The erudite Cavett has been a stand-up comedian, a skilled writer for Jack Paar and Johnny Carson, and a host of both ABC and PBS talk shows. Here he shares some of his NEW YORK TIMES commentary. Subjects run the gamut from scary repetitive dreams to airport security and celebrities such as Arthur Godfrey, Groucho Marx, and Jonathan Winters. We can hear the impact of his age in the tonality and pacing of his narration, but, for the most part, it is precise, appealing, and, at moments, laugh-out-loud funny. Cavett attempts to convince us that he still reflects his unassuming Nebraska middle-class upbringing, but his full-scholarship Yale education is mentioned dozens of times. He exhibits many biting elitist observations and critiques, often directed at conservative politics and Americans with a more basic education. On balance, this is an entertaining listen. W.A.G.
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 2014
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781427244260
Publisher: Macmillan 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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