David Rohde, a NEW YORK TIMES correspondent in Afghanistan, was kidnapped in 2008 by the Taliban and held for seven months in Pakistan. His wife, Kristen Mulvihill, worked for his release. They tell both sides of the story, each reading his or her own part. Narration by the people who lived the events provides authenticity and immediacy, but both read in something of a monotone. Rohde’s voice is nasal and not especially appealing, and he swallows words. Mulvihill’s voice is stronger and more listenable, but her delivery often seems perfunctory. The book is informative and sometimes dramatic but also occasionally dull and repetitious. (Too many incidents are told from both points of view.) The authors’ readings do not overcome these weaknesses.
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 2010
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781101222430
Publisher: Penguin 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
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