Cover image obtained from http://www.kidnappedbynuns.com
KIDNAPPED BY NUNS
Author: Bob Fuss
Type of Book: Audiobook – Unabridged
Narrator: Bob Fuss
Length: 6 hours, 46 minutes
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir, Travelogues, Short Stories
Release Date: March 13, 2015
Publisher: Robert Fuss
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
* I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This book details the forty year radio journalism career of the author. These are his memoirs.
Bob Fuss is handicapped and walks with crutches, but he does not use this as an excuse and he legitimately could have especially in the years before America’s Disability Act was put in place. If anything, he goes out of his way to prove that his “disability” is not a factor in his job performance or even in his lust for life’s adventures.
The kidnapping of Patty Hearst and her subsequent conversion to the beliefs and radicalism of her captors was Bob’s first major story.
He goes on to tell stories about his career and intersperses them with travelogues and other personal anecdotes.
While he does mention names of some of the famous people he either worked with or interviewed, he does not fall into the trap of gratuitous name-dropping. I like the fact that he does not resort to such cheap tactics.
The only issue I had with the narration was the speed with which the narrator reads. It is so fast that often inflection suffers. The speed is actually dizzying at times and I would have enjoyed it more if he had slowed down and let the listener catch up. I tried to change the speed of my iPod from “regular” to “slower” but that just made it sound ridiculous. He does mention the fact that he had to learn how to describe an event and record the details of it in a 30 second soundbite so I assume this is why he reads so fast. He slows the pace for a few chapters and then for some reason he speeds back up.
I found that the book’s description does not do it justice. When it mentions Bob’s long time coverage of politics it conveys an assumption that there will be an excessive amount of political detail. This is not the case. Yes, there is mention of politics and political figures but this book contains just the right amount.
Bob Fuss has lived an extraordinary life. He has been a witness to natural disasters, military coups, cults, assassinations, sports events, political conventions and elections and has travelled to over seventy countries. Not too shabby for a man whose parents were told that he would probably not live past childhood.
He is astute and compassionate. I didn’t think I would ever write the word “compassionate” when referencing a journalist, but Bob Fuss is obviously not a typical journalist. This is probably due to a variety of factors, not the least of which is that he was a radio journalist and not a television journalist. He was unable to rely on visual theatrics since you can’t see a radio broadcast and instead used his wit and knowledge to engage his listeners.
His extensive travels and by extension his exposure to many cultures also contributed to the formation of the engaging personality that resulted in a very successful and long career in radio.
This audiobook is worth buying. It engaged me from the beginning and maintained my interest throughout. It is obvious that during his years of reporting he held opinions on what he was reporting about, but professionalism stopped him from giving opinions and instead reported only facts. Now that he is retired he is free to voice those opinions and we are the lucky recipients who get to hear what he really thinks.
I rate this memoir as 5 out of 5 stars both for the story and for narration.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: (Information and photo obtained from his website)
Bob Fuss has been a national radio reporter since 1974 when he graduated from Stanford at the age of 19. He’s covered hollywood celebrities, space exploration, crime, coups, natural disasters and national politics. Before retiring as a CBS News Correspondent in 2014 he covered Congress for 23 years and traveled on Presidential Campaigns beginning in 1980. An award winning journalist he previously worked as a correspondent for UPI Radio Network and NBC Radio. His travels have taken him to all 50 states and more than 70 countries.
Fuss was honored in 2015 with the Career Achievement Award by the Radio and Television Correspondents Association.
Amie's Book Reviews 