William

Some good, but mostly meh

Revisado: 11-04-23

The human body can be pushed way beyond its presumed limits. People who have shown little potential by their mid-20s may actually have much more potential than what meets the eye. That’s what this book is all about.

The middle 75% of the book is monotonous beyond reason. One physical challenge after another was described in excruciating detail. I struggled to get through it.

Goggins does have an interesting story. But this book should have been shortened by at least 50%.

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An interesting piece of history. Boring at 1st, but get better.

Revisado: 10-08-23

This book starts out being quite monotonous. The entire first half is boring, I would say. But it gets better. There is no point at which I could not stop listening. The narrator is ok. The story is one I had not previously heard, and it is a really interesting piece of history. Everyone who lived through the latter half of the 20th century would be interested in listening to or reading this book.

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Interesting. Well-written for print, not audio.

Revisado: 04-18-15

This is a very well-written account of the development of quantum theory and, to some extent, the theory of relativity. Getting a full grasp of what the author conveys, however, often requires reference to figures that are, I hope, included in the print version.

If you primarily listen to audiobooks while driving or doing similar tasks, my advice is to skip this audiobook, and instead read the print version.

The only general area thatI wished the author would have converted was an overview of why a quantum interpretation of the universe is important. What would not have come about had quantum theory not been developed? What do scientists now expect to develop from it?

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After 6 mo, still looking for another book like it

Revisado: 10-20-13

This is just a thoroughly entertaining book. It's a believable, engaging story.

Just as importantly, it's a really good, really well-written novel, for the audiobook format. And, it's great to listen to while driving. I love listening to audiobooks while driving, but have some difficulty finding books that are suitably written and delivered. "Defending Jacob" is done in such a way that the story in compelling -- you can't wait to get back in your car and start listening again -- and the writing style flows in such a way that you can live within the story, so to speak, without being distracted by it. It was as if I was listening to a story that was intended for radio.

It has been about six months since I finished listening to "Defending Jacob", and I'm still looking for another audiobook that compares well to it. If anyone has a good suggestion, I'm all ears!

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Should be required for high school graduation

Revisado: 04-18-12

What did you love best about How to Win Friends & Influence People?

Dale Carnegie had a LOT of insight into human nature, and he brings it home in this book with practical examples that you can put to use right away.

Which scene was your favorite?

The business of how important it is to make sure others know they're important to you.

Any additional comments?

Some of what Dale Carnegie says here I learned through hard knocks while in my 30s. I'm 53 now, and learned a LOT from reading this book. I remember seeing it in my father's library when I was in grade school, and I could have benefited greatly from reading it while in high school. Everyone could. After listening to the audiobook, I ordered a hard copy, so I can go back and more easily re-read the sections that are most important to me.

There is little doubt that this book will be worth your time and money. Hands down, it's the best book of its kind I've ever come across.

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Inspiring, informative; grips like a soap opera!

Revisado: 02-21-12

If you could sum up Steve Jobs in three words, what would they be?

Entrepreneur extraordinaire. Genius. Driven. And imperfect.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Steve Jobs?

In the early days, Apple was in the process of inventing the mouse. Xerox had developed a device that could move up & down and left & right. Jobs insisted that it had to be able to move in any direction. Jobs learned that one of his engineers believed it would be impossible to mass produce such a device. He fired the guy the next day. If you didn't believe what you had been asked to do was possible, he didn't need you on the payroll. And he wasn't going to waste his time or yours, just letting you hang around.

Have you listened to any of Dylan Baker’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

NA

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was certainly moving. The descriptions of Jobs' relationships with his children -- especially his son, Reed -- were most moving for me, both in positive and negative directions.

Any additional comments?

This book was exceptionally well written and well read.

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Every excruciating detail related to jazz music.

Revisado: 12-19-11

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

This would have been a 4- or 5-star experience if technology, politics, and rock & roll had been given as much attention as jazz music.

What was most disappointing about Fred Kaplan’s story?

It was extremely difficult to listen to all the details regarding jazz music. You learn the actual DATES on which obscure jazz musicians made obscure recordings, and the recording halls in which they made them. It seems there were also a few mentions of what the musicians had for breakfast on the morning of the recordings, along with the actual street locations of certain recording studios. Hours and hours were devoted to jazz music, but only about an hour total related to rock & roll, computer technology, and politics (one part of a chapter covering the Cuban Missile Crisis). I don't recall anything related to television programming or technology. If The Tonight Show was mentioned, I don't remember it.

Which character – as performed by Joe Barrett – was your favorite?

Not applicable

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment

Any additional comments?

If you want to know all there is to know about jazz music and jazz musicians in the quarter-centuries before and after 1959, this is the book for you. And, oh, yes - the 2 or 3 chapters devoted to William Burroughs and The Naked Lunch were also painful. I knew a lot more about both after reading the wikipedia article than I did after listening to this book.

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas