Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
The Sleep of Reason
- Narrated by: Ronnie Leek
- Length: 11 hrs and 25 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
99p for the first 3 months
The Sleep of Reason
Buy Now for £15.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
Summary
Friday, 12th February, 1993. Two outwardly unremarkable 10-year-old boys began the day by playing truant and ended it running an errand for the local video shop. In between they abducted and killed a two-year-old boy, James Bulger. In search of an explanation, award-winning journalist David James Smith looks behind the misinformation, misunderstanding and sensational reporting to an exact account of the events of that day.
A sensitive and definitive account, The Sleep of Reason achieves a unique understanding of the James Bulger case, and comes as close as may ever be possible to explaining how two 10-year-olds could kill.
More from the same
What listeners say about The Sleep of Reason
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- MS J C McDermott
- 09-03-23
Heartbreaking
I felt this book slightly lent towards the murderers point of view, rather than James as family.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Daniel
- 26-02-24
in-depth and balanced
very well put together, balanced and factual. Tackled the issue with respect. I listened to it in short bits which helped processed what had been said
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- SD
- 03-05-22
Looking from the other side.
Highly recommended. Although we will never be able to understand why little James suffered so horrifically, this full on account views all sides. Devoid of all the sensationalism and associations to desensisation from horror videos. Back to the bare bones of sociological and economical effects on both nurture and nature.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- BobD
- 03-12-21
Very intriguing account of a heinous crime
very well read, and hugely informative.
Thankfully expelled all the myths surrounding this case.
A compulsive listen.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Beverley
- 05-09-20
Heartbreaking
Great book, hard not to become emotional listening to it. Will now move on to the book written by James Bulgers mum ‘I let him go’
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joseph Martin
- 11-04-24
gripping
brilliant listen. what a great insight into a horrible case. must listen too. had me gripped from start to finish
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- M.South
- 06-05-23
Heinous…
Loved the detail that the author went into. But hated it at the same time.
Well written, full of factual information
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Fife Lady
- 09-10-23
Thoughtful
A thoughtful evaluation of the multiple factors leading to this utter tragedy. Not easy to listen to.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Corsaire
- 29-05-21
Clear, unemotive telling of a shocking case
The James Bulger case shocked the world, and it is easy to overload it with emotive and judgmental language which it hardly needs. This author resists that, telling in a very procedural way the simple facts of the case and the testimony given in court. The first edition, published only a year after the case, stopped there - this updated edition includes a final chapter in which he adds his conclusions about the upbringing of the perpetrators, and how it bore upon their actions. I'm not sure that this reflective chapter adds anything, as the simple facts of the case are compelling and heartbreaking enough.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Emma Traynor
- 09-01-22
Hard to hear
I have always been fascinated with this case. And this book did not let me down. Fantastic book which seems to cover both the day of the crime and the fillowing weeks, moths and years as the pair went through interviews and the court process.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!