Performing this sophisticated, often poetic, writing about his personal journey through the "fertile tableau and morass" that was New York City in the 1990s, former VANITY FAIR insider Dana Brown sounds assured and thoughtful--like the charismatic and intellectually savvy Gen-X New Yorker he is. What makes this combination memoir and cultural history so compelling is that the author's sometimes snarky narrating tone and sharp perspectives are balanced by an undercurrent of humility, a gratitude and nostalgia for the improbable life he enjoyed working for the culturally important magazine. His inside stories about the famous and powerful and his riveting accounts of the palace intrigue in the NYC magazine world are spellbinding. A must-hear for fans of publishing culture and people finding their way in a challenging city.
Pub Date: March 22, 2022
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593507223
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A TikTok phenom, Olsen studied musical theater, and his love of performance comes through.
Olsen’s memoir knits together two threads of his young life. His audiobook is at once a cleareyed look at his addiction to alcohol and cocaine as well as his coming-of-age as a gay man. He grew up within a dysfunctional family. His mother, who is initially portrayed as an organized supermom, goes through rehab numerous times for alcohol use. Rehab is a theme: Olsen spends nearly a year in a Florida institution. A long, fraught romantic relationship is recounted in too much detail, while listeners hope instead for more about his meteoric rise as a social media celebrity.
A TikTok phenom, Olsen studied musical theater, and his love of performance comes through.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 42 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668132401
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: yesterday
A different kind of rock star memoir, rooted in astrology and conveyed with gentle grace and intelligence.
Orzabal relates his history as a rock star with a conscience. Orzabal is a member of Tears for Fears, the 1980s pop duo that continues to record and perform. Their early ubiquitous hits remain staples on streaming services and movie soundtracks. Orzabal relates his unique path to stardom and shares the difficult story of his life of artistry and tragedy in a weathered British lilt. While his artistic compatriots may have enjoyed the usual spoils of pop stardom, Orzabal sought primal scream therapy. Orzabal's performance here is engaging and therapeutic.
A different kind of rock star memoir, rooted in astrology and conveyed with gentle grace and intelligence.Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 18 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063455153
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 21, 2026
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