An intellectual giant and cultural theorist of the 1950s and beyond, Hannah Arendt focused her principal writings on considerations of the conflict between civilization and barbarism as well as anti-Semitism. Narrator Laural Merlington's somewhat raspy timbre captures the listener's attention at the outset but wears on the ear a bit in time. This is a concise work for such a complex life, offering a sympathetic perspective of Arendt--who escaped Hitler's Germany for the United States in 1933--and examining her evolution as a controversial thinker. Despite her timbre, Merlington skillfully weaves an appropriately paced, mature, and thoughtful narration to suit the graceful examination of a life fully lived.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2015
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781501252471
Publisher: Brilliance 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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