David Pinkus

Gripping, Humanizing, Maddening

Revisado: 04-10-24

I really enjoyed this audiobook; it’s an astonishing account of the struggles when someone tragically loses their mother (one of the most famous people in the world) at a young age, grows up with privileges the rest of us can’t even fathom, and the realization that you’re the stunt double, supporting actor, clone, or as the book drives home “the spare” in reserve in case something happens to the heir. Harry’s like a pressure valve for the dysfunction of the entire family. Should some of his adolescent decisions been different? Of course. Is he brave enough to insist on going back to war again and again to fight for crown and country? Yes, he’s braver than most of us ever dream to be. He’s in an impossible role, where he has to be the Goldilocks Prince of not too charming to take anything away from the rest of his family, yet not too crass to bring embarrassment to the them either. The “just right” between too good and too bad is a nearly impossible point, and forever moving. When he marries a woman and makes her a princess that could become more popular and adored than the rest of his family, of course he and she will be demonized. The real tragedy I took away was the missed opportunity to humanize the monarchy and create a Princess that was a Cinderella story that young girls around the world could relate to. This book will also make you despise the tabloid press and how they utterly destroy the lives of famous people. None of the consumers of trash media probably care about the human toll on the other side, which is paradoxically the other lesson of this book, that our morals of how to treat people as a society seem and what’s “fair game” to be getting worse and worse.

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Gripping story, terrifying characters

Revisado: 02-13-22

After hearing an interview with Daniel Levin on the Jordan Harbinger podcast, I was intrigued and wanted to learn more than what the news outlets used to share, since they don’t seem to even mention Syria any more.

The story is gripping, and terrifying, and frankly pretty discouraging. Although maybe that’s the point…to remind us to question our leaders and policies and the various organizations around that world that purport to help, but are contributing to the madness.

More sobering than many other reads/listens, but something absolutely worth listening to if you want to further understand the consequences of conflict and the war economies that emerge.

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Gripping story, terrifying characters

Revisado: 02-13-22

After hearing an interview with Daniel Levin on the Jordan Harbinger podcast, I was intrigued and wanted to learn more than what the news outlets used to share, since they don’t seem to even mention Syria any more.

The story is gripping, and terrifying, and frankly pretty discouraging. Although maybe that’s the point…to remind us to question our leaders and policies and the various organizations around that world that purport to help, but are contributing to the madness.

More sobering than many other reads/listens, but something absolutely worth listening to if you want to further understand the consequences of conflict and the war economies that emerge.

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Remarkable in every way

Revisado: 12-19-20

It’s the kind of audiobook that you never want to end. Hearing President Obama walk us through his assent to the presidency and his first term was gripping, emotional, inspiring, and will leave you wanting for the sequel, if not the return to hope that his presidency inspired for so many of us.

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Good content, not epic narrator.

Revisado: 08-08-20

There’s a certain type of irony when you have to struggle to pay attention to a book on ADD. While I found the content good, it was a little repetitive and it was hard to focus on the narrator because she lacked emotion in the way she narrated the story. I’ve listened to quite a few other books from Audible and I think a different narrator would’ve been a better choice.

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

A transformational masterpiece

Revisado: 11-09-19

I couldn’t stop listening to this book once I started; thought-provoking in the way that Malcolm Gladwell has exemplified in all of his books, but this one takes it to 11. Using the original voices of third-parties is going to raise the literary bar for all Audiobooks. The lessons in this book are astonishing and tragic, and will reshape the way you encounter every stranger, and how you view interactions between strangers. Malcolm Gladwell is a genius.

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Brilliantly researched and comprehensive

Revisado: 06-10-18

Agree or disagree with the man, motives, or outcome, this is a gripping narrative about a conspiracy that shows what power and persistence can pull off. Ryan Holliday (who also narrates his book) is a phenomenal story teller, and the details and timeline he brings to life are mesmerizing...it’s an audio book that will keep you driving farther or biking longer or whatever you need to not stop listening.

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The only way to cope with food abundance.

Revisado: 08-25-17

In many ways this lessons of this book can be summarized in just a few pages, but there is a compelling reason to read or listen to the whole thing. It makes a very strong case for why intermittent fasting is a much healthier way to live, and why every other diet and weight loss protocol is a complete fail. The book does not get into how the food companies have conspired to make us believe we need to eat so much all the time, or the relationship with the trillion dollar fitness industry, which also is predicated upon us eating too much. It's all a terrible and vicious cycle, and intermittent fasting seems to be the only scientifically proven way to break out of it.

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Pointless, absurd rant. Save your money.

Revisado: 05-16-17

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

If the book had any point whatsoever. The first half of it is an endless rant of nonsense, then he tries to salvage it by quoting the popular research that you find everybody quoting in modern non-fiction books.

What was most disappointing about Michael Foley’s story?

The endless banter that went on and on and on, all while waiting for a point.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of John O'Mahony?

I don't think his accent helped at all.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Where's my money? How do I return this? I really paid for this?

Any additional comments?

I'd like my money back. Or a credit or something. Seriously, this was a waste of time.

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas