A glib, sarcastic interpretation of Roman history draws satiric parallels between the literally cutthroat political culture of the ancient world and the figuratively cutthroat corporate culture of today. It begins with the legendary founder, Aeneas, and ends with the breakup of the Empire. This comparison of apples and oranges seems intended to amuse, rather than inform--an excuse for the author's wisecracks, a means of showing off his cleverness. Kerin McCue's smart-alecky tone and youthful voice amplify this impression. The one note in which the book is written and read palls before the brief text ends, despite Bing's laugh lines and McCue's high energy and expressiveness. Further, the narrator frequently mispronounces Latin names and three-dollar words.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2006
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The readers can't compensate for the unbearably pompous prose style of this extended parable about corporate politics and strategy.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An engaging experience.
This audiobook deals with everything from the historic investments that led to world-dominating companies, such as the Chinese technology company Tencent, to predicting the products and services of the future. An audiobook of such complexity requires a narrator who can handle the task, and David Thorpe manages it admirably. Thorpe uses his masterly voice, which sits somewhere between that of a BBC World Service presenter and an easy, relaxed Home Counties accent, to guide listeners through a sea of numbers, acronyms, and terms such as YP, RPS, and market cap. Rather than simply reading, Thorpe presents the work with excitement and enthusiasm, and this enjoyment transfers to the listener.
An engaging experience.Pub Date: Feb. 20, 2026
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781668103425
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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