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THE VILLAGE EFFECT

HOW FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT CAN MAKE US HEALTHIER, HAPPIER, AND SMARTER

Donna Postel gives a solid narration of this timely exhortation to strengthen our personal relationships in an age in which many of us find ourselves hiding behind the screens of our various forms of technology. The author argues that despite the ubiquity of technology-mediated communication, personal interaction is essential to cementing bonds between people and offers both psychological and physical health benefits to individuals and communities. Postel's pacing is easy to follow, and her voicing is clear, albeit sometimes lacking a degree of variation that would liven things up a bit. Ultimately, her performance is good, allowing the material speak for itself and underscoring the need for many of us to take a step back from our devices in order to cultivate relationships the old-fashioned way.

Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2014

Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins

Publisher: Tantor Media

Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026

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    A BEAUTIFUL MIND

    Sylvia Nasar's excellent biography of the tragic but ultimately triumphant life of mathematician John Forbes Nash,, Jr., gets cheated by poor audio production. Anna Fields's volume is so low that some of her trailing sentences are inaudible except in a silent room. Blackstone compounds the problem with a very high-noise recording. The end result is a production that can't be listened to comfortably in a car or walking in public because Fields's voice ranges from near-whisper to just above normal volume. The listener who compensates for the whisper is overwhelmed by her louder sections. In future Fields projects, Blackstone needs to use compression. Read the excellent book instead.

    Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2000

    Duration: 19 hrs, 30 mins

    Publisher: Blackstone Audio

    Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026

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      A BILLION WICKED THOUGHTS

      WHAT THE WORLD'S LARGEST EXPERIMENT REVEALS ABOUT HUMAN DESIRE

      The authors, both neuroscientists, believe that Internet search logs offer an astounding research opportunity: a look at human sexuality that is anonymous and, thus, probably acutely honest. What do people search for, sexually, online? The results are enlightening, sometimes startling, and rather humorous. The potential for titillating smarminess in this topic is enormous, but narrator Andrew Garman never goes there. His demeanor is professional and full of good cheer. The graphic language, which he reads with clarity and humor, could come off equally as silly or scandalous, but his pace never feels like it's lingering or leering, and his tone is instructive. There are charts and lists in the text, and Garman easily incorporates them into the listening experience.

      Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2011

      Duration: 9 hrs

      Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.

      Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026

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