Maria

...although I'm not quite sure what I expected.

I downloaded this book to listen to on vacation and was a little skeptical about a sad book down by the beach. It wasn't quite like that though. The book is surprisingly heartwarming, the characters loveable, the innocence of youth, refreshing.

The book isn't ABOUT 9/11. It's about the life that happens around it. It's about the sadness, but it's also about how life continues buzzing even after dreadful events. Not just 9/11 but the war, too.

Simply put, it's a balance: on one hand, its the pain, the sorrow, the hurt, the sadness, the loneliness, the scars. On the other, it's the beauty of innocence, the wonder of life itself, the power of imagination, the strength of love. It's all beautifully woven together.

Worth the listen.

Post-apocalyptic novels are not my preferred genre. Perhaps that's what why it didn't strike a chord. Descriptions are bountiful and action, in my opinion, rather scarce. I found it long in parts. I kept waiting for something to happen.

At least by the end of the book I felt satisfied enough that something changes in the status quo of the protagonist's life and the reader's (listener) as well as the protagonist's perception shifts to give place to a deepened understanding.

Not one to say this, but perhaps a book better enjoyed when read rather than listened to. At the bookstore, I happened to flip through the book and realized that it's supposed to be read in a staccato, bits of thoughts on the protagonist's part. Doesn't have the same flow/effect when listened to.

Can't go wrong with Sherlock Holmes, always a fun listen. Thanks, Audible, for this Holiday gift.

This book was an unexpected gift. What an awesome, wholesome story. I was really worried I wouldn't like the ending, but the whole story just ebbs and flows beautifully.

Loved the characters, the complexity of the relationships, the world of slavery and human compassion and the world of yesteryears that the author plunges you into.

To add the perfect counterpart, the readers are absolutely fantastic and I wouldn't shy away from looking for more books read by them.

Thank you to all involved in delivering a lovely book. And to you, reading this, give it a go.

...but pretty gracefully.
For a book that discusses so many issues, it still manages to not take itself too seriously. The story unfolds like peeling the many layers of an onion.

This book didn't "wow" me but I quite enjoyed the listen. The characters are likeable and each bring a flavour to the book.

Overall, would encourage you to give it a go!

I liked The 7 Habits. I generally enjoy books that feel to me like their content rings truthful, and there are many parts to this book that have made me feel that way.

That being said, I found it a little sermon-y. I could have pictured a priest in a Roman-Catholic Church reading the contents of this book. That didn't appeal to me so much. I want a book to teach me something new but I don't want it to have that kind of tone. It's very cheesy at times and though some may want to/ would be able to do some of the "applications" that he suggests, I have found many to be...tawdry and unconvincing (e.g. have a family mission statement).

I found it difficult to get through the better part of the whole first half. The second one went better. I was committed to it and still felt that I was derving some benefit but was glad when it was done.

Neil Gaiman can certainly put together a good story! The book takes you in and guides you through its winding paths. I like Neil Gaiman as a reader, too.

That being said, something about the story didn't make it a page-turner for me. I couldn't quite relate to the characters. I had moments where I didn't want to stop the book... and then there were moments where I tuned out for a several seconds at a time. Maybe it was just me, though...

I would still recommend it, though. It's a good book!

I really didn't think I'd enjoy this book- and to be 100% honest, there were parts in it (you'll see he talks a lot about racing) that were less interesting to me.

Nevertheless, it was just... wonderful. The story-telling was different and refreshing and it definitely strung some chords in my heart. I'm not a huge animal person but I believe that animals have that crazy capacity for love- and in that respect, the book totally resonated with me.

Listen to it. It's not very long and you'll be happy you did.

...and I certainly understand why it is one.

Definitely recommended reading for anyone who wishes to learn how to 'deal with people' better. This is THE starting point.

The book reads like a series of anecdotes that all come together to prove very specific points. This makes the listening light, while remaining on point and being effective.

Ok, I'm going to cheat and write this review knowing more than I knew when I first listened to this book. It's true: if you read/ listen to Carnegie's "How to make friends and influence people", you will find that Dr. Goulston's advice is very similar with that of Dale Carnegie's. To the author's credit, even Carnegie says in his book that most of his advice stems from lessons learned long ago by our predecessors. I don't see a problem in reiterating good advice.

I, for one, have tremendously enjoyed the book. In fact, I found it so interesting that I listened to it twice. In a row.

Dr. Goulston gives pragmatic advice: he gives examples for how to deal with very common situation and he gives it in a simple step-by-step fashion. As a young professional given the opportunity to thrive in a high-level position, I particularly enjoyed one part of a chapter at the end. "When the student is ready, the teacher will come": thank you Dr. Goulston, you have, without a doubt, improved my interactions with the people that surround me. Sometimes I wish I had a mentor like THAT in my life.