Sample
  • Breaking Night

  • A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard
  • By: Liz Murray
  • Narrated by: Liz Murray
  • Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (909 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

Breaking Night

By: Liz Murray
Narrated by: Liz Murray
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.91

Buy for $18.91

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

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.

©2010 Liz Murray (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Murray tells an engaging, powerfully motivational story." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Breaking Night

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    685
  • 4 Stars
    153
  • 3 Stars
    49
  • 2 Stars
    12
  • 1 Stars
    10
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    598
  • 4 Stars
    149
  • 3 Stars
    47
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    7
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    642
  • 4 Stars
    123
  • 3 Stars
    29
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    6

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Surprising Upbeat Considering the Subject Matter

What did you love best about Breaking Night?

The author writes with beautiful insight and calm.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Breaking Night?

The raw honesty with which the author writes about the class divide and how people treat one another. As she went from one school interview to another Murray tasteful depicts the cool demeanor with which she was met.

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

This was a great book that I would have loved to have listen too in one sitting. Unfortunately, I was not able to take the time to listen to it all at once. The author's reading provided an ideal backdrop for returning to the story time and time again. It had the feel of meeting a good friend for coffee and conversation each time I returned to listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing story.

This story made me rethink my own story and created more gratitude for the life I've been blessed with. One of the reviews I read, however, said this was a great family read. I definitely don't think it's for everyone. Younger children will probably find the story disturbing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

More disheartening than inspiring

I read this book feeling more heart broken than inspired. The uptick part was just not as convincing as the downward spiraling half.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing story

Liz Murray, thanks for sharing your incredible story! You are an inspiration! God loves you!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing story

This book was so inspirational. At times it was so hard to listen to it due to the painful content other times it was so hopeful and positive

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome and unputdownable

This book has changed my life. Her honesty and truth in writing opened me up to face with boldness my own struggles. I recomend this book for anyone needing a bottom to top story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Inspiring

Would you listen to Breaking Night again? Why?

This is not the type of book I usually read but I have to say how much I loved it.I am inspired by Liz's story and it is a great reminder that it is possible to overcome great odds with resolve and dedication. Knowing it is a true story, I feel great admiration and affection for the author. Her childhood was so awful and yet she retained compassion for those who neglected her most. The journey to Harvard was long and painful but still she persevered. I recommend this book to anyone who needs inspiration or would enjoy a truly uplifting story. Once I started it I could not stop.

What did you like best about this story?

The journey from a despicable childhood to successful adult.

Which character – as performed by Liz Murray – was your favorite?

Liz, of course!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Her caring and affection for the parents she loved in spite of their weaknesses, illnesses and neglect.

Any additional comments?

Though I usually do not think authors make the best narrators, in this case it was perfect.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome Book!

It's an increadible story, well written and well narrated. It's one of my best books so far. I would definitely read a Breaking Night 2 and have more detailed on the follow-up part until today (I encourage you to write it and read it) :).

I've watched the movie too but this book is better and more complete. I just wish you all the best Liz and I hope to find other books like yours that will inspire my life. Thanks for sharing yours.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding!

A beautiful success story after a difficult start to life. The journey you are taken on will ignite all emotions.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Inspiring story

The author goes into incredible detail accounting her story of homelessness and her parents' drug abuse. The last three hours of the book are more upbeat as she begins to tell of how she found her way out of the darkest hours of her life. She expresses incredible grace and love toward her parents throughout the book. Almost unbelievably so. It kind of shocked me and bothered me how much of a pass she constantly gave them, no anger or blame toward then for the terrible choices they made. Although, they are both deceased and maybe she has come to terms with their neglect. What she made of her life is more than a miracle. It's a miracle that met with true grit.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!