The author of HOW THE SCOTS INVENTED THE MODERN WORLD has produced an epic. This sprawling audiobook covers the lives of the two leaders and opponents in detail from cradle to grave. The presentation shifts back and forth between the two protagonists in comprehensible blocks that are chronological and generally easy for the listener to follow. Still, the cascade of people and place names, dates and campaigns can be overwhelming. John Curless gives a flawlessly paced, no-frills narration in clear BBC English. He meets the many pronunciation challenges with aplomb, with the odd exception of SATYAGARHA (the core concept in Gandhi's philosophy), of which he always seems tentative. F.C. 2009 Audies Winner © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2008
Duration: 29 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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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