Like the Energizer Bunny, narrator Mike Chamberlain powers through this informative account of science and intrigue with an upbeat delivery. He details the history of energy storage as a prelude to the current quest for reliable long-lasting batteries, which pits China against the U.S. Listeners learn that a major breakthrough in lithium ion batteries will affect more than Teslas and iPhones--and hear about its potential impact on the oil industry, the economy as a whole, and climate change. Though packed with technical details and scientific minutiae, Chamberlain's delivery, combined with the engaging story and profiles of the battery geniuses, results in a well-paced audiobook.
Pub Date: Feb. 5, 2015
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780698189126
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
Golden Voice narrator Cassandra Campbell explores Mattel's dark side in this unauthorized history that exposes spying, copyright infringement, and the true origins of Barbie. Hitt's investigative reporting asserts that Barbie's creator, Ruth Handler, was often ruthless. Handler claimed that the inspiration for Barbie came from her daughter, but Barbie was a near-identical copy of a German doll that was created four years prior to Barbie's debut. Hitt argues that while Handler faced sexism herself, she chose corporate profit over supporting women and minorities. Campbell invokes emotion where appropriate, as when she uses a barbed tone for Handler's remarks about people she hated and a flat voice to capture her matter-of-fact, uncaring attitude. Campbell's pace and tone let the writing shine.
Pub Date: Dec. 2, 2025
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781797193847
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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