The Nixon Defense

Dean is nothing, if not thorough. This lengthy audiobook brings to mind the author's seven-hour opening statement when he testified at the Senate Watergate hearings in 1973. Here, Dean still has a fascinating story to tell, and he makes his points with emphasis. Joe Barrett narrates in what sounds like a perpetual whisper--as if he doesn't want either Nixon or the NSA to hear him. In a way, this perfectly fits the book's theme, but after a while, it becomes wearisome, especially when words drop off at the ends of sentences. This is disappointing as Barrett is a narrator known for his low, raspy tone and excellent diction. He does successfully use character voices to re-create the people he's describing. Overall, the book is worth listening to--in small doses. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine