Just before Christmas in 2008, General Motors shut down its Janesville, Wisconsin, assembly plant. Amy Goldstein tells the stories of those who were left to cope with joblessness, and those in its wake. Joy Osmanski reads the stories with passion. Listeners hear the emptiness of the once-bustling plant, and the anxiety of the workers who once made 28 dollars an hour. A woman dealing with a depressing job as a corrections officer, teens embarking on their futures, and GM "gypsies" who moved to another plant are among those who share their experiences. Civic efforts to help people rebuild their lives and bring in new jobs, as well as the efforts of House Speaker Paul Ryan to save his hometown's assembly plant, are also part of the story.
Pub Date: April 18, 2017
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781508238881
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Buckley offers a reasonable proposal for a national service program without jail or criminal penalties. Narrator Lawrence reads with a slow and careful announcer's voice; one wishes Buckley were reading this one himself. Books on Tape does its usual quality job with formatting, packaging and tape-turning instructions. The reader repeats the last sentence at such times, so you're sure you haven't missed anything. Popular nonfiction collections will appreciate Gratitude, and the topic is likely to prove timely in the years ahead.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Kozol’s shocking exposé of inequities in the funding of our public schools contrasts white suburban schools with those serving black and Hispanic populations. Interviews with students, teachers, and school administrators add eloquent testimony to Kozol’s disturbing presentation of facts. Narration by Jack Winston is clear and brisk, but the pace is unrelenting, with little pause for transition between scenes or chapters. Winston’s cool, detached voice contrasts with Kozol’s impasssioned and outraged message. The sheer repetition and magnitude of Kozol’s damning evidence is numbing; the narration gives no relief. Powerful medicine, most easily taken in small doses. Music signalling tape changes is jarringly inappropriate.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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