In this National Book Award winner, novelist Andrew Solomon examines the anatomy of depression--its causes, symptoms, and treatment--while recounting his own battle with a particularly severe case. He writes concisely and gracefully, frequently quoting the many literary melancholics (for example, Virginia Woolf and Sylvia Plath) who have written about their own pathology. His unapologetic use of clinical vocabulary might be daunting to some were it not for Barrett Whitener's crisp, scrupulous reading. One hears great empathy in his voice, but thankfully, self-pity is absent both from text and interpretation. Even so, the tape may depress the listener at first, though the feeling eventually lifts. This is intentional and a mark of Solomon's artistry, for the malady is often debilitating, sometimes deadly, difficult to treat, and claiming ever more victims. Yet often it is dismissed as temporary or immature or a relatively harmless nuisance. Making one feel it even momentarily reveals how serious depression can be and how valuable the knowledge contained in this volume.
Pub Date: 2003
Duration: 24 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Sound Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Sylvia Nasar's excellent biography of the tragic but ultimately triumphant life of mathematician John Forbes Nash,, Jr., gets cheated by poor audio production. Anna Fields's volume is so low that some of her trailing sentences are inaudible except in a silent room. Blackstone compounds the problem with a very high-noise recording. The end result is a production that can't be listened to comfortably in a car or walking in public because Fields's voice ranges from near-whisper to just above normal volume. The listener who compensates for the whisper is overwhelmed by her louder sections. In future Fields projects, Blackstone needs to use compression. Read the excellent book instead.
Pub Date: 2000
Duration: 19 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The authors, both neuroscientists, believe that Internet search logs offer an astounding research opportunity: a look at human sexuality that is anonymous and, thus, probably acutely honest. What do people search for, sexually, online? The results are enlightening, sometimes startling, and rather humorous. The potential for titillating smarminess in this topic is enormous, but narrator Andrew Garman never goes there. His demeanor is professional and full of good cheer. The graphic language, which he reads with clarity and humor, could come off equally as silly or scandalous, but his pace never feels like it's lingering or leering, and his tone is instructive. There are charts and lists in the text, and Garman easily incorporates them into the listening experience.
Pub Date: 2011
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN:
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
