Lameece Issaq narrates Manal al-Sharif's engaging memoir about her highly publicized arrest and imprisonment for "driving while female" in Saudi Arabia in 2011. Al-Sharif gives listeners the context of her drive by sharing details of her formative years in Mecca as well as her work for a multinational oil company. Issaq recounts emotionally complex memories with sensitivity and adopts a steelier tone when discussing the abuse she endured at home, at school, in her first marriage, and from conservative groups. As she guides listeners through the author's evolution from an Islamic fundamentalist teenager to an advocate for women's rights, Issaq exudes her strength and intelligence with a sure-footed tone. The inspiring story is a stark reminder that women in Saudi Arabia still face arrest for violating social and religious customs.
Pub Date: June 13, 2017
Duration: 10 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781508237181
Publisher: Simon & Schuster 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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