David Sadzin offers a solid narration that reflects the author’s straightforward style in this biography. Marshall “Major” Taylor was a professional bicycle racer in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Because he was Black, he had to battle more than speedy competitors. While he fought bigotry both on and off the track throughout his career, racial prejudice forced him to find his greatest success overseas. Without any false emotion, Sadzin varies his pacing to match the dramatic narrative. Direct quotes are few and are usually short, so Sadzin wisely introduces them with only momentary pauses. Overall, this is an engaging story narrated in an equally engaging way.
Pub Date: May 7, 2019
Duration: 11 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781508286400
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Klosterman's keenness for the controversial pastime is on full display in this insightful audiobook.
Culture critic Klosterman narrates his latest audiobook, deconstructing the history and appeal of football. Klosterman's no voice pro, and this production is unpolished. But what he lacks in professional veneer he makes up for with intimate enthusiasm for his subject. Klosterman reflects deeply on his lifelong fandom, especially on how the sport has survived for so long in the public consciousness, yet faces a crossroads as public media consumption shifts drastically and awareness of traumatic brain injuries expand. The result is a rough, bare-bones listening experience, but Klosterman remains a good storyteller in any format.
Klosterman's keenness for the controversial pastime is on full display in this insightful audiobook.Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217282166
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 9, 2026
Two men from the basketball pantheon team up to deliver these biographical portraits that are less a ranking and more a snapshot of their game. Smith, a longtime sportswriter, and Jackson, the venerable coach and "Zen master," work in tandem narrating their writing. Nayib Felix sets the tone with the introductory part of each player's bio, then Smith and Jackson each weigh in with their perspectives and anecdotes. Felix is a pro. And while Smith and Jackson are definitely not polished narrators, they lend an authenticity to the audiobook. The narration covers older players from decades ago as well as modern ones. Fans will enjoy the audiobook's banter and conversation.
Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217169351
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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