Narrated with aplomb by JD Jackson, this audiobook tells the strange but true account of a planned space mission to Jupiter's moon Europa. While the mission's launch date is currently 2024, the journey so far is worthy listening for those interested in the inner workings of NASA, space travel, politics, and the nature of obsession. The story is packed with interesting characters, especially intrepid planetary scientist Robert Pappalardo, who leads the mission. As narrator, Jackson delivers a rollicking good time by smoothly weaving together storytelling and science. Also, his slightly droll tone captures the author's comedic touch, which is peppered with pop culture references. Listeners will be entertained by the humor and the human drama while learning about the science driving the Europa mission.
Pub Date: Jan. 26, 2021
Duration: 15 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062988379
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Dr. Plotkin is an ethnobotanist who recounts his experiences searching for new medications in the Amazon rain forest. He makes an impassioned plea for the world to stop destroying this irreplaceable resource. Since the author reads his own work, we can rely on the pronunciation of some unusual botanical terms; however, his voice (presumably not trained for performance) lacks the enthusiasm and fascination the words suggest. Furthermore, with no chapter references and few pauses between sections, transitions, such as the change of location from Ecuador to Massachusetts, are awkward.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The prose and Athavale’s expertly restrained performance meld gracefully in this flawless audiobook.
Narrator Vidish Athavale's voice is softly indelible, like the snow that blankets the Himalayan landscape the author so beautifully describes. An Indian wildlife biologist, Suryawanshi has spent decades studying snow leopards and their ecosystem among the planet's highest mountain peaks. What differentiates the author's scientific work, and his enthralling narrative, is his goal to understand and protect rather than conquer. The author also achieves a near-perfect balance between insightful and entertaining personal observations of remote communities (both animal and human); his own growth as a scientist, husband, and father; and the difficult and dangerous scientific work he and his colleagues have undertaken.
The prose and Athavale’s expertly restrained performance meld gracefully in this flawless audiobook.Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 9 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217336845
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 5, 2026
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