Ralph Lister's British accent gives an academic tone to this impressively detailed account of the 1986 nuclear disaster at Chernobyl, then in the USSR, now Ukraine. Delving into the events of that incident and the heroic actions of the plant's staff and others who extinguished the nuclear inferno, Plohky provides background on how the Soviet government, particularly its party system, contributed to the disaster. Lister has a pleasing voice that is clear and easy to understand. He does well pronouncing Russian and Ukrainian words and names. While a bit overstated when trying to express intensity, overall, he turns in very good performance.
Pub Date: May 15, 2018
Duration: 15 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781549115158
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Dr. Plotkin is an ethnobotanist who recounts his experiences searching for new medications in the Amazon rain forest. He makes an impassioned plea for the world to stop destroying this irreplaceable resource. Since the author reads his own work, we can rely on the pronunciation of some unusual botanical terms; however, his voice (presumably not trained for performance) lacks the enthusiasm and fascination the words suggest. Furthermore, with no chapter references and few pauses between sections, transitions, such as the change of location from Ecuador to Massachusetts, are awkward.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This one-volume history of Earth is a fascinating trip made that much better by the narrator’s effective delivery.
This work is like a one-semester course in geology, and it’s easy to imagine narrator David Linski standing in front of a class delivering the lectures. The audiobook is aimed at lay listeners; the science isn’t dumbed down but no background in Earth science is required. Linski’s delivery is solid, and he effectively adjusts his pace to fit the material and keep listeners engaged. He handles technical terms with ease. Author Woodward takes listeners from the formation of the universe to Earth as we know it today.
This one-volume history of Earth is a fascinating trip made that much better by the narrator’s effective delivery.Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798228699564
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: yesterday
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