The author, founder of Khan Academy, an online educational forum, has a vision of what he believes to be the future of education a free, open school where anyone can access knowledge any time of the day in any part of the world. This book will enlighten those who are interested in how he developed his system. Doubling as narrator, Khan has a deep, slightly nasal voice, and he reads with the confidence that only an author can bring to his work. He has an appealing personality, and it's clear why he's been successful at bringing a new approach to education for the technological age. Khan does tend to enunciate words to the point that it's noticeable, and his deliberate, sometimes slow, pace undermines his message about making education vibrant and interesting. His online videos and tutorials have been very effective, but the book falls short of his usual standards.
Pub Date: Oct. 2, 2012
Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781611136968
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In a respectful, serious tone, Lizan Mitchell narrates the personal story of Carlotta Walls LaNier, one of the Little Rock Nine, who challenged the policy of educational segregation in Arkansas during the Civil Rights movement. Carlotta’s story recounts her life from her childhood in Little Rock though the Civil Rights era and all the way to Barack Obama’s 2008 election to the highest office in the land. Mitchell’s forte is expressing the emotional aspects of the story, especially her struggles to move on from the hate and discrimination she faced during her teen years. The one distraction from the excellent narration is the chapter read by Peter Fernandez. Since Mitchell reads the rest of the story on her own, including all the quotes, it’s surprising to suddenly hear Fernandez’s voice. Furthermore, the switch seems unnecessary.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2009
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Julia Winwood's narrative tone is that of a well-done lecture, with emphasis on interesting ideas and intriguing facts. She can bring a hint of suspense to the invention of the ring binder and make listeners smile as they hear a poem on alphabetical order. Judith Flanders's history of ordering systems and the developments that made them necessary is thoughtful but a bit esoteric. Her account of the roots of the written word and libraries focuses on such things as indexes, concordances, and card catalogues. Early on, the origins of the word "abracadabra" in the Roman alphabet can seem magical as delivered in Winwood's voice.
Pub Date: Oct. 20, 2020
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781549104800
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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