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Product Description
Product Description
This archive-rich investigation into the changing value of knowledge comes at the issue from an original angle - the black cabbie's famed 'Knowledge' test.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
As an owner of a London Cab I assumed this CD would be around an attempt by Stephen Fry to learn "the knowledge" that does actually differentiate the London Cabbie from the rest of the world (along with the prices!). However the subject matter is broader than that starting with The Knowledge as learned by London Cabbies descending into the world of radio and TV quizzes and along with past societies who pursued knowledge and how technology has changed the way we store, share and utilise knowledge.
Fry has a great voice for audio and provided a witty and interesting companion but the subject matter covered was too broad in my opinion as it jumped around between subjects. That said an interesting CD but one that could have done with more focus and structure.
Fry has a great voice for audio and provided a witty and interesting companion but the subject matter covered was too broad in my opinion as it jumped around between subjects. That said an interesting CD but one that could have done with more focus and structure.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Oh dear, we've got an hour to fill in the Radio 4 schedule, what shall we do ? I know, give Stephen Fry a call, he'll come up with something. Hey Stephen, we need an hour's radio, could you do that thing that you do, come up with something which sounds erudite, is slightly tongue in cheek and makes people feel we're fulfilling the Reithian vision of informing, entertaining and educating. Will do.
So what you get here is an hour of Mr Fry rambling away in a mildly diverting manner. It doesn't go anywhere, doesn't give any deep insights, just bungs enough weird and wonderful facts out to keep one interested. It is not, as the cover suggests, an exploration of the London cabbies' knowledge, although that is it starting point, nor is it in anything other than the most superficial sense, an exploration of the nature of knowledge, as it also puports to be. So starting with taxi drivers, Fry burbles along, using Fred Housego as an entry to mastermind and panel games in general. An amusing dip into BBC archives to listen to plummy voiced historical quiz shows (including Fry himself on university challenge) gives way to a exploration of changing technology on the storage and transmission of knowledge, also taking in Trivial Pursuit on the way.
It's OK. No great shakes, you'll forget most of it within a couple of days, but its not an unpleasant hour's listening.
So what you get here is an hour of Mr Fry rambling away in a mildly diverting manner. It doesn't go anywhere, doesn't give any deep insights, just bungs enough weird and wonderful facts out to keep one interested. It is not, as the cover suggests, an exploration of the London cabbies' knowledge, although that is it starting point, nor is it in anything other than the most superficial sense, an exploration of the nature of knowledge, as it also puports to be. So starting with taxi drivers, Fry burbles along, using Fred Housego as an entry to mastermind and panel games in general. An amusing dip into BBC archives to listen to plummy voiced historical quiz shows (including Fry himself on university challenge) gives way to a exploration of changing technology on the storage and transmission of knowledge, also taking in Trivial Pursuit on the way.
It's OK. No great shakes, you'll forget most of it within a couple of days, but its not an unpleasant hour's listening.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Stephen Fry's obsession with interesting trivia continues with this lightweight but quite enjoyable trowell through the abstract concept of knowledge.
Interviews with London cabbies begin the programme and form the basis of this documentary that develops as subjects are irreverantly mixed to form a lighthearted narrative about how the use of knowlege shapes our views of the world, and how it has been incorporated into our culture.
Told in Fry's usual friendly manner The Knowledge is an interesting, slightly enlightening, but ultimately single paced show that is unlikely to command anything more than a single listen.
Interviews with London cabbies begin the programme and form the basis of this documentary that develops as subjects are irreverantly mixed to form a lighthearted narrative about how the use of knowlege shapes our views of the world, and how it has been incorporated into our culture.
Told in Fry's usual friendly manner The Knowledge is an interesting, slightly enlightening, but ultimately single paced show that is unlikely to command anything more than a single listen.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Disappointing
I love Stephen Fry but I wasn't that impressed with this AudioCD. I did find parts of it quite interesting - especially the development of London Cabbies and just how much... Read more
Published 20 days ago by D. Curwen
Thin, light on humour, and knowledge
I can't work out who it's for. The speed and tone of delivery seems school-like, and yet the references to Fred Housego et al suggest a much older audience, and it's just nice. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Maclennane
Enjoyable once, but ultimately forgettable.
A look in to general knowledge, and the London cabbie's knowledge test. A moderately enjoyable listen, but I doubt I'll ever go back to it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Kevin
A master class in how to do a radio archive shuffle!
Radio shows culled from the BBC archives can certainly be hit or miss. Thankfully this one is all HIT. Read more
Published 1 month ago by i wrote this
Typical Fry
Stephen Fry is always a joy to listen to - erudite, witty and didactic. This CD was originally a radio series, I believe, Fry's best medium. This bears repeated listenings.
Published 2 months ago by Ray Blake
Quirky and amusing...
Stephen Fry is funny, very funny, and this is an excellent audio CD which I have listened to several times now, as I trundle round in my car. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Doug
In one ear and out the other
I was really disappointed by this CD. Knowing that Stephen Fry owned a taxi I assumed that this CD would be about the "the knowledge" i.e. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bantam Dave
Not particularly compelling
I had assumed that this one hour, single CD, would focus on the London Taxi Driver Knowledge test ensuring they know every destination within 6 miles of Charring Cross in London. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Paul S. Ell
Another filler from Fry
I don't have a problem with Stephen Fry. I love some of his other documentaries and his acting and TV stuff is generally excellent. Read more
Published 2 months ago by J. Lyne
Quite interesting
Originally broadcast as part of BBC Radio 4's "Archive on 4" strand, "Stephen Fry Does The Knowledge" tackles the subject of knowledge in its many forms. Read more
Published 2 months ago by R. C. McGinlay
Listmania!
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