“Why is it that you white people developed so much cargo and brought it to New Guinea, but we black people had little cargo of our own?” That’s the question that sparked this Pulitzer Prize-winning book. Many Westerners suspect they know the answer: “We’re morally or genetically superior to those folks.” Author Diamond thinks not. We had animals one could domesticate, latitudinal expanses that allowed us to steal each other’s inventions and nasty germs. In other words: the dumb luck to be born on the right continent. Doug Ordunio reads the book as if he had written it, with the quiet passion of an erudite man.
Pub Date: Jan. 18, 2011
Duration: 16 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780307932433
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Buckley offers a reasonable proposal for a national service program without jail or criminal penalties. Narrator Lawrence reads with a slow and careful announcer's voice; one wishes Buckley were reading this one himself. Books on Tape does its usual quality job with formatting, packaging and tape-turning instructions. The reader repeats the last sentence at such times, so you're sure you haven't missed anything. Popular nonfiction collections will appreciate Gratitude, and the topic is likely to prove timely in the years ahead.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Kozol’s shocking exposé of inequities in the funding of our public schools contrasts white suburban schools with those serving black and Hispanic populations. Interviews with students, teachers, and school administrators add eloquent testimony to Kozol’s disturbing presentation of facts. Narration by Jack Winston is clear and brisk, but the pace is unrelenting, with little pause for transition between scenes or chapters. Winston’s cool, detached voice contrasts with Kozol’s impasssioned and outraged message. The sheer repetition and magnitude of Kozol’s damning evidence is numbing; the narration gives no relief. Powerful medicine, most easily taken in small doses. Music signalling tape changes is jarringly inappropriate.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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