Jonathan

A valuable and integral part of US History

Revisado: 10-24-23

As a foreign-born American, I learnt a lot about the ‘missing’ part of US History as taught in American high schools. This book gave me a better understanding of what built the US and American Society of the 2020s. Highly recommended reading.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A personal insight into a Legend

Revisado: 12-06-22

These interviews give a personal perspective on a truly great leader of the second half of the 20th century.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

WOW - A graphic testimony to US cruelty towards Native Americans

Revisado: 10-31-21

As a foreign born American citizen, I was curious about this aspect of US history. Over the years I have pieced together various parts of the interactions and battles between the Native Americans and the Caucasian Americans.
This master work does not disappoint. The book’s details were fascinating and the narration was engaging. I am sure that I could not add to the 100s of positive reviews regarding Dee Brown’s book.
•I am just left wondering how things might have turned out if the Americans had fulfilled even half of their treaties and promises made to the various tribes.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Thought provoking analysis of polarized society

Revisado: 06-25-21

This is a deeply informative books that strives to explain the current societal divide in the USA and in the UK. Fraser identifies the characteristics of 2 primary tribes - the “Builder” (Conservatives) and the “Nurturer” (Liberals). And he identifies these trends of “moral stress” throughout history. The writer has packed lots of information and good research into this book.
The book concludes with some good advice for different democracies and companies, and on how to talk with people in the other “tribe.” To quote another reviewer, “I see this book as an effort to create an understanding of moral stress and how to lower it between family members, friends, communities and within countries.”

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Tragic conflict of US & Sioux is Compelling story!

Revisado: 10-14-16

What made the experience of listening to Wounded Knee the most enjoyable?

This is not the type of book where one can use the word "enjoyable" to describe any aspect of this book. The anecdotes of the few Americans displaying kindness towards, or understanding of, the Lakota Sioux are notable by their scarcity.

Any additional comments?

The book's description of the historical and political events of the 1880's gave an interesting backdrop to the situation that led the US cavalry being sent to disarm the Lakota Sioux. The widespread misunderstanding of the ghost dance movement, and a heavy-handed attitude towards the native American tribes, created the conditions where the US cavalry over-reacted to an incident that led to the Wounded Knee massacre.
The story of this massacre is certainly a sad, and embarrassing episode in US History.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Fascinating well-told story of future World Leader

Revisado: 10-14-16

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, this book is recommended for anyone who enjoys biographies, especially those readers with the curiosity to find out more about the early life of a well-known public figure.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The description of Churchill and a group of British soldiers being ambushed on a armored train by a group or South African (Boer) soldiers was one of the most interesting and suspenseful episodes in the book.

Any additional comments?

This book covers a pivotal year of Winston Churchill's young life. The writer includes many interesting details relating to Churchill's life and South Africa's history to fill out, and extend, the central story of this book.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 10 personas

Great story that explains origins of M/E troubles

Revisado: 10-19-13

What made the experience of listening to Lawrence in Arabia the most enjoyable?

This is well-told story of 4 characters' lives and exploits in the Middle East that helps explain the origins of the border and territorial disputes that live on a century later.

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

Hillgartner has a "professorial" tone that suited the book's material. He added a few accents in order to indicate the words of different individuals, and that made the book feel more "alive" than if I had read the words in the book.

Any additional comments?

This book offered an insight into the life of T.E. Lawrence who is not the same character displayed on the big screen by Peter O'Toole in "Lawrence of Arabia". The backroom dealings of British and French diplomats created artificial and unnatural national borders after the collapse and defeat of the Ottoman Empire.
I learnt that there was no drive for Palestinian Arab nationhood in the 1910's. What we know as "Palestinian Nationalism" today is a movement that mainly developed after the UN Partition Plan and the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.
At the time of World War (the era covered by this book), Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca, led the struggle (against British and French interests) for an all-emcompasing unified Arab Nation that includes modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Sinai Peninsula, Iraq, and the entire Arabian peninsula.
The painful after-effects of the events covered by this book live on until the present day.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Story of War at Turning Point in Israel's History.

Revisado: 10-09-12

If you could sum up Six Days of War in three words, what would they be?

Engrossing. Informative. Thorough.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Moshe Dayan comes across as a key figure for initiating and overseeing the War. As a man of action, Dayan had acquired sufficient battlefield experience to be a wise and charismatic leader in a time of crisis. As was said of Winston Churchill in 1940, "Cometh the hour, cometh the man."

Any additional comments?

Michael Oren covers a lot of interesting ground leading up to the June 1967. At this vantage point 45 years later it easy for us to forget the that Nasserism, the Cold War, President Johnson and the Vietnam War impacted the key people involved, and the decisions that they made (or failed to make). This book covers the extensive statesmanship of Abba Eban and the military preparation/build-up that preceded the War.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Genius & Demon: A Man's Invention feeds the World

Revisado: 10-09-12

Where does The Alchemy of Air rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Probably one of the best as far as the storyline goes. Really very interesting

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Alchemy of Air?

I thought it was fascinating to read how Haber developed poison gas for use by the Germans in World War I. Haber then developed a system for deploying/distributing the gas, and supervised the release of the gas at the front lines. Haber's wife committed suicide, using his service revolver, soon after the chemical warfare was initiated.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

There are parts of the book that sound like an "Introduction to Chemistry" textbook. An understanding of the chemistry involved helped tell the story. Although engrossing, this was not a book that I personally would have enjoyed in "one sitting".

Any additional comments?

This was an all-round fascinating biography of a man whose discoveries/inventions have had both positive and negative impact of the lives of millions (if not billions) of people. Highly Recommended!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Fascinating look behind the 'dark' Satmar curtain

Revisado: 10-09-12

This is an interesting, personal memoir of one woman's early life in the rigid and old-fashioned Satmar sect of the Jewish community. It is not a documentary and not an expose of this ultra-Orthodox group of people. For those who don't know, the Satmar tend to live lives that are largely cut off from neighboring communities. The communities are mostly self-sufficient, somewhat like the Amish, although the Satmar do use clothes, books, food and products made in modern manufacturing facilities.
From watching an interview with the writer, it becomes apparent that she has too much 'spark' and individuality to be satisfied and/or successful in such a rigid, narrow, male-dominated (some would say sexist) environment. Part of Feldman's personality has probably developed since she left the Satmar community with her young son a few years ago. I don't think people "choose" to belong to a Satmar comunity; one is born into that tradition.
I can recommend this book to people who know about Judaism (or are Jewish) and want to read a personal story of life both inside and outside the Satmar Jewish community. The narrator is just "OK" in my opinion, but the storyline keeps one listening all the way through to the end.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 7 personas