French philosophy professor Charles Pépin offers an astute meditation on how people develop confidence--in themselves, in the world, and in the value of relationships with others. To perform this poetic writing, it's hard to imagine a better choice than Peter Noble. His continental vocal rhythms are pleasing in themselves, conveying Old World wisdom and psychological groundedness; he connects with the author's emotional depth and humanitarian perspective. Humans, Pépin says, need emotional relationships with competent parents and mentors to develop confidence in themselves and to acquire a trusting and intelligent view of the world they must navigate. But they also need discipline--routines and rituals that order their lives and promote learning. These moving insights and Peter Noble's elegant performance make this a top-shelf addition to anyone's personal growth library.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2020
Duration: 5 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781799751328
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An interesting Ozark history that doesn’t quite cohere.
Author Hale presents the case of his young cousin Haley's disappearance on Cave Mountain in 2001 and the ensuing search and rescue operation, the largest in Arkansas history. Hale connects this with the murder of 3-year-old Bethany by a small and isolated religious sect decades earlier on the same mountain. Narrating these two stories in a low, slightly gruff tone, Hale weaves together family anecdotes, Ozark lore, local and broader history, and Christian theology. While the two cases are intriguing, the work lacks focus and contains extraneous details.
An interesting Ozark history that doesn’t quite cohere.Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 9 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063398153
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: today
Once again, Pollan makes the unknown make sense.
Pollan is a favorite with listeners, and rightly so. He may not possess a silken or practiced voice, and he’d be nobody’s first choice to narrate Proust, but few author-narrators are as engaging or as effectively bonded to their narrative. Pollan here explores one of the most fundamental of questions: What is consciousness? This leads him to other questions. Where exactly is consciousness located? What other species possess it? Pollan takes his listener on a journey through theories and research sites, each rendered with his signature economy and precision. Some sections may require relistening, but the difficulties lie in the subject matter, not the prose. That couldn’t be clearer or more illuminating.
Once again, Pollan makes the unknown make sense.Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217282159
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 9, 2026
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