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David Perdew

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Why do great writers drink?

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-17-24

I always wondered why great writers had to be drunks too. This book (by a self-proclaimed alcoholic) is a deep look at a few of our greatest writers and their relationship to alcohol. Seems like a weird topic, but the insights into John Cheever, Raymond Carver, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and a couple of others is really fascinating.

The other weaves the bios of these writers with visits to their writing locations as she travels the U.S. Beautiful writing and excellent premise if you’re interested in writers.

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Excellent - like listening to an old time radio mystery

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-17-24

I loved this. Classic mystery story well performed. Made me want to listen to other classic stories.

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It peaked way too early!

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-17-24

About 2 hours in, I thought this was going to be a really good book. Then, it just got crazy with these folks doing stuff that didn’t make sense, but doing it relentlessly. And characters had little development at all. They seemed to be there just to be killed off. And lastly, the ending was incredibly unsatisfying. Three stars seems a little too generous, but I loved Jurassic Park, so I’m feeling a little nostalgic for what could have been.

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You can’t make this stuff up!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-22-24

Heather Cox Richardson has delivered what I considered to be the final chapter of an essential trilogy of books on the dangers our American democracy has faced over the past 50 years. The first book was American Psychosis David Korn, the second was Prequel by Rachel Maddow, and now this one by Heather Cox Richardson, which Gives us the perspective that we need to understand why we can’t let this threat to democracy succeed. And, even better, it gives us great hope that the American people will see it and rise to protect it once again. Great Reed. Great performance. Great scholar.

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Scary as Hell!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-25-23

I don’t know what I was really expecting from this book, except I know that I love Rachel’s ability to research and contextualize big stories That most of us never understand, truly. But after listening to this book, and making the connections with people that I’ve heard about most of my life, it was incredibly scary because we’re living through it again today. Prequel truly, was a prequel to our experiencing right now. This book should be required reading.

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Changed my mind...

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-05-18

I thought James Comey was an arrogant grandstander before I read this book. I always thought he didn't have much of a chance of surviving Trump's White House because of the Hillary Emails debacle. But after hearing his side of the story, backed up by documentation and conversations, I felt bad for the guy. He didn't have a chance of surviving this political world today. I'm a Comey fan now. Changed my mind. And I'm really glad he was there to take the heat. We owe him a debt of gratitude.

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Doomed one moment, hopeful the next...

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-05-18

Meacham relies on history to give us perspective on today. And as he rolls through our presidents and our controversial, scary times, I was moved to be hopeful in one moment thinking "If we survived the depression (Civil War, McCarthyism, Segregation, the KKK...) we can survive anything. And then, he drops a bomb of a warning about our current situation that may be the biggest threat of all... I'm not sure we're not completely doomed as a nation. But the perspective Meacham gives us at least informs us incredibly well... Well done...

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Maybe the best business biography ever!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-24-18

Shoe Dog and Phil Knight is an incredibly suspenseful story. I fell in love with Knight’s youthful enthusiasm and drive to be different. And I was concerned about the company’s survival when the cash flow issues were dragging them down even though I’m wearing Nike shoes as I write this. Reads like a novel. Loved it!

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