krisjs1767

Mr. Suskind really nails the reason(s) why Americans are so hated in the world. A perfect example is how the Denver, CO American "mom" of the Afghan exchange student hates Bush for trying to democratize the world at the point of a gun yet seems intent on turning her Muslim exchange student into a typical, feminized American male. What a train wreck! No wonder we have problems with other cultures!

Can't say enough about the content and production of this audio work. Subject matter is beyond compelling. Narration is superlative. It's really one of the best I've ever downloaded from audible.com.

The narration is called a "performance" but it's more like a robotic monotone. I found myself dozing off while driving. Otherwise, the story is fascinating.

Richard Rhodes, once again, takes a complex story and brings it alive in both character and detail. I can't say enough about the compelling nature of Mr. Rhodes's writing (on whatever subject). Any of his books are highly recommended.

I've liked all of Professor Ehrman's books but this is the best yet. There are very few audio offerings that I would want to repeat. This is one of them.

This is an amusing and clever satirical view of America in the tradition of Jonathan Swift and Terry Southern. I didn't have any trouble with the Clockwork Orange-type argot of the main character ("Operative me").

However, the conceit of this character (i.e., broken English, primitive, animalistic P.O.V. but also with complex thoughts and using highly technical references) is a bit odd and not completely satisfactory from a story logic perspective. It's sort like asking somebody to dictate their memoirs using a foreign language that they don't speak very well, which upon reflection is maybe just what he was doing.

The New York Times review left me with the impression that this might be a bit snarky, not so much in a "Mommie Dearest" way but perhaps more as an uncomfortable intrusion into famous family private matters. It was anything but that. Christopher Buckley gives us a very thoughtful, heartfelt and self-deprecating account of how he went through the difficult times that we all must face as some point. It's a nice balance of the amusing and sad, including some wonderful family anecdotes. I don't think it takes anything away from the iconic Buckley family luster. Highly recommended!

I've done a lot of the audible.com material about the Middle East. This is one of the best.

President Carter distills the problems down to their essential elements in a clear and easy to understand manner. I didn't think he was a very good president but his service in the cause of peace since then has been commendable.

Unlike "Vodka," I was able to finish this one. Early descriptions of implausibly adult-like thoughts and conversations as a child (also in "Vodka") had me wondering about overall fact v. fiction content. Mildly amusing if you think some or all of it really happened. Not very funny if it's mostly a work of fiction.

I too am a fan of the show but got less than an hour into this before I had to give it up. Very not funny.