As a member of the Charles River Valley Boys--a bluegrass band from Boston who played the folk circuit regularly in the 1960s--John Byrne Cooke toured extensively with many of the legends of that era. His on-the-road experience eventually earned him the job of Janis Joplin's tour manager at precisely the time her career was ascending. It wasn't the easiest task in the world, given Joplin's volatile personality and prodigious intake of drugs and alcohol. Cooke's pleasing voice, while not compelling, is well suited for these ruminative chronicles. They make clear that artists like Joplin were thoroughly devoted to their art and love of music.
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 2014
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780698180932
Publisher: Penguin 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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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