Actress Jennifer Garner narrates with finesse and restraint as she delivers harrowing scenes of poor Americans acting rashly and sometimes violently in the face of their daily struggles. Her tempo and cadence are also just right for the parts of this work that are a more sociological approach in detailing the harsh economic realities of America’s rural poor. This audiobook focuses on the problems of small-town and rural Americans—particularly lack of educational opportunity, obesity, and drug addiction—through the lens of journalist Kristof and his wife and writing partner, WuDunn. Kristof hails from tiny Yamhill, Oregon, where he still helps run his family’s farm. Many of the moving stories in this work concern people he grew up with, so their problems hit home. This fine audiobook matters. A.D.M. 2021 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Jan. 14, 2020
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593169759
Publisher: Random House 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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
