Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II by Mitchell Zuckoff
The readers can download Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II Audiobook for free via Audible Free Trial.
Summary
On May 13, 1945, twenty-four American servicemen and WACs boarded a transport plane for a sightseeing trip over "Shangri-La," a beautiful and mysterious valley deep within the jungle-covered mountains of Dutch New Guinea.
Man, let me tell you, this story is absolutely fantastic with a whole bunch of fascinating details. And let me just say, the author who doubles as the narrator totally nailed it.
This audiobook is definitely worth a listen as it grabs your attention from start to finish. Mitchell Zuckoff, the author, has clearly put in a lot of effort into researching the events. While the incidents were extensively covered by the media in 1945, the story seemed to fade away over time. However, the book concludes with a satisfying update on the individuals involved, which adds a nice touch to the overall experience.
The portrayal of the native population in this book is consistently racially insensitive. It reflects a form of racism that is often seen in individuals who believe themselves to be progressive, yet remain unaware of their own biases. It is likely that the author is unintentionally perpetuating these racial stereotypes. The unnecessary emphasis on the skin color of the natives throughout the book is undeniably racist and would be quickly noticed by anyone who isn't white.
While race or ethnicity can sometimes be relevant in a particular context, it serves no legitimate purpose to repeatedly highlight the blackness of the natives in this story. It is disappointing that such racial insensitivity still exists, especially considering the progress we should have made by now.
This aspect of the book bothered me greatly, and my discomfort only grew as I continued listening. I had hoped that the author's approach would evolve as the story progressed, but unfortunately, it only worsened. The racism is present from beginning to end, and the condescending praise of the natives as simple and charming savages, who happen to be black, does nothing to mitigate it. This is not a minor issue and should not be overlooked, particularly considering the relatively inconsequential nature of the event itself, despite the extensive media coverage it received at the time.
From a historical standpoint, I fail to see how this event was of significance to anyone beyond those directly involved. They were not engaged in combat; they were merely tourists seeking to catch a glimpse of the supposedly primitive black natives who were rumored to be cannibals and headhunters, and, of course, were naked and black (emphasis on the skin color is repeatedly emphasized).
The crash of the plane, caused by pilot error, resulted in several fatalities, including some women. During World War II, the death of women in combat was a noteworthy occurrence, particularly when it came to American women. Unfortunately, the significance placed on the deaths of foreign women was considerably less.
The most captivating aspect of the book is the rescue mission, as it required meticulous planning and resourcefulness to reach the inaccessible location. Other than that, I found the book to be underwhelming.
The author's narration of the material is satisfactory. While there could have been more done in terms of differentiating voices if a professional narrator had been involved, the author's reading of his own work was more than adequate. Improved production values would not have made me like the book any more.
Overall, I did not enjoy this book. The author would greatly benefit from a greater awareness of social issues and the impact of his words.
If you're into history, tales of human struggle, and the triumph of the human spirit, then this audiobook is a must-listen. The author really nails it with both the writing and the narration. I was completely engrossed from the get-go and couldn't tear myself away until I reached the end. In fact, I loved it so much that I ended up giving it another listen just a few days later. The story itself is absolutely mind-blowing. Trust me, you won't be let down by this audiobook. It's definitely worth spending a credit on!
I had such high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it left me feeling disappointed. The story itself was absolutely captivating and had so much potential, but it ended up being weighed down by unnecessary details. The author seemed to go to painstaking lengths to give us every little piece of information, even about the most minor characters. Just as I was getting fully engrossed in the narrative, we would suddenly veer off on a tangent about a particular person. We would learn about their entire life history, from their birth to their parents to their schooling, and then in the next paragraph, they would disappear from the story completely. This pattern repeated itself over and over again. If the unnecessary information had been trimmed down, the story could have been much more concise and flowed a lot smoother. All in all, it had so much potential, but unfortunately, it just didn't deliver the impact it could have.
I was completely engrossed in the narrative. It was a pleasant surprise to discover that the author also excels as a narrator - it couldn't have been any better! The story had me so captivated that I even took the initiative to search for photos of the survivors and individuals mentioned in the book. There are a few captivating images of "Maggie", the courageous female survivor. She truly left a lasting impression!
Loading...
7 comments
Or use one of these social networks