Annie Jacobsen's narration is as clear as her writing, yet the subject matter of this exposé still makes for an uncomfortable listening experience. Using years of research and recently released documents, Jacobsen guides the listener through a secret government program that gave some of the Nazis’ most brutal scientists work and a life in the U.S. instead of judgment and punishment at Nuremberg. Jacobsen's journalistic skills carry over to her delivery style in a presentation that is objective and unemotional without sacrificing any of her passion for the subject. Detail and background are sufficient for history buffs and general audiobook fans alike. This unique look at a dark incident in our history is as disturbing as it is fascinating.
Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2014
Duration: 19 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781619691544
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
GENERAL HISTORY | MILITARY | JEWISH | HISTORY
Addis delivers a satisfying performance that will keep listeners engaged in this commendable history.
Matt Addis narrates Bayliss’ detailed but straightforward history of Sparta, from prehistory to the destruction of the Spartan hegemony in the 360s B.C.E., both ably and amiably. His resonant voice is likeable, if sometimes scratchy. And his manner is so thoroughly friendly that the program seems like history as narrated by a kindly uncle—but an astute one. His understanding and interpretation of the text are precise, and his tones and emphases are correct and helpful. Addis’ pacing is slightly slow, with notable pauses between text blocks, but given the complicated interurban politics of the ancient Greek city-states, moderate pacing is helpful rather than distracting.
Addis delivers a satisfying performance that will keep listeners engaged in this commendable history.Pub Date: May 19, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 27 mins
DD ISBN: 9798899749254
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: June 30, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
Kristin Atherton is the absolute right choice to narrate this riveting and complex history of the rise of global terrorism. The research provided here is ambitious, providing a clear-eyed, deeply considered history of the nature of terrorist acts, the motivations for which were hard for news broadcasts of the 1970s to fully capture. Atherton's narration never wavers as Burke covers the well-known events of airplane hijackings, the Munich Olympic attacks, and the Beirut bombings of 1983, "the bloodiest year." The result is an insightful history that gives context to events that may have seemed disparate to casual observers. Atherton maintains a comprehensive, consistent voice throughout this long, gripping audiobook.
Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
Duration: 25 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217018796
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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