This American Life: Stories of Hope and Fear

Various Artists (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 7, 2006)
• Original Release Date: November 7, 2006
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Shout Factory
• ASIN: B000IONLFY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,785 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
2-CD collection of the smartest and funniest show on the radio

This American Life is one the most popular yet most unusual programs on radio today, airing on public radio stations all across the country. Each week listeners tune in to hear riveting stories that explore the highs and lows of the human condition.

Host Ira Glass and the staff of This American Life selected some of their favorite segments for the This American Life: Stories Of Hope And Fear 2-CD set. Featuring segments by bestselling writer and humorist David Sedaris (Naked), Comedy Central's Daily Show correspondent John Hodgman and many others, this eclectic anthology addresses topics ranging from gender reassignment to karaoke comedy, with over two hours of alternately hilarious and heart-breaking spoken performances set against a hip indie-rock and electronica musical background. Includes music by Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, Blonde Redhead, Calexico, Morcheeba, Mogwai, Tortoise and others.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great 'Spoken Word' Collection of Stories, November 30, 2006

By	Thomas D. Ryan "American Hit Network" (New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Radio Documentaries For Long Drives, January 31, 2007

By	Sal Paradise "ethanallen95" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

I've listened to This American Life going on 8 years now either on NPR or on-line on the website. Great program, this is the 3rd compliation CD I have purchased and I must say that this was interesting especially the Stories of Fear. I am interested in how the human psyche handles fear given certain levels of stress introduced through everyday normal situations. Quite frankly it can be more than a little funny. The story that really clicked with me was On Hold No One Can Hear You Scream, one persons ordeal dealing with an unresponsive phone company. This is a great cd. Better than the last compliation cd for This American Life.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars mesmerized, February 11, 2007

By	Jessica B. Chase (Stoneham, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was fortunate to receive this CD the day before I had a 2 hour car ride ahead of me. I put in the CD and I have no memory of the trip, the traffic, or the route I took. I play the CD frequently, and I learn something new each time. Ira Glass - you are the best.