Zwonitzer follows the lives of old friends John Hay and Mark Twain as they achieved international prominence late in life, also paying significant attention to Theodore Roosevelt. Narrator Joe Barrett's strength is his skill in expressing the sense of the text and telling the story naturally. His voice is curiously husky, almost hoarse, at times sounding strained, but that doesn't distract or impede his ability to tell the story or to indicate different speakers, such as Twain, or Britons, or women. His accents, though somewhat unconvincing, at least serve as indicators (of national origin, etc.); his best effort is the slight drawl he gives to Twain. Overall, Barrett's intelligence and ability to control expression and pacing keep this history pleasantly listenable throughout.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2016
Duration: 25 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: HighBridge 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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