Daniel McGinn reflects on America's obsession with real estate--building enormous new houses, fixing up old ones (although the author argues that in this "post-handy world" our hands are only useful for writing checks to contractors), watching HGTV, and nosily looking up the price of our friends' houses on zillow.com. The author invests in a rental property in Pocatello, Idaho, which doesn't work out so well. One tenant goes to jail, the other drinks on the porch with his homeless friends, and the property manager disappears with the rent money. David Drummond's well-modulated no-nonsense tone is a pleasure. His timing is impeccable, especially in delivering the author's frequent use of humor, and he consistently differentiates the narrative from the dialogue.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2008
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Buckley offers a reasonable proposal for a national service program without jail or criminal penalties. Narrator Lawrence reads with a slow and careful announcer's voice; one wishes Buckley were reading this one himself. Books on Tape does its usual quality job with formatting, packaging and tape-turning instructions. The reader repeats the last sentence at such times, so you're sure you haven't missed anything. Popular nonfiction collections will appreciate Gratitude, and the topic is likely to prove timely in the years ahead.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Kozol’s shocking exposé of inequities in the funding of our public schools contrasts white suburban schools with those serving black and Hispanic populations. Interviews with students, teachers, and school administrators add eloquent testimony to Kozol’s disturbing presentation of facts. Narration by Jack Winston is clear and brisk, but the pace is unrelenting, with little pause for transition between scenes or chapters. Winston’s cool, detached voice contrasts with Kozol’s impasssioned and outraged message. The sheer repetition and magnitude of Kozol’s damning evidence is numbing; the narration gives no relief. Powerful medicine, most easily taken in small doses. Music signalling tape changes is jarringly inappropriate.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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