When New York City's expensive urban liberalism collided with the flight of manufacturing and the broad economic downturn of 1975, the real possibility of a city bankruptcy captured attention across the nation. Narrating this well-documented account of the city's policy and leadership missteps during that time, Pam Ward captures the intensity and broader importance of how competing ideologies and hostilities played out among the various levels of government. She is equally sensitive to the audiobook's fascinating characters and the urban governance issues now being debated across the country. Her dramatic delivery is appealing and always in sync with the narrative flow. This important history of one city puts flesh on the broader debates we're having about the role of government in our society today.
Pub Date: April 30, 2017
Duration: 13 hrs
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The readers can't compensate for the unbearably pompous prose style of this extended parable about corporate politics and strategy.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Henslee’s warm, unhurried narration makes listeners feel like the next success story could be theirs.
Barbara Henslee narrates with an intimate, upbeat delivery and a sunny Southern warmth that feels like being personally recruited to the Mary Kay empire. Her voice suits the material perfectly, drawing listeners into a bygone era when women built empires through gatherings around kitchen tables and on front porches, long before they could open their own bank accounts. Henslee never oversells, just gently persuades, mirroring the company’s own quiet pitch to millions of women that economic independence and personal transformation were within reach. The balanced treatment of the realities of multilevel marketing, alongside the truly inspirational story of founder Mary Kay Ash, make this a compelling listen for anyone curious about the often mocked world of direct sales.
Henslee’s warm, unhurried narration makes listeners feel like the next success story could be theirs.Pub Date: April 28, 2026
Duration: 14 hrs, 24 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217281879
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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