"Does power corrupt, or are corrupt people drawn to power?" asks political-science writer and "Power Corrupts" podcaster Brian Klaas as he narrates his fast-moving examination of why so many leaders become ruthless tyrants. His professional-sounding appeal and enthusiasm will engage listeners with the stories and insights he shares. What Klaas found from interviewing leaders around the world is that while some corrupt people seek power, ordinary people can also become corrupt because of the culture they inhabit and the system they must operate in. Klaas's vocal charm and lucid insights will encourage many listeners to question their own roles in creating despots: Why are so many of us drawn to leaders who are ruthless, corrupt, and blatantly self-serving?
Pub Date: 2021
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781797134109
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Author/narrator Sophie Lucido Johnson brings a conversational tone to her discussion of the importance of close relationships beyond family. Her direct and personal tone, steady pacing, and approachable rhythm guide listeners through reported stories, research, and lived experience. Her easy-sounding narration suits the audiobook's blend of analyses and anecdotes as she shifts naturally between reflective passages and practical examples of shared living, mutual care, and chosen family. Emotional moments are conveyed with warmth, while more informational sections remain grounded and accessible. Johnson's companionable delivery supports her emphasis on connection and helps listeners stay engaged as ideas build. Overall, the author's performance makes this audiobook an intimate, thoughtful, and well-paced experience.
Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781797195162
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A UC Berkeley professor offers a lucid overview of status--its ubiquity in society, how we acquire it, and the ways it influences how people and their achievements are valued. Performing with exceptional vocal personality and a beautiful tonal range, Michael David Axtell gives this audiobook richness and clarity. His narration fits well with the author's colorful writing about how status impacts the judgments we make about almost everything. He says that people don't like uncertainty, so they often make sense of the unfamiliar by looking for signs of a category, affiliation, or pedigree. Stuart's accessible language, along with his diligent scholarship, makes this guide entertaining. Listeners will become more aware of how our judgments are influenced by the glow of status.
Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 7 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797192734
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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