Daniel Bergner's exploration of the scientific landscape of mental illness and its treatment is wide-ranging and, ultimately, fairly depressing. Bergner's voice is pleasant and genuine, but his carefully enunciated performance is a bit too measured and restrained when added notes of anger and fear would be completely appropriate. Bergner lays out the limited success of psychotropic drugs--often no better than placebos and accompanied by irreversible side effects such as obesity, hair loss, and debilitating tremors. Mushrooms, LSD, and talk therapy are no better. Amid the academic research, Bergner embeds the extensive stories of three individuals living with mental illness, including his brother Bob, adding heart to this important work. Although this is still a fine audiobook, a performer equal to the value of the text would have added value.
Pub Date: May 17, 2022
Duration: 12 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063004924
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In this fascinating coming-of-age portrait, Thomas Black Bull's journey from the child, Bear's Brother, to the fearsome rodeo rider, Killer Tom Black, is painted with compassion and insight. Forced to learn the White Man's ways, Tom reaches adulthood consumed by rage. Read with great vigor by Norman Dietz, the recording bursts with the energy of rodeo circuit and transports the listener to the southwest. The accurate portrayal of Tom's Ute ancestry and way of life, the sorrow and frustration of losing his heritage, and his angry retaliation at the world make this an excellent listening choice for adults and teenagers. It would also be a wonderful addition to high school units on the Native American experience.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 10 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
George S. Irving adopts Patrick McManus's characters with gusto. Sit back and listen to yarn after yarn. Irving relishes each story, whether it's fishing stories, such as "Claw of the Sea-Puss" or "To Filet or Not to Filet," or the escapades with McManus's wary but vulnerable neighbors. Irving has the jocular chuckle down pat, and the low comedy satire comes off without a hitch. Listeners can imagine Irving tipping back a chair at the country store swapping lies with cronies and entertaining any comers with these hilarious tales. His repertoire of more than eight collections of McManus stories encourages this kind of ownership!
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: DH Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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