David

Comprehensive, maybe too detailed.

Revisado: 02-16-25

I've always been interested in learning more about the U.S. Civil War and researched which author provided the best information. I concluded that Shelby Foot offered the best insights on this tragic war. But, holy crap! He covered EVERYTHING! And, in many cases, was too detailed on skirmishes that, though not insignificant, could have done just as well getting the pertinent information to us by cutting it down by half. I quickly got tired of so much discussion on the Conderacy and how grand they always seemed to be compared to how inept the Union Generals were in the beginning of the war, and not until Grant came on the scene, were just a bunch of bunglers who either were too timid, too inept or just too much self absorbed more concerned with their reputations and political superstore than with winning the war. A little more balance would not have hurt. But, really, Foote comes across as an confederate apologist and who grungling credited the Union with having done some good things, too. Overall, though, even though Foote tends to be a little more in the Confederacy camp than a balanced historian, he does offer a really good read on America's most tragic war.

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A bit of a disappointment

Revisado: 07-24-23

David McCullough is the Gold Standard when it comes to beautifully written and crafted books on American history. One simply cannot be the least disappointed in almost anything he writes... until this titles, The American Spirit. When I chose this book to listen to I was looking forward to hearing David McCullough read another masterpiece and thoroughly enjoying my listening experience. However, I was very disappointed when I began to hear him recite old college speech's he'd given in the 90's to some obscure college graduates, and it seemed as though the topic was the same for all the speeches; America is great! True. America is Great but can I listen to more than four hours of hearing the same thing over and over again before it become redundant?

I love David McCullough and can recommend almost any book he's written. But this isn't really a book of fresh material but rather a collection of speeches he's given to college graduating classes over the years. If that's what you want to hear, then by all means get this book. But, if you were looking forward to reading a book of fresh ideas,. then this isn't the book for you.

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I loved the movie, but..

Revisado: 02-04-23

the book is so much more fun to listen to. I can't recommend it highly enough.

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Exceptional telling

Revisado: 11-30-22

I really enjoyed this version of a classic. Really well done. they want fifteen words before submitting.

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Just not my cup of tea

Revisado: 09-24-22

I LOVE Duane Allman. When I was a kid I was infatuated with the Allman Brothers Band. I couldn't get enough of Duane Allman And Dickey Betts and how they played off each other and drove the whole band to exhilarating heights. It was Duane's playing that got me to learn how to play the blues. I listened to everything he ever did and tried to emulate his playing style (TRIED to emulate his playing style). He got me to begin learning to play the guitar. I ended up majoring in music performance with an emphasis in classical guitar in college, but, it was the blues where my heart really was. So, when I learned of this bio on Duane Allman and read the glowing reviews I couldn't wait to listen and hear all the inside stories about what drove him to be a great guitarist. However, I was a little disappointed in this bio. I know it was written by his daughter and I in no way am down on her attempt here. But she focus' on the details of his private life with his family and girlfriends, which resulted in having Galadrielle, and she (to her credit) takes the opportunity to give you a peek into a side of Duane Allman that other bio's don't. However, I'm not the least bit interested in his relationships with his various girlfriends or how he a Greg did whatever when kids. I am more interested in how he accomplished so much in music in such a short time, which this bio does go into detail about. But before you can get to that info you first have to slog your way through other details that don't really have anything to do with it. Though, I admit that others would find it all interesting and worth the price of the book. I just don't. So, this may be an interesting read for others, it's just not my cup of tea.

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Using the Bible to try and convert

Revisado: 09-23-22

I really had trouble making it through this audiobook and I really tried. But I felt as though I was a victim of the 'ol bate and switch. I was thinking I was going to read an account of one mans near death experience, and I got was wall to wall Bible quotes and preaching the Gospel. I'm not opposed to ANYONE bearing their testimony as to their relationship with Christ. But, with the authors constant use of Scripture to try and convince the reader that what the author is saying is authoritative and true, his taking liberties with the dialog he had with Christ and his different stories, such as when a butterfly landing on his shoulder changed is life, - I just couldn't finish this book.

When I read the title of the book, Revelations from Heaven, and after reading the synopsis given of the book I thought I would be reading about what he had learned after he had died and supposedly met Christ. What did Christ reveal to him? I'm not sure. What he does is espouse the same kind of testimony you might hear in any church: Christ loves you. And then proceeds to quote scripture to back up his claims as though that is enough and nothing else needs be said. But it's when he quotes Christ in a way that is wholly unbelievable that I began to have my doubts. Randy isn't the first to use this sort of writing style to tell his story. For example, when he quotes Christ he often has Christ beginning his comments with the word "beloved". Christ really talks like that? "Beloved"? That might be how a human being might imagine a conversation is like with the Savior. I'm surprised Randy didn't toss in a few Thee's and Thou's to round out his conversations with Christ.

Let me give you an example of what I'm talking about. Roughly half way through the book he describes what he learned from a butterfly landing on his shoulder:

"A butterfly rested on my right shoulder. A a mosaic of soft colors flowed over its wings. The colors appeared like a felt painting... it nestled softly, lightly, lovingly on my shoulder. 'This butterfly is the wisdom that will guide you, my beloved', Jesus said. I dared not move, knowing that butterfly's are sensitive to movement and not wanting it to fly away because it imparted so much tenderness in my heart. 'Just as you must remain still, my beloved, so it is with my wisdom. 'Be still and know that I am God', I remembered the verse from Psalm 46:10. I knew that if I moved too abruptly, not waiting on God, not resting in His presence and not listening to his will I would lose Gods guiding wisdom. 'Lord, I know what you are saying, I need to wait on you. 'My Spirit has told you this' He said... Jesus smiled softly. His eyes beamed with joy." And it goes on in this way. That's when I stopped listening, not feeling that I was going to get much more out of the book than I have already gotten in the first half of the book, or what I have already read in dozens of other books before Revelations from Heaven.

I'm not sure what audience this book is supposed to be for. An Atheist certainly won't be convinced by Randy throwing a lot of Scripture at him from a book he doesn't believe in. I suspect that those who are already aligned with Randy Kay's beliefs will be fine with his flowery writing style and his over abundant use of Bible quotes to make a point. But, I'm pretty confident that if you're looking for greater light and knowledge concerning what might have been seen in a near death experience, what was really learned from a conversation with Christ that isn't a regurgitation of hundreds of other stories,
probably better told without the use such flowery language and the overuse of quoting the Bible, then this book is probably not for you. I don't recommend you listen to it.

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it was good until the end.

Revisado: 01-17-22

I enjoyed this title from beginning almost to the end. Brooks ruined it by bringing politics into it in his last chapter. To bad. I recommend all but the last chapter titled The Third Act. I got this title because like most I loved most of his movies. and the background and "the rest of the story" is very entertaining. But, like I said, he ruined it by bringing politics into it. He could have discussed everything in his last chapter and left that but out and no one would have known the difference. So, if you hate the political environment we are in just do what I did and far forward to thru that chapter.

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Always a great story!

Revisado: 12-13-21

This version is wonderful to listen to. you won't be disappointed. Give it a try.

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Interesting info

Revisado: 11-01-21

listening to this information makes one stop and ponder what if this is all true? Are all these respected witnesses mistaken, or, lying? if it's all true how will it impact our lives? what ramifications will it have on our religions? Does this mean there's no Creator, or our Creator is ET? This audible book certainly does make one stop and ponder these, and other, questions.

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I was a little disappointed

Revisado: 08-28-21

Overall, this was a good listen. it got a little too technical at times and it dwelled too much on the science. And it kept having one problem after another that the characters had to overcome. But, overall, this book was a good follow-up to The Martian. I recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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