John F. Kennedy shifted his views a lot as he shaped the positions he would take to the White House. Author Chris Matthews, who comes from a Republican family, also has made some political shifts. Matthews's admiration of JFK comes through loud and clear in Holter Graham's reading of this biography, which comes complete with a spot-on Kennedy impression. Among those who influenced Kennedy were his heroes, who included Winston Churchill. Still, the account reveals Kennedy as a human being—often flawed but never boring. He comes across as a sad person who was often in pain from illness yet was a bold politician. The biography's strength is its subject—who was a complex, fascinating person.
Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2011
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781442349179
Publisher: Simon & Schuster 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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