John Hopkins’s rich, dramatic voice suits Max Hastings’s account of the 13 days of the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the world was on the verge of a nuclear catastrophe. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Hopkins narrates this dramatic and crucial moment in history, now more than 60 years ago. Here is an audiobook for those who relish detailed and dramatic history, those who want to know how we got to where we are today with the Russians, or those who simply appreciate cliff-hanger situations narrated with exceptional skill.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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Christine Lakin’s enthusiasm and authenticity lure the listener into Leila Philip’s world of beavers. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this homage to the ingenuity and group intelligence of these remarkable dam builders and water capturers. Philip casts a wide net as she delves into the cultural significance of beavers to some North American tribes, stresses how vitally important beaver dams are to clean water, and accompanies trappers, goes to fur auctions, and skins a pelt herself. Lakin captures the respect and empathy Philip has for trappers, traders, and environmentalists alike, and portrays the lighter moments as well.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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Anand Giridharadas narrates his work in a serious tone and journalistic style. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss an audiobook that tells stories of how committed activists use persuasion in organizing to attract supporters. He reads with a storyteller’s sense as he introduces the Internet Research Agency—a Russian troll farm that won both liberal and conservative Americans’ hearts and minds online. He also delves into deep canvassing, a process that encourages like-mindedness as a basis for connection and political action.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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A marvelous narration brings the comedian, activist, vegetarian, and civil rights leader Dick Gregory vividly to life. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Joe Morton’s narration is a marvel of emulation, impersonation, and soulful rejuvenation of Gregory. Along with having mastered Gregory’s unique style, he captures his humility, candor, and sense of fun. Famous at an early age, Gregory was a bestselling author, a nightclub comic, and a progressive who went on hunger strikes to protest a number of issues, including the Vietnam War. This splendid collection merits a wide audience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss a detailed examination of disability rights in America since the Americans with Disabilities Act passed in 1990. Ben Mattlin’s work details the history of the disability rights movement and how it has progressed, and Anthony Michael Lopez narrates with a vibrant performance. Each chapter captures the listener’s attention and clearly lays out the information. Lopez skillfully differentiates between general text, excerpts from documents, and quotes, helping listeners easily follow along.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Beacon Press.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's The MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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Vera Chok narrates An Yu’s eerie novel full of dreams of talking mushrooms and heartbroken musicians. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss the story of Song Yan, who lives with her husband and mother-in-law in a Beijing apartment. Everyone tells her she should be happy, but she exists in a fog of loneliness. The mystery of the novel begins when a package of unusual mushrooms arrives at her home. Now Song must find out who sent them—which leads to the discovery of the home of a famous musician who went missing many years ago. Chok’s performance skillfully evokes the rising gloom and desperation that Song experiences throughout the story.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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Bushra Rehman performs her novel of a queer Pakistani American girl coming of age and deciding what she wants to do with her life. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this novel, a working class story of growing up as a girl in Queens. Razia Mirza is the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, and while her parents are very traditional, Razia begins to want something different from their expectations of marriage and children. Author Rehman brings complexity to her performance, and as Razia begins rebelling in small ways, Rehman adds a layer of emotional intimacy.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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Host Jo Reed spoke with author Brad Meltzer and Golden Voice narrator Scott Brick about their longtime collaboration, and about Meltzer’s new nonfiction audiobook, THE NAZI CONSPIRACY, out today. Both truly appreciate the other’s work—listen to their conversation about their many years of working together on audiobooks, the research that goes into the writing and narration of Meltzer’s works, and the differences between narrating action-packed thrillers and history audiobooks that uncover shocking stories for listeners.

Read our review of THE NAZI CONSPIRACY on our website, where you can also discover many more audiobook reviews of Brad Meltzer’s and Scott Brick’s collaborations over the years.

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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Meg Howrey performs her latest novel, a captivating story set against the backdrop of 1980s and ’90s Manhattan. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Kendra Winchester discuss the intense atmosphere that Howrey creates. Carlisle grew up with her mother in the midwest, spending summers with her father, Robert, and his partner, James. As an adult, Carlisle is now estranged from her father and losing herself in her work as a choreographer. Howrey’s narration creates an emotionally intimate listening experience as Carlisle receives a call from James that her father is on his deathbed. Listeners will hang on every word, enraptured until the very last sentence. 

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over. 

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Adam Lazarre-White performs S.A. Cosby’s reissued debut novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Kendra Winchester discuss this story of Nathan Waymaker, a former law enforcement officer now working at his cousin’s funeral home. When a local pastor dies under mysterious circumstances, Waymaker is approached to look into the pastor’s death. Lazarre-White’s subtle performance is a master class in narrating an audiobook from a single viewpoint.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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