Babbitt Audiobook

" Another classic by Sinclair Lewis. No my favorite book by him but well worth reading. "

" Listening to on audio on smart phone. "

" I listened to this as an audio book, usually before bed at night, and found it to be a perfect inducement to a drug-free sleep. I found it uninteresting, trite, hopelessly given to details I would rather not dwell upon. I made it to around chapter 7 or so, and then gave it up for a lost cause. "

" I always reread this when I feel overwhelmed by flim-flammery. "

" I listened to this as an audio book, usually before bed at night, and found it to be a perfect inducement to a drug-free sleep. I found it uninteresting, trite, hopelessly given to details I would rather not dwell upon. I made it to around chapter 7 or so, and then gave it up for a lost cause. "

" I read every word of the first twelve chapters of this book, and began chapter 13 but didn't finish it. The book sat unopened, untouched, for more than a month. This is from the Wikipedia article on the book, and I agree wholeheartedly: "The middle third of the novel reveals Babbitt in various settings: on vacation, attending a business convention, campaigning for the conservative mayoral candidate, giving dinner parties, giving speeches, attempting (in vain) to climb socially, serving as a member of the Sunday School Advisory Committee of the Chatham Road Presbyterian Church, and so on. This section of the novel has drawn criticism about the thread of the plot becoming lost; critics have argued that Lewis seems to move aimlessly from one set-piece to another." It was fiercely aimless and had no thread whatsoever. I began to wonder if he would ever do more than drive to work, drive back again, and sit in the living room after dinner reading his newspaper, because we got that in great detail over and over. The amusing thing about the book is the lexicon of slang. It's a piece of cake to understand, but evidently when this book was released in England it had to have a glossary inserted. The slang, the spoken language, is an absolute hoot. If you're not after plot or anything more than a day-to-day description of life in cities in the midwest in the very early 1920s, it's great for that. The writing is amusing (props to Sinclair Lewis, and Babbitt is a comical character. We can see him much more clearly than he can see himself. But in terms of plot, sigh. It was hard to muscle through. I confess that I finally finished it only with help from SparkNotes and MonkeyNotes online. I had to read the quick summaries to figure out if anything interesting was going to happen (funnily, it began to go pear-shaped later on in the very chapter 13 I had abandoned) and I'd go and read a bit of that chapter then move on to summaries again. So now I know the SparkNotes version of Babbitt, and have read, I'd estimate, 50% of the book. It was mildly interesting, but just not my cup of tea. I read it online at Bartleby. If by any chance you want to take a peek: Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis. "

" Like Hardy, one of my formerly favorite authors who I haven't read in years. "

" Tiresome and unconvincing. The story and characters take a back seat to Sinclair Lewis' political bellyaching. I know this is supposed to be satire but, from a reader's perspective, it's nice to have something real to connect with emotionally in a story. "Babbitt" is little more than a tirade. And nobody likes being shouted at. "

" I wanted to love this novel, I really did. However, despite its intriguing message about social mores and conformity, I could not get over the American 1920's language that it was penned in. Although I personally found a strange sense of satisfaction in having finished it, I wouldn't recommend this book without heeding that warning. "

" Great modern book, yet I expected a way more radical ending. Good fiction though, I recommend it to everyone. "

" I parable about middle-class America, the American dream and the life of George Babbitt, real estate salesman in the fictious town of Zenith. A frustrated, somewhat corrupt businessman with dreams of making it big, then develops some kind of moral fibre, only to give it all up to be "one of the boys" in the social club again. Reads a bit like George Orwell's "Coming up for air". "

" A little slow, but that's part of the point. Makes you look in the mirror and hope you're not thaaat much like Babbitt. "

" I either deserve a medal or a slap in the face for finishing this one. I can't decide. "

" good book, relevant to the times and shows a good view of how things were "

" One of the classics.....conformity helps you get along in the world. "

" I had never read anything by Sinclair Lewis, but he was put on my radar when it was mentioned in a library school class that the heroine of his book "Main Street" began her 'career' as a librarian. When I saw the audio version of "Babbitt" at the library, I decided to give it a listen. I was drawn in immediately by the detailed description of daily life in the USA in 1920. George F. Babbitt is a middle-aged realtor living in Zenith, a medium-sized town in middle America. Lewis' portrait of Babbitt is a satirical portrait of the mindset of the average American in his day. Reading it, knowing the Depression is on the horizon, it seemed to coincide with the 1990s in our own generation, and seemed hauntingly familiar. You can stand back and see how Lewis is poking fun at Babbitt's ideas, yet as the story unfolds, you see that Lewis has great empathy for this American everyman. Above all, this book allows a fascinating peek into the world of my grandparents. I can recongnize some of the ideas as those I heard from them and from my parents. It is the thinking upon which, for better or worse, the current generation was built. Babbitt's fictitious town, Zenith, may have been modeled on Cincinnati, Ohio, where Lewis spent considerable time while researching the book. While listening, I used the notes in the "Library of America" printed version for some explanation of details unfamiliar to modern readers. Beyond the story itself, I found the ideas of people living in the 1920s and how these ideas have evolved in our own time, to be very interesting. The audio version I listened to was read by George Guidall and was extrememly well-done. "

" One of those intriguing books that draws you in but is not exciting. Sinclair Lewis is a wonderful author writing about everyday life. This book is very ecclesisastical. "

" Part of my "classics" reading, and I enjoyed it - the language was charmingly "old fashioned", and it really gave me a slice of life picture of small city, mid-Century America. Just the term "booster" really came alive for me! "

" No one writes satirical architecture descriptions like Sinclair Lewis. "

" I couldn't stand this book. I cared nothing about any of the characters or the story. A bore! "

" Heartfelt illumination of the American everyman blusterer inside all of us, but whom many of us strangled at birth. I felt like I knew Babbitt before the end of the novel, and even sympathized with many of his fears and anxieties, even though I see his world from the outside. "

" In the satirical tale of Midwestern realtor George F. Babbitt, Lewis created a picture of conformity and materialism that remains strikingly relevant, despite the 20s slang and the debating over whether to finally spring for that closed-top car. Many readers will struggle to like Babbitt the man, so if you need to like the main character of a book, this one might leave you feeling somewhat dissatisfied. Babbitt is straight, pull-no-punches satire, and spends little time on plot or character development (something that H.L. Mencken, one of its supporters, cheered in an early review). Most of its themes have been dealt with in many a book, movie, and TV show in recent decades -- the underlying soullessness of conformity, the terrifying power of public opinion, the midlife crisis, corruption and hypocrisy -- but the sharpness of Lewis's critique does not suffer because of it. If you're at all interested in the 1920s, I highly recommend this book. "

" Public domain downloaded to my Kindle. I enjoyed this more than "Main Street", the novel that Lewis is better known for. Even though the plot stuttered and stopped and repeated itself, the theme is so amazingly contemporary that everyone should read this book. "

" Lewis at his cynical best. "

" Third time through this book over the years. I have always loved how I really feel Babbitt's anger, frustrations, sadness, and then grudging acceptance that he just can't break out of the world he thought he wanted and worked so hard to construct. It feels like a war Babbitt wages with himself and loses. When Babbitt's wife is away with her sister and he takes up with "The Bunch" and Tanis, you go though the desperation and chaotic behavior right beside him. And, as always, Lewis captures that twilight age of the Roaring 20s and the early years of the Depression with his unique style. He's often overshadowed by Fitzgerald, which isn't fair to Lewis. Or Fritzgerald. "

" Ennui, depression, rebellion, guilt, allegiance, it's all there. I loved it. "

" Part of my "classics" reading, and I enjoyed it - the language was charmingly "old fashioned", and it really gave me a slice of life picture of small city, mid-Century America. Just the term "booster" really came alive for me! "

" I listened to the recorded version of Babbitt and I admit it's the first time I've read anything by Lewis. I found it very good and will try to read some more of his work soon. "

" Lewis takes on the typical American who was trying to get ahead both socially and financially and does so with wicked insight. "

" A tale of the danger involved in straying too far from an ideology. Personally, I found Babbitt a little too one-dimensional and banal, which I think is what Lewis was aiming for, but it made for a disinteresting read for me. I did like Lewis' use of natural language. "

" I only made it half way through this boring saga of one man's empty attempts to be number one, and that was more than enough. Please spare yourself. How could this ever get a Pulitzer? "

" My hometown was not what I thought it was. "

" Perfect character study of a middle class business man on the make in the boom of the early twenties USA. The achievement ofthe novel is to make you feel for the shallowness of the existence of George F. Babbitt and empathise with him even though he is an arrogant, self-centred bumptious oaf. "

" Public domain downloaded to my Kindle. I enjoyed this more than "Main Street", the novel that Lewis is better known for. Even though the plot stuttered and stopped and repeated itself, the theme is so amazingly contemporary that everyone should read this book. "

" Less a novel than a ripping good expose of shallow American materialism. Was this really written in 1920? "

" Although this is a fantastic book, it's unsettling that it's message is still so poignant. "

" It starts out slow, but wowie-zowie this sure packs a punch at the end. I love the way Lewis comments on the condition of man, and does so cynically with super heavy themes, while keeping things funny enough that I chuckled often. Even though it's definitely a "period piece" (Jazz Age Middle America), this is very, very pertinent still. I'll definitely be picking up his other works, starting with Main Street. "

" Important to read but slow going getting through all the old-fashioned slang. "

" I couldn't get into this book. The story was very slow to get going and it didn't go anywhere once it did. A nice happy ending however. Maybe my issues with the book stem from a lack of understanding of the time in which it was written, but I would not recommend this book to others. "

" I read this on in high school and I don't remember a thing about it. Oops. "

" How do you make a novel about a boring protagonist interesting? "

" I read this book in high school and I don't think I've read it since until now. A lot to think about on this one. I need to mull it over and then I'll write a more full review... "

" It's definitely not a page turner, but the descriptive writing paints a vivid picture of this horrid man and his horrid family. A worthwhile character study! "

" This is the original Fight Club. Babbit, is so content with his Father's Knows Best suburban life style. But becomes so discontent and distracted by his miserable days at the job. Way ahead of it's time, or maybe hating your job is timeless. "

" Not particularly stimulating, but an interesting reflection of the times - early 20th century, a depiction of the "working man" and the struggles to achieve success and a place in society complete with a mid life crisis "

" A classic. About 90 years old, one of the first books by an American-- a Yale man, a socialist skewering a businessman. Most of the book is a day in his life- it shows you all of his life. "

" A man having a mid-life crisis...along with many changes in the early 1920's US. This is a good book for men to read too. "

" Ennui, depression, rebellion, guilt, allegiance, it's all there. I loved it. "

" A most poignant look at America of Bruce Barton "

" I can see why this book is deemed as "great", but when I read this in high school, it was impossibly dull and all kinds of boring. "

" One of those books that I never quite finished in college. I'm glad I went back because it's a nice character study. A little more challenging reading, but worth it. "

" i read this in my modern lit class, and it was...ok. i think that after reading "the wasteland" and gatsby, it just paled in comparison. maybe if i read it again, it will be a different story. not fair to compare anything to eliot or fitzgerald, in my opinion. "

" The essential story of smug small town boosterism. Excellent read. "

" Heartfelt illumination of the American everyman blusterer inside all of us, but whom many of us strangled at birth. I felt like I knew Babbitt before the end of the novel, and even sympathized with many of his fears and anxieties, even though I see his world from the outside. "

" Great modern book, yet I expected a way more radical ending. Good fiction though, I recommend it to everyone. "

" A man trying unsuccessfully to escape the emptiness of his life. Well written. "

" I loved this book as a teenager. I found it pretty heavy going at this point. "

" A mix - slightly tedious, but width occasional perfect sentences that were incredibly witty and insightful. "

" Could not get into it. "

" Could not get into it. "

" Still relevant almost 100 years later "

" This book has been on my to-read list for years, and happily I finally got around to it. The writing is phenomenal, and the description of Babbitt's constant hypocrisy and self-aggrandizement in his relationships with others is, sadly, still very recognizable. "

" Perfect character study of a middle class business man on the make in the boom of the early twenties USA. The achievement ofthe novel is to make you feel for the shallowness of the existence of George F. Babbitt and empathise with him even though he is an arrogant, self-centred bumptious oaf. "

" Lewis takes on the typical American who was trying to get ahead both socially and financially and does so with wicked insight. "

" I'm having trouble getting through it, but I appreciate the depiction of the 1920s. "

" Exactly ninety years later, nothing but the language seems dated. Middle class crises are alive and well, unresolved, unending. "

" Sometimes over the top. Funny, sad, oddly comforting knowing that sometimes things just don't change all that much. "

" Written in 1922, Lewis' characterization of the American middle class holds up very well after eighty years! A flawed protagonist, intent on doing his duty, and resentful of never allowing himself the chance to rebel. A prototype for decades of writers. "

" Need to reread this one. An assigned book at 15 does NOT necessarily give you a fair view of an author's worth or skill. "

" I just couldn't get into Babbit even though it's thought of by many as a masterpiece. I tried reading it at the beach and attribute my lack of interest to the fact it just isn't beach reading. "

" middle class life never looked so bad / good . "

" This was a pretty cool book. Not something I would have read on my own, but I'm glad I did. "

" Although this is a fantastic book, it's unsettling that it's message is still so poignant. "

" Another classic by Sinclair Lewis. No my favorite book by him but well worth reading. "

" Although well-written, it was just too depressing for my taste. "

" Too much randomness. could have been alot shorter. Did not enjoy. "

" It always amazes me how human nature does not change. This book was written in and about the 1920's but except for some anachronistic language, could have been written today. This was also a fun glimpse at Prohibition era America. "

" I can't read this, I gave up about a fifth of the way through, it seemed much too dated (and the characterization too flat and unsympathetic) to hold my interet. "

" Very sarcastic, describing a life and middle-age crisis of a businessman and society, where he is living in. Still very actual. Sometimes you can stop, then look inside of yourself and find a part of Babbit there. "

" Sinclair Lewis has middle America down to the dusty streets. George Babbitt's superlative marketing language made me look differently at all advertising. "

" Working on entering some more prep school reads now. My favorite SL quote: "I love my country but some- times I don't like it very much". Amen to that. The only SL book I've read except for the sex scenes between Lulu Baines and Elmer Gantry. Date read is a guess. "

" Working on entering some more prep school reads now. My favorite SL quote: "I love my country but some- times I don't like it very much". Amen to that. The only SL book I've read except for the sex scenes between Lulu Baines and Elmer Gantry. Date read is a guess. "

" Working on entering some more prep school reads now. My favorite SL quote: "I love my country but some- times I don't like it very much". Amen to that. The only SL book I've read except for the sex scenes between Lulu Baines and Elmer Gantry. Date read is a guess. "

" This book grew on my. I found myself missing the way Babbitt talked. Interesting story about conformity. "

" This book grew on my. I found myself missing the way Babbitt talked. Interesting story about conformity. "

" Excellent - very funny satire on America, though would recommend his Main Street over Babbitt. "

" Excellent - very funny satire on America, though would recommend his Main Street over Babbitt. "

" Excellent - very funny satire on America, though would recommend his Main Street over Babbitt. "

" One of my all time favorites. A pompous, self-important twit finds his life growing increasingly complicated and vexing. "

" One of my all time favorites. A pompous, self-important twit finds his life growing increasingly complicated and vexing. "

" One of my all time favorites. A pompous, self-important twit finds his life growing increasingly complicated and vexing. "

" I only made it half way through this boring saga of one man's empty attempts to be number one, and that was more than enough. Please spare yourself. How could this ever get a Pulitzer? "

" I only made it half way through this boring saga of one man's empty attempts to be number one, and that was more than enough. Please spare yourself. How could this ever get a Pulitzer? "

" I only made it half way through this boring saga of one man's empty attempts to be number one, and that was more than enough. Please spare yourself. How could this ever get a Pulitzer? "

" Yeah a pretty good book. Found it on a shelf in my parent's house ages ago and decided to read it... funny story (quite sardonic) about a man's modern life -- and really utter boredom in the suburbs. "

" Yeah a pretty good book. Found it on a shelf in my parent's house ages ago and decided to read it... funny story (quite sardonic) about a man's modern life -- and really utter boredom in the suburbs. "

" Yeah a pretty good book. Found it on a shelf in my parent's house ages ago and decided to read it... funny story (quite sardonic) about a man's modern life -- and really utter boredom in the suburbs. "

" Wow. Disingenuously patriotic, union-busting capitalists in the midwest ... Some things never change. "

" Wow. Disingenuously patriotic, union-busting capitalists in the midwest ... Some things never change. "

" Wow. Disingenuously patriotic, union-busting capitalists in the midwest ... Some things never change. "

" Less a novel than a ripping good expose of shallow American materialism. Was this really written in 1920? "

" Less a novel than a ripping good expose of shallow American materialism. Was this really written in 1920? "

" This book took a little while to get into, but eventually was an enjoyable read. It takes place in the early 20th century and is a satirical look at American culture. "

" This book took a little while to get into, but eventually was an enjoyable read. It takes place in the early 20th century and is a satirical look at American culture. "

" So my friends and I call all the suburban-exurban wasteland along interstates "Bloptown" Little did I know Sinclair Lewis captured the essence of the modern meatblop some 90 years ago. Bravo Sinclair, bravo. "

" So my friends and I call all the suburban-exurban wasteland along interstates "Bloptown" Little did I know Sinclair Lewis captured the essence of the modern meatblop some 90 years ago. Bravo Sinclair, bravo. "

" Read this for a book report in high school. I remember liking it-very detailed sentences, felt very grown-up reading it. Middle-class American businessman struggles with family matters. "