Pete Simonelli offers an easy-on-the-ears narration of this biography of President Grover Cleveland. To most Americans, Cleveland is little more than the response to a clue on "Jeopardy." Author Senik seeks to expand that by exploring the life and extraordinary career of an oft-overlooked historical figure. Simonelli keeps the audiobook flowing in spite of the author's sometimes overly detailed discussions of the machinations of late-nineteenth-century American politics. As there are few extended quotations, Simonelli doesn't give speakers individual voices. But he injects hints of emotion at appropriate times. Strategic pauses help set off the occasional footnotes. Listeners will be rewarded in learning about a man who deserves far more credit than history has afforded him.
Pub Date: Sept. 20, 2022
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781797142531
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A personal performance of a spiritual journey.
Vance narrates a spirited discussion of his departure from Christianity and religion generally, as well as his subsequent return. His commanding performance is moving, solid, authentic, and sincere. Vance’s deep voice is enhanced by his precise enunciation and is measured and appropriate to the material. In what could be considered a sequel to his 2016 autobiography, Hillbilly Elegy, listeners hear his evolution as a human being, family man, and leader. The consistently absorbing and entertaining narration pays tribute to his mentors, friends inside and outside the military, and most emphatically his wife, Usha, who practices Hinduism.
A personal performance of a spiritual journey.Pub Date: June 16, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780063575080
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 18, 2026
A doyenne of American literature, Godwin, now 89, adds to her distinguished body of work.
Rosemary Benson has narrated Godwin’s work before, and she conveys the contemplative and appalled tone of this brief memoir. Her performance reveals the author’s disappointment in the country’s state of political affairs during the 2024 election. Godwin sees then-candidate Trump as an emblem of corruption, and she painstakingly analyzes his debate with Kamala Harris and the idea of citizenship, quoting liberally from Brian Tangury’s blog Working-Class Scribbler. Other sections show the arc of Godwin’s long career, recalling her life in the 1960s working for the U.S. Travel Service and her ill-considered marriage.
A doyenne of American literature, Godwin, now 89, adds to her distinguished body of work.Pub Date: June 9, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 16 mins
DD ISBN: 9781639739004
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: July 7, 2026
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