Narrator Fleet Cooper's audible appreciation for his subject is fitting for this definitive biography of the great jazz innovator Dave Brubeck. Along with the informed perspective of the author--a music journalist and Brubeck confidant--Cooper's performance captures the wonder of the pianist/composer's accomplishments, as well as the drama and historical significance of his career. The narrative weaves in and out of Brubeck's California upbringing and family life as it meticulously chronicles his rise to musical preeminence. The stories about the sidemen he played with, including the members of his famous quartet, are priceless. With anecdotes about the music business and mainstream culture providing satisfying texture, this is a most engaging and important biography of one of the twentieth century's most prominent musicians.
Pub Date: Feb. 18, 2020
Duration: 15 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781549100383
Publisher: Hachette Audio
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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