THINGS THAT MATTER Three Decades of Passions, Pastimes and Politics

When Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer narrates excerpts from his body of work, there's a hint of wryness and self-deprecating humor. The predictable complaints about naïve liberals are tempered by his gentle voice. The unexpected columns--an ode to a TSA objector, the joys of chess, and a defense of inebriated astronauts--are lively and entertaining. Sadly, Krauthammer turns his audiobook over to George Newbern before the halfway mark. Newbern isn't bad, but there's something missing, especially in discussions of the ethics of euthanasia and stem-cell research. Krauthammer's medical and psychological background infuses his work, so these topics would have benefited from the author's narration. Anyone looking for conservative commentary will want to listen. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2014]