Listening to a fine writer who is also an accomplished narrator is one of the unique pleasures of audiobooks. Of the six people Shorto's history of the Revolutionary War era singles out, only George Washington is a familiar figure. The others--who include a freed slave who became Connecticut landowner, an Iroquois warrior who sided with the British, and an abused wife who left her husband--represent different aspects of the independent spirit of the time. Shorto relies on his listener to make the leap from one character to another, and the underlying effect is symphonic as much as dramatic. This work is an impressive narrative feat sure to appeal to lovers of history, as well as listeners seeking entry into one of the most fascinating eras in American history.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2017
Duration: 18 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781501969539
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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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