Author-narrator Megan Phelps-Roper tells the unsettling story of her upbringing. She is the granddaughter of the founder of Westboro Baptist Church (Kansas), notorious for its homophobic rhetoric, celebration of natural disasters, and picketing of soldiers' funerals. Her voice never wavers as she details her role in spreading the church's virulent messages on social media. She even creates distinct voices and mannerisms for the friends and family members she frequently quotes. In doing so, she builds a vivid picture of the path that transformed her from a zealot to a compassionate woman who ultimately left her church and her entire family behind. As our world becomes increasingly polarized, Megan Phelps-Roper's story is an especially important empathy builder.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2019
Duration: 10 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Audible, Inc.
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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