New Reviews: Contemporary Culture

Andrew Eiden's narration makes learning about the American Southwest a fun adventure. The audiobook is an informative amalgamation of natural history, personal narrative, travel writing, and historical and cultural data that highlights the unique past and present of the region. Eiden mimics the author's zest for exploration but doesn't accurately reflect the vocal... Read More

Author/narrator Alex Sarian is the CEO and president of Calgary's Arts Commons, which houses six resident companies and hosts 2,000 events per year. Well delivered and thoughtfully paced, this provocative audiobook is a manifesto on rethinking the role of the performing arts. He discusses means and methods for reforming the civic, educational, and social roles of arts venues.... Read More

Rankings in sports always evoke debate--in a bar, between pals, or at work. This audiobook is a comprehensive compilation of the greatest basketball players of all time. Jaime Lincoln Smith narrates in a deep, steady voice, altering pitch ever so slightly when quoting someone but not trying to imitate anyone's voice. He gradually takes the listener through the audiobook, which... Read More

This outstanding audio collection begins with a thought-provoking introduction by editor Wesley Morris in which he discusses the struggle over what individuals and societies can think. The narrators take turns delivering the 22 works originally featured in publications such as HARPER'S MAGAZINE, THE ATLANTIC, and THE NEW YORKER. One standout is "Jenisha from Kentucky." Jeanette... Read More

Bill Schutt's look at everything toothy starts with some teeth listeners don't want to know firsthand: those of the vampire bat and a bloodsucking fish that is drawn by urine. Charles Constant narrates with a light touch and makes animal classifications clear. Schutt seems fascinated with nasty biters such as crocodiles and shrews. Eventually, he turns his attention to human... Read More

Colorful content, excellent narration, and fresh subject matter make this audiobook a standout. Author Glenn Adamson delivers an even, well-timed narration that includes some flourishes. The audiobook surveys future forecasters, such as Buckminster Fuller, Sun Ra, Shulamith Firestone, Arthur C. Clarke, H.G. Wells, Werner von Braun, the Rand Corporation, Marcus Garvey, and the... Read More

The former special assistant and speechwriter to President Reagan, Peggy Noonan, has been contributing a column to THE WALL STREET JOURNAL for 25 years. Noonan and her editor chose 80 of her best for this publication of relatively recent writings, all expertly narrated by Hillary Huber. The subjects, wide in scope, range from the artistry of Paul Simon and Bob Dylan to the... Read More

More than 20 years after her bestseller, SHE'S NOT THERE, trans author and activist Jennifer Finney Boylan presents a nuanced view of parenting, gender expectations, and growing older. Gabra Zackman narrates with warmth that makes listening seem like an intimate talk with a friend. Zackman mirrors Boylan's wit and capacity for deep reflection. Her narration is especially... Read More

Decades after its publication, this audiobook by John McPhee retains its relevance. The author's poetic writing style--rendered equally poetically by narrator Grover Gardner--is inviting. The book covers three regions and humanity's attempts to control them--the lower Mississippi River, mountains outside Los Angeles, and an Icelandic volcano. McPhee's straightforward sentence... Read More

Civilization has often had an uneasy relationship with one of its greatest inventions--fiction. Shifting between sounding like a favorite professor and the smartest kid in the class, narrator Amy O'Donnell asks why stories, which by their very nature aren't true, are so often considered evil, upsetting, and even pornographic to some parents, preachers, and politicians. And what... Read More

Narrator Fred Berman takes listeners on an absorbing journey through Arctic and Antarctic landscapes, revealing the myriad ways that ice has been intricately connected to life throughout Earth's history. Berman communicates paleontologist and evolutionary biologist Neil Shubin's passion for the complexities of polar regions. His search for fishapod fossils introduced him to the... Read More

A dialogue began when Thomas Piketty, a French economist who has written widely on economic equality, and Michael Sandel, a Harvard philosopher, met in May 2024 at the Paris School of Economics. In this edited version, Derek Dysart, as Sandel, interviews Piketty, whose part is narrated by Stephen Graybill. Both have a lot to say about the value of equality, especially as it... Read More

On a visit to Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone, bestselling author John Green met Henry, a charismatic patient who looks much younger than his age due to the ravages of a tuberculosis infection on his body. They established a friendship, and Green's interest in the disease grew, leading him to become a supporter of Partners in Health and an advocate for reducing... Read More

In a voice full of curiosity, insight, and the driest sense of humor, author/podcaster Dorian Lynskey takes the listener on a fascinating and comprehensive tour of one of civilization's most durable tropes: the end of the world. Mixing fact, fiction, and prediction, Lynskey smoothly moves from the terror of the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa to the Martian "invasion" of H.G.... Read More

This audiobook challenges the notion that artificial intelligence has emerged without human involvement, thoroughly examining the toll AI has taken on the countless unseen workers who were so crucial to its development. Narrator Orlando Wells is superb. Reflecting grit and candor, he recounts the development of AI from the vantage point of its often unheard workers. These... Read More

Jacques Roy's narration sounds like a political science lecture as Alexander Vindman's analysis of Russia's invasion of Ukraine delves into the history behind the conflict. He covers the Chernobyl disaster, denuclearization efforts, Ukraine's role in the fall of the Soviet Union, and relations between Russia and the region dating back to the seventeenth century. It's packed... Read More

Add "outstanding audiobook narrator" to Brown's impressive resumé. He is, after all, a Food Network personality, a cookbook author, and an avid food science researcher. Given his long-running gigs on "Iron Chef" and "Good Eats," along with his work as a pitchman for GE, it's no surprise that he performs his "essays and ruminations" smoothly and wittily. His range of interests... Read More

Jonas Oloffson's exploration of the sense of smell starts with herring: Narrator Adam Verner's light tone suggests Oloffson's awareness that his love of the fish dish is not widely shared. As a smell researcher, Oloffson undertakes such activities as smelling lampposts to understand what dogs smell and trying pungent durian ice cream in Singapore. Verner captures the author's... Read More

There's a presumed sense of fairness in our justice system. But Michael Beck's harrowing performances of 10 true stories of devastating injustices reveal the error of that presumption. A neighbor is falsely accused of murdering a woman on the same day that his wife has major surgery. Four Navy sailors are pushed into falsely confessing to a vicious crime in Norfolk. A man goes... Read More

As she performs this galvanizing piece of cultural history, Adenrele Ojo's pacing and vocal character balance the formality needed for the material and the inviting tone that makes the story engaging. A financial media journalist and economics scholar recounts the trailblazing efforts of entrepreneur Carol Green and other prominent women to start a bank that would treat women... Read More

Crisp and to the point, Matt Godfrey delivers this timely audiobook in a tone of urgency and optimism. Heaphy led the legal team charged with investigating the Unite the Right riots in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017 and the January 6 riot in Washington, DC, in 2021. Listeners hear a concise overview of those events with well-organized details that illuminate how these... Read More

Karen Chilton's performance provides the vocal resonance to convey the power of this audiobook. Listeners unfamiliar with the urgency of environmental justice are advised to prioritize this title. The land people live on and their access to water, plumbing, and healthcare are among the fundamental qualities discussed. Much of what makes environmental policy work involves a deep... Read More

Joe Jameson delivers an impressive performance of this comprehensive text. His pace and cadence work well with this fact-filled audiobook; even his intelligent-sounding British accent effectively conveys Smil's expertise on the state of the world's food supply. Smil, an energy expert, has long been a student of the planet's food. He says, "Numbers are the antidote to wishful... Read More

Weathersby deserves thanks for bringing attention to ongoing efforts to replace the sculptures, monuments, and street names that honor the racist heroes of the Civil War. While the author specializes in writing, not narrating, his sincere, pleasing tone propels stories that range from the Dakotas--Mount Rushmore and the still unfinished massive monument to Crazy Horse--to the... Read More

Jon Waterman has written an ode to an Alaskan wilderness that is quickly disappearing due to climate change. His warm, almost poetic text, combined with photos in a pdf file, paints a clear portrait of what is and what was. Sadly, his narration doesn't match his words. The tone is reverent, and his delivery generally matches it. But many times he starts a sentence with a loud... Read More

Rebecca Romney, an author and dealer in rare books, narrates her intriguing exploration of eighteenth-century women writers in a mellow, welcoming voice. A longtime Jane Austen fan, she set out to explore the other women writers Austen might have been reading. Romney interweaves Austen's life with the life stories of these pioneering authors, her own reactions to their writing,... Read More

Braden Wright provides a crisp, even narration of this thoroughly researched overview of land--specifically, who owns it and how that ownership fortifies power over time. Albertus's audiobook seeks to provide a comprehensive review of how "the great reshuffling"--a phenomenon through which land is acquired, repossessed, or stolen-- consistently results in various significant... Read More

Don't assume a gardening book won't translate well to audio. Narrator Marni Penning's upbeat pacing and enthusiastic tone make this listening experience as relaxing as being surrounded by blooming flowers. The author, an expert gardener and prolific writer of instructional books on producing your own food, provides an intimate view of her relationship with growing plants.... Read More

Australian philosopher of science Peter Godfrey-Smith narrates this history of life on earth from its beginnings to the present, going on to explore possibilities for the directions life may take in the future. In a light Australian accent, Godfrey-Smith presents theories of evolution, mind, and connectedness and consciousness. His narration is down-to-earth and comfortable yet... Read More

Neil deGrasse Tyson hosts this newly revised edition of his McDonald Observatory StarDate column as the immortal space traveling wizard, Merlin. This audio production radiates with the astronomer's humor and passion for demystifying the universe for listeners of all ages. Tyson, as Merlin, answers readers' queries about our solar system and the cosmos beyond. A talented group... Read More

Many authors focus on championship teams that are in the spotlight and have banners hanging from the rafters. But John Glionna has turned his attention to a sleepy town on the Nevada-Oregon border called McDermitt, which participates--when it's able to--in eight-man high school football. Narrator Danny Campbell's slightly scratchy timbre fits the American West, and his engaged... Read More

Narrator Gregory Jones deftly presents 20 lessons on privacy protection, using smooth transitions and well-timed pitch inflections to maintain listeners' attention and buy-in. The lessons provide concrete actions that are built on convincing evidence. For example, in "What the Constitution Says," the author advises on how to respond to police questioning. In "Small Data Paint... Read More

In this searing indictment of U.S. imperialism, journalist Omar El Akkad exposes the rot at the heart of American liberalism and the ugly truth that undergirds American democracy: It's predicated on the subjugation of marginalized people around the globe. El Akkad focuses on the genocide in Gaza but also draws on his career as a journalist in the post 9/11 years and his... Read More

Legal journalist Toobin, author and narrator, examines the history, meaning, and ongoing significance of the presidential pardon. A longtime CNN legal analyst and prolific author, he is an effective narrator whose tone and style sound like a historian's. The central story--but by no means the only one--is the September 1974 pardon of Richard Nixon by President Gerald Ford.... Read More

Narrator Cassandra Campbell guides listeners through the universe's biological past, present, and potential future in this accessible production by the director of the Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute. The ever-present existential and practical questions about how life began and whether we're alone in the cosmos lie at the heart of this audiobook. Campbell excels at... Read More

After MSNBC host Chris Hayes begins his audiobook with what behavioral science knows about voluntary and involuntary attention, he explains how this fundamental human faculty is being hijacked by corporate America and slick political operatives. Hayes is an authentic narrator of his important message. His easy-listening performance conveys a comfortable command of his emotional... Read More

This natural history of the eel gets a jovial performance from narrator Coleen Marlo. As author Shell details, eels have fascinated, mystified, and confounded people for centuries, and today, they are a valuable global commodity: Baby eels (elvers) are caught in Maine, shipped to Chinese aquafarms to be raised to maturity, then imported back into the U.S., where they show up as... Read More

Many people involved in education--educators, parents, even some students--are interested in supporting critical thinking as an outcome. But getting there is difficult. Although former teacher bell hooks sometimes falls into progressive educational jargon, much of what she has to say about critical thinking makes sense. And she covers a number of other educational topics, as... Read More

As narrated by Alex Boyles, this provocative audiobook will startle listeners who are fascinated with how AI will affect society. Humanist minister Greg Epstein sees parallels in the fervor people feel toward traditional religions and the exuberant devotion the business world feels toward tech innovations like Bitcoin and the godlike thinking machines that will likely dominate... Read More

Planting a tree is an investment in the future. This charming audiobook introduces listeners to 50 very different people who are united by their love of trees and their visions of what they mean. The author's almost lyrical style and Jade Wheeler's gentle, even tone carry listeners along as they meet people such as Joe Hamilton, who grows pines on land once owned by his... Read More

Many listeners with a lifelong curiosity about the massive to miniscule dinosaur species who roamed Earth millions of years ago will find this audiobook immensely fascinating. British narrator Graham Mack's thoughtfully engaged performance helps listeners absorb Hone's concise yet thorough research review on dinosaur behavior. With clear diction, Mack presents the challenges... Read More

Sarah Lewis's careful scholarship probes racial hierarchy and its insidious hold on the American psyche; she carries out this examination through paintings, sculpture, and photography. Lewis narrates her work in a gentle tone and, sadly, a rather uneven cadence. She focuses initially on a painting called THE CIRCASSIAN BEAUTY, which contributed to the false belief that the... Read More

The story of workers who are fighting for a settlement to pay their medical bills after exposure to coal ash begins with a phone call. Lee Osorio captures the urgency that sent a worker out to clean up a "black wave" of toxic slurry after a partial dike collapse. Osorio increases the tension as revelations spring from a lawyer's study of coal ash's effects. He slows down to... Read More

Narrator Peter Noble's clear voice, rich timbre, and impeccable pacing bring to life the complex and often bizarre world of art authentication. It begins with art collector Joe Simon's call to longtime art critic Richard Dorment in 2003, requesting assistance in getting a detailed answer about why the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board declared two works in his collection to... Read More

Paleontologist Riley Black's vivid writing and Wren Mack's wonderstruck narration make these vignettes of prehistoric life on Earth fascinating listening. Traveling through the planet's geologic epochs, Black imagines detailed scenes, and Mack's engaged performance evokes the weather, landscape, creatures, and interactions that Black describes. Yes, dinosaurs, insects,... Read More

Alex Cuadros spent six years investigating the controversy at the heart of this audiobook, and his passion for the story comes through in both his text and his narration. In a voice that is youthful and warm, Cuadros takes the listener into the Amazon rainforest, where the Indigenous Cinta Larga people have endured a decades-long struggle against illegal diamond mining that led... Read More

Narrator Sam Rushton creates a compelling audiobook experience as he guides listeners through the world of wild cacao that is unique to the terroir of the Bolivian Lowlands, Brazilian Amazon, and parts of Mexico. This engaging narrative weaves the complex social and economic history of wild chocolate--from its medicinal, ritual, and familial uses in ancient and contemporary... Read More

It's already happening--fewer people own homes, we lease our cars, and we pay subscription fees for the software on our devices. These trends sound innocuous, but the author says they are part of an orchestrated plan by government, financial elites, and Big Tech to make ordinary citizens less able to challenge power centers. Chris Henry Coffey narrates this cautionary tale with... Read More