Book description
Audiobook Review - "The Communist" by Paul Kengor
Paul Kengor's The Communist turns the microphone toward a surprisingly intimate chapter in American political history: the unlikely friendship between Barack Obama and Frank Marshall Davis, a long-time member of the Communist Party USA. From the very first words, the narrator draws you into a world where a young future president sought guidance from an older man whose politics were as radical as they were misunderstood.
The sound design is understated but effective-soft background music underscores Kengor's measured pacing, while the occasional archival clips of Davis's speeches add texture without distracting. The narrator's voice is warm and clear, lending credibility to a story that could easily slip into sensationalism. He balances curiosity with caution, presenting evidence from declassified FBI files, Soviet archives, and original newspaper columns without letting it feel like an attack on either Obama or the Communist Party.
What makes this audiobook compelling is how it reframes a controversial figure as a mentor rather than a caricature. Kengor shows that Davis was not merely a "father" to Obama in a personal sense; he also offered a worldview that challenged mainstream American narratives about freedom and democracy. The book doesn't push readers toward a verdict; instead, it equips them with the facts so they can weigh whether Obama ever truly followed in Davis's ideological footsteps.
Kengor's narrative arc is tight-each chapter builds on the last, moving from Davis's early activism to his influence on Obama's formative years and finally to the lingering echoes in policy decisions. The pacing keeps you engaged; there are no long stretches of dry exposition. Even when the material turns dense-think declassified documents-the narrator breaks it down with accessible language.
In sum, The Communist is a thought-provoking listen that respects its subject's complexity while staying true to journalistic integrity. Whether you're a political junkie, an audiobook aficionado, or simply curious about the hidden forces shaping modern America, this book offers a fresh perspective-one that invites you to ask the hard question: How much of a man's legacy is shaped by the mentors he chooses?
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Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience