Donald Fagen, half of the quirky classic-rock duo Steely Dan, has written an equally quirky memoir, short on tell-all revelations and long on philosophical insights. Narrating in the same deadpan tenor as his vocalizing, Fagen presents a series of vignettes sure to please many an aging Boomer. Growing up in New Jersey in the 1950s, Fagan, a nascent jazz fan, was in the right place at the right time to experience all the ripples of social upheaval that characterized the post-war era—from Cold War paranoia to psychedelic experimentation. At Bard College he crossed paths with guitarist Walter Becker, and together they created Steely Dan. Not surprisingly, Fagen delivers his wry memoir with perfection.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Penguin 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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