Author Meredith Wadman shows listeners that science was once a fascinating, twisty search for the truth conducted by committed researchers who operated in financial and ethical environments different from those of today. Narrator Nancy Linari has a lovely smooth voice, and she subtly renders the rivalries, professional slights, and outrageous ethical decisions embedded in the story. Millions of Americans have been protected from rubella, polio, rabies, mumps, and other diseases, thanks to vaccines developed from the cells of a single fetus. Desperate to determine the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, scientists used prisoners, children institutionalized for intellectual disabilities, orphans, and others for testing. While Linari's voice is beautiful, her timing, pauses, and emphases are not effective in holding the listener's attention--a shame for such an important work.
Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2017
Duration: 19 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781524751982
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Live a better life by exercising, getting a good night's sleep, watching and improving your diet, and taking care of your skin. Exercise physiologist and personal trainer Bob Greene delivers his book in a steady, even voice. His attention to detail is exacting. Three guest narrators add their specialized advice. Diane McKay’s no-nonsense tone delivers information on the benefits and hazards of vitamin supplements and nutrients. Harold Lancer’s smooth, deep voice accompanies a serious discussion about skin care. Ronald Kotler softly intones recommendations for good sleep. Hearing the myriad lists in these chapters while driving may lull you into inattentiveness. The accompanying PDF contains lists of menus, routines for eating and exercising, and guidelines for medical tests and healthy living.
Pub Date: April 26, 2011
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781609419820
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator Sean Runnette adopts an unhurried pace that allows listeners to savor the information offered in this detailed guide to 50 foods. The guide offers recipes and practical information about each food and reveals other enlightening information such as highlights of the food's history and significance in society and the world of food. Runnette handles the international vocabulary well enough to keep the narration fluid and engaging. Though his voice is not highly modulated, a steady delivery and well-timed pauses impart the unique flavors of each food described to make this an appealing listen that will be especially enticing to foodies.
Pub Date: Oct. 31, 2013
Duration: 13 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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