At first, Simon Winchester’s British accent might seem an odd fit with this audiobook. It is, after all, a slice of Americana, recounting the stories of the men (yes, they’re all men) who turned the pluribus into the unum with their treks, travails, and technologies. It takes listeners from Lewis and Clark’s exploration to the building of the railways and the interstate highways, and from the telegraph to the Internet. But it’s quickly evident that Winchester—who was born and raised in England but became an American citizen in 2011 at age 66—is actually the ideal narrator. The audiobook is sprinkled with stories from his own life, and his reading sounds genuine and heartfelt, maintaining a pace that’s brisk without sounding hurried.
Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2013
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062080257
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Carol Matthau epitomizes a glamour and lifestyle not associated with the 1990's. Here is a life of privilege, tragedy and worry about what friends would think of her new frock or lover. Matthau possesses a voice and delivery that simply could not be improved on. In her coy whisper, she tells compelling stories involving everyone from William Saroyan (husband #1) and Truman Capote to Carson McCullers, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Walter Matthau (husband #2). This excellent audio presentation will leave you wanting to read the entire book to discover what juicy tidbits were left out.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: The Publishing Mills
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
More than 35 hours long, this comprehensive biography of Random House founder Bennett Cerf is equal to a workweek for many listeners. Cerf nurtured a roster of the 20th century's most consequential authors and was nationally known as a television panelist. His story is a fascinating panorama of American arts and society over 50 years, scrupulously researched but overburdened and slow. Listeners who've never heard of William Styron or Dorothy Kilgallen or the Famous Writers School will be fully educated here. Narrator Lisa Flanagan keeps a steady, unfussy pace that carries her listeners over the longueurs. But hers is a channel swim rather than a leisurely stroll through Central Park. This paunchy biography needed a stronger editorial hand.
Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
Duration: 35 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217346448
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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