Born in the Soviet Union, journalist Masha Gessen narrates with a slight accent that gives this audiobook a kind of authenticity. Their work adds a singular angle of vision to the cottage industry of works critical of the president. An astute student of autocrats, they bring their analysis and scorn to Donald Trump. They have reported on autocrats in Russia, Hungary, and Israel, and their insights are damning of our president's views and habits: his contempt for science and other expertise, disdain for democratic institutions, and proclivity for scapegoating immigrants--all stock traits of the autocrat. Unfortunately, this audiobook needs a stronger narrator. Gessen has written a provocative and trenchant study of the contemporary autocratic personality, but they are a lackluster narrator.
Pub Date: June 2, 2020
Duration: 5 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593211496
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Booker makes a strong case for how we can improve our public discourse and our connections with each other.
Sen. Booker is an orator, so it’s no surprise that he knows how to deliver an emotional text, and in narrating his own book, he delivers. His strong feelings are clear as he draws on his experiences and relationships with friends, family, and personal inspirations such as Rep. John Lewis, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, and disability activist Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins. Each of the book's 10 chapters explores a virtue—agency, vulnerability, patriotism, truth, humility, community, creativity, perseverance, grace, and vision—which we can apply to our personal lives as well as our civic lives.
Booker makes a strong case for how we can improve our public discourse and our connections with each other.Pub Date: March 24, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 25 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250440280
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2026
Through Carr’s performance, listeners get a tangible sense of recent events and the people involved.
Kris Carr’s focused narration pairs well with the author’s Agatha Christie-inspired “murder mystery” investigation into the repeal of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 decision on the constitutional right to abortion. Assembled are suspects and accomplices, including people across the political and ideological spectrum; key witnesses; and victims, particularly Rosie Jimenez and Becky Bell. Carr’s deft characterizations animate the real-life individuals behind key legislation and activist movements. Carr further strengthens the mystery framework with a British accent for Christie quotations. This engrossing production takes listeners beyond the 2022 repeal of Roe, detailing actions by true believers, political opportunists, and well-intentioned abortion-rights supporters that led to its demise.
Through Carr’s performance, listeners get a tangible sense of recent events and the people involved.Pub Date: March 10, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668654194
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: July 7, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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