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Rendezvous with Oblivion
- Reports from a Sinking Society
- Narrated by: Thomas Frank
- Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
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Publisher's summary
From the acclaimed author of Listen, Liberal and What’s the Matter with Kansas, a scathing collection of his incisive commentary on our cruel times - perfect for this political moment.
What does a middle-class democracy look like when it comes apart? When, after 40 years of economic triumph, America’s winners persuade themselves that they owe nothing to the rest of the country?
With his sharp eye for detail, Thomas Frank takes us on a wide-ranging tour through present-day America, showing us a society in the late stages of disintegration and describing the worlds of both the winners and the losers - the sprawling mansion districts as well as the lives of fast-food workers.
Rendezvous with Oblivion is a collection of interlocking essays examining how inequality has manifested itself in our cities, in our jobs, in the way we travel - and of course in our politics, where in 2016, millions of anxious ordinary people rallied to the presidential campaign of a billionaire who meant them no good.
These accounts of folly and exploitation are here brought together in a single audiobook unified by Frank’s distinctive voice, sardonic wit, and anti-orthodox perspective. It captures a society where every status signifier is hollow, where the allure of mobility is just another con game, and where rebellion too often yields nothing.
For those who despair of the future of our country and of reason itself, Rendezvous with Oblivion is a booster shot of energy, reality, and moral outrage.
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The book is much better than the radio show
- By Jonnie on 12-19-10
By: Michael Savage
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The Forgotten Man
- By: Amity Shlaes
- Narrated by: Terence Aselford
- Length: 14 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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It's difficult today to imagine how America survived the Great Depression. Only through the stories of the common people who struggled during that era can we really understand how the nation endured. In The Forgotten Man, Amity Shlaes offers a striking reinterpretation of the Great Depression. Rejecting the old emphasis on the New Deal, she turns to the neglected and moving stories of individual Americans, and shows how they helped establish the steadfast character we developed as a nation.
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a story of forgotten times
- By Debb Robinson on 10-11-07
By: Amity Shlaes
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Mike Bloomberg
- Money, Power, Politics
- By: Joyce Purnick
- Narrated by: Mark Moseley
- Length: 6 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Michael Bloomberg is not only New York City's 108th mayor; he is a business genius and self-made billionaire. He has run the toughest city in America with an independence and show of ego that first brought him great success and eventually threatened it. Yet while Bloomberg is internationally known and admired, few people know the man behind the carefully crafted public persona.
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Not the most captivating, but a decent summary
- By liz w on 03-06-17
By: Joyce Purnick
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The Audacity of Hope
- Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
- By: Barack Obama
- Narrated by: Barack Obama
- Length: 6 hrs and 10 mins
- Abridged
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In July 2004, Barack Obama electrified the Democratic National Convention with an address that spoke to Americans across the political spectrum. Now, in The Audacity of Hope, Senator Obama calls for a different brand of politics: a politics for those weary of bitter partisanship and alienated by the "endless clash of armies" we see in Congress and on the campaign trail; a politics rooted in the faith, inclusiveness, and nobility of spirit at the heart of "our improbable experiment in democracy".
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My Fellow Conservatives, Give This A Listen
- By Dallas D.L. on 02-12-15
By: Barack Obama
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Every Man a King
- A Short, Colorful History of American Populists
- By: Chris Stirewalt
- Narrated by: Chris Stirewalt
- Length: 4 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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American populism has always been home to a fascinating assortment of charismatic leaders, characters, kooks, cranks, and sometimes charlatans who have led the charge of ordinary folks who have gotten wise to the ways of the swamp. Every Man a King tells the stories of America's populist leaders, from Andrew Jackson and Teddy Roosevelt to Ross Perot, Pat Buchanan, and Donald Trump. It is a rollicking history of an American attitude that has shaped not only our current moment, but also the long struggle over who gets to define the truths we hold to be self evident.
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Education delivered in a most entertaining way.
- By Snaps And Snippets on 09-17-18
By: Chris Stirewalt
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The Center Holds
- Obama and His Enemies
- By: Jonathan Alter
- Narrated by: Jonathan Alter
- Length: 18 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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In The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies, Jonathan Alter uses his unmatched access and deep knowledge of politics and history to produce the first full account of America at the crossroads. He pierces the bubble of the White House and of the presidential campaigns with exclusive reporting and rare historical insight. More than a campaign book, this is the epic story of an embattled president facing a historic moment he considered more pivotal than 2008.
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The Best Telling of the 2012 Campaign So Far
- By Mike on 06-11-13
By: Jonathan Alter
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The Billionaire Raj
- A Journey Through India's New Gilded Age
- By: James Crabtree
- Narrated by: Shridhar Solanki
- Length: 14 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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In megacities like Mumbai, where half the population live in slums, the extraordinary riches of India’s new dynasties echo the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers of yesterday. James Crabtree’s The Billionaire Raj takes listeners on a personal journey to meet these reclusive billionaires, fugitive tycoons, and shadowy political power brokers. Crabtree dramatizes the battle between crony capitalists and economic reformers, revealing a tense struggle between equality and privilege playing out against a combustible backdrop of aspiration, class, and caste.
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Engaging, authors politics could be reduced
- By Chris on 06-17-23
By: James Crabtree
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Somebody's Gotta Say It
- By: Neal Boortz
- Narrated by: Neal Boortz
- Length: 6 hrs and 1 min
- Abridged
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With its outrageous brand of conservative talk, The Neal Boortz Show has been one of talk radio's hottest commodities for more than 25 years. Boortz entertains his rabid followers with commentary on everything from corruption in Washington to the troops overseas. Now, with Somebody's Gotta Say It, Neal gives us his greatest jeremiad yet: a hilarious but serious-as-taxes screed covering all the issues that get Neal and his millions of listeners hot under the collar on a daily basis.
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For the Logical not the Emotional.
- By Jon on 03-16-07
By: Neal Boortz
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Invisible Hands
- The Making of the Conservative Movement from the New Deal to Reagan
- By: Kim Phillips-Fein
- Narrated by: Lorna Raver
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Long before the "culture wars" usually associated with the rise of conservative politics, driven individuals funded think tanks, fought labor unions, and formed organizations to market their views.These nearly unknown, larger-than-life, and sometimes eccentric personalities - such as General Electric's zealous, silver-tongued Lemuel Ricketts Boulware and the self-described "revolutionary" Jasper Crane of DuPont - make for a fascinating, behind-the-scenes view of American history.
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The Conservative battle for taking back the New Deal
- By Dr Joseph Borreggine on 05-13-24
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Big, Hot, Cheap, and Right
- What America Can Learn from the Strange Genius of Texas
- By: Erica Grieder
- Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Texas may well be America’s most controversial state. Evangelicals dominate the halls of power, millions of its people live in poverty, and its death row is the busiest in the country. Skeptical outsiders have found much to be offended by in the state’s politics and attitude, and yet, according to journalist and Texan Erica Grieder, the United States has a great deal to learn from Texas. In Big, Hot, Cheap, and Right, Grieder traces the political history of a state that was always larger than life. From its rowdy beginnings, Texas has combined a long-standing suspicion of government intrusion with a passion for business.
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Loved this book!
- By ccarp on 06-04-14
By: Erica Grieder
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Insane Clown President
- By: Matt Taibbi
- Narrated by: Rob Shapiro
- Length: 9 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Dispatches from the 2016 election that provide an eerily prescient take on our democracy's uncertain future, by the country's most perceptive and fearless political journalist.
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Slow Motion Horror
- By Rick on 01-20-17
By: Matt Taibbi
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The Conservative Heart
- How to Build a Fairer, Happier, and More Prosperous America
- By: Arthur C. Brooks
- Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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In The Conservative Heart, Arthur C. Brooks contends that after years of focusing on economic growth and traditional social values, it is time for a new kind of conservatism - one that helps the vulnerable without mortgaging our children's future. In Brooks' daring vision, this conservative movement fights poverty, promotes equal opportunity, celebrates earned success, and values spiritual enlightenment. It is an inclusive movement with a positive agenda to help people lead happier, more hopeful, and more satisfied lives.
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Outstanding recitation of conservatism!
- By GLENNO on 08-06-15
By: Arthur C. Brooks
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Wow! Such an eye opener!
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Intelligent analysis of a stupid phenomenon
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Well worth the wait
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Terrible narrator for the book
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Wow! Such an eye opener!
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Well worth the wait
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What listeners say about Rendezvous with Oblivion
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- Anonymous User
- 10-27-18
Well worth the time to read/listen.
Thomas Frank nails it again. Take the time and read this book, it won't disappoint.
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- Christopher J. Albertyn
- 10-06-20
Political wisdom
Thomas Frank, arguably the best commentator on American politics, shows what has gone wrong and what needs to be done. Full of wisdom and insight. I cannot recommend this book too highly.
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- Erik Johnsrud
- 10-16-18
Excellent narration!
Thomas Frank talks politics with eloquence and incisive wit! Yet, his ideas are as straightforward as they are insightful. We should all heed Frank's call to action in his writing.
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- Greg Hagar
- 09-17-19
Excellent insight and delivery
Thomas Frank has a rare understanding of what’s going on in society and politics - like Chris Hedges, but with levity. And his narration kept me awake and focused. The final chapters were my favorite.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Brandon Hellbusch
- 08-21-19
A Critical Look at Why 2016 Happened
A hard hitting look at how Trump isn't the problem, he a symptom of the problem.
A convincing take on why the Democrats need to do a critical autopsy of their party after 2016.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Cleve
- 12-09-18
Hopefully not a Cassandra
The Cassandra appellation is something of a cliche but then cliches become cliches for a reason. Winston Churchill once said, “You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing after they have tried everything else.” The problem may be that there is too much of everything else to exhaust and too many seem to want to keep trying the same thing over and over again.
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1 person found this helpful
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- LittleBee
- 07-25-18
book of our times
wish it was longer, the essays are so enjoyable and well written. author does great reading his own work
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4 people found this helpful
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- Dom
- 09-13-18
quality!
A refreshingly plausible description of modern America and what ails it. This guy needs more air time!
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- racatiwood
- 10-08-18
Thomas Frank at his best
the stories he tells are depressing but true and as compelling as any he's written in his ongoing career of deeply unique insight
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- Kathryn Paulson
- 08-20-18
Gets Most Things Right
Frank's entire gig is about taking an objective look at the political and societal reality of our times, and while he does a great job of this most of the time,he also occasionally slips and reveals his personal biases.
This time around, Frank hits the nail on the head when calling out the Democratic establishment, and he supports his assertions with illuminating anecdotes and eye-opening insights. He speaks clearly about how and why Donald Trump became president and offers some valuable thought fodder for might come next. But interestingly, while presenting a reasoned indictment of the Democrat's embrace of meritocracy, Frank nearly gives academia a free pass for their part.
Citing the ridiculous cost of a college education in the 21st Century, Frank gives but tepid criticism of role played by the academics themselves and instead points the finger of blame squarely at administration. According to Frank, one of the most significant causes of increased tuition is the huge number of administrators busily supplanting the faculty and wasting time on process improvement. Never mind that the educational system has largely gone unchanged for a century, or that the reason for process improvement is to improve efficiency and reduce cost. Note to Thomas Frank: there's plenty of room to improve the education system both on the instructional and administrative side, and if those involved in the process are just adding to the cost, then they're not doing their job.
In spite of Frank's naive view of higher education and utter lack of knowledge on the discipline of process improvement, he hits another home run with Rendezvous with Oblivion. I highly recommend the book for its content and style, and find frank himself to be an excellent narrator.
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1 person found this helpful