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Title: The Pact

Subtitle: Three Young Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream

Author: Drs. Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt

Narrator: Drs. Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-21-07

Publisher: HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 135 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

In The Pact, the three share the account of their struggle to keep the pledge they made: a pledge that would alter the course of their lives and lead them to success they could barely imagine. Today Davis and Hunt are doctors, and Jenkins is a dentist. The success of the three doctors is proof that young men can bring out the best in one another and themselves instead of pulling one another down, and it demonstrates that when we "stand on the solid rock of brotherhood" as Martin Luther King, Jr., wrote, remarkable things can happen.

Critic Reviews:

"Teens, especially those at risk, who hear this tale of the authors' struggle to make something of their lives in the face of the enormous temptations of the street and to support each other so that all three might succeed will receive a gift: an extraordinary model of self-determination." (Library Journal)

"Through the strength of their friendship, together these three young men defied the odds. They are an inspiration to young people everywhere, and their message is one that can transform the world." (Bill Cosby)

"The authors aren't professional readers....But the authenticity of their urban accents and the earnestness and sincerity in their voices give their inspiring tale an immediacy that would be lost with a professional narrator." (Publishers Weekly)

Contact me for any questions: [email protected]

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Title: The Night Stalkers

Author: Michael J. Durant, Steven Hartov, Lt. Col (Ret) Robert L. Johnson

Narrator: Patrick Lawlor

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-06-07

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 600 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Special Operations pilots are notoriously reticent; they don't talk about their missions, at least not to anyone outside their small community. But now, with the publication of The Night Stalkers, Durant and Steven Hartov shed a fascinating light on these mysterious super commandos and take readers into a world they have only imagined.

From Iran to Grenada to Iraq, the 160th SOAR (A) has been at the point of the spear and in the thick of combat, delivering and supporting Delta operators, Rangers, and SEAL teams around the globe, in all weather, night or day. Simply put, they are the best of the best, and here for the first time are their hair-raising true stories of battle, capture, victory, and loss.

Critic Reviews:

"The book's action scenes are numerous and spine-tingling, its portraits of men living a life of danger absorbing, and the regiment's sadly long roll of honor distinctly moving." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

A book that does justice

Being a former naval officer, and seeing limited combat I know what these men went through. I know of thier character, I know this book tells the story of how these men, put it all on the line each and every day.

Thank you for sharing this with the world.

Excellent Read

As the previous reviewer noted, this book really does shed some light on those that do not seek it. I always find that listening to books like this make you realize just how easy our lives can sometimes be.

Some of the stories recalled herein, will leave you shaking your head. Outside of Black Hawk Down and a few other books, I had heard of zero of their exploits, but what amazing stories. Hollywood could pick out any of these stories and do an amazing movie. This is a great audio book.Night Stalkers Don't Quit

Also, since this is an audio book review, I would be remiss not to mention Patrick Lawlor. By far one of my favorite narrators, was he in the military (he also narrated Generation Kill, another great audio book) Some of his delivery and different change of characters really bring home a great read.

Wow, give me more!

I was originally looking for action stories about the wars in Iraq & Afganistan so I was slightly discouraged when the book started off as a history lesson about the origins of special forces and the invasion of Grenada. However, it war really interesting after you understood where it was going and really gave me a better understanding and respect of the intensity of the Grenada and Panama conflicts. I really got everything I was looking for when the story covered the gulf wars! The story is a mix of after-action reports mixed with a dialogue story while it happends. There narrator was 'ok'. I didn't care for the way he read it but he did a good job of acting with the dialogue and made you feel the intensity of the situations.

I understand many of the Night Stalker missions are classified, but I want to know more!! A good book!

Decent story but narration awful!

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Interesting look into how Special Ops guys get to where they're going. If you like Special Forces books, this is a good compliment to some of the others out there.

How could the performance have been better?

The narrator tried to hard to sound "tough and gruff" when reading quotes but it sounded silly.

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Title: iWoz

Subtitle: How I Invented the Personal Computer and Had Fun Along the Way

Author: Steve Wozniak, Gina Smith

Narrator: Patrick Lawlor

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-01-06

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 3224 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Before cell phones that fit in the palm of your hand and slim laptops that fit snugly into briefcases, computers were like strange, alien vending machines. They had cryptic switches, punch cards, and pages of encoded output. But in 1975, a young engineering wizard named Steve Wozniak had an idea: what if you combined computer circuitry with a regular typewriter keyboard and a video screen? The result was the first true personal computer, the Apple I, a widely affordable machine that anyone could understand and figure out how to use.

Wozniak's life before and after Apple is a "home-brew" mix of brilliant discovery and adventure, as an engineer, a concert promoter, a fifth-grade teacher, a philanthropist, and an irrepressible prankster. From the invention of the first personal computer to the rise of Apple as an industry giant, iWoz presents a no-holds-barred, rollicking, firsthand account of the humanist inventor who ignited the computer revolution.

Members Reviews:

Not Another Apple History!

If you are looking for a blow by blow history of Apple this is not it, which is refreshing. This book focuses on Steve Wozniak's life and what motivated him to design the first personal computer, the path that led him to that point and the path he took from that point. Steve Jobs is mentioned in the book but only sparingly where it contributes to Wozniak's narrative. Of course the book focuses on Steve's engineering life but also focuses on his relationships with his father, wives and children. Overall a very well rounded account of Steve's life and is a must read for any Apple fan, especially as a foil to the books on Steve Jobs.

Best of the Best

iWoz is one of my favorite audible books of all time (on par with "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!"). Its very inspiring. I wish I could have listened to this 15 years ago while I was taking computer architecture and digital logic in college. Its nice to know about the people actually inventing and really doing the stuff you read about in textbooks.

Geek porn

This book with its seemingly endless descriptions of RAM, ROM, breadboards and soldering of circuitry appealed to my inner nerd. Woz seems like a very interesting guy. And while this book does not really tell the entire story of Apple, it does shed important light on the life of the lesser-known Steve, and provide some facts to counter some of the rumors surrounding the creation of the personal computer. I listened to this book at double speed, which made the experience extra frenetic and quirky.

Interesting look at the early days of the p.c.

This is the memoirs of a computer engineer so the book has a lot of technical information. The author tells about growing up in Sunnyvale, California and working on creating or should I say designing a personal computer. He tells about his group of computer nerds, belonging to a computer club and the founding of Apple Computer Company. It was great to hear from Woz how many of his teachers had a positive effect on him. Helping him push ahead of his class in math and giving him self-confidence in his abilities. He also went into detail about the positive effect his father had in teaching him about physics and electronics and engineering starting at age 4. Woz says his father was an engineer.

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Title: Left to Tell

Subtitle: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust

Author: Immaculee Ilibagiza, Steve Erwin

Narrator: Lisa Renee Pitts

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-05-06

Publisher: Hay House

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 784 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Miraculously, Immaculee survived the slaughter. For 91 days, she and seven other women huddled silently together in the cramped bathroom of a local pastor while hundreds of machete-wielding killers hunted for them. It was during those endless hours of unspeakable terror that Immaculee forged a profound and lasting relationship with God.

The triumphant story of this remarkable woman's journey through the darkness of genocide will inspire anyone whose life has been touched by fear, suffering, and loss.

Critic Reviews:

"Ilibagiza's remarkable path to forgiving the perpetrators and releasing her anger is a beacon to others who have suffered injustice....This book is a precious addition to the literature that tries to make sense of humankind's seemingly bottomless depravity." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

What a triumphant spirit

This book was flawless and although what the author experienced was a million times worse - I still felt like I was right there with her on that bathroom floor. At times I felt I couldn't go on listening and sometimes did stop the recording but I knew I had to finish - if she could experience it and come out on the other side stronger, wiser and closer to God - then I could simply listen. This story of courage has forever changed me and the way I view the world.

Compellling, Inspirational and Fascinating

I resisted reading this book, thinking that any story about the genocide in Rawanda would be too depressing for me to cope with. I was wrong. This story is written and narrated so well, that I listened to the book in one day. Gory details are not what the author focuses on. It is her story of the power of forgiveness and faith. I was so deeply touched by this story that I had to review my own view on faith. I highly recommend this story.

Excellent!

Very well written, very well read.

I could feel every bit that was described. The most inspiring book I have listened to.

Well Worth Your Time

"Inspring" in no way does this book justice, but it is inspiring. It is also horrifically tragic--but lest that scare the timid-hearted off--rest assured that the horror and tragedy are presented in extremely non-graphic and bitter-LESS form. Much more could be said, but I'll quit at that.

Captivating! Enthralling! Uplifting!

Immacul?e Ilibagiza's "Left to Tell" is required reading for any of us suffering from bitterness, self-pity, PTSD or any other wallowing disorder. The book moves quickly feeding one with food for thought. The first person, non-fiction narrative makes me wonder how much immunity I have to the infection that inspired the killing spree in Rwanda. It makes me ponder as to whether I would have the strength and virtue of Pastor Murinzi the "local pastor" who harbored Immacul?e Ilibagiza.

A great read for anyone desirous of breaking stereotypes. Immacul?e's story lacks the taint of bitterness that most of us would be incapable of eliminating in the recounting of such a horrific tale.

Anyone who thinks such things couldn't happen in "their" town needs to fall on their knees and pray that it doesn't.

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Title: West with the Night

Author: Beryl Markham

Narrator: Julie Harris

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-07-06

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1089 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

West with the Night is the story of a remarkable woman molded and shaped by many things: the African jungle, a certain dog, horses, airplanes, friendships with white men and black. There is no life, no story quite like it.

©1942, 1983 Beryl Markham. Recorded by arrangement with North Point Press, a division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, LLC; (P)2003 The Arthur and Luce Klein Audio Collection, The Yale Collection of Historical Sound Recordings, Yale University Music Library

Critic Reviews:

"Julie Harris' reading of aviatrix Beryl Markham's biography and celebration of Africa is an essential audiobook. Enjoy the magic of the spoken word and Harris' lovely performance." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Top Notch Writing; Riveting Stories

Ernest Hemingway is on record praising the writing quality of Beryl Markham's book. It is easy to see why. Her writing style is spare, to the point, without gush, brooding or emotional baggage. She makes you feel you're there with her--whether hunting wild animals, watching a championship horse race or flying in search of a downed pilot, and her descriptions and comments are clever, original and memorable. "I managed to overcome my education" is one that comes to mind. "Wishful thinking often smothers reason" is another. Hers is an adventurous and unusual story: growing up as a small child on an African farm in the 1920's, making her living in the 1930's training race horses in Kenya and then flying planes for safari hunters, followed by her "West with the Night" story when she made the first solo trans-Atlantic flight from England to North America in 1936. One interesting side note: her stories tell us much more about Bror Blixen, the husband of Karen Blixen, than did "Out of Africa."

I note from other reviews there is some question whether this book was ghost-written by her husband who was a Hollywood screenwriter. Given her life devoted to hunting, horse training and flying, it does seem remarkable that she could then write a book of such high quality. We don't have to worry about this question, however. The stories are clearly based on her life and experience, which are extremely interesting. Regardless of who actually authored the text, the writing is top quality and well worth the read.

West with the Night

I loved this book! I bought it on a whim and am so very glad I did. The stories she tells range from touching to exciting. She paints a beautiful picture of a time and place that has now vanished. And the narration is exquisite. I had to stop at one point to see if it was narrated by the author, the voice was so authentic. Definitely one of my top five audio books ever!

West With the Night

A remarkable story rich in characterization and place and read with mesmerizing enchantment by Julie Harris. I have listened to this over and over, and it still holds me in its thrall.

Beautifully written memoir

Such a beautifully written book! I would have loved to know Beryl Markham. Although I have no doubt that she was a unique and extremely intelligent individual, I think the biggest reason she was so successful at so many things is because no one told her she couldn't or shouldn't be. She was an animal lover, humanitarian, horse trainer, and pilot in the wilds of Africa.

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Title: Flags of Our Fathers

Author: James Bradley, Ron Powers

Narrator: Stephen Hoye

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-05-06

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 559 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

In February 1945, American Marines plunged into the surf at Iwo Jima, and into history. Through a hail of machine-gun and mortar fire that left the beaches strewn with comrades, they battled to the island's highest peak. And after climbing through a landscape of hell itself, they raised a flag.

Now the son of one of the flagraisers has written a powerful account of six very different young men who came together in a moment that will live forever.

To his family, John Bradley never spoke of the photograph or the war. But after his death at age 70, his family discovered closed boxes of letters and photos. In Flags of Our Fathers, James Bradley draws on those documents to retrace the lives of his father and the men of Easy Company. Following these men's paths to Iwo Jima, James Bradley has written a classic story of the heroic battle for the Pacific's most crucial island, an island riddled with Japanese tunnels and 22,000 fanatic defenders who would fight to the last man.

But perhaps the most interesting part of the story is what happened after the victory. The men in the photo, three were killed during the battle, were proclaimed heroes and flown home, to become reluctant symbols. For two of them, the adulation was shattering. Only James Bradley's father truly survived, displaying no copy of the famous photograph in his home, telling his son only: "The real heroes of Iwo Jima were the guys who didn't come back."

Critic Reviews:

"Voluminous and memorable....No reader will forget the lesson." (Publishers Weekly) "Flags of Our Fathers is one of the most instructive and moving books on war and its aftermath that we are likely to see, in part because it is instructive and moving in unexpected ways." (The New York Times)

Members Reviews:

awesome

Best book I have listened to yet.

while I agree that the reader is a little maudlin, his tone actually matches the tone of the book quite well. And while the author clearly idolizes his father and may wax poeitic a little bit too much at times, the book overall is one of the most moving peices I have read. More than any other book, it exemplifies the shear role of serendipity in life. who lived, and who died among this group of men was shear chance. And I am sure we cannot conceive of what these men went through. furthermore, the history of this picture which we all recognize exemplifies the nuances and chance outcomes that make great history.

I found it a wonderful book that was very very well read.

History in Real Life

My memories of history lessons from school revealed nothing like the exciting, wonderful tale told in this book!

The author is certainly not worthy of a Pulitzer prize, but he had a desire to find out about an event in history for which he had a personal connection. And then he wrote a book about it. This book provides us with information we have not had prior to his telling it. There are a number of sources for the horrors of the battles in the pacific, no less on Iwo Jima. But this book tells more than just the story of a particular battle.

I found it fascinating and important that the author set out to discover these "boys" and why he insisted on using the term "boys" rather than men. When that picture was taken, they were boys. It does not gloss over thier faults of human nature. And yes, maybe the author does idolize his father a bit heavily.

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Title: What Do You Care What Other People Think?

Subtitle: Further Adventures of a Curious Character

Author: Richard P. Feynman, Ralph Leighton

Narrator: Raymond Todd

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-27-05

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 790 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Among the book's many tales we meet Feynman's first wife, Arlene, who taught him of love's irreducible mystery as she lay dying in a hospital bed while he worked nearby on the atomic bomb at Los Alamos. We are also given a fascinating narrative of the investigation of the space shuttle Challenger's explosion in 1986, and we relive the moment when Feynman revealed the disaster's cause by an elegant experiment: dropping a ring of rubber into a glass of cold water and pulling it out, misshapen.

Editorial Reviews:

Why You Should Download This Audiobook: Richard Feynman is somewhat of a superstar at Audible. We have a wealth of material from him, and he's popular with both our technical and editorial staff. He's one of the first scientists to popularize subjects one thinks of as difficult, like physics. This is significant because since Feynman's death, introducing science to the layman has been a torch taken up most admirably by Stephen Hawking and Brian Greene. Feynman's final autobiographical collection contains pieces that are by turns touching and tragic, and not to be missed.

Critic Reviews:

"Feynman's voice echoes raw and direct.' (The New York Times Book Review)

Members Reviews:

A must read for any Engineer

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

Anyone who is of an engineer mind will love this book. A great narration to a great life, with a great mind.

What did you like best about this story?

The depiction of focusing on straight forward reality in a world much more complex social system. As a side story, I liked how the depiction of lead of the Rogers Commission, William Rogers, evolved. As a computer software engineer, I especially liked seeing the insight into other engineers worlds when trying to solve problems and deal with politics. This book made me recognize why the term software engineer belongs with other engineering disciplines.

Any additional comments?

Always think critically is a theme throughout the entire book.

Sure You're Joking is much better.

What do you care what people think repeats some stories from surely you're joking, but it also has a few new stories. Most of this book is dominated by Feynman's participation in the space shuttle challenger crash investigation commission. It involves his interactions with people, his thoughts on technical details of the topic, and he finally expands on what this all means in the bigger picture. It's a bit long and dry. And if you're interested in this then it may suit you. But I am more interested in Feynman's personal side and ideological thoughts.

I've read Surely You're Joking, The Pleasure of Finding Things Out, and this book (What Do You Care). And I've listed them in order of preference.

Stupid, smart people

Having worked with PhD's and other smart people without being one myself, Richards words resonated with me about how seldom people really discuss the core issues of problems and rather look at what constitutes a socially/politically acceptable solution. Real problem solving is a skill available to people almost irrespective of discipline.

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Title: The Worst Journey in the World

Author: Apsley Cherry-Garrard

Narrator: Simon Vance

Format: Unabridged

Length: 20 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-30-04

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 337 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

This gripping story of courage and achievement is the account of Robert Falcon Scott's last fateful expedition to the Antarctic, as told by surviving expedition member Apsley Cherry-Garrard. Cherry-Garrard, whom Scott lauded as a tough, efficient member of the team, tells of the journey from England to South Africa and southward to the ice floes. From there began the unforgettable polar journey across a forbidding and inhospitable region. On November 12, 1912, in arctic temperatures, the author, in a search party, found the bodies of Scott and his companions along with poignant last notebook entries, some of them recorded in this work.

Among Apsley Cherry-Garrard's friends and admirers were John Galsworthy, H. G. Wells, Arnold Bennett, and Bernard Shaw. His background in the arts and humanities makes The Worst Journey in the World stand out as a literary accomplishment as well as a classic in the annals of exploration.

Critic Reviews:

"Robert Whitfield picks up on Cherry-Garrard's dry sense of humor, stiff-upper-lip approach to adversity, and appreciation for nature, the dogs and ponies on whom the expedition depended, and the polar landscape." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

What a story!

This book describes a time when men were men and an adventure was truly an adventure. The men that paid (yes they had to pay cash to go along) to accompany Scott on this ill fated trip endured terrible conditions and placed they lives at risk for the sake of science.

The book is difficult at times to understand because so many of the details about equipment, ships and life in general are from a time we have mostly forgotten (early 1900's). But it is these details that make the book such a joy to read.

If you only listen to the title chapter which describes the authors winter trip to obtain the penguin eggs in minus 70 degree cold and pitch black (the nights last 24 hours in the winter). Then you will have received your monies worth from this book.

This is a very long book, but it is a book you will be telling your friends about for a long time.

worst journey in the world

even though this is long it is worth every minute, waiting to see what would happen, knowing how difficult it was for them and how they endured such terrible conditions and still kept going. I went and bought indivdual biographies and other stories of the members to read more about these folks because I was so fascinated by them after listening to this story. I recommend this and don't stop even though one may think it is tedious. It deserves your time. The narration is great also.

Heart felt description of Anartica

I felt as if I was part of the exploring party. So much so, that on days when I was tired, I was hesitant to listen. Cambridge's Scott Polar Research Institute has online photos of the people, hut, and ponies - powerful images to go with the reading of this diary. The book is about a British expedition, and read by an eloquent, British gentleman. Quite the right touch. The National Geographic Society has a list of the100 Greatest Adventure Books of All Time and this story is in first place.

Excellent book

This audiobook is very good in my opinion.

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Title: Three Weeks with My Brother

Author: Nicholas Sparks, Micah Sparks

Narrator: Henry Leyva

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-28-04

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 475 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

In January 2003, Nick Sparks and his brother Micah set off on a three-week trip around the world. It was to mark a milestone in their lives, for at 35 and 36, respectively, they were now the only surviving members of their family. As Nick and Micah travel the globe, the intimate story of their tragic family legacy unfolds in the details of the untimely deaths of their parents and only sister. Against the backdrop of the wonders of the world, the Sparks brothers bond together to heal, to remember, and to learn to live life to the fullest.

©2004 Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks; (P)2004 Time Warner Audiobooks

Critic Reviews:

"This is a rare opportunity for readers to get to know a favorite author as Nicholas reveals the inspirations for his fiction. A must-read for Sparks fans as well as a treat for those who want to find out what makes a family strong." (Booklist)

"Refreshingly honest and perceptive....Weaving in vignettes of tenderness and loss with travelogue-like observations, Sparks's account shows how he and his brother both evolved on this voyage." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

A Classic!

While I have enjoyed two of his other books, I believe "Three Weeks with

My Brother" is his best work to date. Nicholas Sparks is an excellent storyteller. Their youthful escapades are uproariously funny.

I laughed, I cried ... I loved it!

Personal and reflective

I always enjoy reading or hearing stories from real people, about the real people that they are, and the struggles they endure. This is a compilation of stories, well woven together. At times it seems a bit too sappy, but the pain these people go through makes it both bearable and understandable. The reader is good, both in vocal character and inflection. I really enjoyed this book, though it didn't keep me in suspense or awake at night wondering what happens next, I did find myself growing attached to the characters. I have never read a Sparks novel, nor did I know he was an established author, but I will read some of his other titles now. His style of writing is easily understood, even in this personal journal of his life. -- Recommended if you like true stories.

Really Good

If you are looking for an armchair travelogue, this is not the book. That is what I was looking for, and I kept on waiting for sightseeing commentaries. Those are secondary. Like peeling an onion, this story unfolds and u get to understand, why it was so important for him to travel with his brother. Where they went seems incidental. A really, really good story. I have never read his fiction books (strike me as romantic stories) but this book was a nice surprise.

A different journey

The most compelling journey the Sparks brothers take you on is not the one around the world. Instead, as we accompany Nick and Micah back in time, they gradually reveal the world they saw as normal when children. It is a world of youthful exuberance, set alongside the pain of a father's emotional distance and an adored mother's attempt to teach her 3 children life's lessons. Laughter and tears comingle as the brothers recount their escapades and the nearly unbearable grief they endured within and alongside their family. I want my own grown sons to read this book. Nick and Micah recall and relate to each other their childhood stories in the same way, I suppose, that all close siblings do.

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Title: The Greatest Generation

Author: Tom Brokaw

Narrator: Tom Brokaw

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-19-01

Publisher: Random House AudioBooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 369 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Through the stories in The Greatest Generation, you'll relive with ordinary men and women, military heroes, famous people of great achievement, and community leaders how these extraordinary times forged the values and provided the training that made a people and a nation great.

Members Reviews:

Yes, they were that great

Having been parented by two of the greatest generation, I enjoyed learning more about what they went through. All too often, they refuse to talk about what happened to them during their amazingly challenging lifetimes, WWI, the great depression, WW2. They have suppressed their experiences or allowed their reflections to fade from their memories. There is still much for us to learn from our parents. I thank Brokaw for helping to reveal some of their stories to us.

Why we appreciate this generation

Finally we have a book that honors this generation who experienced the toughest trials of the 20th century. As a son of a family from this generation, I had long noticed there was always something special about them. This generation is very different from the generations that were born from around 1950 onward, and Tom helps us to understand why. The world events of the time shaped them into who they are. I also think Tom effectively captures the most admirable qualities of this generation in his words. For those of us who did not experience the events of the 1930s and 1940s, Tom's book will give you a new respect for those who did.

For those who are sensitive to foul language, realize that there are a few terms in the chapter related to Art Buchwald. It is not excessive, but you should realize it is there if you happen to have some children who may listen with you. It's the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.

I'm sure everyone has heard Tom's voice from news broadcasts, so you will know he speaks clearly and with conviction. It's a big plus that Tom did his own narration for his work.

I recommend this book for everyone born after 1950. You will gain an appreciation for this generation who lived through the early-to-mid 20th century events you read in your history book, and you will hope that your generation will also follow their example.

Why abridged?

I did not realize when I bought this book that it is the abridged version, very disappointed because it loses a lot of the story between each vignette. Audible please bring back the unabridged.

Beautiful storytelling of those who lived and loved during a time in our history that is not known by many who still live today

Tom Brokaw chose stories of ordinary people and the extraordinarily beautiful things they lived and learned during one of the worst times in the history . His voice reading the words that he penned was a cherry on top! I normally do not read or listen to historical novels or chronicles about wars or the history of our great nation, but I could not put this one down! Recommend this one for all ages !!!

Superb!

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

Do not hesitate to get this book.

Any additional comments?

If you thought you knew about the people who fought in WWII, you will be as surprised as I was to get the story directly from them. Great, great book.