Nelson Mostow

A good intro to history of economics

Revisado: 10-18-15

Would you try another book from Niall Ferguson and/or Simon Prebble?

probably not

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

This is a non-fiction account of the history of money, from ancient times to the present. The author is a somewhat pedantic historian. The first half of the book or so is a somewhat overly detailed historical account of changes in how money was thought of and used a long time ago. Then the descriptions come to within a few hundred years of the present, the book becomes more interesting, and much of it deals with how large accumulations of money have been a powerful force in allowing significant advances in technology and have benefited society. Unfortunately, the style of the book is somewhat pompous and some of the key economic principles which underlie more modern events in financed are either not explained at all or explained so briefly that I could not grasp them. Finally, he ends up with a comparison of economic institutions with biological evolution, a kind of survival of the fittest theory of economics.

All, in all, a very good book. In some ways I feel that I should reread it, in other ways, I think I should round it out with other economics books. It is probably an excellent book for those who work in the field of economics who may be somewhat lacking in historical perspective.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

No problems with the narrator.

Who do you think would benefit most from listening to The Ascent of Money?

see above

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Not recommended

Revisado: 10-18-15

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

It wasn't the listening experience, I didn't like the content.

I really did not like this book. It chronicles the unlucky life of Ethan Frome who has the burden of a mean spirited wife and then falls in love with a relative who comes to live with them. I was pretty uncomfortable the whole book, knowing something bad would happen and not really liking the fact that he was in love with this other woman while the three of them lived at home together. Definitely not recommended.

Has Ethan Frome turned you off from other books in this genre?

somewhat. There are a lot of really good books out there of other genres.

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

I have no complaints with the reading.

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

see above

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Painfully realistic description of War

Revisado: 05-10-14

What did you love best about With the Old Breed?

It was very realistic. He did not hold back at all in describing the horrors of what he went through or what he saw, felt, smelled, etc.

What was one of the most memorable moments of With the Old Breed?

The evolution of Sledge from fresh out of training to becoming one of the "Old Breed", that is an experienced combat veteran. This was not a moment, but rather a gradual process throughout the fighting of the two epic battles described in this book.

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

I have not listened to other performances by this narrator but he did a fantastic job!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

This is a very memorable book. The descriptions of what it was like to be on the battlefield for many gruesome days in the Pacific seemed authentic beyond dispute and gives one an appreciation of what sacrifices the men made who fought there.

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Expected more. Seemed dated.

Revisado: 03-13-14

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

The main character, Doc, did not come alive for me with the reader.

What could John Steinbeck have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

More character development. I expected more. It concerns Cannery Row, the part of town of Monterey California where many poor people lived. The story was from many years ago. The pace was rambling and slow, Steinbeck could have picked up the pace. The character development was lacking, the characters were shallow for the most part.

Would you be willing to try another one of Jerry Farden’s performances?

not if I had a choice

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

I think that at the time it was written it provided insight into a strata of life which many people were not aware of.

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Tandia is actually a sequel to THE POWER OF ONE

Revisado: 12-12-13

What did you like best about Tandia? What did you like least?

Continuation of the action and themes of THE POWER OF ONE.Powerful and heroic characters. Some important themes concerning race relations in South Africa.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The most interesting aspect of the story is the color of the many unique characters. Several present insights into race relations in South Africa and human nature in general which really carry the novel beyond a simple story.

Which character – as performed by Humphrey Bower – was your favorite?

Many of the characters are unique and woven together into an interesting, at times exciting story. The performer, Humphrey Bower does an absolutely 5 star performance with all the characters, from English, to Indian, to several African tribes, to German, to Afrikaner, etc. As with THE POWER OF ONE, the central hero of the story is P.K. and his persona and the devotion and inspiration he commands of the Africans remains the central part of the story. I would not read Tandia without Reading The Power of One first.

Did Tandia inspire you to do anything?

No.

Any additional comments?

The reason that I do not rate this novel higher is mainly that it is a long sequel to a long original novel. If one is looking for a sequel to the Power of One, it great.

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Pleasant rambling book with some good insights

Revisado: 10-31-13

What did you like best about Travels with Charley in Search of America? What did you like least?

First of all I should say that I drove around the country alone in a Van approximately 1970. I think this book was one of the reasons I did it. I was approximately 23 years old at the time. It was Just like he says in the book:

you don't take the trip, the trip takes you.

I have now reread it at the age of 66. At this time in my life it was pleasant, albeit somewhat rambling, containing some humor, some profound insights, some lighter insightful comments and some parts that made the book longer without adding value at least to me.

Would you recommend Travels with Charley in Search of America to your friends? Why or why not?

I think not. There is really no story to it. While some of the observations are interesting, his trip happened a long time ago and much seems dated. Having said this my number one piece of advice for young people who are single is to save up a little money and drive around the country, or at least out west (I live in Ohio) so they can have their own experience of this type. However, I am not sure a 23 year old today would read this book and get filled with desire to save a few bucks and drive their car alone around the country. Perhaps If I run into a recently retired friend who is hinting about doing something like this I can suggest he read this book.

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

no

Was Travels with Charley in Search of America worth the listening time?

for me, yes. for the average reader, no

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Full of dark, ugly images

Revisado: 02-26-13

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

Nothing. The reader was excellent. It was the constant detailed imagery which made me uncomfortable.

Has Suttree turned you off from other books in this genre?

I am not sure what genre to put this book into. It if full of images of death, filth, ugliness. The protagonist, Suttree was mired in this. There was little humor and little to which the reader (listener) could relate.

Which character – as performed by Richard Poe – was your favorite?

Suttree was the only character who had any of his inner traits revealed. Any even this left me confused as to his inner drives and motivations.

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

It gave a presumably somewhat accurate of what the very poor of Knoxville in the early 1950s lived like. In that sense, it was a learning experience. You really were immersed in the poverty of that city. At times focusing on the ugliness and filth of a city is of value. Most of us go around photographing or "focusing" our attention on the beautiful. McCarthy focused on and described in detail images of ugliness, filth, decay and death. Also, the writing style was at times very poetic. Many times I felt like I was listening to the Walt Whitman of the ghetto. Lots of invented words and phrases which sounded like some kind of modern poetry.

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A troubling, disturbing, very believable book

Revisado: 01-10-13

What did you like best about this story?

It may sound paradoxical but what I liked best was how disturbing the book is. So much about The Vietnam war was senseless, so much was driven by bad decisions made for personal politacal reasons and so much needless suffering occured due to these decisions. I felt as if I would reacted in a similar way to the protagonist of the story only I am quite sure I would have not been able to stand it.

What about Bronson Pinchot’s performance did you like?

His style was quiet and reserved, which seemed to match the protagonist's personality well.

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

No way. It was much too painful to take in large doses. I listen in the car in 30 minute doses which gave me a chance to recover between listens.

Any additional comments?

The book is a must read (listen) for anyone contemplating a career in the military and a strong argument against fighting wars in foreign countries trying to change other nation's cultures.

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Eye opening insights into human nature

Revisado: 11-01-12

What did you like best about this story?

The book is a series of relatively brief myth busting type insights into human nature. First, what you might think is true. Then why what you think is intuitive is wrong along with how this has been proven. Finally some commentary on the observations.

What three words best describe Don Hagen’s voice?

Soft, droll, understated.

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

Not really. Each chapter stands independently of the others. I listen to books in the car the separate chapters worked well for me, perhaps even better than a single long read since the gaps gave me a chance to reflect on the individual area discussed.

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Maybe I shouldn't have ordered it

Revisado: 08-14-12

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Hard for me to say. Perhaps a pre teen or early teenager. It seemed too long for bedtime reading to a younger child and not deep enough for adult reading. I gave up on it after a few hours.

Has Watership Down turned you off from other books in this genre?

yes. Clearly not in the class of books like Animal Farm or Lord of the Flies and way to long to read with an eye to scouting out books I could read to my grandchild in a few years.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

it was ok. I don't think reading it faster would have helped.

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

Just a sense that I did a bad job of picking the book.

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