David

Very interesting history and entertaining listen.

For better or worse the basic story is not at all dated. The self-promoting genius possessed by Dr. J. Frank Norris would still play quite well to those of us who remain eager to see the conspiratorial plots being launched by the supposed bogeymen of the age. Maybe Dr. Norris would have difficulty finding an audience for his rants against "Romanists" (Catholics) today, but I am sure he would be more than willing to serve up bowel of hate aimed at more modern scapegoats. The too close for comfort similarity of the protagonist to the fear-mongering firebrands of the intervening history has no doubt contributed to this story being buried by time.

Excellent even if slightly terrifying listen. Steiner offers multiple illustrations of the double edged nature of automation for the humanity it "serves." Trading algorithms allow investment houses to cash in on market imperfections. A robot pharmacist fills prescriptions flawlessly. A computer program composes new symphonies in the styles of long dead masters. Those of us who earn a living through the application of specialized knowledge are under siege. Algorithms that synthesize our elaborate decision trees enable computers to do a hard day's work in the blink of an eye.

If you have ever wondered why Americans seem destined to argue past each other on all matters politics, this book provides a plausible explanation. Sorry, those that disagree with you are not idiots, but were likely raised in a different "national" culture. Woodard presents American history and current political loggerheads through the lens of the cultures of the different groups who colonized and now populate North America.

A collection of humorous stories that provide more than a glimpse into how this filmmaker came to be. There are a lot of short "chapters" in this autobiography. Now that I have listened to them all, I wish I had rationed them out. Just like in his films, Moore's love for country and other people, albeit often exhibited in tactless fashion, shine through. Plus it is funny, I laughed out loud three times, despite well-honed skills of stifling such while sitting in the quiet car on a commuter train.