John Sackville delivers a terrific narration, embracing the storytelling nature of this dense geologic exploration. The author has developed a clever conceit for his sprawling investigation of human history: the earth as protagonist--"a character with distinctive facial features, a variable mood, and prone to occasional fractious outbursts." Sackville's tone is warm and his British accent crisp as he guides listeners through the earth's history--from its relationship to the sun forward to the changing landscapes of the land and sea and the resulting impacts on human migration, agriculture, politics, and more. Truly, the scope is astonishing, yet Sackville keeps listeners engaged with his attentiveness to pacing, creating an unexpected element of suspense while allowing the information to percolate.
Pub Date: May 14, 2019
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781549149405
Publisher: Hachette Audio
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
Once again, Pollan makes the unknown make sense.
Pollan is a favorite with listeners, and rightly so. He may not possess a silken or practiced voice, and he’d be nobody’s first choice to narrate Proust, but few author-narrators are as engaging or as effectively bonded to their narrative. Pollan here explores one of the most fundamental of questions: What is consciousness? This leads him to other questions. Where exactly is consciousness located? What other species possess it? Pollan takes his listener on a journey through theories and research sites, each rendered with his signature economy and precision. Some sections may require relistening, but the difficulties lie in the subject matter, not the prose. That couldn’t be clearer or more illuminating.
Once again, Pollan makes the unknown make sense.Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217282159
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 9, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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