Walter Isaacson’s biography celebrates the life of one of American history’s most fascinating and complex characters. Tracing Franklin’s roots from birth to the various stages of his adult life--shopkeeper, inventor, statesman--Isaacson details every facet of Franklin, including some of his more scandalous adventures. The result is a portrait of not just the well-known diplomat, but also a portrait of the brilliant, manipulative, and shrewd person whom the public did not always see. Nelson Runger reads with an air of authority and eloquence that permits the biography to flow smoothly. While the book is lengthy--and some may prefer an abridgment--Isaacson’s attention to detail and Runger’s powerful performance combine to make a work that many will consider the definitive biography of this Founding Father.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2004
Duration: 23 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781449886066
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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