Always provocative, sometimes controversial, rock singer-songwriter Elvis Costello has evolved through and endured multiple phases—heralded and unheralded—and still remains a vital force in popular music. In this largely anecdotal memoir—read by the performer himself—he reflects on growing up in a musical family—his father was a jazz bandleader—catching the wave of punk amid the social and economic decay of mid-seventies Britain, and working with Paul McCartney, George Jones, and other musical icons. The fact that he reads the book himself is apt, considering the highly personal nature of the material. He really pours on the Liverpool accent, which is appropriate, considering his typically British barbed wit and the wry nature of the narrative.
Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2015
Duration: 18 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780698154650
Publisher: Penguin 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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