A good bit of research and well-crafted writing by Jonathan Eig is brought to life by Richard Allen. The writer is up to the subject matter, and the narrator is up to the writing, a confluence of topic and talent that makes for all-around great listening. The story of Jackie Robinson's breaking of the color barrier in baseball sixty years ago has been plagued by mythology and exaggeration. Eig's book sets the record straight. The real Jackie Robinson is shown--brave and professional but also stubborn and driven by an inner fury. Allen's tone and pacing make the listening experience pass quickly. Good audio production further enhances the enjoyment.
Pub Date: April 17, 2007
Duration: 12 hrs
Publisher: Tantor Media
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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