My Seal of Approval
I was very excited to see that Ricochet landed a new sponsor- Audible. I'd like to recommend both the service itself and a few specific books. I'm actually writing this with high school or college kids, or apolitical people, in mind. So if you're looking for a gift this holiday season (Easter and Passover) for a loved one who is on the wrong side of the aisle, look no further.
I joined Audible around 9 months ago, when I was really starting to pay attention to politics. First, I downloaded Mark Levin's Liberty and Tyranny. It was a short listen relative to most audiobooks, but it is rightfully popular because Levin is able to write in words anyone can understand, while still arguing substantively. It was the first audiobook I'd ever listened to, and I had no idea it could actually be entertaining.
I really became addicted to Audible after downloading Jonah Goldberg's Liberal Fascism. As Mr. Goldberg's publisher or Jonah himself would want, I was immediately hooked because of the controversial title and eye-catching cover. And thank goodness- if it weren't for its attention-grabbing exterior, I might have missed out on a piece that helped me learn about positive law- that is, the fallacy of the left that the government should go beyond protecting the inalienable rights of its citizens.
Here are a few more gems that are well-narrated and thoroughly enjoyable:
- Righteous Indignation by Andrew Breitbart- Just a lot of fun to listen to- the book is captivating because he loved what he did.
- Demonic by Ann Coulter- The highlight is the chapter about the French Revolution. Keep in mind this was released before the whole Occupy ordeal.
- America Alone and After America by Mark Steyn- Mr. Steyn makes the decline of Western civilization very entertaining- and worth your time and money. That is, the book is worth it.
- How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life by Peter Robinson- I'm not just playing "teacher's pet" here; while conservatives are often painted as extreme or scary by our opponents, this offers a great rebuttal. You'll learn a great amount about President Reagan- a man labeled as idiotic and or insane by his dissenters (and these aren't only applied to him). Ricochet's own Mr. Robinson characterizes the Commander in Chief as "sweet," contrasting him with the fictional West Wing President, who was known to get into yelling matches, played by Martin Sheen. And then there's Peter himself, who can only be described as preposterously... normal. He tells anecdotes of getting fired, looking for a job, and making a fool of himself in front of his friends. The President and Peter are kind, humble, and personable- a breath of fresh air compared to the MSM's suffocating tank full of rabble-rousing race-baiters.
That's all for now. I have another free book saved up in my account. Any suggestions?
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Re: My Seal of Approval
Are most/many/any of the books narrated by the authors themselves? Which of the books that you mention above are narrated by their authors?
Re: My Seal of Approval
Peter does read his book. You can listen to a sample here.
Re: My Seal of Approval
Most of the books are not narrated by their authors. Ann Coulter does narrate an abridged version of some of her books- but not the entire thing. Mark Levin narrates the introduction in Liberty and Tyranny.
Mark Steyn narrates After America, but not America Alone. Righteous Indignation and Liberal Fascism aren't read by their authors. On Audible you can see other user's reviews- specifically, you are able to see opinions on the narrator. The books I put up here are still good despite not being narrated by the authors themselves. I'll admit though, some have narrators that put me to sleep.
Aug '11
Re: My Seal of Approval
Following your theme of conservative self-education, here are a few suggestions for the use of your free credit:
- Witness by Whittaker Chambers
- The Conservative Mind by Russell Kirk
- Modern Times by Paul Johnson
- Miles Gone By: A Literary Autobiography by William F. Buckley, Jr. (narrated by himself)
Edited on April 2, 2012 at 12:38pmDec '10
Re: My Seal of Approval
I've been an Audible member for a couple of years. The credits appearing regularly in my account has prompted me to buy some books that I wouldn't ordinarily read.
The Poisoners Handbook by Deborah Blum, a fascinating history of creative methods invented to off people, and how those methods led to research and eventual clarity in forensic pathology.
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee, a spectacularly written history of humanity's fight against cancer.
The entire Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin, starting with A Game of Thrones. All read by the amazing Roy Dotrice, these five books are 175 or so hours of the very best adventure and intrigue I've ever heard.
Edited on April 3, 2012 at 1:58am