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Magnus

I like business and sci-fi books.

ratings

REVIEWS

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HELPFUL VOTES

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

UNABRIDGED
- by Susan Cain
- Narrated by Kathe Mazur
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 39 mins)

By Susan Cain

Narrated By Kathe Mazur

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(2109)
Performance
(1799)
Story
(1769)

At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking, reading to partying; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over brainstorming in teams. Although they are often labeled "quiet," it is to introverts that we owe many of the great contributions to society--from van Gogh’s sunflowers to the invention of the personal computer.
Teddy says: "Thought provoking and Uplifting.... A++++++++!!!!!"
"insightfull, thoughtfull and fun"

Overall
Performance
Story

Where does Quiet rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is by far the best non-fiction book I've read in a very long time. Working as a manager of a software firm - I've long known that the best developers, the silent type, thrieve in solitude and letting them be alone will get you the best results. At the same time I've often wanted to foster better team spirit with open landscape seating etc. This book got me thinking and reflecting on both my workplace and friends & family around me.

The perfomance truly matches the sense and meaning of the book - so even thou it's a bit too slow for me it really works.

What other book might you compare Quiet to and why?

The Social Animal - also a book about our interactions with other people.

Which scene was your favorite?

The part about Woz working for HP.

If you could give Quiet a new subtitle, what would it be?

Introverts - a guide

17 of 18 people found this review helpful
Un Lun Dun

UNABRIDGED
- by China Mieville
- Narrated by Karen Cass
Un Lun Dun

UNABRIDGED (13 hrs and 3 mins)

By China Mieville

Narrated By Karen Cass

Overall
(1)
Performance
(1)
Story
(1)

The iron wheel began to spin, slowly at first, then faster and faster. The room grew darker. As the light lessened, so did the sound. Deeba and Zanna stared at each other in wonder. The noise of the cars and vans and motorbikes outside grew tinny. The wheel turned off all the cars and turned off all the lamps. It was turning off London.... Zanna and Deeba are two girls leading ordinary lives, until they stumble into the world of UnLondun, an urban Wonderland where all the lost and broken things of London end up.
Magnus says: "This is a childrens book"
"This is a childrens book"

Overall
Performance
Story

What disappointed you about Un Lun Dun?

I expected China Mieville to deliver as usual - but instead I get a childrens book.
Someone ought to told me.

If you’ve listened to books by China Mieville before, how does this one compare?

Well, it's plain out sily in comparison. It got characters and depth - but the story line just doesn't hold.

What didn’t you like about Karen Cass’s performance?

pretty much nothing :-(

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
If You're Not First, You're Last: Sales Strategies to Dominate Your Market and Beat Your Competition

UNABRIDGED
- by Grant Cardone
- Narrated by Grant Cardone
If You're Not First, You're Last: Sales Strategies to Dominate Your Market and Beat Your Competition

UNABRIDGED (7 hrs and 47 mins)

By Grant Cardone

Narrated By Grant Cardone

Overall
(54)
Performance
(50)
Story
(51)

During economic contractions, it becomes much more difficult to sell your products, maintain your customer base, and gain market share. Mistakes become more costly, and failure becomes a real possibility for all those who are not able to make the transition. But imagine being able to sell your products when others cannot, being able to take market share from your competitors, and knowing the precise formulas that would allow you to expand your sales while others make excuses.
Magnus says: "This is a book you never ever need to read"
"This is a book you never ever need to read"

Overall
Performance
Story

Has If You're Not First, You're Last turned you off from other books in this genre?

This is a a-typical self-help book that keeps repeating that it will show you "the good stuff", "how to make money", "I will tell you how I...X" - but *never* does.
The narrator is going on how extremely successful he is without ever telling you why, just that he is and that he did it by being persistent in doing. Well - that is not something you need to read a book about.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Grant Cardone?

yes, but I guess no one but the author was willing to record this book.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

no

Any additional comments?

Don't buy this book.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful
The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses

UNABRIDGED
- by Eric Ries
- Narrated by Eric Ries
The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses

UNABRIDGED (8 hrs and 43 mins)

By Eric Ries

Narrated By Eric Ries

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(981)
Performance
(807)
Story
(802)

Most startups fail. But many of those failures are preventable. The Lean Startup is a new approach being adopted across the globe, changing the way companies are built and new products are launched.
Zed says: "Great book, fascinating ideas"
""Lean startup" is not a book for startups"

Overall
Performance
Story

What would have made The Lean Startup better?

Eric should have found a professional reader. Now he keeps over acting, making it feel almost silly from time to time.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I really buy into the lean thinking and to

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Eric Ries?

yes!

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I feel disappointed... even thou I think Eric has a point here.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Reamde

UNABRIDGED
- by Neal Stephenson
- Narrated by Malcolm Hillgartner
Reamde

UNABRIDGED (38 hrs and 34 mins)

By Neal Stephenson

Narrated By Malcolm Hillgartner

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(2624)
Performance
(2290)
Story
(2316)

Richard Forthrast created T’Rain, a multibillion-dollar, massively multiplayer online role-playing game. But T’Rain’s success has also made it a target. Hackers have struck gold by unleashing REAMDE, a virus that encrypts all of a player’s electronic files and holds them for ransom. They have also unwittingly triggered a deadly war beyond the boundaries of the game’s virtual universe - and Richard is at ground zero.
ShySusan says: "Not perfect, but worth a listen."
"topical and intriguing"

Overall
Performance
Story

This is another great read from Neal Stephenson - and which is taking place in the present.
Mixing both hackers, terrorists, cia, mi6 and MMORPGs makes for a great read with a twisting and interesting story line.

If you liked cryptonomicon you will love reamde

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Earth Strike: Star Carrier, Book One

UNABRIDGED
- by Ian Douglas
- Narrated by Nick Sullivan
Earth Strike: Star Carrier, Book One

UNABRIDGED (12 hrs and 21 mins)

By Ian Douglas

Narrated By Nick Sullivan

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(438)
Performance
(387)
Story
(393)

There is a milestone in the evolution of every sentient race, a Tech Singularity Event, when the species achieves transcendence through its technological advances. Now the creatures known as humans are near this momentous turning point. But an armed threat is approaching from deepest space, determined to prevent humankind from crossing over that boundary - by total annihilation if necessary.
Floyd says: "It was ok..."
"Long narrative, short short story"

Overall
Performance
Story

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No, the book goes through in detail how technology of space combat could work - but it utterly fails to engage. Characters are flat out boring and you simply don't care if they die or live to the next page.

What could Ian Douglas have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

More depth to the characters

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

it suprises - but is very uneven.

Did Earth Strike inspire you to do anything?

no

1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

UNABRIDGED
- by Laura Hillenbrand
- Narrated by Edward Herrmann
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

UNABRIDGED (14 hrs)

By Laura Hillenbrand

Narrated By Edward Herrmann

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(8171)
Performance
(4398)
Story
(4404)

Why we think it’s a great listen: Seabiscuit was a runaway success, and Hillenbrand’s done it again with another true-life account about beating unbelievable odds. On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared.....
Janice says: "Indescribable"
"Boring"

Overall
Performance
Story

This is a very long winding, boring story where almost non of the characters are given any depth.
it's filled with details about the war - but after a while it's just very very boring.

2 of 14 people found this review helpful