Mottola headed Sony Music--the world's foremost music and entertainment empire--for 15 years. The label had a storied history long before Mottola, born to a first-generation Italian-American family in the Bronx, took the helm. It was during his reign that not just Sony but also the industry as a whole reached its apex and subsequently contracted in the face of new technology and changing demographics. Chazz Palmintieri's understated voice--straight out of the casting for GOODFELLAS--reeks of this kind of myth-making ethos. His narration complements the story, with its blunt but heartfelt tone, as he recounts Mottola's rise from his humble origins as a teenager awed by Elvis to his pivotal role in the careers of such modern-day music legends as Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, and Mariah Carey.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781611135466
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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