In an authoritative and evenhanded performance, narrator Pete Larkin steers this audiobook like he’s driving a big rig—staying in low gear for the first few chapters and then picking up speed as the Amazon enterprise morphs into a voracious behemoth. Larkin’s delivery matches the trajectory of the book—what starts out as a well-researched but fairly dry historical account of a retail start-up then veers into a complicated, slightly hellish tale of a predatory retailer that is not afraid to backstab competitors even while courting them. Founder Jeff Bezos, known for his exuberant optimism and keen business sense (“Worry about the customers, not the competitors,” he advises his troops), is also portrayed as a harsh, sometimes melodramatic taskmaster (“You’re ruining my life,” he tells an underling at a meeting). Of course, none of this should hurt Amazon’s bottom line, especially if you buy the audiobook from Amazon or from its wholly owned subsidiary, Audible.com. R.W.S. 2014 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2013
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781619690301
Publisher: Hachette 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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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