Ignore the crackerjack title—this is an excellent audio history of the life of Martin Luther and the birth of the Protestant Reformation. Pettegree focuses on the way Luther’s prolific writings nourished the German printing industry and made him Europe’s bestselling author. This seemingly narrow and technical aspect of man and movement provides a fresh perspective on both Luther and the Reformation. Paul Hecht brings the requisite command of German names and phrases, and maintains a smooth, steady pace that underscores the objectivity of the text. Next year marks the 500th anniversary of the publication of Luther’s 95 Theses Against Indulgences, a trigger for centuries of debate, war, and massacres. This balanced history bypasses the doctrinaire and canonical issues to report instead on how the word got out.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2016
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781490698205
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Kuin's study of the ancient Greek cynic who made philosophy a performance art is comfortably supported by Cassandra Campbell's easygoing performance, which carries the listener through the text's occasional repetition and lack of focus. While Campbell's pleasant voice and manner don't always match up with Diogenes' persona as a transgressive maverick, that doesn't undermine her capacity to understand and convey the book's ideas about Diogenes and his later influence, even when they're obscure or challenging. Unfortunately, in contrast with her careful pronunciation of Greek terms, a handful of prominent mispronunciations suggests a lack of editorial support. Overall, Campbell's amiable, discerning performance ably presents this often-insightful study of a philosophic original.
Pub Date: Nov. 11, 2025
Duration: 8 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668656402
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Angela Buchdahl, senior rabbi at one of the most influential Reform synagogues in the country, tells her story with the same energetic, approachable delivery she employs in her public speaking. Her path to the rabbinate was anything but usual; Buchdahl was born in Seoul, South Korea, to an Asian Buddhist mother and a white Jewish father. Each biographical chapter of the audiobook ends with a related teaching from a Jewish text that introduces listeners to Jewish history and beliefs. The Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, is addressed, although her thoughts have evolved since writing this book. Ordained a cantor before becoming a rabbi, Buchdahl intersperses music from Jewish tradition, and her lovely singing voice is a special treat in this outstanding production.
Pub Date: Oct. 21, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217163793
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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