Joe Barrett's commanding performance captures the complicated and flawed life of Edward Kennedy. The senator remains most widely known for his work as a liberal politician and for being responsible for the drowning death of a young staffer. Gabler's exhaustive audiobook serves both as a detailed portrait of the man and a history of U.S. policy from his viewpoint. Listeners hear about his difficult childhood, his complicated relationship with brothers Jack and Bobby, and his eventual political successes. Tragedy and failure are prominent, and Barrett doesn't flinch, maintaining a clear narrative throughout Kennedy's highs and lows. Barrett's performance conveys the learned experience of a man whose life impacted so many; it's a rewarding listening experience.
Pub Date: Oct. 27, 2020
Duration: 32 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593287590
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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