Mary Roach looks into death's mysteries but doesn't solve any of them. However, this hilarious account of her research into reincarnation, the soul, mediums, telepathy, and near-death experiences creates pleasant entertainment. Reader Bernadette Quigley captures the fun of the multicultural characters interviewed for the book, using spoof accents of Indian, Yiddish, French, and British interviewees. When asked what kind of cheese is in the soufflé, the snobby English waiter, as portrayed by Quigley, answers, "Sliced." Quigley varies the pitch, volume, and speed of her voice, sometimes even dropping to a whisper. Such clever inflections confirm Quigley's involvement in a dark expedition that seems to go nowhere, but which keeps itself interesting with its side trips.
Pub Date: Oct. 10, 2005
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Dan Harris traces his experience finding a quieter, more peaceful mind, and life, through the unlikely pursuit of meditation. Deeply skeptical, he’s ultimately convinced by the scientific research showing meditation’s benefits. Harris says the voice in his head, the “inner narrator” he seeks to quiet, is a “total pill”—a voice that “comes braying in, heckling us all day with an air horn.” Unfortunately, his own narration has a way of grating on the ear, especially when he’s describing meditation with a cynical, yet-to-be converted eye or taking a competitive approach to mindfulness. Eventually, the ear adjusts and listeners can absorb interesting glimpses into Harris’s life as a broadcaster and his journey with meditation. However, some still may prefer to read the book to themselves.
Pub Date: March 11, 2014
Duration: 7 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062331892
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In a British accent, Gary Furlong briskly describes the sea battle that led to a Japanese man joining explorer/navigator Thomas Cavendish's ship's crew in 1588. Christopher, who was being held on a Spanish galleon, was the first Japanese man to set foot on British soil--and other places worldwide. Furthermore, his map-reading skills added to British knowledge of the world. Furlong delivers Christopher's day-to-day dialogue in a hesitant voice but makes him sound full of wonder when he meets Queen Elizabeth I. Furlong softens his voice when describing the horrors faced by Africans in the cargo hold of a Spanish ship. Thomas Lockley's research could satisfy listeners' curiosity about the realities behind the novel SHOGUN and the Japanese manga series ONE PIECE.
Pub Date: May 21, 2024
Duration: 8 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781488230813
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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