Download Popular Titles Audiobooks in History, 20th Century

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Title: A Brief History of the Cold War

Subtitle: Brief Histories

Author: John Hughes-Wilso

Narrator: Philip Franks

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-14-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 29 votes

Genres: History, 20th Century

Publisher's Summary:

The Cold War was an undeclared war, fought silently and carefully between ideological opponents armed with the most fearsome weapons mankind has ever seen. Hughes-Wilson takes a cool look at this war, from the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 to the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the dissolution of the USSR thereafter.

He examines the suspicion and paranoia -- on both sides -- of the greatest stand-off in history. Written by one of Britain's leading, popular, military historians, this book makes accessible for the first time one of the key periods to shape our world.

Members Reviews:

An informative listen

For a casual learner of history, I found this an easy to follow and easy to understand history of the Cold War.

My only criticism is that it is not strictly chronological in order, and when presenting certain aspects of the war jumped between multiple decades within minutes, and assumes the reader remembers the names and positions of key people, which if listened over the space of a few weeks is not possible for most listeners.

I would recommend this to most listeners

A woefully unbalanced and haughty view

What did you like best about A Brief History of the Cold War? What did you like least?

The fact that it is one of the few books that focus on the entire span of the Cold War is definitely it's force.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The fact that it covers the entire Cold War period is the sole claim to fame for this book. The fact that it is one-sided, biased and written in an incredibly condescending and arrogant tone detracts a lot from the merits.

What does Philip Franks bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

He does a good work of reading the book.

Did A Brief History of the Cold War inspire you to do anything?

It inspired me to at least try to be neutral when I, myself, try to make a narrative about a conflict. Also it inspired me not to view the world through a lense of haughty arrogance.

Good overview of USA v USSR Cold War.

Very good overview of Cold War between USSR and the USA, and the UK. Only a little on Communist China though, more focused on former Soviet Union, with Eastern Europe v. the US and NATO. Definitely worth the time if you like the subject of the Cold War.

A bit one sided

I got the impression that the author was very pro American and his take reflected that.

A plus

A very insightful overview of the Cold War that keeps the reader intrigued. Exactly what the title suggests.

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Title: Story of a Death Foretold

Subtitle: The Coup against Salvador Allende, 11 September 1973

Author: Oscar Guardiola-Rivera

Narrator: Danny Pardo

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 9 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-14-14

Publisher: Audible Studios for Bloomsbury

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: History, 20th Century

Publisher's Summary:

On the fortieth anniversary of revolution and rebellion in Chile, a searching history of the rise and fall of the worlds first and only democratically elected Marxist president.

On September 11, 1973, President Salvador Allende of Chile was deposed in a violent coup led by General Augusto Pinochet. The coup had been in the works for months, even years. Shortly after giving a farewell speech to his people, Allende died of gunshot wounds - whether inflicted by his own hand or an assassins remains uncertain. Pinochet ruled Chile for a quarter century, but the short rise and bloody fall of Allende is still the subject of fierce historical debate.

In a world in the throes of the Cold War, the seeming backwater of Chile became the host of a very hot conflict - with Henry Kissinger and the Western establishment aligned with Pinochets insurgents against a socialist coalition of students, workers, Pablo Neruda, and folk singers, led by the brilliant ideologue Allende. Revolution and counterrevolution played out in graphic detail, moving the small South American nation to the center of the world stage in the dramatic autumn of 1973. Now the rising young scholar Oscar Guardiola-Rivera gives us a tour de force account of a historical crossroads, tracing the destiny of democracy, and the paths of power, money, and violence that still shadow Latin America and its relations with the United States.

Members Reviews:

Fascinating Look at a Historical Tragedy

What did you love best about Story of a Death Foretold?

The author does not just relate the events around the Presidency and overthrow of Salvador Allende, but engages with fascinating historical and philosophic questions. These include Allende's infamous decision not to provide arms to the workers in the last months of his presidency, and questions about what we mean by democracy and human rights. All the major events are covered here as well. The role of the U.S., Operation Condor, the "economic miracle" under Pinochet, the battle within the Chilean military that preceded the coup, and a detailed overview of Allende's policies. Other reviewers have red baited this book by calling it Marxist. I'm not really sure what the reviewer meant by that. The author is sympathetic to Allende. If you believe the coup against Allende was a good thing this is probably not the book for you unless you want to hear what the other side has to say. I'm very glad this fascinating and intelligent book is available on Audible.

What other book might you compare Story of a Death Foretold to and why?

The author refers to a lot of films in the text. Patricio Guzman's documentary The Battle of Chile would be an excellent companion to this book. This film provides not just the faces and voices of the major characters in the book, but communicates a sense of how important Allende's presidency was, and the fierce obstacles it faced.

What aspect of Danny Pardos performance would you have changed?

For a book with such sophisticated ideas I would have chosen a narrator with a less heavy Latin American accent.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

It's already been made in a sense.

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Title: Tomorrow-Land

Subtitle: The 1964 - 65 World's Fair and the Transformation of America

Author: Joseph Tirella

Narrator: Joe Barrett

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-07-14

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 30 votes

Genres: History, 20th Century

Publisher's Summary:

Motivated by the idea of turning Flushing Meadows, literally a land of refuse, into his greatest public park, Robert Moses - New York's "master builder" - brought the World's Fair to the Big Apple for 1964 and '65. Though considered a financial failure, the 1964/65 World's Fair was a sixties flash point in areas from politics to pop culture, technology to urban planning, and civil rights to violent crime.

In an epic narrative, Tomorrow-Land shows the astonishing pivots taken by New York City, America, and the world during the fair. It fetched Disney's empire from California and Michelangelo's La Pietà from Europe and displayed flickers of innovation from Ford, GM, and NASA - from undersea and outer-space colonies to personal computers. It housed the controversial work of Warhol(until Governor Rockefeller had it removed) and lured Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters. Meanwhile, the fair - and its house band, Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians - sat in the musical shadows of the Beatles and Bob Dylan, who changed rock and roll right there in Queens. And as southern civil rights efforts turned deadly, and violent protests also occurred in and around the fair, Harlem-based Malcolm X predicted a frightening future of inner-city racial conflict.

World's Fairs have always been collisions of eras, cultures, nations, technologies, ideas, and art. But the trippy, turbulent, Technicolor, Disney, corporate, and often misguided 1964/65 fair was truly exceptional.

Members Reviews:

So what happened at the World's Fair?

Tirella was so obsessed in creating a cultural atmosphere that was in parallel to the World's Fair, that he almost forgot to write about the World's Fair. He goes into excruciating detail about Dylan, the Beatles, and Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner, that it dwarfed the details of the Fair, except for what Robert Moses had for breakfast on any given morning. Having grown up during that time, and being the first kid on my block to appreciate Dylan, my criticism is not of the counter culture. But what Tirella misses, is that the top TV shows of those included Bonanza, the Beverly Hillbillies, Gomer Pyle, and Peyton Place. That the counter culture was limited and that were other cultural and historical events and thoughts that were missed as were details of the Fair.

I had a particular interest in the Spain Pavilion. And although periodicals and many proclaimed it to be one of the highlights of the Fair, it gets short shrift and Tirella overlooks the irony of the exhibition and its small but lasting affect on America, including the introduction of sangria.

I recommend this book for its skill in capturing the feel ...

As a Southern Boy of 12 who attended the World's Fair in 1965 on a second trip to New York City with my father, I recommend this book for its skill in capturing the feel of the inspirational if corporate utopian bubble of the Fair as a holdout from the shifting culture outside its gates.

It also is recommended for its memorable sketches of key players in this pivotal two years of American history - Robert Moses, NYC Mayor Robert Wagner Jr., "Mississippi Burning," Ed Sullivan, The Beatles, Malcolm X, Andy Warhol, and Bob Dylan (the book cover is truthful packaging of its contents).

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Title: Horrie the War Dog

Subtitle: The Story of Australia's Most Famous Dog

Author: Roland Perry

Narrator: David Tredinnick

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-01-14

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: History, 20th Century

Publisher's Summary:

In the harsh Libyan desert in the middle of the second world war, Private Jim Moody, a signaller with the First Australian Machine Gun Battalion, found a starving puppy on a sand dune. Moody called the dog Horrie. Much more than a mascot, Horrie's exceptional hearing picked up the whine of enemy aircraft two minutes before his human counterparts and repeatedly saved the lives of the thousand-strong contingent.

When the war was finished and Horrie smuggled back home, quarantine officers pounced and demanded that the dog be put down, prompting a huge public outcry. Was Horrie, the gunner's hero, condemned to die or could Moody devise a scheme to save him. In the finest ANZAC tradition, Horrie the War Dog is a story of intrigue and illusion, and of sacrifice, courage and loyalty.

Critic Reviews:

Perry's work must be rated the first great read about the victories of the Australian cavalry in Arabia.' - Paul Ham, The Australian (for The Australian Light Horse)

Members Reviews:

G'Day Horrie!

Would you consider the audio edition of Horrie the War Dog to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print edition, so I don't know which is better. For myself, though, I am very auditory, so I like to hear a story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I would have to say Murchisen (spelling??). He is portrayed as this gruff, tough guy, but when he is around Horrie, he is mush. I love his devotion to Horrie and Horrie's growing devotion to him.

Have you listened to any of David Tredinnicks other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first time I have heard him and I absolutely LOVE his performance. I will definitely be listening to more from him.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

It is towards the end, so I won't spill too much of the beans, but when Horrie is back in Australia and is made a member of one of the veteran's groups.

Any additional comments?

For anyone who enjoys reading stories about the military and about animals, this is the perfect marriage of the two! This true story of Horrie and his hooman is full of adventure, suspense, laughter, and love, and really gives the listener/reader a sense of just how profoundly the presence of an animal, especially a dog, can affect the outlook of people who are experiencing difficult situations, like war. This is just such a fun story, and DAvid Tredinnick's narration is spot on!

horrie hero

What made the experience of listening to Horrie the War Dog the most enjoyable?

the mateship and the banding together of the men in conflict

What other book might you compare Horrie the War Dog to and why?

bill the bastard another good story of friends and animals in the war

Which scene was your favorite?

yes he has done his research well

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

nothing david tredinnick is a very good storyteller and make it interresting to listen too

More than a story about a dog

This was a rock solid book about company of Aussies and their faithful companion. While the story about the dog is key, the book could also stand on it's own as a story about the lives of the ordinary Commonwealth soldier during WWII.

Anyone interested in furthering their knowledge of the history concerning ordinary soldiers during this historic period should consider this work.

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Title: Moonshiners and Prohibitionists

Subtitle: The Battle over Alcohol in Southern Appalachia (New Directions in Southern History)

Author: Bruce E. Stewart

Narrator: Jim Tedder

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-09-13

Publisher: University Press Audiobooks

Ratings: 2.5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: History, 20th Century

Publisher's Summary:

Homemade liquor has played a prominent role in the Appalachian economy for nearly two centuries. The region endured profound transformations during the extreme prohibition movements of the nineteenth century, when the manufacturing and sale of alcohol - an integral part of daily life for many Appalachians - was banned.

In Moonshiners and Prohibitionists: The Battle over Alcohol in Southern Appalachia, Bruce E. Stewart chronicles the social tensions that accompanied the region's early transition from a rural to an urban-industrial economy. Stewart analyzes the dynamic relationship of the bootleggers and opponents of liquor sales in western North Carolina, as well as conflict driven by social and economic development that manifested in political discord. Stewart also explores the life of the moonshiner and the many myths that developed around hillbilly stereotypes.

A welcome addition to the New Directions in Southern History series, Moonshiners and Prohibitionists addresses major economic, social, and cultural questions that are essential to the understanding of Appalachian history.

Critic Reviews:

"This insightful audiobook is certain to serve as a model for future studies on the antiliquor movement." (The Journal of American History)

"Moonshiners and Prohibitionists is a much needed contribution to our understanding of the complex social, economic, religious, and cultural issues underlying the prohibition impulse that swept the South between 1880 and 1920." (Journal of Southern History)

"A fresh and insightful study that makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the Appalachian South, the antebellum and post-bellum temperance movements, and the wider South. This fascinating work will certainly generate lively discussions." (Journal of East Tennessee History)

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Title: The Accidental Victim

Subtitle: JFK, Lee Harvey Oswald, and the Real Target in Dallas

Author: James Reston, Jr.

Narrator: James Reston, Jr.

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-19-13

Publisher: James Reston, Jr.

Ratings: 2.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: History, 20th Century

Publisher's Summary:

Was the assassination of one of America's most beloved presidents an accident?

That is the shocking argument put forth by acclaimed historian James Reston, Jr. Based on years of research and interviews, this revelatory new book makes the case that Texas Governor John Connally, not President John F. Kennedy, was the intended target of Lee Harvey Oswald.

Oswald's motive was personal, not political. After he attempted to defect to the Soviet Union, his military discharge was changed from honorable to dishonorable. The proud ex-Marine protested directly to fellow Texan Connally, then Secretary of the Navy, and received a classic bureaucratic brush-off. From that day on, Oswald began nursing a deep, even murderous grudge.

Reston masterfully charts the path Oswald took toward that fated moment in Dallas, his hatred of the governor driving him to purchase a mail-order rifle, position himself in the Texas School Book Depository building, and attempt to settle his score with Connally.

There was no conspiracy.

There was Lee Harvey Oswald, a mail-order gun, and a missed shot.

Marshaling all the available evidence - some of it never before seen - Reston will change the way we understand this epochal event: In one of American history's most tragic ironies, President John F. Kennedy was as an accidental victim on November 22, 1963.

Members Reviews:

Take a pass

James Reston Jr has an interesting theory: that Oswald was trying to kill Governor John Connally rather than JFK. Why? Because as Secretary of the Navy, Connally played a role in having Oswald's discharge from the Marines reclassified as dishonorable, and then denying his appeal.

In other word, Kennedy was collateral damage.

It's certainly possible, but there's no clinching piece of evidence here, nothing that nails the case. Reston quotes plenty of evidence that Oswald had a grudge against Connally, but none that the grudge rose to the level of murderous rage. Reston doesn't help his case by his lack of clarity about the single-bullet theory. The theory is essential to his case - so why does he spend so much time focusing on Connally's own refusal to accept it?

The most interesting passage in the book, frankly, was about the jokes Oswald exchanged with George de Mohrenschildt, a Russian emigrant living in the Dallas area. Some of them were actually pretty funny. Who knew that Oswald had a sense of humor?

As an audiobook, there were some odd production choices that further detract from its effectiveness. The first was having Reston himself narrate it. He's not terrible, he's just not very good. (He seems to suffer from the delusion many authors have that their words alone are sufficient to produce the desired effect; no emphasis need be added.)

The producers also, oddly, started off with a list of chapter titles, spoken without preamble or explanation. Fortunately there are only 10 of them. And the audiobook ends with 20 minutes of spoken footnotes. I don't think I've ever heard that before. Sometimes footnotes can be effectively merged into the narration, but left to the end of the book? Not so good.

On the whole, I'd have to say take a pass on this one. If Reston's case were compelling, it would be worth overlooking the other flaws. But it isn't.

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Title: The Art of Betrayal

Subtitle: The Secret History of M16 - Life and Death in the British Secret Service

Author: Gordon Corera

Narrator: Graeme Malcolm

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-24-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 32 votes

Genres: History, 20th Century

Publisher's Summary:

From Berlin to the Congo, from Moscow to the back streets of London, these are the stories of the agents on the front lines of British intelligence. And the truth is often more remarkable than fiction.

MI6 has been cloaked in secrecy and shrouded in myth since it was created a hundred years ago. Our understanding of what it is to be a spy has been largely defined by the fictional worlds of Ian Fleming and John le Carré. Gordon Corera provides a unique and unprecedented insight into this secret world and the reality that lies behind the fiction. He tells the story of how the secret service has changed since the end of the Second World War and, by focusing on the people and the relationships that lie at the heart of espionage, illustrates the danger, the drama, the intrigue, and the moral ambiguities that come with working for British intelligence.

From the defining period of the early Cold War through to the modern day, MI6 has undergone a dramatic transformation from a gung-ho, amateurish organization to its modern, no less controversial, incarnation. Gordon Corera reveals the triumphs and disasters along the way. The grand dramas of the Cold War; the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall; the Cuban Missile Crisis; the September 11, 2001, attacks; and the Iraq War are the backdrops for the individual spies whose stories form the centerpiece of this narrative. And some of the individuals featured here, in turn, helped shape the course of those events. Corera draws on the first-hand accounts of those who have spied, lied, and in some cases nearly died in service of the state. They range from the spymasters to the agents they controlled to their sworn enemies. And the truth is often more remarkable than the fiction.

Editorial Reviews:

Most people's knowledge of the MI6 doesn't extend past a high-tech car chase and a martini. Behind the lore of James Bond, however, Britain's intelligence agency has a history that is just as remarkable and controversial. Performed expertly by veteran actor and narrator Graeme Malcolm, The Art of Betrayal is an in-depth and comprehensive look at Britain's MI6 from its initial beginnings as an amateurish boys club to the highly organized operation it is today. Gordon Corera, the BBC's security correspondent, has put together one of the most thorough and exciting examinations of Britain's secret service, where the real stories rival anything from the life of James Bond.

Members Reviews:

Good details but lacks thorough research

Pro: Really good coverage about Ms. Park's contribution to the fight and her achievements. Though at first seemed Gordy was simply towing the liberal BBC line. However, he qualifies her well as one of the greats based on facts and original research.

Cons: Gets Penkovsky affair false while miscalculating why the man betrayed his country. Rather than vanity, it was betrayal of him by USSR that led to his ultimate deception. His service to his country and connections were nullified because his father - whom he never knew - fought and died while serving in the White Army.

Simply put, Corera's lack of understanding regards to human aspect of spying really shows.

Perhaps his next book should be about India's love affair with the USSR and now Russia, as both countries are actively targeting U.K. and US via Cyber space.

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Title: Parkland

Author: Vincent Bugliosi

Narrator: Edward Herrmann

Format: Abridged

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-10-13

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 18 votes

Genres: History, 20th Century

Publisher's Summary:

Now a major motion picture! The exciting and definitive narrative of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963.

In Parkland (originally titled Four Days in November), author Vincent Bugliosi "has definitively explained the murder that recalibrated modern America" (Jim Newton, Los Angeles Times Book Review). Releasing this fall, the movie - starring Paul Giamatti, Zac Efron, Jacki Weaver, and Billy Bob Thornton - follows a group of individuals making split-second decisions after this incomprehensible event: the doctors and nurses at Parkland Hospital, the chief of the Dallas Secret Service, the cameraman who captured what has become the most examined film in history, the FBI agents who had gunman Lee Harvey Oswald within their grasp, and Vice President Lyndon Johnson who had to take control of the country at a moment's notice. Based on Vincent Bugliosi's Reclaiming History - Parkland is the story of that day.

Members Reviews:

Great Read

Felt like I was there. Didn't want it to end and still want to know more. Really captured the feelings of this event in history.

Fascinating detail of a well-known four days

I cannot imagine what the research had to have been in assembling this book's almost-too-good-to-be-credible detail of a 50-year-old event. The methodical reporting (sometimes minute-by-minute) provides the reader with an experience as though they were there which, to a degree, many of us were.

Edward Hermann will always be one of the best Audible artists, his recent passing a loss for so many fans. I seek out titles he reads, which is how I found this gem. He could read a phone book and I'd buy it.

Just the Facts, Ma'am

If you could sum up Parkland in three words, what would they be?

Thorough, Unambiguous, Fascinating

Who was your favorite character and why?

This was nonfiction, there are no characters.

Have you listened to any of Edward Herrmanns other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, and he is incomparable. If I could afford it I'd buy every audiobook he's narrated, whether I like the subject matter or not.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It's a tad long for that.

Any additional comments?

If you want "just the facts" about the JFK assassination, then this is the book for you. It is thoroughly detailed, unambiguous, and simply states what happened, without hyperbole or a conspiracy-driven agenda.

Great narration, great book

Let's begin with the narration: Edward Hermann is one of the best narrators around, and I often choose books because he is the narrator. He once again delivers a fabulous reading that enhances the story being told.

Parkland is the detailed look of the four days in November 1962 when the Parkland Hospital became a central part of the story of the JFK, and then Lee Harvey Oswald, murders. The story is greater than that of the hospital, and the details and what seems objective retrospective look at what happened were fascinating. JFK's assassination seems to be one of the most dissected moments of US history, with many assumptions and inaccuracies perpetuated through the years. Bugliosi addresses some of these, and offers reasonable explanations as to why some of the decisions were made the way they were, even though 50+ years later we still debate the decisions.

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Title: Behind the Dream

Subtitle: The Making of the Speech that Transformed a Nation

Author: Clarence B. Jones, Stuart Connelly

Narrator: Clarence B. Jones

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-28-13

Publisher: Amalgamated Publishing

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: History, 20th Century

Publisher's Summary:

"I have a dream." When those words were spoken on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, the crowd stood, electrified, as Martin Luther King, Jr. brought the plight of African Americans to the public consciousness and firmly established himself as one of the greatest orators of all time.

Behind the Dream: The Making of the Speech that Transformed a Nation is a thrilling, behind-the-scenes account of the weeks leading up to the great event, as told by Clarence Jones, co-writer of the speech and close confidant to King. Jones was there, on the road, collaborating with the great minds of the time, and hammering out the ideas and the speech that would shape the civil rights movement and inspire Americans for years to come.

Members Reviews:

A Dream Shared

Clarence B. Jones, attorney and speechwriter for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., shares his memories and thoughts of that historic point in time: the March on Washington and King's `I Have a Dream' speech.

I believe many of us can articulate what transpired that day if not from memory, from history lessons and books. However, only a select few, those in King's inner circle, like Jones, can truly provide that rare glimpse into what transpired in the days leading up to, during and after the March on Washington.

In Behind the Dream we learn of the secluded haven procured for King to allow him to focus and prepare for the March, the collaborative efforts (of sorts) in creating the I Have a Dream speech, the influence of A. Philip Randolph, the last minute copyright efforts and much more.

The book's title couldn't be more apropos.

A must read which is also an insightful, inspirational and enjoyable read!

Fascinating behind the scenes look at not only the preparations required for this historic event and famous speech but also the many challenges the organizers faced. Did you know King ad-libbed the second half and most famous part of the speech due to Mahalia Jackson's cry: "Tell them about the dream, Martin!"? The book encouraged me to immediately watch the speech again in its entirety with a fresh understanding of what went into that historic moment in time. The last 40 or so pages of the book, where Clarence Jones gives an update on race relations and issues related to the speech, is thoughtful and inspiring.

Behind this book

It is more about the author talking about himself than describing the which I thought the book was about.

Review

I enjoyed the story he shared. It was a inside look on what happened the night before and on the day of the March.

Well Worth the Time

This book is an interesting look behind the scenes. It is good to be reminded that even within a movement for social justice, there are forces negotiating on tactics and ideology, personalities vying for positions of authority, and external forces arrayed against those in the movement. The book is well written and engaging.

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Title: The Fourteenth Day

Subtitle: JFK and the Aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis

Author: David G. Coleman

Narrator: Andy Caploe

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-19-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: History, 20th Century

Publisher's Summary:

A fly-on-the-wall narrative of the Oval Office in the wake of the Cuban Missile Crisis, using JFKs secret White House tapes.

On October 28, 1962, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev agreed to remove nuclear missiles from Cuba. Popular history has marked that day as the end of the Cuban Missile Crisis, a seminal moment in American history. As President Kennedys secretly recorded White House tapes now reveal, the reality was not so simple. Nuclear missiles were still in Cuba, as were nuclear bombers, short-range missiles, and thousands of Soviet troops.

From October 29, Kennedy had to walk a very fine line - push hard enough to get as much nuclear weaponry out of Cuba as possible, yet avoid forcing the volatile Khrushchev into a combative stance. On the domestic front, an election loomed and the press was bristling at White House "news management." Using new material from the tapes, historian David G. Coleman puts readers in the Oval Office during one of the most highly charged, and in the end most highly regarded, moments in American history.

Members Reviews:

Irritating Narration

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The dramatic reading style of the narrator was grating and inappropriate for a book of this type. Audiobooks of this type benefit from a more "neutral" and even voiced style.

How could the performance have been better?

Eliminate the feeble efforts to read quotes in the speaking style of the individual being quoted. For example, quotes of Russian participants came across more as "Boris and Natasha" cartoon imitations that as useful or dramatic additions. Similarly, efforts to mimic the Kennedy speaking style (Cuba/"Cube-er") were weak and distracting.

Any additional comments?

Will be of substantive interest to readers not generally familiar with information in the Kennedy tapes. Not a huge amount of new information/insight for those more generally familiar with the current literature on the crisis.