There have been five major extinction events in our planet's history, and Elizabeth Kolbert's disquieting book argues that we're now causing the sixth. Sadly, her powerful message is undermined by the production's languid narration. Anne Twomey reads in a conspiratorial whisper. Kolbert describes how human colonization and climate change are threatening countless species, and her narrative is tied together with the stories of extinct creatures from ammonites and mastodons to the great auk and the recently vanished golden toad. Many of the these stories are told from the viewpoints of research scientists she visited on the front lines. These dispatches from the field add both color and urgency to an audiobook that deserves a better delivery.
Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2014
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781442369467
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
High-interest, socially relevant science delivered in a friendly, conversational tone.
Social epidemiologist Werb narrates his extensive exploration into modern urban ecology. As population centers worldwide have increased and expanded, so has the growth of synanthropes: wild animals (and occasionally plants) that adapt to survive and thrive within human-built communities. Werb divides this deep dive into three sections: successful communal relationships, unsuccessful or hazardous ones, and the potential for future harmonious living between humans and the urban wilderness. Werb’s narration is pleasantly informative, maintaining a steady flow of relatable detail in his case studies without overwhelming the listener. His enthusiasm for his subject shines through in his dedication to discussing the whole range of positive and negative outcomes when people and wild animals coexist.
High-interest, socially relevant science delivered in a friendly, conversational tone.Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 23 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217340521
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
Dramatic encounters with wildlife are, unfortunately, muted footnotes in this memoir.
Few people have spent more hours observing wild wolves than the author of this unique nature memoir. Narrator Ryan Shaefer’s steady performance matches the author’s impactful yet emotionally subtle descriptions of wild spaces and the animals that inhabit them. McIntyre explains his decades-long evolution as a storyteller while teaching the public as a park ranger, naturalist, wolf researcher, and author. The audiobook is vivid and exciting when he talks about individual bears and wolves. However, he struggles to craft a compelling narrative out of his own life story. McIntyre ignores his own salient storytelling advice, describing his life chronologically as a list of facts, accomplishments, and job placements.
Dramatic encounters with wildlife are, unfortunately, muted footnotes in this memoir.Pub Date: June 13, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798228803619
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: May 26, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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