“21 Dog Years” by Mike Daisy
This is my first attempt to write a readable (by you) serious review of a read (by me) audible book I have just finished. In this review I will use the familiar term read rather than listened to because it sounds, well familiar. The book that is subject to my first stab at this review stuff is
21 Dog Years: Doing Time @ Amazon.com
Authored by Mike Daisy
Read by Mike Daisy
I found this to be entertaining and informative read. I wasnt part of the dot com frenzy so Im very ignorant of the excesses that took place. I cant help but wonder if Tokyo was the boring place to be during the gold rush or a safe haven.
One thing about this format is that you must like the narrator if you are to enjoy the book. It could be said that War and Peace would have a different feel if Elmer Fudd read it. Mike Daisy doesnt have the rich vocal talents of a character like Elmer but since the book is written in his perspective his voice fits well. His acting experience/training was very helpful in getting his point across and bringing life to the other characters in his life. Listening to his voice for 6 hours and 40 min was not difficult. He is a flake and flakes are never difficult to listen to. Ok, ok he is the exception. His voice, as in his writing, has humor that will cause you to smile on a subway car during the commute to work. His criticisms of his job at Amazon, and of himself, are to be taken with a grain of salt. Like I said, he is a flake. He admits this fact with pride. Amazon is a company that realized how to get the most of it workforce of flakes. It knew that its success dependent on its flakey workforce. It was very good at getting everything it could (can?); hence its success in the commercial world. The company does not produce a product; it just sells other products by adding value to the transaction. The convenience of shopping in your underwear is the added value and should never be downplayed. You need a staff dedicated to the idea of online commerce to enable the consumer to shop in their undies. I have no affiliation with Amazon except the stuff you see on the front page. Mike has a respect of and is in awe of the company (and founder Jeff) but many factors contribute to a falling out between Mike and Amazon. The book almost reads like a love story without bodily fluids (well some).
I like 21 Dog Years, I like Mike, and I like smiling on Tokyo subway trains during the morning commute to work.
Update: 06 - 11 - 02
Just found this about a show that Mr. Daisey is putting on about the subject matter in this book.
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Thanks so much for listening to the book.