Enjoyed every minute.

I started this book after 3 awful books I couldn't finish. What took me so long? I've lost faith in book reviews. Maybe my tastes are different, but I was despairing.

History so well delivered you believe it was a first hand account. I never guessed where the plot was headed, even if there was one. There is and it's a doozy.

One thing, if you are touchy about religion being played with, you might have a small issue here. Remember, this is supposed to be coming from a man who was there at the crucifixion. Having lived until the present day he has his own take on things.

Recommend this book to those who can never know enough. Even if it's fiction.

61 people found this helpful

Seems interesting but gets disgusting

The writer is obviously ignorant about how calendars and dating work in the real world, as well as demeaning in his portrayal of minorities. I stuck it out for hours until he started graphically describing sexual assaults on minors and I am done with this writer for good.

56 people found this helpful

Gave up after he invented the latte

It started as a great concept but it turned into a fancy Forest Gump. I get it, the dude gets around and for a very long time, but c'mon he helps inspire Frankenstein and create Levi's?? Too much!!! The thing that jumped the shark for me is when he invented lattes, I stopped right there! I have no idea how it ends, but I assume it's with a box of chocolates...

54 people found this helpful

Immortality lite

I am always surprised, unpleasantly so, when a book that is so popular with other audible readers turns out to be a disappointment. Unfortunately, this was one of those for me.

The premise of this book was intriguing enough–a man cursed with immortality travels through time and around the world throughout the course of his endless life. When most of us would like to prolong our lives, the idea of living living forever might seem appealing. We learn that such a fate might well be a curse rather than a blessing.

The problem for me is that the author did not take his premise seriously enough. You don't at all get a feeling of what it was like to live in different times and places– instead Johnson takes the easy way out and just describes various highlights in history in which his character turns out to have participated--sort of a Forrest Gump type of character. Worse, Johnson does not even get the history right –the constant historical inaccuracies are both annoying and distracting. I also am tired of the trope of the evil priest from the Vatican relentlessly pursuing a good man. Couldn't finish it…and will be returning it.

25 people found this helpful

A great concept. Just terrific story telling

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Man of Legends?

The entire story is memorable, and I still find myself mulling it over and over in my head. But if I have to pick one thing, it's when Will says, "Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry." Nicely done Mr. Johnson. Knowing your background, this line was an out-loud hoot. Thanks for the giggle.

What about full cast’s performance did you like?

I generally do not like multiple narrators, but because the way this story is unveiled, the multiple "character" voices work just fine. Thoroughly enjoyed their performances, and great direction from the author himself.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. I was listening to it while working, which is something I generally do not do.

Any additional comments?

I trust Kenneth Johnson has already written the teleplay for his novel. A 4-night 8-hour miniseries should allow time to tell the entire, unabridged story. I hope you direct it.

25 people found this helpful

This story had a good flow to it!

This is the first story I've read from Kenneth Johnson. I liked the flow of it. Sometimes, when a story has multiple first person narratives, the story can get bogged down, rehashing what other characters had already discussed. It can also get every confusing. This author was able to avoid those downfalls, allowing the story unfold very organically. I'm an avid reader and listener of audio books. I enjoyed this story a lot. (Spoiler alert) I was a little worried that that main character was going to take credit for all the major advances in society but the author was able to integrate the main character's influences on world events without claiming all big advances came from him whispering in the right ears.

16 people found this helpful

One moving brilliant all genres in one

I am a big SciFi audiobook nerd - most of my repeated listens are all around SW - ST superhero stuff - few mysteries here and there - this book honestly takes the gold for not only the narrative and the "actual" story, the performers of the characters were just fantastic!!! So for all those comic buffs like me - this amazing title has it all : superhero but, history of the current living, history of biblical proportions, history of science, history in military, humanities achievements rendered , modern day, spirituality, religion, value systems, social studies ...I can keep going!! Ooooh yeah SPACE TIME CONTINUUM - astral plain--- simply brilliant book on audio! A must hear!!! Thank KJ for sharing this fantastic revelation in our "mass media hysteria" of a world! This really anchors it altogether superbly!

13 people found this helpful

What would Twain have done without him?

Set in the 21st century, this reinterpretation of a religious legend is marred by cliché and brief flashbacks thrown in throughout the book for the purpose of informing the reader that our cursed/blessed hero, Will, has been present at every important discovery/turning point/etc. in the last 2000 years and has planted every good idea in every great man's ear, from Gutenberg to Einstein. However, there is no attempt to provide context or depth for these asides, so they mostly come off as a weak attempt to build cred for the good guy, who would have to be very good indeed, as well as totally brilliant, to inspire philosophers, literary lights, and businessmen, alike. Not that this is a book in which the believability factor is high or even expected to be, but after he's been given credit for suggesting the theory of relativity to Einstein, you kinda start wondering when Paul Bunyan is going to make an appearance.

As to the narration, while a few of the characters are well done--the little girl, Maria, in particular--the full cast is very uneven in talent and over the top more often than not. In particular, the voice acting for Will is strange and way slow. I listened to this whole book at 2x and still wasted way too much time on it.

I seem to be an outlier, considering all the five star reviews for this book. Maybe it's just me, but I gotta disagree.

11 people found this helpful

Great story horrible to listen to.

The actor reading the part of the protagonist reads painfully with unnecessary pauses throughout. It is as if he is trying to emulate caricature of William Shattner. The other actors are much better.

10 people found this helpful

Worst Book I have read

This book is disjointed and nearly impossible to follow. The Narrator's just drone on

10 people found this helpful