Charles Darwin’s career was shaped by his class, religion, and prejudice. His father and both grandfathers were brilliant and wealthy, which allowed him to study without worrying about money; he witnessed zealous mobs attack the chemist Joseph Priestly and saw his favorite daughter die in childhood, events that left him questioning the idea of a compassionate God; and his belief in superior and inferior races colored his thinking about natural selection. The author explores all three of these factors in this biography. John Curless is an engaging narrator whose English accent adds a nice touch. His pace is good, with slight variations based on the solemnity of the passage. Pauses are well timed, and the author doesn’t bury the listener with detail, keeping the narrative flowing.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2012
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781464046612
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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