Paul Boehmer somewhat unevenly narrates this detailed history of the most famous theater and theater troupe in Russia. Morrison's work details the human stories both on and off-stage in the nearly three centuries of the Bolshoi's history. Listeners learn of conductors, composers, and dancers, prominent in their day but faded from modern memory, who made the Bolshoi so renowned. Intrigue and drama off-stage are even more incredible than the lavish spectacles that wowed audiences for generations. Boehmer has a very clear voice, and he enunciates well, but his earnest delivery can sometimes go from staccato to choppy. He is able to affect accents, but some of his Russian pronunciation may grate on those familiar with the language.
Pub Date: Oct. 11, 2016
Duration: 17 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781681683133
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Highly engaging for a wide variety of listeners.
Four exceptional narrators unfailingly capture the full relevance of every sentence and broad idea in this epic audiobook. With this monumental economic and social history, the author traces the growth of capitalism’s decisive impact on human society, from 15th-century traders to the invention of money and the seemingly unstoppable power of capital markets today. Beckert describes capitalism’s fraught relationship with forced and paid labor as it changed with advances in agriculture, transportation, industry, and political trends. Despite the idealized dream of free markets under capitalism, Beckert shows how it flourished only with the cooperation of governments that enforced the social and economic order necessary for wealth accumulation.
Highly engaging for a wide variety of listeners.Pub Date: Nov. 25, 2025
Duration: 42 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217163571
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 9, 2026
Author Baconi is the best choice to narrate his memoir of family and political upheaval. The emotional undercurrent he projects suits a story spanning Haifa, Beirut, Amman, and London. His delivery gives clarity to the family history he recounts--his grandmother Eva's flight from Haifa in 1948, his mother Rima's escape from Beirut during the civil war, his own displacement, and a deepening love for his childhood friend, Ramzi. As Baconi moves into his London years, his narration highlights his search for belonging, his emerging political awareness during the Iraq War, and his effort to understand himself across cultures. His voice brings cohesion to these interwoven timelines. Baconi guides listeners through an intimate exploration of identity, inheritance, displacement, and return.
Pub Date: Nov. 18, 2025
Duration: 7 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668114834
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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