Narrator Harrie Dobby has her hands full performing this important audiobook, full of academic references and economic formulas. Cambridge economist/public policy professor Diane Coyle says that common economic benchmarks like unemployment rates and gross domestic product are designed in arbitrary or misleading ways. She says these measures of societal progress, formulated before the digital age, are not only outdated but too often are drawn in ways that are manipulated to support various government, business, or political interests. In audio format, the frequency of these details interrupts the flow of the author's thinking. But Dobby's tone and phrasing connect perfectly with Coyle's message: We need to scrutinize the data we get from experts and the media so we can understand what the numbers actually represent.
Pub Date: April 1, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781663749888
Publisher: Ascent Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The readers can't compensate for the unbearably pompous prose style of this extended parable about corporate politics and strategy.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Henslee’s warm, unhurried narration makes listeners feel like the next success story could be theirs.
Barbara Henslee narrates with an intimate, upbeat delivery and a sunny Southern warmth that feels like being personally recruited to the Mary Kay empire. Her voice suits the material perfectly, drawing listeners into a bygone era when women built empires through gatherings around kitchen tables and on front porches, long before they could open their own bank accounts. Henslee never oversells, just gently persuades, mirroring the company’s own quiet pitch to millions of women that economic independence and personal transformation were within reach. The balanced treatment of the realities of multilevel marketing, alongside the truly inspirational story of founder Mary Kay Ash, make this a compelling listen for anyone curious about the often mocked world of direct sales.
Henslee’s warm, unhurried narration makes listeners feel like the next success story could be theirs.Pub Date: April 28, 2026
Duration: 14 hrs, 24 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217281879
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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