The author admits that much of his story about the Spaniards crossing North America in the sixteenth century comes from apocryphal accounts. His writing includes many worthwhile lessons on how he located old sources and attempted to extract the facts from them. His flowery and wordy prose adds generous color to a story of much starvation, disease, and death. Like the author, narrator Simon Prebble is British, and employs an accent and pronunciations foreign to many American ears. His pristine English and skill at narration have won him many AUDIOFILE Earphones Awards, but his inept Spanish deserves no praise. This may matter little to most listeners, but one wonders why a reader without spanish-language skills would be selected for an audiobook all about Spain and Mexico.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2008
Duration: 12 hrs
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Buckley offers a reasonable proposal for a national service program without jail or criminal penalties. Narrator Lawrence reads with a slow and careful announcer's voice; one wishes Buckley were reading this one himself. Books on Tape does its usual quality job with formatting, packaging and tape-turning instructions. The reader repeats the last sentence at such times, so you're sure you haven't missed anything. Popular nonfiction collections will appreciate Gratitude, and the topic is likely to prove timely in the years ahead.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Kozol’s shocking exposé of inequities in the funding of our public schools contrasts white suburban schools with those serving black and Hispanic populations. Interviews with students, teachers, and school administrators add eloquent testimony to Kozol’s disturbing presentation of facts. Narration by Jack Winston is clear and brisk, but the pace is unrelenting, with little pause for transition between scenes or chapters. Winston’s cool, detached voice contrasts with Kozol’s impasssioned and outraged message. The sheer repetition and magnitude of Kozol’s damning evidence is numbing; the narration gives no relief. Powerful medicine, most easily taken in small doses. Music signalling tape changes is jarringly inappropriate.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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