John Elder Robison's memoir of growing up with undiagnosed Asperger's syndrome, high-functioning autism, is a fascinating story of unexpected successes. To add to his troubles, Robison's mother was mentally ill, and his father was an abusive alcoholic. Failing in junior high, Robison was encouraged by his teachers to repair broken audiovisual equipment. His surprising abilities led to inventing rocket-shooting guitars for the band KISS, developing computerized toys, and fixing classic cars. Narrator Mark Deakins's portrayal of Robison is sincere and sensitive. He appropriately underplays the emotional impact of the childhood abuse to match the matter-of-fact tone of the writing and deftly captures Robison's humor, which features quirky names (his wife is "Unit Two" because she's a middle sister) and practical jokes.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2007
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Books on Tape
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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