Marable asserts that Malcolm X wrote his 1965 autobiography to demonstrate through his own story the transformative power of the black nationalist organization the Nation of Islam. Here Marable more objectively reexamines the series of reinventions of self that took Malcolm from the streets to a position of national leadership in the Civil Rights movement. G. Valmont Thomas’s tone of gravitas embodies Malcolm’s strengths and flaws: among them, his powerful drive and his failure to envision the possibility of integration. The momentum of Thomas’s voice keeps the listener on track with the decades of personal, historical, and political details. Also impressive is Thomas’s ability to shade in the voices of diverse African-Americans, including well-known figures such as Maya Angelou and Muhammad Ali.
Pub Date: April 4, 2011
Duration: 21 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781101436943
Publisher: Penguin 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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