michael

American Desperado is written the first person perspective of Jon Roberts and other key figures of his life. Often on the written page a change in first person narration is demarcated by extra spacing between paragraphs. When the book changes perspective the audio version changes narrators. I found that the style helped cement when the novel changed perspectives and allowed for an easier listen.

Jon Roberts is an interesting figure because he is un-apologetically bad. Similar, stories to Jon's have been told in both novels and films. However, this story is unique because it does not allow you any empathy for the main character. I like to say that everyone is the hero of his own story but that is just not true for Mr. Roberts. Jon Roberts is unquestionably the villain of his story.

I really enjoyed this book. The reaction to the main character is a visceral hatred. This may be the only autobiography ever written designed to slander it's subject.

Globalization and its Discontent is a lukewarm manifesto on Joseph E. Stiglitz time spent as chief economist of the World Bank. In it he does a fair job of criticizing free-market economists and their actions in NGO and the World Bank. However, the material is not strong enough to save this book from terrible narration.

This book is a bad sci-fi novel about a bad sci-fi TV show based on the worst parts of the original Star Trek. The novel slowly drifts into existential mumbo jumbo. It is admirable for how far Scalzi is willing to push it and at times it feels like he may go into full Philip K. Dick bat**** crazy mode but ultimately it falls short. The novel is very self aware but like Skynet this this doesn't make it good. Wil Wheaton is an excellent reader and definitely elevates the novel for his presentation. If you read the synopsis you already know it is an interesting concept and John Scalzi is a very good writer. I want to like it so much but ultimately bad sci-fi is bad sci-fi and this is bad sci-fi. Listen if you must but prepare for disappointment.

I have never voted Republican and I have no intention of voting for Mitt Romney but I like to read or listen to the books written by all the major political players. I feel that a book is the best way for a politician to get his/her true message out without being subject to 30 second sound bites. I have listened to many and more of these books. Mitt Romney's "No Apology" is the best of the bunch both for his excellent/personal reading of it and for the clear and concise way he states his political positions. I disagree with a lot of what he says but I have to give him credit for writing and reading an excellent book. If you are interested in American politics this book is worth reading regardless of your personal politics.