Donna Postel does a satisfying narration of this biography of Doris Duke (1912-1993). For a woman who led such a glittering life, Bingham's account is pretty dull. As skillful narrators do, Postel steps up. Because she sounds interested in her subject, listeners become engaged. Born into American social royalty, Duke inherited millions from her father, a tobacco tycoon; rubbed shoulders with governors, presidents, movie stars, and gangsters; and lived the luxurious life you'd expect of "the richest woman in the world." Even so, Bingham's account feels incomplete. While attention is paid to Duke's philanthropy, the information about her personal life lacks substance. Postel's textured reading keeps the few personal revelations about Duke's relationships with the famous and infamous from sounding like name-dropping.
Pub Date: April 7, 2020
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781705208823
Publisher: Tantor Media
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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