This was so much better than I expect it to be. Its not merely a self help book to conquer time management, but rather a one sided discourse on it. BuThis was so much better than I expect it to be. Its not merely a self help book to conquer time management, but rather a one sided discourse on it. Burkeman reads the book with zest and makes the experience of listening to the book as if you're at a coffee shop with him and he's had one too many espressos, and is focusing all his energy on downloading into your brain all he knows about time management, a topic he is extremely knowledgeable in.
For those looking for specific help, there's a list at the end for ways to help you focus your time management better. Or at least, be less anxious about how you spend your time....more
I read the comic book adaptation of this beforehand so I was familiar with the story. The production was great, the story is interesting. I love how dI read the comic book adaptation of this beforehand so I was familiar with the story. The production was great, the story is interesting. I love how different this movie would have been, the politics of it. Space politics. Borderlines and such. Crazy robo-hybrid alien. Would have been awesome to see on screen. This will do though. ...more
A fun collection of western stories I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did. This was my second L'Amour outing, and even though it was riddled with A fun collection of western stories I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did. This was my second L'Amour outing, and even though it was riddled with cliches ("you calling me a liar!?", etc) it was still fun outing. ...more
A good dramatization of the original story. Good acting, and easy to follow along. Ever seen Treasure Planet?
Anyway, listening to this made me realizA good dramatization of the original story. Good acting, and easy to follow along. Ever seen Treasure Planet?
Anyway, listening to this made me realize just how much I enjoy this story. Treasure! Pirates! An annoying talking bird! I do wonder though, what kind of man Jim Hawkins turned out to be? ...more
A good basic introduction to all these wonderful myths, though I listened to these on my way to work so I wasn't expecting anything extensive. HoweverA good basic introduction to all these wonderful myths, though I listened to these on my way to work so I wasn't expecting anything extensive. However the text is more often than not summarizing and name dropping, making all the pieces hard to follow if you really want a full picture. If you're expecting a toe-dip into the different traditions I think this one is a safe bet.
What's also interesting is that there's little history lessons as well, how the narrative might have changed over time for example. I think how history is connected to these myths is an important element. How did these people live and view the world? Clearly their sensibilities were different, but I think it's important we separate ourselves from that expectation. ...more
They should have called this the "Whitman sampler Pack", there's more that could be included in order to be "Essential". Overall its a good selection,They should have called this the "Whitman sampler Pack", there's more that could be included in order to be "Essential". Overall its a good selection, and Whitman's optimism really put me in a good mood before I clocked in for work each day i had it playing in my car. The reading does the work justice. i think this is a good entryway into the work of Whitman. ...more
I had a method to listening to this audiobook. I am already a terrible listener, however, I wanted to really experi"Love. Love, I know what you are."
I had a method to listening to this audiobook. I am already a terrible listener, however, I wanted to really experience this book, so I played each disc twice.
So there's 166 narrators, however a majority of those only have one or maybe two lines, and they're kind of clustered together. For example one part is a whole bunch describing Lincoln's face, and it's REALLY interesting (not just modestly interesting) because its basically a portrait of Lincoln via all these different voices who knew him, saw him.
Nick Offerman and David Sedaris really carry the charge, really bring the story together and make it an enjoyable listen. Both such distinct voices, and really portray their characters well.
I love Saunder's specificity, his patience with the page. There were a few times i felt like he was over-explaining, or drawing it out too much, but i still enjoyed his play with language. And voices. i love voices, dialogue, so I think thats one aspect that worked for me. Hearing so many different voices, distinctly different from each other, was enjoyable.
I don't think its for everyone, however if you love dialogue, the actors listed (it really is a fantastic cast) or pretty writing, I think you should give it a try. ...more
I don't feel like I've taken a master course on poetry, but rather a sampling of a master course, but I am now a bit more knowledgable on the subject I don't feel like I've taken a master course on poetry, but rather a sampling of a master course, but I am now a bit more knowledgable on the subject of poetry, at least a little. Which is better than more confusion, let me tell you. I have for most of my life struggled with poetry, but I want to overcome that, hence why I chose this program. I found the choices to be good, the selections interesting, the length of the classes to be perfect for a modern world (if you doze off maybe its time to lay off the TV), though I could have used a good twenty minutes longer, at times he seems out of breath trying to get all his points said in time.
Tip: read the poems ahead of time at least twice. Plus the questions in the manual are handy if you want to do some thinking in your spare time on the individual poetic subjects. ...more
Look, I get we’re not supposed to compare this to the movie. But it’s extremely difficult not to. The film is stapled into our imaginations. The word Look, I get we’re not supposed to compare this to the movie. But it’s extremely difficult not to. The film is stapled into our imaginations. The word “iconic” is also associated with it. So I tried my best to take the novel as its own story, as its got the same DNA as the film (character and place names, basic plot elements, the shark). But takes it in a very different direction.
Sure, the whole summer vs winter folk thing is interesting, but do we really need the mayor having another reason besides that for wanting the beaches open? Does the story really need a mob boss on top of a killer shark, not to mention a serial rapist, and a cat corpse?
Not to mention the love triangle…and very, very long scenes at the dinner table. All of it feels dated and superfluous. We’re here for the shark. Everything else should be stacked on top of that idea, not in front of it, dressing the story as allegory. ...more
I don't think I would have listened to this if it weren't read by Burroughs himself. The way he speaks is so singular, so recognizable and interestingI don't think I would have listened to this if it weren't read by Burroughs himself. The way he speaks is so singular, so recognizable and interesting that it adds much to the reading. One of the aspects that intrigued me most was his physical descriptions of people, especially other addicts. The way they carried themselves, the way their fingers moved. Very good use of imagery and detail there. I had read Naked Lunch before (I'd barely call it reading, I struggled with it, and read it off and on for months), to find this book written so differently, much more direct and dare I say traditional was a surprise.
This is a one-off sort of book that has nothing to do with the Tower (well, not nothing, but it's only mentioned maybe once or twice), and almost entiThis is a one-off sort of book that has nothing to do with the Tower (well, not nothing, but it's only mentioned maybe once or twice), and almost entirely stands alone. I don't know if reading the books in order would be a beneficial experience, this feels like an epilogue that takes place in the middle of the story instead of the ending.
That's not a complaint, however. I was hoping it would be a standalone, one that would add more to the overall narrative. Something new. I think in some ways it does, by pretty much doing an Inception and being a story within a story within a story. If you love the Dark Tower series, and even more so, the world in which the characters inhabit and want to be in it again, the book is worth it. ...more
The literary or scholarly I guess equivalent of “drugs are spiritual and good for your brain, m’kay?”. Even goes on to say how its superior to alcoholThe literary or scholarly I guess equivalent of “drugs are spiritual and good for your brain, m’kay?”. Even goes on to say how its superior to alcohol and tobacco. ...more
Seeing as how I cancelled my audible and they wont allow me to finish listening to what I paid for, I will have to conclude this review without any stSeeing as how I cancelled my audible and they wont allow me to finish listening to what I paid for, I will have to conclude this review without any stars. However, the reading was fantastic and was enjoying the performance of the text, and the stories, no matter how ancient, were interesting and thought provoking.
At any rate I have a paperback so I’ll reread it again and give it a proper review. It sucks that audible doesn’t allow you to keep what you downloaded but whatever. ...more
One of my poet friends once told me how displeased he was at this book, and that it should be a work best avoided. I am glad Nick Offerman's performanOne of my poet friends once told me how displeased he was at this book, and that it should be a work best avoided. I am glad Nick Offerman's performance in this audiobook proved otherwise. I found it funny, interesting and at times, moving. It satirizes the chivalric genre yet at the same time plays into the genre in amusing ways, and criticizes 19th century politics and whatnot perfectly with each passing chapter. The ending is a little dark for how much of a light affair it is up to that point, which caught me off guard but I still loved the story overall. I love how Twain takes a jab at mysticism and cultism here for rationalism and science. Just beautiful. ...more
I've seen both films, and was eager to experience the novel. I was not disappointed. The best bits of dialogue are all here. The characters are flesheI've seen both films, and was eager to experience the novel. I was not disappointed. The best bits of dialogue are all here. The characters are fleshed out and interesting. This is one of those stories i always go back to and think about, in terms of the form and the experience of it (as a film, now as a novel as well). It's really quite good. Good dialogue, good plot, good first person narration. Solid novel. ...more
What a fantastic use of language, and conveying the horrors of war. Can definitely tell this is Before Hemingway, the grandiose flair in the language What a fantastic use of language, and conveying the horrors of war. Can definitely tell this is Before Hemingway, the grandiose flair in the language is both poetic and striking. Like most “anti-war” movies, it fails to be truly anti-war, and glamorizes the battle the same way a film usually does.
I actually played this audiobook twice in my car, since I missed so many details the first time. ...more
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