The son of Cuban immigrants, Rubio was elected to the U.S. Senate (Florida) in 2010 as a Republican. This abridgment of his memoir is not edited well for audio as it its timeline is often unclear. Transitions between audio chapters have no logical flow or connection, and the jumps forward and back are many—restating some of the core content. Rubio narrates with ability and sincerity, if without much enthusiasm or emotion. This is a not very well-told story of ambition, talent, family-imparted values, and more than a bit of self-involvement. Pronounced variations in volume are apparent where such retakes usually are perfected before release. Whether there was a deadline associated with it or not, this is not a solid effort, and there is a very American story of triumph here to be told.
Pub Date: June 19, 2012
Duration: 4 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781101590096
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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