Author/narrator Sarah Smarsh's blend of family stories of strong women and cultural insights makes her the best choice to narrate her anthropological profile of Dolly Parton. Expanded from her serialized articles for the music journal NO DEPRESSION, Smarsh's work covers the highs and lows of Parton's career, ranging from the boundary-pushing social content of her songs to her notable business acumen. Smarsh's slightly Midwestern inflection attests to her rural upbringing and the experiential feminism she's witnessed in working- class women who've never heard of Betty Friedan. The academic discourse interwoven with stories of Smarsh's grandmother will appeal to fans of Sarah Vowell and music history podcasts. Listeners will feel like they've just had a fascinating conversation with an enthusiastic friend.
Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2020
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797114989
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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