Of Donald Spoto’s 15 books, this biography may be his least objective. Spoto’s affection for his friend Ingrid Bergman, who generously assisted Spoto on his two books about Alfred Hitchcock, is evident in his insightful analysis of her performances in her best films. But his exploration of her life treads lightly on any possible flaws, such as her focus on her career to the near exclusion of her children. C.M. Herbert’s low-key, brisk narration is an effective contrast to a text that sometimes inclines toward the effusive in its praise of Bergman. Her dignified delivery resists the opportunity to heap yet more praise on the star; such a clear, straightforward reading gives balance to Spoto’s fond, but absorbing and informative, biography.
Pub Date: 1997
Duration: 20 hrs
Publisher: Blackstone 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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