Peter

Great concept but the writing plods along and the monotonous narrator only made it worse. I abandon very few books but this one just didn't live up to the billing. The author wastes a lot of time listing the achievements and affiliations of everyone cited or quoted. He should have left it for the footnotes and focussed on bringing the story alive. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that this was a PhD thesis and if so, the book editor should have been more assertive about trimming the fat. I wondered at times what the content - such as the interminable description of Chinese commerce - had to do with the Columbian Exchange. If you like books of this nature, try Guns, Germs and Steel instead.

I was drawn to Gone Girl by the listener and critical reviews and because I love a good plot. It helps to keep me engaged. Still, the book didn't live up to my expectations. I guessed some of the key plot developments before they unfolded and the ending seemed like a cop-out. No issue with the read and if you like mystery, Gone Girl certainly has it.

... but that doesn't matter. Einstein was such a creative thinker and such a humanist, a term many people abuse. He was the real deal. I let some of the long scientific explanations wash over me but those shouldn't be a deterrent to anyone who considers reading the book. Excellent narration and a well-told tale. I was truly sad when it ended. I chose Einstein because it was written by Steve Jobs biographer and that was a good call.

The first half of the book was so exciting - great plot, evocative description, fascinating characters. The second half of the book (spoiler alert!) left me cold with its seemingness endless scenes of torture. We get it already, George! Beautifully read by Simon Prebble

"Plant-based whole food diet." This is the message of this book. While the author does have plenty of data to support his advice and the book did influence my diet, much of The China Study revolves around settling scores with other scientists and refuting other studies. I checked out with an hour left, something I do only rarely.