Political adviser Valerie Jarrett delivers her memoir of her experiences in the Obama administration in an even conversational tone that suits the text. As narrator, she exudes a confidence that makes her sound like someone capable and steady. These are clearly traits that served her well when she was at the center of hurly-burly Chicago politics and then in the trenches in Washington. Her recollections of her eight years as a senior adviser to President Obama reveal the consequential nature of their work and its historic results--the Affordable Care Act, the legalization of gay marriage, and the death of Osama bin Laden, among other advances. This insider's story gives listeners Jarrett's perspective on her role in decision-making at the highest level. It's also an account of the steady approach to governing that marked the Obama years. A.D.M © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: April 2, 2019
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780525624288
Publisher: Penguin 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
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