Jason Chavez
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With the Old Breed
- At Peleliu and Okinawa
- By: E. B. Sledge
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor, Joe Mazzello, Tom Hanks (introduction)
- Length: 13 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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The celebrated 2010 HBO miniseries The Pacific, winner of eight Emmy Awards, was based on two classic books about the War in the Pacific, Helmet for My Pillow and With The Old Breed. Audible Studios, in partnership with Playtone, the production company co-owned by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, and creator of the award-winning HBO series Band of Brothers, John Adams, and The Pacific, as well as the HBO movie Game Change, has created new recordings of these memoirs, narrated by the stars of the miniseries.
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This is the second audio book of Sledge's work
- By Richard on 10-21-13
- With the Old Breed
- At Peleliu and Okinawa
- By: E. B. Sledge
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor, Joe Mazzello, Tom Hanks (introduction)
Phenomenal work
Reviewed: 03-04-25
This is a must-read for combat veterans and anyone seeking an unfiltered look at war’s raw reality. As a veteran who returned from Afghanistan, I initially avoided war books, wary of revisiting the chaos. But Sledge’s account broke through that reluctance. His vivid, honest reflections on the Pacific campaign capturing the fear, exhaustion, and camaraderie mirrored my own buried emotions in a way that felt both haunting and healing. I wish I’d read this when I first came home; it might have helped me process the unspoken weight sooner. This isn’t just a war story it’s a lifeline for those who’ve lived it. I loved this book for its brutal clarity and the quiet strength it offers without preaching or pretending.
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Guide for the Perplexed
- By: Moses Maimonides
- Narrated by: Andrea Giordani
- Length: 30 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Written for those who were bewildered by the conflict between religion and scientific and philosophic ideas, The Guide for the Perplexed is concerned with finding a concord between the text of the Old Testament and its commentaries, and Aristotelian philosophy. After analyzing the ideas of the Old Testament, Maimonides examines other reconciliations of religion and philosophy like the Moslem rationalists and then offers his own resolution with Aristotelianism.
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Can't understand robotic voice
- By Kevin L. Freeman on 09-09-22
- Guide for the Perplexed
- By: Moses Maimonides
- Narrated by: Andrea Giordani
A Guide for us all.
Reviewed: 02-27-25
Guide for the Perplexed, written by the medieval Jewish philosopher Moses Maimonides in the late 12th century, is a towering work of religious philosophy that seeks to reconcile faith with reason. Originally composed in Arabic under the title Dalālat al-ḥā’irīn, it was later translated into Hebrew and other languages, gaining a wide audience across religious traditions. The book is framed as a letter to a student grappling with the apparent contradictions between biblical scripture and the rational inquiry of Aristotelian philosophy. Its central aim is to guide those “perplexed” by these tensions toward a deeper, more coherent understanding of God.
When it comes to understanding God, Guide for the Perplexed is both profound and challenging. Maimonides doesn’t offer a simple, devotional portrait of the divine. Instead, he dives into a rigorous intellectual exploration, emphasizing God’s absolute transcendence and unknowability. He argues that human language and concepts fall short of capturing God’s true nature, advocating for a “negative theology”—where we define God more by what He is not (e.g., not corporeal, not limited) than by what He is. This approach can be incredibly enlightening for readers seeking a philosophically grounded perspective, but it might feel abstract or unsatisfying to those craving a more personal or emotional connection to the divine.
The book shines in its methodical dismantling of anthropomorphic interpretations of scripture. Maimonides insists that descriptions of God “speaking” or “walking” in the Torah are metaphorical, meant to accommodate human understanding rather than reflect literal truths. His exegesis is meticulous, drawing on Jewish tradition, Greek philosophy, and Islamic thought (particularly influences like Al-Farabi and Avicenna). For someone wrestling with how to square a rational worldview with religious texts, this is where the Guide excels—it provides a framework that respects both scripture and logic.
That said, it’s not an easy read. Maimonides wrote for an educated elite, assuming familiarity with biblical texts, Talmudic scholarship, and Aristotelian metaphysics. Modern readers without that background might find it dense or esoteric, especially in sections dissecting prophecy or divine attributes. The layered structure—where he sometimes veils his true meaning to avoid unsettling less sophisticated believers—can also make it feel elusive. You’re forced to peel back the layers, which is rewarding if you’re patient but frustrating if you’re not.
On understanding God, I’d rate it highly for its intellectual depth and originality—let’s say an 8.5 out of 10. It’s not a devotional work that brings you closer to God through feeling or worship, but it’s unmatched in clarifying the limits of human comprehension and pushing you to think critically about the divine. Its strength lies in its ability to provoke awe through reason rather than mysticism. If you’re a seeker who enjoys wrestling with big ideas and doesn’t mind a slow, deliberate pace, it’s a classic worth your time. Just don’t expect it to hand you simple answers—it’s more about teaching you how to ask better questions.
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Mesillat Yesharim
- The Path of the Just
- By: Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto
- Narrated by: Josh Bloomberg
- Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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The classic work by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, one of the modern-day sages of Jewish literature. This work is universally studied across all sectors of Jewish learning and is indisputably recognized as the foremost work in Jewish ethics and self-improvement. In the author's own words: "I have written this work not to teach men what they do not know, but to remind them of what they already know and is very evident to them, for you will find in most of my words only things which most people know, and concerning which they entertain no doubts."
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A great book that you can read multiple times.
- By Ekaterina on 07-18-21
- Mesillat Yesharim
- The Path of the Just
- By: Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto
- Narrated by: Josh Bloomberg
Must listen
Reviewed: 08-07-24
Powerful words from a great and holy man. I think it’s a must listen for anyone interested in growing their faith and understanding of the Master of the Universe.
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The Lords of Easy Money
- How the Federal Reserve Broke the American Economy
- By: Christopher Leonard
- Narrated by: Jacques Roy
- Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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If you asked most people what forces led to today’s unprecedented income inequality and financial crashes, no one would say the Federal Reserve. For most of its history, the Fed has enjoyed the fawning adoration of the press. When the economy grew, it was credited to the Fed. When the economy imploded in 2008, the Fed got credit for rescuing us.
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Pointless book
- By Darrin on 02-23-22
- The Lords of Easy Money
- How the Federal Reserve Broke the American Economy
- By: Christopher Leonard
- Narrated by: Jacques Roy
Eye opening
Reviewed: 02-10-24
It’s matter of fact not conspiracy theories which I liked. Almost stopped listening because it made me anxious learning how fragile the system is today. Definitely worth your time.
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All Secure
- A Special Operations Soldier's Fight to Survive on the Battlefield and the Homefront
- By: Tom Satterly, Steve Jackson
- Narrated by: Tom Satterly
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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As a senior non-commissioned officer of Delta Force, the most elite and secretive special operations unit in the US military, Command Sergeant Major Tom Satterly fought some of this country's most fearsome enemies. Tom is a legend even among other Tier One special operators. Yet the enemy that cost him three marriages, and ruined his health physically and psychologically, existed in his brain. Told through Satterly's firsthand experiences, it also weaves in the reasons for his career-long battle against the most insidious enemy of all: post-traumatic stress.
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- One of those books that truly make a difference
- By henry on 12-21-19
- All Secure
- A Special Operations Soldier's Fight to Survive on the Battlefield and the Homefront
- By: Tom Satterly, Steve Jackson
- Narrated by: Tom Satterly
Fellow Combat Vet
Reviewed: 10-09-23
Wow what a beautiful picture into the world of PTS. So many corollaries into my own experiences with PTS. It’s a must listen for anyone who’s been through trauma, military or otherwise. Thanks Tom.
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The Art of the Argument
- Western Civilization's Last Stand
- By: Stefan Molyneux
- Narrated by: Stefan Molyneux
- Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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The Art of the Argument shocks the dying art of rational debate back to life, giving you the essential tools you need to fight the escalating sophistry, falsehoods, and vicious personal attacks that have displaced intelligent conversations throughout the world. At a time when we need reasonable and empirical discussions more desperately than ever, The Art of the Argument smashes through the brain-eating fogs of sophistry and mental manipulation, illuminating a path to benevolent power for all who wish to take it.
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Annoying
- By RyanJ on 01-20-18
- The Art of the Argument
- Western Civilization's Last Stand
- By: Stefan Molyneux
- Narrated by: Stefan Molyneux
Don’t listen to Wikipedia
Reviewed: 09-07-23
It’s a must listen for how to think when processing information. Be warned that when you do understand you will see all the lies in yourself and the world.
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