To imitate real-life characters in nonfiction is an art not attempted by many narrators. But Keith Szarabajka is outstanding here, creating voices not only for the biographer's subject but also for the many people quoted. None come off as caricature. All have appropriate accents and emotions. The best are for Rocky Marciano, who never lost a professional heavyweight fight. Szarabajka gives the Massachusetts native a New England accent and an ever-so-slightly high-pitched voice that fit the bill. The audiobook does what a good biography should: It informs listeners about things they probably don't know about the subject in a readable way. Szarabajka's delivery elevates this audiobook to a level that is both informative and entertaining.
Pub Date: June 26, 2018
Duration: 12 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781538587584
Publisher: Blackstone 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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