Everyone should read this book

brilliant narration, fantastic insights into the way we should live. 150 years before his time. going for my second listen. I want to make sure I heard it all.

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1 person found this helpful

Horrible narration

Such a masterpiece ruined by its attempt to provide your ears with terminal illness.

Help Henry.

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1 person found this helpful

Great Classic with some complexity

Well read on the whole. An interesting book but there's some confusing language at times

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A little monotonous

A good story but the performance lets it down a bit. Had to change the speed of the narration which came out quite monotonous and deadpan for me. Maybe just not a great translation to audio. Some good imagery from the tales of a solitary life in the wilderness.

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Give it a try

I was almost put off buying this narration because of some negative reviews but I wanted to leave a positive one for those unsure which narrator they want to listen to.
I was attracted to this narrator because they have a story teller way about them. For quite a dense, heavy and sometimes dry novel I didn't want a monotone voice reading to me as I'd just zone out.
Others have commented that the narration is a bit stop/start. I think this would be the case listening at a faster pace but I found it to have a good cadence and rhythm.
The actual novel is great, I mentioned it cab be quite dry which is true - there are a lot of lists and the first chapter is the hardest to get through. But the story and experience is fantastic, I'd highly recommend it.

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17 people found this helpful

Finally a way to read this epic

The physical book has been on my bedside table for years and every time I read it I love it BUT it's such a tough slow read and it takes rereading for it to fully sink in. The first chapter is slow but has so many thought-provoking concepts. It really feels like Thoreau was ahead of his time.
Through this audiobook, I've been able to have the 'pace set' as I read the book while listening to it at the same time. I pause it at times for what I've just read to sink in as this masterpiece is not to be rushed.

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5 people found this helpful

Book of metaphors

A few people have moaned about the reader of the book, and in the beginning I found this too as it was a little too fast. But I reduced the speed to 0.90x and it made for great listening. So many great metaphors and quotes. A must read for anyone interested in the connection of man and nature, man and man. Highly recommend.

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3 people found this helpful

interesting listen

There's a lot that can be gained from this book but some of it is a little difficult to get through, if you stick with it you might look at things with a slightly different perspective.

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not as profound as some people let on

if you want to hear about a fairly unremarkable 19th cebtury man and how much he loves the nature around a fairly unremarkable pond then this is your book. Some poignancy in his words on occasions but I wouldn't necessarily call it profound . I'd be more interested in the account of a hunter gatherer lifestyle change than of a guy just setting up a farm in the woods a few miles away from where he lived. Was that really thay uncommon back then? Some moments of "oh yea we are slaves to the wage" and "yea coveting all that is a bit silly" but meh. I suppose into the wild is a modern version of this, and I found that more relatable due to the more modern setting. interesting nonetheless so I'd recommend you read if you want to say you have.

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Appalling narration

Twice I tried to listen to this book but the narrator's staccato yet monotonous style of reading made the whole thing really difficult to listen to. I shall most definitely avoid any books narrated by Alec Sand in future! At the same time I was both irritated by the style of reading whilst making it all seem terribly boring. Possibly, just possibly, the book may be more palatable if read from the page myself, though I doubt it. I had bought this having seen it recommended on a book review series a few years ago - "life-changing" "deeply inspirational" and such accolades, but it just seemed to be a tediously detailed account of living off the land, presented in a pious and pretentious preaching manner. In the end, despite my determination to somehow get to the end, I just could not face any more hours of this oral discomfort and abandoned with still over 3 hours left.

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