Narrator Suzie Althens's bright tone and pacing prove to be a buoyant guide through this fascinating examination of the spaces in which we live and work. The audiobook covers the spectrum of the "built environment," the constructed world that impacts our lives. Listeners are given details that range from the microorganisms living among us in our homes to the social impact of hospital and prison architecture. Each chapter focuses on individuals and how their lives are impacted by their environments; in one passage, a prisoner recounts his experience of solitary confinement: "They keep you alive while killing you." Althens smoothly delivers the various perspectives, capturing both the emotional and scientific frameworks of the topic. This is the perfect audiobook for our days of eternal lockdown.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2020
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781662002854
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Dr. Plotkin is an ethnobotanist who recounts his experiences searching for new medications in the Amazon rain forest. He makes an impassioned plea for the world to stop destroying this irreplaceable resource. Since the author reads his own work, we can rely on the pronunciation of some unusual botanical terms; however, his voice (presumably not trained for performance) lacks the enthusiasm and fascination the words suggest. Furthermore, with no chapter references and few pauses between sections, transitions, such as the change of location from Ecuador to Massachusetts, are awkward.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
First, Simon Winchester, OBE, introduces listeners to the ubiquity of wind and its effects on the world. His careful pronunciation and British accent create an enjoyable backdrop for the conversational style in which stories are integrated with information that demonstrates where and how wind has had a direct influence on all the subjects in the Dewey Decimal System, including culture, arts, science, geography, language, and history. The journalist provides information that is both relatable and educational; topics range from Oz's Dorothy Gale being caught in "America's storm" to examples of how wind has been used for warfare. Winchester's passion for moving air is evident as he reminds listeners that the "wind blows equally for all."
Pub Date: Nov. 18, 2025
Duration: 13 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063374485
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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