Jeffery

Beautiful and richly imaginative

Revisado: 08-31-23

A rich set of stories, each taking a part of the original as its inspiration.

Beautiful and richly imaginative .

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Too detailed for the layperson

Revisado: 07-11-19

This audiobook spares no detail. It could be fascinating for someone with deep interest in rocket propulsion and knowledge of chemistry. As a layperson, all I can say is that it illustrates how much human ingenuity and striving has been applied (and what terrifying risks endured) in the development of weapons, and secondarily in the civilian space program. So much of what is fantasy rests upon the unsung efforts of multitudes.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Good insights from one of our greatest writers, a bit repetitive

Revisado: 05-04-19

Robert Caro is one of the greatest non-ficion writers of our age. Readers can draw inspiration from this work, which conveys the tenacity, patience, passion and attention to detail behind his biographies. Because this book is a patchwork of new material together with previously published interviews and essays, it does suffer slightly from repitition in places.

I would recommend this work to devoted readers of Caro's biographies, or to writers who want to learn more about the craft. If you haven't read _The Years of Lyndon Johnson_, then do that first. If you only have time for one volume of Caro's works, I recommend _Master of the Senate_ above all others.

The audio performance is charming and completely unpretentious. Hearing Caro's heavy New York accent makes one appreciate even more the effort, faith, and goodwill which must have been required for Caro, his wife Ina, and their many interview subjects in places like the Texas hill country to build the trust which yielded the vivid descriptions in his work.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Valuable theory; useful ideas; poor narration

Revisado: 11-23-18

The theories and practical ideas in The Culture Map can be useful for anyone working with a global team, even if they have extensive experience working across cultures. It presents more detail than David Livermore’s very useful course "Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are" in half the time.

Meyer raises useful distinctions, showing, for example, that power distance (hierarchy vs. egalitarianism) is independent of decision-making style (top-down vs. consensus), and that the norms for giving negative feedback may differ markedly from communication style in other situations. She also provides practical hints for working with colleagues from other cultures, such as how to soften one’s style when working with colleagues from a more confrontation-averse culture.

My one complaint about the audio book is that the narrator’s imitation of accents distracts from the book’s message. The book provides useful insights from business people from a wide range of countries. Unfortunately, the narrator tries to render these quotes in accented English. The attempts are distracting at best, and will probably offend many listeners, who will perceive them as caricatures. The most regrettable thing about the accents is that they undermine the book’s messages, which should be useful for people from many cultures, as they are non-judgmental and relativistic.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Makes no distinction between genuine inventions and crackpot schemes

Revisado: 08-21-16

Seifer treats all of Tesla's work as products of genius. A more discriminating approach would have yielded a more nuanced and interesting picture of this intriguing man. As it is, the listeners must sort for themselves between true inventions like the polyphase alternating current motor, and crackpot schemes like death rays. Worst of all, some unquestioning listeners may take it all as literal truth.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Consider the abridged version

Revisado: 10-16-15

I always choose unabridged versions. With The Master of the Senate, that could be too much of a good thing. I haven't listened to the abridged version, but...

The three volumes get into so much detail about Senate procedure and minor votes that a good abridgment would be preferable for all but the most detail-oriented listener.

Still, this is only a minor quibble with Caro's masterpiece. The story in Volume 3 of how Johnson finessed the passage of the symbolically ground-breaking (but toothless) Civil Rights Act of 1957 is unparalleled. A great biographer walks us through the subtle strategies of a political genius.

Note: The unabridged Master of the Senate has three volumes. The perspective listener can only tell this by carefully examining nearly illegible cover pictures. Audible should clarify this in the web site's text.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 7 personas

Moving, well told story

Revisado: 07-16-15

Beautifully depicts daily moral choices by individuals, altering the course of a city under siege back toward civilized existence.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona