Sidney Sheldon, playwright, Oscar-winning screenwriter, and bestselling novelist, has written a glossy, gossipy, candid show-biz memoir. Mike O'Malley narrates this rags-to-riches saga at a leisurely pace with subdued intimacy, even when he reveals the lows of Sheldon's life, including the struggles he has had being bipolar and experiencing profound personal losses, such as the death of a child. O'Malley lightens up with some hilarious moments, some very personal, as well as some shocking interactions with movie stars like Judy Garland, Groucho Marx, and a surprisingly combative Cary Grant. O'Malley's conversation with 88-year-old Sheldon and Sheldon's afterword don't add any life lessons but neatly tie up a relaxing, titillating entertainment.
Pub Date: Nov. 8, 2005
Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Hachette 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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