Eustace Conway, who took to the woods at age 17, makes fire with sticks, lives in a teepee, and wears clothes made of animal skins. Is he an American countercultural heor or a maladjusted self-promoter who moved to the Appalachian Mountains and acquired massive acreage to avoid confronting his shortcomings? Elizabeth Gilbert, a friend of Conway, explores these--and other--questions in THE LAST AMERICAN MAN, a fascinating examination of Conway. Patricia Kalember's reading is thoroughly in sync with the author's feminine perspective on Conway. Kalember gives life to Conway, and the legions of people drawn to him, most of whom are eventually repelled by his personality. She is particularly adept at conveying the tortuous relationship between Eustace and his antagonistic, unloving father and his inability to deal with women, whom he perceives as mates who should obey his every word.
Pub Date: April 8, 2002
Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins
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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