Audiobooks

[Mandobart]

Years ago on family road trips we brought the "Hank the Cow Dog" cassettes to play for the kids. They're narrated by the author and lots of fun. In their teens we once brought a multi-CD set of Trevor Noah narrating his life story "Born a Crime." Excellent and entertaining. We all enjoyed it.

Kids are grown and on their own, but we still bring audible books on the phone to listen to while travelling. I find hearing a good story more engaging than even listening to music while driving.

[tinnitus]

Just finished How the World Really Works - The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We're Going, by Vaclav Smil.

It's a current (2022) reality-check-firehose-blast of information about energy, food production, materials/resources, environment, globalization, risks, the future, etc., delivered in a non-judgmental, just-the-facts manner by the author himself. Fascinating, if merely for the proportion and scale it conveys.

Very crisp and clear, it played coherently on audio at 1.50x speed.

On a whim, I also borrowed the physical book from the library and sat down to read it while I listened. Using both senses seemed to leverage my intake/comprehension, and I skipped along comfortably listening at 1.75x speed. Worth a try if you're curious.

He's authored some other things that I'm going to search out and reserve for a listen.

[tinnitus]

Just finished Fortunate Son - My Life, My Music - by John Fogerty. As a rock/blues guitarist who taught myself to play in the 1960s (listening to the radio), this book was right up my alley. I always knew that he had an acrimonious split with his band and management after a short but brilliant skyrocket of a career, but I never knew much about the frustrating details until now. Lots of interesting social commentary for the time as well.

I enjoyed his thoughts about writing and playing specific songs that I've covered for half a century, gear preferences and progression into becoming a more versatile player.

If CCR was part of the soundtrack of your youth and development as a musician, I'm guessing you'll like this one too.

[tinnitus]

Just finished Steven Tyler's audiobook, Does the Noise In My Head Bother You?

Narrated by someone else, it played comfortably at 1.40-1.50x speed.

No real surprises here since he's been well established for half a century (in my mind anyway) as yet another interchangeable poster-child for the excessively debaucherous lifestyle of sex, drugs and rock n' roll - certainly one of the most famous/infamous.

Without any hint of apology, it was interesting to hear his own version of what has been thoroughly chronicled by others, his musical influences/heroes, industry/management shenanigans, stories behind lyrics, major-league drug addictions, assessments of his bandmates, etc.

There was a 20-minute afterword narrated by the author himself, which I had to slow to normal 1.00 speed.

Entertaining book. And now I feel a bit dirty.

[tinnitus]

The curious author ate some peyote and described his experience. Published in 1954.

It's hard to imagine curious/rebellious teens in the 70s (who indulged in weed, LSD, uppers/downers, coke, heroin, etc., etc.), not regarding this as an inspiration to try peyote too, especially given its centuries-old organic, ceremonial/sacramental aura.

A short, interesting, somewhat clinical yet philosophical read.

I believe this book title inspired the Doors when they were pondering what to name the band.

[Silly Moustache]

"So, what’s on your listening device?"

The Radio. BBC Radio 4 extra to be precise.
After midnight they rerun old plays, some of which come in many hour long episodes, that they run through the night consecutively.

Many were made thirty to fifty years ago, when the BBC had a large drama group with many famous, bu now dead actors.
sometimes I doze off -doesn't matter, I'll pick it up next time round.
There's one running now - "A Man Alone" first broadcast 1986. From 2.a.m the "whodunnit" series.