Mark G

Plodding and boring, uninspired

Revisado: 01-31-21

I feel bad about having to be so critical but this book is so utterly lacking in spark that I feel I must warn everyone who expects a fascinating read. It should be fascinating. The subject and the times certainly were. But the book is just a boring recounting of the facts with some stilted conversations and interactions in between. The characters are wooden, the language simplistic. Just grab a Joseph Conrad novel and you'll instantly know what I mean. The author is a diligent soul and she has made a great effort but I think her talents do not lie that way. She'd be a good reporter instead.

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Extremely light weight on all levels.

Revisado: 06-16-20

Extremely light weight on all levels. Somewhat pleasurable, evoking the silly pretty side of Italy. But, on the whole, pathetic. I could not finish it.

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The Goebbels inspired propagandist press exposed

Revisado: 05-28-19

Mark Levin is a patriot who is very concerned, like all of us, with the left and their stooges in the press, pulling our magnificent Nation into the abyss. I am using strong words in this review, and so does Mark Levin in this book, but the situation is dire and the danger is present and great. Here are the tenets of Goebbels propaganda, now being fully and faithfully implemented by our "free press": Goebbels' Principles of Propaganda
1. Propagandists must have access to intelligence concerning events and public opinion.
2. Propaganda must be planned and executed by only one authority.
3. The Propaganda consequences of an action must be considered in planning that action.
4. Propaganda must affect the enemy's policy and actions.
As we all know, the press under Goebbels and Stalin was hardly working on behalf of the people but, instead, they worked to control and enslave the people. It very much deserved to be called "the enemy of the people". Our media, who complain about being called that by President Trump, have also fully earned that moniker. They are constantly undermining our Constitution, the rule of law, rational immigration policies, and our President's all other actions designed to restore prosperity and greatness to our Nation. The author enumerates many instances of treasonous behavior by the media and the left whom they have been slavishly serving over the past decades until today. I think it is very important to read the book and acquaint oneself with the facts. Because it has always been wise to understand one's enemies, and it is crucial for the survival of our country to understand this very powerful domestic enemy, the press, the true enemy of the people in our time. We need to fight to restore the press to its role as a responsible and trustworthy partner in our Republic. They must earn the right to be called "the Fourth Estate", and our trust, anew.

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Solid and slightly patronizing

Revisado: 03-06-19

I have not finished listening to the whole book yet. I like the VDH's strong analyses and cohesive and well articulated arguments. He's perhaps a bit patronizing and equivocating about President Trump but of course he's entitled to his opinion. President Trump's intellect and accomplishments are not just great but staggering - make no mistake about that. To fasten on some of his faux pas and "uncouth" behavior - things that are of minuscule importance compared to the fact he is saving not only the United States but perhaps the entire West, is (sorry, VDH) silly. It's like saying that Napoleon was a good general but his table manners left something to be desired. Also, VDH makes much of the "disdain" with which the coastal "elites" have been treating candidate and President Trump. It is not for them to have contempt for him. They themselves are not only beneath contempt, but deeply, truly deeply, stupid. Their arguments show so much ignorance and stupidity that when refuting them, one simply chokes for wanting to know where to start. They have as much basis in fact as, also frequently mentioned in the book, Black and Brown people's contempt for the Whites. To hold such beliefs and opinions one must be borderline insane or under the influence. If you want to know who the real fools are: Obama, for one, is a cretin, as are HRC, AOC, Pelosi, Schumer, Acosta... the list goes on and on. President Trump speaks his mind, but is often very gentle and tame, because he does not often call those people out for what they really are - fools, felons and traitors. I'm looking forward to the rest of the book.

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Leftist, therefore anti-American

Revisado: 02-18-19

The author has a pleasant, perhaps a seductive, manner. He seems to be patriotic. But perhaps he does not understand the destructive nature of his words when he praises such people as presidents Wilson or Obama, and others, who through their anti-American ideologies and actions deeply undermined our country. Knowing history as I do, I could not go on listening to his book. I'm returning it. I'll never read any of his work again.

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Disgusted by Nike

Revisado: 09-04-18

Interesting stories by a guy with very questionable integrity. Since Nike is siding with the enemies of America, like Kaepernick, I simply must return this title. Come to think of it, their recent choice to sign on Kaepernick is consistent with the lack of integrity presented in the book. It's all of a piece. A guy loves the enemies of the USA like China and Kaepernick, and thinks nothing of outsourcing billions of dollars worth of business to China to maximize his profit. It's not like he's going to share the low prices with the American people - as we know, Nike products are super-overpriced. I'd be willing to pay those prices if I knew I was supporting American manufacturers and workers. But Nike pockets those billions and decides to share them with our enemies, like Kaepernick. I will never buy Nike products again.

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A harbinger of an Orwellian world

Revisado: 10-14-17

I knew that politics and fake news were really bad. I just had no idea how bad they really were. It is scary. This book is very illuminating. Do yourself a favor and read it to better understand today’s world. We are being managed like a herd of cattle. Most politicians and their associates are wicked beyond belief. They will stop at nothing to gain power and money.

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Pleasant light fiction a la Clive Cussler

Revisado: 08-04-16

What did you like best about Winter of the World? What did you like least?

It's light and pleasant action adventure packed reading, a bit like Clive Cussler fantasy books. Since Follett either does not know history or purposely distorts it, it is a misleading historical account hiding massive British and French cowardice and incompetence, especially in the years leading up to and in the beginning of the conflict. It's a self-serving "warm-fuzzy" for the English.

Has Winter of the World turned you off from other books in this genre?

No, I like Dirk Pitt, Jack Reacher and similar characters and I do not confuse those books with history.

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

Nuance and interpretation - always very valuable in a well rendered audio book.

Was Winter of the World worth the listening time?

Probably not - there are much better books out there and life is short : )

Any additional comments?

I realized that Follet is a propagandist, and not honest when it comes to historical truth. I'm done with him.

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Boring almost to the limit of human endurance

Revisado: 04-01-16

What disappointed you about Smarter Faster Better?

Incredibly long winded.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Probably a Jack Reacher book by Lee Child.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Too uniformly enthusiastic.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Smarter Faster Better?

Most of them. The examples are unnecessarily full of irrelevant details by a factor of at least ten.

Any additional comments?

A most severely abridged version of this book could be useful.

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There is a better book on Lord Cochrane

Revisado: 07-20-15

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

No. The author seems to grant Lord Cochrane only limited and grudging approbation. The author expresses a "balanced" view of this giant of a man - a bit like a shopkeeper's considered opinion of a great hero. This "damning by faint praise" seems mildly distasteful to me. The subject of the book is utterly fascinating and his accomplishments beyond the reach of but a few score of individuals in human history. I liked "Cochrane: The Life and Exploits of a Fighting Captain" by Robert Harvey much better. It is also available on Audible.

Has Cochrane turned you off from other books in this genre?

Not at all - but I've been turned off from other books by Mr. Cordingly.

What about John Lee’s performance did you like?

Good diction, his accents, a pleasant voice.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

A movie about Lord Cochrane could be great fun - but not one based on this book.

Any additional comments?

This book is essentially a tedious laundry list of Lord Cochrane amazing achievements. The subject is fascinating but the author does not seem to be captivated. I liked "Cochrane: The Life and Exploits of a Fighting Captain" by Robert Harvey much better. It is also available on Audible.

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