From Africa to Yuban, the history of the power of coffee comes to us in a fascinating audiobook guaranteed to teach us a lot about the global brew. Jonathan Marosz's deep, determined voice flows smoothly through a well-researched history, which is peppered with enough trivia to make it enlightening and memorable. However, he stumbles with the abundant Spanish words, names, and places from Central and South America, losing any opportunity for cultural authenticity. The effect of coffee on slavery, politics, war, economy, crime, and disease will convince even the most doubtful of the importance of knowing more about the addictive stimulant once advertised as "good to the last drop."
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2001
Duration: 18 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The readers can't compensate for the unbearably pompous prose style of this extended parable about corporate politics and strategy.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Henslee’s warm, unhurried narration makes listeners feel like the next success story could be theirs.
Barbara Henslee narrates with an intimate, upbeat delivery and a sunny Southern warmth that feels like being personally recruited to the Mary Kay empire. Her voice suits the material perfectly, drawing listeners into a bygone era when women built empires through gatherings around kitchen tables and on front porches, long before they could open their own bank accounts. Henslee never oversells, just gently persuades, mirroring the company’s own quiet pitch to millions of women that economic independence and personal transformation were within reach. The balanced treatment of the realities of multilevel marketing, alongside the truly inspirational story of founder Mary Kay Ash, make this a compelling listen for anyone curious about the often mocked world of direct sales.
Henslee’s warm, unhurried narration makes listeners feel like the next success story could be theirs.Pub Date: April 28, 2026
Duration: 14 hrs, 24 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217281879
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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