Brian Fullford
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Broken Horses
- A Memoir
- By: Brandi Carlile
- Narrated by: Brandi Carlile
- Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Brandi Carlile was born into a musically gifted, impoverished family on the outskirts of Seattle and grew up in a constant state of change, moving from house to house, trailer to trailer, 14 times in as many years. Though imperfect in every way, her dysfunctional childhood was as beautiful as it was strange, and as nurturing as it was difficult. At the age of five, Brandi contracted bacterial meningitis, which almost took her life, leaving an indelible mark on her formative years and altering her journey into young adulthood.
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I have almost 2000 audible books and ...
- By M. Lynn on 04-22-21
- Broken Horses
- A Memoir
- By: Brandi Carlile
- Narrated by: Brandi Carlile
A Beautiful Life Thus Far
Reviewed: 06-03-21
Beauty is not perfect and neither is Brandi. She emphasizes this. But nonetheless, her story is one of reconciling the flaws with the diamonds. Her delivery perfectly frames the story of a gay woman finding her place in the world while recognizing she deserves to be there.
Her politics aren’t heavy handed, nor is her sincere and thoughtful belief in the message of the Christian faith.
This is a book that offers insight into how love and community can save us from ourselves. Brandi is the anti-celebrity who is grateful and humbled by what she’s worked so hard to achieve.
I found myself moved on many occasions by the thoughtfulness of her reflections. The pacing keeps the listener engaged. I’ll listen to this again.
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Our Band Could Be Your Life
- Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991
- By: Michael Azerrad
- Narrated by: Jon Wurster, Merrill Garbus, Fred Armisen, and others
- Length: 21 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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This is the never-before-told story of the musical revolution that happened right under the nose of the Reagan '80s - when a small but sprawling network of bands, labels, fanzines, radio stations, and other subversives reenergized American rock with punk rock's do-it-yourself credo and created music that was deeply personal, often brilliant, always challenging, and immensely influential. This sweeping chronicle of music, politics, drugs, fear, loathing, and faith has been recognized as an indie rock classic in its own right.
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Comprehenisve History of Some 1980s Indie Bands
- By Jeff Koeppen on 12-22-19
- Our Band Could Be Your Life
- Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991
- By: Michael Azerrad
- Narrated by: Jon Wurster, Merrill Garbus, Fred Armisen, Sharon Van Etten, Stephin Merritt, Jeff Tweedy, Corey Taylor, Phil Elverum, Michael Azerrad, Dave Longstreth, Jonathan Franzen, Laura Jane Grace, Colin Meloy
For those who love music. Period.
Reviewed: 01-20-20
More of my friends were into punk, well, early punk, than I was. It’s a shame because seeing The Minutemen open for REM at Jacksonville’s Swisher Gymnasium should’ve been a bigger deal. Not being a fan of play fast, and frankly not being exposed to many ideas outside of white middle class, I gravitated towards more accessible mischief via whatever Rush, Iron Maiden, or the party life of some hair metal band. Sure there were moments of 7 Seconds and Minor Threat (thank you Tom) but I generally failed to enjoy the musical style which meant I missed the message.
The truth is that Nirvana’s “Nevermind” was my gateway back into the “punk” scene. Once there, I rediscovered Husker Du, The Replacements, and Fugazi, all groups MTV and local alternative radio had given me.
Apart from some bleeping of words during the Black Flag chapter, Azerrad’s book is a beautiful walk through a complicated ethos, that ends with questions similar to what feminism encountered in its many waves. The question of who is the subject and what is the medium is dutifully told as you hear the stories is those who adhere to the original ethics of non corporate, and those who wanted a career that needed corporate.
The greater appreciation of community, and the lamenting of that loss in the closing chapter, calls the listener to ask whether the DIY ethos that allows for everything to be done on a computer is a positive or a negative. Still, I can’t help but appreciate the virtue or vice (your call) of commercial success that allows for access to the music by those who would have never heard it otherwise. I’m not sure it’s Michaels job to answer that and thankfully he doesn’t try.
I walk away from this book grateful for the courage of early punk rock and even more excited to see Jawbox in two weeks (very happy they are mentioned in the book). You don’t have to love or even like punk rock to enjoy this book. Hell, you may find a band you hook into that you’d never considered (I’m looking at you Big Black).
As a child of the 80’s, I appreciate the reflections on what this genre meant to music and culture. I plan on using it for my work to teach philosophy in prisons.
In closing I’ll highlight the bestie of the book: the varying voices who chronicle these bands. It’s nice to have someone influenced by the music get a chance to tell the stories.
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The Power of Habit
- Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
- By: Charles Duhigg
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
- Length: 11 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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In The Power of Habit, award-winning business reporter Charles Duhigg takes us to the thrilling edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed. Distilling vast amounts of information into engrossing narratives that take us from the boardrooms of Procter & Gamble to the sidelines of the NFL to the front lines of the civil rights movement, Duhigg presents a whole new understanding of human nature and its potential.
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Nice! A guide on how to change
- By Mehra on 04-22-12
- The Power of Habit
- Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
- By: Charles Duhigg
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
A Better Understand Achieved
Reviewed: 08-30-17
I purchased this book because I have reached a point in my life where I actually wanted to set goals. Maybe it's odd for a 49 year old to state such a thing, but my approach to life until now was one of accepting where the current took me. A more Stoic approach one might say. Additionally, fitness habits were waning. Endurance racing lacked appeal and I wanted to know if it was mental or biological. This book by no means sets out to answer the latter, but what it does well is to take real world examples and detail how habit impacts our actions. Murder, gambling, eating, and chemical abuse are some of the examples given. What I appreciated was the means by which the writer discussed common elements to all of the examples. That philosophical and psychological depth added to the impact of how changing habits can be easy or difficult and how the power over changing them is not always clear.
As in anything, changing habit takes work, but more importantly it takes awareness. My desire to adjust my habits, for example, did not appreciate how ingrained habits can become. Like a tree root. This book reminds us that finding where the habit initiates may be a time consuming process. We must be patient and we must not see ourselves as weak if the path to success takes many steps.
There was nothing about the pace, language, or reading of this book that deserved less than 5 stars. Mike Chamberlain is an excellent orator. I will be listening to this book over and over with the promise that with each listen something new will influence and educate me.
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