AMERICAN DESPERADO is the unflinching story of a man so steeped in evil that it's unconscionable that he is now a free man after cooperating with the government. Performed compellingly by Mark Bramhall and a full cast, the book details the life of Jon Roberts, who learned from his Mafia uncles early on that “evil is stronger than good.” In his own self-damning words, Roberts explains his love of inflicting pain and death. He aided the Medellin Cartel in flooding the U.S. with drugs for years. Then he cooperated with the CIA, and now he lives happy and free. Bramhall and others bring the story of this modern monster to life in Roberts’s own words and those of his family and associates. The cast draws the listener into Roberts's sick world in the way of a car accident that can't be ignored.
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2011
Duration: 16 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780307704658
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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