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
An engaging experience.
This audiobook deals with everything from the historic investments that led to world-dominating companies, such as the Chinese technology company Tencent, to predicting the products and services of the future. An audiobook of such complexity requires a narrator who can handle the task, and David Thorpe manages it admirably. Thorpe uses his masterly voice, which sits somewhere between that of a BBC World Service presenter and an easy, relaxed Home Counties accent, to guide listeners through a sea of numbers, acronyms, and terms such as YP, RPS, and market cap. Rather than simply reading, Thorpe presents the work with excitement and enthusiasm, and this enjoyment transfers to the listener.
An engaging experience.Pub Date: Feb. 20, 2026
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781668103425
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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