AN AMERICAN DREAMER Life in a Divided Country

Rob Shapiro captures the viewpoint of Brent Cummings, an Iraq War veteran who leads cadets with his moral conviction. Shapiro emphasizes the shock Cummings feels at Donald Trump's election and his worry that his country is falling apart because of the president's divisiveness. Brent's neighbor, Michael, is a man with politically polar opposite views. Shapiro excels at dialogue that makes listeners feel present for each scene. Similarly, he is gifted at describing the interiority of both men. His narration emphasizes the tension between the two characters, and within the nation, an aspect of this work that makes it timely and compelling. For so many who are confused and puzzled about how "the other side " thinks, this is a clarifying listen. S.W. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2024]