Dion Graham doesn't just embody the spirit of musician Sly Stone's voice--his performance also accentuates the lyrical rhythm of Stone's prose. Sly and the Family Stone's early albums in the 1960s are landmarks of popular music, a feat Stone worked meticulously to craft. His stories place listeners firmly in the spaces he occupied then and give perspective on why he disappeared for so long. Throughout, Graham sustains an authentic cool. His voice subtly slows down, pauses, and cracks as Stone expounds upon his older years. It's a kind of music unto itself. This production includes clips from Stone's early years as a radio DJ and more recently produced music, as well as an opening tribute by Questlove. All contribute to making this listening experience indispensable.
Pub Date: 2023
Duration: 8 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250859389
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Somewhat Dickensian and somewhat Shakespearean, Anthony Hopkins' memoir is a fascinating, articulate, and deeply moving listen. Actor Kenneth Branagh, Hopkins' close friend, movingly performs the memoir, sounding in timbre, tone, and nuanced pacing very much like the listener might imagine Hopkins to sound today. In this loosely chronological effort, Branagh brings listeners to Hopkins' Welsh birthplace and shares memories of his parents. While huge swaths of his life as a skilled actor may be omitted, candid observations of his own strengths and weaknesses abound. He celebrates his conquering of alcoholism and the success of his marriage to Stella Arroyave. Hopkins himself voices the conclusion and favorite poems, primarily Yeats. This audiobook is a treasure, perhaps a work of art.
Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781668142608
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Roderick Sewell II--Paralympic athlete and Iron Man champion, motivational speaker, and disability advocate--shares his resilience and joy in his impactful memoir. Sewell's performance exudes calm strength as he talks about the myriad challenges he and his mother faced during his childhood in San Diego and Alabama in the 1990s. Their difficulties included struggling to afford the prosthetic legs he needed as a double above-the-knee amputee, as well as experiencing frequent housing insecurity. He also expresses appreciation for the support he received and the empowerment he learned from extended family and sports mentors as he charted his path to adulthood. Sewell shares valuable lessons with listeners, including the importance of getting out of your own way and not allowing others to define your success.
Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 6 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668650080
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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