The author, who is editor of WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD, says his early life in Ohio in the 1950s and '60s was hardly the stuff of angst-filled autobiography. Yet his breezy style makes this memoir interesting to listen to. He regularly spices the material with literary allusions and mentions books we might have read, should have read, or might want to read. Jonathan Hogan adopts a conversational tone that suits the writing. He doesn't sound like he's reading a book. Rather, he sounds like he's telling stories from his childhood. His bright tone and well-timed pauses enhance the mood. The author's unabashed enthusiasm for the written word shines through in the narration.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2008
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books 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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