Jacoby describes the development of Western religions and their practitioners, as well as the common reasons for religious conversions. Surprisingly, she does so from a secular, and often personal, perspective. Elizabeth Wiley narrates this complex work in steady, crisp tones, differentiating quotations from the narrative by slight shifts in pitch. The book begins with the rise of monotheism, including forced conversions under the Inquisition, and ends with a look at contemporary Islamic fundamentalism. While chronological, the history sporadically loops back to review earlier topics. Wiley's too consistent narration lacks emotional touchpoints, eventually becoming a recitation broken only by the author's personal comments. In this way, the audiobook challenges listeners as it delves into the complicated, emotional topic of conversion by extreme persuasion and by choice.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2016
Duration: 19 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An interesting Ozark history that doesn’t quite cohere.
Author Hale presents the case of his young cousin Haley's disappearance on Cave Mountain in 2001 and the ensuing search and rescue operation, the largest in Arkansas history. Hale connects this with the murder of 3-year-old Bethany by a small and isolated religious sect decades earlier on the same mountain. Narrating these two stories in a low, slightly gruff tone, Hale weaves together family anecdotes, Ozark lore, local and broader history, and Christian theology. While the two cases are intriguing, the work lacks focus and contains extraneous details.
An interesting Ozark history that doesn’t quite cohere.Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 9 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063398153
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: March 10, 2026
Once again, Pollan makes the unknown make sense.
Pollan is a favorite with listeners, and rightly so. He may not possess a silken or practiced voice, and he’d be nobody’s first choice to narrate Proust, but few author-narrators are as engaging or as effectively bonded to their narrative. Pollan here explores one of the most fundamental of questions: What is consciousness? This leads him to other questions. Where exactly is consciousness located? What other species possess it? Pollan takes his listener on a journey through theories and research sites, each rendered with his signature economy and precision. Some sections may require relistening, but the difficulties lie in the subject matter, not the prose. That couldn’t be clearer or more illuminating.
Once again, Pollan makes the unknown make sense.Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217282159
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 9, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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