Historian Michael Beschloss offers vignettes on the courage of various American presidents from Washington to Reagan. Some of the stories are well known to educated citizens; some are not. Andrew Jackson, for example, hounded the Bank of the United States out of business (well known) while under immense pressure from the business establishment (nicely detailed here). Beschloss is careful and well paced in his role as narrator, rarely showing emotion and pronouncing every name and foreign phrase with precision. His baritone, a little sonorous, carries the stories along comfortably. He avoids the trap of dramatizing these glimpses into the past--it just wouldn't work with a book such as this. Overall, he does a decent job.
Pub Date: 2007
Duration: 6 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780743561792
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Buckley offers a reasonable proposal for a national service program without jail or criminal penalties. Narrator Lawrence reads with a slow and careful announcer's voice; one wishes Buckley were reading this one himself. Books on Tape does its usual quality job with formatting, packaging and tape-turning instructions. The reader repeats the last sentence at such times, so you're sure you haven't missed anything. Popular nonfiction collections will appreciate Gratitude, and the topic is likely to prove timely in the years ahead.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Kozol’s shocking exposé of inequities in the funding of our public schools contrasts white suburban schools with those serving black and Hispanic populations. Interviews with students, teachers, and school administrators add eloquent testimony to Kozol’s disturbing presentation of facts. Narration by Jack Winston is clear and brisk, but the pace is unrelenting, with little pause for transition between scenes or chapters. Winston’s cool, detached voice contrasts with Kozol’s impasssioned and outraged message. The sheer repetition and magnitude of Kozol’s damning evidence is numbing; the narration gives no relief. Powerful medicine, most easily taken in small doses. Music signalling tape changes is jarringly inappropriate.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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