Best-Selling Full Audiobooks in Biography & Memoir, Memoirs

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/552941 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Getting Out of Saigon: How a 27-Year-Old Banker Saved 113 Vietnamese Civilians Author: Ralph White Narrator: Mark Bramhall Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 9 hours 58 minutes Release date: April 4, 2023 Ratings: Ratings of Book: 5 of Total 1 Ratings of Narrator: 5 of Total 1 Genres: Memoirs Publisher's Summary: A “captivating” (The Washington Post) true story of “courage, resolve, and determination” (The Christian Science Monitor), author Ralph White’s successful effort to save nearly the entire staff of the Saigon branch of Chase Manhattan bank and their families before the city fell to the North Vietnamese Army. In April 1975, Ralph White was asked by his boss to transfer from the Bangkok branch of the Chase Manhattan Bank to the Saigon Branch. He was tasked with closing the branch if and when it appeared that Saigon would fall to the North Vietnamese army and ensure the safety of the senior Vietnamese employees. But when he arrived, he realized the situation in Saigon was far more perilous than he had imagined. The senior staff members there urged him to evacuate the entire staff of the branch and their families, which was far more than he was authorized to do. Quickly he realized that no one would be safe when the city fell, and it was no longer a question of whether to evacuate but how. Getting Out of Saigon is an “edge-of-your-seat” (Oprah Daily) story of a city on the eve of destruction and the colorful characters who respond differently to impending doom. It’s a remarkable account of one man’s quest to save innocent lives not because he was ordered but because it was the right thing to do.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/548333 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Two Sisters Author: Blake Morrison Narrator: Blake Morrison Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 10 hours 28 minutes Release date: March 9, 2023 Genres: Memoirs Publisher's Summary: 'Tender, vivid and achingly sad' GUARDIAN, BOOK OF THE YEAR TWO SISTERS publishes on the 30th anniversary of Blake Morrison’s ground-breaking book And When Did You Last See Your Father? which forged the way for a new genre of confessional memoir. ‘She’s gone, that’s all, and though there’s no retrieving her I’d like to make sense of who she was and what she became. It wasn’t just that she changed over time. She could change from day to day. Drink made it worse but the origins went deeper. You never knew which you’d get, the kind and loving Gill or her doppelgänger. Two sisters.’ Blake Morrison has lost a sister and a half-sister in recent years. Both are the subjects of this remarkable and heart-breaking memoir, along with a forensic examination of sibling relationships in history and literature. Blake’s sister Gill struggled with alcoholism for a large part of her life, and her shocking death is the starting point for Two Sisters. Blake returns to their childhood to search for the origins of her later difficulties, and in doing so unearths the story behind his half-sister, Josie. As he unravels these narratives, Blake deals movingly in the guilt and shame that will be familiar to every person who has struggled with addiction in their family. He is unflinching in doing so, and the result is a book which provides testament to that common struggle, as well as acknowledging the complex, hidden forces on which all our lives are based. Two Sisters is the extraordinary new memoir from the chronicler of human frailty, Blake Morrison. Poems from Skin and Blister are featured by kind permission of Mariscat Press.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/551333 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Transitional: In One Way or Another, We All Transition Author: Munroe Bergdorf Narrator: Mia Juul Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 4 hours 17 minutes Release date: February 21, 2023 Genres: Memoirs Publisher's Summary: The wise, life-changing, ground-breaking book from writer and activist Munroe Bergdorf. Transitioning is an alignment of the invisible and the physical. It is truth rising to the surface. It is one of the most fundamental aspects of the human condition—a part of our experience as a conscious being, no matter who we are. As time goes on, we all develop as people. None of us ever becomes someone else entirely—regardless of how we identify—but nor do we stay the same forever. We all transition. It's what binds us, not what separates us. In Transitional, activist and writer Munroe Bergdorf draws on her own experience and theory from key experts, change-makers and activists to reveal just how deeply ingrained transitioning is in human experience. This is a book to help bring us closer to a shared consciousness: a powerful guide to how our differences can be harnessed as a tool to heal, build community, and construct a better society.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/548493 to listen full audiobooks. Title: I Am Still With You: A Reckoning with Silence, Inheritance and History Author: Emmanuel Iduma Narrator: Emeka Emecheta Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 9 hours 46 minutes Release date: February 16, 2023 Genres: Memoirs Publisher's Summary: ‘A lyrical investigation … both powerful and transcendent’ CHIGOZIE OBIOMA ‘Acutely observed, hauntingly rendered and deeply affecting’ AMINATTA FORNA ‘Both epic and intimate’ MARGO JEFFERSON An astonishing search for a missing person, the hidden tragedies of war and the truth of Nigeria’s history. Emmanuel Iduma never met his uncle, his father’s favourite brother and the man for whom he is named. The elder Emmanuel left home in 1967 to fight in the Biafran War and was not seen again. The war lasted for three years, with young Igbo men volunteering to fight for a breakaway republic in the chaotic wake of British decolonization. Around one hundred thousand others who fought in the war share a fate like Emmanuel’s uncle, though there are no official records of these losses. The tensions that gave rise to the conflict remain live, threatening sometimes to bubble over. In this landscape, there are no monuments or graves. Instead, a collective remembering that remains, for the most part, silent. I Am Still with You sees a young Nigerian return to his place of birth. Travelling the route of the war, Iduma explores both a national history and the mysteries of his own family, finding both somewhat scarred and haunted, the memories warped by time and the darkest parts left for decades unspoken.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/552923 to listen full audiobooks. Title: The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly: Life Wisdom from Someone Who Will (Probably) Die Before You Author: Margareta Magnusson Narrator: Natascha Mcelhone Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 3 hours 40 minutes Release date: December 27, 2022 Ratings: Ratings of Book: 5 of Total 3 Genres: Memoirs Publisher's Summary: From New York Times bestselling author of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning—now a TV series developed by Amy Poehler and Scout Productions—a book of humorous and charming advice for embracing life and aging joyfully. In her international bestseller The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning Margareta Magnusson introduced the world to the Swedish tradition of döstädning, or “death cleaning”—clearing out your unnecessary belongings so others don’t have to do it for you. Now, unburdened by (literal and emotional) baggage, Magnusson is able to focus on what makes each day worth living. In her new book she reveals her discoveries about aging—some difficult to accept, many rather wondrous. She reflects on her idyllic childhood on the west coast of Sweden, the fullness of her life with her husband and five children, and learning how to live alone. Throughout, she offers advice on how to age gracefully, such as: wear stripes, don’t resist new technology, let go of what doesn’t matter, and more. As with death cleaning, it’s never too early to begin. The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly shows all readers how to prepare for and understand the process of growing older and the joys and sorrows it can bring. While Magnusson still recommends decluttering (your loved ones will thank you!), her ultimate message is that we should not live in fear of death but rather focus on appreciating beauty, connecting with our loved ones, and enjoying our time together. Wise, funny, and eminently practical, The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly is a gentle and welcome reminder that, no matter your age, there are always fresh discoveries ahead, and pleasures both new and familiar to be encountered every day.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/552949 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Cross the Tracks: A Memoir Author: Boosie Badazz Narrator: Jaime Lincoln Smith Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 4 hours 49 minutes Release date: September 20, 2022 Ratings: Ratings of Book: 5 of Total 3 Ratings of Narrator: 5 of Total 2 Genres: Memoirs Publisher's Summary: From one of rap’s most evocative writers comes a stirring memoir and “masterpiece of a book” (Snoop Dogg) about how Boosie Badazz, one of the industry’s most controversial figures, was able to overcome insurmountable odds to make his music dreams a reality. A Baton Rouge native who began rapping at age fourteen, Boosie Badazz was already a cult hero in Louisiana when, in 2009, he was sentenced to two years in prison. The next year, he was indicted on even more serious charges, eventually landing him on Death Row. Prosecutors played Boosie’s music in the courtroom to paint him as a thug with no chance of redemption. However, against overwhelming odds and the backdrop of a social media campaign to #FreeBoosie, he was freed in March of 2014 with a rare second chance to make his music dreams come true. With illuminating prose, this “truly great read” (DJ Vlad, CEO of VladTV) explores the relationship between Boosie’s life on the streets with his ceaseless tear through the rap industry. From near-death experiences to a ruthless bout with kidney cancer to a life-threatening diabetes diagnosis, Boosie has overcome remarkable challenges to make a name for himself as one of rap’s most influential voices. A redemptive story with an urgent voice, Cross the Tracks is the survival tale of a man who wasn’t sure he would live to see another day...but who rose from the ashes to change the rap industry forever.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/551293 to listen full audiobooks. Title: [Spanish] - CHARYTÍN (Spanish edition): El tiempo pasa. . . ¡pero yo no! Author: Charytin Narrator: Charytin Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 9 hours 17 minutes Release date: September 13, 2022 Genres: Memoirs Publisher's Summary: “Así siento que ha sido toda mi vida: un huracán, un torbellino, un tsunami arrasador que siempre me ha traído grandes alegrías, me las ha quitado, para volverme a traer más en este incesante vaivén. ¡O tal vez el huracán soy yo! Porque allá donde voy, me dicen que siempre se arma un revolú.” - Charytín Desde una infancia dolorosa con complicados secretos familiares a un amor muy diferente al de las novelas, Charytín Goyco nos lo cuenta todo, con su peculiar tono cargado de drama y comedia a la vez.  • Sus anécdotas con famosos (Juan Luis Guerra, Camilo Sesto, Jenni Rivera, entre muchos) •Los “besos de divorcio” que compartió con los galanes de moda en innumerables películas. • La pérdida de un bebé y su angustia más persistente: la de ser madre en una profesión donde tener hijos ponía en peligro todos los proyectos. • La verdadera razón por la cual dejó de cantar. • Sus incesantes sueños plagados de fantasmas, premoniciones y revelaciones, siempre encarando a la muerte, y los conflictos que este extraño don le causó con sus seres queridos. • Sus raíces, su historia, sus primeras memorias de niña, entre dos continentes, dignas de la mejor película. • Su lucha interna desde niña por ser tachada de “niña rara,” “ridícula” o estrambótica. Antes muerta que sencilla: a casi cincuenta años de haber iniciado su carrera artística, la “niña rara” no se da por vencida. No hay huracán que la logre tumbar. Sus sueños son muchos, su proyectos no cesan de llegar. Como le dijo una vez Celia Cruz: “Chary, nosotros los artistas no nos retiramos, trabajamos hasta que Dios nos llama a su lado.”

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/548821 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Diary of a Misfit: A Memoir and a Mystery Author: Casey Parks Narrator: Casey Parks Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 14 hours 39 minutes Release date: August 30, 2022 Ratings: Ratings of Book: 5 of Total 2 Ratings of Narrator: 5 of Total 1 Genres: Memoirs Publisher's Summary: NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF 2022 by The Washington Post, Boston Globe, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, New York Public Library, Minneapolis Star Tribune Part memoir, part sweeping journalistic saga: As Casey Parks follows the mystery of a stranger's past, she is forced to reckon with her own sexuality, her fraught Southern identity, her tortured yet loving relationship with her mother, and the complicated role of faith in her life. 'Most moving is Parks’s depiction of a queer lineage, her assertion of an ancestry of outcasts, a tapestry of fellow misfits into which the marginalized will always, for better or worse, fit.' —The New York Times Book Review When Casey Parks came out as a lesbian in college back in 2002, she assumed her life in the South was over. Her mother shunned her, and her pastor asked God to kill her. But then Parks's grandmother, a stern conservative who grew up picking cotton, pulled her aside and revealed a startling secret. 'I grew up across the street from a woman who lived as a man,' and then implored Casey to find out what happened to him. Diary of a Misfit is the story of Parks's life-changing journey to unravel the mystery of Roy Hudgins, the small-town country singer from grandmother’s youth, all the while confronting ghosts of her own. For ten years, Parks traveled back to rural Louisiana and knocked on strangers’ doors, dug through nursing home records, and doggedly searched for Roy’s own diaries, trying to uncover what Roy was like as a person—what he felt; what he thought; and how he grappled with his sense of otherness. With an enormous heart and an unstinting sense of vulnerability, Parks writes about finding oneself through someone else’s story, and about forging connections across the gulfs that divide us.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/551302 to listen full audiobooks. Title: She's Nice Though: Essays on Being Bad at Being Good Author: Mia Mercado Narrator: Natalie Naudus Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 6 hours 6 minutes Release date: August 30, 2022 Genres: Memoirs Publisher's Summary: AN NPR BOOK-OF-THE-DAY • A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY STAFF PICK • A NYLON MUST-READ • A FORTUNE NEW BOOK TO READ IN AUGUST “And, at the center of it all, am I actually nice or am I just performing a role I think I’m expected to play?” Mia Mercado is a razor-sharp cultural critic and essayist known for her witty and hilarious dissections of the uncomfortable truths that rule our lives. In this thought-provoking collection of new essays, Mercado examines what it means to be “polite,” “agreeable,” and “nice.” She covers topics from the subtleties of the “Bad Bitch” and why women dominate the ASMR market, to what makes her dog an adorable little freak and how you know if you’re shy. This is a book about the unspoken trick mirror of our “good” intentions: the inherent performance of the social media apology, celebrating men when they do the bare minimum, and why we trust a Midwesterner to watch our stuff when we go pee. Throughout, she ponders her identity as an Asian woman and asks what “nice” even means—and why anyone would want to be it. With writing that is as precise as it is profound, and cultural references that range from trash reality television to the New York Times Sunday-morning crossword puzzle, Mercado uncovers weird, long-overdue truths about our frailties and failings. In the end, she sees them not as a source of shame but as a cause for celebration. Filled with revelations that range from the silly to the serious, She’s Nice Though offers a mind-bending glimpse into the illusions and delusions of contemporary life—and reveals who we *really* are when no one is watching.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/552948 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Escape into Meaning: Essays on Superman, Public Benches, and Other Obsessions Author: Evan Puschak Narrator: Evan Puschak Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 7 hours 21 minutes Release date: August 30, 2022 Ratings: Ratings of Book: 4.75 of Total 4 Ratings of Narrator: 5 of Total 2 Genres: Memoirs Publisher's Summary: Producer, editor, and writer behind the highly addictive, informative, and popular YouTube channel The Nerdwriter, Evan Puschak presents “a brilliant, wide-ranging essay collection that explores meaning and how we make it with the thoughtfulness and open-hearted generosity that have long been hallmarks of Puschak’s writing” (John Green, New York Times bestselling author). As YouTube’s The Nerdwriter, Evan Puschak plays the polymath, posing questions and providing answers across a wide range of fields—from the power of a split diopter shot in Toy Story 4 to the political dangers of schadenfreude. Now, he brings that same insatiable curiosity and striking wit to this engaging and unputdownable essay collection. Perfect for fans of Trick Mirror and the writing of John Hodgman and Chuck Klosterman, Escape into Meaning is “a passionate, perceptive” (Hua Hsu, author of Stay True) compendium of fascinating insights into obsession. Whether you’re interested in the philosophy of Jerry Seinfeld or how Clark Kent is the real hero, there’s something for everyone in this effervescent collection.