Narrator Derek Perkins takes listeners on an energetic trip to Japan, where Adharanand Finn (RUNNING WITH THE KENYANS) spent six months as an observer and participant with the serious marathoners of Japan. Perkins captures Finn's quirky humor and English accent and deftly conveys the fascination--and trepidation--of his children as they learn the language and attend school. Most fascinating is hearing about Ekiden, the 135-mile relay race, which is the Japanese equivalent of our Super Bowl. Listeners will enjoy Perkins's impressive Japanese accent and ebullient descriptions of people and places as well as learning about the tradition of bowing to the track at the finish line. In addition to comments from university and corporate running teams, the "marathon monks" (who run for spiritual enlightenment) enthusiastically recount their running stories. Non-runners will be equally fascinated by this unique audio journey.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2016
Duration: 9 hrs
Publisher: Audible, Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
More books have been written about baseball than any other sport, and audiobooks such as this allow the genre to flourish. Former pitcher Ron Darling, now a broadcaster, had a distinguished career, primarily with the New York Mets. Darling has met just about everyone in the sport for nearly four decades and demonstrates his knowledge and connections with the anecdotes in this entertaining memoir. Narrator Malcolm Hillgartner's relaxed delivery sounds as though he is in the broadcast booth with Darling. Like most audio sports memoirs, this book succeeds because of the narrator's engaging style. Hillgartner recognizes that even the duller moments in baseball are bolstered by the legacies of so many who have played the game, and were fortunate to have crossed paths with the author.
Pub Date: April 2, 2019
Duration: 7 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781721342457
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Willie Mays's baseball life was a long and rich one, worthy of multiple biographies. Known as a five-tool player--he could run, field, throw, hit, and hit for power--Mays enjoyed a long career. The tag-team narration here fits wonderfully: Larry Herron speaks in a serious and deep tone that is commanding, with appropriate doses of emotion. Julian McWilliams uses a higher voice for Mays who, in fact, does have a slightly high voice. Often, when people are quoted--like President Obama--imitations are used and fit seamlessly within the story. Off- and on-the-field anecdotes are interspersed with brief pieces of advice and mini-mantras from the baseball great.
Pub Date: May 12, 2020
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781250240231
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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