Narrator Mack Sanderson balances several storylines in this jaw-dropping history of the race to identify native birds in early 1800s America. Patiently mounting the evidence, Kaufman recounts, or rather dismantles, the career of John James Audubon, who it seems stole, fudged, misidentified, and miscategorized many of his discoveries, along with shooting birds, owning and selling slaves, and pirating nearly everyone in his highly competitive field. Seamlessly, Sanderson weaves this crowded narrative into a history of species categorization and naming, a belated accreditation of Audubon's lesser-known contemporaries, and the author's own history as a bird enthusiast. Sanderson's smooth, mellow tones glide easily over the narrative's sprawling landscape and highlight its many insights and surprises. Of general as well as ornithological interest.
Pub Date: May 7, 2024
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781797179513
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This sure-footed author is the perfect companion for a walk in the woods.
As he did in On Trails (2016), author and narrator Moor serves as companion, guide, and information source for a novel excursion into a familiar aspect of nature—in this case, trees. Moor begins by describing a tree he climbed as a boy. As an adult, he returns to climbing trees, making note of features of the human body ideal for tree-climbing and even engaging a climbing coach. The focus of subsequent chapters ranges from bonsai to sequoias, but a significant portion of the narrative takes place within the canopy of trees. Moor isn’t a trained narrator, but he connects well, and his natural style is a key part of his appeal.
This sure-footed author is the perfect companion for a walk in the woods.Pub Date: April 7, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668169056
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: April 14, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
A subtle, powerful performance makes this science memoir heartbreakingly beautiful.
Revolutionary ecologist Simard follows up her 2021 bestseller with an equally mind-altering memoir on the restorative powers of forests. Giving a standout performance as narrator, Simard successfully weaves depictions of her adventures in the wilderness conducting scientific research with reflections on her personal and professional lives. Simard's soft, lyrical, western Canadian lilt adds rich emotional dimensions to her audiobook, in which she grapples with the difficult yet regenerative effects of death. As she witnesses the clear-cutting of nearly every old-growth forest in her beloved province, Simard faces the dispiriting losses of her mother and a brilliant colleague. Importantly, the author inspires action through vivid descriptions of her environmental activism and experiences learning the forestry practices of various Indigenous cultures.
A subtle, powerful performance makes this science memoir heartbreakingly beautiful.Pub Date: March 31, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 51 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217174287
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: April 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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