• 11-22-63

  • A Novel
  • By: Stephen King
  • Narrated by: Craig Wasson
  • Length: 30 hrs and 40 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (68,196 ratings)

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11-22-63  By  cover art

11-22-63

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Craig Wasson
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Publisher's summary

On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed. What if you could change it back?

In this brilliantly conceived tour de force, Stephen King - who has absorbed the social, political, and popular culture of his generation more imaginatively and thoroughly than any other writer - takes listeners on an incredible journey into the past and the possibility of altering it.

It begins with Jake Epping, a 35-year-old English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching GED classes. He asks his students to write about an event that changed their lives, and one essay blows him away: a gruesome, harrowing story about the night more than 50 years ago when Harry Dunning’s father came home and killed his mother, his sister, and his brother with a sledgehammer. Reading the essay is a watershed moment for Jake, his life - like Harry’s, like America’s in 1963 - turning on a dime.

Not much later his friend Al, who owns the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to the past, a particular day in 1958. And Al enlists Jake to take over the mission that has become his obsession - to prevent the Kennedy assassination.

So begins Jake’s new life as George Amberson, in a different world - of Ike and JFK and Elvis, of big American cars and sock hops and cigarette smoke everywhere. From the dank little city of Derry, Maine (where there’s Dunning business to conduct), to the warmhearted small town of Jodie, Texas, where Jake falls dangerously in love, every turn is leading, eventually of course, to a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and to Dallas, where the past becomes heart-stoppingly suspenseful - and where history might not be history anymore. Time-travel has never been so believable. Or so terrifying.

©2011 Stephen King. All Rights Reserved. (P)2011 Simon & Schuster, Inc

Featured Article: Stephen King’s 20 Best Audiobooks—The Definitive List


Stephen King is one of the most prolific American authors of all time. He has published 61 novels, more than 200 short stories, and six nonfiction books—and he shows no sign of stopping. His most recent novel, The Institute, was published in September of 2019, and we’ve already pre-ordered his novella anthology If It Bleeds, which is set to be released in 2020. With such a large portfolio, choosing one listen to start with can be daunting.

Editor's Pick: Best of the Decade

A nostalgic trip
"Stephen King’s 11.22.63 is a technicolor romp to the past where the root beer tastes better, cars have more class, and listeners are warned to beware the yellow card man. I was not alive in 1963, but after spending 30+ hours listening to narrator Craig Wasson bring these fictional (and real) characters brilliantly to life, I feel like while I didn’t live there, I’ve at least visited for a long weekend. Blending time travel, history, a little romance, and political intrigue, this is an oddly feel-good tale—odd because it's about assassination and comes from the king of horror. The thing is that King also just happens to be a masterful storyteller whose best work of the decade will warm your heart more than scare the hell out of you." — Tricia F., Audible Editor

What listeners say about 11-22-63

Average customer ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

This will surely be an unforgettable experience.

A King masterpiece! The narrator was very talented and King makes you love the characters as I don't think he's ever done so well. I'm sad it's over.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Engrossing!

If you could sum up 11-22-63 in three words, what would they be?

Couldn't stop listening!

What about Craig Wasson’s performance did you like?

Mr. Wasson's performance was outstanding. He took his time and read with feeling as well as created different voices for each of the characters.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

At times it made me cry.

Any additional comments?

This was my first Audiobook as well as my first Stephen King book. I listened to this every free minute I had. The book has an intriguing premise and the performance pushed it over the top for a very enjoyable listen.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

pretty damn good

starts a little slow but picks up is great the narrator was spectacular great overall

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A great thriller with enough history to be scary!

Having been a child when Kennedy was assassinated, I have my own memories of the event. But Mr. King weaves a thrilling tale of "What if?" This is a fascinating book, worthy of the reader/listeners' time.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant Narator

This book was awesome, but made even better by the brilliant narrator. I would definitely recommend it to anyone as this is NOT your typical Stephen King book.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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One of Mr King's best

Would you consider the audio edition of 11-22-63 to be better than the print version?

Yes - because of the length - I think the print version would become monotonous & the reader would become lost or forget what they were reading

Who was your favorite character and why?

I think Jake - the main character was probably my favorite. But Harry Dunning's story was very heart wrenching - I got teary-eyed & wrapped up in his essay

Have you listened to any of Craig Wasson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I'm not sure - but he was excellent in this reading

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

Oh definitely - I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen

Any additional comments?

This is one of Mr King's work that I can't wait to see on film (as long as the movie people stay true to the story)!!! If readers / listeners liked "The Green Mile" they will love this as well!!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Solid story, great characters.

No one could ever accuse Stephen King of failing to create completely mesmerizing characters. He does it here just as well as in any of his other books.

Hardcore sci-fi fans take note: this book doesnt get into the hows and whys of time travel, nor does it explore such thought experiments as the Grandfather Paradox, but it does exquisitely illustrate the 'realities' a person may face if they suddenly found themselves travelling 50 years into the past...and the ramifications of altering that past.

The villians in King's novels always show a little bit of humanity, which blurs the line between good and evil. This too is done here, using a little bit of that Derry, Maine mystique to add a little crazy to the party.

The narration is top-notch. Wasson's characters are distinct and memorable.

All in all, definitely worth the credit.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Too me two years, but i finally finished it

...actually, make that two and a half years. I started listening to this novel in November 2013, but for various reasons I dipped in and out of it over the years. I now have a 100-mile round-trip commute, and I am delighted to say I finally finished this novel. I am also a little sad to be done with it! I have even taken to researching the events and locations of the book. The performance of the narrator is excellent and I particularly enjoyed the afterword by Stephen King. Make no mistake, this 30-hour story is a lot to listen to, but I am really glad I made it through. I expect that this story will stay with me for a while.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic book and Narrator. Brings it to life.

The narrator brings the book to life with emotion and voices that resonants with the time. I highly recommend it!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Love Steven King ....

I always enjoy reading or listening to steven king. his style is easy and natural. This audo book was an interesting depature for king. more charater driven rather than crazy weird ideas. i listened to this book just a month before the 50th anniversary of JFK assassination. Makes you wonder.... what if....

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