Pianist Van Cliburn wowed the Soviet Union in a Tchaikovsky competition in April 1958--when the Cold War was at its peak. Isacoff recreates the events that brightened the bleakness of that time as manifested in both the weather and international politics. Narrator Stefan Rudnicki adds warmth and humor to the story of Cliburn's achievement. He gives Cliburn's dialogue a gentle Texas drawl. Isacoff goes beyond the competition with a look at Soviet life, in particular the popularity of American jazz and film, and the Soviet politicization of culture. Cliburn's life as a gay man, and a quickly dropped Soviet investigation of it, also feature in the story. This biography of an international sensation brings listeners back to the Cold War era.
Pub Date: April 18, 2017
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781455112685
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
James Michener tells the real stories behind the man and his books. The recording is read with skill and consistency although the reader does little to enhance the robust, larger-than-life incidents related in the book. Due to the first-person narrative format, there is no opportunity for the narrator to change his voice. This makes some chapters monotonous as they go on and on in the typical Michener style. The listener may also become confused because the stories are not told chronologically. This is not a great choice for the audio format, but Michener fans may stick with it to the end.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In a quest for a sense of inner contentment and self-worth, Gloria Steinem brings the reader on a journey of investigation and discovery. Steinem reads the text herself in a straightforward and friendly, but not intimate, presentation which is so easy to listen to it invites repetition--thus ensuring the painless relearning of the lessons of the book. It's difficult to tell from the reading that this audiobook is abridged; each section can stand alone. Nonetheless, the listener wished the book were unabridged. Steinem left me wanting to learn more.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Dove Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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