Historian Sarah Vowell serves up the story of the "cultural collision between native Hawaiians and New Englanders" with a fresh perspective on the Americanization of Hawaii and the events leading to its annexation in 1898. New England missionaries arrived in 1820, and events led to the overthrowing of the Hawaiian queen and the eventual annexation coup, replete with imperialistic overtones. Vowell speaks conversationally with her distinctive pitch and unhurried pacing, her voice laced with irony, wry insights, and humor. Her performance enables the listener to savor each witticism and striking analogy. She’s joined by nine other performers, who animate the pungent historical quotes. Vowell is a master of blending current culture and personal anecdotes with historical details. Smart, informative, and colorful, this shrewd contemplation of Hawaii and the demise of its people's ancient customs is truly memorable. A.W Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: 2011
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781442337305
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
With his deep voice, capable of a rumble here and there, narrator David Colacci is well suited to this quintessential American story. Journalist David Philipps offers a look at our nation's wild horses and their future outlook. Their survival depends on the clarifying of myth and history and a clear-eyed examination of government policies. Though billed as a history of the mustang, in many ways, this is a story about wildness, belonging, and the right to be free. As such, Colacci's unhurried, thoughtful performance effectively balances detailed research, targeted investigation, and personal reflection, providing an engaging listen that highlights the significant challenges of modern-day conservation efforts and government policy.
Pub Date:
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781681688503
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator Alex Chadwick's lightly dramatic voice keeps listeners focused on a fascinating story. Soichi Sakamoto's Three-Year Swim Club in Maui hoped for glory in the 1940 Tokyo Olympics, a goal thwarted by WWII. Julie Checkoway dives into the past for accounts of swimming records, training innovations, and the swimmers themselves. These branches flow into a larger story of growing global tensions, Olympics history, and Japanese-Americans in Hawaii. It's occasionally poignant, as when a club member encounters a German P.O.W. he once met in competition. When the account turns to swim meets, Chadwick's voice sounds wonderfully like vintage radio coverage. There's athletic triumph, but the war's toll on those hopes hits home.
Pub Date:
Duration: 14 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781619693838
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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