-
My Planet
- Finding Humor in the Oddest Places
- Narrated by: Angela Dawe
- Length: 4 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release date: 08-12-13
- Language: English
- Publisher: Brilliance Audio
- Whispersync for Voice-ready
Regular price: $10.49
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2 out of 5 stars
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With dazzling wit and astonishing insight, Bill Bryson - the acclaimed author of The Lost Continent - brilliantly explores the remarkable history, eccentricities, resilience, and sheer fun of the English language. From the first descent of the larynx into the throat (why you can talk but your dog can't) to the fine lost art of swearing, Bryson tells the fascinating, often uproarious story of an inadequate, second-rate tongue of peasants that developed into one of the world's largest growth industries.
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More satire than history
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What is the nature of space and time? How do we fit within the universe? How does the universe fit within us? There's no better guide through these mind-expanding questions than acclaimed astrophysicist and best-selling author Neil deGrasse Tyson. But today, few of us have time to contemplate the cosmos. So Tyson brings the universe down to Earth succinctly and clearly, with sparkling wit, in digestible chapters consumable anytime and anywhere in your busy day.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A gleefully gruesome look at the actual science behind the most outlandish, cartoonish, and impossible deaths you can imagine. What would happen if you took a swim outside a deep-sea submarine wearing only a swimsuit? How long could you last if you stood on the surface of the sun? How far could you actually get in digging a hole to China? Paul Doherty, senior staff scientist at San Francisco's famed Exploratorium Museum, and writer Cody Cassidy explore the real science behind these and other fantastical scenarios.
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5 out of 5 stars
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perfect for a precocious 9 year old boy
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Publisher's Summary
Follow New York Times best-selling author Mary Roach - but be careful not to trip - as she weaves through personal anecdotes and everyday musings riddled with her uncanny wit and amazingly analytical eye. These essays, which found a well-deserved home within the pages of Reader's Digest as the column "My Planet," detail the inner workings of hypochondriacs, hoarders, and compulsive cheapskates. (Did we mention neurotic interior designers and professional list makers?) For Roach, humor is hidden in the most unlikely places, which means that nothing is off limits. Whether she is dwelling on her age or talking about the pros and cons of a bedroom night light - "A married couple can best be defined as a unit of people whose sleep habits are carefully engineered to keep each other awake" - Roach finds a lesson, a slice of sarcasm, or a dash of something special that makes each day comical and absolutely priceless.
In keeping with our mission - curating the best listens in the land - Reader's Digest editors neatly packaged these timeless (and hilarious) Roach essays together for the first time.
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What members say
Average Customer Ratings
Overall
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4 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars164
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4 Stars124
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3 Stars97
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2 Stars33
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1 Stars15
Performance
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3.5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars154
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4 Stars87
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3 Stars60
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2 Stars48
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1 Stars54
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4 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars173
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4 Stars106
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3 Stars86
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1 Stars15
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ann
- California
- 04-23-14
Narrator drove me crazy
Is there anything you would change about this book?
The narrator
How did the narrator detract from the book?
The way she would draw out the vowels in words. I couldn't finish this book because the narrator was too distracting.
Any additional comments?
I loved Mary Roach's other books. I'm sure this one is very good as well but I couldn't get past the first few chapters.
24 of 24 people found this review helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Suzanne
- Tampa, FL, United States
- 12-25-13
Terrible narration ruins an entertaining book
Would you try another book from Mary Roach and/or Angela Dawe?
I like Mary Roach. The trouble was the narration. She sounded like she was trying too hard to project her voice, which left no room for personality, Very flat and monotone. I will have to break down and actually read this book!
16 of 16 people found this review helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Mike
- 10-31-14
Unlistenable Narrator: Didn't Get Past the Forward
What didn’t you like about Angela Dawe’s performance?
The narrator sounds like a carnival barker. I couldn't get past a few minutes of the forward. The book's content might be fine, but I'll never know. Roach should just narrate her own books.
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ann
- SAINT MARYS, OH, United States
- 11-30-13
Bad narrator
How did the narrator detract from the book?
Felt the need to emphasize the last word of every SENTENCE. No matter what word it WAS. Couldn't bear it for more than 45 min. Love Mary Roach, but I think I'll get this one in print.
27 of 28 people found this review helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sara
- nashville, TN, United States
- 11-15-13
Needs a different narrator.
Great stories but the narrator kind of ruined my listening experience. Would give it another try with a less monotone voice.
19 of 20 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- cmac
- 05-06-15
Amusing and good
Mary Roach continues to impress, while the narrator seemed to be yelling the words at me. Overall really quite good!
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Amazon frequent customer
- 07-22-15
If the sound of nails on a blackboard don't bother you, then go ahead and buy this book.
Narrator's voice was grating. I got through 4 or 5 chapters and gave up.
I don't recommend this book.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
- Tanny
- Rockport, MA, United States
- 02-28-15
Love Mary Roach.
My Mary Roach collection is complete. i have enjoyed her quirky perspective through every book. This one is short, funny 'slice of life' essays and are different from her other books but has me giggling and connecting frequently. I did not love the narrator, I felt she sounded as though she was shouting. I just lowered the volume and it certainly was not enough to keep me from listening.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Wayne
- Matthews, NC
- 08-13-15
My Planet is a series of newspaper columns...
written by Mary Roach. It may deserve more than 2 stars but Mary Roach's other books are much better. I especially liked Stiff and Gulp.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kevin Stokes
- Fairport, NY USA
- 07-27-15
Very Funny
The book is comprised of short essays on random subjects of everyday life. Most are amusing, and some made me burst out laughing, causing some odd looks because I was listening with headphones in public.
Mary's own personality comes though, and she seems like a person you'd like to know in person. Also, almost all of the book is g rated, with a sprinkling of pg stuff like a tiny bit of bad language.
The narrator sounds like a brash NYC comedian, which sometimes doesn't feel right but overall didn't detract too much.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- hOnesty
- 02-19-18
Quite a good witty book
Observations of the author are funny and entertaining but voiceover is not good enough to represent the humour in the script. Overall good book showing how funny are some parts of our daily lives.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jana
- 01-04-16
Love the book, can't stand the performer's voice
Well, the title describes my feelings completely. I am a big fan of Mary Roaches work. Despite the fact that this book is different from her usual meticulous research driven work it is still very enjoyable and refreshingly entertaining.
but...
The performer's voice is just...wrong. It sounds as if she's shouting every word and the intonation seems off too. After a few minutes of listening I actually feel wound up instead of relaxed. Trying to introduce this book to friends resulted in the same discomfort for them. Coincidentally, they found Roaches other great book Packing for Mars sounding like being read by a robot.
I can't see myself being able to suffer through the rest of this audio book. If only there was a way of "reading it"...oh, wait...;)