Walpole, MA, United States | Member Since 2011
"Good stuff, but wanted a little more gritty detail"
Learning about all the different training techniques that the Delta Force operatives used. It was good to know that we have soldiers taking a proactive approach to combating terrorism at home and abroad.
The descriptions of the training sessions for Delta Force operatives, especially the live fire shooting drills.
Bit too folksy
It wasn't the most compelling listen, but a solid and enlightening book about the formation of Delta Force.
I thought the book was good overall, however I found myself looking for some more gritty details about life in Delta Force. One highlight of the book is the author's postscript at the end. I think he does an excellent job of summing up the root causes of terrorism and makes a compelling argument about where our military focus should be.
"Good solid addition to the genre"
I thought the detailed plotting and authentic use of Conan Doyle's characters made this book good.
Dust and Shadows or the House of Silk --> two other Holmes stories written by contemporary mystery writers.
Some of the stories are better than others, but overall I found this an enjoyable read.
"Gives You The Chills"
It's such a compelling story, and I think the author did an awesome job of telling the story as it happened. He is an evenhanded, fair and rational narrator and earns a ton of credibility from treating everyone objectively.
The blow-by-blow description of the operation to get Bin Laden was riveting.
The whole thing is a moving story about people working hard and taking chances and putting themselves in a position to accomplish something incredibly difficult. It's a really moving book that makes you proud to be an American.
Highly recommended. It's one of those books that I had to listen to in small doses because I didn't want it to end.
"A Slow Creeping Horror Story That's All Too Real"
Don't join cults.
The incredible amount of detail that the author puts into her telling of the Jonestown story. She did a good job of sorting through the hype and the sensationalism and painting a deeper, more horrifying story of slow and relentless brainwashing, isolation and madness.
Favorite is the wrong word. But the description of the cult's final decision to take the Kool Aid was gripping and unforgettable.
Highly recommended, both as a historical document and as a social examination of the allure and hypnotic pull of cult life.
"An Insightful Listen with a Unique Twist"
I would listen to it again. It had a lot of enlightening information about what it takes to make it as a Navy SEAL, and some lessons that Webb learned in SEAL training that apply to everyday life as well. Plus any chance you get to learn about the SEAL training process makes you appreciate their work so much more.
This might be a cliche, but the section on BUDS training was what stands out to me. It takes a certain type of person to stand up to the physical and mental stress, and it was great to see the process through Webb's eyes.
This book is great for providing insight into the training process for becoming a Navy SEAL, and for explaining how SEALS and other special forces units were used during the early days of the war in Afghanistan. Oh, the unique twist referenced in my headline is that Webb himself introduces each chapter in a short recorded segment. It makes the book more memorable to have both the author and the narrator on track.
"Solid Advice For A Nice Price"
The best part was that the author had one point that she stuck to and backed it up with examples and anecdotes. The weakest part might be the delivery, which seemed a little sleepy at times.
I think a little more energy might have helped.
That successful people find time to dedicate to doing the things that are important to them. That the first half hour of work is often wasted by settling in (I am guilty of this and it was good to have it pointed out)
For the price, it's not a bad little audiobook. A quick study with some solid, supportive advice.
"A Smart Mix of Science & Sociology"
It is an informative book about the brain that does not get too bogged down in scientific specifics, but rather uses a lot of real life examples to illustrate the author's points. Plus, it provides some hope for those of us who are stronger in the right brain.
If you like Malcolm Gladwell's books, I think this is comparable.
N/A as this is non-fiction
Not necessarily, but that's not a bad thing. A book doesn't have to be a rip-roaring page turner to be great. I did get through it pretty quickly.
I think that it is hard for an author to strike the right balance between brain science, social commentary and workplace theory, and Daniel Pink does a great job of getting it right here. It's a good book that makes you feel good about the future of jobs in the United States and other developed countries.
"A Classic Story But Maybe a Tad Outdated"
I wanted to listen to this book because it was something I always wanted to read. I think the concept is great, but the execution seems a little outdated now. There are long, long descriptive passages of sea flora and fauna that are hard to keep straight, and the entire tale is a little affected. So I'm glad I listened to it but not sure if it is for everyone.
The most interesting aspect is the Nautilus itself. The workings of the ship, it's layout, and the idea of spending so much time traveling undersea. Verne does a great job of creating a tangible world beneath the waves.
No. Were there two narrators? It was hard to tell them apart if so.
I think it does, though it's probably a century too late for that now. There are a lot of unanswered questions at the end.
It's an interesting book and an easy listen, but it is interesting to see how the reality of the text stacks up to the impressions of "20,000 Leagues" that I had from movies and pop culture in general.
"An interesting and engaging sci-fi story"
I think it is a good book for casual fans of science fiction. The author creates an interesting premise and an engaging main character, and the story speeds along (even with a lot of exposition).
The beginning of the book, where the main character wakes up with no memory of her past life and has to quickly adapt to a series of threats. Pretty compelling start.
I haven't heard this narrator before, but I thought she did an excellent job of giving each character a unique voice without overdoing it. I would be encourage to listen to more books knowing she was the narrator.
No extreme reactions. It was just a good, consistent and entertaining sci-fi story.
I'd encourage the listener to pay careful attention to the introduction of each character since so many of them are introduced in a short time that it can be hard to keep them straight.
"Initially promising but ultimately disappointing"
I think that there needs to be a more general focus on the symptoms and causes of anxiety, rather than just this narrator's personal experience. Since the triggers for his anxiety are so personal, they don't translate well to the listener.
The ending was a little bit better than the meat of the book in that the author at least begins to pursue some ways to remedy his anxiety, but it's not enough.
The narrator did a good job, but I think was limited by the source material
No. I've had enough of the author and his anxiety problems.
I found this book frustrating because I was really looking forward to reading it, and it started off with such a tremendous bang that I thought it would be great throughout. As someone who suffers from anxiety, I thought that there would be a lot of common ground. Unfortunately, it gets bogged down in endless, repetitive passages in which the narrator talks about his anxiety in general terms and how it caused him problems, but never digs deep enough into the disorder itself. What kinds of warped thinking patterns cause anxiety? Why do some people generate anxious thoughts as their status quo?
It seems like a very self-indulgent and maybe even self-aggrandizing book.