At age 64, following multiple attempts, Diana Nyad finally achieved her long-held dream of becoming the first person to swim from Cuba to Key West. It's a testament to her determination that she kept trying even when it seemed like she would never achieve her dream. Hearing her tell her story in her own words adds another dimension to the endeavor, and the listener feels her single-minded dedication to her goal. Her description of the challenging circumstances she overcame early in her life is jarring, and makes her achievements even more impressive. Nyad also gives the listener glimpses of her mind while swimming by singing the songs that help her to maintain her stroke, counting in various languages, and yelping when stung by jellyfish.
Pub Date: Oct. 20, 2015
Duration: 12 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781101889022
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
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