A Time to Fight

Jim Webb's book could be described as a populist manifesto. The senator from Virginia offers a primer on American history and political science as he explores why our nation is in danger of imploding because of our failure to ensure fairness for all Americans. He also demonstrates that it's possible to be a centrist--reasonable and willing to compromise--without being wishy-washy or weak. His narration is clear, as befits a seasoned politician. Indeed, his reading sounds more like a polished political speech or a lecture than the text of a book. He varies his tone, intonation, and pacing to emphasize points. And, at times, it even seems like he allows pauses for anticipated applause from his audience. R.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine