Carol

If you're looking for WONDERFUL things to hear about Barack Obama, this is not necessarily the book to read. Conversely, if you're looking for NASTY things to hear about Barack Obama, this is not necessary the book to read. What you will find is a very fair and extensive biographical account. No one could accuse David Maraniss of taking "sides". He has compiled a thorough story of Obama's life and it is for the reader to sift through his descriptions to come to your own conclusions about why Barack Obama is who he is. Is it nurture or nature.

Of the more contemporary non-fiction books I have read, The Amateur ranks in the top 5. I found myself immersed in the lives of the people in the stories. Ed Klein has brought some rather confidential, extremely revealing and very plausible information to his book that you will find nowhere else. I found myself saying, "I wondered about that." and "I believe that; it makes sense." In my opinion, Ed Klein has make it abundantly clear that the book title is aptly named.

Up from Slavery shoud be required reading in all classrooms, at least. At best, families or, for that matter, single parents and their children should read it together. There are many positive, encouraging and wise comments in this book for all races to absorb. I wondered out loud when I finished, "where are you now, Booker?"

I loved the story; an interesting sequel to Tattoo. Simon does a very good narration - good accents but I'm puzzled by the British accents of Lisbeth and Mimi.

I was prepared to be educated and perhaps in the bargain to improve my mind with this lecture. How interesting I thought. How disappointing I found. Robert Thurman peppered his lecture with political statements which had absolutely nothing to do with the Tibetan Book of the Dead. You say I'd probably not be so rankled if I agreed with his statements. You're right but I ask why his statements were necessary. They threw me off course, I became totally distracted and lost interest in the subject. One final regret is that I used an Audible.com credit for this audiobook.