Thurston combines autobiography and satire to examine, both humorously and seriously, being black in America today. His voice is expressive, energetic, and generally cheerful, and he moves the reading along skillfully. He gives almost everything a light tone, fitting the text, though some of the material is not comic. Frequent satiric hyperbole is usually matched by an exaggerated tongue-in-cheek tone, but not always—listeners will sometimes have to judge the intent by the material alone. An advantage of audio is that commentary on various issues from members of a “black panel” Thurston put together is given directly, in their own voices—though the sound quality ranges from merely okay to irritating. Thurston delivers a program that, overall, is lively, thoughtful, and often amusing. W.M. 2013 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2012
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780062062741
Publisher: Harper 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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