Marguerite Gavin is an excellent choice to narrate this audiobook, which uses more than 100 years of financial and political history to make the point that wealthy, well-connected, mostly Ivy League-educated men have run the American economy. While not a great surprise, the author’s investigation does paint a picture of a country in thrall to an elite that has turned away from democratic ideals and social efficacy towards oil profits and higher share prices. Gavin’s low, somewhat gruff voice is energetic and animated. She varies her pitch and tone to propel the narrative forward and to keep the story exciting. While her voice is not elastic, her effective use of pauses and emphasis enhances the book.
Pub Date: June 11, 2014
Duration: 20 hrs
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The readers can't compensate for the unbearably pompous prose style of this extended parable about corporate politics and strategy.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An engaging experience.
This audiobook deals with everything from the historic investments that led to world-dominating companies, such as the Chinese technology company Tencent, to predicting the products and services of the future. An audiobook of such complexity requires a narrator who can handle the task, and David Thorpe manages it admirably. Thorpe uses his masterly voice, which sits somewhere between that of a BBC World Service presenter and an easy, relaxed Home Counties accent, to guide listeners through a sea of numbers, acronyms, and terms such as YP, RPS, and market cap. Rather than simply reading, Thorpe presents the work with excitement and enthusiasm, and this enjoyment transfers to the listener.
An engaging experience.Pub Date: Feb. 20, 2026
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781668103425
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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