Former Congressman Barney Frank reflects upon the strange and curious changes in his personal and public life since his childhood. However, he should have opted to read just the introduction and not the entire production of his memoir. Frank has a distinct voice but not one that makes particularly good listening for more than 12 hours. His words mush together, making him hard to understand, and listeners may find themselves pausing, rewinding, or getting lost while trying to make sense of what is being said. It's too bad because his narrative is fascinating. He captures the fascinating shift from a world in which it was shameful to be a homosexual and popular to be a representative in the government to a place where his sexuality is largely accepted and his work in Congress largely criticized.
Pub Date: March 17, 2015
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781427259301
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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