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)

a great book

i've always liked dustin hoffman AND jerzy kosinski, but i was a tiny bit apprehensive if this was going to be any good. for one, hoffman has, as he has gotten older, acquired a certain set of actory habits that can be a little grating. and for another, there's the movie with peter sellers, which could get in hoffman's or kosinski's way here.

so the pleasant surprise is that hoffman does a subdued job, you barely begin to recognise it's him, even. he rattles through the story at speed, keeping the listener's interest awake and well primed, and yes, there's clearly some irony here, and some satire, but the novel actually predates the reagan presidency, so it should not be confused with, say, a philip roth job on nixon.

it's a short tale, and can be taken in during an afternoon's comfortable session with biscuits and coffee or cakes and ale. and will stay with you for a long time afterwards. i certainly enjoyed listening to this reading, having already read the book and watched the movie.

I loved the movie, enjoyed this audio even more!

Dustin Hoffman's performance of Jerzy Kosinski's satirical novel about American media and public personae is simply stellar! This is one book I will listen to again and again.

Funny & endearing. Nearly exactly like the movie.

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

Yes, it is cute and funny -- although a little unbelievable. But you have to suspend disbelief for a few hours. There a few sexual scenes that would definitely make it not suitable for kids.

What did you like best about this story?

Dustin Hoffman is a great narrator for this. Chance is a simple minded guy who everyone else seems to think has eye-opening insights into politics, finance, and life.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. In fact at just under 3 hours (2 hours in 1.5 speed), I easily finished in 1-2 days.

Really Funny, With Great Narration

Consistently funny little story, which smartly doesn't overstay its welcome and avoids all potential pitfalls of self-seriousness. Hoffman personifies the main character perfectly. Definitely makes me want to see the film again. [AUDIBLE]

Dustin Hoffman, great presence and delivery

Hoffman excels in this rendition of being there. the tone, pace just flow with the concepts of chanceys mental state. more entertaining than the movie.

A Simple Pleasure

This little story is very simple and light. Refreshing, yet sad. No drama or murder, just innocence. It is an amazing listen, no doubt due to the fantastic narrator, Dustin Hoffman. I am not sure if I would qualify this story as funny. It is not humorous that someone exists, but doesn't according to our measures of existence in society. Unfortunately, I suspect that there are definitely others in our world who are exactly like Chance...those who are educated by only watching television with no interaction with the outside world. However, when placed in certain situations, some things should come natural, physiologically, if you know what I mean. Don't want to be a spoiler.

Chance is also very cunning and intelligent. He did appreciate kindness and took advantage of every opportunity that would benefit him. He spoke very plain and direct. It is also interesting that the people with whom he later came into contact only wanted to hear what they they wanted to hear. They were the ones who put meaning into what he said by interpreting his words according to their needs. Chance allowed this to happen.

This is a wonderful short story full of wonderment and surprises. Enjoy

entertaining and somewhat thought provoking

It was a good short book. Interesting considering how plausible it would be in real life. The ending, while vivid, was too abrupt.

Fantastic!

What made the experience of listening to Being There the most enjoyable?

Great, great story and Hoffman is a superb narrator. Putting his great intonations in all the right spots you can tell this novel and it's author are very important to him.

I loved it!

Humorous, Satiric, and Crazy

What did you love best about Being There?

I did not love any of it. It was a mediocre read, although it made its point.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Chance, of course.

Have you listened to any of Dustin Hoffman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Np, but I have watched him. I enjoyed his reading and would listen to other things he has done.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Any additional comments?

I would add that the sex scenes were something I could have done without. They did make the point, but it was a little too graphic for my taste.

Light, Fun Read with Much Below the Surface

Chance the Gardner, is an illiterate, quiet man who has learned social graces by studying television. When the owner of the home dies, and the attorneys can find no record of him, he is told to leave and is hit by the limousine of the wife of a very wealthy financier.

This simple man becomes infamous as Chauncy Gardner. He meets sophisticated, influential people including the President, ambassadors and is on TV.

People find his simple talk about gardens a profound metaphor for the economy. Loved it!

While it is fun and light - it points out how people look for deep profoundness and answers in what is simply not there.

Dustin Hoffman's narration was great.