Norwegian journalist Seierstad lived several months with the family of "Sultan Khan," an Afghan book merchant and "free-thinking liberal" who has suffered jailings and beatings for preserving Afghan books and culture. Yet he wants Rushdie dead, routinely oppresses his wives, children, and other relatives, and is hard, petty, and grasping. The others depicted are by turns greedy, feckless, mean, or pitiable. Both how they are like us and how they are alien will distress, even appall, the listener. Joanna David gives Seierstad's narration in clipped British English, but renders Afghan voices in a shrill, urgent accent, almost a hiss; the "rational first-world observer vs. uncivilized third-worlders" subtext is unfortunate. Still, she delivers with brutal clarity Seierstad's finely observed picture of a wretched Afghanistan and a wretched human race.
Pub Date: 2004
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN:
Publisher: Recorded Books/ Clipper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Buckley offers a reasonable proposal for a national service program without jail or criminal penalties. Narrator Lawrence reads with a slow and careful announcer's voice; one wishes Buckley were reading this one himself. Books on Tape does its usual quality job with formatting, packaging and tape-turning instructions. The reader repeats the last sentence at such times, so you're sure you haven't missed anything. Popular nonfiction collections will appreciate Gratitude, and the topic is likely to prove timely in the years ahead.
Pub Date:
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Kozol’s shocking exposé of inequities in the funding of our public schools contrasts white suburban schools with those serving black and Hispanic populations. Interviews with students, teachers, and school administrators add eloquent testimony to Kozol’s disturbing presentation of facts. Narration by Jack Winston is clear and brisk, but the pace is unrelenting, with little pause for transition between scenes or chapters. Winston’s cool, detached voice contrasts with Kozol’s impasssioned and outraged message. The sheer repetition and magnitude of Kozol’s damning evidence is numbing; the narration gives no relief. Powerful medicine, most easily taken in small doses. Music signalling tape changes is jarringly inappropriate.
Pub Date:
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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