This behind-the-scenes chronicle of the wives of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo astronauts is a poignant story about relationships and the effects of celebrity. Narrator Orlagh Cassidy’s appealing tone recounts the history of the U.S. space program while capturing the difficulties of the “astro-wives,” who were portrayed by NASA as perfectly poised and supportive no matter the situation or the intrusiveness of the press. Rendering the many scenes of the women interacting, Cassidy skillfully reveals their complex relationships. Her straightforward delivery depicts the isolation the wives experienced due to their husbands’ absence—despite their connectedness with one another. This work offers a real-life depiction of a community of women that is light-years ahead of reality television.
Pub Date: June 18, 2013
Duration: 7 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781619696464
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
James Michener tells the real stories behind the man and his books. The recording is read with skill and consistency although the reader does little to enhance the robust, larger-than-life incidents related in the book. Due to the first-person narrative format, there is no opportunity for the narrator to change his voice. This makes some chapters monotonous as they go on and on in the typical Michener style. The listener may also become confused because the stories are not told chronologically. This is not a great choice for the audio format, but Michener fans may stick with it to the end.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In a quest for a sense of inner contentment and self-worth, Gloria Steinem brings the reader on a journey of investigation and discovery. Steinem reads the text herself in a straightforward and friendly, but not intimate, presentation which is so easy to listen to it invites repetition--thus ensuring the painless relearning of the lessons of the book. It's difficult to tell from the reading that this audiobook is abridged; each section can stand alone. Nonetheless, the listener wished the book were unabridged. Steinem left me wanting to learn more.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Dove Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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