Gilvany
- 20
- reviews
- 3
- helpful votes
- 86
- ratings
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A Psalm for the Wild-Built
- Monk & Robot, Book 1
- By: Becky Chambers
- Narrated by: Em Grosland
- Length: 4 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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It's been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; centuries since they wandered, en masse, into the wilderness, never to be seen again; centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend. One day, the life of a tea monk is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of "what do people need?" is answered. But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how.
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The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas
- By Daniel Cascaddan on 07-15-21
- A Psalm for the Wild-Built
- Monk & Robot, Book 1
- By: Becky Chambers
- Narrated by: Em Grosland
Confusing and Bland…
Reviewed: 02-22-25
I picked up this book because it was promoted as Solarpunk, which sounded fascinating. But this isn’t Solarpunk. The world-building left much to be desired. There was no attempt to explain how this society came to be.
It felt like an Amish interpretation of the internet revolution—overly simplistic and detached from any sense of realism.
It leans heavily into a utopian atmosphere, to the point where I never felt any real tension or emotional stakes in any chapter, even when it seemed intended.
Halfway through, I found myself increasingly confused. I thought a group of characters was traveling together, only to realize that the narrative was referring to a single character as “them.” This, combined with questions about the gender of a robot, made the story feel unnecessarily convoluted.
I pushed through to the end because the high ratings made me think there might be a powerful message waiting. But there wasn’t… The most captivating part was at the beginning when the atmosphere was being set up. Unfortunately, the rest of the book fell bland, leaving me disappointed.
I’m genuinely sad that this was my first impression of Solarpunk.
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The Kingdom of God Is Within You
- Christianity Not as Mystic Religion But as a New Theory of Life
- By: Leo Tolstoy
- Narrated by: Barry J. Peterson
- Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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The Kingdom of God Is Within You is a nonfiction book written by Leo Tolstoy. A philosophical treatise, the book was first published in Germany in 1894 after being banned in his home country of Russia. It is the culmination of 30 years of Tolstoy's thinking and lays out a new organization for society based on a literal Christian interpretation. The Kingdom of God Is Within You is a key text for Tolstoyan nonviolent resistance and Christian anarchist movements.
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hoooooly crap slow down
- By John on 11-20-18
- The Kingdom of God Is Within You
- Christianity Not as Mystic Religion But as a New Theory of Life
- By: Leo Tolstoy
- Narrated by: Barry J. Peterson
Good enough
Reviewed: 03-21-24
I entered this book expecting to better understand the teachings of Jesus. It did that, but it also tried to explain implications to which it was (probably not intentionally) biased with Russian ideologies. For that reason, it was good, but not the best; just good enough.
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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
- By: Douglas Adams
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last 15 years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.
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HHTGH - Lightly Fried
- By J. Medany on 05-08-05
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
- By: Douglas Adams
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
Just heard it because Musk recommended it.
Reviewed: 04-20-23
Honestly, it's really funny and the narrator does an excellent job. I want to listen to more books this Narrator has worked on. Dont know why Musk got out of his existential crisis with this book, But, if you want a book that makes you laugh and think outside of the box, this is a good one.
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Can't Hurt Me
- Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds
- By: David Goggins
- Narrated by: David Goggins, Adam Skolnick
- Length: 13 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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For David Goggins, childhood was a nightmare--poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse colored his days and haunted his nights. But through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, Goggins transformed himself from a depressed, overweight young man with no future into a US Armed Forces icon and one of the world's top endurance athletes. The only man in history to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force tactical air controller, he went on to set records in numerous endurance events.
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Opting for the book instead
- By S David on 12-24-18
- Can't Hurt Me
- Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds
- By: David Goggins
- Narrated by: David Goggins, Adam Skolnick
Amazing human being
Reviewed: 01-16-23
It’s always a pleasure to read the story of a over achiever from our modern era. Highly recommend it!
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Alexander the Great
- By: Philip Freeman
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Alexander was born into the royal family of Macedonia, the kingdom that would soon rule over Greece. Tutored as a boy by Aristotle, Alexander had an inquisitive mind that would serve him well when he faced formidable obstacles during his military campaigns. Shortly after taking command of the army, he launched an invasion of the Persian Empire, and continued his conquests as far south as the deserts of Egypt and as far east as the mountains of present-day Pakistan and the plains of India.
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Great book!
- By BadGuidance on 06-18-17
- Alexander the Great
- By: Philip Freeman
- Narrated by: Michael Page
Really interesting man
Reviewed: 12-30-22
Maybe he wouldn’t have been admired if he lived in our current times. But considering the context of the era where he lived, it’s achievements are amazing.
It makes me think about how he would have adapted, if he where alive today.
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Better Living Through Selective Apathy
- By: M.C. Alexander
- Narrated by: Mike Chadwick
- Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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Better Living Through Selective Apathy is your helpful guide to achieving a healthy and balanced life. Making a conscious decision about what is worth caring about helps us to understand the reasons why we have stress and anxiety in the first place, and how to avoid the majority of stress-causing variables in our daily life.
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A book to make you think, and reflect on your own life.
- By Nicholas on 07-18-20
- Better Living Through Selective Apathy
- By: M.C. Alexander
- Narrated by: Mike Chadwick
Interesting and valuable
Reviewed: 12-21-22
It’s really valuable and basic, so everybody can learn from it. I would recommend it. 👍🏼
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Breathe
- A Life in Flow
- By: Rickson Gracie, Peter Maguire
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 6 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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From legendary Brazilian jujitsu and MMA master Rickson Gracie comes a riveting, insightful memoir that weaves together the story of Gracie’s stunning career with the larger history of the Gracie family dynasty and the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, showing how the connection between mind and body can be harnessed for success both inside and outside the ring.
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I really wanted to like this book but it’s just not there
- By Brent on 08-24-21
- Breathe
- A Life in Flow
- By: Rickson Gracie, Peter Maguire
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
Really interesting story
Reviewed: 12-16-22
I started Jjtsu; and now that I know more about the family, I think it will be a part of my life. I want to become a warrior.
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The Art of Loving
- By: Erich Fromm
- Narrated by: Nathan McMillan
- Length: 3 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Most of us are unable to develop our capacities for love on the only level that really counts — a love that is compounded of maturity, self-knowledge, and courage. Learning to love, like other arts, demands practice and concentration. Even more than any other art, it demands genuine insight and understanding.
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How this book got such good marks is beyond me.
- By Wyson store on 10-31-20
- The Art of Loving
- By: Erich Fromm
- Narrated by: Nathan McMillan
Interesting philosophy
Reviewed: 12-03-22
It’s one based on love as a consequence of humility and gratitude. I would recommend it. 👍🏼
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Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power
- By: Jon Meacham
- Narrated by: Edward Herrmann, Jon Meacham
- Length: 18 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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In this magnificent biography, the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of American Lion and Franklin and Winston brings vividly to life an extraordinary man and his remarkable times. Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power gives us Jefferson the politician and president, a great and complex human being forever engaged in the wars of his era.
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A Man and Biography Relevant to Our Day
- By Darwin8u on 11-14-12
- Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power
- By: Jon Meacham
- Narrated by: Edward Herrmann, Jon Meacham
Really really really interesting
Reviewed: 07-26-22
It surprised me. I had no expectations. I learned more than what I thought I would have learned. The author does a really good work explaining the story of his life and the narrator understands how to presenting it.
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How to Be Accountable
- Take Responsibility to Change Your Behavior, Boundaries & Relationships
- By: Faith G. Harper PhD LPC-S ACS ACN, Joe Biel
- Narrated by: Erin Bennett
- Length: 5 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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At its heart, accountability is understanding that your actions do not always have the impact that you intend; it is ownership of your actions, working to repair problematic issues, and learning how to prevent patterns from forming or continuing in the future. How to Be Accountable will walk you through your own head to understand your own patterns and behaviors, untangle them, and live the kind of life you want.
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Yes, this book is for you and yes it will help
- By Justin Welborn on 12-02-20
- How to Be Accountable
- Take Responsibility to Change Your Behavior, Boundaries & Relationships
- By: Faith G. Harper PhD LPC-S ACS ACN, Joe Biel
- Narrated by: Erin Bennett
Oversimplification
Reviewed: 03-14-22
I think this book could have stayed away from politics and focus on the main subject. It has highs and lows. In it’s lowest parts, one needs to agree with the authors point of view without the need of further evidence, since the autor asumes the point is obvious. I can’t continue listening to it for this reason.
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