How Like a God

By: Brenda W. Clough

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

What would it be like, to get absolute power? Would you wear a cape and fight crime? Rule the planet? Or perhaps you would be like Rob Lewis, and watch your world collapse around you. Does absolute power corrupt absolutely? Rob is going to find out.

©1997 Brenda W. Clough (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Interesting enough to get the second

This one was interesting enough that I would like to get the second book if there is one, but everything is wrapped up enough at the end that if there not one there’s very little left unanswered. However, there’s enough room for expansion that a second story is an interesting possibility.

good and bad

I love how it makes you think about how you would use such a power and the consequences this power could have I hated the little kid scene and his genuine fear of the power when it would do him and others good to use it all and it was a good philosophical book

Not Bad, But Disappointing

Many women make fantastic sci-if writers. However, as a man I find far too often the focus is on emotion and self-doubt with minimal attention given to action or external struggle. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It is simply not a writing style I prefer. Sadly, it also speaks to the difficulties of women in our society, but that is a completely different topic. However, I sympathize with their plight.
I was expecting a story of slow corruption, followed by a monumental battle for the climax. The cover art even implies in, in my interpretation. Instead there is a touch of corruption, a ho-hum battle scene, and a final conflict that is rather flat.
There is plenty of intelligent commentary and vocabulary, both of which I appreciate. Clough certainly put effort into developing the scientific elements of the story, including utilizing the scientific method to address Rob’s discovery of his power. It is just that the adrenaline moments are wanting.
Bronson Pinchot is an excellent narrator. He definitely brings the story to life. There are a few spots where his pacing is too fast or the word emphasis is questionable. These are more a matter of preference, but they are what keep him out of the discussion with greats like R.C. Bray and Ray Porter. He is a tier or two below them, which still encompasses great narrators.

wonderful story

Really enjoyed this story and how the character brought himself so low in despair then brought himself back up.

Absolutely beautiful

I enjoyed this entire book from start to finish. Absolutely beautiful ending and should be a must listen for every one who comes across it.

Interesting. An entertaining premise.

This story most definitely goes into some odd directions. If I am given absolute power over everything, literally, I'm sure I would get more creative and sadly, I must be honest with myself, I would surely be more greedy than our protagonist. That said, some of the protagonists choices had me scratching my head and others had me banging my head against the pillow when reading at bedtime but overall out was an entertaining story. A perfect hero wouldn't make for a very good story, would he?
I was pulled in almost from the start and honestly the book did drag on a little through the halfway mark but finally picked up near the end. I had envisioned a completely different resolution, if you will, but the story came together rather well at the end. It was decent entertainment.

Far more interesting than I expected.

History, mythology, and psychology meld together in an exciting dive into the true motivations and needs of a human being.

Touching

This was a good story. Delightful to listen to, a relatable mc with a perspective that hits home. I'm glad I stumbled on it.

Fascinating

This book is unique in not only allowing frailty in its protagonist but genuine flaws that color actions and perceptions.

You won’t regret spending time in this marvelous world

thought experiment with lazy ending

The majority of this book reads like a thought experiment. What if we give the average guy the ability to not only read minds but to control and change what others think and do on a whim. To move the story along the author makes some odd choices to get the MC out of the house and into the streets where we can really explore his moral compass.

About halfway through the author realizes she really has no plot and so kind of pastes one on and gives the MC a quest of sorts. The quest reminds me of an HP Lovecraftian short story but not as interesting. After this short quest is complete the MC is to return home and then the only possibly interesting question of how this MC reunites with a family he basically abandoned for a year is never answered. the book ends with an ellipses.

I'm giving it 3 stars because I did end up listening to the entire thing and was mildly entertained by the thought experiment itself. Very disappointed in the ending.