This biography enlightens listeners on both Pope Francis's life and the history of the Catholic Church. British journalist Austen Ivereigh provides a detailed and enthusiastic narrative that keeps the facts interesting and engaging. As narrator, he gives justice to the chronicle of important life events that reveal how Pope Francis acquired his current views and became the influential leader he is today. Anyone who wishes to gain a deeper understanding of Jorge Mario Bergoglio the man and to be shown the connection between his history and his actions as a religious leader will not be disappointed, as Ivereigh brings a sensibility that other biographies have not. This will be a smooth and engaging listen, even for the cynical.
Pub Date: Nov. 25, 2014
Duration: 15 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781427244284
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
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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