Against All Odds

As soon as Scott Brown was elected to fill the seat of the Lion of the Senate, Ted Kennedy, publishers wanted him to write this book. It's not difficult to see that his transformation from an abused child and thief to a successful lawyer and politician is a classic American rags-to-riches story. Add to that his triumphs in the military, in basketball, and in marathon running, and his story also becomes a remarkable case study in motivation. As a narrator, however, Brown is unremarkable, rarely changing tempo or inflection as he gives a mostly unemotional yet honest-sounding reading. The slow-moving narrative is filled with detailed local history of his Massachusetts environs, providing a strong setting for a personal story that will especially appeal to New Englanders. J.L. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine