This book reminds us that the Middle East was, is, and will continue to be a focal point for world attention. The author, Israel’s current president and a longtime political leader, has written an analytical exploration of Israel’s founder and first prime minister. It’s a personal account based on their long association and includes intimate stories that make Ben-Gurion an even more compelling historical figure. Narrator Michael Prichard has a low, intense voice that lends authority and seriousness to the book. His clipped delivery, superb diction, and straightforward demeanor capture Peres’s intent but also leave the book without the human-interest angle it needs to fully engage our attention. Prichard indulges in some slight character voices, and he does well with the Hebrew and Yiddish phrases sprinkled throughout the text.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2011
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Tantor Media
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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