Book Groups Comment on Listening to THE MOMENT OF LIFT on Audio

Audio Performance Rating: 5! Melinda Gates reading her own book adds to the content. You get the passion and compassion behind her work for the foundation.

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: I actually loved listening to this book when I usually shy away from audiobooks because the author's voice doesn't come through. It was not a problem here.

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: I truly enjoyed Gates' descriptions and reading.

 

Where did you listen?: I listened in the car on a long road trip and at home.

 

Mary B. from Saint Paul, MN

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 5

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: Melinda Gates’ personal account of her experiences as part of the Gates Foundation. It has uplifting and heartbreaking stories about women and children, and the importance of empowerment. Gates also reflected on personal stories of her own life.

 

Audio Performance Rating: 5

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: THE MOMENT OF LIFT is an excellent audiobook, which I would highly recommend to women and men.

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: I found Ms. Gates very engaging. I was able to stay focused on her reading.

 

Where did you listen?: I listened at home and in my car.

 

Kathy R. from Wellsville, KS

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 4.5

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: This book is interesting and disturbing at the same time, but somewhat repetitive. I am grateful that people give their time and wealth to help such tragedy in the world. The book could be overwhelming at times, but I am excited about the progress and hopeful for the future. It is a book to promote the betterment of women throughout the world to help break the cycle of poverty, lack of education, second-class citizenship, etc., that permeates much of our global society. The author provides information on the foundation that she directs that is dedicated to this end. It is a book about empowering women as the catalyst for change and how to empower yourself with examples of women who have accomplished this all over the world.

 

Audio Performance Rating: 4.5

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: I really enjoyed the experience which came as a surprise to me as I rarely listen to books on tape and thought I'd just slog through it. At times there seemed to be some repetition or perhaps too much explanation...wordiness? It was such that I did take breaks so my mind did not wander.

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: I thought her performance was strong...easy to understand...spoke very distinctly. Only a few times did I think she was trying to "act" and it didn't quite hit the mark. I don't think she distracted from the book, but I feel I have heard readers with a little less forceful voice. Obviously, Ms. Gates is not a professional narrator, but isn't that the point of a personal narrative? Her passion for the stories of the women she admired and the subject of empowering women was obvious in her voice. Her accent, tone, rhythm did not detract from my listening pleasure. 

 

Where did you listen?: Car, recliner, bed, bedroom, while walking. One group member listened as she did spring cleaning and said she managed to complete the cleaning sooner than expected since every time she decided to quit, a story of carrying water for miles made her feel rather wimpy!

 

Lee M. from St. Louis County, MO

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 4.5

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: This book has very timely information and it is respectfully written. Our book group discussion pointed out it is not political and not hysterically written. It is a book everyone needs to read. All of our book group members pointed out that she renamed prostitutes as sex workers which we preferred.

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: It was vague and a bit slow in the beginning. We had a hard time at first trying to discern the point. There needs to be better definition between chapters.

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: She enunciated very well, but it was a bit repetitive. We all appreciated the nonemotional reading, especially as some stories were definitely heartbreakers. Also, it was a very authoritative reading. We all appreciated that the author/narrator explained how important it was to show respect for different cultures.

 

Where did you listen?: At home and in the car.

 

Carrin M. from White Bear Lake, MN

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 4

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: A must read/listen! I work in a homeless shelter and am giving these to all my staff.

 

Audio Performance Rating: 4

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: I liked it. I can read pretty fast so I am always a little antsy with audio, but perfect for driving back and forth to work!

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: I liked that it was the author.

 

Where did you listen?: In the car mostly. At the end, I listened on my phone because I wanted to hear the end.

 

Jennifer E. from Lebanon, OH

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 4

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: THE MOMENT OF LIFT details various projects the Gates Foundation supports and provides insight into the issues that keep women from being empowered and meeting their full potential. It educated us on a lot of things happening in the world that we don’t hear much about.

 

Audio Performance Rating: 3.5; The author’s performance was a little flat. We wish she expressed more emotion in her voice. She spoke the same when she was talking about something exciting as she did when she was telling a very sad story. For those of us who listen to a lot of audiobooks, it was evident that she is not a professional narrator.  

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: We felt it was more difficult to listen to nonfiction. There were a lot of details that were harder to keep up with when listening. Most of us said our mind wandered during this book more than with fiction audiobooks. We agreed that we would have preferred reading this in hard copy rather than audio. 

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: As mentioned above, she didn’t express emotion in her voice. The reading was so slow that a couple of us sped it up to 1.5. We didn’t detect any particular accent. Her voice was pleasant enough to listen to, just not as engaging as we prefer.

 

Where did you listen?: Answers from various members: Walking dog, grocery shopping, packing for a move, mowing the yard, on an airline flight.

 

Patricia P. from Akron, NY

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 5

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: THE MOMENT OF LIFT will enhance your global view of women, social justice, poverty, disease, abortion, gender roles and many other pertinent issues that surround us today. Melinda Gates focuses on these social issues, and gives facts and figures that gives the reader new insights. Most caring people know these injustices plaque the world, but hearing about these statistics give a new dimension to the issues and widens the reader's view. 

 

Audio Performance Rating: 5

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: The audio experience was enjoyable, but having a guidebook along with it would have been much better. There were too many statistics given to comprehend the total scope of the information. Having a visual along with the audio would have improved the experience.

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: Melinda Gates' voice as the narrator was very good. Her passion for the subject was genuine and conveyed the truth of the subject matter.

 

Where did you listen?: A good deal of the book was listened to on a bus trip with limited distractions. A small part was listened to at home.

 

Carol T. from Buffalo, NY

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 3.5; The book brings attention to women's inequality across the world and its impact on poverty, quality of life, health, education and social community. The stories she relates are heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time, yet I felt her message became redundant. She brought awareness to the problem, but did not suggest plans of action that the reader could adopt. 

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: This book looks at the problems of society through the lens of how women are treated, and suggests that improving the lot of women (raising them to be considered man's equal) will improve society.

 

Audio Performance Rating: 4; My favorite audiobooks are more like listening to a play with multiple voices, but this did not lend itself to that approach. That said, it was well-paced and clear. 

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: I enjoyed it more than I expected. As a book person, print is usually my go-to format. I was near the top of the request list at the library and did borrow a print copy of the book. After listening to the first two chapters, I read the first three chapters in the book. I preferred listening and returned the book.

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: It was interesting to hear her voice. She was at her best relating the stories of people she had met in her travels and those parts seemed like a conversation. When summing up or pressing her point, it was more like a college professor lecturing a class.

 

Where did you listen?: At home, usually while doing some mindless task.

 

Patricia G. from Derby, NY

How would you describe the book to another reader?: THE MOMENT OF LIFT by Melinda Gates is a thought-provoking look at gender equality, politics, and empowerment of women. Gates is not the rich, white woman who tells people what is good for them as I feared. She writes about the global work of the Gates Foundation through the stories of people who are seeking help. Her experience is first-hand, describing her travels around the globe. It is a fascinating look at shifting cultural paradigms and explains the US has a long way to go before women and minorities will be equal partners at home and at work. This is a book for everyone, not just women.

 

Audio Performance Rating: 4.5; The narration is clear, but lags a bit. Fortunately, I simply increased the speed of delivery slightly, and that took care of that issue.

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: I thoroughly enjoy listening to audiobooks and always have a book to stream on my phone.

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: Melinda Gates is the only person who should narrate this book in order to provide authenticity. Her diction is very clear, although her pacing was a little slow. There is so much information included in the book, that a slower pace may be helpful to many listeners. If it does bother you, just increase the speed of the narration with the app. Otherwise, it was a first-rate performance by someone who is not a professional narrator.

 

Where did you listen?: I listened in my car and during exercise.

 

Kathy B. from East Aurora, NY

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 5

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: An uplifting look at a way to help the condition of women that will empower them to help themselves.

 

Audio Performance Rating: 5

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: I enjoyed listening to Melinda Gates and audiobooks in general.

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: I thought she did a great job expressing her own words and feelings about her philanthropy project and enhanced my listening experience.

 

Where did you listen?: At home from my computer.

 

Carolyn G. from Lancaster, NY

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 5

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: An interesting, detailed account of how the Gates Foundation works with local organizations to vet them, fund them and cooperate in identifying needs and providing appropriate assistance in communities. What I liked best about the book was her candor and her ability to make connections between poverty, women's issues, violence, and education. None of these exist in a vacuum. By the end of the book the reader can see that women (and mothers especially) are pivotal people in any society. The advancement and success of a culture is directly dependent on women having an equal role in the most basic workings of the culture. Improving women's lives improves the family unit, then society as a whole. In every case she describes, when women's voices are heard, progress follows. While it may seem incredible that in this day and age there are still places where women are considered property who exist at the pleasure of their father’s or husband's decisions, Gates presents many examples of this truth. 

 

Ann Marie W. from Lancaster, NY

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 5

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: Interesting information, informative on topics about women.

 

Audio Performance Rating: 5

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: It enhanced the experience. This was my first audiobook in a long time and I really enjoyed listening to her...she kept me engaged.

 

Where did you listen?: At home in my living room. Then, on a bus trip to Savannah.

 

Linda F. from West Seneca, NY 

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 4

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: Thought-provoking.

 

Audio Performance Rating: 4

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: Practical.

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: The first person narration made it “real.”

 

Where did you listen?: While walking.

 

Sandy E. from Lancaster, NY

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 4.5

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: An important book that calls attention to problems for women around the world.

 

Audio Performance Rating: 4

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: I liked it but felt that by following along with the print copy, I was better able to grasp the specific details presented. Since I moderate our discussion, I like to take notes as we read and the print allows me to take notes more easily.

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: I thought she did a wonderful job and had good inflection.

 

Where did you listen?: I listened as I followed along with the print book in my house.

 

Sandy’s Overall Rating: 4.5

Sandy’s Review (As posted on GoodReads):

Gates’ book has a clear message --- we need to empower women so they can better provide for their families and improve the quality of life in poor communities. This is not a memoir of her philanthropic efforts, but a heart-tugging account of her journey of growing understanding as one of the founders of the Gates Foundation. As Melinda slowly reveals the layers of interconnected problems that face women in impoverished countries, readers will come to a better understanding of the dire straits millions of women face around the world.

 

What starts out as an investigation into a need for the poor to have some control over family planning through contraception, morphs into a realization that this is a much more complex problem that can’t be simply fixed by handing out condoms. There’s the issue of educating women on the right to have some say in when they want to have more children plus the necessity of creating an understanding among the husbands that this will ultimately help them.

 

There are so many issues covered here: child marriage, female genital mutilation, the spread of AIDS, extreme poverty, need for education, unpaid work time, domestic abuse and disregard for woman’s opinions or needs. Compounding these issues is the basic issue of male-dominated societies that demonstrate gender bias, placing barriers on things such as girls attending school, women driving, or long-held customs and intolerance toward women.

 

In many poor countries, women are not just the caretakers but they are also the primary providers who plant, harvest and carry crops. Getting them help for their farming efforts is imperative but again, there are logistical issues of getting them the seeds, educating them about planting and simply changing old traditions and ways of managing.

 

Women have been beaten down for so long, they have lost their feeling of worth. The Gates Foundation has been working to help women find their voice, their purpose, their rights as human beings. It is through education, contraception and guidance that women can work together to improve their lives and their communities. Gates has included highlights of women and girls in numerous poor countries who have made a difference through using their voice.

 

One can’t help but admire the commitment of a woman who has gone outside her comfortable personal life to reach out to help poor women around the world. This is an eye-opening book that resonates in our own country where even today women’s rights are being usurped.

 

Susan P. from Lancaster, NY

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 4

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: Melinda Gates discusses her mission in lifting others toward equality.

 

Audio Performance Rating: 4

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: I’m not a fan of audio for nonfiction books. I would have appreciated seeing the actual chapters listed instead of tracks. 

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: Gates did a good job. She spoke clearly, had good pace and inflection.

 

Where did you listen?: At work and at home.

 

Mary Jane G. from Lancaster, NY

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 4

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: This book is about the empowerment of women by changing cultural norms and ways of thinking about women's traditional roles. It covers the improvement of contraception accessibility, and the need for improvement of maternal and newborn healthcare. It was convincingly read by Melinda Gates and was a compelling read.

 

Audio Performance Rating: 5

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: Very good! The only complaint I had was that a few of the points in the book were repetitious.

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: I thought Melinda Gates was excellent overall in her performance. I cannot think of any way I would have changed her narration. She enhanced the listening experience.

 

Where did you listen?: I listened to most of the book in my car driving four hours each way on a weekend trip.

 

Ellen K. from Buffalo, NY

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 4.5

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: Melinda Gates explores the role of women in society from the subjugation of females in third world countries to the fight for equality in the United States. She presents the case that everyone benefits when women are empowered and included in the decision making process, making suggestions based on her personal research including visits to third world countries. Melinda gives examples of some practices that have made a difference, sharing a few vignettes of courageous women who have found a way to fight back against a system that has been rigged against them. 

 

Audio Performance Rating: 5

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: Compelling.

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: Melinda did an excellent job reading her text. Her pacing and inflection were spot on, and her passion for the subject showed through her narration. I always prefer to hear an author read their own works since they are knowledgeable about the topic and seem to have an innate ability to get their point across while keeping the reader’s interest. Her performance only enhanced the experience. 

 

Where did you listen?: In the car while driving, locally and once on an out of town trip.

 

Ellen’s Overall Rating: 4.5

Ellen’s Review:

We live in troubled times and there are numerous theories on how to make improvements to our quality of life. Melinda Gates, a founder of the Gates Foundation, has done her own research and has discovered some intriguing truths. Starting with her own struggles with gender bias, she examines issues which have plagued mankind for eons in her book THE MOMENT OF LIFT: How Empowering Women Changes the World. 

 

Melinda did not just talk the talk, but she walked the walk, traveling throughout the world studying the lives of women up close and personal, listening to the experts, and talking directly to wives and mothers trying to find ways to lift them up out of a repressive life with the support of the Gates Foundation.

 

Speaking out against female cutting, child marriage, “unpaid” enforced labor and childbearing, and societal attitudes which keep women repressed, her analysis concluded that equity between the sexes improves the lives of everyone. In order to achieve equality there must be communication and awareness that the current system is unjust. 

 

Melinda painstakingly goes through the issues, sharing individual stories which will tug at the heart while they get her point across. She gives evidence to support her theory --- that the inclusion of women as full partners can only improve life for all concerned. She examines those on the fringes of society who carry the most burden and discerns that women live richer lives when they have the opportunity to interact and support one another. 

 

I was lucky enough to have been given an advanced audio copy of THE MOMENT OF LIFT, which was read by the author. Melinda Gates’ impassioned tone “lifts” the book up to another level. While there is a bit of autobiographical background explaining how she arrived at this point in her life, the main focus on the plight of women will have that gender agreeing with her overall conclusions. Now we have to get the men on board. If they are exposed to this book, I’m sure they will recognize some overall truths and hopefully find their heads nodding in agreement. 

 

Melanie L. from Bedminster, NJ

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 5

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: This is an excellent, insightful, well-researched book about the economic and social dynamics that contribute to women’s inequality, and how the Gates Foundation is helping to address this worldwide.

 

Audio Performance Rating: 5

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: Excellent. I do not think the experience would have been as enriching without the audio.

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: She is an excellent, passionate and intelligent narrator, and hearing about her work and experiences in her own voice added so much to the experience.

 

Where did you listen?: In my car while commuting to/from work.

 

Virginia F. from Monroeville, PA

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 5

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: This book is educating, interesting, revealing and about empowering women all over the world.

 

Audio Performance Rating: 5; This was the first listening experience for most of our eight members and the response was overwhelmingly positive.

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: Listening is a good way to multitask, but one member found her mind wandering as she listened. Listening in the car is a great way to 'read' a book and the biggest advantage is the ability to go back and relisten to an interesting part or just relisten to the whole book (which I expect to do).

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: She was excellent and the compassion of the causes that she works to accomplish comes through in her delivery.

 

Where did you listen?: In the car and at home.

 

Pat J. from North Little Rock, AR

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 4; In the history of our group, we have read 125+ books and only two have received five out of five rating for content, etc.

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: This is not a book about Melinda Gates. It is about women from newborn to elderly who have been aided by the Foundation's projects of aid and education to better their lives, physically, financially and morally, in the US, foreign countries and the world. Melinda tells about her life and also the history and reasoning behind the projects that she describes in her book. This is an amazing commentary of a philanthropic family who has taken an outstanding humanitarian role to assist children and women. My kudos to the Gates' family and the Foundation.

 

Audio Performance Rating: 5

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: This was our group’s second audiobook. We enjoyed the experience of listening to Mrs. Gates narrate her experiences and some were more meaningful because of her narration.

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: Mrs. Gates did a wonderful job in narration and it meant more to us to listen to the book narrated by the author. The narration pace flowed, and was easy to listen to and understand the contents.

 

Where did you listen?: Round-trip travel from North Little Rock, Arkansas to Dallas, Texas (10 hours in the car) to attend author signings by Delia Owens and Martha Hall Kelly.

 

Mary Lou S. from Saint Charles, IL

Book’s Content/Storyline Rating: 4+

 

How would you describe the book to another reader?: It felt more like a documentary sort of read than a story, but it was hard to put down like a story. It engaged our thoughts and feelings. We felt like we were getting to know our new friend Melinda Gates. We are all prepared to help her foundation now as we trust and admire the way they do things. She helped us to see things differently at home and abroad.

 

Audio Performance Rating: 4; Two of the six members had some technical difficulties. One had a hard time getting it started. Another was listening for several days in a row then returned after not listening for three days and it wouldn't play anymore. Froze up. She thought maybe her time with it had expired.

 

What were your feelings about the audio experience overall?: Half the group didn't love the audio experience. They felt it was too much meat to take in audibly. The feel they retain more when reading. Everyone enjoyed Melinda reading it. The other half of us loved listening to it! We all do listen to audiobooks regularly.

 

What are your feelings on the narrator’s performance?: Everyone agreed that she definitely enhanced the listening experience! It felt like she was really talking to us, not just reading. Her voice, tone and rhythm was all perfect. Easy to follow and listen to. 

 

Where did you listen?: Most said they listened in the car, one in her house and two also listened while weeding and ironing.