Bernard Lewis, a prominent and sometimes controversial historian, provides an engaging account of his very long life. Ralph Lister’s performance is absolutely perfect. The account begins with a narrative of Lewis’s early years in England during WWII and the years after. After his migration to the U.S., the narrative turns into a series of fragments and scenes that are interesting but not always clearly delineated with respect to time. Lewis enjoys humor, particularly one-liners—some are quite good. Lister’s reading is always well paced, and his British accent works wonderfully. He captures the perceptive and occasionally irascible scholar and his changing views over a lifetime.
Pub Date: May 10, 2012
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781455890750
Publisher: Brilliance 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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