Olympic Medalist Amanda Beard shares her journey as a celebrity athlete who struggled between stardom and her private life. The swimmer candidly shares her story, addressing her parents’ divorce, her boyfriend problems, and her struggle with dyslexia and bulimia, along with other unhealthy habits she had throughout her early career. Narrator Tavia Gilbert sounds totally credible as Beard and brings out her competitive personality. Gilbert successfully projects the different voices of Beard’s coach, her father, and her boyfriend, allowing the listener to empathize with Beard’s feelings at various points throughout her life. Gilbert’s performance conveys that Beard is not only an Olympian but also a human being who faces choices every day and has highs and lows just like the rest of us.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2012
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
James Michener tells the real stories behind the man and his books. The recording is read with skill and consistency although the reader does little to enhance the robust, larger-than-life incidents related in the book. Due to the first-person narrative format, there is no opportunity for the narrator to change his voice. This makes some chapters monotonous as they go on and on in the typical Michener style. The listener may also become confused because the stories are not told chronologically. This is not a great choice for the audio format, but Michener fans may stick with it to the end.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In a quest for a sense of inner contentment and self-worth, Gloria Steinem brings the reader on a journey of investigation and discovery. Steinem reads the text herself in a straightforward and friendly, but not intimate, presentation which is so easy to listen to it invites repetition--thus ensuring the painless relearning of the lessons of the book. It's difficult to tell from the reading that this audiobook is abridged; each section can stand alone. Nonetheless, the listener wished the book were unabridged. Steinem left me wanting to learn more.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Dove Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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