This American Life: Stories of Hope & Fear
List Price:
Our Price: $7.37
You Save: $4.62 (39%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Edition: Music CDCD Release Date: 2006-11-07
Music Label: Shout Factory
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- If I Can Make It There
- Is This Thing On?
- Thinking Inside the Box
- Infinite Gent
- Miami Vices
- The Babysitters
- Fears of Your Life
- On Hold No One Can Hear You Scream: An Interview with Julie Snyder
- Anti-Oedipus
- So a Chipmunk and a Squirrel Walk into a Bar
- Slingshot
Music reviews of This American Life: Stories of Hope & Fear
Music Review: Great 'Spoken Word' Collection of Stories
Rating: 3 Stars
Here's something different for your CD collection. "This American Life" is a radio show that features stories - usually true - that are unusually compelling. If you are a fan of public radio, then you may already be familiar with the program. Usually, it's the kind of show that keeps you sitting in your driveway, listening to the very end. As a host of my own (much smaller) radio program, I figure that's probably the biggest compliment that any radio show can receive. "Stories of Hope and Fear" compiles eleven of these stories on two disks, and much like the radio program, I find it addictive enough to disrupt my schedule. Even though I know I could pause the CD and pick up where I left off, I still found myself sitting in my car, waiting for the story to end before heading inside to my evening dinner.
Each story is extraordinarily compelling as both human drama and comedy. For example, "The Babysitter" is told by an older man and his sister, recalling their `need' as teenagers to invent a family so they could escape the grasp of their mother. It is both sad, funny and touching to hear them relate their deceit, especially in light of the fact that their ninety-something year old mother is still alive. "On Hold Noone Can Hear You Scream" is a tale of phone company indifference that everyone can relate to, only hopefully not to this degree. From a technical perspective, each show's editing is brilliant, utilizing interesting music segments to enhance the mood and allow the pathos to subconsciously set itself in your mind.
Whether or not these stories will hold up after repeated listens is another matter, and I imagine that unlike music, most listeners will not feel inclined to hear the same stories repeatedly. The best use for this collection is during long drives, with a maximum of two people listening. My wife and I listened during a weekend road trip, and we were absolutely glued to the tales. It also made a great change of pace from the relentless series of songs pouring out of my i-pod. Repeated listens notwithstanding, I'd imagine this would make a great gift for friends who don't show much of an inclination toward pop music. A spoken word collection might not be for everyone, but it will certainly appeal to most. For the first pass, I'd guarantee it. B+ Tom Ryan
Miscellaneous CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Miscellaneous CDs
Rudolph Wurlitzer - Slow Fade (As Read By Will Oldham)Release date: 2011-05-03; Music CD
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
3 Fools 4 April - 3 Fools 4 AprilRelease date: 2008-03-25; Published: 2006; Music CD
Best price: $7.20
Price in other shops:
Judy Clark - Sing Like the StarsRelease date: 2008-07-22; Published: 2008; Music CD
Best price: $23.99
Price in other shops:
Race and Win: Race Boat Crewing with Tucker ThompsonBennett; Release date: 2007-01-01; DVD
Best price: $31.25
Price in other shops:
Rebecca Cooper - Coming Home to our Appetite: Guided ImageryRelease date: 2009-06-01; Music CD
Best price: $12.01
Price in other shops:
Sharon Bridgforth - Bull-Jean StoriesRelease date: 2005-12-27; Published: 1999; Music CD
Best price: $14.74
Price in other shops:
Janice Tucker Rhoda - The ABCs of Violin for the Intermediate, Book 2: Performance CDRelease date: 2009-03-17; Music CD
Best price: $12.00
Price in other shops:
![You Can Dance - Waltz [VHS] Image](/images/You-Can-Dance-Waltz-VHS-0769720692-X.jpg){kind=small}
You Can Dance - You Can Dance - Waltz [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $2.49
Price in other shops:
![You Can Dance - Rhumba [VHS] Image](/images/You-Can-Dance-Rhumba-VHS-0769720668-X.jpg){kind=small}
You Can Dance - You Can Dance - Rhumba [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops:
Dino - Dino Collector's SeriesBenson Records; Published: 1998-07-01; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $9.16
Similar CDs
NPR Driveway Moments Dog Tales: Radio Stories That Won't Let You Goby NPR
HighBridge Company; Published: 2011-05-25; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $13.60
Price in other shops:
NPR Driveway Moments for Dads: Radio Stories That Won't Let You Go (Original radio broadcast; 1.75 hours on 2 CDs)by NPR
HighBridge Company; Published: 2007-04-27; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $13.02
Price in other shops:
NPR Funniest Driveway Moments: Radio Stories That Won't Let You Goby NPR
HighBridge Company; Published: 2008-04-22; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $12.39
Price in other shops:
NPR Favorite Driveway Moments: Radio Stories That Won't Let You Goby NPR
HighBridge Company; Published: 2009-09-15; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $12.90
Price in other shops:
This American Life: Season TwoTHIS AMERICAN LIFE; Release date: 2009-07-21; DVD
Best price: $12.34
Price in other shops:
Ira Glass - This American Life: Lies Sissies & FiascoesRelease date: 1999-05-04; Music CD
Best price: $49.46
Ira - This American Life - Season OneParamount; Release date: 2008-09-23; DVD
Best price: $8.98
Price in other shops:
David Sedaris Live at Carnegie Hallby David Sedaris
Time Warner Audio Books; Published: 2003-10; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $7.19
Price in other shops:
David Sedaris: Live For Your Listening Pleasureby David Sedaris
Hachette Audio; Published: 2009-11-24; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $8.50
Price in other shops:
Crimebusters & Crossed Wires: Stories from This American LifeRelease date: 2003-11-11; Music CD
Best price: $6.00
Price in other shops: