Robert Fass's skill in blurring the line between author and narrator shines in this mix of memoir and random musings by a Swedish entomologist. Fass’s easygoing tone and natural cadences highlight the author's enthusiasm for life and his curiosity about a range of topics from hover flies to art and literature. Listeners will be charmed by the idiosyncrasies of field biology and will be caught up in the stories about what it's like to pursue a solitary career. Fass's expressive narration allows listeners to appreciate the author's wry and self-deprecating humor. In addition, he handles the Swedish and Latin terms without a hitch, maintaining the conversational flow of the essays. Warning: Listeners may be tempted to invest in their own fly nets.
Pub Date: 2015
Duration: 5 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781504601450
Publisher: Blackstone 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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