Being There

By: Jerzy Kosinski

Narrated by: Dustin Hoffman

Length: 2 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Earphones Award Winner (AudioFile Magazine)

Audie Award Nominee, Best Solo Narration, 2013

Jerzy Kosinski’s clever parable of a naive man thrust into the modern world is more pointed now than ever. Academy Award winner Dustin Hoffman (Rain Man, The Graduate), perhaps best known for his portrayals of vulnerable characters and antiheroes, gives an understated and exemplary performance of this satiric look at the unreality of American media culture.

Chance, the enigmatic gardener, becomes Chauncey Gardiner after getting hit by a limo belonging to a Wall Street tycoon. The whirlwind that follows brings Chance to his new status of political policy advisor and possible vice presidential candidate. His garden-variety political responses, inspired by television, become heralded as visionary, and he is soon a media icon due to his unknown background and vague, yet appealing, conversational nature. Being There was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film, starring Peter Sellers as Chance, in 1979.

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©1971 Jerzy Kosinski (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Dustin Hoffman's performance of this spare and provocative novel is a revelation. The story is surreal (though certainly not difficult and certainly highly amusing); to deliver it, what is needed is not pacing or vocal pyrotechnics but a thorough, thoughtful understanding of the text and the restraint to perform only exactly what is there." (AudioFile)

Unique captivating story

A very enjoyable listen that was apolitical but points off the assumptions that are made without the benefits of facts every day. If you want pure entertainment, Dustin Hoffman delivers but I couldn't help seeing pictures of "Rainman" frequently.

Terrific book!

I read the book and saw the movie with Peter Sellars sometime in the 70’s. After listening to Dustin Hoffman’s great narration, I’ll have to see the movie again! (I remember a different ending.)

One of my favorite stories.

Dustin Hoffman is excellent, but I do miss Peter Sellers’ vocalization from the movie of the same title.

Darkly Funny

Chance is a simple-minded man who has always lived in the same house, where he's always taken care of the garden. He's never learned to read and write and never set food outside the grounds of the house, not even to see a doctor. But his life is turned upside down when the "old man"—the owner of the house—very sick in his very old age, passes away without making any provisions for Chance. Indeed, as far as the insurance company is concerned, Chance doesn't exist at all and might never have lived in the house, since there's not a scrap of paper mentioning him or his role in the household. What Chance does have is a thorough understanding of the world based on the countless hours he has watched television, as well as a very good set of clothes which fit him to perfection and which had once belonged to the old man, so that when he steps out onto the street with his bespoke (to another man) suit and elegant valise and meets with an accident with a chauffeur-driven limousine, he is immediately taken in by the passenger of the car, a Mrs. Rand, and brought to her home to be attended by her ailing husband's doctor who is often there on house calls. The husband, Mr. Rand, when he asks Chance about himself, mistakes our hero's reply and understands that his name is Chauncey Gardiner, whom he assumes to be a successful and very astute businessman based not only on his clothes, but on the remarkably wise observations Chance makes, wherein speaking only of what he knows—which is limited to the realm of gardening—his remarks are taken as being incredibly clever and profound. Before he knows it, Chance is introduced to the President of the USA (a close friend of the Rands) and becomes the man of the hour.

I had seen the movie version when I was just a young girl, where Chance was famously interpreted by Peter Sellers, and I remember the story and the acting making a strong impression on me. So when I saw this newly released (and inexpensive) audio version interpreted by none other than Dustin Hoffman, I pounced on it. Needless to say, Hoffman's reading is brilliant, and the story is still just as excellent and darkly funny as I remember it being, and still all too relevant today. Strongly recommended!

Lovely Emperors New Clothes with a different take.

Where does Being There rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a cute story. Dustin Hoffman reads Jerzy Kosinski's words with style and gentleness. It is one of the best short stories I have ever listen to.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Chance is so likeable.

What does Dustin Hoffman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He can change his characterisation and you forget it is he you are listening to. He is a delight to listen to.

If you could rename Being There, what would you call it?

The Gardeners New Clothes.

Any additional comments?

You wonder if this Forrest Gump style story could happen. Most people do hear what they want to. They fill in the gaps and make it up to suit them. I liked the movie and the book is beautiful. Dustin Hoffman is brilliant. What more could be said.

Simple

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes. It's short, quick, and simple. Easy to read. Pleasant.

Would you be willing to try another book from Jerzy Kosinski? Why or why not?

Yes. he has an interesting way of writing.

Which character – as performed by Dustin Hoffman – was your favorite?

Chance.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Chance lovingly caring for the plants and flowers.

Any additional comments?

No.

Perfect

Wonderful reading of one of my favorite books. Dustin Hoffman strikes the perfect, cool tone.

How simple a man

The characters did not notice the man for who he was but for who they imagined him to be. Entertaining .

PURE GOLD! ! !

From Jerzy’s amazingly funny biting satire to Dustin’s perfect delivery😊😊, this morsel of audio has only one fault, which in itself makes the listening so bittersweet: the book is too damned short! No sequels! It’s an impossible book to follow up. Be forewarned: prepare for the aching hunger that follows by having a different form of companionship afterwards! This 1970 book remains as current as the day it was published. Enjoy.

Almost a parable

What did you love best about Being There?

I think the thing I enjoyed most was about how Chance or Chauncy (if you prefer) reacted to the events around him, and how, in turn, different individuals took in his reactions. It was almost surreal at times, but it was also very real.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Chance himself. His straightforward approach to the world around him and how the world reacts to his (lacking a better term) simplicity was highly amusing.

What does Dustin Hoffman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I think Dustin Hoffman makes Chance feel more real than if I had just read the book.