This talkative, self-indulgent, and mad memoir of a man born to great privilege is a vain, wandering waste. Goulian, now in his late 40s, has done little with his life—despite having had all the advantages. What is intended to be interesting is that he is a heterosexual who adorns his tattooed body with lip gloss, sarongs, halter tops, and perfume. However, the shallowness of the work poses the question: Why should we care? Rob Shapiro narrates in an entertaining, direct, and thoughtful way, conveying by his tone much of the self-deprecating and mildly sardonic humor. However, this highly skilled narrator cannot rescue a catalogue of neuroses without much explanation or insight.
Pub Date: May 17, 2011
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780307876751
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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