Schwartz begins his book with the attempted suicide of his 13-year-old son, Joseph. He then tells how, when Joseph was 3, he and his wife had determined that he might be gay and, through the filter of that belief, how they tried to deal with Joseph’s learning and behavioral issues in school. Alternating chapters report more generally on topics related to gay children, gay rights, and other issues. Schwartz tells his family’s story with some detachment, using an offhand tone touched with dry humor. Overall, the book combines intimate details of Joseph’s early years, accounts of his parents’ advocacy for him at school, and observations about cultural developments related to gay rights.
Pub Date: Nov. 8, 2012
Duration: 6 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781469257150
Publisher: Brilliance 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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