Steven Durden

The narration is perfect for Iam Fleming's work. I have discovered that Ian Fleming was a great writer that didn't waste a lot of words to tell a story. I am now going to the beginning of the Bond series and will listen them from the beginning to the end.

I cannot oversell the powers of Drout to be able to convey academic information in a very relative way. Drout has cost me money and time because he has been so effective in teaching the importance of the works that he discusses that I have gone out and purchased them. His informative and enthusiastic lectures makes me want to be a student again. This is not the geek speak that I was concerned that it would be. Great analysis of the genre and the works discussed.

The book is supposed to be about the awkward transition of a straight adolescent and yet the book is read as though it is a stage play of La Cage aux Folles. It completely changes the subtext of the novel. The narrator gushes virtually every last word of every last sentence. I am sure that for certain books with very flamboyant lead characters, this narrator would be perfect. Unfortunately, this narrator ruins the book.

The research and writing that went into this book makes it more than an adventure book, more than a history book and more than a great scuba diving book. Yes, I remained in my car and didn't mind traffic, because I wasn't in traffic. I was diving off the east coast on a U-boat in 200 feet of water. The narrator's delivery was pitch perfect. This has motivated me to get back into scuba, but I will not be going to the depths of these individuals. Great book.

Chuck breaths humanity and wit into his essays. He also cleverly has his interview pieces with the actual interviewees and other clever pieces are performed with actors. Chuck uses pop culture to delve deep into the human psyche, finding existential truth in the oddest of places. This book made my two hour commute seemingly fly by in minutes.

I enjoy Chuck Klosterman's essays on music and culture, but didn't know how he would do as a novelist. Each character intertwines in small town life only to reveal epiphanies that reflect the human condition. It did help that I was the same age as the characters at the same time period in the early 80s, but the story stands on its own. The narrators bring this narrative to life and give it a depth that will stay with you for some time.

This is hilarious. John Hodgman and his slew of guests make this the best audiobook of humor that I have ever heard. Look at the narrator list to see the who's who of those that stop in. I own the book and yet these performances make the material ten times funnier plus there is the added scripted improve that goes above and beyond the page. I will listen to this again next week.

I guess why we know David Cross drinks, because he is bitter. He hates Christians and really hates Mormons. He really really hates those in the middle states especially if they are Christian or Mormon. He had one bad day with Jim Belushi and so now he feels compelled to run on stage and harass Belushi when he is singing and to create fake magazine articles claiming that Belushi dresses in drag in order to be a prostitute. I was expecting some humor or insight, but most of the audio consisted of Cross saying things like: "Christians are idiots. Mormons are idiots. Jim Belushi is an idiot... blah blah blah.
Considering that David Cross narrates the book, there is no excuse for poor delivery. He constantly insults the listener for purchasing the audio instead of reading his book as though it is some nuanced masterpiece. There is a good reason that David Cross should drink. He is stuck inside the small little bitter body that would seem more suitable for a 95 year old on a respirator.

I love David Foster Wallaces' work and was looking forward to a remake of this audible with so many great actors stepping in and performing some of the interviews. They leave out large sections of this book. I already heard the abridged edition of this that DFW did back when the book came out. I don't understand why this is labeled UNABRIDGED when it should be labeled ABRIDGED. That has been happening with all of his works. Why can't fans of DGW have all of his works available UNABRIDGED. I know the arguments regarding the footnotes, but DFW was able to employ them effectively with his reading of the Lobster essay.
With the talent that is available for these recordings, it would be fantastic to have Infinite Jest unabridged. That would resurrect that classic.

I have enjoyed Rushkoff's PBS Frontline specials in looking at American media. I was not expecting an entire book connecting every company to Nazi Germany. Buy a Starbucks... Fascist. Purchase a nice home in the suburbs, connection to Nazis.
He wants to demonize the corporation... and really all companies and promotes the idea of the State making those decisions for us for a more equal and Marxist way of life. He ignores that individuals have the choice to drink a Starbucks or a choice to drink tap water. He views all of life as an uptown New Yorker and thinks that all white people have the same values that he has had and he now feels guilty for being richer than those in the slums. Somehow, this is not his fault, it is the corporations that have brainwashed into beliefs that he would not have otherwise had.
This is the first Audible book that I have wanted a refund on in over three years.