Mark Kurlansky transforms facts into fascinating historical narrative. Producer John McElroy abridges such narrative seamlessly. Tom Stechschulte reads it perfectly. A shush of waves and the cry of a seagull launch Kurlansky’s tale of New York City’s early history, seen through the fortunes of its most important bivalve, the oyster. It’s a fascinating story of greed, gastronomy, and disastrous ecology told with Kurlansky’s typical zest. Stechschulte provides telling accents for some of the historical characters; otherwise, he simply reads--reads, that is, in his scratchy, attractive voice with evident interest and exquisite pacing. This is a match between author, abridger, and narrator that will have audiobook listeners cheering.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2006
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Dr. Plotkin is an ethnobotanist who recounts his experiences searching for new medications in the Amazon rain forest. He makes an impassioned plea for the world to stop destroying this irreplaceable resource. Since the author reads his own work, we can rely on the pronunciation of some unusual botanical terms; however, his voice (presumably not trained for performance) lacks the enthusiasm and fascination the words suggest. Furthermore, with no chapter references and few pauses between sections, transitions, such as the change of location from Ecuador to Massachusetts, are awkward.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The more we know about the universe, the less certain it all seems.
In just under seven hours, this engaging and instructive audiobook answers, as best as anyone can, all the questions listeners might have about particles and dark matter and the fate of the universe. Beginning with the Babylonians, Genevieve Swallow offers a well-paced narration of this history of scientific advances through the centuries. Much of this is familiar, but the narrative excels in scope and clarity, and Swallow’s performance brings ease and precision. From subatomic paradoxes to the first probes into space, Swallow is a steadying presence for a heady tour of the awesome and the strange, the inconceivable and the barely imaginable.
The more we know about the universe, the less certain it all seems.Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780063476486
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: May 26, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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