Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen narrates his new memoir in an understated tone that is a blend of tenderness and survival humor. His fierce dedication to telling his parents' stories comes through in his voice, which is by turns forthright and emotional. In fragmented, haunting prose, he interrogates what it means to be a refugee, an immigrant, and an American. His analysis of the American colonial project, along with American imperialism in countries like Vietnam, is piercing and direct. Whether he's discussing the small intimacies of his own and his family members' lives as Vietnamese refugees in America or the broader sweep of history, American literary culture, and the role of artists, he remains clear-sighted, rigorous, compassionate, and reflective. A powerful listen.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2023
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Audible, Inc.
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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