Jonathan Klopman

The "jaded thin blue line"

Revisado: 08-21-16

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

All cops are not heroes. In fact, many are distant and maintain an "Us vs. Them" attitude regarding civilians. The author could have done a lot to smooth police/civilian relations by admitting that some cops are just plain dicks.One huge problem is the title. This is supposed to be "Lessons". It is not. Most of it is just cop war stories and plenty of bitching.

Any additional comments?

Ultimately, the author is a cop and not a writer. His tone of voice is somewhat smarty pants and smacks of the sophomore author. The structure of the book is merely a pile of anecdotes. It gets sloppy and- in the end- is poorly put together. If I wanted to hear war stories, I'd hang out in cop bars. Some of the purely technical stuff is genuinely interesting. However, the author can't help sliding back into tales of derring do chasing down hapless criminals. One side light- he never misses an opportunity to crap on firefighters. I'm no fireman fan boy- but the feud is unprofessional and hurts the author's credibility. I'm sorry, but I just don't buy the idea that all cops are selfless guardians. I've known plenty of cops and many seem to have been trained to walk around with a night stick up their ass.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Meh

Revisado: 08-07-16

At its essence, this is a mystery- not horror. Based on the "rules" of that genre, the author sort of ""cheats". The protagonist's sixth sense is a convenient paranormal tool that allows the plot to push forward without genuinely clever detective work. The personal background in terms of character development is a bit maudlin. Not recommended

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

apparently, you can bore them to death....

Revisado: 12-27-15

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

a bureaucrat who appreciates an author who like the sound of their own voice.

What was most disappointing about David J. Kilcullen’s story?

why write one word when you can use twenty?

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

suicidal boredom

Any additional comments?

This is a relentless cascade of meaningless technocrat jargon. When the author finally mentions "insights", they are so painfully obvious that you begin to resent the time you wasted wading through the bloated preamble.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Springtime for Hitler

Revisado: 10-30-15

What could Hans von Luck and Stephen E. Ambrose (introduction) have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Yes, Hans could have kept his trap shut and lived with the sins that he committed rather than trying to pass this off as "merely an innocent soldier's memoir." I'm surprised that Ambrose entertained this drivel.

Would you be willing to try another one of Bronson Pinchot’s performances?

No- irritating monotone ersatz German accent that's just a tad too calm for someone commanding a tank battalion

Any additional comments?

Infuriating. A Nazi (that's right, I said the "N" word) commander's revisionist tale that is an attempt to redeem himself and his legacy by rehashing the tired old line of "I vas chust followink orders". Puhleez. The narrative is set up by showing how he was brought up as a citizen of the World, traipsing through Europe with a deep respect for all countries and peoples- before he rolled a tank through them.I admit that I had to shut it off in the invasion of Poland. He actually had the gall to tell a story how he had a pleasant dinner with a local family- where he bought a peasant painting that he cherishes to this day. The first battle descriptions were oddly detached and antiseptic- as if the fighting was something that just "happened". Funny how he forgot to mention Stukas dive bombing civilians. Someone, anyone, should have the courage to call the author to task. He wasn't "just a soldier". He led the spearhead. If he was a human being first- he would have deserted. Black und Vite.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña