MaryAnn

interesting content, terrible narrator

Revisado: 11-22-22

I am not usually someone who complains about the narrator of a book, but this narration was so uniquely bad, I feel obligated to comment.

The narration of this book was so terrible that it was difficult for me to focus on the content. It sounded almost like a poorly done AI voice. Although the narration wasn't monotone, the rises and falls in the narrator's voice were almost inconsequential to the material being presented. The worst aspect, though, was that there were no pauses between sentences or paragraphs. Each chapter sounded like one long run-on sentence. It was truly exhausting to listen and most of the content of the book went right by me. I forced myself to finish the book because I'm interested in the material, but it was a waste of time. I'll have to buy a print version.

This narrator needs to learn that reading words on a page is not the same as actually communicating the content of the material. Communicating the content requires some degree of interest in the material, not a desire to get through it as quickly as possible.

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Too bad it's not fiction

Revisado: 07-16-21

First of all, I will say that this is the ONLY book about the former guy and the last 5 years of political horror show that I have managed to get myself to read. This book was riveting. And hilarious at times, much to my absolute shock. The only thing that kept me from laughing out loud multiple times in this story was the knowledge that THIS IS NOT FICTION. This despicable, destructive, incompetent and pathetic former guy has caused untold suffering in America and worldwide. But not by himself. His enablers are equally to blame. This book makes that crystal clear.

OK, the book... expertly written, excellent narrator. I admire the author's staying power! The Epilogue made me wonder how the heck he managed to sit and listen to so much word salad for so long! Even though I cringed at having to listen to actual audio excerpts of the former guy inserted in strategic places in the book, it was done to great effect. On the whole, it was very helpful to have an inside look at one of the most desperate, shameful times in the recent history of our country. I have a much better appreciation (if I can call it that) for the utter insanity of the former guy's white house and the utter spinelessness and cultishness of the entire republican party.

Having said all that, I feel absolutely incredulous that the former guy is still having such an outsized influence on so many aspects of our country, and indeed, around the world. And yet, after reading/listening to this book, I have some better understanding of how that has come about. One can only conclude that it is the insanity and chaos that attracts people, not just like rubber neckers gawking at a bloody wreck on the road, but like the enthusiastic Jim Jones cool aide drinkers.

The fact that this is the THIRD highly unflattering book about the former guy that this author has published, and yet the former guy keeps coming back for more humiliation without even noticing that he is being humiliated is in itself a very important statement about what kind of extreme personality disorder he has. I believe the author himself mentioned his surprise at being allowed to conduct another interview.

I highly recommend the book. I may try to listen to the author's previous books about the former guy.

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esto le resultó útil a 15 personas

Riveting, A modern day Greek Tragedy

Revisado: 06-27-18

Mr. Varoufakis is a highly skillful word crafter. What could have been a tedious polemic against the EU turned into a riveting, and sometimes terrifying and depressing, tale about the powerful social and economic forces that are clashing today. The faceless cruelty of extreme wealth, the voracious greed for power at any cost, the real and tragic consequences to an entire nation, the relentless machine that chews up everything in its path and is unstoppable even by the owners of the machine; I literally could not stop listening.
As an American, I cannot help but see the parallels to what is going on in my own country.
I hope many, many people read this book.

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terrible narrator

Revisado: 09-20-10

I hate to give this book a 1 star rating because it's a wonderful book and I wish more people knew about Florence Scovel Shinn's writings, but the person reading the book is absolutely horrible. McCoy reads with about as much understanding and true feeling for the work as a third grader might read. I am truly disappointed that such a poor reader was chosen. Do yourself a favor and just buy the book. Don't waste your money or credits downloading this.

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