by Robert D. Kaplan ; read by Don Leslie ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 22, 2007
This thoughtful work, which serves as a supplement to the author's IMPERIAL GRUNTS, has its primary focus on the work of the American military in the Pacific. While the U.S. military has a presence from the heat of the Middle East to the cold of the Poles, and seemingly everywhere in between, the Pacific area is where much of the action in years to come could happen. With keen insight Kaplan describes the men and women of the modern American military, as well as the military itself. Don Leslie's voice is masculine and deep. He reads more like a reporter than a storyteller but still manages to be subtly expressive in reading quotations. He performs more to a large audience than to an intimate gathering.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2007
Duration: 17 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by Sally Hayden ; read by Aoife McMahon ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 16, 2026
A brilliant piece of work that proves love can survive war.
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Journalists are trained to look for and deliver facts, and Irish reporter Hayden did that, but she also did something more: She looked for love amid war. Narrator Aoife McMahon, with her delightful Irish accent, brings us the stories Hayden found while reporting the news. She explores war's impact on people and their relationships. She tells stories of the courageous soldier in Ukraine who confesses discomfort during his home visits and queer people in Ghana, where their love could have deadly consequences. From battle-scarred countries the world over, including Uganda, Iraq, and Rwanda, McMahon relates these stories with a beautiful dignity. They reveal terror and horror but also unexpected love, compassion, and survival.
A brilliant piece of work that proves love can survive war.Pub Date: June 16, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 41 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797198644
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
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by Andrew Bayliss ; read by Matt Addis ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 19, 2026
Addis delivers a satisfying performance that will keep listeners engaged in this commendable history.
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Matt Addis narrates Bayliss’ detailed but straightforward history of Sparta, from prehistory to the destruction of the Spartan hegemony in the 360s B.C.E., both ably and amiably. His resonant voice is likeable, if sometimes scratchy. And his manner is so thoroughly friendly that the program seems like history as narrated by a kindly uncle—but an astute one. His understanding and interpretation of the text are precise, and his tones and emphases are correct and helpful. Addis’ pacing is slightly slow, with notable pauses between text blocks, but given the complicated interurban politics of the ancient Greek city-states, moderate pacing is helpful rather than distracting.
Addis delivers a satisfying performance that will keep listeners engaged in this commendable history.Pub Date: May 19, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 27 mins
DD ISBN: 9798899749254
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: June 30, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
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