Two Decades of Black History History
Our history editor selects pivotal listens from Black historians, journalists, and scholars that have enriched our understanding of Black History Month in recent years.
Christina Harcar
Christina worked as a literary agent before partnering with Audible in 1998 to establish the first — and to date only — imprint of digital-only audiobooks. After a stint at St. Martin's Press and Macmillan, Christina returned to audiobooks in 2009. She acquired Audie Award-winning audiobooks and was an executive producer of the audiobook that won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Performance. Christina also leads Women@Audible, a peer-to-peer mentoring group. She feels fortunate to have a career where her stock-in-trade is connecting people with stories.
Articles and interviews
“South to America” journeys to the heart of the nation
Professor, scholar, and author Imani Perry highlights the submerged connections every American has to the largest region of the United States: the South.
Quick Listens About Never-ending Wars
War is hell... but war audiobooks don't have to be! Our history editor curates a list of snappy, engaging listens about conflicts that were anything but.
Malcolm Gladwell Elicits Anecdotes, Songs, and Creative Wisdom In 'Miracle and Wonder: Conversations with Paul Simon'
In a unique all-star collaboration, legendary songwriter Paul Simon spends quality time with best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell and music journalist Bruce Headlam to explore what the history of Paul’s songs says about the art of songwriting.
Becoming better, informed by the past
We live in a new golden age of titles by authors—often professors, often women, often intersectional—who draw upon both personal history and primary sources explicitly to address the question: “What next?” I am personally grateful for the energy and clarity of many of these works, and I set about gathering the best, most inspiring examples. But, reader, to trim and shape this list was one of the hardest curatorial tasks of my career, so I narrowed it down to books published (in audio!) since the beginning of 2020!
The Best Listens About the History of American Infrastructure
The future of better infrastructure is ours to build.
Potent potables
From beer and wine to soda and spirits, this list of libatious listens was inspired by anything you can pour in a glass.
'Gold Diggers' Excavates the Universal Search for Belonging
Debut author Sanjena Sathian begins with a story about two Indian American aspirational gold thieves and ends with the acknowledgment of the inner search for home in all of us.
The Best Historical Biographies of Influential Figures and Events
From Ulysses S. Grant to Juneteenth, Sylvia Plath to James Baldwin, here are biographies that make you think again about famous historical events and trailblazers.
Laraine Newman's front-row seat to "Interesting Times"
The renowned comedian and voice actor invites us to experience her life, from her time as a member of the original 'SNL' cast in 1970s New York City, to her addiction, recovery, and reinvention in 'May You Live in Interesting Times'.
Jimmy Carter at "His Very Best"
Best-selling author and journalist Jonathan Alter analyzes the life and actions of Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States and Nobel Prize-winning humanitarian.
Hilary Mantel Reminds Us Who's The Boss As She Finishes The Wolf Hall Trilogy
The esteemed author shares how her latest novel, 'The Mirror and the Light,' completes her series on Thomas Cromwell and how actor Ben Miles evolved beyond stage portrayal to become a trusted collaborator.