intricate details of those last ten days.

What was one of the most memorable moments of After Hitler?

As I stated above, the little things that to me are so important. Explaining how the last American battle death occurred just showed how war, while necessary at times, is such a waste of human life.

What does Robert Ian Mackenzie bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Just very well written and the research was obviously very thorough.

Any additional comments?

I would have liked further answers such as the fate of many of the Russian soldiers but that is obviously not very easy to find out. In short, if you are interested in WWII than this will be a great read as it explores details of this particular point in time that at least I had no knowledge of going into the reading of this book.

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4 people found this helpful

Great Detail & Unknown Facts Brought Out

Reviewed: 07-29-15

The book was incredibly well researched and one could tell some data (not at all important to book) were not updated with current information, it did nothing to detract from what was a solid listen.

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