Jay

Lays the stench of medicine wide open

Reviewed: 08-15-18

It was horrifying to learn how putrid the practice of medicine was that killed a US President. Utterly shocking and lays bare the arrogance of those, during that time, who “cared” for a US President. Kudos to Candice Millard for offering her readers such a riveting account of a great man with deep integrity and pure admiration. Those were the days.

Timely and appreciated but Newport is a bore

Reviewed: 04-24-18

Would you listen to Deep Work again? Why?

Cal Newport's ideas are not new. Others wiser, more experienced and older have been saying for years what he stated in his book, "Deep Work". Dr Sherry Turkle, for example, delivered a scathing assessment of "online" / internet utilization in a Ted Talk 4 years ago. She got my nod then.

I would not listen to Deep Work a second time because the author comes across arrogant, condescending and like a typical millennial. I am surprised Georgetown U. puts up with him.

Who was your favorite character and why?

None

What insight do you think you’ll apply from Deep Work?

Cal verified what we already came to believe as unassailable at home: we unplugged from the internet years ago, do not use TV at home, no one at home is on social media, and email is checked seldom.

Any additional comments?

Face to face is where it's at. Cal Newport states nothing original. Pope Francis has been stating for a few years "be a culture of encounter". if anything Cal should have given credit to wise teachers that preceded him years ago but failed to do so. he referred to himself constantly and it was a bore

True and Necessary but Depressing

Reviewed: 02-13-17

Any additional comments?

The book conveys necessary information for people to understand why things are the way they are in the public forum. Charles Murray goes into exquisite detail in reviewing US History, the evolution of the past few decades and super documentation. However, it is extremely depressing to be continually reflecting on how fragmented and dysfunctional our culture is because we already know! Yet, the author provides readers/listeners a very valid explanation. This book is not fake news. What we watch/read on TV/internet "news" sources is 99% fake and has been for a couple of decades. Not so with "Coming Apart". Charles Murray is a scholar and a gentleman.

Masterpiece

Reviewed: 02-13-17

Any additional comments?

The narrator is excellent in conveying expressions of thought, the content is gripping and moving, and Dr Sid sets the bar all too high for other physician authors to meet. I especially appreciated how Dr Sid avoids political commentary. I used to enjoy Atul Gawande but I got fed up with his monolithic thinking on all things under the sun. Kudos to Dr Sid for writing a masterpiece. I am already reflecting on how I will make time to tackle his newest book "The Gene". Salut!

A true hero

Reviewed: 09-19-16

What did you love best about Extraordinary, Ordinary People?

She is incredibly gifted, very insightful, I enjoyed her deliberate attitude about making decisions and a fair balanced assessment of the world.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Extraordinary, Ordinary People?

I wept when she recounted the death of her mother and then father.

Which character – as performed by Condoleezza Rice – was your favorite?

Herself

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

No

Any additional comments?

Must read/listen book. Life changing. I love her.

CONDESCENDING

Reviewed: 09-19-16

What was most disappointing about Barack Obama’s story?

He has such a condescending attitude towards everyone. He was born in Hawaii, raised in Hawaii mostly though a couple of childhood years were spent with his mother and step-father in Jakarta, but then returned to Hawaii for high school and lived with his maternal grandparents. Barack is clueless about the Black American plight. Condaleezza Rice writes extremely well and candidly about the Black plight because she lived it in Birmingham during George Wallace, MLK and Bull Connor. Barack knows nothing of it, as well as being mostly White himself, with an absent father he never knew from Kenya.

How could the performance have been better?

Had he been honest and transparent he would have sold me

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Good to know the facts about his childhood. He was very troubled and it is very unfortunate what he endured because of his mother's mental instability. She chose poor men to father her children and it shows in her son, Barack. I am glad to become familiar with the facts

0 of 2 people found this review helpful

Just OK

Reviewed: 05-20-16

Is there anything you would change about this book?

No

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Predictable

What does Sunil Malhotra and Cassandra Campbell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Good readers, animated, engaging. Otherwise the story itself was predictable

Any additional comments?

Tragic story that we all have heard in others. The author came to a very late realization that there is more to life than his career, his story, his being. There really is nothing new in this story that we haven't already read/heard in St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Thomas Aquinas, the great mystics, Early Church Fathers, Jewish writers and many lay authors. I do not recommend this book. It was simply "OK'

Poor representation of the field

Reviewed: 01-16-16

I worked with cardiothoracic surgeons for 9 years as a member of the OR Heart Team and I found this book awful in describing the field of Cardiology

The narrator's voice was irritating and obnoxious
The author comes across as arrogant, a primadona to the n-th degree.

We were reminded dozens of time the prestige and exclusiveness of being at John Hopkins. The author was from Colombja but might as well have come from Beverly Hills with a silver spoon

I hated the book and returned it

I'm currently finishing my MD-MBA Dual Degree Program and interface with countless physicians , medical students and patients. This books isn't anything close to reality.

Eye opening

Reviewed: 10-18-15

What did you like best about this story?

very motivating and uplifting.

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

No. i savor listening to it over 1 week's time in the gym, driving and grocery shopping.

Any additional comments?

The last chapter confirmed many of the ideas I have formed in my head about the decline of America and how Americans have participated / cooperated in giving their lives away to sloth. I am glad I heard this book. It was very applicable to my own immigrant family and have recommended it highly to many individuals