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This is a frustrating read. There are morsels of magic among a morass of cited defenses too indulging of the academy. Early chapters on black or gay Wagner dwell too long on listing example after example after example of Wagners influence. Its unnecessary and very soon into the chapter starts to feel like simply an expression of a bias of subjective validation, the author sees Wagner in everything. And this breadth displaces the more interesting opportunity for depth. His explorations of Nazi Wagnerism are fascinating but short and he alludes to the need to explore the impact of pop music (Wagner then, Taylor Swift today) but avoids that more interesting line for his recitation of examples on how Wagner influenced one esoteric work after another. One needs the patience of a fan of multi-day operas perhaps to enjoy not only endure this work.

As for the audio recording, its equally frustrating. The sound quality is poor, his voice always strained and his German pronunciations are painful and depressingly innumerable.