On the heels of the author’s gravelly voiced narration of the introduction, narrator Dennis Boutsikaris at first sounds tame or buttoned-down. But as the audio unfolds, his reading reveals a rich palette of emotional accents that he applies to great effect in all the right places. His skill with the subtleties of narrative energy also works well with this textured history lesson—one that focuses less on the technological than on the visionary characters profiled by the author. With one fascinating story after the other (did you know the daughter of a famous poet pioneered computer programming in the 1840s?), this highly entertaining audio chronicles the importance of collaboration as much as individual creativity among the colorful pioneers who brought us today’s digital world. T.W. 2015 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2014
Duration: 17 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781442376236
Publisher: Simon & Schuster 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
© 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.
