This is why actors exist

I have been waiting for this book to come out ever since I heard about it. It's a really important book, talking about the nuances of racial equality in the UK, and what makes the British scene different from that in the US. This could hardly be more timely or more necessary.

So why not get an actor to read it? I've heard the author speak and I know he doesn't normally sound like this. For some reason, when he reads, he pauses after every word or two. He sounds. Like someone. Doing. A bad. William. Shatner. Impression.

Please, please, hire someone with better delivery and re-record this. I'd like to listen a second time, but I can't concentrate on what I'm hearing because it's so painful.

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1 person found this helpful

shocking narration

I am an hour through this important book and on the cusp of giving up. the narration is shocking. surely, in the recording studio someone should have said 'this isn't working'. with all the recording tech we have today, someone could have edited the recording to make it round that the narrator can complete a sentence without pausing after every couple of words! such a shame. I recommend getting someone who can read out loud properly in the studio, re-releasing, and then watching your audiobook sales increase drastically.

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Excellent

The breath and depth of his research, the experiential and cultural knowledge, his critical incisive analysis.

He should have let an actor narrate

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An Important Book

A very clear assessment of racism in the United Kingdom and the need to tackle and talk about the problem from a British perspective and not an American one. America's race problems are different to that of the UK and thus we need different solutions. Unfortunately the authors narration let the experience down a little.

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2 people found this helpful

Intelligent and thoughtful

Plus rational, balanced, made one think and often smile. I think I coped better with the narration than many reviewers but it would have been much better to use a professional

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A truly hopeful book

Well written and researched, covering Pan-Africanism, Critical Race Theory and other movements. If you are looking for a sensible, authentic and non-partisan account of Britain, race and any 'culture war' concepts at play in society at the moment then this book is for you. The onesizefitsall activism imported from America is called into question and a genuinely British look at these tensions is what you'll find here. Refreshing and enjoyably hopeful.

I sped up the play back to 1.20x as its read a little slowly, as many reviews here point out.

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A timely book that deserves to be read

Here's the thing, this book is timely, I'd even say important if you want to understand Britain in it's own context. It absolutely deserves to be read & the authors intelligence, insight & flowing prose absolutely leaps out at you, on the page.

The narration spoils a lot of the experience here. I got this for free in the plus catalogue so I'm not mad about it, but it's just such a shame because the bad narration will put a lot of people off & I understand why the author might have decided to chose to read it himself, writing a book it probably feels like it's his life's work & he feels uneasy about handing it over to someone else or given the subject matter maybe he feels a Black British voice needs to read it but as I said, his narration makes it a much harder listen than it otherwise would have been & will make a lot of listeners give up on it.

If you got it here for free like me do stick with it, otherwise get the Kindle or print version & if the author is somehow reading these reviews please do consider rerecording it with a proper voice artist, as a listener I can promise you that it really is worth it.

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Do not let this guy read

Boring voice Do not let this guy read another book
His tone and delivery awful

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Great story but narration is horrible

This is a really important book but whoever allowed the author to record the audio should be sacked. This recording is impossible to listen to - it’s like listening to a robot. I have heard the author be interviewed and he does not speak like this so how the recording ended up like this is beyond me. How the publisher allowed this recording to be released is further dumbfounding. I really hope they re-record this with a voice actor reading the book. Until then - don’t waste your money on this Audio - buy the book instead.

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Buy the book

It seems a good and interesting book but the narration is so dire I had to give up. Stilted and with a delivery that completely mangles the text it's almost comically bad. I managed a few chapters but it defeated me. I'll buy the book instead as the book itself is well written. convincingly argued and interesting.

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