Any disappointment in this account of the inner workings of the OSS during WWII and the postwar McCarthy spy hunts will be with the text, not with Jan Maxwell's narration. Maxwell’s clear voice, crisp pacing, and ease with several foreign languages create an easy-to-follow presentation for the listener. She wisely employs pacing and intonation to distinguish individuals. Much of the material is gleaned from correspondence between OSS members. But, in spite of the book’s subtitle, “Julia Child and Paul Child in the OSS,” there’s little about them until well into the second half of the book. Julia’s fans will find this meal unsatisfying.
Pub Date: April 5, 2011
Duration: 14 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781442341920
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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