Easton Reader

An important story diminished by poor performance

Reviewed: 02-05-24

Brian Stetler meticulously details the disinformation and agitprop thst Fox News discharges in pursuit of ratings and profits. Unfortunately, his skills as an investigative reporter obscured by his lack of skill as a narrator. His voice is somewhat shrill and delivery is too fast and reminiscent of a televangelist. A narrator must realize that operationally, he or she is a guest in someone's home, and use a more natural, conversational tone and delivery.

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Valuable analysis ruined by a speed reader

Reviewed: 05-20-22

Neil Postman’s thoughtful analysis of contemporary US society and the influence of visual entertainment media has been made incomprehensible and headache inducing by the narrator’s attempt to break the land speed record in talking. M

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Superb detail & analysis marred by author's voice

Reviewed: 12-08-20

Schmidt offers a meticulous account with detailed background information about major participants involved the Trump presidency (better termed a kakistocracy). Schmidt, however, lack a pleasing voice or manner of delivery and diminishes the effect.

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A fascinating and timely narrative

Reviewed: 05-15-20

This book, deservedly a New York Times best seller, is a page-turning account of the emerging and recurring infections that plague (literally) human civilization. As civilization encroaches on wilderness and as climate wreaks havoc on ecosystems microorganisms and viruses located habituated and isolated will come into contact with new, naive hosts often with devastating consequences.

The narrator has pleasant voices and paces his delivery well. The only criticism that may be raised is his occasional idiosyncratic pronunciation. For example, he says "zo-ON-osis" instead of "ZO-o-nosis"; "as-SAY" instead of "AS-say", and "fal-ci-PAR-um instead of "fal- CIP-arum."

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A well-researched analysis of human development

Reviewed: 07-20-17

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes

What did you like best about this story?

Historical perspective

Did Michael Shermer and Melody Zownir do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

yes

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Any additional comments?

I did not care for Michael Schermer's style of narration which sounded like he was reading from a script, which of course he was. A good narrator, however, makes the listener feel as if he's in an initmate conversaton.

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1 person found this helpful

Important prespectives from a respected scholar

Reviewed: 03-28-17

Where does The Irony of American History rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It ranks among the lower half. In the book, published in the early 1950's contains references to events current at that time, but long since past. The author's comments about "the oriental" viewpoints seem vastly oversimplified as he lumps together the different cultures of India, China, and Japan.

What didn’t you like about Robert Blumenfeld’s performance?

Robert Blumenfeld's performance was the weak point of this audiobook for two reasons. First, he spoke too quickly making it difficult to consider the important points the author was making. Second, the narrator spoke as if he was delivering a sermon to a large assembly. A more conversational delivery as one would expect from a guest in one's home would have been more effective

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1 person found this helpful

A superb study by one of the world's finest histor

Reviewed: 12-22-16

Where does Retribution rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Among the top 5

What was one of the most memorable moments of Retribution?

Discussion of Japanese behavior in China and Philippines

Which scene was your favorite?

Battle for Manila

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no

Any additional comments?

Simon Vance is one of my favorite narrators. His clear diction, pacing, and intonation convey the author's intentions perfectly. Like many English speakers, however, his pronunciation of Japanese proper names is sometimes incorrect. For example, the name "Yamashita" is not pronounced as "Ya-ma-she-ta" it is pronounced as "Ya-ma-sh'ta;" "Yoshiko" is not "Yo-she-ko" it is "Yo-sh'ko;" and the two famous cities. Tokyo and Kyoto are pronounced as two syllables, not three: not "To-key-oh" but "To-quo" and not "Key-oh-to" but "Quo-to."

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12 people found this helpful

Why America Failed: A Luddite's Lament

Reviewed: 09-27-16

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

Nothing: the author's premise that the reason "Why America Failed" is technology and progress is utter nonsense.

What do you think your next listen will be?

A Storm in Flanders

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

The narrator gave a superb performance, expressing not only the author's thoughts but also his feelings and attitudes

What character would you cut from Why America Failed: The Roots of Imperial Decline?

Not applicable to this book

Any additional comments?

Morris Berman analysis of the current state of US diagnoses the cause as hustling with which he believes was established by the country's founding. The financial collapse in 2008 provides him with abundant ammunition, and clearly, some criminal intent was present in the credit default swaps and other swindles perpetrated by Goldman-Sachs and other financial institutions. The author, however, lacks the clarity that Matt Taibbi used so effectively in his vastly superior bookGriftopia: A Story of Bankers, Politicians, and the Most Audacious Power Grab in American History. Even before 2008 there indeed problems that have caused wage stagnation and massive accumulation of wealth by a small number of individuals.

Where Berman's argument completely derails, however, is in attributing the underlying cause of endemic swindling to technology and progress. While acknowledging that Unabomber Ted Kaczynski assassinated or maimed several innocent people, Berman's main complaint is that in his manifesto Kaczynski's writing is "sophomoric" and badly in need of an editor. The Anti-Bellum South, Berman asserts, was a truly genteel society that valued contemplation and honor completely unlike the ruthlessly aggressive North that steamrolled over everything in its way. While paying lip service to the fact slavery was abusive and immoral, he seems to discount that fact that it was the exploitation of other human beings that enabled the anti-Bellum Southern gentlemen to pursue a life of relaxed contemplation. Criticism is directed at Abraham Lincoln whom the author notes worked to improve transportation in his state, and thus a force for progress and technology.

The author cites the reading a document on a computer monitor elevates dopamine, cortisol, and causes decreased ability to critically analyze. Worse still is multi-tasking which he believes results in impaired reasoning. In different chapters, Berman bemoans that thousands live alone, then seems to contradict himself by asserting that technology in the form of iPhone and iPads deprives people of solitude. Berman categorically rejects the idea that technology is a tool that can be used or misused: he regards technology and progress as essentially evil.

Not surprisingl, Berman concludes that the US is hopeless and doomed. The problems that current grip the US are serious and may not be corrected in the fullness of time, but not the direct result of technological progress. Nowhere in his screed does Berman mention the bloated military budget, the over-extended imperium with at least 900 known bases in foreign countries and an unknown number of covert sites, a non-functioning congress, and a substandard educational system.

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2 people found this helpful

Excellent and important history and insightful discussion

Reviewed: 03-05-16

This is a fairly thorough discussion of the history, causes, and consequences of the right-wing seizure of the Republican Party from Eisenhower to the present.

Narration is excellent except for a few mispronunciations.

Highly recommended.

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1 person found this helpful

Confusing and repititious

Reviewed: 12-05-15

What did you like best about The Devil That Never Dies? What did you like least?

The best feature was that Goldhagen traces the history of antisemitism from the earliest times up to present. Goldhagen's writing, however was poor: repetitious both in terms of wording and topics, and confusing. I was not able to listen to the entire book. It was making me antisemitic - and I'm Jewish! I want my credit back!

What do you think your next listen will be?

The Drive on Moscow, 1941: Operation Taifun and Germany’s First Great Crisis of World War II

What does Kevin T. Collins bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narration made it easier to follow

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

No

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