This strange essay conveys an art critic's meanderings on the artist as racial victim, creative genius, and misunderstood cultural icon. Reader Andrea Johnson remains as detached as the author, who offers arty chapter and verse of Jackson's career--from bizarre childhood through his increasingly bizarre metamorphosis as an adult. Johnson softly delivers Jackson's every costume change and dance move. The dreamy vocalization and attempt to deal with Jackson and his peccadilloes as mere movements in a long life of artistic and personal passion serve only to confuse listeners. ON MICHAEL JACKSON is exposé, apology, hero worship, and damning litany--one more piece of speculative prose, delicately delivered, serving an enigmatic media personality.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2006
Duration: 3 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Books on Tape
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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