The subject of democracy--how it begins and how bad actors cause it to fail--is personal to author and narrator Condoleezza Rice, former secretary of state. Rice's delivery of her introduction makes the listener want to hear more of her voice, and the emotion she conveys adds strength to her argument for democracy. The handoff to Grace Angela Henry, who narrates the chapters, is seamless. Henry's reading is not passionate or academic--the text won't allow it--but she smartly conveys her own interest to engage listeners. Though one can assume Henry has not been at a negotiation table, she excels at capturing the tension and hope that characterize the effort to find common ground.
Pub Date: May 23, 2017
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781478964575
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
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