Narrator Mark Deakins skillfully delivers this history of mosquitoes and their surprising effect on human civilization. Could mosquitoes have been the downfall of King Tut and the reason the Magna Carta was signed? Possibly, the author argues. Equally fascinating is the mosquito's well-documented influence upon the ancient Greeks and major Western wars such as the American Revolution and the American Civil War. Deakins's narration is sure to hold the listener's attention despite some flaws found on the page. For instance, the author at times bogs things down with scientific jargon but then cheekily anthropomorphizes the mosquitoes as if they were characters in a story. But Deakins's winning voice draws attention away from this inconsistent approach, much to the benefit of audiobook listeners.
Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2019
Duration: 19 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781984888242
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
GENERAL HISTORY | NATURE | WORLD | HISTORY
Haskell’s insights and sensibility are perfectly conveyed by Campbell’s acute narration.
Narrator Cassandra Campbell assumes the voice of biologist Haskell, author of The Song of Trees (2017), for an illuminating first-person tour of one of nature’s most common sights: flowers. Campbell provides momentum to a narrative that, though richly informative, could easily have become rambling and slack. “We live on a floral planet,” Haskell says, and he goes on to explain how that fact is key to our existence. Flowering plants first appeared 200 million years ago, and they enabled humans to evolve—and to survive. The narrative is loosely organized into eight illustrative categories, covering magnolias, orchids, grasses, roses, teas, and more.
Haskell’s insights and sensibility are perfectly conveyed by Campbell’s acute narration.Pub Date: March 24, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 5 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217281794
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: today
An authentic performance that matches the author’s heartfelt journey.
During the several summers she works as a fire ranger in northern Alberta, Canada, Moyles maintains a delicate equilibrium with the black bears that live in the area surrounding the fire tower she’s assigned to. She’s also dealing with a complicated relationship with her brother, Brendan. The close bond the siblings had as children is undermined in adulthood by profound political differences and substance use disorders. Moyles’ Canadian accent and natural-sounding timing convey her deep-seated sense of decency and honesty. When Brendan dies, the sudden loss feels shocking, and her grief is undeniable. Moyles makes detailed and sometimes charmingly anthropomorphic observations of the bears. She sets up a camera at their favorite scratching post, names the bears based on their markings, and dubs herself an auntie to the bear cubs.
An authentic performance that matches the author’s heartfelt journey.Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798318542367
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: today
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