David Michaelis's biography of "Peanuts" cartoonist Charles Schulz is at once the most joyful and saddest book of 2007. Holter Graham does a superb job telling the rags-to-riches story of a man whose work appears so simple, until the reader looks deeper. Even Graham must have had a knot in his throat while recounting Schulz's final days when he admits his regret that "the little guy never got to kick the football." Schulz was one of history's most successful cartoonists, parlaying his strip into a billion-dollar industry that continues after his death. Yet the intelligent, driven man was sometimes depressed and always unfulfilled. The fact that for five decades he produced all those amazing cartoons in spite of these emotional issues makes him even more impressive. M.S. 2008 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Oct. 16, 2007
Duration: 13 hrs
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Karen Chilton's fluid alto is a good fit for this biography of Thomas Jefferson. The authors are more or less successful in their attempt to present the third president in the context of his times. What we are presented with is a very human being--possessing great intellect, filled with flaws and contradictions, and still immensely fascinating nearly three centuries after his birth. Chilton's pacing and inflection are never off. She narrates with a calm demeanor, competently affecting various accents for quotes and ably giving subtle expression to the narrative. It all adds up to an enjoyable listening experience.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2016
Duration: 14 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781501909993
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This rags-to-riches memoir recounts the business life of Sam Wyly as he made his way from IBM salesman in the early 1960s to the owner of Sterling Software and Michael's stores, as well as a chain of restaurants, among other companies. Along the way, Wyly tells of his investment strategies, his business partners, his successes, and his failures. Phil Gigante reads this business story with a steady voice that lulls listeners instead of exciting them. In addition to the occasional odd pronunciation, Gigante's voice is barely modulated, and he fails to engage emotionally. Nonetheless, this title offers an interesting view of how to invest in your business, making it grow while weathering an ever-changing economy.
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2008
Duration: 9 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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