by Dick Lehr ; Read by Will Damron ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 9, 2020
Narrator Will Damron's subtly expressive voice is a good match for this well-written account of the directed killing of Japanese Admiral Yamamoto, the man who spearheaded the attack on Pearl Harbor. Lehr's work is a nice biography of not only Yamamoto but also of the commander of the U.S. mission, Army Air Forces Major John Mitchell, and several of the pilots he chose to accompany him. As was the case for the Battle of Midway, U.S. Forces used decoded Japanese messages to plan the mission, which took place in April 1943. While he sounds dispassionate, Damron's delivery is quite subtle with both narrative and quotes. He makes this production engaging.
Pub Date: June 9, 2020
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780063007550
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
GENERAL HISTORY | WORLD | HISTORY | MILITARY | UNITED STATES | MODERN
by Jason Burke ; Read by Kristin Atherton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 13, 2026
Kristin Atherton is the absolute right choice to narrate this riveting and complex history of the rise of global terrorism. The research provided here is ambitious, providing a clear-eyed, deeply considered history of the nature of terrorist acts, the motivations for which were hard for news broadcasts of the 1970s to fully capture. Atherton's narration never wavers as Burke covers the well-known events of airplane hijackings, the Munich Olympic attacks, and the Beirut bombings of 1983, "the bloodiest year." The result is an insightful history that gives context to events that may have seemed disparate to casual observers. Atherton maintains a comprehensive, consistent voice throughout this long, gripping audiobook.
Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
Duration: 25 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217018796
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by Alex Wellerstein ; Read by Tim Campbell ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 9, 2025
Awards & Accolades
Our Verdict
GET IT
Tim Campbell's sonorous voice is a splendid match for Wellerstein's account of the decision to drop the atomic bombs on Japan in 1945. Wellerstein, a scholar of the history of nuclear weapons and the creator of the website NUKEMAP, delves deep into American nuclear policy. His conclusion is that President Harry S. Truman was almost entirely out of the decision loop. After the bombings, Truman made sure that American nuclear policy was firmly under the control of the president. While somewhat staccato, Campbell's delivery is never hurried or hard to follow. His voice has a slight gravelly quality, but is quite winsome and appropriately expressive throughout. Campbell's narration quickly draws the listener into this history.
Pub Date: Dec. 9, 2025
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063379459
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.