Schwartz delivers an insightful, short commentary on the nature of work and a surprising reorientation to how we understand work, especially work considered to be menial or unskilled. He narrates this extended version of his TED Talk himself, and--though he proves capable, with a steady voice and clear tone--his delivery isn't as compelling for an audiobook as it may be for an 18-minute presentation. He doesn't have the narrative flourishes that a better narrator would utilize when shifting between points and evidence. In the end, the production is worth listening to because of its content, not its narration.
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2015
Duration: 2 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781442378155
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The readers can't compensate for the unbearably pompous prose style of this extended parable about corporate politics and strategy.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An engaging experience.
This audiobook deals with everything from the historic investments that led to world-dominating companies, such as the Chinese technology company Tencent, to predicting the products and services of the future. An audiobook of such complexity requires a narrator who can handle the task, and David Thorpe manages it admirably. Thorpe uses his masterly voice, which sits somewhere between that of a BBC World Service presenter and an easy, relaxed Home Counties accent, to guide listeners through a sea of numbers, acronyms, and terms such as YP, RPS, and market cap. Rather than simply reading, Thorpe presents the work with excitement and enthusiasm, and this enjoyment transfers to the listener.
An engaging experience.Pub Date: Feb. 20, 2026
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781668103425
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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