Christine Lakin's enthusiasm and authenticity lure the listener into the world of beavers. Author Leila Philip casts a wide net as she delves into their cultural significance for some North American tribes, stresses how vitally important beaver dams are to clean water even today, and recounts how John Jacob Astor became rich from trading beaver skins. Lakin clearly conveys the respect and empathy that Philip has for trappers, fur traders, and environmentalists alike, despite their being on different sides of the political spectrum. Lakin captures the lighter moments, too. She sounds as weirdly fascinated as we are by the "beaver lady" who let more than a dozen beavers live in her home even though they sometimes chewed the legs off her furniture.
Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781549162848
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ranjit Madgavkar narrates these essays on how forces beyond their control--for example, war, imperialism, language, climate change--influence people's lives. His strong but clear Indian accent never lets listeners forget that author Ghosh is a native of West Bengal, a fact that explains Ghosh's strong interest in colonialism, anti-colonialism, and the history of South Asia. The opening essays about the participation of Indian soldiers in the disastrous British Mesopotamian campaign of WWI are particularly fascinating. Madgavkar approximates different accents in the quotations from authors of other nationalities, making clear where they begin and end. Even without knowledge of South Asia, listeners will comprehend these essays because Madgavkar gets across the emotions.
Pub Date: Jan. 18, 2026
Duration: 19 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798228648760
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Science writer Shea explores the complexities and interconnectedness of Arctic ecosystems and cultures with a calm, respectful narration. His keen examination of Arctic climate change includes impacts to narwhals, caribou populations, and wolf packs, as well as the Indigenous residents of Alaska, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories, whose own cultural traditions and lives on the land have been disrupted. The author's conversations with hunters during his travels throughout these regions further illuminate the deep cost of changes to their homes. Shea guides listeners from the "lost Norse colony" of Grøenland to modern-day tensions along European borders, showing how myriad factors have always played into humanity's complex relationship with Arctic regions. Shea's grounded, gently paced observations are laced with poetic descriptions that invite quiet, engaged reflection.
Pub Date: Dec. 2, 2025
Duration: 6 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780063138605
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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