Businessman, politician, and journalist Matt Ridley narrates this entertaining audiobook with the clarity and flair of a seasoned British voice pro. His vocal enthusiasm is perfectly matched to his lively writing, which is animated by his libertarian perspectives but never weighed down with polemic or partisan fervor. His point of view, deftly expressed with colorful examples from all realms of human history, is that innovation is not one brilliant idea from a lonely genius. It's breakthroughs in technology, commerce, and bioscience that often appear from multiple inventors, appear only after many trials and errors, and need relentless fine-tuning before they achieve widespread utility. He also offers examples of how innovation can be stifled by overregulation, authoritarian governments, and economic policies that discourage competition.
Pub Date: May 19, 2020
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063007314
Publisher: Harper Audio
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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