Dubner's joy in discovery shines through in his quest to understand Handel's legendary work.
Some may love Handel's Messiah. Author Dubner is obsessed with it. The host of the popular Freakonomics podcast embarks on a journey to uncover the history of the music and better understand the composer. The audiobook follows a podcast template. Dubner interviews historians and locals in Dublin, unfolding the fascinating story of how Messiah came to be and how it changed Handel's life. Dubner considers key points about the business of music, the particulars of instrumentation, and religious politics. The music, voices, and occasional sound effects are woven together naturally and effectively.
Dubner's joy in discovery shines through in his quest to understand Handel's legendary work.Pub Date: March 24, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 48 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668177266
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
Narrator David Shih impeccably introduces renowned artist Ai Weiwei, whose outspoken stand on the freedoms denied in China has made him a government target. Here he looks at 100 years of Chinese history through his life and that of his father, Ai Qing, a well-known poet. Shih faultlessly captures Ai Weiwei's first-person story and gracefully recites Ai Qing's magnificent poetry. Both men's imprisonment is powerfully conveyed, along with descriptions of cities, remote villages, and vibrant conversations with famous and ordinary people. Ai Weiwei's activism is more widely covered than his art. His sadness, sarcasm, optimism, and wit, as well as quotes from his young son, are enlivened by Shih's considerable skill. Audio enhances this unflinching look at China and an extraordinary man.
Pub Date: Nov. 2, 2021
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780399567537
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Author Hisham Matar takes the listener on a melancholy amble around Siena, Italy. His somber voice and precise enunciation enhance his eloquent writing. As he considers great masterpieces from the Sienese School of painting and other works that bring insight to his own life, we learn how the power of art can enlighten us. Meditations on art, love, and existence intertwine with musings on his relationships and the people he encounters in the city as he deals with the loss of his father. Matar's detailed descriptions of several works of art, such as Lorenzetti's unsettling painting of the Madonna and child, are vivid, but the listening experience would be enhanced by viewing images as well.
Pub Date: Oct. 22, 2019
Duration: 3 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593171080
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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