Rick B

Incredible Journeys

Revisado: 07-03-23

This is an amazing story that reaches beyond any series of earthly expeditions and would qualify as 5 stars all the way in my opinion. These combined dives mark the deepest in all 5 oceans. The story begins with the founder of the project and financier Victor Vescovo to locate a unique engineering staff to create the perfect deep dive vessel and build an international team of world-renowned experts in a variety of technical fields and to accomplish Expedition Deep Ocean and survey past the infamous Hadal zone. The story is a step-by-step process and includes all the challenges learned from each dive such as parts that either malfunctioned or broke. This is a very personal story of Victor Vescovo and his crew. There is as you would expect allot of drama in each dive as Lessons are learned about the Limiting Factor, the name of the Deep dive vessel and the Pressure Drop, the command ship that took it to each destination and controlled its communications and life support. You will follow the Skaff, one of three full ocean depth-capable scientific landers that proceeded each dive where sometimes they landed as expected and other times where lost. The narrator, Eric Dove, puts you in the seat next to Victor as he dives each location. I felt like I was there in the submersible looking at the gauges watching the green board and seeing the bottom of the ocean floor closer to the earth's core than any other vessel had gone. You will learn about the unimaginable challenges, not only technical, but also political in certifying the Limiting Factor and getting the Pressure Deep to each destination port all across the planet. You will not only ride along on both vessels, but also dive to other famous locations such as the Titanic, and search for the wreckage of the famous French submarine the Minerve attempting to determine the cause of it's sinking. You will dive the Red Sea to edge of an underwater volcano. You will experience the true science of new species and life in their domains and wonder how such animals could not only exist at those great depths but flourish. . While on the Pressure Deep you will track storms that will follow you at level 4. Special treat you will meet Dr Kathy Sullivan. First American woman to conduct a spacewalk and dive the Challenger Deep, which is the deepest part of the Mariana Trench. You will meet famous celebrities, like James Cameron of the Deep Sea Challenger, Prince Albert ll who became the deepest-diving Head of State. I can't say enough positive remarks about this audio. If you want to experience what it might have been like to be there, then you will thoroughly enjoy this audio of incredible journeys below 10,925 meters, about 35,843 feet or 6.79 miles.

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Not what I expected, even better.

Revisado: 06-25-23

The title is a bit misleading. The story in the first few chapters sets the stage for Toba, by comparing it to other more recent volcanic events. The history puts Toba at around 74,000 years ago, a time when human populations were diverging and possibly at a bottleneck to spreading across the planet. This event may or may not have been caused by the Toba eruptions. I found that the audio looks more deeply into this bottleneck by thoroughly examining our DNA based on the most accurate evidence as of the books writing. This process dives deeply into anthropologic sciences to help promote the decrease in human population growth. You will learn about families like the louis Leakey, his wife and son, and their contributions to the development of our history to our species. Stay with the entire audio, don't give up on it when it takes you away from the title, into the unfamiliar divergence of anthropology. It is a very interesting history lesson through out of Africa, through Europe and Asia, and finally across the Beringia to the America's. The author after the majority of the chapters does return to the original title at the end and how Toba and the possibility of a catastrophic volcanic explosion could have created a 'nuclear winter event blocking the sun for multiple years and resulting in the human evolutionary bottleneck. I enjoyed the audio and actually checked out the hardcopy for the photographic evidence and maps. The most interesting portion I found was the geographical evidence presented from multiple sources, such as the deep ice cores from Greenland and cores from the bottom of the ocean. Alot of Earth's past history can extracted by searching the bottom of the sea, it is through geological evidence. By researching the author, Donald R. Prothero has taught paleontology, geology, oceanography, meteorology and climate science. He is also an excellent writer being able to explain through his research in a very understandable way. The narrator Qarie Marshall presents all the topics and engages the listener from the beginning to the end without losing the listener. Overall, this title is not what the majority of the audio or book is about. The title is what caught my attention, so it did it's job, but in a roundabout way. Not what I expected, even better.

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Finite Infinities

Revisado: 06-21-23

Alan Lightman is a professor of physics who was educated at Princton College and received his PHD at California Institute of Technology. He is highly educated and working also at MIT and Harvard Universities he brings to the table a subject that has challenged great thinkers since Anaximander. I enjoyed this audio and have listened several times to appreciate all the valuable lessons taught. You will get to travel through time and examine all the major players in this arena. Who could image that Einstein could be wrong, but the answer is that Einstein himself admitted when he has errored. It took a very special personality to present this mistake to Albert Einstein in 1927, a Belgium Catholic priest named Goerges Henri Lemaitre. Lemaitre found not only one, but two mistakes by the great professor. This and many other stories are just part of the journey through this audio. I highly recommend this audio book and the narrator; Christopher Grove does an excellent job by bringing his talent as part of this audio book. If you enjoy the challenges of science, philosophy & learning, then you will enjoy this book. One last thought, my title on finite infinites sounds like a contradiction, however when it comes to shape and size of the Universe, this is the current hypnosis. Listen carefully to this amazing audio to fully understand.

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Throw a nickel on the grass!

Revisado: 06-15-23

This is a very personal audio concerning the career of Steven Ladd and his life in the US Airforce. From the advanced F4 Phantom war machine with it's tactical technologies to the not so advanced A-10 Warthog that had the most awesome armament for close battle support at the time. You will be thoroughly introduced to both technologies and how they compare. Be prepared to laugh and maybe even shed some tears as his story drives to it's conclusion. The epilogue to me created a memory that won't be forgotten. During his time throughout his career, he was supported by his wife Elaine, who he gives credit for allot of his success. The epilogue is actually written by Elaine and it is a powerful tribute to those who have severed and protected the US and her allies over the decades. I highly recommend this audio book, and hope that it gives you a strong appreciation for all those who have sacrificed for our freedom and continue to do so. Remember throw a nickel on the grass, you will understand why.

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Very basic overview

Revisado: 06-15-23

Only an overview not specific to details, but if you are looking for what Project management is about this will give you an outline. Note as described in the title, this is the UK edition.

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Historical & Scientific voyage perfection

Revisado: 05-25-23

The best part of this audio book is that the author Derek Chung's personal involvement as a participant in Silicon Valley. You get to walk with him as he helped develop part of the industry and technology that was created by the discovery of the electron. This is real factual history told by a man who was there. Eric Jason Martin is the narrator and does and excellent job of describing and enunciating all the technical details.
You get to meet all the famous and infamous personalities that gave us our current knowledge of the electron. Men like Michael Faraday, James Clerk Maxwell, Lord Kelvin, Guglielmo Marconi, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla and many others. You get to trace the very beginnings from the discovery of the electron, the first subatomic particle by professor J.J. Thomson in 1897. To our current technology today and all the pieces in between. This is a great audio book and just fun to listen to. I highly recommend this audio book if you enjoy learning.

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Tour de force of scientific & historical Knowledge

Revisado: 05-25-23

Excellent historical & scientific voyages through time developing the theory of magnetic fields and the ability of humans and other species to detect and use these amazing phenomena to survive and navigate our world. The author, Alanna Mitchell takes you on a trip across the globe as she travels the history of detection, first by explaining the important evidence of the first magnetic reversal discovered in France by Bernard Brunhes pronounced 'Brune'. Her travels take you to meet the distinguished professor Jacques Kornprobst and their first meeting at the hotel in Clermont-Ferrand, the real beginning of the story. This story is Alanna's personal record entwined with the history and physical locations of magnetic events. I have listened twice to this fantastic audio book for the pure amassment of what it has to offer. The narration by P.J Ochlan is flawless and adds to your listening experience. I highly recommend this audio book for anyone who has a love of history and science.

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116 Days that Changed the World

Revisado: 05-25-23

Chris Wallace & Mitch Weiss take you on a trip back through time to accurately retell the story of 1945 and the effects of the development of the atomic bombs on the Americans and Japanese. The narration by the author Chris Wallace is perfect and sets the tone for the entire audio book. The choice to drop the bombs was controlled by Hary S. Turman, the President. Upon being notified that FDR had passed after leading the United States through the Depression, Pearl Harbor, and World War 2, President Turman, had not been briefed yet on the landmark secret of the Manhattan Project, and all that was already in the last stages of development at the time of becoming President. This audio traces the last 116 days of this historical event. I found that this audio included stories of survivor's, which was at times difficult to even relate too. Where the Atomic Bombs necessary? You need to decide after completely listening to the entire audio book, as the war with Japan was projected to last into March of 1946 with the projected cost of over 250,000 Americans and possibly half a million Japanese if Japan was invaded. Operation Downfall was already on the drawing board to implement. I highly recommend this historically accurate account of the last 116 days. Pearl Harbor, December 7th, 1941, by FDR's famous quote, is a Day that will live in infamy. There was no easy solution to end the war with Japan. The culture of the Japanese was never to surrender. The Emperor of Japan was not running the country, he was only a figure head that until the bombs were dropped was not even permitted to be seen in public.

I also recommend following this audio book up with 140 Days to Hiroshima: The story of Japan's last chance to avert Armageddon, by David Dean Barrett. This audio delves deeper into the military & political structure on both sides. Both books are valuable resources in understanding the history and decisions that led to the development and deployment of these weapons of mass destruction. The culture of the Japanese military was that ages 6 to 60 would defend the Japanese homeland be it with swords & guns or sticks & stones, the evidence was clear that with current military advancements, the Atomic Bombs provided a resource to stop the American losses. The battles of Iwo Jima & Okinawa, proved without a doubt the resolve of the Japanese military not to surrender.

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Education Personified.

Revisado: 05-09-23

This is an amazing audio book by Dr Kate Biberdorf on everyday chemistry. I have listened several times and enjoyed it so much that I also purchased the hard copy. The book is broken down into two main sections. Part 1 is all about the basics including atomic structure including great history lessons. Part 2 begins with her day and all the chemistry outside of the classroom that occurs. From the kitchen and the chemistry behind cooking to a complete synopsis of her daily routine in detail. It's awesome when the author is also the narrator, as it adds so much to the reality of the content. Dr Kate Biberdorf is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr Biberdorf is not only professional scientist but also an excellent narrator. I highly recommend this audio book and have given it 5 starts all the way. This is truly "Education Personified"!

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Ed's War!

Revisado: 04-11-23

This presentation is from Ed Cobleigh, the USAF pilot of the F4 Phantom aircraft flown in the Vietnam war. The narrator is by Eric Martin, who portrays Ed to perfection. 5 stars for all 3 categories. This story has moments of deep sadness due to losses of airmen during the conflicts in Laos & Vietnam. This is a very personal view of the war and the reasons America ended up in that war. Mixed with the daily challenges, are events that will have you shaking your head over the shear fortunes that occurred in Ed's career. Two specific events that could have easily been Court-martial criteria, but of course never happened. In my opinion, Ed is a true hero, even though he does not portray that image in the audio book. Several amazing events including the "Wild Weasels" and their use in the air combat to take out the Fan Song radar and keep the SAMs at bay. " The Wild Weasels moto was YGBSM, I will let you look that up, as they were the first in and last out of each battle. Pay attention to the Ho Chi Minh Trail that runs from North Vietnam to South Vietnam and through the kingdoms of Laos and Cambodia. The F4 Phantom strikes were at times coordinated with the Weasels. Ed and his wing man would fly together, when possible, sometimes Ed would have to fly alone. Most of the stories are about the flying in the sewer, which meant at night. During listening to this audio, take some time to review the world map, so that you can better understand where these battles took place especially pay attention to the country of Laos. Look at the DMZ and understand why Ed and other Americans were so frustrated by the politics that framed it. Don't be turned off by the flight command names of Satan 1 through Satan 4, that was not their call sign. Fast Eddy is our man, and this story is a view from Ed's war!

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