Narrator Saul Reichlin delivers this true story of Abu Laith, the zookeeper of Mosul, Iraq. Reichlin's accurate pronunciation of Arab names of cities and people adds to this listening experience, which immerses us in a war zone. We are drawn into the daily experiences of Abu Laith as he travels a city marked by increasing violence and, at the zoo, a malnourished lion cub. Reichlin uses a gruff, masculine timbre for Abu Laith's dialogue and gives us a sense of this no- nonsense yet deeply caring man. We shake our heads at the juxtaposition of the tender care of the animals amid the violence of the conflict. This is a triumph of humanity in the midst of adversity.
Pub Date: Jan. 14, 2020
Duration: 11 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250255587
Publisher: Macmillan 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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