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 disappointment

I did not enjoy this book. For me it occupied a weird space between a parable and a satire. If one applies the usual rules of existence to the story, it falls apart. Yet to work as a story, it requires that the rules be applied to it. In short, I just did not buy it.

I did not enjoy the narration either. Dustin Hoffman reads it like he is reading a bedtime story to a five year old. I felt that the focus was too much on Dustin Hoffman, the voice and at no point did it become the voice of Chance Gardener for me.

I liked the movie better

It is a must read book, but honestly, I liked the movie better (maybe because I saw it first?)

Short engaging story

I saw the movie with Peter Sellars when it came out in 1979 and found it memorable. Was happy to find the book on which it was based. It’s short and fun. A commentary on the nature of fame and the media. Worth a listen.

'Tis a gift to be simple...simply a gardener.

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

Loved the way this character made me feel. It was as easy for me to be moved by Chance as it was for the other characters in his life to be moved by him. I like to listen was a perfect match for Chance's liking to watch..

What other book might you compare Being There to and why?

This was a lot like "Running in the Rain." with Chance playing the dog.

What about Dustin Hoffman’s performance did you like?

Perfectly matter of fact. Depth with little emotional tone is not easy, I would think, unless you get Chance. Clearly Mr Hoffman does.

If you could take any character from Being There out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Chance would be a good companion at any dinner...though I would prefer we didn't eat with my family. Maybe dinner with Gov. Perry would be interesting to watch.

Any additional comments?

Relax into learing abour yourself and life, green thumb not necessary.

Perfect short story read by a perfect narrator

Many readers will have seen the movie with Peter Sellers. Hoffman brings a quiet poignant dignity to the hero which suits the story perfectly. I was moved to tears and laughter and would like to give Hoffman 10 stars for the narration. No one could have done it better.

A very sweet little story . Loved it, being There

This basically is the story of a very sweet man, totally sheltered from the world except for what he has seen on TV. And he has a great knack for gardening , through a huge change in his circumstance his total sweetness and honesty serve him very well. I loved the whole short story, narrated by Dustin Hoffman.

The only thing it reminded me of at all was Forest Gump.

Delightful

Dustin Hoffman did a marvelous job bringing this satire to life! I thoroughly enjoyed this story!

Gem of a book, movie and performance.

I always loved the movie and it's the movie that runs through your head as you listen to Dustin Hoffmans faultless performance. Hoffman annoys me as an actor but his reading is wonderful, he should do more.

great story. surprisingly on target in our times.

surprisingly in target for our times. great narration. insightful with regard to the importance of media on politicians.

A bit silly

This book was an easy listen as I was out gardening. Not sure what the point of it was but it is rather silly to think of the possibility of such an absurdity.
The narrator's voice was perfect for this book!