ROLLING STONE magazine's founder, Jann Wenner, is the subject of Joe Hagan's research and reportage in this overly detailed work. Dennis Boutsikaris skillfully provides a nuanced, appealing narration of the entire text, except for the brief afterword, which Hagan handles in an offhand manner. Wenner originally requested this biography, but ultimately distanced himself, describing the effort as both flawed and tawdry. The story here bears out the truth of the clichéd triumvirate sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Detailed analyses, anecdotes, and scenarios of a cruel and heartless Wenner grow stale quickly. Should listeners have any deep-seated affection and nostalgia for the early years of the magazine, be prepared to have those feelings evaporate.
Pub Date: Oct. 24, 2017
Duration: 18 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781101888667
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
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