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Fun as well as informative!

Reviewed: 01-31-25

A whirlwind tour of world history through the viewpoint of the growth of economic thought. Presenter was very engaging.

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Heartwarming story well narrated

Reviewed: 09-16-24

Finely drawn, memorable characters and a twisty, humanistic, often humorous story. McBride is a fabulous writer, and the narrator did him proud.

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A satire of the Hollywood movie industry in the 1930s

Reviewed: 06-09-24

The author’s teasingly disguised portrait of David O Selznick and a host of other Hollywood characters is delightful. Easily, the best lighthearted satire of Golden Age Hollywood. It deserves to be better known. If the Hollywood movers and shakers could have laughed at themselves, it would have been adapted into a fine screwball comedy. I recommend it heartily. The Audible recording is well done.

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A sweeping history of the pervasiveness of rules in society.

Reviewed: 01-26-24

A great listen for anyone interested in the history of ideas surrounding the use of rules in the guises of models, algorithms and laws. Good discussion of arguments for and against bending rules or abrogating them. The narration is sprightly and fully intelligible at 1.6 speed. A slight criticism: the narrator’s pronunciation of French terms is incorrect in a few cases.

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An overview of the quandaries facing the Christian evangelical movement in America

Reviewed: 01-02-24

Tim Alberta tours his own faith tradition and finds much to be disturbed about and a few things to celebrate. As a non-evangelical I found his narrative to be highly informative. The story’s great strength lies in its being fully grounded in Alberta’s journalistic interviews and observations. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to gain an understanding of the current intersection between Christian evangelism and populist conservative politics.

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How the history of slavery in America is remembered (and is not remembered or misremembered)

Reviewed: 12-12-23

Clint Smith is an insightful writer and a powerful Audible narrator of the story all Americans need to know about. The story of the extent of slavery’s deep influence on American culture and collective memory is grim, heart wrenching, and often horrific. We need to understand this story, and Smith’s account will almost certainly challenge whatever you believe you know already about slavery.

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Very detailed overview of Japanese culture

Reviewed: 06-04-23

This book surveys Japanese culture and values. Each chapter focuses on a different Japanese concept or set of related concepts and provides deep discussion with plentiful examples. Excellent throughout, although I have two minor criticisms. First, the inclusion of photographs with captions in the print edition would add another dimension to the commentary. Second, although the authors try to indicate when certain traditional cultural practices are fading away, one can’t be sure how much of the material that is discussed in the book would be apparent to a contemporary visitor in Japan. And would these cultural patterns be more noticeable in the countryside and smaller cities than in major metropolitan centers perhaps?

But putting these minor quips aside, this book is a jewel of cultural exploration and explication. Listening on Audible, I found the narrator’s straightforward reading of the text to be excellent. However, he did use Anglicized pronunciations of some of the many Japanese terms. Someone wishing to discuss a cultural concept with a Japanese acquaintance may wish to confirm the correct pronunciation of the term in another source, such a Google translate.

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Informative and fun!

Reviewed: 05-25-23

A highly entertaining and informative guide to the profession of film acting by one of its leading practitioners. This is a good source, whether you aspire to become a film actor or are a fan of movies who wants to learn more about how they are made. The narrator of the Audible book does a good job and actually sounds a bit like Michael Caine.

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1 person found this helpful

Catton’s narrative will leave you stunned!

Reviewed: 05-22-23

Intricate character revelation joined with head-spinning plot twists and breakneck action. A heady brew to say the least. A foreboding overwhelms you as you read on (or listen). The connection to Shakespearean tragedy is clear. The Audible narrator is outstanding. Highly recommended!

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1 person found this helpful

A Scientific Perspective!

Reviewed: 11-25-22

Neil deGrasse Tyson narrates a series of riffs on topics that are of interest to us all using the perspectives of science as the connecting thread. It’s a tantalizing journey and Tyson is a master guide.

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