Get Most Popular Full Audiobooks in Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

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Title: Alone Like a Stone in the New World, a.k.a. All These Things

Author: Margy Rochlin

Narrator: Margy Rochlin

Length: 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-21-00

Publisher: Jay Allison Productions

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Writer Margy Rochlin wonders why they're tearing down her favorite buildings in Los Angeles. Come to think of it, why is her family selling her grandmother's house in Arizona? The things we keep that remind us of who we were are the subject of this documentary produced by Jay Allison and Christina Egloff.

©1993 Jay Allison

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Title: Call Me Madame Esme

Author: Esme Codell

Narrator: Esme Codell

Length: 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-21-00

Publisher: Jay Allison Productions

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

This is the diary of Esme Raji Codell, a first-year teacher at a Chicago public school. Codell describes the frustrations - incompetent administrators, abusive parents, gang members and, at times, her own insecurities - she encountered when she began her teaching career in this inner-city school and the unique ways she approached them. As Codell puts it, she has "Thirty-one children. Thirty-one chances. Thirty-one futures, our futures. Everything they become, I also become." Her portrait of this struggling elementary school is funny, poignant, and inspiring. Her struggle to maintain individuality in the face of bureaucracy and her defiant stand against mediocrity reverberates in companies as well as classrooms everywhere.

You can also read Esme Raji Codell's first-hand account in her book,

©1999 Jay Allison

Members Reviews:

The BEST!

I keep listening to this one over and over...always make me laugh, inspired and other good stuff.

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Title: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Author: Robert M. Pirsig

Narrator: Michael Kramer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-17-00

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 3450 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is an elemental work that has helped to shape and define the past 25-years of American culture. This special audio edition presents this adventure in an exciting new way - for the millions who have already taken this journey and want to travel these roads again, and for the many more who will discover for the first time the wonders and challenges of a story that will change the way they think and feel about their lives. Unique to audio, this edition features a new introduction by the author.

Critic Reviews:

"Profoundly important...intellectual entertainment of the highest order." (The New York Times)

"Brave wanderings, high adventures, extraordinary risks...A horn of plenty." (Los Angeles Times)

Members Reviews:

definitive version, hasn't aged too badly

Given that a 1970s back-to-the-natural ethic seems quite weak today (being too over the top in some ways and way too unevolved in others), and that the metaphysics that tries to be at the center of this book does not really seem to have much traction (there is just not enough details for it to really qualify as modern philosophy), it seems surprising to say that this book has mostly stood the test of time. But it really has. The road-trip/soul-exploration archetype and metaphor still works well. The autobiographical character remains fascinating, as does his understated relationship with other characters (and the world more generally). The 1970s view of the world is naive enough to be amusingly quaint, and yet contains some enduring wisdom (something that reviewers of the book 20 years ago could never have known). The scholarly-intellectual part (the "metaphysics of quality") is thin, but is does provide a really interesting story of what it is like to be an iconoclastic professor (speaking as one :-). Above all else, this story does a better job than modern self-help books in helping the reader reflect on many things that matter.

The strongest argument for downloading this, though, is that the audio version has to be the definitive version. Many books are just fine in audio form; very few are actually better to listen to than to read. This one is one of the latter. It is written as an oral history, in the spirit of the Chautauqua that is the author's own view of the story he is telling. I do not recall noticing this when I read it years ago, but it really cries out to be read out loud. The reader does a very good job of it, bringing alive to this 38-year-old a book that normally resonates better with teenagers or baby-boomers who remember it fondly from when it first came out. To really do yourself a favor, listen to it on a long driving trip or while walking in the woods.

Beware of the Intro.

If you are like me and haven't read this book before then I would recommend skipping the intro. I had the misfortune of listening to it and it gave deep meanings of the book which I couldn't help but look for at every point in the book.

Good book though.

Essential reading for everyone

A life changer. I read this book 35 years ago and it changed my life. I listened to it last week and it was even better. It is a metaphor for our entire culture. This book should be mandatory reading for every high school senior. Forget Catcher in the Rye. this book is about living a life that is worthwhile and satisfying.

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Title: Angela's Ashes

Author: Frank McCourt, Jeannette Walls - introduction

Narrator: Frank McCourt, Jeannette Walls - introduction

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 9 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-16-99

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 6061 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Pulitzer Prize, Biography/Autobiography, 1997

National Book Critics Circle, Biography/Autobiography, 1997

Frank McCourt's Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, movingly read in his own voice, bears all the marks of a classic. Born in Depression-era Brooklyn to Irish immigrant parents, Frank was later raised in the slums of Limerick, Ireland. His mother, Angela, had no money to feed her children since Frank's father, Malachy, rarely worked, and when he did, he drank his wages. Angela's Ashes is the story of how Frank endured - wearing shoes repaired with tires, begging for a pig's head for Christmas dinner, and searching the pubs for his father - a tale he relates with eloquence, exuberance, and remarkable forgiveness.

Listen to Frank McCourt talk about this book on C-SPAN's Booknotes (7/11/97).

Critic Reviews:

"Frank McCourt is a marvelous writer whose words are made all the better when he reads them aloud..." (Bookpage)"...one of the best I've heard in years." (The Boston Globe)"...so good it deserves a sequel" (The New York Times)

Members Reviews:

A classic book *and* a classic audiobook

Sometimes the audio version of a good book can be ruined by a bad reader (too much Broadway or something). And sometimes a good reader can cause a book that's boring on paper to come alive in the audio version. But it's a rare and wonderful combination when a top-notch book is brought to life in a top-notch way by its own author in the audio version, especially if it's a memoir. This is an example of that blessed phenomenon. Some people find Angela's Ashes to be depressing, but I find it to be just the opposite. McCourt's attitude is inspiring. He got through his terrible childhood, and triumphed. The pathos is generously tempered with humor. I love this book, and I love to listen to McCourt himself read it to me.

Don't Hesitate, Listen!

I hesitated on getting this book. All I had envisioned about this story, including the picture on the book cover, told me it would be a sad, dark, and depressing tale. But nothing could be further from the truth.

Ethnic tales have always captivated me, but they were usually stories from MY ehtnic background. I am not irish and this tale still cpativated me. The child's perspective was so true ...like not understanding what it meant to die for one's country. And the author was able to bring this out in his own voice so well.

Many literary masterpieces leave me cold. But not this one. I truly understand why the Pulitzer was awarded. Nothing was sugar coated. There were awful things that happened, yet the hope came out. Whether his parents were stupid, or loosers, or just plain ignorant ...they were his parents and he loved them. And they loved him. We should all be so lucky.

A real page turner

I absolutely loved this book. Be patient at the beginning, as the book is read by an old man from a child's perspective. Once you get used to this, it is a joy. I cried and laughed. Frank's accent makes this book absolutely priceless in audio format. Though I wasn't raised in poverty or with an alcoholic father, I was struck by how much I related to Frank's childhood experiences. His treatment of sex, religion, and the general anxieties that accompany adolescence really hit home with me.

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Title: Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!

Author: Richard P. Feynman

Narrator: Raymond Todd

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-16-99

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 5407 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

With his characteristic eyebrow-raising behavior, Richard P. Feynman once provoked the wife of a Princeton dean to remark, "Surely you're joking, Mr. Feynman!" But the many scientific and personal achievements of this Nobel Prize-winning physicist are no laughing matter. In addition to solving the mystery of liquid helium, Feynman has been commissioned to paint a naked female toreador and asked to crack the uncrackable safes guarding the atomic bomb's most critical secrets. He has traded ideas with Einstein and Bohr, discussed gambling odds with Nick the Greek, and accompanied a ballet on the bongo drums. Here, woven with his scintillating views on modern science, Feynman relates the defining moments of his accomplished life.

©1985 by Richard P. Feynman; (P)1997 by Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic Reviews:

"A chain reaction is not a bad analogy for Feynman's life. From a critical mass of gray matter it goes off in all directions, producing both heat and light." (Time)

Members Reviews:

Hilarious and inspiring

I didn't know quite what to expect with this book. But I found Feynman's life to be quite inspiring, and hilarious every step of the way. I didn't know his name before, but he's an instant idol of mine.

What was Mr. Feynman like?

If you have any idea of the influence this scientist on the world of physics you should love hearing how he came up with his ideas. If you don't all the more reason to learn about this unique and fastinating man. I had a great deal of trouble with the tone of the narrator and found it distracting. I prefer a straight read without an attempt to mimic the speach of the author. This is subjective, but you might want to check it out to see if you would prefer to read than listen to this fastinating book. A look into the thought processes of a genius. Check it out!

A wonderful book...

I'd heard of this guy but had never got around to actually reading any of his books. This is a great way to get to know Mr Feynman without getting into physics, maths, etc. The narrator does an amazing job. By far the best book I have read/listened in a long time. And yes, I did laugh out loud in public a couple of times.

Well Worth the Read

If you don't openly smile while listening to this book (particularly the first 60% of it) then you've passed on. A physicist with a sense of humor should not be missed.

Inspiring book, HORRIBLE reader.

It's a testament to Feynman's interesting life and perspective that I was able to sit through a reading by what I consider the absolute worst reader ever. Listen to a sample of this one before buying it. The reader uses the same limited cadence and inflection for everything! From a funny story about a cocktail party to a death in the family, the reader's delivery is static. To make things worse, he reads everything with what sounds to me like a haughty, almost concieted tone. Feynman was well known for his self confidence, but not for arrogance.

As for the content of the book, only a small percentage is directly related to physics. This book has more insights on how to live life than anything.

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Title: Storm Stories

Subtitle: Weather Dog

Narrator: Jim Cantore

Format: Unabridged

Length: 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-31-07

Publisher: The Weather Channel Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Brad and Janine Stickleman may have the best tornado warning system in all of Nebraska. When their dog, Champ, headed straight for the basement on May 17, 2000, they knew that the eerie skies were holding a lot more than they could have ever imagined. It started with baseball-sized hail and ended with a mound of destruction caused by an F-3 tornado. Just before the storm hit, Champ took off up the basement stairs. The twister destroyed the Stickleman's home, but their biggest concern was Champ.

©2007 The Weather Channel Inc.; (P)2007 The Weather Channel Inc.

Members Reviews:

Better Than Others of this Ilk

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

As this is only .95, it's a nice little listen. Don't think you're going to get in-depth coverage of anything; it's just a relation of a couple of isolated incidents.

If youve listened to books by The Weather Channel before, how does this one compare?

At least this Weather Channel snippet uses background audio of the actual events throughout. There are no canned sounds to make a point. (In one I've listened to in the past, it was punctuated with, "Meow!" and "Woof!") Here, there's audio of the storm chasers.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

This is obviously done by a professional who is used to being on the air and delivering lines with maximum drama. No problem with that.

Was Storm Stories worth the listening time?

Sure, this was barely over 21 minutes. How can I begrudge that?

Any additional comments?

This is a decent little ditty to listen to in between listening to other audiobooks. It's nice to take a breather every now and then, and the storyline here is fairly compelling (with the animals), and the narrator delivers with an urgency that's not too melodramatic.

But if you'd like to save your .95, you're not going to miss anything out-of-this-world exciting...

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Title: Washington D.C. Riots: Then and Now

Author: Dan Collison

Narrator: Larry Massett, Debra Morris

Format: Original Recording

Length: 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-03-17

Publisher: Soundprint

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

The 1968 Washington, D.C. riots and the federal government's response altered the social and political climate of the nation's capitol. Producer Dan Collison presents a portrait of Washington, D.C. in 1988 against a backdrop of history, drawn from the perspectives of a variety of individuals, including Ira Sabin, a record store owner, Lillian Johnson Green, a jazz club and restaurant owner, community activist Ruth Webster, poet Gaston Neal, the mayor in 1988, Marion Barry and Senator Fred Harris, a member of the Kerner Commission. Told in the first person by writer Debra Morris, the documentary looks at the conditions which brought on the riots then, and visits neighborhoods to see what the conditions and attitudes are twenty years later.

The Soundprint documentary series features the best work of top radio producers. The award winning documentaries are renowned for drawing the listener into the story with compelling interviews, authentic voices and rich sound. From memoirs to science, health and popular culture, Soundprint creates a powerful experience the listener will not soon forget. Here are some related Soundprint documentaries:

Keysville, GA: Old Dreams, New South Produced by: Dan Collison

Remembering Kent State Produced by: Mark Urycki

Sleeping Through the Dream Produced by: Askia Muhammad

Soundprint Executive Producer: Moira Rankin

Senior Producer: Neenah Ellis

Technical Director: Anna Maria de Freitas

Associate Producer: Debra Morris

Audio Engineer: Dave Patschke

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Title: Radio 1: The Inside Scene

Author: Johnny Beerling

Narrator: Johnny Beerling

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-31-17

Publisher: One Media iP Ltd

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Delve into the past with Johnny Beerling as he shares stories of awe and wonder from his time with Britain's favourite radio station. Learn how he gained musical identity, staged the first ever British Rock and Pop Awards, and toured the country with the Radio 1 Roadshow, the biggest daily audience show that the BBC ever initiated. You'll quickly deplore the fact that things just ain't how they used to be.

Johnny Beerling is one of radio's most prominent individuals; he produced Radio 1's first ever program in '67 and quickly became a world-class radio producer and station controller. He was controller of Radio 1 from 1985-93, and to no one's surprise he won the Ferguson Award in '92 for his Outstanding Contribution to Music Radio and was elected President of the Television and Radio Industry Club of Great Britain in '93; he was even presented with a Sony Award for Outstanding Services to the Radio Industry that same year. And this is his story, written and read by the legend himself.

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Title: I, Danny

Subtitle: A History of Zoom

Author: Dan Gediman

Narrator: Dan Gediman

Length: 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-14-02

Publisher: Jay Allison Productions

Ratings: 1 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Dan Gediman tells the story of how he was cast, at age 10, in the public TV show Zoom, which aired from 1972 to 1979. He was cut from the cast before the show ever went on the air, so for years, he lied about it. He let friends believe he was on Zoom. In this special half-hour story, produced by Jay Allison as part of his Life Stories series, Gediman tracks down the original Zoom cast members to find out what his life would've been like if he had achieved his childhood dream of being on Zoom.

I, Danny: A History of Zoom originally aired on the public radio show,

©1998 Jay Allison

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Title: The Princess Diarist

Author: Carrie Fisher

Narrator: Billie Lourd, Carrie Fisher

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-22-16

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 4407 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

2018 GRAMMY Award for Best Spoken Word Album

The Princess Diarist is Carrie Fisher's intimate, hilarious and revealing recollection of what happened behind the scenes on one of the most famous film sets of all time, the first Star Wars movie.

PEOPLE magazine Best Book of Fall 2016

New York Times Best-seller

Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi, featuring Carrie Fisher, is scheduled for release on December 15, 2017. Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds debuted on HBO in January 2017.

When Carrie Fisher recently discovered the journals she kept during the filming of the first Star Wars movie, she was astonished to see what they had preserved - plaintive love poems, unbridled musings with youthful naiveté, and a vulnerability that she barely recognized. Today, her fame as an author, actress, and pop-culture icon is indisputable, but in 1977, Carrie Fisher was just a teenager with an all-consuming crush on her costar, Harrison Ford.

With these excerpts from her handwritten notebooks, The Princess Diarist is Fisher's intimate and revealing recollection of what happened on one of the most famous film sets of all time - and what developed behind the scenes. Fisher also ponders the joys and insanity of celebrity, and the absurdity of a life spawned by Hollywood royalty, only to be surpassed by her own outer-space royalty. Laugh-out-loud hilarious and endlessly quotable, The Princess Diarist brims with the candor and introspection of a diary while offering shrewd insight into the type of stardom that few will ever experience.

Members Reviews:

Fireworks at Midnight

"I am someone who wants very much to be popular. I don't just want you to like me, I want to be one of the most joy-inducing human beings that you've ever encountered. I want to explode on your night sky like fireworks at midnight on New Year's Eve in Hong Kong."

--Carrie Fisher, The Princess Diarist

I very much enjoyed the experience of listening to this book, and I think if you're a Carrie Fisher fan (a fan of this author's previous works, especially the hilarious and autobiographical Wishful Drinking), you will like it a lot. But please don't buy this book or use a credit on it expecting to hear what it was like to participate in the making of the original Star Wars movies, or you'll be terribly disappointed. The "diaries" are just a selection of painfully sad love poems (maing up approximately the middle one-fifth of the book) all relating to Fisher's feelings of longing, self-doubt, guilt, and almost unendurable loneliness during her unsatisfying (to say the least!!) three-month affair with Harrison Ford during the making of the first film. Those poems are read very well by Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd, who movingly conveys the anguish felt by the achingly insecure, inexperienced 19-year-old Carrie as she wonders poetically why her haughty, silent, aloof costar (a married father of two in his mid-thirties) doesn't love her. But you'll still feel cheated if you were expecting ANY (much less many) anecdotes from the movie set.

The three-fourths or four-fifths of the book before and after the poetry segment is about what it's been like for the author to lead her life in the shadow of her Princess Leia character. It's quite meandering and some of it feels like filler, but it's very much worth listening to.