by Gerald Astor ; Read by Reathel Bean ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 22, 2004
Terry de la Mesa Allen led troops in two world wars, with his 104th Division Timberwolves arriving first at the Elbe River as WWII drew to a close. Gerald Astor paints a big picture of Allen's role but makes room for smaller details, such as his stopping to pet a dog during formation at West Point and his letters to the families of soldiers in his unit who were killed. Reathel Bean reads with the sort of bold booming voice listeners would associate with a documentary like VICTORY AT SEA. He creates voices for historical figures but puts the emphasis on clarity. The documentary style makes this title a good choice for WWII history buffs.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2004
Duration: 2 hrs
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by Jason Burke ; Read by Kristin Atherton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 13, 2026
Kristin Atherton is the absolute right choice to narrate this riveting and complex history of the rise of global terrorism. The research provided here is ambitious, providing a clear-eyed, deeply considered history of the nature of terrorist acts, the motivations for which were hard for news broadcasts of the 1970s to fully capture. Atherton's narration never wavers as Burke covers the well-known events of airplane hijackings, the Munich Olympic attacks, and the Beirut bombings of 1983, "the bloodiest year." The result is an insightful history that gives context to events that may have seemed disparate to casual observers. Atherton maintains a comprehensive, consistent voice throughout this long, gripping audiobook.
Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
Duration: 25 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217018796
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by Alex Wellerstein ; Read by Tim Campbell ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 9, 2025
Awards & Accolades
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Tim Campbell's sonorous voice is a splendid match for Wellerstein's account of the decision to drop the atomic bombs on Japan in 1945. Wellerstein, a scholar of the history of nuclear weapons and the creator of the website NUKEMAP, delves deep into American nuclear policy. His conclusion is that President Harry S. Truman was almost entirely out of the decision loop. After the bombings, Truman made sure that American nuclear policy was firmly under the control of the president. While somewhat staccato, Campbell's delivery is never hurried or hard to follow. His voice has a slight gravelly quality, but is quite winsome and appropriately expressive throughout. Campbell's narration quickly draws the listener into this history.
Pub Date: Dec. 9, 2025
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063379459
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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