Get Most Popular Full Audiobooks in Bios & Memoirs, Artists, Writers, & Musicians

Get Most Popular Full Audiobooks in Bios & Memoirs, Artists, Writers, & Musicians

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Get Most Popular Full Audiobooks in Bios & Memoirs, Artists, Writers, & Musicians episodes

  • Letters to a Young Writer Audiobook by Colum McCann
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    Title: Letters to a Young Writer
    Subtitle: Some Practical and Philosophical Advice
    Author: Colum McCann
    Narrator: Colum McCann
    Format: Unabridged
    Length: 2 hrs and 38 mins
    Language: English
    Release date: 04-04-17
    Publisher: Random House Audio
    Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 24 votes
    Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Artists, Writers, & Musicians
    Publisher's Summary:
    From the best-selling author of the National Book Award winner Let the Great World Spin comes a lesson in how to be a writer - and so much more than that.
    Intriguing and inspirational, this book is a call to look outward rather than inward. McCann asks his listeners to constantly push the boundaries of experience, to see empathy and wonder in the stories we craft and hear.
    A paean to the power of language, both by argument and by example, Letters to a Young Writer is fierce and honest in its testament to the bruises delivered by writing as both a profession and a calling. It charges aspiring writers to learn the rules and even break them.
    These 52 essays are ultimately a profound challenge to a new generation to bring truth and light to a dark world through their art.
    Members Reviews:
    Enjoyable comments on being a writer
    The author offers some very personal insights about what it means to be a writer. Some are simply good advice about what it takes to be a good person. From time to time i toy with doing a little writing but can't truly call myself a writer. I found this book inspired me.
    Cutting
    A well of crisp and sharp advice conveyed with perfectly ordered words.
    Mr. McCann is also one of the few writers who can perfectly narrate his own works. I'll assume that if you are an audiobook listener and care about what he has to say on writing (Is that a contradiction?) you have already listened to his works. But if not, you must get Thirteen Ways of Looking.
    A Powerful and Moving Manifesto for Young Writers
    These fifty-two essays are short in length but full on passion and even if you are not are a writer or plan on becoming one, McCann's zeal for his craft is so contagious that if you are anything like me, you would find yourself inspired by how beautifully and intimately he describes it.
    Aspiring young writers will also find quite a bit of advice. This ranges from the purely utilitarian and practical ("Write wherever you feel comfortable","Read Aloud,"Carry a notebook), to the more essential ("To MFA or Not to MFA", "Language and Plot", "How to get an agent"). Still, the author's goal seems to be to sustain his readers aspirations and inspirations, rather than to provide a laundry list on how to become a successful writer.
    Although I am obviously not part of the book's intended audience, I still found quite a few helpful philosophical nuggets and practical advice: There are moments when you just have to rely on your instincts; In life, just like in writing, there are no manuals and sometimes rules have to be broken and last but certainly not least, don't be a dick!
    As for the author's audio narration, what can I say? There's something about the expression "Just keep your arse on the chair" that sounds much better with an Irish accent. Pure perfection.
    A moving, inspiring and powerful manifesto. Highly Recommended.
    Truth and rage
    so generously shared.
    ("11 words remaining" demanded, unsaid, unnecessary, unwanted but nevertheless required in order to say - "truth and glorious honesty so generously shared.) WM
    Inspiring essays for ink slingers.
    Read by the author, this is a wonderful inspiring collection of essays. A daunting double-dog-dare to the would-be writer.
    2 hr 38 min
  • Simply Wittgenstein Audiobook by James C. Klagge
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    Title: Simply Wittgenstein
    Author: James C. Klagge
    Narrator: Joff Manning
    Format: Unabridged
    Length: 3 hrs and 51 mins
    Language: English
    Release date: 03-10-17
    Publisher: Simply Charly
    Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 17 votes
    Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Artists, Writers, & Musicians
    Publisher's Summary:
    Born in Vienna into an extremely wealthy and highly cultured family, Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) grew up surrounded by art, music, and a disturbing amount of dysfunctional behavior. After studying mechanical engineering and developing an interest in aeronautics, he became obsessed with mathematics and logic, which led to his life's work exploring the relationship between language, philosophy, and reality.
    In Simply Wittgenstein, James Klagge presents a fascinating portrait of this brilliant and troubled man, while exploring his two extraordinary books - the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus and Philosophical Investigations - in which he gave concrete form to his singular and perplexing ideas. Drawing on 30 years of teaching about Wittgenstein at both the undergraduate and graduate level, Klagge provides a clear and accessible introduction to these seminal works, helping the reader understand the revolutionary nature of Wittgensteins insights and the reason they continue to resonate in our own time.
    Members Reviews:
    Your first stop for understanding Wittgenstein.
    I was absolutely delighted by this audiobook! I've been dabbling in Wittgenstein for the last decade or so, after two other introductions to Wittgenstein's life, both of which slandered the man in my exclamation, and gave no helpful insight into hos work, along comes this insightful introduction. Along with setting the stage for understanding his work, we receive helpful insight into how we should read both the Tractatus and his Philosophical Investigations. Klagge is the tour guide I would've wanted when I was bumbling through one of the worlds most notoriously difficult philosophical texts.
    The near raider did a great job. He hit every note precisely! I wasn't even annoyed at his British accent.
    If you were ever going to approach Wittgenstein, this is the front door. I can't recommend it heartily enough!
    I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.
    I think I understand! Yay!
    Would you consider the audio edition of Simply Wittgenstein to be better than the print version?
    Both enhanced each other
    What did you like best about this story?
    Good job bringing the understanding to a complex person and his ideas to my level.
    What about Joff Mannings performance did you like?
    entertaining with clarity
    Any additional comments?
    I received this title for free in exchange for an unbiased review.
    Well explained, clearly spoken, simply enjoyable.
    A lovely walk through Wittgenstein's work.
    Quotes were delivered elegantly.
    The contextualization of Wittgenstein's ideas within his biographical timeline really helped get a better picture of his peculiar philosophy.
    good introduction to Wittgenstein
    I tried reading the Tractatus. it was too difficult for me. with this book, I can go back and try again
    Great insight on Wittgenstein
    If you could sum up Simply Wittgenstein in three words, what would they be?
    Informational, Insightful, and Fascinating
    Any additional comments?
    This review copy audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost."
    3 hr 51 min
  • History's Greatest Artists: The Life and Legacy of Claude Monet Audiobook by Charles River Editors
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    Title: History's Greatest Artists: The Life and Legacy of Claude Monet
    Author: Charles River Editors
    Narrator: Scott Clem
    Format: Unabridged
    Length: 1 hr and 6 mins
    Language: English
    Release date: 01-20-17
    Publisher: Charles River Editors
    Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 2 votes
    Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Artists, Writers, & Musicians
    Publisher's Summary:
    "Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love." - Claude Monet
    To get a sense of the kind of prestige that Claude Monet's reputation has within the art world, one need only learn that his Le Bassin Aux Nympheás (1919) - from his series of paintings featuring water lilies - sold for the equivalent of more than $70 million. This is an incredibly staggering price, especially considering that early in his life, Monet had been so poor and debt-ridden that some of his paintings were taken from him by creditors. How, exactly, did Monet progress from being an impoverished young Impressionist artist working at the vanguard of European art to the legendary Master whose works command prices near the very pinnacle of the art world?
    Naturally, Monet's commercial success soared exponentially in the decades following his death in 1926, at a time in which the prices commanded by the great Masters of Western art began rising in price at exponential rates. Yet even during his own lifetime, Monet enjoyed a sharp rise to fame and was canonized as one of the greatest painters in France. Following sharply in the footsteps of Edouard Manet, Claude Monet was one of the first painters identified within the Impressionist circle (indeed, it was Monet himself who coined the label of Impressionist after using it in the title of one of his paintings). Where some artists reach the peak of their acclaim early in life, Monet's star continued to rise even throughout his old age; although some would argue that the last decade or so of his life were anticlimactic, at least from an artistic standpoint, his landmark water lilies were made during his elderly years.
    Members Reviews:
    Pronunciation Problems
    The book is well-written but the narrator does not know his French. Edgar Degas does not rhyme with Las Vegas. Gauguin and the river Seine did not sound like what I learned in French class. Also the English words erudite and anathema did not sound correct.
    1 hr 6 min
  • The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell Audiobook by Bertrand Rusell, Israel Bouseman
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    Title: The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell
    Subtitle: The Complete Work Plus an Overview, Chapter by Chapter Summary and Author Biography
    Author: Bertrand Rusell, Israel Bouseman
    Narrator: Bob Rundell
    Format: Unabridged
    Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins
    Language: English
    Release date: 12-30-16
    Publisher: AudioLearn
    Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 7 votes
    Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Artists, Writers, & Musicians
    Publisher's Summary:
    Bertrand Russell is, without a doubt, one of the most prominent and influential figures in philosophy in the 20th century. His work was a significant influence on minds such as Albert Einstein, Isaac Asimov, and Noam Chomsky. With The Problems of Philosophy, he brings a complicated subject into easy reach. Russell uses this work to highlight the main philosophical subjects examined through the course of history.
    The Problems of Philosophy reviews the ideas of notable philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Locke, Kant, and Hegel, while keeping to language anyone can grasp. True genius can explain a complex subject in simple terms, and Russell expresses his genius well in this small but comprehensive text. The Problems of Philosophy outlines philosophical inquiry in a way that opens it to the novice, while providing a valuable review for those well versed in the subject. A summary precedes the narration of the full text, giving a biography of the author and background information on the work. Also included are an overview, synopsis, and analysis.
    The summary is concluded with an examination of the historical context, criticisms, and social impact of Russell's work. This work is a must-hear for those interested in the field of philosophy, and an excellent introduction for the general listeners.
    Members Reviews:
    Where does Knowledge come from?
    Any additional comments?
    This is, hands down, my favorite work in Western philosophy. Russell speaks with a profound simplicity that takes the abstract arguments of some of the greatest Western philosophers in history and makes them clear as a bell. Philosophies such as idealism, Hegelian dialectics, and Kants exploration of synthetic a priori knowledge, while challenging enough from their authors to turn the aspiring philosopher off the subject altogether, become transparent and obvious in this work. Russell quickly and deftly explores all major philosophical developments since the separation between philosophy and theology. Whats more, he moves directly into the heart of epistemology, into the study of thought itself. All knowledge hinges upon how we think and how we come to perceive, believe, know, or evaluate truth. A study of this process is a necessary foundation for any serious philosophical or scientific pursuit.
    The work begins with a beautiful, simple, and yet quite profound exploration of matter and the nature of an external world. In a way, this reflects the beauty of philosophy itself. Certain things seem obvious and unquestionable. Like, I see a table before me. That means theres a table there. But wait maybe not. This is one of those arguments that one needs to have a philosophical bent in order to consider at all, and yet, theres something to it.
    Russell claims that philosophy is a tool to separate our assumptions from our knowledge. It operates through questions, asking us, do we really know what we think we know? How do we know this? He delves right into the core of this issue by examining the most fundamental aspect of human experience. What is the relation between appearance and reality?
    Most of us never question this. If we see something, then we believe it. Its there, and it seems foolish to think otherwise. But at the core of it, we never experience the thing itself.
    6 hr 7 min
  • A Lowcountry Heart Audiobook by Pat Conroy
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    Title: A Lowcountry Heart
    Subtitle: Reflections on a Writing Life
    Author: Pat Conroy
    Narrator: Scott Brick
    Format: Unabridged
    Length: 6 hrs and 1 min
    Language: English
    Release date: 10-25-16
    Publisher: Random House Audio
    Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 47 votes
    Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Artists, Writers, & Musicians
    Publisher's Summary:
    A Lowcountry Heart: Reflections on a Writing Life by Pat Conroy is a new nonfiction collection of letters, interviews, and magazine articles spanning Conroy's long literary career, supplemented by touching pieces from the beloved author's many friends.
    A Lowcountry Heart collects some of Conroy's most charming pieces of short nonfiction, many of them addressed directly to his listeners, with his habitual greeting: "Hey, out there". Ranging across diverse subjects such as favorite recent reads, the challenge of getting motivated to exercise, and processing the loss of dearly missed friends, Conroy's lighthearted and eminently memorable pieces offer a unique window into the life of a true titan of Southern writing.
    In addition, A Lowcountry Heart also includes some of Conroy's most beloved speeches and interviews and a beautiful introduction from his widow, the novelist Cassandra King. Finally, the collection turns to remembrances of The Great Conroy, as he is lovingly titled by friends, including his eulogy. This moving tribute is sure to be a cherished keepsake for any true Conroy fan and a lasting monument to one of the best-loved writers of contemporary American letters.
    Members Reviews:
    Great Love, Pat Conroy!
    Hey up there, Pat Conroy... I send Great Love!
    Many years ago (20?) I saw the movie The Prince of Tides and followed it up by reading the book. That was how I discovered the lovliness that is Pat Conroy. Since then I have read all of his books numerous times. He is easily one of my favorite authors. He writes with such lyrical beauty about pain and darkness. He reminds me that I love language; that I love the beauty of words. He reminds me that I am a reader and why I am a reader.
    Pat Conroy passed away on 4 March 2015. This death hits hard. Every reader could feel this one -- even if they don't know it yet.
    Thankfully Pat's publisher, wife and friends put together some of his blog posts as a gift to his readers -- a gift to me. I owe them a Thank You note!
    Scott Brick voices the book with emotion and tenderness... perfect for the words and the man.
    Pat Conroy was "A Great Love"
    Any additional comments?
    What a wonderful tribute to one of the greatest authors of modern times. Any fan of Mr. Conroy will be enthralled with this collection.One person who wrote a tribute was one of my favorite Southern writers,, Rick Bragg. It was beautiful, as was everything written by or for Pat.
    I don't know what it is about Southern writers but they are exquisite storytellers.
    I was truly devastated when I heard Mr. Conroy died last March. The idea of never having a new book of his to enjoy and savor was hard for me. I even had some close family and friends send ME condolences as they knew how much I loved this author. And to make things WORSE, he was working on a new novel at the time of his death.
    He was magic.I am so grateful for his body of work which will be mine forever. I haven't the words to describe how much I loved his books.
    My personal favorite was Beach Music. It's a shame Audible doesn't have the unabridged copy narrated by Frank Muller. It is absolutely breathtaking and I listen to it every year, as well as The Prince of Tides.
    6 hr 1 min
  • Fight Like a Girl Audiobook by Clementine Ford
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    Title: Fight Like a Girl
    Author: Clementine Ford
    Narrator: Clementine Ford
    Format: Unabridged
    Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
    Language: English
    Release date: 09-28-16
    Publisher: Audible Studios
    Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 43 votes
    Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Artists, Writers, & Musicians
    Publisher's Summary:
    'A friend recently told me that the things I write are powerful for her because they have the effect of making her feel angry instead of just empty. I want to do this for all women and young girls - to take the emptiness and numbness they feel about being a girl in this world and turn it into rage and power. I want to teach all of them how to fight like a girl.' (Clementine Ford)
    Online sensation, fearless feminist heroine and scourge of trolls and misogynists everywhere, Clementine Ford is a beacon of hope and inspiration to thousands of Australian women and girls. Her incendiary debut, Fight Like a Girl, is an essential manifesto for feminists new, old and soon to be and exposes just how unequal the world continues to be for women. Crucially, it is a call to arms for all women to rediscover the fury that has been suppressed by a society that still considers feminism a threat.
    Fight Like a Girl will make you laugh, cry and scream. But above all it will make you demand and fight for a world in which women have real equality and not merely the illusion of it.
    Members Reviews:
    inoculation against the status quo
    What made the experience of listening to Fight Like a Girl the most enjoyable?
    Clementine's raw honesty, humour and determination to hold a space for all of us to get woke
    What does Clementine Ford bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?
    Always love narration by the author - then I know I'm getting the whole story
    If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
    Are you brave enough? If not, why not?
    Where ever you are is ok, but for f***'s sake be thinking about it
    Any additional comments?
    Thank you and look forward to the next one x
    Phenomenally heartbreaking and rousing!
    I recommend this book to all women. This eloquently written book has helped me to to find my voice, when for so long I lacked the ability to fully articulate what I felt and experienced in the world. Thank you for all the other Clementines fighting the endless battle for equality while dealing with the deranged spotlight cast on them for doing so.
    Great reader and view of life
    I really enjoyed this book. I never thought of myself as a feminist and realized that my view was because I never really took the time to look up the term - feminism, noun: the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes. What woman doesn't want that? If you say 'me', it's because you probably are privileged or protected enough to have not been treated as less than equal. Please don't take that as an insult. I definitely do not intend it to be so. I grew up much like Clementine Ford, in a household which treated each individual with equal love.
    The main feeling I had during this book was thankfulness. I am thankful that people like Clementine Ford have the strength and abilities to do the kind of social work needed to fight for the liberation and equality of all. I am also very thankful for the excellent childhood I had full of a family and friends network of people who appreciated me as a person and didn't treat me as less than equal.
    officially inspired!!
    The story was very relatable as it went through the different stages of becoming a feminist.
    8 hr 38 min
  • Shirley Jackson Audiobook by Ruth Franklin
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    Title: Shirley Jackson
    Subtitle: A Rather Haunted Life
    Author: Ruth Franklin
    Narrator: Bernadette Dunne
    Format: Unabridged
    Length: 19 hrs and 24 mins
    Language: English
    Release date: 09-27-16
    Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
    Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 86 votes
    Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Artists, Writers, & Musicians
    Publisher's Summary:
    This historically relevant biography establishes Shirley Jackson as a towering figure in American literature and revives the life and work of a neglected master.
    Known to millions mainly as the author of the "The Lottery", Shirley Jackson has been curiously absent from the mainstream American literary canon. A genius of literary suspense and psychological horror, Jackson plumbed the cultural anxiety of postwar America more deeply than anyone. Ruth Franklin reveals the tumultuous life and inner darkness of the author of The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle.
    Placing Jackson within an American Gothic tradition stretching back to Hawthorne and Poe, Franklin demonstrates how her unique contribution to this genre came from her focus on "domestic horror". Almost two decades before The Feminine Mystique ignited the women's movement, Jackson's stories and nonfiction chronicles were already exploring the exploitation and the desperate isolation of women, particularly married women, in American society.
    Here Jackson emerges as a ferociously talented, determined, and prodigiously creative writer when it was unusual for a woman to have both a family and a profession. Mother of four and wife of a prominent New Yorker critic and academic, Jackson lived a seemingly bucolic life in Vermont. Yet, much like her stories, which explored the claustrophobia of marriage and motherhood, Jackson's creativity was haunted by a darker side. As her career progressed, her marriage became more tenuous, her anxiety mounted, and she became addicted to amphetamines and tranquilizers. Franklin insightfully details the effects of Jackson's upbringing, hypercritical mother, and relationship with her husband.
    Based on previously undiscovered correspondence and dozens of new interviews, this book explores an astonishing talent shaped by a damaging childhood and turbulent marriage and becomes the definitive biography of a generational avatar and American literary giant.
    Members Reviews:
    An incredible writer; a courageous woman
    Millions of Americans have read "The Lottery"--if you've ever wondered about the mind behind it, you will love this biography.
    Using new interviews and new correspondence, Ruth Franklin has produced a vivid yet nuanced portrait of Jackson, both as a writer and as a woman leading what was a very unconventional life for a member of The Greatest Generation. Her marriage was "mixed": her husband, critic Stanley Edgar Hyman, was Jewish at a time of widespread anti-semitism. Amid the racial bias of that era, some of the couple's friends, like novelist Ralph Ellison, were not white. Her more frightening works, like "The Lottery" and "The Haunting of Hill House," caused sensations when they were printed, and Jackson herself read tarot cards, claiming the label of "practicing amateur witch."
    Coexisting with all that, however, was a more conventional person, a writer whose funny family stories frequently appeared in magazines for "ladies," like Good Housekeeping and Mademoiselle. A mother of four herself, she produced a book of advice for new mothers.
    At the same time, neither version of Shirley Jackson was definitive--and neither was happy.
    19 hr 24 min
  • Diane Arbus Audiobook by Arthur Lubow
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    Title: Diane Arbus
    Subtitle: Portrait of a Photographer
    Author: Arthur Lubow
    Narrator: Coleen Marlo
    Format: Unabridged
    Length: 17 hrs and 52 mins
    Language: English
    Release date: 09-21-16
    Publisher: Tantor Audio
    Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 18 votes
    Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Artists, Writers, & Musicians
    Publisher's Summary:
    Diane Arbus brings to life the full story of one of the greatest American artists of the 20th century, a visionary who revolutionized photography and altered the course of contemporary art with her striking, now iconic images. Arbus comes startlingly to life here, a strong-minded child of unnerving originality who grew into a formidable artist. Arresting, unsettling, and poignant, her photographs stick in our minds. Why did these people fascinate her? And what was it about her that captivated them?
    It is impossible to understand the transfixing power of Arbus's photographs without understanding her life story. Arthur Lubow draws on exclusive interviews with Arbus's friends, lovers, and colleagues to explore her unique perspective. He deftly traces Arbus's development from a wealthy, sexually precocious free spirit into first a successful New York fashion photographer, and then a singular artist who coaxed hidden truths from her subjects. Lubow reveals that Arbus's profound need not only to see her subjects, but to be seen by them, drove her to forge unusually close bonds with these people, helping her discover the fantasies, pain, and heroism within each of them.
    Critic Reviews:
    "Lubow sharply captures Arbus' restlessness, pain, and artistic vision." (Kirkus)
    Members Reviews:
    Extraordinary!
    I loved this book! It is a beautifully written (and narrated) biography of an important artist.
    Not Enough About Her Photography
    I thought I was getting a story about the photo career. However, the book contained WAY too much info about her personal life. Mostly boring. "I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Blast."
    17 hr 52 min
  • Soul at the White Heat Audiobook by Joyce Carol Oates
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    Title: Soul at the White Heat
    Subtitle: Inspiration, Obsession, and the Writing Life
    Author: Joyce Carol Oates
    Narrator: Susan Ericksen
    Format: Unabridged
    Length: 15 hrs and 18 mins
    Language: English
    Release date: 09-20-16
    Publisher: HarperAudio
    Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 7 votes
    Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Artists, Writers, & Musicians
    Publisher's Summary:
    A new collection of critical and personal essays on the writing life, from National Book Award-winning and New York Times best-selling author Joyce Carol Oates.
    "Why do we write?"
    With this question Joyce Carol Oates, in this new collection of seminal essays and criticism, begins an imaginative exploration of the writing life and all its attendant anxieties, joys, and futilities. Leading her quest is a desire to understand the source of the writer's inspiration: Do subjects haunt those who might bring them back to life until the writer submits? Or does something "happen" to us, a sudden ignition of a burning flame? Can the appearance of a muse-like Other bring about a writer's best work?
    In Soul at the White Heat, Oates deploys her keenest critical faculties, conjuring contemporary and past voices whose work she deftly and creatively dissects for clues to these elusive questions. Virginia Woolf, John Updike, Emily Dickinson, Henry James, J. M. Coetzee, Margaret Atwood, Joan Didion, Zadie Smith, and many others appear as predecessors and peers - material through which Oates sifts in acting as literary detective, philosopher, and student. The book is at its most thrilling when watching the writer herself at work, and Oates provides rare insight into her own process in candid, self-aware dispatches from the author's writing room.
    Longtime admirers of Joyce Carol Oates' novels as well as her nonfiction will discover much to be inspired by and obsess upon in this inventive collection from an American master. As the New York Times has said of her essays, "Oates's writing has always seemed effortless: urgent, unafraid, torrential. She writes like a woman who walks into rough country and doesn't look back."
    Members Reviews:
    Book content overshadowed by illogical performance
    Where does Soul at the White Heat rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?
    Fairly low, I think, because it is so hard to listen to. I have been intrigued by the words I could catch, though. Joyce Carol Oates is a wonderful writer.
    What other book might you compare Soul at the White Heat to and why?
    I just listened to The Lost Landscape: A Writer's Coming of Age by the same author. I enjoyed it so much, I decided to give this book a try again. Such a disappointment.
    What didnt you like about Susan Ericksens performance?
    Her style of performance does not seem to work for me. Her words flow like predictable ocean waves with no apparent connection to meaning. It feels absurd, like conversing with someone whose verbal and nonverbal communications oppose each other.
    John Denver said his audiences suddenly began liking his concerts more after he took Pavarottis advice to concentrate on the meaning of each word as he sang it. Perhaps Ms. Ericksen might consider following this advice also.
    Any additional comments?
    This is a book I am going to have to read.
    15 hr 18 min
  • Libertarians on the Prairie Audiobook by Christine Woodside
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    Title: Libertarians on the Prairie
    Subtitle: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Making of the Little House Books
    Author: Christine Woodside
    Narrator: Gabra Zackman
    Format: Unabridged
    Length: 6 hrs and 13 mins
    Language: English
    Release date: 09-15-16
    Publisher: Audible Studios
    Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 22 votes
    Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Artists, Writers, & Musicians
    Publisher's Summary:
    Generations of children have fallen in love with the pioneer saga of the Ingalls family, of Pa and Ma, Laura and her sisters, and their loyal dog, Jack. Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books have taught millions of Americans about frontier life, giving inspiration to many and in the process becoming icons of our national identity. Yet few realize that this cherished best-selling series wandered far from the actual history of the Ingalls family and from what Laura herself understood to be central truths about pioneer life.
    In this groundbreaking narrative of literary detection, Christine Woodside reveals for the first time the full extent of the collaboration between Laura and her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane. Rose hated farming and fled the family homestead as an adolescent, eventually becoming a nationally prominent magazine writer, biographer of Herbert Hoover, and successful novelist, who shared the political values of Ayn Rand and became mentor to Roger Lea MacBride, the second Libertarian presidential candidate. Drawing on original manuscripts and letters, Woodside shows how Rose reshaped her mother's story into a series of heroic tales that rebutted the policies of the New Deal. Their secret collaboration would lead in time to their estrangement. A fascinating look at the relationship between two strong-willed women, Libertarians on the Prairie is also the deconstruction of an American myth.
    Skyhorse Publishing, along with our Arcade, Good Books, Sports Publishing, and Yucca imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. Our list includes biographies on well-known historical figures like Benjamin Franklin, Nelson Mandela, and Alexander Graham Bell, as well as villains from history, such as Heinrich Himmler, John Wayne Gacy, and O. J. Simpson. We have also published survivor stories of World War II, memoirs about overcoming adversity, first-hand tales of adventure, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times best seller or a national best seller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
    Members Reviews:
    Very Interested!!
    When I saw this book, I had to get it! I am a huge fan of the Little House books and enjoy learning more about Laura, Rose, and how the stories came to be. I own multiple sets of the Little House series, as well as some of the books about Rose, some stories Rose wrote, and Laura's origional manuscript "Pioneer Girl" but none of these books tell how the stories came to be written, at least not enough! I had heard some talk about Rose actually writing the stories and was interested in hearing more about it! This book did a wonderful job of giving this information I so seeked. The narrator did a great job of narrating, as well.
    For the "Little House" Enthusiast.
    Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
    Yes - if they have read the Little House books and wish to know more about their creation.
    Have you listened to any of Gabra Zackmans other performances before? How does this one compare?
    No. She did a very good job. Made this non fiction book interesting.
    6 hr 13 min

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