Audiobook Books

This short novel for boys tells how a white American boy becomes marooned with an old West Indian black man on a tiny island during World War II. It's simple, direct, often exciting, truthful, and well-observed. Along with the story of this archetypal relationship (which is much like that between Huckleberry Finn and Jim) it tells a good deal about the fundamentals of life on a Caribbean reef island (the "cay") and about the direct experience of a hurricane. This is a solid, serious, engaging and accessible book that rightfully been in print since 1969. Take Me With You When You Go

this is a wonderful book
very intense and emotional which makes it even more intresting
this book is my favirote all should enjoy and read this!!!
Wonderful life lesson taught!!!!
2 thumbs up!!

Oh my God! This book was so boring. I would have rather watched grass grow. The characters were not likable at all. I found myself cheering when Timothy died. There are many dessciptions of Phillip clutched to Timothy's naked body. So many of these referances that my friends and I started calling it "The Gay". The racial thing wasn't that big a deal. Like OMG!! Phillip dosen't like black people, now he does! I'm shaking from the experiance. DON'T READ IT.

My favorite book is The Cay. The author is Theodore Taylor. The reason why I like this book is because it's all about adventure, and you never know what will happen next. My favorite part is when Phillip gets hit in the head, and when he looks at the sun too long, and he realizes he is blind. The author wrote very good details about what happened to Phillip and Timothy on the cay. I would recommend The Cay to anyone who likes adventure. When I read The Cay I never wanted to stop reading it. It has so many adventures, and things in it. You will never want to stop reading it too.

I like the book The Cay because it is adventure. The book is about a boy named Phillip that goes on a ship with his family and then the ship gets sunk. The next thing he knows is that he is on a rubber raft with a African American man named Timothy. He goes on an island and Timothy dies by a hurricane. But Phillip survives because Timothy risked his life to save Phillips life. Phillip survived on the cay by fishing with the poles that Timothy made for him before he died. Later on he heard a airplane and then set a fire to get the planes attention. Then he put sea grapes in the fire that started smoke and later he was rescued by a ship. I recommend this book for children that are 9 or older. And that is why I like this book because it is a adventure.

Norman Doidge offers an entertaining account of how researchers on the frontiers of neuroscience are creating a better world for all us. The stories he weaves keep our attention on many heroes. These range from researchers who are to be admired for their intelligence and persistence to others who have overcome great difficulties.

Most importantly, Doidge makes significant news readily accessible to those who are seeking better understanding of who they are and they how they might help themselves and others. A brain surgeon colleague was suitably impressed when I prompted him to read this fascinating account of brain science.

This book is a must read for health professionals, educators, mums and dads and all of us over 55. Friends and I have given away numerous copies. The recipients are never disappointed. [BTW, I have never met Norman. I have no shares in the publisher's company nor am I readily given to writing effusive reviews.]

Although I'm not in the field at all, I found this book enlightening and fun to read. The author illustrates his points about brain plasticity through case studies and mini-biographies of groundbreaking researchers and therapists in the field, including the story of a woman born with only half a brain who amazingly adapts. Easy to read and non-technical, the book traces the history of prevailing scientific thought on brain structure and function, makes a convincing theoretical and practical case for plasticity, and shows how powerfully and positively plasticity concepts can be applied to real life situations to rescue "hopelessly" damaged people from their pain and suffering.

This is a fantastic book - well written and easy to read and understand; great case studies;a must for anyone with any interest in the brain; anyone who has aged parents or friends and is looking for some help in understanding how to keep the brain alert or even how to reconfigure it!

Very interesting and instructing about the wonderful brain we've got.
A must for all therapists around the world.

For decades now there has been a longstanding feud between biologists and psychologists on how the human brain forms and develops -- otherwise known as the nature versus nurture debate. Evolutionary biology teaches us that genes is destiny, and with his book the Canadian psychiatrist Norman Doidge makes his case for individual agency and cultural influences.

Like Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs, & Steel" Dr. Doidge's book is not original research but rather a synthesis and summary from the frontiers of brain science. Supplemented with case studies "The Brain that Changes Itself" is about neuroplasticity, which argues that the brain is "plastic," or organic and malleable. For hundreds of years, thanks to thinkers like Rene Descartes, scientists have thought of the brain as mechanical, certain functions localized to certain sectors in this machine -- over time it rusts, with no chance of regeneration. Thanks to decades of research by a brave few who dared to defy their mainstream bethren and to the invention of brain scans neuroplasticity is now the accepted view.

The good news about neuroplasticity is that the brain you have is the brain you make it. New external stimuli (such as learning a new language) causes new neural connections in the brain (the "neurons that fire together wire together" rule of neuroplasticity). Often when we're learning a new language or skill after some fast improvement in the early stages we reach a plateau where we seem to have no improvement at all. Then after a while we suddenly make a great leap. That's because it takes time (as measured by nights of good sleep) for these neural connections to consolidate themselves but once they do we can move onto the next level. Of course if we don't keep on practising this skill these connections will weaken (the "use it or lose it" rule of plasticity) because space in the brain is, after all, limited.

Individual agency over our brains gives great hope to those who suffer from aging and brain damage. Scientists have developed brain exercises on the computer to help the elderly maintain a sharp and alert mind, and help stroke victims restore once lost cognitive functions.

The bad news is that the brain you have is the brain that you make it, and unfortunately most of us choose the path of least resistance and decide not to use it at all. As Dr. Doidge explains the plastic paradox means that exposing yourself to new stimuli can make the brain flexible but choosing to stay within your comfort zone will also make the brain rigid. Learning is fast and furious when we're kids but as we reach adulthood the brain becomes less plastic, making learning more difficult, and instead of choosing to learn most of us choose merely to rely on our current belief system. And when the world challenges this belief system we choose to ignore the world, and if forced we'll opt to fight the world. Thus, the plastic brain that allows us to learn new languages can also paradoxically make us intolerant and racist.

Indeed, as Dr. Doidge warns us, the individuals that he profiles who have managed to change themselves have done so because they make a honest and hard commitment to change themselves. Dr. Doidge's patients went into psychotherapy (which operates from the principles of neuroplasticity) to discover how trauma created unhealthy neural connections, and how through discussion, self-analysis, and will-power to create new neural connections. But this process is painful and costly and takes many years.

And it's so hard because the brain is so adept at protecting us. When we suffer a physical injury the brain will actually decide on what the appropriate level of pain we feel is. And when we're traumatized when we're young (for example, our mother dies or we're sexually abused) the brain will often decide to not convert this experience into long-term memory, and build defenses to disassociate ourselves from the possible pain of further trauma. The net effect is that our hippocampus -- the area of our frontal lobe that transfers experience into long-term memory, and thus what governs our ability to learn -- will shrink, thereby giving a scientific explanation to why adult victims of childhood trauma seem so adolescent and immature.

Neuroplasticity offers hope though: love. It seems that our neural network will automatically become more flexible in two critical periods of our adulthood: when we fall in love, and when we have children. Presumably it's because in both instances we need to urgently learn a new skillset to match the two most important circumstances we could find ourselves in. So being in love with someone does allow you to change who you are. Of course, being the circumspect doctor, Dr. Doidge reminds us that if we find ourselves in love with the wrong person we can change for the worst as well, seeing our confidence and healthy attitude suddenly shatter.

I'm not sure how Dr. Doidge would view my summary of his book, because I've taken great liberty in summarizing it. It's a pithy book and there's really a lot of refreshing and insightful material in the book but I'm not happy about the writing style -- which seems rushed and choppy to me -- and the organization, which hurts the clarity and effectiveness of the book. I've read quite a lot on the workings of the brain so I could follow through most chapters but I think a novice will have a particularly hard time reading this book. For a great introduction to how the mind works I suggest watching the BBC documentary series "The Human Series," hosted by Robert Winston -- possibly the greatest documentary series ever made.

This is a great book! It is well written and the story line is very easy to follow. This book was one of three books that was required summer reading for my daughter's 6th grade class and she loved it as well. It gave her a different perspective on the different and most often times unfair treatment African American received during the 1930s. I strongly recommend this book to every young person to learn a few of life's lessons.

This was my favorite book in the world as a child. I read it over and over, beginning I think in the 3rd grade. It was deeply moving and probably shaped who I am today.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry shows how in the South, African Americans were treated. One complaint about the whites and the African Americans where in danger of being sent to jail, losing land, and death. This story is told from a African American girl, Cassie Logan, and gives readers a taste of the Southern life she faced.

I had to read this book for my freshman English class and I loved it. If your realy into history this is the book for you. It's exciting from the start and really gives you an insight to what it was like for colored people years ago. Great book I recomend this book to everyone!

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
By Mildred D. Taylor
Published by Scholastic, Inc., 1976
210 pages
Historical fiction
Reading levels: 6.9 grade level equivalent, 920 Lexile level

Mildred Taylor's novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is a captivating story told from the perspective of a fourth grader, Cassie, struggling to understand the segregation that plagues her cotton-growing region of Mississippi during the early 1930s.

The story begins as Cassie and her siblings trudge down the dusty dirt road on their way to the first day of school. The first injustice readers experience is seen through the eyes of Cassie's younger brother, Little Man. The first grader refuses to take a textbook when he discovers that the books have already been used by white students. Only after 11 years of use were the books old and ragged enough to be given to "nigra" students, as written inside the covers.

In the next chapter, Cassie and her three brothers deal with the injustice of the school bus. The bus passes them on their walk to school every morning, but it is only for white students. Yet after carrying out a trick to get back at the bus driver, the siblings are afraid they will be found out and will receive the same fate as a family of black neighbors who were burned after making retaliatory comments to a white storekeeper. Throughout the story, fear of who these "night men" will attack next keeps Cassie's family on edge, particularly because the family owns land desired by one of the involved white men.

Cassie next experiences the injustices of segregation when she gets to take her first trip to town with her grandmother. There, Cassie and her brothers must wait in the store as white people, even a young girl, are helped before them. Upon leaving the store, Cassie gets herself into trouble when she refuses to step off the sidewalk to let another girl her age walk by. Cassie is also reluctant to apologize and address the white girl as "Miss."

Throughout the story, Cassie's older brother Stacey repeatedly gets into trouble because of the lying and tricks of his friend T.J. By the end of the story, T.J. is known as a thief and has made friends with two local white boys. Those two boys wind up getting T.J. into enough trouble that the night men once again set out to wreak havoc on T.J.'s family and other local black families. Only a clever turn of events is able to prevent dire outcomes in the enthralling final two chapters of the novel.

While a great read overall, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is a bit confusing for two reasons. First, the characters are at times hard to sort out. It can be difficult to keep Cassie, her siblings, and their young friends straight. It also can be difficult to keep the local families involved in the story straight. The novel is difficult to understand also when Cassie's grandmother explains how the family came to own the farmland around which much of the story's conflict revolves. However, with careful attention, the characters and history can be sorted out, and the story's interesting events will keep you reading.

If you are looking for a page-turner, this book will not disappoint you. Mildred Taylor's vivid descriptions give her characters distinct personalities that bring the novel to life. The novel is a chain of short stories that are entertaining enough to stand alone, but together carry readers to the novel's thrilling climax and conclusion.

Taylor's novel effectively conveys the experiences of children who are just beginning to learn how segregation affects their lives. Readers come to deeper understanding of the hatefulness and unfairness of many white people's treatment of their black neighbors during the early 1930s. Taylor also includes enough explanation of the history of slavery and segregation for readers to fully understand the events. Even if segregation is not a topic of great interest to you, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry will hook you till the last page. A Newberry medal winner, this is a famous book that everyone should read. I assure you that it is well worth your purchase.

You get a booklet and two CDs. They cover the 170 words the NT uses ten times or more, in decreasing order of frequency. It claims these words comprise 70% of the NT, but over 5,200 words remain in the other 30%! Perhaps a follow-up CD is in order with (say) frequencies down to 5 times or more. I'd buy it.

Zondervan's The New Testament Greek Vocabulary package contains a vocabulary guide booklet and two audio CDs read by Jonathan T. Pennington. Its very simple, but effective, concept is to divide words into frequency groups of relatively the same size (about 40 words in each group). The booklet is a print version of the CD word lists, giving the Greek word and the English equivalent.

The obvious advantage of this tool is that one can work on their vocabulary under non-conventional circumstances. For example, many people have long commutes which make for a great opportunity to absorb new vocabulary words. Some types of work also allow for listening to CDs and not being distracted by them. Students can listen to the CDs while studying at home or in the library with headphones while following along with the booklet to complement what they hear with what they see. In the booklet is a large enough gap between the Greek and the English so that one can easily cover up the answers while trying to test themselves.

Unlike many of the popular language CDs available today, Pennington's work focuses strictly on vocabulary. There is no discussion of syntax, except in circumstances which distinguish a preposition's meaning based on its object's case. There are no situational, pre-constructed sentences to learn, such as, pothen ei su; ("Where are you from?"). A language's vocabulary words are the building blocks, and the mortar is its syntax. The mortar should be found in works like Mounce and Wallace, but one should not forsake the very important task of learning the vocabulary.

I presume that the majority of people using this tool are those first learning New Testament Greek. I found it odd that one of the first statements on the CD is, "This program is designed to help you master the vocabulary of Koiné Greek." Learning all the words contained in this package would not make one a master of the Greek New Testament's vocabulary, let alone "Koiné Greek" as the CD claims. It is important to make accurate claims about the language one is learning and the vocabulary in this program only focuses on the vocabulary of a collection of writings found within the wider body of Koiné Greek.

Also, there are certain problems related to learning a language from a CD. The alpha and the omicron are often indistinguishable. When the author says "ay" is it referring to e? ("if") or ? ("or," "either")? Especially if the student is learning new words, the best thing to do is to listen to the audio while following along with the book--at least for the first time.

All in all, the work is well-created. It is intriguing, however, that Zondervan can take two CDs and a little booklet that take relatively a short amount of preparation work (compared to a book) and charge $22.99 for it. In a perfect world this type of a product would come standard with the introductory grammars, but now I am asking too much. What also would be helpful is if Pennington produced a version for the less-common words of the Greek New Testament. Nonetheless, I would recommend the current version to anyone desiring to solidify their vocabulary of the Greek New Testament.

Jonathan T. Pennington is to be commended for his fine work on these vocabulary CDs. I have used them for the past four years, and they have helped me keep up my vocabulary. Probably the most helpful aspect is they help ensure a correct pronounciation. While listening to the CDs is helpful, to get the most benefit, I would recommend listening and using the included vocabulary booklet. Pennington also correctly recommends using the CDs for a short time each day rather than trying to use them for long periods at a time. As a student of NT Greek for several years, I realize that there are no shortcuts or alternatives to hard work. These CDs won't make you a master of the language, but they will give you a good start!

Jonathan T. Pennington reads every word that occurs 10 times or more in the Greek New Testament. The words are arranged in 29 tracks, divided by frequency and presented alphabetically. (e.g. Disc 1, Track 3 contains words that occur 450 times or more in the Greek NT beginning with alla ("but") and ending with hos ("as, like, when, that"). Tracks range in length from 3 minutes 14 seconds to 8 minutes 32 seconds. In his gentle voice, Pennington reads each Greek word, pronouncing it clearly according to Erasmian convention. Then, after a pause for the listener to think of the word's meaning, he gives a gloss--a short English definition of the word. Coupled with a 48 page booklet, this 2-CD set provides a powerful tool for the acquisition of NT Greek Vocabulary.

Verbs are presented in their first principal part only. Nouns are given in the nominative and genitive. Adjectives and pronouns are given in the masculine, feminine and neuter.

Dump these tracks onto your MP3 player and listen to them while you do other things. Pop the disks into your car's CD player and learn while you drive.

A warning: taken in too large doses, these CDs are hypnotic. Listen to them a little at a time or you may find yourself sleep-learning.

If you are studying Greek under a teacher who uses reconstructionist or modern Greek pronunciation standards, these disks are not for you. If you are learning the more common Erasmian pronunciation (ask your instructor) they can be a great help for learning vocabulary.

There is a growing consensus for change in the field of biblical Greek vocabulary pronunciation. No one mentions that this product uses the Erasmian pronunciation. That method is not what biblical Greek era speakers spoke (no one knows what that sounds like)...and it sounds really funny to modern Greek speakers (I have seen eminent American scholars speak with this method in the hearing of modern Greeks who cringe when they hear it).

Of course this is not a problem if you only talk to English speaking bible students who talk about Greek with this pronunciation method. BUT-if you want to travel to Greece, or if you know any Greeks who speak modern Greek, you may find it interesting to know that the vocabulary of the Biblical Greek NT has about a 70% overlap with the vocabulary of Modern Greek version of the NT. (Based on my quick highlighting of the differences between the two version in my BW 7.0 recently).

Because there is a difference of opinion out there on which method is best to use, software products like BibleWorks 7.0 offer both the Erasmian AND the Modern Greek pronunciation.

In addition, a Greek scholar, named Spiros Zhodiates, has produced a NT recording using modern Greek pronunciation (done slowly) so that you can listen to a chapter of that with your Greek NT open and learn how modern Greeks read the Biblical Greek. With his product I like to hold my Greek NT in front of me and follow along as he reads it out loud.

I think some Greek teachers are completely unaware of these things and only consider the Erasmian method. But if you are an evangelical who is studying the bible in Greek because you want to spread the gospel to the world...then I appeal to you to consider building some pronunciation skill in Modern Greek while you are studying the Biblical Greek text.
So for the money, I would recommend you buy Spiros Zhodiates Greek NT recording on CD using the Modern Greek rather than this product.

If you never plan to interact with Greek speaking people...THEN Pennington's work is a five star work worthy of spending your time and money on. So because of that I give this a five star.

I hope this has added something to the well written reviews on this product that was not in the mix for you and that this has helped you see more options before you spend your money!

The Book Thief is no light read. It's not meant to be taken to the beach or casually skimmed over during the course of a weekend. The fact that it's narrated by Death Himself should clue readers into the serious themes held within its pages. I admit that I had to be patient with the narrative at first -it seemed disjointed and difficult to get into, but the language was so vibrant and clever that the book wouldn't let me go. As a result, I was incredibly moved by the ending and can offer up the rarest praise: I will reread this book again in time. It is just that good, that powerful, and that important.

Confusing , disorganized and disappointing. I found this bpook to be difficult to follow.I could not empathize with the main character. A waste of time.

The story starts off a little slow but keep reading because it gets much better. My only disappointment was that I didn't want this book to end. Great read!!

this book was way better than i thought it would be. it starts out slow, but it becomes really good. you should read it. it is very well written and just and all around good book!!!

There are plenty of reviews telling the story line so I won't bore anyone with more. I just want to say how creative a writer Zusak is. This is the first story I've read narrated by death and I couldn't put it down. It was like reading an abstract story with the lives of people during World War II woven so beautifully together. Amazing! Different! And I have to agree with others on the fact that it doesn't read like a junior book. Don't give up on this book, you'll be glad you didn't.

Only two types of people have been and will be attracted to reading this book: those who hope it's about one thing and those who know it's about the other. The former belong to the timid, powerless, low-self esteem majority who are simply looking for the ultimate guide to gaining respect and admiration from their peers. The latter belong to the unscrupulous, dare I say sociopathic ever-growing minority whose end goal is to win at everything against everyone by any means. Once the book has been read and fully digested, one of two conclusions will be reached. The first is a sudden awareness of what a perfectly outstanding tool they hold in their hands and the limitless rewards it can afford them. The second is an absolute disgust and horror at what a dangerous volume this is and the malicious behavior it outright encourages. Interestingly, the timid are no always the ones repulsed and the ruthless are not always the ones aroused. The wave can break either way.

Shortly after this book was published, I happened upon it in a bookstore and knew I had to have it. A blaze of energy electrified my body and pounded through the deepest recesses of my mind. I was on fire, I couldn't put it down and yet I knew I could never share it with anyone, the way a child might hide away their favorite toy. In truth I became obsessed. I had to learn and then master every element of every law and take supreme authority over every aspect of my life. Indeed, this book, The 48 Laws of Power, became my bible, the most passionate conquest I had ever sought to undertake.

Within its pages I met with the reflection of every gruesome bully and every merry manipulator I had ever known. Their power was uncanny and yet so mysterious, mostly because I could never fathom how such apparently absent minds could lay so cool yet strike with such venom. It was awe-inspiring, and I had to come to terms with their secrets. The secrets that earned them respect from their enemies and fear from their admirers. The secrets that won them the most buxom women, who always appeared so entranced by even their rudest and most audacious displays. "How could they get away with everything so smoothly?!" I had wondered. "How could they be so desirable?!" I had thought. "HOW?!"

Well...here is how. It is simple.

Some people are given to a heredity and/or an upbringing that nourishes what is commonly considered 'bad' behavior. Certain genes as well as certain parenting styles perpetuate an attitude of unruliness which leads in its purest variety to utter contempt for anyone else's thoughts, feelings, or needs. Their minds develop without a balanced set of experiences, leading them to logically conclude that the information that they did receive must indeed be correct. This is also applicable to those who suffer violence in their youth, even if that violence is not carried out physically. The fact remains that whatever world with which one is presented is accepted as unmitigated truth. 'Bad' behavior is usually viewed by such a person as normal. Thus selfishness, cruelty, and manipulation are seen as strengths, while compassion, kindness and humility are seen as weaknesses.

Surely there are a bevy of other factors that cannot go without mention. High intelligence, a pleasing appearance, a particular talent, et cetra can all act as lauchpads for immorality if similar virtues in others go unrecognized as being equal. This sense of equality is what it all comes down to, in fact. The very idea of power assumes that another cannot or should not be in a position to where the perspectives of both can be viewed as equally valid. On the one end is the person who is possessed by their own image, on the other is the person who believes that they have no intrinsic worth at all. The two feed off of each other in a sadistic/masochistic symbiotic relationship. The point then comes to bear that a person who believes himself powerful only remains so long as the other believes the same thing. Put two people who both see power as the ultimate attainment and you have the setting for the average business affair. From here, only two things can happen. One will cave, allowing the other to dominate, or neither party will cave, effectively precipitating resentment and rage within both. The former leads to a continuation of the cycle, the latter leads to war.

This book is extremely well-researched and exquisitely written, which is why I still give it three stars. But you must beware of your intentions. Buy this book if you don't care about anyone but yourself, and it pleases you to see another man crumble. Do not buy this book if you have even the slightest interest in saving yourself from years of unnecessary struggle. Remember that the wave does break both ways, and you do not know who you may become if you toss your ethics in the wastebasket. Needless to say, I was the timid one who was sick of being overlooked, but in the end, it was this book that I tossed into the wastebasket. Your call.

I'm pretty into morality but I quite like this book. But If you're not weary of someone who recommends deception (as the author does) you deserve to get suckered. Some of the rhetorical techniques he employs include writing in the style of that wise blind guy who knew everything in Kung fu, it doesn't work at all once you've seen an interview with him. Also putting a number (48) in the title makes it sound very scientific, I'd bet he has no idea if there really are exactly 48 laws of power.

Still I would not say all the laws are immoral or even amoral as the blurb claims. Some, such as not hanging around with people who drag you down and "assuming formlessness" are about self defence not predation. You can pick and choose according to your code of ethics or lack thereof.

It probably should have come with a warning. The philosopher Alfred Whitehead said Machiavellian techniques work well for about 15 years. One of the practical problems with deception is reality does actually exist and cannot be kept at bay forever. When it is revealed it could ruin you or an entire economy (as when vast numbers of people lie to get loans).

Still an interesting book not only for the unscrupulous.

Why do you need this power in the first place? Here is a quote from 7 Habits, "Standing near the graves of famous people, we understand all the silly wars in which they fought."

I will not be surprised if this book is used as a required reading in terrorist camps to show the "real Americans". Clearly, it is against democracy, Christianity, and all other values.

Read 7 Habits by Covey instead.

this book is absolutely ridiculous, it was written for the idiot's notion of what they believe power is, and just affirms what the dim witted already suspect; "Use a person until they are no longer valuable to you......" AH HA! says the ignoramus who has just been convinced of the vercity of this childrens book.

Very smart book. Has some very unique and useful tools. I don't agree with everything but I like the book and I will use some parts. I try to treat people as I would have them treat me....The Golden Rule. But with trouble makers or bad people this book can be very helpful.

Delivery and Book Condition: Excellent. No issues with delivery

Content:
I am newbee to economics. Only taken one course about supply and demand in economics in my 8 years of engineering studies

Reason I bought this book was after hearing the controversial statements about oil being the reason for the Iraq war. I seem to be getting interested in the concepts of economics

Haven't still finished it completely yet but the book keeps me on the edge talking about concepts that I am relatively unaware of; how american politics work, what role federal reserve plays, Alan Greenspans experiences in his job, world events (like fall of communism, fall of the berlin wall to name a few) and so on. This book is all about capitalism and its pros

For someone who is comparatively more versed with world events and economics in general, this book may not be that appealing; that's assuming one is looking to explore in more indepth

Closing note: After listening to the audio book, I would recommend buying a book and reading it instead to absorb everything, especially to newbees like me

I purchased the CDs to listen in my car while I commute to learn more about Global and Macroeconomics. While it was not a classroom education it was well worth the time and money.

The first several CDs cover Mr. Greenspan's early life and give a great deal of insight into how his views developed. They are very light, laced with dry (but quite amusing) humor and move along very quickly. Upon learning of his close friendship with Ayn Rand, much of his manner and opinion comes into clear focus.

Namely, Mr. Greenspan is a unapologetic Free Market Capitalist. His arena is Global Macroeconomics and he embraces "Creative Destruction" wholeheartedly. While he does address the hardships of this, it is in a purely pragmatic approach. I get the feeling he does care about the socioeconomic fallout but this is not the purpose of these CDs.

The middle CDs are sometimes difficult for a lay person to follow but are worth repeating to gain a better understanding. His explanations of Developing Markets, Populism, and the demise of Central Planning are very detailed and interesting.

I found I enjoyed the last CDs the most as they address current global uncertainties. The spike in oil prices, the fall of the dollar, accounting scandals, changing labor markets, and need to address energy consumption. You may not agree with him on principal but he presents solid arguments in his favor.

I recommend this collection to lay people interested in gaining a better understanding of Global macroeconomics and, oddly, those opposed to Globalization. While the latter may sound odd Mr. Greenspan presents his argument clearly and concisely. There are no vaguaries in his points and this allows reasoned response to to these issues.

It's so good to see how a man like Greenspan looks at things, his approach, and charicter. I strongly recommend

If you are fascinated by economics, then this is the book for you. If you are not fascinated by economics, this book is still for you. It provides a global perspective about some of the forces that move our world, and some insights into the developement of the people who are/were ultimately in a position to influence the world.

I actually love this book. I ordered it in hardcover first and then cancelled it and ordered it on CD figuring I would be able to get to it much quicker as an audio read in the car. My intention was correct and the content of this book is definitely worth reading. However, the audio is so uneven, especially after the biographical chapters, that it is completely distracting. I found myself having to rewind several times to get past the changes in the narrator's sound and inflection. This occurs more often in the midst of chapters and tracks than in chapter breaks. I wasn't overall crazy about the narrator, but, I believe this has more to do with the editing and producing of the disk. The narrator probably read some passages more than once and they spliced together the "best" takes. It's horrible. Do yourself a favor and read the printed version. I would give that four stars on content alone. It might have been interesting to hear Greenspan's own voice as I believe the narrator wasn't always in understanding of the text.

Needed more action rather than words. Too clinical and not practical. Had some good explanations, but my fiance and I just got bored with his suggestions. Has a lot to do with changing your thought process, but then what?

I listened to several sections of the CDs and thought it was junk. I do not recommend it for anyone. I threw mine in the trash.

The information that Dr. Schnarch has provided in this work is extremely helpful in understanding the dynamics involved in having a much more passionate relationship. It was recommended to me off of a dating website by an e-mail friend. I can never thank him enough!

If you want to leave the traditional marriage solution thoughts for a real answer, this is the book.

This tape is great! I'm remarried and want to get it right this time. Dr. Schnarch offers a different approach. I bought his book, but wanted to get an overview in his own words. I have recommended it to several friends and a support group for Vietnam Vet's significant others.