Nathan Hale passed into legend as "America's first official spy." Phelps looks into the real life behind that legend, including that famous quote—“I only regret that I have but one life . . .”—which Hale probably never uttered. Early on, Hale's life was ordinary—he studied at Yale, pursued the ladies, and taught school—and even Phil Gigante's bold, urgent reading doesn't do much to change that. However, as Hale gets involved in the American Revolution and eventually becomes a spy, the book—and Gigante's reading—gain steam, becoming exciting and compelling. Phelps weaves descriptions of the era and the Hale family's anxiety over the revolutionary's fate into his account as he reveals how an ordinary life became an extraordinary legend.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2008
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance 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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