AMERICA, 1908 The Dawn of Flight, the Race to the Pole, the Invention of the Model T, and the Making of a Modern Nation

The year 1908 saw the “dawn of flight, the race to the Pole, the invention of the Model T, and the making of a modern nation.” One could learn all that by reading the newspapers and magazines of the time, but not with the pleasure of hearing this audiobook. Narrator James Jenner transforms the odyssey of events from every aspect of American life into a coherent history that’s informative and diverting. His avuncular voice and restrained pace give his sandy delivery a nostalgic charm unusual for nonfiction. In a discussion filled with flashbacks and flash-forwards, Jenner’s narrative technique makes the interwoven accounts of successes and scandals pique one’s interest like a novel yet remain anecdotal enough for the audio reader who must listen in short bursts. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2008]