Musician Esperanza Spalding, actor/singer Adepero Oduye, and writer Dan Piepenbring work together to recount the vivid, creative life of the artist known as Prince. Originally, Piepenbring was hired to help Prince write his memoir; when the musician died unexpectedly, Piepenbring took over what became a biography. Here he narrates his introduction; his lifelong status as a megafan laces his admiration for his unique subject. Spalding and Oduye especially enliven the earlier periods of Prince's life as we listen along from his youth to stardom. Fans of the music and the musician will relax as they hear this personal exploration of the man behind the music. We are treated to performances as creative and rich as the legend himself.
Pub Date: Oct. 29, 2019
Duration: 3 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593168646
Publisher: Random House 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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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