This audiobook outlines the extraordinary life of James Bryant Conant, president of Harvard, transformative academic, nerve gas chemist during WWI, and a leader of the Manhattan Project. These are but a few of his many accomplishments. Written by Conant's granddaughter and narrated skillfully by Fred Sanders, this biography is as interesting as any page-turner, thanks to Sanders's spot-on delivery and author Conant's storytelling. Sanders excels by mixing styles, at times using a newsreel-style delivery, while at other times using a tone of appreciation that mirrors the listener's awe at Conant's accomplishments. Although the audiobook is more than 24 hours long, it goes by quickly because of the many facets of Conant's larger-than-life achievements.
Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2017
Duration: 24 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781508243465
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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