Ulysses S. Grant was a hard-working family man who reluctantly took a commanding role in the Civil War and later ran for the presidency with equal reluctance. Still, he won the respect of President Lincoln as he led the Union forces to victory. He became president to preserve Reconstruction, overseeing an administration often characterized as weak and corrupt. Though reiterating criticisms of Grant's reluctance to confront dishonest members of his administration, Josiah Bunting III finds much to admire about Grant, who boldly championed the rights of freed blacks and American Indians. Richard Rohan's reading stays low-key but avoids a dry lecturer's tone. Bunting's portrait of a dedicated but imperfect man reminds listeners of his importance to the Union.
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2004
Duration: 3 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Renaissance
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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