cover image A Curious Man: The Strange and Brilliant Life of Robert 'Believe It or Not!' Ripley

A Curious Man: The Strange and Brilliant Life of Robert 'Believe It or Not!' Ripley

Neal Thompson, read by Marc Cashman. Random House Audio, library edition, unabridged, 10 CDs, 12 hrs., $50 ISBN 978-0-385-36636-6

From his days as a cartoonist and world-renowned adventurer to those spent creating TV%E2%80%99s Ripley%E2%80%99s Believe It or Not, Robert Ripley led a fascinating life. Thompson meticulously traces Ripley%E2%80%99s life%E2%80%94from his humble beginning in Santa Rosa, Calif., to his opulent ending as an international icon%E2%80%94in this fascinating look at a fascinating man. Narrator Marc Cashman%E2%80%99s reading has a light and genial tone that matches the author%E2%80%99s attitude toward his subject. Cashman%E2%80%99s cadence also deftly captures the rhythms of the book%E2%80%99s prose. Following the author%E2%80%99s lead, the narrator keeps an emotional distance from his subject, while still producing an engaging audio edition that will hold listener attention throughout. A Crown Archetype hardcover. (May)