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
High-interest, socially relevant science delivered in a friendly, conversational tone.
Social epidemiologist Werb narrates his extensive exploration into modern urban ecology. As population centers worldwide have increased and expanded, so has the growth of synanthropes: wild animals (and occasionally plants) that adapt to survive and thrive within human-built communities. Werb divides this deep dive into three sections: successful communal relationships, unsuccessful or hazardous ones, and the potential for future harmonious living between humans and the urban wilderness. Werb’s narration is pleasantly informative, maintaining a steady flow of relatable detail in his case studies without overwhelming the listener. His enthusiasm for his subject shines through in his dedication to discussing the whole range of positive and negative outcomes when people and wild animals coexist.
High-interest, socially relevant science delivered in a friendly, conversational tone.Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 23 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217340521
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
Frightening, cinematic, tense, dramatic—this audiobook is easily binge-worthy.
This heart-pumping true story of survival throws listeners into a nightmare come to life and is exactly how gripping narrative nonfiction should be both written and performed. The real-life audio thriller stays tightly focused on three men's moment-by-moment struggle to survive after their fishing boat sinks and they are left adrift in the Gulf of Mexico with nothing but a few bottles of water and two coolers to hang on to. All the author’s explanatory details—from shark anatomy to Coast Guard helicopter rescue equipment—serve the central story well. Narrator Adam Ewer precisely conveys the extreme emotions of the stranded men as they desperately try to swim to an oil platform while sharks circle below.
Frightening, cinematic, tense, dramatic—this audiobook is easily binge-worthy.Pub Date: June 23, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 11 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250458650
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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