Hooking Up (Abridged) Audiobook

" I love everything about Tom Wolfe's writing. It's brash, energetic, insightful, interesting, and always keeps you hungry for more. Hooking Up is a collection of essays on a variety of topics, from the sexual anthropology of today's campuses, jealously in literary criticism, to how a small midwestern college became the model for Silicon Valley. Wonderful stuff. "

" I had my reservations when my father started pushing this book on me, and I'm still not sure he should go around recommending this to every niece and nephew of his, but it was definitely worth the read. The short stoy is questionable, but the essays were exceedingly well researched and well written. They were a pleasure to read and rather thought provoking, if somewhat dated. I'll be keeping an eye out for his older work. "

" Collection of mostly non-fiction essays. Fascinating stuff about the 1st guys (one went west from MIT) getting the microchip industry going in California. Other sound essays about American culture changing over the years. There is one great novella within "Ambush at Ft. Bragg" "

" Hit and miss. "Two young men who went west", "in the land of the rococo Marxists", and the "the great relearning" are worth the price of admission but the others include writing that is at times pedantic (even for Wolfe) and prurient with no utility. "

" I have been a Tom Wolfe fan since the late 60's, and I was SO DISAPPOINTED in his HORRIBLE "Charlotte Simmons". You can see parallels between it and the essay that titles this collection. But thank goodness this collection of several essays and one novella restores my admiration and faith in Tom. In fact, some of the essays are almost luminous, and they certainly are illuminating!!!! THANK YOU TOM WOLFE! "

" Now that I'm a grumpy old fogey it's especially enjoyable reading Mr Wolfe's sneering essays on yoof culture and other modern superficialities. Possibly his best collection, or perhaps it's just that I've come to see things more the way he does as the years go by. "

" A little dated.... but interesting. "

" The essay on Frederick Hart is great. So is the essay "In the Land of the Rococo Marxists." "

" I have no idea what the point of this book was. I couldn't get into it. I put it down without finishing. "

" The birth of Silicon Valley is particularly entertaining. "

" Tom Wolfe is one of American's literary nonfiction greats, but he fails here trying to explore contemporary youth culture. However, his writing is superb as always. "

" OK maybe only 3.5 stars but I love this author. Met the man in full white-suited presence when he was inspiring young journalists at UF in 2000 and researching this book. "

" I like Tom Wolfe as an essayist. I am not quite as keen on him as a novelist nor did I like him taking to task the people who denigrated his writing ability. I would recommend this book to those who like his essay style. "

" Thanks Mr. Wolfe. I belive never unknow what meaning first base, second and others. But, understand where are gone in my life. "

" Anyone who is a fan of Tom Wolfe's style of prose will enjoy this book. It wasn't my favorite of his, but definitely worth reading. "

" Fascinating group of essays and short stories that range over numerous topics and ideas, somehow are interrelated. Commentary on truth, existence, limits of science, nature of art, etc. "

" Tom Wolfe's first book of shorts... really interesting mix. I like some better than others- there is a journalism flair to this and he discusses his own work, including the 11 year wait between his first two novels, The Bonfire of the Vanities and A Man in Full. "

" This book was not worth reading past the first chapter...just couldn't get into it, and failed to see how the first chapter was anywhere remotely related to what was described on the book jacket. And if he uses the word "insouciant" one more time, I think I will cringe. "

" i think Tom Wolfe is one of those modern geniuses in writing. So fun to read, and deeply insightful. I would recommend this book to anyone. "

" I actually think Wolfe's non-fiction writing is much more compelling than his recent novels. This tome solidifies his standing as an avid and intelligent commentator on contemporary American culture. "

" Sorry, but your soul just died.Earn one's worsteds! "

" This particular book b Tom Wolfe was to me ok, or in other words fair. It did not capture me or get me going with it. Sorry. J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'" "

" Tom Wolfe's first book of shorts... really interesting mix. I like some better than others- there is a journalism flair to this and he discusses his own work, including the 11 year wait between his first two novels, The Bonfire of the Vanities and A Man in Full. "

" I thought this book sucked. It seemed to me that Wolfe, previously an acute observer of the American Social Scene, has lost touch with the common realities of American life. Give this one a pass. "

" I have no idea what the point of this book was. I couldn't get into it. I put it down without finishing. "

" I originally got the book because Grinnell College and legendary professor Grant Gale were featured. "

" Fantastic! Some essays are for mature readers only (the content is adult-level, and Wolfe is a realist), but his survey of modern culture is penetrating ... and fun to read! He even made the history of computers a page-turner. "

" Fascinating group of essays and short stories that range over numerous topics and ideas, somehow are interrelated. Commentary on truth, existence, limits of science, nature of art, etc. "