Jacques Chirac's memoir chronicles the man who rose to politics in his thirties and was elected mayor of Paris, prime minister, and president of France. As president, he refused to believe that weapons of mass destruction were in Iraq and rejected American demands for French participation in the invasion. Much of this revealing book depicts the forces that shape today's world. But Stefan Rudnicki's ponderous reading makes listening a chore. While his enunciation and diction are understandable, his gravelly voice and low intonation are distracting; furthermore, his French accent isn’t credible. But his deep, rich baritone interpretation does lend this somber topic the necessary gravitas. Chirac earned the nickname “Le Bulldozer,” a reflection of his relentless drive and meteoric rise.
Pub Date: Nov. 13, 2012
Duration: 15 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781469220055
Publisher: Brilliance 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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