N. R. Gawlak

The narrator kills it.

Revisado: 04-12-21

Could have been a very informative book, but the high pitched, British female narrating it, made it nearly impossible to listen to.

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Unintended consquences

Revisado: 04-12-21

Just another thoughtful example of unintended consequences resulting from actions based on immature moral concepts learned in childhood. Realpolitik does not have to be dictated from thugs...like John Bolton or ISIS. To its credit it does paint a clear picture of the whole process.

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Thought provoking

Revisado: 04-12-21

What surprised me about this title: It clarified for me, why the Left in American politics is so reviled, in a way that made sense. Not the nonsense of Trumpists or most of the "alt. Right". As for even-handedness the author also clearly points out how the leaders or the modern GOP like Reagan, were frauds.
Most importantly, for this writer , the author manages to convince me, a lifelong Democrat, that the idiots running current the Democratic party, are too foolishly ignorant, to understand how they have betrayed the US Constitution... by choosing to elevate so called "Civil Rights" to the status of another, more powerful "constitution" than the one we have always considered the basis of our republic (via ongoing civil litigation). The book explains how, by choosing to ignore laws based on the US Constitution in favor of whatever legal rules the most recent version of Political Correctness insists upon, overall, human rights in America, which we have cherished for more than 200 years have been stripped away. We've lost, for instance rights like "freedom of speech" and, consequently, freedom of thought.and freedom of association. This book has helped me understand why I have been unable to accept, most of the current tenets of the party I used to support, wholeheartedly. The author/narrator is a voice of reason who gives US citizens a clear picture of what has actually gone wrong, with our country during the past 5 decades. The author seems to trust that there are still people in this nation who understand honest explanations and don't require political ranting and raving ,in order to demonize their political opposition. and inflame their supporters.
Overall, it is a rare written work that has been able to make such a profound impact on my old mind, like this one does .Why ever didn"t the current GOP take the time to describe "the Swamp" they intended to drain and why it was necessary to do the "draining"....which would have included the various bureaucratic interpreters of the rules following upon civill rights" judgements.

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Totally Self Serving

Revisado: 07-03-20

Could not get through this piece of self serviing trash. Disregarding Bolton's "advice" was one of the wiser things which Trump has done. . There is only one theme throughout...."Me, Me, Me, Me" is the best thing since the our country began. Claims of omniscience run throughout as do self ccongratulatory remarks. Not only does Bolton claim to be the smartest guy in the room, ad nauseam, but he lies as often as Trump does. Thank heavens that he is no longer in government.! He was easily as capable of leading the cheering for the startup of WWIII as he is indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people. I am not a leftist, nor can I abide the far right, but this author can as easily end up on anyone's hate and disgust list unless one is an advocate of bringing on the appocalypse. The only people in high places who giave this egotistical nut case any credence in "national security matters" were the cabal in the GW Bush White House and Trumpers both of whom would not accept the truth based on actual evidence,, , but the latter were all very eager to put into motion their idiotic theoretical fantasies accepted as national policy while the citizens of the US bore the costs and pain. Only persons of that stripe could accept anything Bolton had to say as supportive of our national interest. From what I could read, this author is so convinced of his iannate superiority, that I would not be surprised if he ran for either president or national dictator soon.

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All idiots except USA, according to author.

Revisado: 05-09-20

This garbage made some sense early on, but gradually shifted to uninhibited U.S cheerleading. Author suggests that no other nation is so smart, rich and well led. Believe that?, And I will sell you the Brooklyn bridge. Aiuthor presents his own sociopathic vision where the USA overwhelms the entire planet to get rich and dominates all other entities. His eagerly overoptimistic predictions leeaves out all important factors except economic greed. No recognition of our last decades of abysmal leadership and and that no one is concerned with anything but getting rich and starving the rest of the world and that we have access to anyone competent enough to even do that. A true alt right world view..

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WhyTrump is president

Revisado: 04-25-19

Fianally, someone writes something with meaning. This writer confirms a deep down feeling of wrongness I've felt for a long time about how such basically trivial "issues" come to dominate the national political landscape. A fine example of the "slippery slope" contained in so much leftist rhetoric and ideas. I have been a left leaning centrist nearly all my life and still am. But what this writer highlights is very much the real reasons US citizens find it generally impossible to support their own self interests.because this kind of nonsense is mixed in with the good stuff.

The struggle agaiins"t Making moutains out of mole hills" is another way to look at the ideas of this book presents. Those who have made these kinds of juvenile ideas surpass in importance, the major issues of real significance and benefit to our citizens Thia kind of militant political correctness has turned many citizens against the very movements which ,in fact would benefit them That is the real crime. And it plays right into the hands of those who would destroy our Constitution for their own personal gain. I think something like this: Cirtizens support of labor unions is a good thing. Unions are real things with proven benefits to our people, over the years. . Supporting "Diversity"is simply praising an idea with no substance or history.. It is like supporting propaganda. Show me an important positive goal outcome for which "Diversity" was the sole cause. Compare both concepts for real meaning. In real life, labor unions have a history and a proven impact....although the very wealthy will not appreciate it. "Diversity" is simply a vague idea, which can be implemented or not in any number of ways, the results of which, remain inconclusive in real life, except for getting someone who might otherwise not be included,since they didn't merit inclusion based on the outcome needs of the group,.....although the concept will invariably be lauded as positive, by its advocates because it pleases their sense of righteousness.

And the feminist version of the war of the sexes, where females have all the privileges just cause this recent manufactured cultural and legal support gives them a weapon to budgeon their adversaries with.and goes beyond the pale to make men irrelevant. Personally, I have always supported "equal rights" But I am not foolish enough to support the idea of women as combatants...killing and being killed. Whoever thought that one up ought to be taken out and put away. Not based on any religious mores but I don't fancy a society protected by female warriors. That thought is most repugnant , to me. If individual females don't want to have children, that is fine by me. They can then do what they will, besides "legalized" murdering.

.This book shines a spotlight on another version of the "Emperor's New Clothes" The one thing I will give the neo cons and far right fascist credit for. They spotted ithe intrinsic destruction which is being brought down on us by the "Diversity" demanding proponents of silly causes. Nevertheless, the former group is as bad a threat or worse to our nation. They just got that one thing right. This book is a very good one.


r

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his funniest

Revisado: 03-06-19

I find nearly all the Discworld books, amusing. But this one was uproarious, in my opinion. The best of the bunch for what Pratchett does best. It helps to be a little bit famiiear with how Austrailia is perceived, by Auassies and the rest of the English speaking world. But, even so, it would be hard not to want to hear it again and again, for a agood laugh. The narrator's timing was superb. So far as I am concerned, this is his best.

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Another Brilliant Facet

Revisado: 11-05-17

I have read many accounts of Arthur, the legendary king of Britain or England or the British Isles.from many and varied authors in my 74 years. I have enjoyed them all, some more, some less. My favorite rendition is recent...Bernard Cornwall's trilogy beginning with THE WINTER KING. His telling was, for me, the most gripping and real.

Nevertheless, in its own fashion, T H White's "The Once And Future King" was just as enjoyable and, though more sprightly in tone, nearly as dramatic. It did take some interesting tangents during the telling which were unexpected. Some might say that those twists were immature or for children and, certainly not for adult reading. However, I liked them pretty well. The novel was a bit heavily weighted toward British patriotism, but Arthur has always been England's legend and White concluded the book in the midst of WWII during England's darkest hours, so that was fine by me.

The reader, Mr. Jason, was just the right person to read this rather lengthy saga. He did it all with great skill and, as long as the book was, I never tired of listening to his reading.

Mr. White proves something about the subjects of great literature...that their stories can be told from many, many different angles and slants, and each can provide its own worth and beauty...like looking at single, gorgeous diamond from many different angles.

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An Interesting Slant On World History

Revisado: 05-04-17

Good work. Interesting all the way through. I thought that it was one of better pieces of historical analysis I have ever read. It describes what this region has actually been about since the start of recorded history and builds to a climax, showing how our current troubles in Asia, especially the Middle East and Central Asia, came about and why. Not simplistic. One has to think about what the author has to say. But the book shows lots of new (for me) angles and throws a powerful light on how our mistakes and lack of understanding of these places and the people in them has led us to our own breaking point. This is the kind of history reading that does as much to explain the present as it does the past.
Mr. Kennedy's narration was very, very good from start to finish.

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A Real Waste Of Time

Revisado: 05-04-17

Having read several of Murakami's earlier, lengthy novels, I thought that this one would at least be readable. I am not a big fan of his work, but at least I found the others I read to be mildly entertaining. This one is not worth picking up. I could not come near to finishing it.
Although a description of the plot sounded interesting and, perhaps a bit original, the themes linking the thing together have been done over and over and over, often in far more interesting ways. These themes....child sexual abuse, glorified feminism, terrorism, to mention the ones I encountered in this work, are presented in ways better suited to comic books than print aspiring to be literature. I guess I was disappointed in that I expected a lot better from this author.
Anyone who tries listening to this version and who finds the narration even adequate, has my sympathy. Neither male was particularly good to listen to, and the female'a narration was an abomination...like having a clueless 10 year old trying to read Moby Dick out loud standing in front of her elementary school class. .

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