Early on, Ball piques listeners' interest by letting us in on wealthy Leland Stanford's friendship with a murderer. Stanford's fascination with horses and how they move led Edward Muybridge, who killed his wife's lover, to invent the first motion pictures. John Mayer's narration isn't showy or sensational--and despite the opening volley, neither is Bell's writing. But Mayer's delivery will keep listeners mesmerized as they learn about the life of an unusual inventor. The historical account also offers a poetic meditation on "the visual age," as well as depictions of life in a wild San Francisco of the late 1800s. Few biographies capture lives as colorful as Muybridge's, and Mayer tells the story well.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
Duration: 15 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780307876638
Publisher: Random House 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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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