Michael Blumstein

This is the first non-fiction audiobook that I've listened to (which I do when running). It was compelling; I literally could have run for hours. The only distraction was that the narrator mispronounced a number of the names (how does that happen??).

I'm not even a dog lover and I found this book totally delightful, charming and absorbing. Loved the author's efforts to get into a dog's head and the underlying messages about purpose and fate. After a couple of bombs, great to find a book that was captivating and well read. Highly recommended.

Perhaps this is a book better read than listened to. I couldn't sustain interest and gave up just over halfway through. The book has many detours that seem to go nowhere and that one could skim as a reader. However, the narrator of this book is very slow and deliberate, as if he were reading to first-graders, and after taking a few-day break, I just couldn't bring myself to return to finish.

Hate to be suspicious, but have to wonder whether rave reviews were from friends of the author. Narrator was first-rate, but story was practically non-existent. Every now and then, there is a laugh-out-loud line, but the plot is thin and tedious. There is nothing new about the advertising world's silliness, and the protagonist's supposed family drama seemed overdone. I nearly gave up after part 1; wish I had.

...sadly,no plot. Gave up halfway through. Perhaps I would have been better off with the abridged version. I have loved so many of Tom Wolfe's classics, but this book wasn't going anywhere -- at least by the middle of Part 2. Yes, the narrator is terrific, yes, Tom Wolfe writes some brilliant description (love the use of sounds), but a book also has to move forward. This one doesn't. Disappointing.

Couldn't get through this. Gave up halfway through part 1 when there was some sort of book within the book. Maybe an abridged version would have been more tolerable.

I don't think so.

Performance was fine.

Story was intriguing at first, then bogged down after 2+ hours. Bailed out just shy of three hours.

First Stephen King for me. Too long -- could easily have been abridged (had to take a break between parts 2 and 3 to recharge). But second half (especially part 4 of 4) very powerful, and the ending was absolutely haunting. Narration and audio quality surprisingly uneven (sounded like there was a substitute narrator in places!). But overall very glad I stuck it out. Will be a great movie!

Perfect beach read (listen) for anyone connected to finance. Also good for running (plot moves nicely). Thei book might not endure, but it's a well constructed, sophisticated and believable Madoff-type drama. Reminded me a bit of the JC Oates book "We Were the Mulvaneys." I don't often comment on the narration, but the reader of this one was outstanding -- nuanced voices without screaming for attention.

Definitely worth a listen for anyone who is a parent (or considering such). Ms. Chua raises important questions about how hard to push as a parent and the natural conflict between wanting to create a "perfect" child and wanting to have an easy, loving relationship with your child. The book also helps to humanize Ms. Chua a bit -- the Wall Street Journal excerpt focused on all the extremes in the book.

Drawbacks:

--Last chapter could have used more reflection by Ms. Chua. Would she have done anything differently if she could and why? What else did she learn from her parenting experience?

--Book needed a good editor to delete numerous trite phrases like "sharp as a tack." A Yale law prof can be more thoughtful about word choice (or getting an editor).

--Ms.Chua isn't a professional narrator.

Gave up after first of three parts. I think a novel should have a plot. The author just rambles on and on. RIP.