Listeners may smile at the droll humor as narrator Samuel West delivers the author's account of how New Caledonian crows make tools. What does this have to do with life across our galaxy? It shows how intelligence evolves to fit needs. Arik Kershenbaum believes alien life forms can be understandable, but first listeners need to take a look at life forms here on Earth. Thus, West expresses Kershenbaum's empathy for spiders in the bathtub and speaks out for the poorly regarded vampire bat. West also gets the opportunity to do creditable impressions of Kirk and Spock from "Star Trek" since one theme of this audiobook is science fiction's portrayals of aliens. It's all a fascinating introduction to the growing science of astrobiology.
Pub Date: March 16, 2021
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593394380
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Dr. Plotkin is an ethnobotanist who recounts his experiences searching for new medications in the Amazon rain forest. He makes an impassioned plea for the world to stop destroying this irreplaceable resource. Since the author reads his own work, we can rely on the pronunciation of some unusual botanical terms; however, his voice (presumably not trained for performance) lacks the enthusiasm and fascination the words suggest. Furthermore, with no chapter references and few pauses between sections, transitions, such as the change of location from Ecuador to Massachusetts, are awkward.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
First, Simon Winchester, OBE, introduces listeners to the ubiquity of wind and its effects on the world. His careful pronunciation and British accent create an enjoyable backdrop for the conversational style in which stories are integrated with information that demonstrates where and how wind has had a direct influence on all the subjects in the Dewey Decimal System, including culture, arts, science, geography, language, and history. The journalist provides information that is both relatable and educational; topics range from Oz's Dorothy Gale being caught in "America's storm" to examples of how wind has been used for warfare. Winchester's passion for moving air is evident as he reminds listeners that the "wind blows equally for all."
Pub Date: Nov. 18, 2025
Duration: 13 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063374485
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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