This short history of Adolf Hitler focuses on large and small aspects of the man's life. Most fascinating is the emphasis on the many failures Hitler encountered, which make his eventual success seem even more grotesque. Narrator Ralph Cosham's delivery is as unemotional as the part of the text that recounts Hitler's mediocrity until his rise to power. His relationships with women, particularly very young ones, and with Winifred Wagner (composer Richard Wagner's wife) are disturbing. In addition to Cosham's matchless pronunciation, his delivery captures the author’s tone of irony regarding the ordinariness of parts of Hitler’s life. The author’s belief that the world is still fascinated by this madman makes hearing his life story vital.
Pub Date: March 27, 2012
Duration: 5 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781455153428
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
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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