This audiobook chronicles Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's struggles to become president of Liberia--and, as such, the first female elected head of state in an African nation. Sirleaf's harrowing yet uplifting story is made all the more powerful by Marlene Cooper Vasilic's narration. Her even tone lets the gripping story speak for itself while adding appropriate notes of emotion, particularly in passages involving political and social irony and, especially, the personal danger Sirleaf faced during her frightful time in prison. Vasilic's facility with pidgin makes the few direct quotes come alive. Sirleaf was a co-recipient of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, recognized for her "nonviolent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work."
Pub Date: March 7, 2017
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781508233824
Publisher: Simon & Schuster 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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