Hearing essays and reflections from Congressman John Lewis's 2012 book gives one a sense of the old and the new. Keith David's warm baritone projects great equanimity and power--which are exactly what inform Lewis's recollections. Lewis was one of the original Freedom Riders in 1960 and has continued as a Civil Rights leader and advocate throughout his life, which includes 17... Read More

Narrator Oliver Wyman has the difficult task of engaging listeners with this audiobook's grim tidings on climate change and pending social collapse. The sobering introduction, read by the author, renowned environmentalist Bill McKibben, warns listeners not to expect unwarranted hope. While McKibben is cautiously optimistic about renewable energy and the power of the people,... Read More

There is an appropriate gravitas to James Naughton's fine performance of this ambitious audiobook. Lopez's far-reaching self-proclaimed "autobiographical reflection" crosses broad swaths of time and boldly travels the world, and Naughton provides excellent navigation throughout this expansive recording. His patient, capable voice steers the listener through shifts not only in... Read More

Narrator L.J. Ganser's conversational delivery perfectly matches author-primatologist de Waal's easygoing style, increasing the accessibility of this examination of animal behavior in captivity and in the wild. Humans have long thought of themselves as having a monopoly on complex emotions such as empathy, delayed gratification, long-term memory, and friendship. But after... Read More

What if your dream to open a fine dining restaurant came true and then died as it closed three months later? Kwame Onwuachi is memoirist turned narrator. His style is characterized by an unblinking honesty through which he reveals the story behind one of the most talked about new restaurants in Washington, DC. Onwuachi's indignation at the restaurant industry, and chronicle of... Read More

The mosaic of American experiences is expertly captured by an ensemble reading of Pulitzer Prize winner Lalami's superb new novel. Moroccan-American Nora is summoned to her family home in the California desert after the hit-and-run death of her beloved father. The tragedy resonates among a circle of people: Nora; her mother and sister; Efrain, an illegal Mexican immigrant who... Read More

Will Damron narrates James Beard Award-winning food journalist Matt Goulding's audiobook with energy, poise, and precision. The decision to emulate rather than imitate the myriad Italian accents adds to the enjoyment of this audiobook. All the Italians speak with the same intonation. This choice lets the author's American voice ring true and focuses on the essence of the work:... Read More

A star performance by Kyf Brewer and Orlagh Cassidy should push this audiobook to the top of every thriller fan's must list. As a result of being hit on the head, Amos Decker, portrayed by Brewer, can remember everything that ever happened to him, complete with emotions. Brewer owns Decker's intensity. He gives the character great focus and a steely resolve to find out whether... Read More

Narrator Steven Weber is the perfect match for this thriller, which blends plot twists and suspense in equal portions. Simon and Ingrid Greene, a successful and apparently perfect couple, find their lives falling apart in the most dramatic of ways when their drug-addicted daughter disappears after dropping out of college. With seeming ease, Weber voices the cast of characters,... Read More

Like her lively writing, Ruth Reichl's performance is inviting and engaging. Reichl's latest memoir is a juicy account of her decade as the editor in chief of the fabled culinary magazine GOURMET. Her fans will be happy to discover that, once again, she narrates her own work, and new listeners are in for a treat. Her clear affection for her co-workers, her passion for food and... Read More

Narrator Jim Frangione keeps the vampire magic going with Murhder's story. Estranged from the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Murhder's vain attempts to rescue vampires from human experimentation fall short until he meets Dr. Sarah Watkins, who has the same goal. Amid a large cast of characters and shifting storylines, Frangione focuses attention on Murhder as an empathetic hero who... Read More

Narrator David Colacci's rambling pace is just right for the 28th mystery featuring the ever-philosophical Commissario Guido Brunetti. This time the Venetian police detective reluctantly agrees to investigate an old family friend, the wealthy and gay Gonzalo, who is about to adopt a much younger man as his heir. When Gonzalo dies and his close female friend is then murdered,... Read More

Two narrators deliver the dual perspectives of Nadya, a Kalyazi cleric capable of casting spells, and Serefin, high prince of Tranavia and an immensely powerful blood mage. Tristan Morris captures Serefin's lighthearted charm and Russian-inspired accent, but Natasha Soudek steals the show as Nadya. While running from Serefin and his soldiers, Nadya reluctantly allies herself... Read More

Narrator Suzanne Toren's mature pitch and thoughtful phrasing are perfect for this memoir-like review of the various ways women transition into their later years. Her sensitive interpretation of this nuanced writing will make many listeners feel like they are being invited into the author's life as they hear her intelligent observations and advice. The 71-year-old psychology... Read More