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The Sleep of Reason

By: David James Smith
Narrated by: Ronnie Leek
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Summary

Friday, 12th February, 1993. Two outwardly unremarkable 10-year-old boys began the day by playing truant and ended it running an errand for the local video shop. In between they abducted and killed a two-year-old boy, James Bulger. In search of an explanation, award-winning journalist David James Smith looks behind the misinformation, misunderstanding and sensational reporting to an exact account of the events of that day.

A sensitive and definitive account, The Sleep of Reason achieves a unique understanding of the James Bulger case, and comes as close as may ever be possible to explaining how two 10-year-olds could kill.

©2017 David James Smith (P)2020 Audible, Ltd
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What listeners say about The Sleep of Reason

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in-depth and balanced

very well put together, balanced and factual. Tackled the issue with respect. I listened to it in short bits which helped processed what had been said

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Looking from the other side.

Highly recommended. Although we will never be able to understand why little James suffered so horrifically, this full on account views all sides. Devoid of all the sensationalism and associations to desensisation from horror videos. Back to the bare bones of sociological and economical effects on both nurture and nature.

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Heartbreaking

I felt this book slightly lent towards the murderers point of view, rather than James as family.

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Very intriguing account of a heinous crime

very well read, and hugely informative.
Thankfully expelled all the myths surrounding this case.
A compulsive listen.

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Very sad

Very good lots details sad off course but very interesting rip poor james humans are the worst kind

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5 people found this helpful

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Gruesome

I thought I knew about the Bulger case until Iheard this audio book.
Some really gruesome and upsetting details but an overall respectful analysis.
My one criticism of the narration is that, at times, the narrator uses a bouncy, chirpy manner of speaking that you might hear reading a child's story book while describing awful facts.

The outcome in the last chapter shows just how the deterioration of family life can damage a child.

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4 people found this helpful

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A fascination, sad, disturbing read..

I found this book to be really interesting. It went really in depth into the events, but with more focus on the two perpetrators rather than young James, although some background is covered about him too.

You might want to space it out over a few days, like I did, because the subject matter is pretty intense.

Narration is also top notch.

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1 person found this helpful

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Heartbreaking

Great book, hard not to become emotional listening to it. Will now move on to the book written by James Bulgers mum ‘I let him go’

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gripping

brilliant listen. what a great insight into a horrible case. must listen too. had me gripped from start to finish

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Heinous…

Loved the detail that the author went into. But hated it at the same time.

Well written, full of factual information

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