Tough, gruff, and honest, Sumner Redstone, the head of Viacom, gives it to us straight! With fascinating directness and a tough-guy delivery, Redstone unravels his own history and tells how the strength he found in childhood propelled him to greatness. His unsuspecting candidness will place the listener at ease as he describes vivid memories--losing a national spelling bee, constantly studying to earn his way into Harvard, cracking Japanese codes during WWII, and nearly losing his life in a Boston hotel fire. His patriotism, intelligence, and insight are revealed in this description of the purchase of Viacom, with the savvy purchase of Blockbuster serving as the "cash cow" to make it happen. A rough and ready corporate cowboy and a hero of the entertainment frontier, Redstone is a man of simple tastes and passionate values.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2001
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Simon & Schuster 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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