Author and narrator Uché Blackstock sounds authentic and urgent in this plea for medical practitioners to combat the racism that still exists in all aspects of healthcare. Dr. Blackstock virtually grew up in the hospital where her mother practiced as a kidney doctor. Blackstock is appalled at the gaping systemic disparities she observed during her stints at a well-resourced private hospital and at a chaotic public one that serves mainly uninsured patients. She fights for change from the inside, trying to broaden diversity and educate her fellow doctors but is stymied at every turn. The defeat is clear in her voice. Threaded through the audiobook is Blackstock's personal story; the loss of her mother at age 47 from leukemia was devastating.
Pub Date: Jan. 23, 2024
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593822319
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A gripping account.
Starting with the NYC subway shooting of four unarmed Black teenagers by Bernie Goetz in 1984, the author shows how the court system’s failure to serve justice to the white perpetrator is one of many examples of racial injustice caused by white anger about rapid societal changes. Thompson discusses how, with the failed trickle-down economic policies of the Reagan years, simmering rage about these and other stressors for white people were brought to a boil by sensationalized media coverage and divisive, opportunistic politicians. Though narrator Erin Bennett’s pacing will sound unusually slow to some listeners, her connection with this story of crime and justice and its broader context is exceptional. Her tone and her interpretive skill promote effortless engagement with the author’s nuanced examination of how economic and societal stress have led to so much untethered anger.
A gripping account.Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Duration: 14 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217295678
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2026
The mysteries of Easter Island point to some familiar culprits.
British archeologist Pitts proves a compelling narrator for his solidly researched history of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island. Conventional wisdom sees the ruin of Rapa Nui as a case of ecological collapse, its limited resources squandered on erecting hundreds of giant stone heads. In a steady, subdued voice, Pitts tracks another history. Rapa Nui was first visited by westerners in 1722, and the inhabitants suffered the fate of many native peoples: slave raids, novel diseases, and cultural erasure by missionaries. One by one, Pitt demolishes the various conjectures Rapa Nui has since inspired while building solid evidence for another, more plausible narrative with a very different message to impart.
The mysteries of Easter Island point to some familiar culprits.Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063344709
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
