Michael Oren, U.S.-born Israeli ambassador to the U.S. for four years, uses his life to embody the relationship between the two countries. He narrates his story with brisk pacing and a strong expressive ability that imbues his words with emotion. His voice, however, is somewhat nasal and not especially strong or engaging, and he often swallows the middles of multisyllabic words. There are also, disappointingly, a number of insertions of material clearly recorded at another time--"retakes" with a distractingly different sound and voice quality. But what might be lost by not using a professional is made up for by the genuineness and energy of real feelings, resulting in a thoroughly interesting and sometimes affecting program.
Pub Date: June 23, 2015
Duration: 17 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781101923290
Publisher: Random House Audio
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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