Scott

Covers the bases

Revisado: 07-21-16

A comprehensive look at the life, accomplishments, and failings of the 43rd president. Smith is no fan, considering Bush's presidency as a monumental failure though he does credit him with several successes such as his campaign to combat AIDS in Africa and his response to the 2008 financial crisis. In other words, Smith treads on no new ground here. This is worthy history but thin biography. A reader looking for insights into what made Bush tick, his younger years, or his relationships will find slim pickings here.

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Compelling history debunks many myths

Revisado: 09-19-15

What did you like best about this story?

Larson brings his keen eye for detail and history to the sinking of Lusitania and its role in galvanizing allied forces against Germany in WWI. Though not suspenseful, Larson does a good job drawing together the experiences of the crew and passengers of the Lusitania with those of the U-boat and others as their fates converge. What remains is a tragic tale with no clear cut heroes or villains but lots of what ifs. The book is rich in fascinating details though some readers may tire of some narrative threads that are only scantily linked to the main storyline (e.g. Woodrow Wilson’s romance of Edith Galt). Though Larson doesn’t touch on it, I found it quite interesting that the Lusitania was a tragedy on par with the Titanic but in the years since, has failed to galvanize the public imagination in the same way. Perhaps the greatest kudo that can be said of Dead Wake is that it isn’t for Larson's lack of trying.

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Alternate take on the melting pot

Revisado: 09-19-15

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

This is a fascinating book sure to elicit disagreement. Essentially, an ethno-cultural history of northern Mexico, the U.S., and Canada the book tries hard to explain – in broad strokes – the emergence and ongoing persistence of the various groupings of populations sharing common mores, dialects, morals etc. To the author’s credit, he avoids as much as possible stereotypes and the book is most agreeable when it takes the 30,000 foot view. Its explanations of the persistence of these groupings, their role in the shaping of U.S. and Canadian history, and the author’s choice to ignore smaller, regional variations within the groupings (e.g. Cuban culture in south Florida) are sure to get some readers hot under the collar. Still, it is thought provoking and an admirable take on how we got to where we are.

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Vivid bio but with flaws

Revisado: 09-05-15

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I found this bio a mix of odd contradictions, perhaps much like Goebbles himself. Relying heavily on Goebbles voluminous diaries, it is comprehensive, but offers little biographical detail before 1923. It catalogs Goebbles crimes but at times seems oddly sympathetic. It paints a vivid portrait of a narcissistic, self-aggrandizing man, but also a fawning Hitler acolyte. The sum amounts to an engaging and informative audiobook , though it assumes the listener will have some background familiarity with the historical characters and events. Was Goebbles a despicable criminal who stirred the pot of anti-semitism and whose propaganda machine justified the Nazi regimes crimes? Absolutely. But he was also a complex and macabre interesting character which the book does a good job of conveying. I found the narrator a bit disappointing, not only in tone but in his frequent mispronunciations of German names and words. Still it is worth a listen for history buffs.

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Where's the beef?

Revisado: 08-24-15

What did you like best about Reagan? What did you like least?

This bio is rich in information but scant in insight. The author had his work cut out for him – Reagan was famous for being inscrutable, even to those closest to him. Hence, this bio relies heavily on the public record as well as Reagan’s speeches and interviews for material Brands does a good job chronicling Reagan’s presidency – there is rich behind the scenes details of the Reykjavik summit in particular, but you get the sense that Reagan’s aides and confidants either weren’t interviewed for the book or weren't in the mood to talk. What you get is a detailed but superficial (though not uncritical) bio but perhaps that is the best that can be expected, especially since the right has made Reagan such a venerated, unassailable figurehead. Readers hoping for a view into what made Reagan tick, or his personal life, will likely come away disappointed.

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Sympathetic bio

Revisado: 07-27-15

Any additional comments?

This is a very readable and surprisingly sympathetic bio of Nixon. More than most bios of RMN, Thomas devotes as much space to trying to unravel and understand Nixon’s complex and flawed character as he does to the historical record. Thankfully, he has the good sense to rely on the insights and comments (often humorous) of Nixon’s contemporaries in painting a picture of the Nixon personality rather than allowing himself to veer into psychobabble. After reading Being Nixon, I still can’t say I fully understand the man and his contradictions but this is probably as close as any bio will come. If I had a criticism it would be that like most presidential bios, scant time and space is devoted to the post-presidential life of Nixon though I was certainly eager for more details than what was given around, for instance, his reaction to being pardoned, how he dealt with his downfall and attempts to rehabilitate himself, and the Frost/Nixon interviews. Despite this, I quite enjoyed Being Nixon and recommend it.

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A thug's life

Revisado: 07-20-15

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

What sets this book apart from other bios of third world warlords is that its subject, Chucky Taylor, was born in the United States and spent his formative years there. Other than that, I didn’t find the narrative all that compelling. There is little about Taylor or his story to hold the listener’s interest – his banality, cruelty, and seeming lack of insight into the effect of his actions on those around him could be the story of any number of faceless tyrants that have been all too depressingly common in the history of the dark continent. I had expected a “rise and fall” story of an evil but perhaps compelling figure but there is little here to suggest Taylor did little more than stumble into power by birthright before fading away to irrelevance. In this case, truth is duller than fiction.

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Not as interesting as Freakanomics

Revisado: 06-18-15

What could Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I quite enjoyed Freakonomics and its sequel Superfreakonomics. And while this audiobook has some similarities, it isn’t quite able to recapture the mix of trivia, science, and irreverence that the earlier books had. Mostly this is because this book is a collection of postings from Levitt and Dubner’s blog. When the audiobook works, it is because it takes a topic and runs with it, applying a behavioral economic model to unusual questions of human behavior (for example, when is the best time to rob a bank). When the book doesn’t work it is because it ventures into topics that only a devotee of the authors blog or Twitter feed would be interested in, for example, ten reasons to like the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now I have nothing against the Steelers but the ten reasons have little to do with behavioral economics and everything to do with the author’s personal likes. Unfortunately, there were too many of these moments to make the book worthwhile and I got the creeping sense– applying a behavioral economical model here – that either the authors, their publishers, or both, were blinded by the $ signs in this venture. Anyhow, I hope they do get around to publishing a Superduperfreakonomics at some point but stick to the old format. One final note on the narration. “When to rob…” uses a variety of narrators which is all fine except that the pace of narration and vocal clarity tended to greatly vary and I found myself frequently adjusting the volume or rewinding to catch what I had missed.

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Informative but leaden

Revisado: 06-12-15

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

Target Tokyo has many positives: it is informative, comprehensive, and rich in detail. The audiobook is divided more or less equally between the post Pearl Harbor planning of the Doolittle raid, the mission, and the aftermath. The fates of most of the airmen involved are followed throughout and Scott certainly has done his research here – their personalities, viewpoints, and ordeals help propel the narrative forward. Still, the overall treatment comes across as leaden which contrasts sharply with the daring do of the subject matter. Contrast this with the Laura Hillebrand’s Unbroken, whose story has many similarities but whose writing is much more stirring. The narrator does his best to bring the story to life but it isn’t quite enough. Too bad, because the Doolittle raid was one of the more exciting stories of bravery and intrepidness of WWII and the writing here doesn’t quite do it justice.

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Sucks you in - a pleasant surprise

Revisado: 06-08-15

Any additional comments?

This is less a celebrity memoir (thankfully) than a slice of life drama of a son coming to grips with a loutish father, a childhood of abuse, and a complex lineage. Cumming is a gifted storyteller who wisely keeps a narrow focus and a brisk pace to a narrative which flashes back and forth between circa 2010 and the past. In some ways, this might be mistaken for a stage play, or even a Spalding Gray-ish monologue. Cumming is not afraid to share raw emotion and the interactions he recounts with his father bristle. The story is enhanced by Cumming’s own narration which conveys an authenticity which brings to life the events. You don’t have to know Cumming, or be a fan, to get sucked in by this brisk and worthy read.

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