Macy recounts, with a sense of gratitude and plucky amusement, her escape from poverty and alcoholism in small-town Ohio with the help of her staunch mother, supportive teachers, and a generous Pell Grant. She wants to know what it would take for a poor, ambitious kid to do the same these days and concludes that the barriers have multiplied to a nearly insurmountable level. And why has her former hometown become so angry, disconnected, lonely, and segregated by partisanship? It's depressing in so many ways. But Macy's performance is terrific. She's energetic, optimistic, and empathetic even as frustration with those who believe in fake right-wing conspiracies creeps into her voice. Beth Macy is a natural storyteller--both on the page and as a narrator.
Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217163564
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Buckley offers a reasonable proposal for a national service program without jail or criminal penalties. Narrator Lawrence reads with a slow and careful announcer's voice; one wishes Buckley were reading this one himself. Books on Tape does its usual quality job with formatting, packaging and tape-turning instructions. The reader repeats the last sentence at such times, so you're sure you haven't missed anything. Popular nonfiction collections will appreciate Gratitude, and the topic is likely to prove timely in the years ahead.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Kozol’s shocking exposé of inequities in the funding of our public schools contrasts white suburban schools with those serving black and Hispanic populations. Interviews with students, teachers, and school administrators add eloquent testimony to Kozol’s disturbing presentation of facts. Narration by Jack Winston is clear and brisk, but the pace is unrelenting, with little pause for transition between scenes or chapters. Winston’s cool, detached voice contrasts with Kozol’s impasssioned and outraged message. The sheer repetition and magnitude of Kozol’s damning evidence is numbing; the narration gives no relief. Powerful medicine, most easily taken in small doses. Music signalling tape changes is jarringly inappropriate.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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