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Kev D. - Reviews

1 to 11 of 11
Bait and Switch : The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream (Audio CD) (Unabridged)
Review Date: 10/23/2010
Helpful Score: 1


Barbara Ehrenreich is for sure a flaming liberal and that powers certain comments she makes in the book I'm sure (white collar corporate workers have no dignity?). Putting aside those kinds of comments, if you want to know what job searching is like for white collar workers this book describes it perfectly. Written in 2005 it is just as applicable now as it was then. I just spent 11 months looking for a job - trust me on this one. From useless career coaches to the futility of networking with other unemployed people she strikes the perfect tone of irony and compassion. Sure she starts from the point of view of an anti-corporate socialist, but her description of trying to find a job in today's America is dead on. I liked this one so much I listened to it twice back to back. I'm And if you're currently unemployed, this book serves to remind you of that one very important thing: it's really not you personally that is being rejected despite the fact that is how it feels.


Review Date: 10/16/2011


I'll echo everyone else's thoughts in that it was a very good read (listen) and the hook at the end was totally unexpected. But to be honest I was a bit bummed out by it. This is another one of those books on CD that makes you look forward to the morning and evening commutes.


Cell  (Audio CD) (Unabridged)
Cell (Audio CD) (Unabridged)
Author: Stephen King, Campbell Scott (Narrator)
Book Type: Audio CD
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 52
Review Date: 9/28/2012
Helpful Score: 2


Cell is Stephen King's take on the 'zombie apocalypse'. Great book for commuters - unabridged and good enough to keep you looking forward to your daily commute to and from work.


Don't Know Much About History
Don't Know Much About History
Book Type: Audio Cassette
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 9
Review Date: 8/24/2008
Helpful Score: 2


Entertaining audio book. If you went to a decent high school you know most of what is here (e.g. Why was Kansas bloody?). What you may not know or remember is the underlying causes. The author focuses on this facet of popular history. Also includes some verifiable and amusing historical anecdotes such as what George Washington really said when crossing the Delaware.

The closer it gets to modern history the more the author shows his liberal bias. Comments on Reagan paint him as a figurehead who didn't really know what was happening around him. Barely a mention is made of any of President Reagan's accomplishments. It's a disappointing ending to what was an overall entertaining commuter audio book.


dot.bomb: My Days and Nights at an Internet Goliath
dot.bomb: My Days and Nights at an Internet Goliath
Author: J. David Kuo
Book Type: Audio Cassette
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 3/30/2008


If you worked in the industry as I did this book will bring back memories. If not it will give you a feel for what it was like during the dot com bubble. David Kuo is a great storyteller with a great story to tell. Great commute-to-work book.


The First World War
The First World War
Author: John Keegan
Book Type: Audio Cassette
  • Currently 4.3/5 Stars.
 2
Review Date: 2/28/2008
Helpful Score: 1


Great book if you enjoy engrossing history lectures.

Keegan manages to focus both on the details of the individuals and the greater political theater in which they operated. Somewhat higher level views of battles. Just enough details about trench warfare, the appearance of mechanized cavalry and equipment of the average soldier.

Covers the global theater of operations and not just the better known eastern and western European fronts. Includes the action among the colonial states in Africa that are usually given short shrift. Great detail on the political and strategic elements behind the Gallipoli campaign, Jutland, and the modernization of naval forces in both Britain and Germany.

Not the best book to listen to while driving. I listened to it twice back-to-back while commuting to work. Absorbed maybe a third of it. Has great 're-readability' potential.


The Island (Audio CD) (Unabridged)
The Island (Audio CD) (Unabridged)
Author: Heather Graham, Joyce Bean (Narrator)
Book Type: Audio CD
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 13
Review Date: 12/4/2011
Helpful Score: 1


Fun book for killing the daily commute. More of a 'chick' book though not a romance novel, and it has enough of a plot to keep the story going all the way to the end. For me it was something outside of what I normally read.


Last Man Standing
Last Man Standing
Author: David Baldacci
Book Type: Audio CD
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 17
Review Date: 9/10/2011


Really liked this one. First one of Baldacci's that I can remember reading. Long enough and with enough plot twists to make a great book for commuting. Made me look forward to Boston traffic so as to have more time to listen.


The Running Mate
The Running Mate
Author: Joe Klein
Book Type: Audio Cassette
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 3
Review Date: 10/18/2008
Helpful Score: 3


I'll give this one the highest praise I can think of: it made me look forward to my miserable commute! Especially relevant now given the current situation. Great insider's view of Washington and how it works socially.


Snow Falling on Cedars
Snow Falling on Cedars
Author: David Guterson
Book Type: Audio CD
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 12
Review Date: 10/16/2011


The first abridged audio book that has so good it made me want to go out and get the unabridged novel.


Zodiac [UNABRIDGED]
Zodiac [UNABRIDGED]
Author: Robert Graysmith
Book Type: Audio CD
  • Currently 4.5/5 Stars.
 4
Review Date: 10/29/2011


I was a kid in the 60's and early 70's and knew nothing about the Zodiac killer. This is a great book that reads (listens?) like a historical novel. And as with Jack the Ripper there's a strong case for a certain suspect as the killer, but he was never prosecuted. Unlike the Ripper though Zodiac may still be alive.


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