New Reviews: Contemporary Culture

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

Cassandra Campbell gives a crisp and consistently powerful delivery of this deep dive into the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. One of the deadliest recent mass casualty events on U.S. soil is given a detailed examination. Based on her research and interviews, Roberts posits that the official federal story of just four perpetrators-- leading to the execution of Timothy McVeigh, the... 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

Gabra Zackman's performance effectively demonstrates a kind of narration multitasking. In one way, she's conveying a diabolical true-crime mystery, complete with myriad details and dead ends. In Los Angeles, the mysterious death of a wealthy couple in an apparent car accident appears to be suspicious. Zackman also captures the human need for connection. A group of women,... Read More

This audiobook sheds light on the hard work of the many scientists who accurately track and predict the weather. The audio production's bright spot is narrator Keith Brown, who has a pleasant and authoritative vocal style and wonderful pacing. Otherwise, the audiobook is often tedious due to a lack of vivid narrative bringing the scientists and their work to life. The chapters... 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

Susan Dominus narrates her fascinating audiobook about the complexities of sibling dynamics with straightforward authority. Listeners who find themselves pondering assertions on the characteristics of "the middle child" or the leadership acumen of "the oldest daughter" should find this listening experience engaging. Dominus guides listeners through extensive research on... Read More

Dan John Miller's no-nonsense delivery is fitting for this explosive exposé of U.S. Special Forces units. Harp's audiobook paints a dire picture of power abuses deeply ingrained in the military. Listeners who are familiar with Delta Force or Seal Team 6 are likely to find the reporting here alarming. The title refers to a system of funneling opiates and other drugs onto... Read More

Sophie Gilbert provides an informed yet approachable delivery of her research on pop culture and how misogyny framed the narrative of commercial feminine empowerment. Listeners who came of age during the late 1990s through the 2000s, or were plugged into the popular cultural moments then, may have vivid memories of Britney Spears at the Video Music Awards, Kim Kardashian on... Read More

Samin Nosrat's warm and encouraging voice guides listeners through various kitchen adventures in these selections from her cookbook GOOD THINGS. The author of SALT FAT ACID HEAT and star of the Netflix series reflects on her struggles with depression and how she cooks now, shares recipes for "small good things" like Olive Oil Fried Bread, and expounds on the joys of eating with... Read More

Journalist Amy Larocca narrates with quick pacing that works well with this fast-moving kaleidoscope of observations and insights about today's self-care craze. Her performance has a street-smart quality that's not inappropriate, given the aggressive marketing and snake-oil claims proffered by today's health and beauty marketers. The pervasiveness of ads, images, and expert... Read More

In this audiobook, Kate Marvel describes her work in the field of climate science. Courtney Patterson's intelligent, well-developed narration sets the tone for the author's predictions about the world the next generation will encounter--as forecast by predictive scientific models. Patterson's edifying and confident style is an apt complement to the author's accounts of the... Read More

Elisabeth Rodgers narrates with tasteful objectivity yet infuses this engrossing audiobook with all the emotion it deserves. Sounding more like a novel than a true-crime story, this account of the lives of four University of Idaho students before their horrific murders reveals a group of popular young people who enjoyed partying, were part of loving families, and were naïve... Read More

A mind-control expert examines the coercive and subtle ways people can be made to adopt distorted thinking that works against their own interests and free will. Describing examples like the brainwashing of Korean War prisoners and cults that distort personalities, Rebecca Lemov explains that these corruptions of self-interest and autonomy almost always follow a pattern of... Read More

Narrator Mark Deakins provides appropriately measured enthusiasm for Mark Synnott's account of sailing his 47-foot boat, POLAR SUN, through the Northwest Passage. Synnott funds his plans by selling the idea of searching for nineteenth-century explorer Sir John Franklin's tomb to National Geographic, among others. The author alternates between his own nautical adventure and the... Read More

Author Pria Anand narrates her thought-provoking examination of the wonders and vulnerabilities of the human brain. In the process she blends memoir, history, folklore, and medical facts. Anand lacks the vocal resonance and nuances of a voice-over professional, but she speaks clearly and with conviction. Her narration is both accessible and relatable. Listeners will learn a... 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

Imagine the sound of a faceless voice in a dark interrogation room. That's the image one can't help but hear when listening to Stefan Rudnicki's narration of this audiobook. It's a fitting way to experience the story of the CIA since 9/11. Golden Voice Rudnicki takes Weiner's impeccable research and storytelling to near cinematic heights as he shares victories and losses by... 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

What makes a killer kill--nature or nurture? Could it be something else entirely? Narrator Patty Nieman guides listeners through this expansive exploration of one theory behind the rise of the American serial killer in the 1970s-80s. The author, herself raised in Washington State during this time period, methodically builds the case that the proliferation of American serial... Read More

British narrator Catherine Bailey brings listeners neuroscientist Gina Rippon's exploration of the calamitous underdiagnosis of autism in girls and women. Braiding together the history of autism research, accounts of copious experiments, and the voices of autistic girls and women themselves, Rippon makes a powerful case that autism research has ignored its distinctive... 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

The author's gentle speaking voice and relaxed pacing are perfect vehicles for the wisdom and altruistic intentions of this exceptional audiobook. With fascinating research findings, moving stories, and impressive insights, the Stanford professor describes small interventions that can help people feel more worthwhile, productive, and supported by their communities. The kindness... Read More

Bryan Dick's Northern English accent and meditative tone are true to the spirit of James Rebanks's experience of living on an isolated Norwegian island, where he learns about the work of the "duck women." Rebanks accompanies a woman named Anna during her last summer there as she works to protect the nesting eiders from predators and then, after the birds depart, gathers and... Read More

A group of fine narrators present this historical celebration of Black bookstores in America. Joy and respect imbue the voices as they bring to life the history, activism, and community building that Black bookstores have provided for generations. The narrators are vibrant as they deliver accounts of more than 50 bookstores and their cultural and historical impact. Interspersed... Read More

Author/narrator Kelsey Timmerman addresses the dangers of corporate farming: how planting large tracts of nothing but corn and soybeans necessitates using damaging chemicals to yield desired profits at the cost of polluting the soil and water. Timmerman's thesis is as timely as it is terrifying, and he's a popular speaker on the topic. However, he struggles when narrating due... Read More

Narrated by Mary Roach, this audiobook explores the human body and the challenges that arise when organs, tissues, and limbs fail. Roach is curious and enthusiastic as she meets with physicians, researchers, and people in need of replacement or repair of crucial body parts. Her narration is funny and captivating, reminiscent of a great conversation at a dinner party. Roach... 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

Curiosity-driven research has led to discoveries in a number of unexpected areas, such as landmine detecting rats, fish cannons using pneumatic technology to transport fish, mantis shrimp "fight clubs," and duck sex. Narrator Eileen Stevens strikes an upbeat and engaged tone as she chronicles these and other experiments that have led to scientific progress both in the area of... Read More

For anyone contemplating life off the grid--specifically, on a farm--this audiobook offers lessons both moving and unexpected. Cassidy Brown's narration of a family's move to Vermont's Green Mountains is engaging, earnest, and spot-on. One cannot help but be moved by Brown's delivery of the true story of the Whybrow family's life, love, and hardship as they shepherd sheep and,... Read More

This examination of the American prairie is given a solid narration by George Newbern. The authors, both journalists living in Minnesota, view this marvel of a landscape as an ecosystem that includes the various competing human groups who live there. While Hage and Marcotty go into great detail regarding the problem of the prairie's disappearance, their solution--the redemption... Read More

Subtitled "The Promise of a Forgotten Natural Resource," this intriguing audiobook explores the significance and potential of shade from the sun. Shawn Jain narrates clearly with an engaging style at a good pace, and he captures the author's thoughtful tone. This fascinating work reports on science, uses cultural history, and examines entrepreneurial activism. Shade is not the... Read More

A trio of narrators lend their considerable talents to this nonfiction work about the eminent 1960s London psychiatrist Dr. William Sargant, voiced by Richard Armitage. Sargant founded The Sleep Room, where horrific methods were used on young women in the name of science. Sargant was, by all accounts, an egotistical predator, and Armitage's smooth, level narration displays that... Read More

Author Caro De Robertis gives an emotionally attuned performance of this oral history collection focused on the experiences of trans, genderqueer, two-spirit, and nonbinary elders of color. Caro De Robertis gives care and attention to individuals as they candidly discuss moments and events in their lives that highlight their joy, compassion, anguish, and resilience. The time De... Read More

Author Julian Treasure narrates his audiobook on sound with a deep reverence for the topic. Fans of Carl Sagan's ability to make scientific discussions approachable will enjoy Treasure's work. Sound encompasses so much of our natural and human environments--from music and storytelling to the way we design our work and living spaces. Treasure's fascinating research delves into... Read More

While it may have taken the better part of a century, finally women have taken center stage in the comic book industry. But it wasn't easy. This wonderful, enlightening work recounts the women's fight to become part of the superhero rebirth at Marvel Comics, which started in 1961 with the first issue of the Fantastic Four. The audiobook is a joy to hear as an ensemble of... Read More

Yon, both narrator and author of this lively exploration of the human mind, is an excellent guide to this important topic. A psychologist and neuroscientist with a delightful English accent, he explains why what we observe is built on the "predictive processing" of our perceptions. In other words, our brain often perceives what it expects to encounter, even when it conflicts... Read More

Eugenia Cheng's consideration of equivalence and equality in math and in life could be applied to the identity she presents in this audiobook: Her narration is always easy to listen to, but WHAT she narrates is not; the two are not equal. Her voice and English accent are likable; her manner is warm, friendly, and engaging; her performance is clear and gently musical. Even the... 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

Those who love the much-lauded work of Jane Austen need look no further than this audiobook for guidance and companionship. Charles Armstrong is a confident narrator of this exhaustive examination of Austen's novels. His voice is pleasant, and he has an appropriately dignified accent. The pace can build until it gets quite fast, and the tone approaches sounding robotic when... Read More