Talk show host Tavis Smiley met Maya Angelou, whom he came to call "Mother Maya," when he was a young, insecure beginner and she was an established actress, dancer, poet, and playwright. In awe of her stature and successes, Smiley found that his admiration for this remarkable woman only grew as they became friends. With enthusiasm and self-deprecating humor, Smiley offers pieces based on their private conversations as well as her lectures and poetry. They're as much about his responses to Angelou's generosity, care, and guidance as they are about her creative prowess. Smiley delivers a love song from a most devoted acolyte, but, sadly, he only reads the lyrics to--but doesn't sing--the rousing hymns they both loved. A small disappointment in an otherwise tender audio memoir.
Pub Date: April 7, 2015
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781478932680
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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