TRIED BY WAR is a prime example of an excellent text in the capable hands of an award-winning narrator. Author McPherson manages to find a unique perspective on the Lincoln presidency as he explores Lincoln's role and effectiveness as commander-in-chief during the Civil War. Burdened as he was with generals either reluctant or unable to perform, Lincoln was forced to learn military strategy and to conduct much of the war from the White House. McPherson also draws an intimate portrait of Lincoln: his triumphs and frustrations, self-doubt and anguish as the casualties on both sides mount. George Guidall is an excellent fit for McPherson's detailed text. His smooth presentation and brisk pacing bring a clarity and energy that will help this work appeal to a wide audience.
Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2008
Duration: 9 hrs
Publisher: Penguin 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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