Pradheepa

Great Book. This is the third book narrated by Victor Bevine, that I have listened to. His voice is very pleasant and I am surprised that I don't enjoy listening to him as much as I would expect. Something about the way he narrates makes listening a tad tedious. He should try to make his narration a bit more lively and conversational. This is a great book and I would strongly recommend it to anyone else interested in the human brain.

One of the best science books I have listened to on Audible. Richard Panek is a master storyteller. I was enthralled by the story of how dark energy and dark matter were discovered and how scientists reluctantly came to accept their existence. The quest to understand the story of our universe: its origin, present and possible future was as engaging as any well written adventure story.
What I liked best about this book was how it described the rare brush with the ineffable, which is one of the high points of scientific research. Perhaps these sublime moments keep some scientists going despite the many somber episodes of frustration and disappointment.
Ray Porter's narration was perfect for this book. I would strongly recommend this book.

A quiet ghost/love story elegantly told by a man stepping out of the shadow of sorrow into the sunshine of hope. It has been beautifully written by Kate Mosse and perfectly narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt, whose sensitive performance allows listeners to thoroughly enjoy the sweet sadness of the tale. The story is about grief and loss, but it is no way gloomy. On the contrary, listening to it is an experience akin to viewing a beautiful winter scene through the window of a cozy, warm room. Sheer pleasure.

Ken Robinson has spent most of the book providing examples of how people have found the thing they love to do best. And that is good, for it is clear that many times the discovery is serendipitous. What I liked best was the fact that he agrees that what we are passionate about may not be what we should always do to earn a living. I grew up in India where a college education has never guaranteed a job. When I was a child, I once asked my father what I should do, if I didn't enjoy my job. He replied immediately that I should use the money I earned to do what I liked. I hope people love what they do, but being impractical won't always make people happy and finding the Element is about being happy. Also schools should try to provide more opportunities for children to learn using whichever way suits them best and customize lessons, but that is no guarantee that children will know what they wish to do for the rest of their life, when they leave school. They will have to see what kind of needs they will be best suited to fulfill, given their own interests and sometimes there is no obvious match. So, they will just have to take up what opportunities are available and keep looking. What I enjoyed most was how keen Robinson was that people should not be too quick to give up looking for a job that they would enjoy intensely. Good book, good narration.

A good biography of a great man who lived during interesting times. It was well narrated, but I kept listening to other more fast paced books rather than listening to this one, perhaps because there seemed to be too many direct quotes from Adams. Also, the events leading up to the declaration of Independence were the most fascinating, so much so, that Adam's subsequent activities as Ambassador, Vice President and President seemed less important in comparison, but this is not the author's fault. Abigail Adams was a fascinating character, and I truly enjoyed learning about her. I liked the book, only wished I had not found it slow going at times.

Abundance casts the problems facing our world as technological challenges that must be overcome and shows us how much progress has already been achieved. After listening to this book, the most striking idea I retain is the one of adjacent possibilities. I.e. the invention of the carriage, the car, roller skates etc., became possible, once the wheel had been invented. And the second was how technology dematerializes and de-monetizes many things, for instance, a smartphone makes a camera, a watch, an encyclopedia and many other objects redundant. It was a great listen. The narrator was very good. I would strongly recommend this book for anyone who wonders how humans will cope with the many challenges we face.

When I began reading this book, I thought it was about the conflict between the rational and intuitive aspects of the mind, in the guise of a ghost story. But, I wasn't exactly right. It isn't a love story either, for the lovers barely spend any time with each other, though they are both fascinating characters. It isn't a story of family life, domestic conflict and its resolution either. But all these elements blend well and the story moves along at a fast clip. The beautiful coastal village where the story is set, is lovingly described. The narration is excellent. I loved the fact that this is a happy story. Trouble hovers like gathering storm clouds, but the storm is exciting and enjoyable in its own way. Unlike 'The Thirteenth Tale', this is not a dark and gloomy tale. If I have any complaint, it is that the behavior of Cathy's husband is unrealistic. It is difficult to believe that he is not concerned about the children's safety at the end. Also, he does not deal with his disagreement with his wife like a man who has enjoyed a long, stable and happy marriage. His approach to protecting his wife's peace of mind isn't convincing either. But, l had a good time listening to this book and would strongly recommend it to others.

Very interesting story. I wanted to visit Evenwood. The narration was very good. The only part that I didn't like was the revelation about Mrs. Battersby. That was just one chapter in a long book. But, I particularly loved the language and the plot twists. Perseus and Esperenza were my favourite characters, but I also liked Esperenza's mistress, the Baroness. I finished this book very quickly.

I had heard that the author had been invited by Google to give a talk. That was why I thought this book deserved a look. The snippet I listened to intrigued me and I bought the book. I am glad I did. It blended some neuroscience, some humor, some practical ideas and anecdotes in a very interesting way. I also found the information very useful. Also, the narration was very good. I had just listened to 'The Ravenous Brain' by the same narrator and was very glad to listen to more brain related material read by him.

Nathaniel Philbrick admits that Moby Dick is not an easy read and his sincerity is one reason why his passion and enthusiasm for Moby Dick could be contagious. He provides a solid argument for why one should still attempt to read / listen to Moby Dick, a little at a time. I was thinking of buying a book titled 'Moby Duck' about little yellow plastic ducks, ocean pollution and the environment. It is on my wish list. I wondered whether reading Moby Dick was a prerequisite for enjoying 'Moby Duck' and why I would be interested in reading about a man obsessed with killing a whale. So, I listened to Nathaniel Philbrick's 'Why read Moby Dick?'. It was quite persuasive. I think I will dip into Moby Dick sometime. It certainly made me want to listen to Nathaniel Philbrick's books about seafarers and storms.

A good listen overall.

This was a very enjoyable romance, murder mystery, ghost story and historical fiction. I liked the fact that the author managed to bring so many elements together. The characters were very likeable too. The narration was good. This was the first work of fiction that I listened to, that I thoroughly enjoyed.