David Shih takes on a nearly impossible task in narrating this memoir by one of the most famous Japanese chefs on the planet. Shih expertly handles Matsuhisa's rise to celebrity and his remarkable influence on the preparation of sushi. But even the most skilled narrator cannot escape the cloying and exaggeratedly self-effacing tone of the author whose first and last names are the eponymous titles of fine dining establishments worldwide. He has had cameos in motion pictures and been in business with Robert De Niro for decades. Perhaps it is the cultural differences or maybe it is simply listening to the glorified "Nobu style," but this audiobook in the end strains the listener's credulity.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2018
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Tantor Media
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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