Audiobooks

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (Simon & Schuster, 90 mins, pounds 8.99) is the first ever audiobook to sell more than a million copies. After a few initial sneers at the modishly upbeat presentation, I was a total convert to Steven Covey's refreshingly unmanipulative "character- ethic" philosophy.

Abridgement of Michael Ridpath's Trading Reality (Reed, 3 hrs, pounds 7.99) guts the full-length thriller, but the idea of a cutting edge, virtual reality company going global from the shores of a Scottish loch is cool. Samuel West sustains the story's galloping pace and handles its international cast effortlessly. Good escapist listening.