A number of people contributed to the invention of the computer, but only one was given credit officially in a patent trial, John Atanasoff. Jane Smiley covers the lives of all the men involved and the steps they took in bringing about the Computer Age. Kathe Mazur's narration doesn't milk the drama, and there's much minutiae to pore over. However, the stories themselves—including suspicious deaths and WWII efforts on both sides—are fascinating enough that her low-key style is still mesmerizing. By the end, listeners will likely come to admire all the men profiled in this interesting look at the process of invention.
Pub Date: Oct. 19, 2010
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780307751140
Publisher: Random House 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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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