This brief history details the final 12 months of Dr. King's life, with special emphasis on his speeches and the direction in which he wanted to take the Civil Rights movement. That we know how it ends in no way detracts from the book because the enrichment, as in most instances, is in the journey. Author Tavis Smiley also narrates this book. He has an open, accessible voice that is decidedly not trained for narration. He swallows some words, his diction alternates between muddled and exacting, and his attempts at varying his pitch and tone succeed at times but descend into breathless enthusiasm at others. Nonetheless, his Southern accent and earthy, uneven approach accentuate the personal message of this work.
Pub Date: Sept. 9, 2014
Duration: 6 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781478928690
Publisher: Hachette 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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