Books on Tape has given us a dryly serviceable reading of Gay's admirably concise, informed text, meant to reinterpret the facts and legends of the composer's brief, stormy life. Alexander Adams's delivery reminds one of a voice-over on a military training film; whatever it lacks in color and verve, it gains in accuracy and clarity. Although the publisher cannot be faulted for omitting elements outside its purview, any aural biography of Wolfgang Amadeus cries out for musical excerpts. Therefore, one will appreciate this volume best after first becoming familiar with the sublime compositions of its subject.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2000
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
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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