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James May's 20th Century

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James May's 20th Century

By: James May, Phil Dolling
Narrated by: James May
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About this listen

 Longlisted for the Audiobook Download of the Year, 2007.

How much should you pay for a return trip to the moon? How are Winnie the Pooh and the artificial heart related? Did teenagers exist before 1950? If not, who invented them? James May's 20th Century answers all these questions and more.

In this exclusive download released to tie-in with the BBC TV series, James May explores the iconic themes of the century: flight, space travel, television, mechanised war, medicine, computers, electronic music, skyscrapers, electronic espionage, and much more.

But he also reveals the hidden story behind why some inventions like the Zeppelin, the motorcycle side car, or the Theremin struggled to make their mark. He examines the tipping points � when technologies such as the car or the internet became unstoppable � and gets up close by looking at the nuts and bolt of remarkable inventions.

Packed with surprising statistics and intriguing facts, this is the ideal book for anyone who wants to know how stuff works and why some stuff didn't make it.

©2007 James May and Phil Dolling (P)2007 Hodder and Stoughton Audiobooks 20th Century History History & Culture Innovations Modern Technology War Thought-Provoking Funny Aviation

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All stars
Most relevant  
I find James may very easy to listen to, great book, well read, 5 stars

Great

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Very easy to listen to, James May is a great narrator, and the book is really interesting. Full of facts and stories about 20th-century inventions and development. Loved it, and I definitely recommend it. I'm looking forward to purchasing more of his books.

Easy to listen and interesting

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This is a very good audiobook that requires no knowledge of the accompanying TV series or indeed any enthusiasm for motors ! James May is very engaging as a reader and his enthusiam comes through clearly. I was expecting a Top Gear approach to things but instead this book takes you on a fascinating tour of the 20th Century through vehicles, technology and human ingenuity and is full of little known facts. I found myself lost in this book quite a few times and have listened to more than once. Great value & well recommended !

An Enjoyable & Informative Listen

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My kinda thinking. Ended up walking the dog a lot further each time I put it on. More please James.

really really enjoyed it.

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Rather enjoyed that. As a fan of james may I thought it would be interesting , and so I was pleasantly surprised. Not an especially long book and perhaps just a list of facts , it’s worth a listen never the less.

Not a bad light listen

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informative and easy to listen to. if anything, I wish it had been longer. still very good.

very nice

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James May disconnects from his role on the show with the Orangutan and Hammond, it is a light story, well put and easy for understanding narrating what James considers were the breakthrough inventions or changes which happened during the 20th century, you may agree or not with what he considers the best things of this time, but you will learn a thing or two on things that are taken for granted nowadays, which you didn't know and which in so many cases are base of our current world.

James narrates brilliantly, the story though, I believe it starts at a great pace, but it slows down as the book goes. would recommend it anyway.

Good book from captain "Slow"

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Not as good as his others but still an entertaining listen.
As others have said, lots of interesting facts and a good companion to the tv series.

good for a credit.

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What did you like most about James May's 20th Century?

that he read it himself

What did you like best about this story?

all of it

Which character – as performed by James May – was your favourite?

there are no characters as its a factual book

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

concorde

some thing to listen to again and again

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Born in 1969 I’ve witnessed first hand a small proportion of the content of James May’s examination of the last century, but never until now viewed it from the stance , and with the relevance to where we are today as a result
James’s narration is quite beguiling, and he successfully shrug’s off the label offered to him by his two friends and colleagues of being boring , or indeed slow. A better listen than read I suspect due to the familiar tone and presentation of a very interesting and intelligent man.

Didn’t want it to end , ever.

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