Author and narrator David Grinspoon takes listeners behind the scenes of New Horizons, the first mission to Pluto, which passed by the planet in July 2015. This illuminating account reveals how stakeholders, Plutophiles, and advocates overcame numerous obstacles--including the securing of approvals, funding uncertainties, and inter-agency rivalries--to reach this planet. Grinspoon uses a straightforward tone as he contextualizes more than 20 years of scientific endeavors within space history. Quotes from project participants are distinguished by dialogue tags, not by vocal variation, making the point of view unclear at times. A coda, read by coauthor and mission leader Dr. Alan Stern, further explores the impact of this mission on a new generation of students and additional scientific possibilities as New Horizons moves beyond Pluto. Even listeners without backgrounds in astronomy and physics will appreciate the magnitude of this achievement.
Pub Date: 2018
Duration: 9 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250295941
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The author describes her efforts to implement a meaningful sustainability initiative for Wales and the world at large. An educator and minister of the environment, sustainability, and housing in her tiny country, she's a wonderful narrator who sounds at once relaxed and passionate, likable and dignified. Her voice is a perfect vehicle for amplifying her humanitarian intentions as well as the breadth of her methodical thinking. But what makes this audio so inspiring are the personal asides she shares throughout concerning her willingness to be vulnerable and her calm resolve to do something for the world's future generations. Davidson's descriptions of the laborious process of cultural transformation would have been dry listening without her pleasing UK speaking voice.
Pub Date: 2020
Duration: 6 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator Lisa Flanagan has a wonderful vocal personality--lithe with a broad palette of pitch patterns and a range of believable emotional tones. Her friendly voice works well with this lighthearted overview of how dramatically the Internet has changed the world in the past 30 years. Though being digitally connected has improved life in many ways, the author says we've lost many of the interpersonal experiences that used to sustain us. We have less privacy, don't need all those reference books, and have largely forgotten how to have vocal conversations with other people. The audiobook is entertaining nostalgia for anyone who feels incompetent navigating the World Wide Web, and a soothing reminder that those of us who miss the simplicity of the pre-Internet era are not alone.
Pub Date: 2021
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593418055
Publisher: Random House Audio
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.
