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James May's 20th Century

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About this listen

 Longlisted for the Audiobook Download of the Year, 2007.

How much should you pay for a return trip to the moon? How are Winnie the Pooh and the artificial heart related? Did teenagers exist before 1950? If not, who invented them? James May's 20th Century answers all these questions and more.

In this exclusive download released to tie-in with the BBC TV series, James May explores the iconic themes of the century: flight, space travel, television, mechanised war, medicine, computers, electronic music, skyscrapers, electronic espionage, and much more.

But he also reveals the hidden story behind why some inventions like the Zeppelin, the motorcycle side car, or the Theremin struggled to make their mark. He examines the tipping points � when technologies such as the car or the internet became unstoppable � and gets up close by looking at the nuts and bolt of remarkable inventions.

Packed with surprising statistics and intriguing facts, this is the ideal book for anyone who wants to know how stuff works and why some stuff didn't make it.

©2007 James May and Phil Dolling; (P)2007 Hodder and Stoughton Audiobooks 20th Century History History & Culture Innovations Modern Technology War Thought-Provoking Funny Aviation
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James May disconnects from his role on the show with the Orangutan and Hammond, it is a light story, well put and easy for understanding narrating what James considers were the breakthrough inventions or changes which happened during the 20th century, you may agree or not with what he considers the best things of this time, but you will learn a thing or two on things that are taken for granted nowadays, which you didn't know and which in so many cases are base of our current world.

James narrates brilliantly, the story though, I believe it starts at a great pace, but it slows down as the book goes. would recommend it anyway.

Good book from captain "Slow"

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Very enjoyable, a great listen again and again.

Buy it

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What about James May’s performance did you like?

As a narrator James May is very listenable.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes I could - it's an easy listen

An enjoyable listen

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Born in 1969 I’ve witnessed first hand a small proportion of the content of James May’s examination of the last century, but never until now viewed it from the stance , and with the relevance to where we are today as a result
James’s narration is quite beguiling, and he successfully shrug’s off the label offered to him by his two friends and colleagues of being boring , or indeed slow. A better listen than read I suspect due to the familiar tone and presentation of a very interesting and intelligent man.

Didn’t want it to end , ever.

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I like James May but this isn't the best his done, but still worth a listen

Good but not his grestest

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