Comments on: Thoughts on Work Hard. Be Nice. (audiobook)

By: sheistoofondofbooks

sheistoofondofbooks — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:30:11 +0000

to all – please note that these thoughts pertain to the audiobook format. Because there was so much that I considered unrelated to my direct interest in KIPP, I was frustrated by the inability to skip these sections and focus on the education program. The book may be much more bearable, even enjoyable, in hardcopy, where one can skip/skim.

rhapsody – Yes, I listened to the basketball game shakedown. I’m glad neither Dave nor Mike collapsed on the court! Glad I got the most benefit out of the parts I listened to.

Kathy – argh! Don’t get me started on the ‘teaching to the test’ issues …

softdrink – I’ll report back what s-i-l has to say. As someone who has lived thru a developing program, she may connect more with it.

Sandy – I save my audiobooks for treadmill only; that’s my incentive to get on the machine. This was actually keeping me off, that’s why I decided to abandon it.

Margot – if you can get the hardcopy of the book at a library, try that. You’ll be able to pass over the day-to-day details (or, they may be more tolerable in written format)

Beth – is that the old ‘physician heal thyself’ adage at work?

Jenners – ‘No Child Encouraged to Thrive’ either!

By: Jenners

Jenners — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:00:10 +0000

It does sound promising … too bad it lost focus. And I’m just beginning to discover the mess that seems to be “No Child Left Behind” as my son enters kindergarten. Ugh.

By: Beth F

Beth F — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:15:36 +0000

I often find this to be the case — just because someone is an expert in some area or has come up with an inspiring idea or program doesn’t mean he or she is a good writer.

By: Margot

Margot — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:41:04 +0000

I read the synopsis on Library Thing and really wanted to know more. I didn’t win the book and was disappointed. I still want to know more on the program. Too bad it’s poorly written.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:15:13 +0000

Nothing is worse than a great premise in the hands of a bad writer. Because it has the potential to postively affect those who read it. Too bad really.

That is the downside of audios. Hard to skim. I also almost never had any good quotes from audios because it is hard to capture them!

By: softdrink

softdrink — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:31:18 +0000

Bummer. And it sounded like such a promising book with great ideas.

And I found 3 Cups of Tea to be an agonizing read.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:03:55 +0000

Too bad this isn’t written better because it does sound like a fascinating subject matter. I have to admit that I am so glad to have Vance in college, so I don’t have to deal with school, standardized tests, etc.

By: rhapsodyinbooks

rhapsodyinbooks — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:14:03 +0000

I too was surprised at all the personal stuff. I stuck through it however, since I was reviewing it for Library Thing. And I liked hearing about the program. But if you listened at the beginning, you didn’t miss much. Most of the rest is just bureaucratic details about expanding the number of schools, and more on Personal Details of Mike and Dave. (I don’t know if you put yourself through their one-on-one basketball challenge, but it was as painful to listen to – on and on – as it must have been to play!)

Comments on: Thoughts on *Work Hard. Be Nice.* (audiobook)