by Amitav Ghosh ; read by Ranjit Madgavkar ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 18, 2026
Ranjit Madgavkar narrates these essays on how forces beyond their control--for example, war, imperialism, language, climate change--influence people's lives. His strong but clear Indian accent never lets listeners forget that author Ghosh is a native of West Bengal, a fact that explains Ghosh's strong interest in colonialism, anti-colonialism, and the history of South Asia. The opening essays about the participation of Indian soldiers in the disastrous British Mesopotamian campaign of WWI are particularly fascinating. Madgavkar approximates different accents in the quotations from authors of other nationalities, making clear where they begin and end. Even without knowledge of South Asia, listeners will comprehend these essays because Madgavkar gets across the emotions.
Pub Date: Jan. 18, 2026
Duration: 19 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798228648760
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by Maya Angelou ; read by Maya Angelou ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A
Inspiring collections of Angelou reading her poetry. These selections showcase Angelou's smooth, lyrical voice and her warm vitality. Her innate rhythm celebrates her verse and offers the poems to listeners as they should be remembered. Occasionally Angelou comments between the selections, and occasionally she interjects a resonant laugh.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: N/A
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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by Dan Werb ; read by Dan Werb ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 14, 2026
High-interest, socially relevant science delivered in a friendly, conversational tone.
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Social epidemiologist Werb narrates his extensive exploration into modern urban ecology. As population centers worldwide have increased and expanded, so has the growth of synanthropes: wild animals (and occasionally plants) that adapt to survive and thrive within human-built communities. Werb divides this deep dive into three sections: successful communal relationships, unsuccessful or hazardous ones, and the potential for future harmonious living between humans and the urban wilderness. Werb’s narration is pleasantly informative, maintaining a steady flow of relatable detail in his case studies without overwhelming the listener. His enthusiasm for his subject shines through in his dedication to discussing the whole range of positive and negative outcomes when people and wild animals coexist.
High-interest, socially relevant science delivered in a friendly, conversational tone.Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 23 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217340521
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: July 24, 2026
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