A history of global circumnavigation must include Ferdinand Magellan and Sir Francis Drake, but modern-day traveler Michael Palin also is featured in Chaplin's book. Narrator Joyce Bean has a hardiness and adventurousness in her voice--with a hint of wry humor--that cover the "geo-drama" of world travel well. The history is interesting enough when it deals with well-known voyagers like Magellan, and it gets even better as it goes off the map, covering territory like board games and bicycle tours. With visits to the fiction of Jonathan Swift and Jules Verne, Chaplin's work creates a romantic picture of circumnavigation that may inspire listeners to dream about global trips themselves.
Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2013
Duration: 20 hrs
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Dr. Plotkin is an ethnobotanist who recounts his experiences searching for new medications in the Amazon rain forest. He makes an impassioned plea for the world to stop destroying this irreplaceable resource. Since the author reads his own work, we can rely on the pronunciation of some unusual botanical terms; however, his voice (presumably not trained for performance) lacks the enthusiasm and fascination the words suggest. Furthermore, with no chapter references and few pauses between sections, transitions, such as the change of location from Ecuador to Massachusetts, are awkward.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
First, Simon Winchester, OBE, introduces listeners to the ubiquity of wind and its effects on the world. His careful pronunciation and British accent create an enjoyable backdrop for the conversational style in which stories are integrated with information that demonstrates where and how wind has had a direct influence on all the subjects in the Dewey Decimal System, including culture, arts, science, geography, language, and history. The journalist provides information that is both relatable and educational; topics range from Oz's Dorothy Gale being caught in "America's storm" to examples of how wind has been used for warfare. Winchester's passion for moving air is evident as he reminds listeners that the "wind blows equally for all."
Pub Date: Nov. 18, 2025
Duration: 13 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063374485
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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