Doug

Witness was much better, but this has some value

Revisado: 11-07-17

As I was listening to this, after having listened to Witness (Chambers' most excellent autobiography) multiple times, I was trying to come up with a reason that would have prompted the writing of this book. Apart from not holding back on some personal details which were unflattering (I can certainly forgive Chambers' the omissions), I cannot think of a significant issue which was covered in this book that was not covered in the autobiography. Perhaps the author's purpose was to investigate and substantiate Chambers' account of event because there was (and is) a persistent campaign by Chambers' enemies to impugn his character in an attempt to discredit his witness. So, if you're going to read to this book, I would say you absolutely must read Witness, and read it before this book.

The narration by Edward Lewis is pretty good.

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Movie is actually better...

Revisado: 09-25-17

What did you like best about The Talented Mr. Ripley? What did you like least?

The narration matched the annoying, unsympathetic Tom very well.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

is this question using the subjunctive mood incorrectly?

Any additional comments?

The movie's better than the book. I found Matt Damon's characterization of Tom elicited some sympathy, and the Tom of the book is insufferable - catty, pretentious, relentlessly selfish, small-minded, delusional (I'd be satisfied if he were caught). The narrator does an excellent job of bringing the irritating Tom to life; I had originally been annoyed by the narrator, then realized that his performance really was a great match for Tom. There are some very similar scenes between the book and film (Matt Damon didn't wear an embarrassingly revealing thong; in the movie, but he did wear a garish suit on the beach), but where they differed, I think it's reasonable to say the film's presentation was just as good, if not better. I don't think there's really any more depth to the book than the film. I might have been more enthralled with the book if I had not been aware of the movie and if I were reading it within 10 years of its original publication.

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Excellent book, very poor narration quality

Revisado: 10-12-16

Would you be willing to try another one of Robert Morris’s performances?

No. The volume fluctuates from acceptable to nearly inaudible which makes it very difficult to hear. Also, there are constant, sharp, whistling "s" sounds. I've listened to many other books and the others have been fine either playing on my portable audio device with headphones and through my car's speaker system. Also, apart from the quality of the narration, this book suffers from the same problem as many of the other books I've got on audible. I keep hearing faint noises in the background. I don't know what that's about. My speculation is that it's some sort of copyright protection audio watermark, but I find it to be annoying.

Any additional comments?

The overall book is original, but the individual examples are not wholly original to Sowell's works. For example, he's talked about the phenomenon of middle-men minorities and other minorities which quickly surpassed native majorities economically (the Jews in many countries, the expatriate Chinese in SE Asia and the US, the Lebanese in Africa, Italians in Argentina, etc.) in at least a few of his other books. It wouldn't be just to consider this a criticism, as his examples are many and wide ranging in terms of geography and time. As I've read or listened to almost every other book by Sowell, I wasn't going to miss this one; I thought it was good, but not his best.

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Great information!

Revisado: 12-06-10

This book has lots of great information, giving specific examples of the point(s) being made. Among other things, the author points out that FDR in no way let his own gross ignorance of economics and other issues impede his harmful plans through the force he acquired through his formidable political skill (a not too unfamiliar M.O. for current politicians).

I only have one complaint: The narrator "Alan Sklar" has an exceedingly annoying voice and breathes too heavily into the microphone. Were it not for my interest in the book, I couldn't have born this torture. I won't take a point off the book for this, though.

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