Producer and war documentarian Ken Burns reads it all, almost. He retains his famous “this happened to us” style of telling history by having three other voices, one of them Tom Hanks’s, read a few sentences about every half-hour. The result has more cohesion and flow than a production in which multiple narrators share the task as equals. Burns’s soft voice disappears into realistic images of flaming kamikaze planes diving into U.S. ships and the deaths on the Normandy beaches. His tempo may seem slow, but it yields perfect diction. The creators’ historical compression of WWII into nine hours of compelling audio meets Burns’s intention of educating younger minds in an engaging manner about the greatest war of the twentieth century.
Pub Date: Sept. 11, 2007
Duration: 9 hrs
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Carol Matthau epitomizes a glamour and lifestyle not associated with the 1990's. Here is a life of privilege, tragedy and worry about what friends would think of her new frock or lover. Matthau possesses a voice and delivery that simply could not be improved on. In her coy whisper, she tells compelling stories involving everyone from William Saroyan (husband #1) and Truman Capote to Carson McCullers, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Walter Matthau (husband #2). This excellent audio presentation will leave you wanting to read the entire book to discover what juicy tidbits were left out.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: The Publishing Mills
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This work is an excellent example of the power of the audiobook medium.
The only time most of us read the U.S. Constitution was in high school civics class. This book offers a unique perspective, and the use of two narrators allows listeners to distinguish between the document itself and the commentary on its continuing relevance. Working through the Constitution in sections, veteran narrator Dion Graham reads the actual text, and author Murray delivers her commentary, including incidents and court cases from as recently as late 2025, to illustrate the relevance to our lives today. Both narrators are easy to listen to, and their respective paces are suited to the complexity of the material.
This work is an excellent example of the power of the audiobook medium.Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 43 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668156018
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
