Narrator Jackie Sanders favors a neutral, informative delivery as she reads this story of sexism in science. Sanders's approach is similar to author Rita Cowell's strategy when dealing with her obstructionist male colleagues--stay calm and avoid channeling melodramatics or anger. Not surprisingly, there is plenty to get angry about--from the denial of Colwell's research fellowship request in 1956 ("We don't waste fellowships on women," she was told.)--to Nobel Prize winner Francis Crick's 1964 groping of a female Harvard undergraduate. Colwell, the first woman to lead the National Science Foundation, persevered in her career to make historical discoveries relating to cholera and anthrax. Alas, the real tragedy of scientific misogyny is that half the population is effectively prohibited from helping to solve the world's problems.
Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2020
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797108902
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Dr. Plotkin is an ethnobotanist who recounts his experiences searching for new medications in the Amazon rain forest. He makes an impassioned plea for the world to stop destroying this irreplaceable resource. Since the author reads his own work, we can rely on the pronunciation of some unusual botanical terms; however, his voice (presumably not trained for performance) lacks the enthusiasm and fascination the words suggest. Furthermore, with no chapter references and few pauses between sections, transitions, such as the change of location from Ecuador to Massachusetts, are awkward.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
First, Simon Winchester, OBE, introduces listeners to the ubiquity of wind and its effects on the world. His careful pronunciation and British accent create an enjoyable backdrop for the conversational style in which stories are integrated with information that demonstrates where and how wind has had a direct influence on all the subjects in the Dewey Decimal System, including culture, arts, science, geography, language, and history. The journalist provides information that is both relatable and educational; topics range from Oz's Dorothy Gale being caught in "America's storm" to examples of how wind has been used for warfare. Winchester's passion for moving air is evident as he reminds listeners that the "wind blows equally for all."
Pub Date: Nov. 18, 2025
Duration: 13 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063374485
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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