The Great Brain

By: John D. Fitzgerald

Narrated by: Ron McLarty

Length: 4 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

The Great Brain is Tom D. Fitzgerald, aged 10. The story is told by J.D., a sometimes confounded but always admiring younger brother. Such people as Mr. Standish, the mean schoolmaster, regret the day they came up against The Great Brain. But others, like the Jensen kids lost in Skeleton Cave, Basil, the Greek kid, or Andy, who has lost his leg and his friends, know that Tom's great brain never fails to find a way home.

©1967 John D. Fitzgerald (P)2002 Random House, Inc., Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic reviews

"The strength of [Tom McLarty's] narration comes from his storyteller's ability to build each adventure with suspense, warmth, humor, youthful indignation, and the matter-of-fact tone that Tom maintains through each crisis." (AudioFile) "A lively, funny and not infrequently touching book written with flair." (Saturday Review)

A classic, fun for the whole family!

I read these books as a kid and now my four kids love the Great Brain too. Highly recommend!

Loved it as a kid, but hard to share with my own

Some stories are just really inappropriate, the bullying behavior etc. Bummer because I always remembered it as a great book. My husband was shocked that I bought it once we listened and had to turn it off. Waste of a credit.

listened twice... that good

enjoyed listening on long drive to Oregon from SoCal. listened again on the way home

The magic of childhood

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

This book is part of my series of books I remember reading as a kid, and now am rereading to view them from a different perspective. I find facinating that while the story I loved as a kid, the story that captures the essence of childhood play and wonder, is as I remembered it, as an adult I can still enjoy it, while also taking intellectual interest in how life was different back at the turn of the (last) century. We take so many things (like toilets) for granted that it gives us a new perspective to see life without them, or see them as new and marvelous. I find the change in perspective helps me find the magic in that which is around me.

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

Wanted to? I did! Long drive, good book....

Any additional comments?

Waiting for the rest of the series.

Not Bad!

Though this wasn't a terrible read, the book was just a little strange and a different read then what I normally get. I was a little baffled by the end because of the all of the all of a sudden ending and J.D helping Andy commit suicide but ahh... anyways. The story was alright and an overall funny read. 4/5 is my overall rating on this book because it was good.

Great choice for adults, too!!

This is an amazingly darling book geared for the younger crowd, but highly entertaining for the adult,too. I've read the whole series to my boys when they were 6 and 9 years old and then again to my two little girls. We've giggled,cried and laughed ourselves silly through each "business adventure" Tom D. managed to come up with. Although Tom's little brother J.D. is the innocent teller of these tales, Tom is the instigator of much mischief and genious and...trouble!! The book is cute and adorable,innocent and so very informative of the late 1800's/early 1900's. It has a good moral to each story and keeps you coming back for more. Can't go wrong here! Hope to see the remaining six books on audio soon,too.

Fantastic Family Listening!

I used to listen to these as a kid on long trips. We would borrow the cassette tapes from people in our neighborhood and listen to them on long trips. I introduced my kids to them and now they ask for them when we go on long trips. Great and humorous stories that both parents and kids will enjoy!

This is the best book I have ever heard of.

I just like the book in general
I highly recommend this book.
Any one that will read this book will love this it.

Great listening

This book was a delight for our whole family (kids 8 and 10). It sparked interesting discussions on a variety of topics. The reader really made the book come to life and the story was compelling.

Great Book for All

I had originally read this book when I was in grade school. listened to this book with my second-grade son and it has been fun he said, "Kids really can do anything if they just think about the problem!" Entertaining to see the problems and opportunities of a small town play out.