Author Steven Simon delivers the preface of this audiobook with a slightly crackly timbre. In it he shares his background, actions as counterterrorism director of the National Security Council during the Clinton administration, and a succinct summary of this work. Narrator Robert Petkoff takes on the rest of this detailed political history of America's involvement in the Middle East from Ronald Reagan's administration to the present. Petkoff adopts a smooth cadence for the political discourse, along with subtle shifts in tone when delivering excerpts from documents and reports. Petkoff's steady narration draws listeners into this complex political history of diplomatic efforts, military engagements, international policies, and presidential decision making.
Pub Date: April 11, 2023
Duration: 16 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593671160
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Smith’s somewhat dispassionate delivery matches the text well.
Nicholas Guy Smith gives a professional performance of this memoir from the former prime minister and current president of Finland. Smith’s British accent gives an authoritative quality to the narration, and it is easy to follow and to understand. Stubb details his life and his rise to political prominence, not only in his native Finland but also in the Western Alliance and the European Union. Stubb has lots of ideas about how the world works and how it should run, including the opinion that Russia, specifically Putin, is the root of all evil.
Smith’s somewhat dispassionate delivery matches the text well.Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217346561
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2026
Rosen and Roy join forces to entertain, enlighten, and send out warning signals.
Melting Arctic ice, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and President Donald Trump’s recent threats concerning Greenland all act as reminders that the political and environmental challenges facing the Arctic are of paramount importance to the planet’s security and longevity. Jacques Roy adeptly manages Rosen’s myriad threads with a conversational style and patient performance. Listeners learn about the Whisky War—actually a peaceful border dispute—between Canada and Denmark, and the polar preparation that Scandinavian soldiers undertake during national service training. A warming climate has led to increasing numbers of tourists clad in high-end brands arriving in the Svalbard airport and taking pictures next to the stuffed polar bear.
Rosen and Roy join forces to entertain, enlighten, and send out warning signals.Pub Date: Jan. 6, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668101896
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2026
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