Paul Jennings, a freed man who once was a slave owned by James Madison, wrote about his experiences with the president. His brief account—only the last 16 minutes of this audiobook—concentrates on the War of 1812, including anecdotes about black soldiers and the removal of Washington's portrait. Kevin Kenerly's reading sets the mood well, particularly in the war stories. Judith West reads Elizabeth Dowling Taylor's history of the Madisons and the times Jennings lived in with emphasis on the attitudes of the era. Taylor sets the stage well for Jennings's writing. Still, Jennings's book will likely be just enough to make listeners wish that more of his words had survived.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2012
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781611748604
Publisher: HighBridge 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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