My Story

By: Elizabeth Smart, Chris Stewart

Narrated by: Elizabeth Smart

Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

For the first time, 10 years after her abduction from her Salt Lake City bedroom, Elizabeth Smart reveals how she survived and the secret to forging a new life in the wake of a brutal crime.

On June 5, 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart, the daughter of a close-knit Mormon family, was taken from her home in the middle of the night by religious fanatic Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee. She was kept chained, dressed in disguise, repeatedly raped, and told she and her family would be killed if she tried to escape. After her rescue on March 12, 2003, she rejoined her family and worked to pick up the pieces of her life.

Now for the first time, in her memoir, My Story, she tells of the constant fear she endured every hour, her courageous determination to maintain hope, and how she devised a plan to manipulate her captors and convinced them to return to Utah, where she was rescued minutes after arriving. Smart explains how her faith helped her stay sane in the midst of a nightmare and how she found the strength to confront her captors at their trial and see that justice was served.

In the nine years after her rescue, Smart transformed from victim to advocate, traveling the country and working to educate, inspire and foster change. She has created a foundation to help prevent crimes against children and is a frequent public speaker. In 2012, she married Matthew Gilmour, whom she met doing mission work in Paris for her church, in a fairy tale wedding that made the cover of People magazine.

©2013 Elizabeth Smart (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

Elegant and easy read

I read this book because I find it very important, when possible, to hear a person's story directly from them. Elizabeth Smart reads her story with so much grace and elegance. She reads it as though she is reading it directly to you. She is very clear and direct with her thoughts and feelings. She explains what she was thinking, and why she did, or did not do certain things. She tells her story\what happened to her in a way that is not graphic, but does paint the horrific picture of her 9 months in captivity. I also love how she describes her will to live, her hope, her family and that you can move forward to live a fulfilling life.

So inspirational

I'm so thrilled that I was able to listen to Elizabeth's story in her own words. Truly a beautiful person and so inspiring. I

Amazing Story

Would you listen to My Story again? Why?

I love the disdain in Elizabeth's voice, her sarcasm, her "ARE YOU F$%#ING CRAZY" when telling her tale. I love that she is happy and not wallowing in what happened to her. It would be hard not to be bitter and broken. She has an amazing family. I wish her all the happiness in the world. She's a beautiful, amazing young woman.

Thank you for sharing your story!

Any additional comments?

This was an incredible story. I still remember where I was when I heard she had been found and praised God for her rescue. It is so encouraging to hear how she has moved on with her life.
Being a parent, I now double check my windows and doors. What an awful feeling to know that there are creeps like that in this world. I mean, I knew it before but this just hit a little closer to home.
Thank you again for sharing your story!

strength to share

the strength elizabeth shares with us after such a tradegy shows many of us we can get through. we can be happy. I thank elizabeth smart for sharing to help so many who could not have been strengthened otherwise!

Exceptional

This is a hard story to listen to but Elizabeth is an amazing woman. She clearly has the ability to meet life and endure, What an example she is to all of us.

Inspiring

Most of us know some part of her story, but to hear the whole ordeal from the mind and mouth of Elizabeth gives it new meaning and purpose. It also forces you to realize you should be grateful and your bad days not really so bad at all.

So sad, but inspirational.

She went through a horrible life altering experience, but she has built a life and chose to make the best of it by helping others. I'm so happy she has grown to be such an amazing woman and inspiration.

Elizabeth

I give her five stars for all she has been through. I can't even imagine the horrible things that were done to her. Getting over this nightmare, not even getting therapy or any kind of mental help! Amazing! I wish only the best for her in the future! She is one strong woman. God has blessed you Elizabeth!

Motivating!

What made the experience of listening to My Story the most enjoyable?

The fact that it is a true story

Would you recommend My Story to your friends? Why or why not?

I would.
This was not a great book, but it is a great message. I think everyone should read it.
It brought out all sorts of feelings; Anger, frustration, discuss, it even almost brought me to tears. It caused me to feel powerless and filled me with shame. I live near to where this story begins. I lived there at the time of her abduction. This story really brought home how quickly I turn a blind eye to the world around me. I am reminded of how much I could have done, but it would have made no difference. And I am left to wonder, what can I do now to protect all the children in my immediate and extended family. My God bless and protect the innocent from the evils of men. May we all find strength when evil is upon us.

What does Elizabeth Smart bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Just knowing that it is her story and that she is telling it adds a lot of power to the message the book brings.