John Adams led one of the nineteenth century's most interesting lives, first going abroad at age 10, later serving his country as ambassador and president, ending as a legislator and an impassioned foe of slavery. Johnny Heller's quirky voice—nasal and raspy—takes some getting used to, and his folksy manner and intonation don't always fit this patrician life. Unger presents a mostly straightforward biography but frequently gives quotations from original sources, with emotional details. Heller uses these as opportunities to act, enlivening the reading, though sometimes he overemotes. His pronunciations of foreign words (usually French or Latin) are uneven and sometimes misleading. But his energy and excellent pacing keep the book moving and help maintain the listener's interest better than a drier reading would.
Pub Date: Sept. 4, 2012
Duration: 9 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781470819040
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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