Tom Grand

Audio skipping problems

Revisado: 12-28-23

In the latter part of the book, there are frequent skips where the audio was apparently imported from a scratched CD.

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Deeply researched, well read

Revisado: 12-27-19

Adam Selzer must have invested hundreds of hours into compiling all this data. He didn’t just collect old news articles—he somehow got access to original trial transcripts, often handwritten stenographer notes published here for the first time. Maybe his next book should be about how to find stuff like that!

The reader’s performance is perfect for me: unobtrusive, and steady enough so that I can listen attentively or fall asleep listening depending on my mood.

The audio production is overall good but there’s a slight occasional sibilance (sounds like the reader has a lisp, but he doesn’t). I got used to it but it was a little annoying at first. Check the sample for yourself.

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Informative, engaging — but slightly biased

Revisado: 04-05-18

I came to this course mostly ignorant about the papacy and its history. The professor clearly knows the subject deeply (at one point he refers to it as his ‘obsession’), and conveys his enthusiasm — he makes the material exciting. That said, he seems a bit reluctant to criticize the Holy See. Sometimes he dismisses things as “ridiculous nonsense” (like the rumors around John Paul I’s death), other times he unreservedly condemns misdeeds but then quickly moves on. It’s understandable, and I think he’s mostly fair and reasonable. But if you’re looking for a course where the professor lingers over gory details of past scandals, you won’t find it here.

Oh, and he comes off as being in a really good mood most of the time, so if you don’t like happiness then steer clear.

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I got used to the reader’s tempo

Revisado: 03-27-18

I like Walter Dixon but, like others have written, I initially felt this performance had a peculiar “sped up” feeling. It was almost like an overzealous editor put the vocal track through a “cash box” filter. For awhile I avoided listening to it. But I’ve come back to the book and surprisingly it doesn’t bother me at all anymore. I did delete my local copy and re-download from the cloud, so for all I know maybe they uploaded a new version. Finally I can relax and enjoy the book.

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Deep, but narrow (by design)

Revisado: 04-23-17

Other reviewers have noted that this isn't a comprehensive biography. The author sets out to fill a gap: to write a thorough account of MJ's final years, financial entanglements, and the legal wrangling that occurred in the years immediately following his death. He succeeds in his mission, having unearthed exhaustive and sometimes exhausting detail.

I think a book like this serves a real historical purpose. Years down the road, scholars will want to understand what went on during this period, and Randall Sullivan had captured information that will be lost as memories fade, participants pass away, etc.

That being said, it's not for everyone. You are most likely to enjoy this book if you've already read a less specialized biography of MJ and want more detail, or if you're an attorney or financial professional who can digest some of the more obscure details in this book, or if you're particularly interested in MJs last years.

The writing is good, and the performance is excellent. Mel Foster helps the listener keep track of the bewildering cast of characters by providing each one with a characteristic voice. And he manages to evoke MJs speaking voice without sounding silly or disrespectful.

Recommended, as long as you know what you're getting into.

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