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Nelson Runger

2008 Best Voice in BIOGRAPHY & HISTORY: Nixon and Kissinger

When someone speaks of "lively" history, authors David McCullough and Doris Kearns Goodwin come to mind. The narrator who tops the list to make sure listeners enjoy the history as vividly as written is Nelson Runger. Nelson's audiography includes essential histories and biographies by Joseph J. Ellis, H.W. Brands, Walter Isaacson, James McPherson, and six of McCullough's works, including JOHN ADAMS (2002 Audies winner), TRUMAN, MORNINGS ON HORSEBACK, and THE GREAT BRIDGE.

Nelson answered a "Narrators Wanted" ad for Recorded Books in THE NEW YORKER in 1985. RB's executive producer, Claudia Howard, remembers that Nelson was one of her first narrators hired when when she opened Recorded 2008 Best Voice in BIOGRAPHY & HISTORY: Nixon and Kissinger

When someone speaks of "lively" history, authors David McCullough and Doris Kearns Goodwin come to mind. The narrator who tops the list to make sure listeners enjoy the history as vividly as written is Nelson Runger. Nelson's audiography includes essential histories and biographies by Joseph J. Ellis, H.W. Brands, Walter Isaacson, James McPherson, and six of McCullough's works, including JOHN ADAMS (2002 Audies winner), TRUMAN, MORNINGS ON HORSEBACK, and THE GREAT BRIDGE.

Nelson answered a "Narrators Wanted" ad for Recorded Books in THE NEW YORKER in 1985. RB's executive producer, Claudia Howard, remembers that Nelson was one of her first narrators hired when when she opened Recorded Books' first Manhattan studio. "Nelson brings such a keen intelligence to the work, coupled with a warm and interesting voice. An audiobook narrator has to have both--a good voice and a good imagination."

Nelson Runger accomplished an amazing feat with his narration of Robert Dallek's NIXON AND KISSINGER, creating a page-turner from the thirty-five-hour recording. Howard knows the difficulty of this task and adds further praise. "Nelson excels at one of the hardest genres in audio, the full-length history. The key to sustaining a narrative story line that covers countless years and vast events, resulting in dozens of hours of listening, is to engage in every single moment on every single page, one image at a time. It requires concentration, patience, and constant attention to the link between performer and audience."

As Nelson sees it, "The narrator should be almost transparent. I want to avoid getting in the author's way and try to identify with the author." In some cases, Nelson has had the personal opportunity to do so. John McPhee is a Princeton classmate, and he and Nelson get together often. Nelson has recorded nearly a dozen of McPhee's books, including IN SUSPECT TERRAIN and UNCOMMON CARRIERS. "John has told me that in his re-writing process he concentrates on the sound. He reads it aloud and works hard to increase the 'soundability.'" This makes McPhee's books a pleasure for both narrator and listener.

Nelson enjoys his appearances at library programs, and even gave his Princeton classmates a treat at a recent reunion on a tour to Washington's Crossing. Nelson entertained the group on the bus ride by reading from David Fischer's WASHINGTON'S CROSSING, which he'd recently completed.

Nelson gives listeners the best experience possible with all sorts of nonfiction--biography, history, natural science, or geology. His engagement engages us. One of AUDIOFILE's reviewers notes, "Nelson Runger has made a career out of reading our nation's past with eloquence and care."--Robin F. Whitten ...more

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Nelson Runger’s books

Average rating: 4.06 · 1,388 ratings · 332 reviews · 145 distinct works • Similar authors

	A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, Nelson Runger (Narrator) 4.21 avg rating — 470,593 ratings — published 1988 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	John Adams by David McCullough, Nelson Runger (Reader) 4.08 avg rating — 374,611 ratings — published 2001 — 89 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli, Nelson Runger (Narrator) 3.84 avg rating — 374,975 ratings — published 1513 — 1819 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson (Goodreads Author), Nelson Runger (Narrator) 4.05 avg rating — 148,345 ratings — published 2003 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Truman by David McCullough, Nelson Runger (Narrator) 4.17 avg rating — 90,665 ratings — published 1992 — 81 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	I, Claudius by Robert Graves, Nelson Runger (Narrator) 4.24 avg rating — 72,158 ratings — published 1934 — 422 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II by Doris Kearns Goodwin, Nelson Runger (Narrator) 4.20 avg rating — 46,521 ratings — published 1994 — 46 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis, Nelson Runger (Narrator) 3.95 avg rating — 47,122 ratings — published 2000 — 55 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis, Nelson Runger (Narrator) 3.96 avg rating — 43,025 ratings — published 2004 — 41 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Elizabeth I CEO: Strategic Lessons from the Leader Who Built an Empire by Nelson Runger, Alan Axelrod liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2001	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Nelson Runger’s Followers

Nelson Runger

Combine EditionsNelson Runger’s books

Topics Mentioning This Author

Combine Editions
Nelson Runger’s books