Goff

Potential magazine article turned into kind of a weak book

Revisado: 11-05-21

The book starts off strong in Glacier, but quickly and thoroughly strays into something resembling a long Facebook rant (occasionally broken up by the verbal equivalent of Facebook vacation selfies). While noting that this reviewer nearly completely agreed with Offerman’s views, if that’s a mitigating factor, ranting is disagreeable even when it’s free. Paid for and committed to, it feels like a bit of a ripoff. As the author would say, in the author’s tone of voice, “Bummer.”

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Eye-opening and horrifying

Revisado: 09-20-21

Lewis is a terrific storyteller and even better journalist. His gift as the former is to keep you not only engaged, but rapt as he employs his gifts as a journalist, which are to see things that people don’t want to look for and to dissect the mundane or arcane details in an understandable way. This short book is among his best. If you value your comfort with the status quo, read it at your peril.

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You don’t need a kid to love this

Revisado: 07-25-21

Birbiglia is as solid a bet as you’ll find in the comedy business, so this was going to be good no matter what. And by “no matter what” I mean if you’re someone like me, childless and old enough to stay that way. But his insights, his pacing, his voice and his warmth — his humanity, really — performed a strange trick. It’s not that I enjoyed “The New One” in spite of not having a kid. I enjoyed it, and grew from it, as if I DID have a kid.

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Engaging, enlightening, fascinating

Revisado: 06-05-21

This was done somewhat in the style of the true-crime podcasts that are riding a wave now, and it tops all of them. Dommek, both with his writing and his narration, takes you straight to rural Alaska. It’s a sharp look at the land and the clashing cultures, the characters and the character. Time flies by, and you emerge smarter and more aware. A wonderful work.

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Yet another well-intended humblebrag

Revisado: 01-27-21

Finding Ultra came across to me as one more extraordinarily gifted person who finally stopped getting in his own way and thinks he’s found some kind of character-based answer. The market is full of variations on this theme, which is good. One person’s Bible is the next man’s blather, and they’re both right. Finding Ultra didn’t show me anything new, but it will undoubtedly prove the perfect inspiration for someone else. Indeed, it has for many.

It’s an easy read/listen and it’s not boring, so there’s little to lose by giving it a try. I didn’t care for it, but I recommend it. How weird is that?

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Beautiful story, exquisite narration

Revisado: 12-09-20

A terrific story, with a full contingent of humor, suspense, drama, warmth, environment and characters. Oh, the characters. And oh, the narration. I wouldn’t have bet on any one person being able to embody all those diverse characters, and so well, but Hoffman is exquisite. I cannot recommend this book — specifically in audio form — enough.

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Changing the perception of Sturgeon’s Law

Revisado: 11-04-20

First, Sturgeon’s Law itself is 90 percent wrong. Wrong that 90% of everything is crap — it varies — and wrong when it implies that 10% non-crap is a problem. Seinfeld in general, and this book in particular, proves that if you rip through this stuff fast enough, 10% is plenty.

And for the record, this book is way more than 10% good material. It might even approach 50%, which, at the pace it’s delivered, is phenomenal.

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Excuse the easy cliche, but this was a 5.15D of a book

Revisado: 10-23-20

I haven’t climbed at even the author’s level, and not in a long time; and I’ve never been a parent. But I seriously doubt there’s a better book on either. I almost didn’t read it — just another climbing book, right? — until I noticed William Finnegan’s name. Since I loved Barbarian Days, I gave it a try and liked it even better. This was charming, engaging and exciting. Highly recommended.

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Enlightening plus delightful equals, I suppose, enlightful.

Revisado: 01-31-20

A lot of writers could have made this theme into a decent book. Very few could make it into a great book. I’m not sure anyone could have made a better book of obituaries than Rocca did, and his delivery is as good as the material. He chooses his topics well, and his riffs on themes are a creative joy. I learned a lot, and enjoyed myself even more. This book is a treat.

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Beautiful book, exquisite narration

Revisado: 11-10-19

Annie Proulx is one of the best American writers, and this may be her best work. That had to be intimidating for the narrator. No worries needed — this is the best performance I’ve heard of an audiobook so far. Hecht was brilliant. I suppose I can’t say for sure that he captured the Newfoundland tone perfectly, because I haven’t been to Newfoundland. But now I feel as if I’ve spent a long, happy time there.

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