Psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen's fascinating work discusses biological and environmental components that may lead to a lack of empathy. Jonathan Cowley delivers the material in a strong British accent and rich tones. Cowley's narrative style, in concert with Baron-Cohen's clear writing, makes the subject matter accessible and engaging. Cowley guides the listener through the author's discussions of borderline personality disorder, psychopathy, narcissism, autism, and Asperger's syndrome, conditions that Baron-Cohen says have in common a lack of empathy—but with widely differing outcomes. All in all, Cowley gives a strong narrative performance of some thought-provoking ideas on the nature of empathy and evil.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2011
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Sylvia Nasar's excellent biography of the tragic but ultimately triumphant life of mathematician John Forbes Nash,, Jr., gets cheated by poor audio production. Anna Fields's volume is so low that some of her trailing sentences are inaudible except in a silent room. Blackstone compounds the problem with a very high-noise recording. The end result is a production that can't be listened to comfortably in a car or walking in public because Fields's voice ranges from near-whisper to just above normal volume. The listener who compensates for the whisper is overwhelmed by her louder sections. In future Fields projects, Blackstone needs to use compression. Read the excellent book instead.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2000
Duration: 19 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The authors, both neuroscientists, believe that Internet search logs offer an astounding research opportunity: a look at human sexuality that is anonymous and, thus, probably acutely honest. What do people search for, sexually, online? The results are enlightening, sometimes startling, and rather humorous. The potential for titillating smarminess in this topic is enormous, but narrator Andrew Garman never goes there. His demeanor is professional and full of good cheer. The graphic language, which he reads with clarity and humor, could come off equally as silly or scandalous, but his pace never feels like it's lingering or leering, and his tone is instructive. There are charts and lists in the text, and Garman easily incorporates them into the listening experience.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2011
Duration: 9 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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