Suzanne

Mostly quotes from 19th century sources

Revisado: 03-20-25

Long sections quoting an early guide book, John Muir, and others straining to describe the magnificence of Yosemite Valley. Some sections quoted twice. The description of how the park was named is worth hearing, but this listen will not be much help to someone planning a visit or seeking understanding of the park’s geologic formation or the species it supports. The narration is soothing overall, but someone should have told the narrator how to pronounce Merced, which she mentions more than a dozen times. (Any Californian knows the accent is on the second syllable.) I’ve really enjoyed other Charles River presentations, but this one was disappointing.

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Cherry-picked history

Revisado: 07-23-23

First, the audio is somehow attached twice. The book finishes and then begins again.
My issues on content are mostly with the final portion of the book (the past 130 years). There is no mention of the national parks created in California, or of the Black Panther movement, the wine industry, consumer protections, and other noteworthy people and events. While it makes good points in several areas, the book finishes with a lament that Republicans haven't elected a governor since Schwarzenegger and politics have become more liberal. There's really no need to editorialize.
I wish the narrator had not mispronounced so many words, and that “California” had not been in every sentence. It's okay to say “the state” once in a while. As a basic introduction to the state's history, this is all right, but be sure to add other sources for a more complete understanding.

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Translated by AI?

Revisado: 09-18-21

Only the most determined tiny-home fan will endure the cheerily unselfconscious narration of this frequently nonsensical text, which must have been translated by machine without any sort of review by an English speaker. The original may have been in Japanese, but whatever; it needs editing.

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Less than I hoped

Revisado: 12-26-19

Like a lot of authors on career success, Scroggins assumes a level playing field, not a dysfunctional setting where the colleague in the next office blocks every idea not her own, or the boss just doesn’t like conflict. If you are looking to break an iceberg, drop in the right word at the right time, or persuade without tripping the red flag of threat, Mr. Scroggins doesn’t speak to those issues. That said, this book could be helpful to a 20-something seeking ways to get noticed, or the 30-something wondering why a promotion didn’t happen.

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Valuable for anyone who works

Revisado: 04-25-15

This brief essay will help you find your next job, chart a career you can enjoy, and plan for a second act, either in retirement or just as a fulfilling volunteer pursuit. It also gives great tips for anyone who is struggling with a difficult boss or co-worker.

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Good for Dallas Willard fans

Revisado: 01-27-15

Ortberg remembers his friendship with the late author, philosopher, and Christian apologist, and his (Ortberg's) own spiritual development over the course of more than 20 years. He discusses the need of the soul for rest. He is reassuring, even on the subject of the "dark night of the soul." The text is not very demanding (you might want to investigate St. John of the Cross), and it is at its best in the passages on Willard, whose books are very rich and rigorous. All in all, a good introduction to Willard, who is a wise man worth knowing. (His final book is to be published posthumously soon.)

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Good choice for her fans

Revisado: 06-18-13

This is a memoir mostly of Judi Dench's career, with a reasonable bit of family background and an epilogue describing her warmup ritual. It zips by, with much of the time spent listing the casts of plays she performed in. (She must have saved all the playbills.) You'll learn about her friendships with other actors and her experiences receiving awards and accolades. You can even try to read between the lines as she describes her work as M in the Bond films. There are a couple of paragraphs about her work on “As Time Goes By,” but probably not enough for fans of that series. All in all, it's light and personable and will add to your enjoyment of her work. It's not a tell-all or a master class in acting.

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Wonderful pairing

Revisado: 10-23-12

Gary Sinese brings both grit and subtlety to his reading of Steinbeck's colorful travel memoir. I listened to this as a vicarious summer getaway; it's a journey I won't soon forget. Steinbeck’s portrait of Texas and Texans remains spot-on, and the whole account is utterly believable. Mostly lyrical and personal, in its final chapters the book re-inserts the author into current events, where he becomes a deliberate witness to history.

With author and narrator in perfect synch, this audio book was a thorough pleasure, inspiring me to look back on my own travels in America, and forward to the destinations still to come. Recommended for anyone with wanderlust – from adolescents to shut-ins.

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