David Remnick thoroughly details the life of the 44th president of the United States, including his upbringing in Hawaii to his formative years in Indonesia and college years in California. Remnick carried out his research through a multitude of interviews, and he covers blemishes as well as achievements. Mark Deakins sounds adept, consistent, and interested in the material. He chooses not to imitate the many people quoted—from Obama’s college classmates to his close advisers. That smart choice frees the listener to focus on how Obama matured in his late teens, going on to Columbia University, Harvard Law School, community organizing in Chicago, and political runs for office. Deakins provides a steady and unbiased delivery of this definitive biography.
Pub Date: April 6, 2010
Duration: 25 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780307734372
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
James Michener tells the real stories behind the man and his books. The recording is read with skill and consistency although the reader does little to enhance the robust, larger-than-life incidents related in the book. Due to the first-person narrative format, there is no opportunity for the narrator to change his voice. This makes some chapters monotonous as they go on and on in the typical Michener style. The listener may also become confused because the stories are not told chronologically. This is not a great choice for the audio format, but Michener fans may stick with it to the end.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In a quest for a sense of inner contentment and self-worth, Gloria Steinem brings the reader on a journey of investigation and discovery. Steinem reads the text herself in a straightforward and friendly, but not intimate, presentation which is so easy to listen to it invites repetition--thus ensuring the painless relearning of the lessons of the book. It's difficult to tell from the reading that this audiobook is abridged; each section can stand alone. Nonetheless, the listener wished the book were unabridged. Steinem left me wanting to learn more.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Dove Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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