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
Listeners will be transported to some of America's most dramatic landscapes.
Three women passionate about America’s wild places helped inspire the public’s love of the natural environment and gave rise to the term “ecofeminism.” They are profiled in this triple biography along with the environments they cared about—the Grand Canyon, Colorado high mountain skiing areas, and the Adirondacks. With her easy pace, Kimberly Wetherell makes listening a pleasure. Wetherell effectively relays Hansman's lyrical descriptions of the three environments taking listeners into powdery snow, rushing water, and deep woods. Her conversational tone suits the material but is especially effective in the opening and closing chapters, when the author speaks from a first-person perspective.
Listeners will be transported to some of America's most dramatic landscapes.Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 52 mins
DD ISBN: 9781488238031
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 18, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
High-interest, socially relevant science delivered in a friendly, conversational tone.
Social epidemiologist Werb narrates his extensive exploration into modern urban ecology. As population centers worldwide have increased and expanded, so has the growth of synanthropes: wild animals (and occasionally plants) that adapt to survive and thrive within human-built communities. Werb divides this deep dive into three sections: successful communal relationships, unsuccessful or hazardous ones, and the potential for future harmonious living between humans and the urban wilderness. Werb’s narration is pleasantly informative, maintaining a steady flow of relatable detail in his case studies without overwhelming the listener. His enthusiasm for his subject shines through in his dedication to discussing the whole range of positive and negative outcomes when people and wild animals coexist.
High-interest, socially relevant science delivered in a friendly, conversational tone.Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 23 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217340521
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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