Listen to Top 100 Audiobooks in Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

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Title: Outlaw Platoon

Subtitle: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan

Author: John Bruning, Sean Parnell

Narrator: Ray Porter

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-28-12

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2245 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

In combat, men measure up. Or don't. There are no second chances.

In this vivid account of the U.S. Army's legendary 10th Mountain Division's heroic stand in the mountains of Afghanistan, Captain Sean Parnell shares an action-packed and highly emotional true story of triumph, tragedy, and the extraordinary bonds forged in battle.

At 24 years of age, U.S. Army Ranger Sean Parnell was named commander of a forty-man elite infantry platoon - a unit that came to be known as the Outlaws - and was tasked with rooting out Pakistan-based insurgents from a mountain valley along Afghanistan's eastern frontier. Parnell and his men assumed they would be facing a ragtag bunch of civilians, but in May 2006 what started out as a routine patrol through the lower mountains of the Hindu Kush became a brutal ambush. Barely surviving the attack, Parnell's men now realized that they faced the most professional and seasoned force of light infantry the U.S. Army had encountered since the end of World War II.

What followed was 16 months of close combat, over the course of which the platoon became Parnell's family: from Staff Sergeant Greg Greeson, the wise, chain-smoking veteran who never lost his cool; to Specialist Robert Pinholt, a buttoned-down conservative with the heart of a warrior and the mind of an economist; to Staff Sergeant Phil Baldwin, the platoon's voice of calm and reason, a man who sacrificed everything following the events of 9/11 - career, home, financial stability - to serve his country. But the cost of battle was high for these men: Over 80 percent were wounded in action, putting their casualty rate among the highest since Gettysburg, and not all of them made it home.

A searing and unforgettable story of friendship in battle, Outlaw Platoon brings to life the intensity and raw emotion of those 16 months, showing how the fight reshaped the lives of Parnell and his men and how the love and faith they found in one another ultimately kept them alive.

This audiobook is enhanced with a downloadable PDF containing photographs from the hardcover edition.

Members Reviews:

Great book...Everyone should listen to this book!!

I want to start off by saying that I have several hundred audio books and have enjoyed most and loved some. I always make sure to rate books that I listen to using the star system, however I have never sat down and composed a full review. This book moved me in ways that I find hard to express. There were times in this book that I was incredibly angry, times when I was happy for the guys of Outlaw Platoon, and times that caused me to tear up. War brings out the best and worst of humanity, it shows us what kind of people that we share the planet with. This book was by far the best audio book that I have ever listened to. I have to mention that there are some parts of the book that I found to be very disturbing, although the very nature of war has a way of being very disturbing at times. The lengths that the enemy will go to to inflict pain into coalition forces is savage. The camaraderie and brotherhood of Outlaw Platoon is absolutely amazing. I do not have the time to review books like I should, but this book moved me in so many ways that I though that it was important to do so.

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Title: The Seamstress

Author: Sara Tuvel Bernstein, Louise Loots Thornton, Marlene Bernstein Samuels

Narrator: Wanda McCaddon

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-30-11

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1149 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Audie Award Winner, Biography and Memoir, 2013

Told with the same old-fashioned narrative power as the novels of Herman Wouk, The Seamstress is the true story of Seren (Sara) Tuvel Bernstein and her survival during wartime. This powerful eyewitness account of survival, told with power and grace, will stay with listeners for years to come.

Critic Reviews:

"There are many recent accounts of Holocaust victims, but this work stands alone as a testimony to personal strength and an independent spirit." (Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

Overcome with Emotion

My grandfather had a premonition and fled Germany before the war. My mother was ten when they emigrated to the United States. Our family lost a lot of family and friends.

When I listened to this memoir Wanda McCaddon's voice brought back memories of my grandmother's voice. My grandmother taught me to sew.

This is a truly riveting story of one woman and her family's survival during the Hitler regime. I've read a lot about the war. I have to keep reading about it. It's part of the fabric of my people. This history must be kept alive.

I am a seamstress and sewed the whole time I listened to this audiobook. My latest quilt got wet from all the tears I shed listening to Sara Turvel's story. I'm so glad she had her story finally published.

Great book. Hope many more read it!

Obviously, this type of book isn't for everyone, because, even if you're generally interested, it can weigh you down a bit. I devoured it in a short time, but even then, took a few breaks just to lighten my mood. That being said, it isn't horrible in terms of violence or extreme scenes, and overall is uplifting. I really would hope it would get more coverage, because the story and the treatment of it both wonderful. The writer (or writers, more precisely) kept just the right emotional tone, where what has to be dealt with, whatever it is in the story, is being dealt with, just as you would experience it firsthand, if it were you. One forgets that at every stage in the increasing horrors that happened under the Nazis, those experiencing them only dealt with what was in front of their eyes at that moment, with no context that we have now in hindsight. More than most books of this genre, this seems to allow you to feel the moment to moment reality yourself in a way that is very engaging and satisfying. That was part of the message of the book, really, that each relationship we have, each person in themselves, is valuable, which is the essential horror of the holocaust that for that time and for those people, they rejected that concept in such a profound way.

Slow to start; Hard to Put Down

This book contains some real nice hidden gems. I ordered the paper version when I finished. read it! Your life will be enhanced.

One of the most moving books...............

An incredible story of a survivor both of the holocaust and post-war Germany. And one of the most moving depictions of how the events unfolded that convinced the Jewish people to pack their valuables peacefully and surrender. There is a point in the book when Sara and her sisters dig in the dirt for tiny grass roots to eat and another where they risk their lives to steal a radish. And, you feel a small glimpse of what it must be like to experience true hunger.... I cried.

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Title: An Invisible Thread

Subtitle: The True Story of an 11-Year-Old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny

Author: Laura Schroff, Alex Tresniowski

Narrator: Pam Ward

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-26-11

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 816 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

In the tradition of the New York Times best-seller The Blind Side, The Invisible Thread tells of the unlikely friendship between a busy executive and a disadvantage young boy, and how both of their lives changed forever.

Critic Reviews:

"[A] feel-good story about the far-reaching benefits of kindness." (

Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Feels like a diary excerpt

I read at night and listen in the car, and this book actually suffered from my listening to it. The narrator was older than I pictured the author, and her voice lacked the cadence and empathetic tone I felt when I read the author's words.

I wish this book had been just one story. Ms. Schroff is clearly not a writer, as some of her prose had the feel of high school English. She gave us TOO many details of her life, when the story about she and Maurice was really the point of the book. Her relationship with her father never made sense and really muddled my feeling that she had good judgment. Again, her ex-husband equally made me question her judgment, as anyone of any age could have sniffed out infidelity on the first weekend away.

Ms. Schroff deserves applause for the difference she makes in the life of this boy. Just tell THAT story. Perhaps an abridged version of this can stick to the main story and skip the family pain and melodrama. It might be part of the thread, but it adds little to an appreciation of the life she built after meeting Maurice.

Amazing but painful

What did you like best about An Invisible Thread? What did you like least?

I found the book interesting, but painful. Both main characters had very difficult, dangerous and abusive childhoods, albeit, very different problems. Something in common, however, was that both had a parent with severe substance abuse problems. It is amazing that they both survived, but more amazing is that they both emerged as productive, successful adults. But, this was not the kind of story that I wanted to read. I wanted a feel good story of rescue and redemption. Instead, I got a story of survival. I loved "Blind Side" and was hoping for a story on that level. Instead, this is a story of two very damaged, destructive families and two survivors who come together to help each other. Yes, it has a happy ending, but getting through the journey was painful.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

It is what it is. Changing the story would have made it fiction.

What about Pam Wards performance did you like?

Well read with emotion. Great performance.

Was An Invisible Thread worth the listening time?

Maybe. If you want a story of survival, this is the story for you. I can certainly see this story giving someone hope and power. If you are feeling rather "beat up" and you need a happy story, pass over this one.

An invisible thread will tug at your heart strings

I love true stories and this is a wonderful one. Two people from different backgrounds, social standings and ages are brought together under unusual circumstances that ended up changing each others lives forever in ways they could never have foreseen... Not your typical love story, but a story of love.. Absolutely worth the listen/read..

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Title: Warriors Don't Cry

Subtitle: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High

Author: Melba Pattillo Beals

Narrator: Lisa Reneé Pitts

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 40 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-07-11

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 238 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

The landmark 1954 Supreme Court ruling, Brown v. Board of Education, brought the promise of integration to Little Rock, Arkansas, but it was hard-won for the nine black teenagers chosen to integrate Central High School in 1957. They ran a gauntlet flanked by a rampaging mob and a heavily armed Arkansas National Guard-opposition so intense that soldiers from the elite 101st Airborne Division were called in to restore order. For Melba Beals and her eight friends those steps marked their transformation into reluctant warriors - on a battlefield that helped shape the civil rights movement.

Warriors Don't Cry, drawn from Melba Beals's personal diaries, is a riveting true account of her junior year at Central High-one filled with telephone threats, brigades of attacking mothers, rogue police, fireball and acid-throwing attacks, economic blackmail, and, finally, a price upon Melba's head. With the help of her English-teacher mother; her eight fellow warriors; and her gun-toting, Bible-and-Shakespeare-loving grandmother, Melba survived. And, incredibly, from a year that would hold no sweet-sixteen parties or school plays, Melba Beals emerged with indestructible faith, courage, strength, and hope.

Critic Reviews:

"Beals, one of the nine black students who integrated Central High School in Little Rock, AR, in 1957, tells an incredible story of faith, family love, friendships, and strong personal commitment." (

School Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

Proud of My Race? Well, Proud of Shared Humanity!

Based on her diaries and on her English teacher mother's copious notes and newspaper clippings, this memoir comes on challenging, hard-hitting, and with a human warmth that you just hunger for. Melba is the perfect personification for the huge challenge of Central High's integration--not that the other individuals aren't worthwhile, but there's just such a strength within her innocence, such love and gentleness within her steely resilience, it's just overwhelming at times. She was a young girl; she was a soldier. And she always questioned segregation and second-class citizenship: Why isn't ever our turn? She was perfect for the challenges she later faced (challenges that would've, quite honestly, broken me).

Right away, from the time the law has changed, Melba is thrust into the world of adults with big ideas--those that further grand designs, and those that further threats of violence. And right away, the violence, at least turns real.

This memoir is chock full of the politics, the violence of the time, but it's also full of the freshness of the heart, of a girl who just wants to be her age and go to a pajama party (but who isn't invited due to fears it might be targeted for violence if she went), of a girl whose grandmother hammers in a painting and she frantically wakes up, dreaming that she's been shot.

And you know, it's bad enough the violence children inflict up each other, but it's drop-dead horrific the twisted hatred adults will bear towards the innocent. This memoir has anger, blood, and fire.

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Title: Kisses from Katie

Subtitle: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption

Author: Katie Davis, Beth Clark

Narrator: Jaimee Draper

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-04-11

Publisher: Oasis Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 552 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

My life in the red dirt of Uganda...

"Sometimes I want to spend hours talking with my best friends about boys and fashion and school and life. I want to go to the gym; I want my hair to look nice; I want to be allowed to wear jeans. I want to be a normal young woman living in America, sometimes. But I want other things more. All the time. I want to be spiritually and emotionally filled every day. I want to be loved and cuddled by a hundred children and never go a day without laughing. I want to wake up to a roosters crow and open my eyes to see lush green trees that seem to pulse with life against a piercing blue sky and the rusty red soil of Uganda. I want to be challenged endlessly. I want to be taught by those I teach, and I want to share Gods love with people who otherwise might not know it. I want to work so hard that I end every day filthy and too tired to move. I want to make some kind of difference, no matter how small, and I want to follow the calling God has placed on my heart. I want to give my life away, to serve the Lord with each breath. At the end of the day, no matter how hard, I want to be right here in Uganda." -Katie Davis

Members Reviews:

This book changed my life!

Wow! Wow! Wow! A must-read folks. Even though I'm much older than she is, I still want to be like Katie when I grow up. :-) Such a wonderful journey and so happy to be educated on how I too can make a difference.

So beautiful

What made the experience of listening to Kisses from Katie the most enjoyable?

The wonder and love that is contained in every word. I loved the stories of how she came to adopt her children.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Katie, hello! I so wanted to do that when I grew up. In another life/time I am Katie. She is so amazing. Hearing how God has worked through her is just awesome.

Have you listened to any of Jaimee Drapers other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. But I really loved her voice. She did a great job.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

God speaks, Katie listens.

Any additional comments?

So very touching.

A greatly inspiring listen!

If you could sum up Kisses from Katie in three words, what would they be?

Passion, Humility, Christ-likeness

What did you like best about this story?

The dedication and passion of Katie. She doesn't hesitate to talk about her weakness and difficulties, but always is obedient to God's Love in Christ. She is truly an inspiration and and encouragement! The effect of her love towards those orphans can not be measured!

What does Jaimee Draper bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

She had a voice that made you believe that it was Katie herself who was reading the story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, I enjoyed listening to one or two chapters at a time.

Any additional comments?

Recommend this book highly!

Cried like a little girl

Would you consider the audio edition of Kisses from Katie to be better than the print version?

Didn't read the print...so I can't answer that question.

What did you like best about this story?

It is great to see a real person do what seems to be an impossible task.

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Title: Failure Is Not an Option

Subtitle: Mission Control from Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond

Author: Gene Kranz

Narrator: Danny Campbell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-29-11

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1789 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Gene Kranz was present at the creation of America's manned space program and was a key player in it for three decades. As a flight director in NASA's Mission Control, Kranz witnessed firsthand the making of history. He participated in the space program from the early days of the Mercury program to the last Apollo mission, and beyond. He endured the disastrous first years when rockets blew up and the United States seemed to fall further behind the Soviet Union in the space race. He helped to launch Alan Shepard and John Glenn, then assumed the flight director's role in the Gemini program, which he guided to fruition. With his teammates, he accepted the challenge to carry out President John F. Kennedy's commitment to land a man on the moon before the end of the 1960s.

Kranz was flight director for both Apollo 11, the mission in which Neil Armstrong fulfilled President Kennedy's pledge, and Apollo 13. He headed the Tiger Team that had to figure out how to bring the three Apollo 13 astronauts safely back to Earth. (In the film Apollo 13, Kranz was played by the actor Ed Harris, who earned an Academy Award nomination for his performance.)

In Failure Is Not an Option, Gene Kranz recounts these thrilling historic events and offers new information about the famous flights. What appeared as nearly flawless missions to the moon were, in fact, a series of hair-raising near misses. When the space technology failed, as it sometimes did, the controllers' only recourse was to rely on their skills and those of their teammates. Kranz takes us inside Mission Control and introduces us to some of the whiz kids - still in their twenties, only a few years out of college - who had to figure it all out as they went along, creating a great and daring enterprise. He reveals behind-the-scenes details to demonstrate the leadership, discipline, trust, and teamwork that made the space program a success.

Critic Reviews:

"Plenty of books (and several films) have already tried to depict the space program's excitement; few of their creators had the first-person experience or the attention to detail Krantz has, whose role as flight control "White" his readers will admire or even wish to emulate." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

A wonderful story told beautifully.

The story of the space race as told from inside mission control. This beautifully told story illustrates the right stuff that was part of the American race to space.

Gene talks about his experiences and impressions dr the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions. The technical detail and log book like rebelling of the missions recreates the wonder, enthusiasm and menace of NASA's missions. Placing the events in political context adds a depth and honesty to a work.

The only downside is the extensive use of acronyms throughout. Although the folks involved would have mastered the various abbreviated names rapidly during the months of planning and training, I found that nearly listening, I struggled to master all the acronyms on the trot. Fortunately I am able to listen again as this is definitely a book that will will be listened to more than once.

Excellent Book!

What made the experience of listening to Failure Is Not an Option the most enjoyable?

Excellent book! If you love the Space program then you must read or listen to this book.

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Title: A Stolen Life

Subtitle: A Memoir

Author: Jaycee Dugard

Narrator: Jaycee Dugard

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-12-11

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 2398 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

"In the summer of 1991 I was a normal kid. I did normal things. I had friends and a mother who loved me. I was just like you. Until the day my life was stolen. For eighteen years I was a prisoner. I was an object for someone to use and abuse. For eighteen years I was not allowed to speak my own name. I became a mother and was forced to be a sister. For eighteen years I survived an impossible situation. On August 26, 2009, I took my name back. My name is Jaycee Lee Dugard. I dont think of myself as a victim. I survived. A Stolen Life is my story in my own words, in my own way, exactly as I remember it."

Members Reviews:

Terrific

Jaycee does a terrific job of telling her story. It is heart wrenchingly honest and gives amazing insight into both the worst of human beings and the strongest. She does jump around a bit so you have to follow close and give it your full attention.

I would caution anybody who is not sure about reading something so tragic. There are parts that will make you downright sick. However not all of it is just horrid. If you can get through the tough parts, there are many hopeful parts as well

As far as listening to it versus reading it. I think it is great Jaycee narrated it herself, however she is not a practiced or professional narrator. She has a bit of a lisp that you get used to but can be distracting. If any of these things will distract a listener from the story they should read it instead because it's worth it!

Book powerful, narration not so much

I'm reluctant to criticize at all for fear of being beat up by other reviewers who seem to think any negative criticism is criticism against Jaycee herself - but here goes: I almost stopped listening on numerous occasions - her story is incredible on so many levels and I applaud Jaycee for writing it and for sharing her story. I kept reminding myself that if she could endure so many years of what she went through, I could withstand listening to it - it's tough to hear what she had to endure! I also find myself a little more aware and so many of us take for granted our safety in our cars or bedrooms as we're listening to this story - sadly, there are other young children with similar or worse fates than Jaycee. The criticism I have, and it's a strong one, is that I found the narration horrible and distracting from the story - I would highly recommend reading this book instead of listening to it.

Engrossing

I was fascinated by this author's story because I lived in the same town where she was held captive during that time, so I am familiar with the area. The book isn't an enjoyable book in the traditional way, but I was curious to hear how she managed during such a terrible ordeal. Her courage is amazing. I finished it in one day and couldn't stop listening. Parts of it are hard to listen to, but certainly worthwhile. It's a good lesson to all of us to never give up hope.

A Nightmare Memoir

No one else could have narrated this story. Her brave and mature unburdening of the horrors she lived through are testament to her strength of character. The stark facts were presented unemotionally and concisely but her overwhelming love for her mother and belief she would live through her never ending nightmare shone through like the full moon she so cherished.

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Title: First They Killed My Father

Subtitle: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers

Author: Loung Ung

Narrator: Tavia Gilbert

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-29-11

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 478 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

One of seven children of a high-ranking government official, Loung Ung lived a privileged life in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh until the age of five. Then, in April 1975, Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge army stormed into the city, forcing Ung's family to flee and, eventually, to disperse. Loung was trained as a child soldier in a work camp for orphans, her siblings were sent to labor camps, and those who survived the horrors would not be reunited until the Khmer Rouge was destroyed. Harrowing yet hopeful, Loung's powerful story is an unforgettable account of a family shaken and shattered, yet miraculously sustained by courage and love in the face of unspeakable brutality.

Critic Reviews:

"Ung's memoir should serve as a reminder that some history is best not left just to historians but to those left standing when the terror ends." (

Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Brutal, Heartbreaking

The trials held against some of the last surviving perpetrators of the Cambodian genocide this past October really had me interested in looking into some of books out there on the subject. After listening to the deplorable "Soul of a Tiger," "First They Killer My Father" was so hard hitting as to be almost unbearable. It's extraordinary the way Loung Ung's character develops from a naive, whiny child (whiny because she hasn't a clue as to how dangerous the situation is) to a desperate individual who would do anything to survive, even if it means stealing food, killing sparrows, whatever. This is starvation and desperation at its most devastating.

This is not a light listen, but it's a good one. Just be prepared for some heartbreak, some hopelessness. But some love there too.

That said, you'll never think of earthworms the same way again...

An eye-opening look into an unknown world

Would you listen to First They Killed My Father again? Why?

Yes. it was a difficult read, so I had to pick it up and put it down, but it was captivating and tragic.

Have you listened to any of Tavia Gilberts other performances before? How does this one compare?

I don't believe I have... but I will have to check out more of her material; she did an amazing job on this one.

excellent and very moving true story

What did you love best about First They Killed My Father?

the whole story -a recall of a terrible time

What other book might you compare First They Killed My Father to and why?

nothing compares

Which scene was your favorite?

the most tragic was when they took her father away, very very moving!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

most definetly!

Any additional comments?

it made me appreciate the wonderful live I have and how easily this could be taken away1

Horrible audible

This book wasnt for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

The book is great for anyone who likes to read about war children experience from a child perspective.

How could the performance have been better?

The audible version was intolerable to listen to. It took away from the authenticity of the story because of the western readers voice, not only that but her pronunciation of Cambodian words are cringing.

Any additional comments?

Please find readers that can at least pronounce the words correctly and have the right intonation for that culture.

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Title: Breaking Night

Subtitle: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard

Author: Liz Murray

Narrator: Liz Murray

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-15-11

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 538 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Liz Murray was born to loving but drug-addicted parents in the Bronx. In school she was taunted for her dirty clothing and lice-infested hair, eventually skipping so many classes that she was put into a girls' home. At age 15, Liz found herself on the streets when her family finally unraveled. She learned to scrape by, foraging for food and riding subways all night to have a warm place to sleep.

When Liz's mother died of AIDS, she decided to take control of her own destiny and go back to high school, often completing her assignments in the hallways and subway stations where she slept. Liz squeezed four years of high school into two, while homeless; won a New York Times scholarship; and made it into the Ivy League.

Breaking Night is an unforgettable and beautifully written story of one woman's indomitable spirit to survive and prevail, against all odds.

Critic Reviews:

"Murray tells an engaging, powerfully motivational story." (

Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

unbelievably inspiring

Would you listen to Breaking Night again? Why?

After listening to this detailed autobiography, one has to simply ask oneself: After all, are my circumstances really that bad? Am I really gonna blame my parents' divorce, mum's illness, my brothers stupidity for loosing all our family's saving...am I really really gona blame them for the mental state I am in? Or should I just look, like Liz Murray did, at what possibilities I have and to chose every moment another empowering choice?

The story made me rethink my own opinions and it let me question my own capability.

I would def. recomment this book to everyone who simply seeks for inspiration and hope that things can turn well, despite all your difficulties.

Hope this makes sense.

Simply phenomenal!

I loved ever minute of this book. The poverty Liz experienced brought back memories but most off all, her resilience is paradigm shifting!

Lovely And Thought Provoking

Liz is a wonderful author. She doesn't only wright of her life, she gives insight into her feelings. She lets you understand her. This book kept me transfixed from the first sentence. She is also one of the best narrators I have ever heard. Her voice is soft, warm and ful of emotions. Yes, I did feel for her, though I knew the ending all along. No, this is not an easy listen. However, it's worth it. If you look at the summary and think it is intersting, go for the book. If you liked The Glass Castle, this is the book for you.

inspiring story, very good writing

This book - the writing and the story it tells - is remarkable. I was inspired by the author and look forward to learning more about and from her in the future.

Best Book I Have Ever Listened To!

This book is narrated by the author and she does an absolutely amazing job! Her story is so heartfelt and compelling. I am surprised she wasn't crying while recording. This book was so inspiring to me, that I ran my 1st marathon after listening to her book. It is beyond motivational. Her true life story is so unfortunate and her outcome is so magical for a lack of better reference. I cannot do this book justice. A MUST LISTEN for everyone. A great family book. Really puts life into perspective.

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Title: SEAL Team Six

Subtitle: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper

Author: Stephen Templin, Howard E. Wasdin

Narrator: Ray Porter

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-05-11

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3128 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

When the Navy sends their elite, they send the SEALs. When the SEALs send their elite, they send SEAL Team Sixa secret unit tasked with counterterrorism, hostage rescue,and counterinsurgency.

In this dramatic, behind-the-scenes chronicle, Howard Wasdin takes listeners deep inside the world of Navy SEALs and Special Forces snipers, beginning with the grueling selection process ofBasic Underwater Demolition/SEAL - the toughest and longest military training in the world.

After graduating,Wasdin faced new challenges. First, there wascombatin OperationDesert Storm as a member of SEAL Team Two. Then, the Green Course: the selection process tojoin the legendary SEAL Team Six (ST6), with a curriculum that included practiced land warfare tounarmed combat. More than learning how to pick a lock,they learned how to blow the door off its hinges.

Finally, as member of ST6, he graduated from the most storied and challenging sniperprogram in the country:the Marine Corps Scout Sniper School. Eventually, of the 18 snipers in ST6, Wasdin became the bestwhich meant one of the best snipers on the planet.

Less than half a yearafter sniper school,he was fighting for his life. The mission: capture or kill Somalian warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. From rooftops, helicopters, and alleys, Wasdin hunted Aidid and killed his men whenever possible. But everything wentquickly to hellwhen hissmall band of soldiers found themselves fighting for their lives, cut off from help and desperately trying to rescue downed comrades during a routine mission. The Battle of Mogadishu, as it became known, left 18 American soldiers dead and 73 wounded. Howard Wasdin had both of his legs nearly blown off while engaging the enemy. His explosive combat tales and inside detailsof becomingone of the worlds deadliest snipers combine to make this the most thrilling and important memoir by anavy SEAL since Lone Survivor.

Members Reviews:

unique among these books

This book intrigued me because it really puts you into the psychology of the sniper. Its easy to have preconceptions about jobs like that of a sniper or SEALS in general (or team 6 in particular, if you've read certain other books about it) and I found this book to be pretty enlightening as to the human side and the psychology of them. Listening to him talk about realizing the humanity of the enemy, for example, and making real choices about how to best control intensely hostile situations really gives an appreciation for the life of an operator in combat. Great book about overcoming adversity. I highly recommend this.

A Woman's Review Perspective

I downloaded this book, mostly for my husband. We were headed on a 4-hour drive on a vacation trip. Naturally, the hype about the Navy Seals and the killing of Osama Bin Laden has been a lot of PR about our special forces. The book started out to be really interesting. Unexpectedly, I got sucked into the story, though I usually listen to historical novels or mysteries. That says a LOT. My husband, having worked with Navy Seals, enjoyed the way the author shares his humorous and yet very serious stories about his training. Once he began to share the story of his mission in Mogadishu, I was riveted to learn more about this very sad chapter in our history. I found myself getting angry all over how the political mess that caused these people to suffer so much. Then, the storyline went flat.