Alnia Perpoz

Good overview of Ottoman Empire; lots of wars

Revisado: 07-06-24

Got the book before visiting Istanbul for the first time. Good intimate history of a very militant time and people. Last couple of chapters summarizes the remaining history of Ottoman Empire though modern Turkey and a quick tour through Istanbul buildings from the time of the Fati.

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It’s a pleasant history, with humor and curiosity

Revisado: 07-31-23

Does not propose a theoretical explanation for the historical question it asks at the beginning, but it so pleasant to listen to that it’s almost more a travel companion than a history. But a quality one.

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Great!

Revisado: 07-19-22

Everything about this book is great, From the narrator to the story. It’s sad to see the reviews tainted by people complaining about a “woke agenda” and how it’s not appropriate, because they have nothing better to do than to rag on a great children’s book.

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Strong intro, debatable conclusion

Revisado: 06-10-21

Very impressed by the description of the spread of religions along the East-West trade routes in 1st millennium BCE. I wish there was kore of that.

The account of historic Silk Road is decent.

The description of colonial and imperial phase is mildly interesting for tracing the origins of some European conflicts that are typically portrayed as contained in Europe, but rehashing of Euro history seems boringly Eurocentric without corresponding depth of eastern history. I wish our historians would dig deeper into the East for us.

The phase of recent American involvement comes from a refreshing perspective. Focuses on fossil fuels for obvious reasons and has some nice rid bits from declassified intelligence archives.

The forward looking conclusion though talks about vast fossil fuel and mineral wealth of Central Asia without any reference to climate change which would modify it a lot. Odd for a 2015 book. Doesn’t seem to have been given much effort, since very few readers get to the end probably.

Overall, interesting and glad I read it, narrator is good, with nice pacing. I’d revise the conclusion for 2nd edition.

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So erudite, so many good images and juxtapositions

Revisado: 08-17-19

Learned about tennis, Italian renaissance artists and colonization of Mexico. All in a fairly absorbing story. A very satisfying and at times tingling read if those subjects at all appeal to you. Listening for a second time now.

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A companion reader to Clinton's Hard Choices

Revisado: 05-26-16

Hillary's book is slightly better written and read because it benefits from details inaccessible to a journalist, even if he was in the state Dept. beat under Clinton. This book provides a third party perspective on her sometimes spinful boasts, without being critical.

The author's careful dance of not offending either politician sacrifices the point of view for the sake of neutrality.

Author is not a policy wonk, so no deep analysis here or anything you haven't already read in NYTimes plus Hard Choices.

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Come for the gossip, stay for the character

Revisado: 05-07-16

For the genre, it's one of the better more livelier and passionate stories. Hagiographic, of course, but in harmony with its proud subject. Good details of boardroom and sub-cabinet DC drama.

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A marathon with a runner's high ending

Revisado: 08-05-15

With characteristic mix of curious sobriety and subtle sarcasm, the book deliberately labors through the history of strategy, from the ancients, to military, to politics, to business, in order to reflect the author's skeptical attitude toward the theorizing of the past, especially the wind baggy business strategy industry of recent decades.

The story really catches it's breath in the last quarter, where deeper theoretical reflection is truly interesting and useful. Even the narrator changes from droll to almost song in his reading. (Although I almost took off a star for repeated mispronunciation of "posthumously" - who say's "powst hue mos lee" and not "poschumosly"? Certainly not the British!)

Unless the reader is steeped in the subject literature, the first three quarters of the book are essential to understanding the lessons of the highly interdisciplinary conclusion. They are a worthwhile, sober review of the relevant history of the topic. The discussion of revolutionary and radical strategies is especially refreshing.

Overall, much better than expected and much better than almost all of hot air that comes out of HBR.

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The best and only of its kind

Revisado: 04-17-15

If you want an audiobook about archaeology from audible, this is pretty much the only game in town. That being said, this is decent writing from an author who appears to cherish the quirky professions.

The narrator does her best to highlight the chick lit angles of the text, which is a bit puzzling, but I guess that's where the market is.

In addition to much anecdote, first person experience accounts and light history, there is a fairly robust philosophical backbone to the presentation of modern archaeology practice.

Basically, I'd love to have had it be longer and go deeper, but I did enjoy what as there.

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Great performance; smart and sexy; long

Revisado: 02-21-14

If you could sum up The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle in three words, what would they be?

I don't always like highly dramatic readings, but this book is enhanced the narrator, Degas. The writing is original, talented, imaginative, sexy. Sometimes uneven, sometimes amateurish, a tiny bit repetitive.

It's probably a guy novel. Male protagonist, plenty of sex, war, amazingly polite Japanese women.

Would you be willing to try another book from Haruki Murakami? Why or why not?

I was led to Murakami by a beautiful song by Made in Heights. The song is so amazing that I will probably read another Murakami. He is pretty hip, lighthearted, mystical and palatable. Can't imagine him becoming my favorite author, but that is not necessary. The books are reasonably fun.

What does Rupert Degas bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Degas fills the performance with a ton of personality. Some may wish to imagine the characters by themselves, but I was not that precious about it. It's a long story with a somewhat plodding sometimes stretched plot that is rendered much more enjoyable and interesting by the narrator.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

There are many movies in this book.

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