Astronomy professor Emily Levesque and narrator Janet Metzger take listeners behind the scenes with professional stargazers. Levesque interviewed numerous colleagues, whose many anecdotes are included in this production. Metzger is subtle in her conveyance of the seriousness and humor found in these stories, which highlight idiosyncrasies among individuals in the field. Astronomers, for instance, may practice various superstitions, such as wearing a pair of lucky socks. Steady throughout, Metzger shifts tone to reflect upon common setbacks and occurrences experienced at observing locations. Nature's interference with valued telescope time remains a constant in a field full of technological innovations. Despite shifts in priorities and funding, Levesque leaves listeners optimistic that this science will retain its allure for future generations.
Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2020
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781696602143
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
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
Once again, Pollan makes the unknown make sense.
Pollan is a favorite with listeners, and rightly so. He may not possess a silken or practiced voice, and he’d be nobody’s first choice to narrate Proust, but few author-narrators are as engaging or as effectively bonded to their narrative. Pollan here explores one of the most fundamental of questions: What is consciousness? This leads him to other questions. Where exactly is consciousness located? What other species possess it? Pollan takes his listener on a journey through theories and research sites, each rendered with his signature economy and precision. Some sections may require relistening, but the difficulties lie in the subject matter, not the prose. That couldn’t be clearer or more illuminating.
Once again, Pollan makes the unknown make sense.Pub Date: yesterday
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217282159
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 9, 2026
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