With a conspiratorial tone and sense of urgency, narrator Abby Craden adds an extra dimension to this fascinating account of the rise and fall of a hacker collective. Craden personalizes the story and removes some of the anonymity of its principals—who are identified only by handles—by giving them voices and accents. Author Parmy Olson simplifies this complex story by using first-person interviews and by demystifying the technology and terminology, which includes such terms as “botnets” (zombie computers linked to attack sites) and “rickrolling." Olson tracks these sometimes altruistic, often cruel “hacktivists” over a decade—all the way to the 2012 arrests by the FBI. Not surprisingly, the government unmasked the defendants with research generated by an angry ex-Anon, a middle-aged mom from Michigan.
Pub Date: June 5, 2012
Duration: 14 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781611132373
Publisher: Hachette 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
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