Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor at the online news magazine "Slate" and host of the podcast "Amicus," opens in her usual understated, approachable narrative style, quoting from the first stanza of Paulie Murray's poem, "Dark Testament": "Where men forever crush the dreamers/Never the dream." She proceeds with stories of women attorneys confronting male-dominated legal and legislative systems that often keeps women and minorities from achieving their full measure of civil rights. Some names are familiar--Sally Yates, Anita Hill, Vanita Gupta, and Stacey Abrams--while others are perhaps less so--Robbie Kaplan, Brigitte Amiri, and Nina Perales. Lithwick closes by somberly observing, "We are in a truly frightening moment," but she also notes that ". . . women plus law equals magic." A tough but important listening experience.
Pub Date: Sept. 20, 2022
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593629642
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
But as a whole, the work is a triumph, and Nolan proves a candid and forthright narrator and guide.
Narrating her latest essay collection, Nolan achieves a measured tone of remarkable clarity and strength. It’s a tone that both suits and complements her subject matter, which encompasses the personal and the political while revealing the extent to which the two are inseparable. Racial and gender inequities aren’t so much examined as turned inside out, and Nolan’s research is as well-stocked with facts and figures (for example, that the fastest-growing group of gun owners is comprised of Black women) as her arguments are informed by the analyses of predecessors including Tressie McMillan Cottom and bell hooks. For some listeners, the audiobook format might not be best suited for Nolan’s work, which can be dense (though not inaccessible).
But as a whole, the work is a triumph, and Nolan proves a candid and forthright narrator and guide.Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 35 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063320116
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2026
Solnit presents a clear and coherent explanation of contemporary liberalism.
Solnit is known for expressing the liberal approach in her essays, and in this book, she specifically addresses ways of reshaping the world in accord with her principles. Unfortunately, while her voice is expressive, it is rather soft, which diminishes the effect of her sometimes-passionate arguments. Still, she knows what she wants to say, and she says it clearly. Drawing often on her own experiences and background, she lays out the case for liberal ideals and action. Her main concerns include Native American rights, our relationship with the biosphere, and the importance of empathy in public decision-making. She lacks empathy, however, for those who disagree with her.
Solnit presents a clear and coherent explanation of contemporary liberalism.Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798318565045
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: May 26, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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