Coll starts with the Exxon Valdez accident, delves briefly into ExxonMobil’s past, then examines the company intensively from, roughly, the 1980s on. Malcolm Hillgartner narrates with intelligence at an excellent pace and generally with precision, taking care with phrasing, so that the meaning is made clear and is reinforced. These are much appreciated qualities for a book that’s sometimes dry and complex. Hillgartner does occasionally misplace the emphasis in phrases, though the meaning usually remains clear. Also, he characteristically mispronounces “ul” sound—giving readings like “mooltiple.” To indicate accents (Russian, British) or famous speakers (Bill Clinton), he modifies his accent, usually successfully, except that his British accent is weak. But these small matters aside, Hillgartner, without obvious effort, delivers this book to the listener in a way that reading print cannot.
Pub Date: May 1, 2012
Duration: 24 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The readers can't compensate for the unbearably pompous prose style of this extended parable about corporate politics and strategy.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The audiobook illuminates the misdeeds of malevolent marketers, sleazy lawyers, and unethical doctors.
Cassandra Campbell’s narration is a model of a nonfiction performance. Her reading of exposition is careful and convincing. She knows where to pause and how to move the action forward. Law professor Burch’s investigative report of the con men, grifters, and profiteers who took advantage of women who were harmed by vaginal mesh implant removal is deeply researched. The revelations of how these “professionals” colluded to scam these vulnerable women who experienced incontinence, pain, and emotional distress after their procedures is horrific. The patients whose mesh implants were removed often had no medical workups prior to surgeries and were charged egregious hidden fees. The text also exposes the legal system’s glacial pace.
The audiobook illuminates the misdeeds of malevolent marketers, sleazy lawyers, and unethical doctors.Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781668115107
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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