Zacks gives a detailed account of Twain's late-in-life around-the-world speaking tour to recoup his fortunes after bad investments. Narrator George Guidall has the natural gift of geniality, bringing the listener unobtrusively into sympathy with the book. He expresses the sense of the text conversationally but clearly and denotes Twain by making his voice deeper and gruffer, an effective technique. As for other voices, Guidall doesn't distinguish them beyond softening his speech slightly for females, but that's sufficient. While he tends to insert pauses randomly in some sentences, that harmless mannerism won't distract most listeners. The audiobook's level of detail is sometimes tiresome, but Guidall keeps the narrative, like Twain, sailing along, making the listening a pleasure.
Pub Date: April 19, 2016
Duration: 16 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780553551167
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
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