MEANT TO BE is a captivating memoir by the editor of PARADE magazine. Read perfectly by George Guidall, the book is an inspiring story of self-discovery. Guidall uses a low-key approach that is particularly effective in scenes such as the one when, following the funeral of the man he thought was his father, Anderson learns that the man he buried was not his natural father—his actual father was a Russian-Jewish man his mother had fallen in love with while her husband was fighting in WWII. Anderson also chronicles his struggles to succeed as a writer and his search for his half-brother. Guidall’s narration seems more understated than usual, perhaps because the material itself is so compelling. Regardless, Guidall’s narration is the ideal complement to Anderson’s riveting story.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2005
Duration: 7 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books 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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