Dave Barry Is from Mars and Venus

By: Dave Barry

Narrated by: Shadoe Stevens

Length: 5 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, bestselling author, and failed Wheel of Fortune contestant Dave Barry has questions—lots of them—and sets out to find the answers. If you've ever wondered things such as, “Just how does Oprah have the power to turn a 1957 Hotpoint toaster manual into a #1 bestseller?” or “What makes people want to eat animals they would never consider petting?”, then this book is for you.

Barry fans will appreciate this best-of collection of his syndicated columns, since those likely went out with the recycled newspapers. And new, uninitiated, but soon-to-be fans will discover Dave's wit brings a delicious train of chuckles as Dave explores what it's like to splash around with the US synchronized swim team and relives the Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving. Dave Barry proves that one man, even in this incredibly complex global society, using only his mind and the power of information, can make a difference—by having the guts to answer the important questions we all have but don't have the time to answer.

©2009 Dave Barry (P)2022 Phoenix Books

Dave Barry should sue

His writing is so brilliant -- at times outright hilarious and at times so subtle it takes a few seconds to dawn on you -- and this recording is so sub-par in every way, I'm surprised he hasn't pulled it from sale. The reader is lousy, and the audio quality sounds like it was made as a bootleg in someone's basement decades ago.

Why hasn't Barry re-recorded it himself, or asked that this one be remastered? It is almost too much work to concentrate in order to hear it. A shame -- Dave Barry deserves MUCH better. And so do Audible listeners, by the way.

please research before speaking

This is a wonderful and entertaining tome however I must take away from performance for on chapter 16 no less, the reader mispronounced the name of Bill Mazeroski. He pronounced it so poorly that i cannot even tell you how badly he pronounced one of the greatest second basemen and double play makers of all time. Please, all readers, when you prepare to read please understand how to pronounce the words

Very funny, poor audio

The audio quality was bad, it gets real quiet and then real loud.

But as always, Dave is hillarious! It is read well, the audio is the only problem.

Great content

The content is hysterical, but the audio quality is quite poor. Listen carefully, and you will have fun with this!

Find your laughing place

What did you love best about Dave Barry Is from Mars and Venus?

One of the funniest collections of his columns I've encountered. On the whole this collection is a bit more sophisticated than his usual stuff. I also was thrilled by Shadow Stevens' reading! I never thought I would enjoy hearing anybody reading Dave Barry's stuff more than I enjoy hearing Dave Barry . . . and I was totally wrong about that. Of course nothing beats having Dave speaking directly in your ear, but Stevens gives the material a wry dramatic edge that Dave can't provide. Far superior to any of his other readers. Really a great book--I'll be listening to this one over and over again. By the way I had no audio problems as the other reviewers mentioned--perhaps it has been re-mastered?

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dave Barry Is from Mars and Venus?

Buffalo chicken wing bones going back into the dishwasher and recycled for the next customer. Professional golfers checking the geologic and atmospheric circumstances as well as satellite photos before hitting the ball. There are probably funnier bits--I know I was laughing out loud and trying to avoid laughing as I went to sleep (actually the book kept me awake) because I would wake my husband up.

What does Shadoe Stevens bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The subtle perspective of an ironic third-person narrator, which you don't get when Dave reads his own books. Other than Dave's the most intelligent reading of one of Dave's books. I am glad there is at least one other by Shadoe Stevens.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Sorry, "moving" is not a word I would use to describe any of Dave's columns or essays. If he gets close to sentiment or emotion he undercuts it brutally before the reader can buy into it. This is something you get used to and prepare for in his writing. I found it quite moving to go to a reading, meet him, and hear him tell actual stories from his life. He is very personal and personable. Really a neat guy.

Any additional comments?

Sorry that others have not responded to this book as positively as I have. Really I think it is totally terrific.

What show did these other folks hear?

While the audio quality was pretty low (extremely bassy and low levels meant I had to CRANK the volume nearly to distortion), this audiobook of Barry's normally amusing articles is made doubly funny by Stevens' very wry and well performed narration!

Won't even copy to my device

Since the format of this audiobook is only available in "2" I can't even copy it to my device. sorry I wasted a credit on it.