Reading his introduction with clarity and aplomb, the British historian and Columbia University professor offers the coherent story of how the world reacted to Covid. Simon Vance narrates the balance of this intelligent work with equal grace and fidelity, but his slower pace and deliberate enunciation have a theatrical quality that is not the best fit for the writing. SHUTDOWN is a thoughtful, almost encyclopedic examination of the huge impact Covid is having on the world's economies, international politics, and the daily lives of almost everyone. Tooze's writing is notable for his ability to tell this story with a historian's perspective, a reporter's economy of language, and an obvious sensitivity to the upheaval people are suffering. His analytical skills are arresting, especially in the sections on how politics has impacted government responses to the pandemic.
Pub Date: Sept. 7, 2021
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593417935
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In this searing indictment of U.S. imperialism, journalist Omar El Akkad exposes the rot at the heart of American liberalism and the ugly truth that undergirds American democracy: It's predicated on the subjugation of marginalized people around the globe. El Akkad focuses on the genocide in Gaza but also draws on his career as a journalist in the post 9/11 years and his experiences as an Arab immigrant in the U.S. and Canada. His prose is clear sighted and unflinching; his narration is fiery and direct. His voice is sometimes steely but softens when he's speaking about the people and communities he loves. El Akkad implicates all of us and asks us to take courageous action. There is incredible power in hearing this book read aloud.
Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2025
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217074075
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Novelist Isabella Hammad delivered the Edward W. Said Memorial Lecture at Columbia University in September 2023. In this powerful audiobook, she reads that lecture with poise and urgency. Her voice is assured and firm, inviting listeners to truly sit with the impact of her words. She examines the fight for Palestinian liberation through the lens of fictional and historical narrative, exploring how "aha" moments in fiction do not often lead to action or structural change in the material world. She offers a compelling framework for thinking about narrative in new ways. The audiobook includes an afterword in which she addresses the ongoing genocide in Gaza, as well as a clip of the original lecture. This short listen leaves a lasting impression.
Pub Date: Sept. 24, 2024
Duration: 2 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798892749299
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
