Much to the delight of many listeners, Anne Lamott's essay collections about life, love, religion, and writing, including the well-loved OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS and BIRD BY BIRD, have appeared frequently over the years. She is a friendly, wise, and wry commentator who only occasionally drifts into self-pity about life's many pitfalls. She is always worth one's attention. The same cannot be said of her narration of her newest collection, a worthwhile consideration of hope and despair. Lamott's quavering nasal voice comes close to whining, she ends most sentences on a vocal up-pitch, and often rushes right by the full-stop period that she herself wrote. The result is choppy and headlong. This time, stick with the print edition.
Pub Date: Oct. 16, 2018
Duration: 3 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780525640523
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An enjoyable dive into a frigid world filled with warm hearts.
Ballard’s fascination with cold water swimming is contagious. Even if climbing into an ice bath, swimming in the ocean in the winter, or alternating a steaming sauna with freezing water doesn’t really appeal, the stories of the participants, including the author himself, are joyful and life-affirming. Ballard cites studies about the positive impacts of a brief cold dip on mood, inflammation, and resiliency (although he recommends undergoing an in-depth medical checkup before jumping in). He meets Lynne Cox, a giant in the worlds of both distance and polar swimming; Olympians; and regular people who just want to feel both alert and calm. Ballard becomes an enthusiastic member of this tight club, and his performance clearly exudes his affection for the others and their serious purpose.
An enjoyable dive into a frigid world filled with warm hearts.Pub Date: June 9, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 22 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668106754
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 8, 2026
A peaceful, restorative performance that encourages conscious observation.
Author Haynes may live in London, but she grew up on a farm. Nadia Albina’s British accent and warm voice encapsulate the bucolic vibe of this investigation into tracking time by the natural world. It’s all about rhythms and cycles—the time of year, the time of day, and the inner clocks of the physical world. Primroses open their blooms at the same time every day, and sunflowers turn their heads toward the sun as they move across the sky. Haynes urges listeners to be “trill-seekers” and pay attention to the dawn chorus as the birds layer their morning songs. Together, author and narrator conjure the soft light of late afternoon and the glitter of stars in a dark sky.
A peaceful, restorative performance that encourages conscious observation.Pub Date: April 21, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 33 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217336838
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: July 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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