Schaap's audiobook is well conceived and well made--and its text is perfect for the medium. The biography of Jesse Owens is given enough time to flesh out his character and put a man behind all his achievements, but the story centers on Owens's record-breaking performance at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Schaap writes clearly, using short words and short sentences. Michael Kramer's no-nonsense delivery greatly enhances the production. Schaap wrote CINDERELLA MAN and has a flair for dramatic moments. Indeed, TRIUMPH seems written with a movie in mind; its last scene is a historical speculation on whether Hitler saluted Owens after the black American won his fourth gold medal.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2007
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Guthrie elevates a well-researched book, making it interesting for anyone who wants to understand the arc of this team.
Those who follow soccer know that the U.S. men’s team has undergone a massive evolution in a relatively short time. Schaerlaeckens details how the team went from underwhelming to competing on the international stage. He not only dives into overall team improvements but also recounts the paths of some of the American players over the years. Jimmy Guthrie narrates with a clear voice, never imitating particular individuals but staying emotionally involved. His narration reflects a respect for the game and for those who play it, keeping the listener absorbed.
Guthrie elevates a well-researched book, making it interesting for anyone who wants to understand the arc of this team.Pub Date: May 12, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217281862
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
Dugard charts the course, and Godfrey hits a personal best.
Dugard explores the origins of the marathon, from the legend of Pheidippides and the race’s peculiar length to the 1970s and '80s athletes who made marathons cool. Now, competing in a marathon is on every casual runner’s bucket list. Matt Godfrey takes the author’s accessible style and runs with it. His timing, liveliness, and wry tones bring Dugard’s multiple threads to life. The decade is jammed full of stories—Steve Prefontaine getting pipped for the bronze medal at the 1972 Olympics, Joan Benoit winning the first women’s Olympic marathon, the book by Jim Fixx that inspired sedentary people to take up jogging, and even the author finding his community when he discovered running as an 11-year-old.
Dugard charts the course, and Godfrey hits a personal best.Pub Date: April 14, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 33 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217285556
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: May 5, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
