Once you get past the author's debatable point that Noah Webster should be considered among the Founding Fathers, Joshua Kendall offers a solid portrait of this complex man. Webster, best known for his Dictionary of the American Language, was far more than that. He was a significant force in the creation of a true American culture. Arthur Morey offers a solid reading, at times making up for somewhat dry material. His voice is pleasant and easy to listen to, keeping the listener engaged. He changes his tone to suit the material, giving it the sense of a well-delivered history lecture. Any weakness is in the material, not the delivery.
Pub Date: April 14, 2011
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781101459690
Publisher: Penguin 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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