Susan Cain does a spectacular job of communicating her argument that sorrow and pain can enhance beauty and contribute to creativity. Cain’s voice is beautiful, full of empathy and expression. Her timing is impeccable and even a bit musical—which seems totally appropriate for the idea that sad music can be moving and cathartic for both singer and listener, a recurring theme. In addition to academic and religious research, Cain shares her own stories of loss and love involving a complicated bond with her mother and the deaths of her brother and father to Covid-19 early in the pandemic. In the end, we’d all be healthier and happier if we acknowledged our sadness and negative emotions instead of trying to banish those feelings as unworthy.
Pub Date: April 5, 2022
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593506066
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners are in good hands with Grosland’s expert performance.
Em Grosland performs this in-depth look at the multifaceted nature of grief. Author smith has loved many cats in their life, and after each loss, they have had to grapple with grief in different ways. Each chapter uses the story of a different cat as a springboard into a discussion of the complexities of grief and the many ways it shows up in our lives. Grosland narrates with a clear, direct tone, understanding when to be more expressive and when to let the text speak for itself. This strategy allows them to highlight moments of emotional weight without overwhelming the listener with the subject matter.
Listeners are in good hands with Grosland’s expert performance.Pub Date: July 28, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063446038
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: July 28, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2026
Feiler’s heartfelt performance emphasizes his message that rituals are key to forging community.
Feiler is interested in how we use rituals to connect with others in an age in which fewer people than ever are baptized, get married, or are eventually buried. He casts a wide net: filing down teeth for coming-of-age ceremonies, divorce parties, placenta burials, gender reveals, and more. Feiler isn’t a professional narrator, but his authenticity and gentle humor are clearly apparent in his voice, which lends the whole endeavor the feeling of a memoir. That seems appropriate, given that Feiler travels the world participating in Vegas weddings and Nordic cold plunges and develops his own new rituals with his family to celebrate beating cancer.
Feiler’s heartfelt performance emphasizes his message that rituals are key to forging community.Pub Date: May 19, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 27 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217336692
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: June 30, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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