Author and narrator Steven Johnson earns high praise for this dramatic history of dynamite as a terror weapon, a tangled tale that begins with Alfred Nobel and ends with J. Edgar Hoover. Cause and effect shape a narrative as compelling as any thriller. Dynamite enabled the large constructions of the modern age but offered a powerful tool for anarchists, whose outrages, in turn, spurred the advancement of modern crime detection techniques. Johnson, who can roll a "Czolgosz" off his tongue as fluently as a "McKinley," centers his history on the radicals Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman, her sometime lover. Their story, expertly constructed and narrated, embraces a wide slice of a crucial period in American history.
Pub Date: May 14, 2024
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593868485
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Carol Matthau epitomizes a glamour and lifestyle not associated with the 1990's. Here is a life of privilege, tragedy and worry about what friends would think of her new frock or lover. Matthau possesses a voice and delivery that simply could not be improved on. In her coy whisper, she tells compelling stories involving everyone from William Saroyan (husband #1) and Truman Capote to Carson McCullers, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Walter Matthau (husband #2). This excellent audio presentation will leave you wanting to read the entire book to discover what juicy tidbits were left out.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: The Publishing Mills
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This work is an excellent example of the power of the audiobook medium.
The only time most of us read the U.S. Constitution was in high school civics class. This book offers a unique perspective, and the use of two narrators allows listeners to distinguish between the document itself and the commentary on its continuing relevance. Working through the Constitution in sections, veteran narrator Dion Graham reads the actual text, and author Murray delivers her commentary, including incidents and court cases from as recently as late 2025, to illustrate the relevance to our lives today. Both narrators are easy to listen to, and their respective paces are suited to the complexity of the material.
This work is an excellent example of the power of the audiobook medium.Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 43 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668156018
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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