John McDonough reads this voluminous book (24 tapes) with the ease of a man sitting across from us at any pub in Dublin. It is casual history, moving between flights of oratory and easy conversation, and McDonough reads it with the Irishman’s natural love of the language and the sounds of words. Keneally begins the narratives with his own ancestor - Hugh Larkin - transported to Australia for his part in the rebellions of 1840, and concludes with the Keneally ancestors just before the Easter uprising of 1913. In between he tells the many stories, mostly failed, that result finally in Irish independence. Woven through these struggles is the role Irishman played in the American Civil War and the Australian national quest. It is a moving adventure and breathes with the pulse of a people, some strong, many weak, but all persistent. McDonough has caught the varied beats of that pulse as only another Irishman can.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2000
Duration: 36 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Author Baconi is the best choice to narrate his memoir of family and political upheaval. The emotional undercurrent he projects suits a story spanning Haifa, Beirut, Amman, and London. His delivery gives clarity to the family history he recounts--his grandmother Eva's flight from Haifa in 1948, his mother Rima's escape from Beirut during the civil war, his own displacement, and a deepening love for his childhood friend, Ramzi. As Baconi moves into his London years, his narration highlights his search for belonging, his emerging political awareness during the Iraq War, and his effort to understand himself across cultures. His voice brings cohesion to these interwoven timelines. Baconi guides listeners through an intimate exploration of identity, inheritance, displacement, and return.
Pub Date: Nov. 18, 2025
Duration: 7 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668114834
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The author and narrator of this lively book about how money evolved over the millennia is an Irish economist and journalist. McWilliams shows how civilizations have used money in different ways that suited their needs at the time. Today, for example, mobile phones are used to safely move money around in African countries. McWilliams also posits that the hot investment in developed countries, cryptocurrency, may be no more than "a financial lobby group." Besides being opinionated and having a sense of humor, McWilliams makes us reevaluate long held beliefs. To wit, Darwin's theories might not have been based solely on the animal kingdom; he may have tied in elements of economic behavior. McWilliams is a terrifically energetic narrator with a perfect Irish lilt.
Pub Date: Nov. 11, 2025
Duration: 12 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250417688
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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