John Mortimer narrates this autobiography, which details events connecting family, friends, people and places he has encountered during his career as a barrister, screenwriter, playwright and novelist. This account begins with his work as defense counsel for bizarre homicidal characters and continues through his literary occupations. In an English accent he languidly recounts the pleasures of his pursuits and discoveries. Whether describing his relationship with David Niven or his preparation for a murder case, the excitement of these moments is more in the facts than in the telling. While the reading is understated and rather droll, this is a tale filled with absorbing, if idiosyncratic, folks.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1996
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: ISIS Audio Books
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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