Simon Winchester’s audiobooks deserve a genre of their own. The gifted author has created 10 books—all scientific, observational, and introspective—and proceeded to narrate all of them. His latest title, ATLANTIC, sounds too general, but the author has no trouble turning generalities into specifics, all presented with his perfect logic. Winchester’s personality enhances his eloquent word choices and elaborate sentence constructions. The author, an experienced sailor, mixes knowledge from his own seven-seas experiences into these instructional journeys to an abundance of ports in many different ages. Action-loving listeners will find plenty of piracy and plundering to keep them awake, and “verbivores” will enjoy the lexicon as much as the stories. Winchester’s fans will agree: He keeps us entertained while teaching us a lot.
Pub Date: Nov. 2, 2010
Duration: 14 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062062321
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
GENERAL HISTORY | NATURE | WORLD | HISTORY
This sure-footed author is the perfect companion for a walk in the woods.
As he did in On Trails (2016), author and narrator Moor serves as companion, guide, and information source for a novel excursion into a familiar aspect of nature—in this case, trees. Moor begins by describing a tree he climbed as a boy. As an adult, he returns to climbing trees, making note of features of the human body ideal for tree-climbing and even engaging a climbing coach. The focus of subsequent chapters ranges from bonsai to sequoias, but a significant portion of the narrative takes place within the canopy of trees. Moor isn’t a trained narrator, but he connects well, and his natural style is a key part of his appeal.
This sure-footed author is the perfect companion for a walk in the woods.Pub Date: April 7, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668169056
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: April 14, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
A subtle, powerful performance makes this science memoir heartbreakingly beautiful.
Revolutionary ecologist Simard follows up her 2021 bestseller with an equally mind-altering memoir on the restorative powers of forests. Giving a standout performance as narrator, Simard successfully weaves depictions of her adventures in the wilderness conducting scientific research with reflections on her personal and professional lives. Simard's soft, lyrical, western Canadian lilt adds rich emotional dimensions to her audiobook, in which she grapples with the difficult yet regenerative effects of death. As she witnesses the clear-cutting of nearly every old-growth forest in her beloved province, Simard faces the dispiriting losses of her mother and a brilliant colleague. Importantly, the author inspires action through vivid descriptions of her environmental activism and experiences learning the forestry practices of various Indigenous cultures.
A subtle, powerful performance makes this science memoir heartbreakingly beautiful.Pub Date: March 31, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 51 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217174287
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: April 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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