Addressing an unborn daughter in her memoir, which is a National Book Award Finalist, Sarah Smarsh explores her family legacy to understand "what it means to be a poor child in a rich country founded on the promise of equality." Though the audiobook is unsentimental in its examination of her family history, Smarsh's narration sounds personal and candid. Her story relies upon an imagined child that has shadowed her perspective since she herself was a child. Smarsh effectively demonstrates how the challenges and costs of breaking the cycle of poverty go far beyond money. Her lightly accented voice rarely wavers as she carries the weight of her family's story while moving toward her future. A memoir that is as insightful as it is necessary, this is a must-listen for those interested in America's growing class divide.
Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781508265313
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
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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