Paul Newman and his friend Stewart Stern, a screenwriter, decided to compile an oral history of the Newman family. The only rule for contributors was complete honesty. They worked on the enormous project from 1986 to 1991. In this extraordinary oral-history-autobiography, Newman’s family, friends, and colleagues provide insightful anecdotes and observations, some narrated by the contributors, others by professional narrators. Best of all, actor Jeff Daniels makes Newman’s first-person remembrances funny, poignant, sexy, and always sincere. Daniels captures the essence of Newman’s self-deprecating honesty as he recounts details of Newman’s privileged yet terribly unhappy childhood; deep love and admiration for his wife, Joanne Woodward; guilt over his son Scott’s suicide; love of high-speed racing, and reflections on his stage and film roles. What better way to experience this exceptional oral history?
Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593627822
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Minnelli tells her story her way, one-on-one, in a wonderful performance.
For this memoir, Minnelli worked with her best friend, Michael Feinstein, to offer an extraordinary glimpse into her life both in front of and behind the camera. At 80, Minnelli performs her own audiobook in high style. The content is candid, funny, and revealing, if slightly sanitized. It’s all here—Minnelli’s collaborations with songwriters Kander and Ebb and her many marriages and affairs, triumphs, disasters, substance use, and, most recently, 11 years of sobriety. The only drawback when listening is that it’s not always clear when the narrative is moving on to a new theme.
Minnelli tells her story her way, one-on-one, in a wonderful performance.Pub Date: March 10, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668653418
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2026
Bellantoni’s rich baritone shines the spotlight on a remarkable woman capable of constantly reinventing herself.
Paul Bellantoni’s narration is a treat. This audiobook revisits many of Jane Fonda’s movie successes and some of her lesser films before offering details of her evolution into a force for good. While some attention is paid to the multifaceted Fonda’s early life, the focus is on her political films, including her memorable work in such films as The China Syndrome and Coming Home. Bellantoni’s narration becomes most engaging as he recounts her growth from sex kitten to “Hanoi Jane” to workout queen to political activist. His energy intensifies for anecdotes about her confrontations with Hollywood producers and Washington power brokers.
Bellantoni’s rich baritone shines the spotlight on a remarkable woman capable of constantly reinventing herself.Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 31 mins
DD ISBN: 9798228742390
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: April 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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