N. Khazanov

Reads like a fiction adventure, great re-telling

Revisado: 09-05-15

Would you consider the audio edition of In the Kingdom of Ice to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version.

What was one of the most memorable moments of In the Kingdom of Ice?

When they eat the last dog.

What about Arthur Morey’s performance did you like?

His voice added some gravitas to the characters book, especially when trying to imagine a grim weathered sea captain. He does pronounce every single "h" explicitly, even in words like "why" and "what", which is slightly annoying.

Any additional comments?

It's a great exploration story, with many twists and turns. The planning for and the aftermath of the trip are almost as interesting as the trip itself due to several colorful character that made it all happen.

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Rambling but enterntaining

Revisado: 08-21-15

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would focus a little more on the direct stories and people behind the elements without historical detours and other "fun facts."

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

A better and more consistent flow, either by how the narrative is structured or by taking a more historical timeline view.

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

No.

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Interesting well-supported thesis and viewpoint

Revisado: 08-21-15

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes. I learned a lot about the crusades from a perspective that's not usually discussed in this much details

Would you recommend The Race for Paradise to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes. Again, I think it offers a great new perspective.

Which scene was your favorite?

The one where everyone kills each other.

Did The Race for Paradise inspire you to do anything?

No

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Good story if you haven't heard it before

Revisado: 08-21-15

Would you listen to Target Tokyo again? Why?

No. There is only so much to the story, and I don't think there would be many new things I would learn by listening again.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Most interesting parts were facts collected from journals and first-hand accounts. Interesting to see the day-to-day operations of a spy ting.

Which character – as performed by David Rapkin – was your favorite?

He didn't really distinguish much.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

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You don't have to agree but you should understand

Revisado: 05-16-15

I thought the author did a good job of explaining the various factors that influence decision making from the big decisions to our every day choices. Although not all the specific experiments may stand the test of time (as some of them have already been debunked) the overall theoretical foundation makes a solid point that humans are not as rational and logical as we would like to think we are. The book is a bit long, and the author does have an air of pedantic academic authority, but its main contribution is making you think about the way you think, and that kind if introspection is valuable for anyone. The narration fits the tone of the book well (I personally listened at 2x).

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Fascinating story told effectively and efficiently

Revisado: 02-28-15

What made the experience of listening to The Professor and the Madman the most enjoyable?

The books could have easily been padded and stretched out with more trivialities about the OED and the setting of the story, but it was the right length, and struck a balance between providing descriptive details without drowning in prose.

What did you like best about this story?

Unusual characters, unusual history, but all true.

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

The narration adds an air of a historical lecture, perhaps largely due to the pleasant British accent. I listened at 1.5x speed and the distortion was minimal.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

The life stories of the main characters.

Any additional comments?

A retelling of a fascinating true story that manages to balance a historical narrative with telling the personal stories of the two main characters. The book is engaging, well-researched, informative, and doesn't pander to the subject at hand (i.e. dictionary-making). It's just long enough to tell the story in a historical context, and does not wander off on tangents.

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Good, but you have to like British enunciation

Revisado: 02-20-15

Would you be willing to try another book from Jules Verne? Why or why not?

Jules Verne is a great author, and this is just one of his many great books.

Which character – as performed by Tim Curry – was your favorite?

The uncle - Lidenbrock - was appropriately exaggerated by Curry's voice.

Was Journey to the Center of the Earth: A Signature Performance by Tim Curry worth the listening time?

Yes. It's a classic book imbued with new life by the over-the-top character voice from Tim Curry.

Any additional comments?

Tim Curry's voice exaggerated the already caricatured characters into a mad-scientist professor and a whimpering apprentice nephew, but the story itself gets a lift from the narration.

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Quick to jump to conclusions, but informative

Revisado: 02-20-15

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes, it's an interesting read, and represents current knowledge about the body.

Were the concepts of this book easy to follow, or were they too technical?

Not too technical. In fact, in some parts there is too much background, which ends up overwhelming the main points.

Do you think The Story of the Human Body needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No. Sufficiently covers the topic. We're good for another 5-10 years.

Any additional comments?

Spends way too much time convincing the reader that evolution is real and that genetics matter. Could have also done without the frequent public policy recommendations based on assumptions of one or two scientific studies. Complex science like this should drive further research into human health, not necessarily be a direct policy-making tool. Overall the range of the book is great, covering all systems of the human body, and providing a lot of context on potential 'modern' human maladies.

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A linear feel-good story of a modern-day Crusoe.

Revisado: 02-20-15

What did you like best about The Martian? What did you like least?

I liked the well-researched writing. I didn't like the dry story and zero character development.

Would you recommend The Martian to your friends? Why or why not?

I would recommend it to my engineer friends.

Which character – as performed by R. C. Bray – was your favorite?

Venket Kapoor

Could you see The Martian being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

It probably will be, but I don't want it to be.

Any additional comments?

Like an elaborate Rube Goldberg device, the narrative can be fascinating and suspenseful as the main character struggles with the survival challenges presented to him. However, as one moves through the book, one realizes that each action will successfully progress the plot and move the story to a safe and satisfying conclusion. There are no thrills, frills, or chills (of the emotional kind) in this book, just a solid and somewhat realistic story to flex the imagination.

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A rambling affair almost redeemed by the narration

Revisado: 02-20-15

What would have made Silver Screen Fiend better?

A tighter story, one that does not jump as often and as suddenly between autobiographical sketches and movie descriptions.

Has Silver Screen Fiend turned you off from other books in this genre?

No.

Have you listened to any of Patton Oswalt’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to his comedy, not his books.

Any additional comments?

A tedious and rambling affair, somewhat redeemed by the fact that the audio book was narrated by the author himself. Patton's self-diagnosed film addiction seems like a false premise designed to support several auto-biographical stories about his start in the comedy scene during the 90s. The name-dropping is fun at times, and the film-related tidbits are mildly interesting, but the whole narrative floats around the central premise without really ever attacking it, leaving the reader overall un-satisfied.

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