New Reviews: Contemporary Culture

Narrator Matt Godfrey teams up with singer Terri Clark to deliver this heartwarming history of country music's most important institution. Along with flawless interpretations, their connection with the people and ethos of country music gives energy and impact to the listening. Starting in 1925 as a back-porch music show and evolving into long-running radio and TV shows, the... Read More

With muckraking fervor, popular podcasters Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson ask a complicated question: What's wrong with how our government operates, and what needs to change? Both authors begin in an optimistic tone but shift into a world-weary tone when discussing how seminal institutions such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects... Read More

Narrator Lynn Bradford's steady pace and clear voice allow this detailed analysis of the most popular and most misunderstood museum in the world to shine. Paris' Louvre houses iconic works such as the MONA LISA and the WINGED VICTORY OF SAMOTHRACE--yet its name's origin remains a mystery. Once a fortress and then a royal palace, the Louvre became a public museum after the... Read More

This audiobook discussing the hype surrounding artificial intelligence is one long unsubstantiated finger wag at the technology and anyone in favor of using it. The audiobook's 100% negative take on AI makes the choice of narrator Jade Wheeler--whose robotic cadence sounds AI generated--perplexing. One of the authors was personally insulted by ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman, and the... Read More

The majority of the poets Ben Palpant interviewed for this book write mostly overtly Christian poetry, and all of them are people of faith whose work is shaped by that to a greater or lesser degree. In this audiobook, Palpant delivers both sides of the interviews, as well as a poem by each interviewee. He doesn't try to replicate their voices, but there is never any doubt about... Read More

Social media personality B. Dylan Hollis narrates his audiobook on American desserts with charm and charisma--making his storytelling almost sweeter than the treats. Hollis takes listeners on a culinary trip around the country. Beginning with the Northeast and ending with the Pacific Northwest, he discusses nostalgic and iconic desserts from all over. The audiobook doesn't have... Read More

Emely Rumble, LCSW, has written an important and meaningful resource for those working in counseling, social work, and public libraries or for anyone interested in achieving emotional growth through literature. It's wonderful that there's an audio version. That said, Wesleigh Siobhan is not the best choice for its narration. Her lilting, animated tones and emphasis on verbs and... Read More

This expansive audiobook by a thoughtful journalist with a longstanding interest in linguistics looks at the biological, cultural, and historical evolution of language. Narrator Stephen Caffrey projects a consistent connection with the author's views and dedication to his subject. It takes several chapters for the philosophical musings to coalesce around a focus, but once they... Read More

This audiobook tells the story of the 1970 legal action that first attempted to desegregate Detroit's schools. Subtitled "Detroit, the Supreme Court and the Battle for Racial Justice in the North," it provides the scope and implications of this significant event, as well as its historical context. Janina Edwards narrates in a compelling tone, a vivid style, and a clear sense of... Read More

A progressive podcaster and well-known YouTube host, Pakman narrates in a clear tone, crisp voice, and engaging style. His delivery is professional and persuasive. And he has a lot to share about politics, media, and education. He lambastes the GOP for abandoning policies and principles and settling for cultural tropes and a cult of personality. He argues that the left needs to... Read More

Karen Hao narrates her blockbuster audiobook about OpenAI with the immediacy of a boots-on-the-ground journalist reporting on an ongoing global crisis. Hao spent seven years researching the company and its charismatic founder, Sam Altman, and she's concerned about the lack of moral oversight, the expense, the exploitative labor practices, and Altman's tendency to tell his... Read More

With wonder and reverence, Aven Shore narrates this exuberant audiobook about the abundance of queerness in nature. As a child, Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian found a sense of belonging in the woods and swamps of her Hudson Valley home and saw her queerness reflected in the lives of snakes, turtles, fungi, and other creatures. In this poignant memoir of queer and scientific... Read More

Fred Sanders narrates clearly, does accents credibly, shares data faithfully, and tells stories with a fine tone and tempo. Weisman's science-driven audiobook ranges around the world to find individuals who are working on innovative projects aimed at saving species and habitats to mitigate climate change. Weisman profiles individuals who are making a difference. They include... Read More

British nature writer Macfarlane travels to Ecuador, India, and Quebec, Canada, to affirmatively answer the question that the title poses. He explores, explains, and experiences the dark fate of some urban rivers, as well as the grandeur of unspoiled waterways. The Cambridge Fellow's British accent gives the text a kind of authority. He narrates in a poetic enrapt style,... Read More

Multilevel marketing companies such as Mary Kay and Amway promise the freedom, security, and status of being your own boss but seldom deliver on those promises. This gripping audiobook reveals the industry's misleading recruitment practices, financial tricks, and cunning social manipulation. Nikki Massoud narrates with documentary seriousness that resonates with every personal... Read More

Dion Graham takes listeners to New York City to recount the 1983 killing of a Black man by transit cops and its aftermath. Michael Stewart was a promising young artist and model who was part of the East Village art scene; his death galvanized the community. Author Elon Green's leggy story encompasses the sensational (the removal of Stewart's eyeballs during autopsy) and the... Read More

Delivering these essays with a sense of urgency and passion, narrator Karen Chilton is excellent in this powerful audiobook. It opens with the essay "That Day in January," about the January 6th insurrection, and what follows is a perfect mix of history lessons, personal stories, and social commentary. No topic is off-limits as author Jeffers shares vulnerable stories and... Read More

William DeMeritt's commanding performance is the perfect complement to Kevin Sack's tenth anniversary tribute to the 9 slaughtered members of Charleston's Mother Emanuel AME Church. This work is also a tribute to the rich and inspiring story of the Black church in America--a story laden with hope and hardship. Sack focuses mainly on the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME),... Read More

This homespun audiobook mixes memories and recipes. Golden Voice narrator Cassandra Campbell brings her talent for storytelling, ease with Italian words, and melodious intonation to this fun and fascinating listen. At Enoteca Maria restaurant on Staten Island, New York's least celebrated borough, eight Italian grandmothers, nonne, rotate their services as chef.... Read More

No one is better than Sir David Attenborough at communicating authentic awe and wonder at discoveries in the natural world. So it's no surprise that this audiobook on ocean ecosystems is an intimate and wildly informative joy ride into the sea. Attenborough, at age 99, reflects on his iconic career, including the horrific declines and astonishing recoveries he's witnessed over... Read More

Bonnie Tsui is clearly fascinated by how our muscles work and why we should use them. Her performance is appealing--full of joy and heart. She reels us in with her appreciation for both muscles and people. Tsui profiles the first woman to lift Scotland's massive Dinnie Stones and a champion high school runner who runs to honor his great-grandfather, who ran 50 miles to escape a... Read More

Narrated by the versatile Will Damron, this informative audiobook explores Sam Altman's key role in developing artificial intelligence and co-founding OpenAI, the company that created ChatGPT. Like many tech visionaries, Altman was a precocious student who left college (Stanford) to create his first start-up, a location-based mobile app called Loopt. Narrator Damron keeps the... Read More

Always comfortable behind the mic, coauthor and CNN journalist Jake Tapper is a natural choice to narrate his pointed rebuke of the Biden administration's disastrous end. Tapper--who moderated the infamous Biden-Trump debate during the 2024 campaign--has an animated delivery style that is mostly unadorned. There's one exception, however: When reading direct quotes, he mimics... Read More

Alexis Madrigal narrates this audiobook about Oakland, California, confidently and enthusiastically. The journalist sounds genuinely interested in constructing the city's history and cultural touchstones. Madrigal has created a three-ring circus of ideas. First, he examines the Pacific Circuit, a network of "container cities" that historically established "trade routes and... Read More

This history of Black baseball runs a chronological course from the mid-19th century to the present day. It's narrated by a cast led by JD Jackson, whose calming tone fits well. Occasionally, he changes his voice when quoting someone--always keeping within the character. The audiobook includes passages delivered by two other narrators--a good choice, since these sidebars are... Read More

Narrator Charles Armstrong's brisk, elegant dissection of the British art market since WWII is endlessly pleasing to the ear, even when the mind wanders. This audiobook may be of limited interest since it's most likely too detailed and arcane for many listeners. One learns a great deal about the business and culture of art dealing in general and the London market's key... Read More

Runner Ben Ratliff performs with the rhythm of a musician. He riffs and scats with short phrases and melodious intonation. His narration is easy to listen to, and it can wash over you like music. But this is the opposite of Ratliff's intent--he doesn't use music to improve his running experience. Instead, he runs to listen to music with more focus and intention--to "run the... Read More

This audiobook dives into the details of managing a baseball team, examining not only some managers of a couple of generations ago, but also today's skippers. Miller's discussion of the evolution of the game is all about analytics, and narrator Bob Souer drives home that point with his clear, slightly deep voice. He meets the topic head-on--like a fastball whizzing toward the... Read More

Psychologist William von Hippel tackles the human dilemma of wanting to feel free and accepted simultaneously. Josh Bloomberg's narration helps listeners understand that balancing these two desires, instead of choosing one over the other, is the key to happiness. Using a strong and reassuring approach, Bloomberg smoothly explains the friction humans feel between connection and... Read More

To push back against the stereotype that all people on the autism spectrum are cisgender white men, editors Clem Bastow and Jo Case have brought together 25 women and gender-diverse autistic writers. They delve into their lived experiences, which include finding passions, recovering from eating disorders, experimenting with sexual expression, and exploring gender identity. An... Read More

Golden Voice Dion Graham brings clarity and compassion to Goldstone's heartbreaking exposé of the housing issues faced by Atlanta's working poor. Graham's warm voice and understated delivery illuminate the suffering of families who work hard, often at more than one job, and yet cannot afford the escalating rent in the third- fastest-growing metropolitan area in the U.S. The... Read More

Taylor Swift's public persona is as deeply scrutinized as her music. Here, Candace Joice delivers the author's examination of the former. While Swift is a prolific songwriter and a dynamic performer, this audiobook is more interested in the strategies behind her career moves. Ample attention is given to key business decisions that have made Swift so successful--among them, her... Read More

Anyone who's ever loved a dog will be engaged by this winning production. Author Friedman, aka The Dogist, known for his "dog on the street" photos of dogs in New York City and around the world, is a warm and charming narrator of his own work. Friedman explores the cultural and sociological history of humans and dogs, and listeners learn about how he became The Dogist. He... Read More

Actor and Audubon Society Board Director Lili Taylor's quick and breathy initial delivery settles into a gentle, engaged exploration of the world of birding and its profound influence on her life. Her awareness of the natural world shifted during an emotional sabbatical, which began her journey. She began paying closer daily attention and taking "awe walks" through cityscapes... Read More

This engrossing audiobook describing the post-WWII trash trade will transform every listeners' attitude toward waste. Narrator Greg Lockett's fast and focused delivery matches the author's vivid descriptions of the communities that serve as dumping grounds for wealthier nations' radioactive waste, toxic and banned chemicals, trash, and "recycled" plastic. The author, who... Read More

Despite its off-putting title, this audiobook is worth listening to. Golden Voice Kevin R. Free delivers the urgent tone, informative style, and crisp pacing of this eye-opening work. Free gets Grunwald's sometimes snarky tone--for example, when the author shares his tasting notes on fake meat and other engineered foods. Free also embraces the factual reporting. The text is at... Read More

Think the federal civil service is filled with pencil-pushing drones? This collection of essays--curated by Michael Lewis and narrated by their authors--will quickly disabuse you of that notion. Casey Cep uses a journalistic tone that, nonetheless, conveys her genuine admiration for a remarkable Veterans Affairs employee who has devoted his life to honoring fallen soldiers. For... Read More