Nicholas Guy Smith's British-accented narration is always lively, never sounding dry or clinical. Author Luke Harding, a GUARDIAN journalist, tells the story of the Russian invasion of Ukraine with details that emphasize the human toll of the war. Smith recounts events with just enough emotion to put listeners on the scene. He captures the weariness of people trapped in shelters, the numbing sadness of a mass grave, and the defiance of a profane Ukrainian slogan. Harding also shows the Russians from a human angle as he considers Vladimir Putin's reasoning for his war and the reactions of citizens to the crackdown on free speech. Listeners who follow the news have heard the story already, but Harding and Smith help them feel it.
Pub Date: Nov. 29, 2022
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593683811
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In this searing indictment of U.S. imperialism, journalist Omar El Akkad exposes the rot at the heart of American liberalism and the ugly truth that undergirds American democracy: It's predicated on the subjugation of marginalized people around the globe. El Akkad focuses on the genocide in Gaza but also draws on his career as a journalist in the post 9/11 years and his experiences as an Arab immigrant in the U.S. and Canada. His prose is clear sighted and unflinching; his narration is fiery and direct. His voice is sometimes steely but softens when he's speaking about the people and communities he loves. El Akkad implicates all of us and asks us to take courageous action. There is incredible power in hearing this book read aloud.
Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2025
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217074075
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Novelist Isabella Hammad delivered the Edward W. Said Memorial Lecture at Columbia University in September 2023. In this powerful audiobook, she reads that lecture with poise and urgency. Her voice is assured and firm, inviting listeners to truly sit with the impact of her words. She examines the fight for Palestinian liberation through the lens of fictional and historical narrative, exploring how "aha" moments in fiction do not often lead to action or structural change in the material world. She offers a compelling framework for thinking about narrative in new ways. The audiobook includes an afterword in which she addresses the ongoing genocide in Gaza, as well as a clip of the original lecture. This short listen leaves a lasting impression.
Pub Date: Sept. 24, 2024
Duration: 2 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798892749299
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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