SURPRISINGLY
INSPIRING
to spark a better, happier you.
-
The Painted Veil
- By: W. Somerset Maugham
- Narrated by: Sophie Ward
- Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 424
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 315
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 319
This is the story of Kitty Fane, the adulterous wife of a bacteriologist stationed in Hong Kong. When her husband discovers her deception, he exacts a terrible vengeance: Kitty must accompany him to the heart of a cholera epidemic in China.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing story
- By RtooDtoo on 02-28-10
My It's time to grow up already
classic
I am confident W. Somerset Maugham didn't write The Painted Veil with the intention of inspiring a young woman (except maybe to encourage ladies to behave more appropriately; he wasn't exactly a feminist), but it was a source of much inspiration to me when I read it for a book club in my early 20s. I was floundering in a job I wasn't suited for, unable to fully support myself without leaning on my parents, and worst of all, I wasn't doing anything about it. Like the heroine of this novel, Kitty Fane, I was frittering away opportunities I was so fortunate to have, while allowing decisions to be made around me and for me without exercising any of my own agency. The few choices I did make weren't completely destructive but they weren't healthy either. I wasn't proud of anything I was doing. And then I had this very meta moment when I turned up for the book club and no one wanted to actually talk about the work (everyone was just there for the wine). I suddenly related so strongly (though far less tragically) to Kitty who snaps into action—finally—in the midst of a cholera epidemic and decides it's time to grow up. I didn't want or need another excuse to drink, but I did need a career, and I realized I wanted to build one around books and content. In some ways I think The Painted Veil led me to Audible, and to the very best book club I could ever hope for.
-
Love Understood
- The Science of Who, How and Why We Love
- By: Laura Mucha
- Narrated by: Laura Mucha
- Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 58
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 52
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 50
Poets, philosophers and artists have been trying to explain romantic love for centuries, but it remains one of the most complex and intimidating terrains to navigate. Most people are afraid to be open and honest about their relationships...until now. For Love Understood, Laura Mucha has interviewed hundreds of strangers, from the ages of 8 to 95 in more than 40 countries, asking them to share their most personal stories, feelings and insights about love.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Insightful, informative, and thought provoking
- By James on 03-05-19
Relationships are built, not found
For a long time I thought I had the love thing figured out. Disney fairytales and ‘90s rom-coms had ingrained in me a sense that when you find “the one,” you’ll instantly know it—and if you have any doubts about your partner, your relationship is doomed. Being raised by parents who got married before they were of legal drinking age and seeing how tumultuous their marriage was, only deepened my desire for a happily ever after. And then I met my college sweetheart, got married young, and was still unsatisfied. I left because I’d convinced myself if we were meant to be, I wouldn’t feel so unsettled. Years later, I’d fall into the same trap. As soon as my ambivalence kicked in, I left. At some point, I had to realize that it wasn’t them; it was me. Laura Mucha’s Love Understood put this self-sabotaging behavior into perspective as no book, friend, or relative ever could. Using science (attachment theory, what a concept!) as well as interviews with strangers of various ages, ethnicities, and nationalities, Mucha digs into the notion of romantic love and all its counterparts. After listening to her compelling narration, which conveys an inherent curiosity, I even saw my parents’ connection in a way I’d never appreciated before. I’m happy to report, though love remains complicated, my head and heart are in a much better place.
-
The F*ck It Diet
- Eating Should Be Easy
- By: Caroline Dooner
- Narrated by: Caroline Dooner
- Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,625
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,421
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,408
From comedian and ex-diet junkie Caroline Dooner, an inspirational guide that will help you stop dieting, reboot your relationship with food, and regain your personal power. Our bodies are hardwired against dieting. But each time our diets fail, instead of considering that maybe our ridiculously low-carb diet is the problem, we wonder what’s wrong with us.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
I cannot believe this actually got published
- By w49859845 on 03-02-20
Come for the expletives, stay for the revelations
I picked up Caroline Dooner’s first work after following her on social media for a while—hoping to gain some insight into why so many of us (read: I) struggle so much with the pervasiveness of diet culture and, knowing her humor, to have some fun while doing it. And I gained a lot of insight into my relationship with food and body image—which I expected. What I didn’t expect was the comparison she draws between those who struggle with food and those who struggle with rest—specifically being okay with being unproductive. There I was, innocently listening while working on my laptop (multi-tasking, obviously), when suddenly, in her passionate and firm, yet encouraging tone, Caroline seemed to be calling me out directly. Feeling seen, I swear I blushed while listening: I am notoriously terrible at relaxing. Even my hobbies—knitting, for instance—are output-driven. Honestly, I don’t know how to rest. But thanks to this listen, I’m learning to try. Now please excuse me, I have to go lie down. And I refuse to feel guilty about it.
-
The Pema Chodron Audio Collection
- By: Pema Chödrön
- Narrated by: Pema Chodron
- Length: 7 hrs and 4 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,397
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 982
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 963
Pema Chodron, one of the West's most beloved teachers of Buddhism, makes the Tibetan vajrayana tradition accessible in today's world. Now three of her most popular teachings are available in one audiobook set.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Ancient insights for a Modern Audience
- By Tricia, Audible Editor on 04-11-12
Ancient insights for a modern audience
Several years ago, after my mom passed away, a friend gave me a copy of When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chödrön. It was exactly what I needed at a really tough time in my life. When I found more of Pema's work on Audible, I dove in, thinking it would be something different and something perfect for audio. I was right. I’ve gone back and listened more than once and each time I learn something a little different. An American-born Buddhist nun, Pema is uniquely attuned to a Western audience. She brings an authentic Buddhist perspective tailored to people like me. While it's worth noting these talks were recorded at a retreat, and the sound quality differs from a studio-produced audiobook, her voice and her skill for explaining spiritual concepts is excellent. I’ve tried to listen to other meditation programs, thinking it would be an interesting audio experience, but this is the first I’ve been able to get all the way through. There is no hocus-pocus or uncomfortable chanting; Pema Chödrön sounds like a normal woman with great insight into ancient ideas reflected in today’s world. It’s a pleasure to listen to her.
-
From Scratch
- A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home
- By: Tembi Locke
- Narrated by: Tembi Locke
- Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5,212
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 4,683
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4,673
A poignant and transporting cross-cultural love story set against the lush backdrop of the Sicilian countryside, where one woman discovers the healing powers of food, family, and unexpected grace in her darkest hour.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Loved it.
- By Michael on 05-11-19
Love, loss and finding your way forward
When my husband died three years ago, I desperately sought out resources, books, groups, anything at all that would help me through the grieving process. When people hear the word widow, they imagine a silver-haired old lady surrounded by her already-grown kids and grandkids. But there I was, still (relatively) young at 34, with only a few grays (at the time), and a 3-year-old daughter I would now have to raise on my own. Before I even started working at Audible, I was a fan of the Audicted podcast. When Editor Katie, now a dear colleague, mentioned this memoir of a young widow, my ears perked up. I couldn’t download it fast enough, and it was right on time for a road trip to visit family. As I sobbed down I-95 listening to Tembi’s gorgeous narration of her own eerily similar story, I felt like some of the shattered pieces of my heart were slowly being put back together. Tembi articulated so much of my anger, disbelief, and incredible sadness over my husband’s untimely death, words I had been struggling for years to find. Being a widow is not a club I ever wanted to be member of, but after listening to From Scratch, I know I’m not alone and I can draw on Tembi’s incredible strength for a little bit of my own.
-
Dreyer's English
- An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style
- By: Benjamin Dreyer
- Narrated by: Benjamin Dreyer, Alison Fraser
- Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 339
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 295
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 282
As Random House’s copy chief, Dreyer has upheld the standards of the legendary publisher for more than two decades. He is beloved by authors and editors alike - not to mention his followers on social media - for deconstructing the English language with playful erudition. Now, he distills everything he has learned from the myriad books he has copyedited and overseen into a useful guide not just for writers but for everyone who wants to put their best prose foot forward.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
You'll be horrified at a lifetime of usage errors.
- By RTaylor on 05-16-19
Only godless savages eschew the series comma
If that quote’s not enough to get you 100% on board with this listen, then perhaps Dreyer’s hot takes on rules that shouldn’t be rules will reel you in. I won’t recount them here because that would rob them of the hilarity that accompanies Dreyer’s perspective on pedantry for pedantry’s sake. His demonstrative examples are especially memorable, namely his usage clarification for bawl vs. ball (which I can’t recount here for risk of getting fired), and any/all commentary around eccentric punctuation like the interrobang. I’ve long been a fan of edu-tainment titles like these, but unlike other listens involving pandas, gunplay, grandmas, and cannibalism, Dreyer’s English is actually funny—not just amusing. Dreyer’s English is easily my favorite, recent nonfiction title because it made me a better writer and made editing enjoyable again.
-
Big Magic
- Creative Living Beyond Fear
- By: Elizabeth Gilbert
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Gilbert
- Length: 5 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 26,553
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 23,279
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 23,133
People of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration and empowerment from Elizabeth Gilbert’s books for years. Now this beloved author digs deep into her own generative process to share her wisdom and unique perspective about creativity. With profound empathy and radiant generosity, she offers potent insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. She asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She shows us how to tackle what we most love, and how to face down what we most fear.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Biggest Inspiration In a Long Time
- By Gillian on 09-23-15
Pursue your passions
Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert’s manifesto on creative living, has a new resonance for me as I prepare to enter my second semester of grad school. I re-listen to this title each year, and her conversational tone and blunt, honest advice always serves as the kick in the pants I need to both center and inspire me. Gilbert reminds me that if I want to live a creative life, I just need to do it. Wholeheartedly, and without fear. I don’t need permission. It doesn’t matter who sees my work or if I’m making money off of it. I’m doing it for me, because I need it in my life. Exhilarating, engaging, and yes, magical, Big Magic is the type of listen that you want to have downloaded all the time, as a reminder to be open to the world around you, and to be your most authentic, creative self.
-
The Last Black Unicorn
- By: Tiffany Haddish
- Narrated by: Tiffany Haddish
- Length: 6 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 36,523
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 32,512
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 32,363
Tiffany can't avoid being funny: it's just who she is. But The Last Black Unicorn is so much more than a side-splittingly hilarious collection of essays - it's a memoir of the struggles of one woman who came from nothing and nowhere. A woman who was able to achieve her dreams by reveling in her pain and awkwardness, showing the world who she really is, and inspiring others through the power of laughter.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Interesting...
- By The2ndhorseman on 12-24-17
Tragedy to Comedy
It’s pretty hard for me to bounce back from a setback, but Tiffany Haddish’s The Last Black Unicorn made me realize that I shouldn't let my problems derail me. What I’ve been through may not compare to her struggles, but she is an example of how to overcome challenges instead of dwelling on them. Things I've brooded over may have prevented me from progressing, but when I can let go of negative emotions, I feel stronger and better able to tackle even more difficult challenges: not every problem has to remain a tragedy—the story goes on and I can actively affect the outcome. I've applied this to my academic life as well as my personal life. Like Tiffany, I hope to become more and more resilient, build my way to the top, and never forget the healing power of laughter.
-
Why Buddhism Is True
- The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment
- By: Robert Wright
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5,543
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 4,813
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4,752
From one of America's greatest minds, a journey through psychology, philosophy, and lots of meditation to show how Buddhism holds the key to moral clarity and enduring happiness. In Why Buddhism Is True, Wright leads listeners on a journey through psychology, philosophy, and a great many silent retreats to show how and why meditation can serve as the foundation for a spiritual life in a secular age.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Clear Explanation of How the Mind Works
- By George on 08-10-17
Even masters struggle with meditative greatness
As someone who knows full well that mindfulness is essential to wellness, I shouldn’t have such a hard time adopting a meditation practice—and yet, I’ve contended with major mental barriers (something I attribute to being somewhat cerebral and fact-based in my pursuits of healthfulness). Which is why Robert Wright’s well-researched, academic, realistic paean to the benefits of mindfulness literally and figuratively spoke to me (thanks in part to Fred Sanders' calm and cool narration). There is plenty of neuroscience paired with the titular spirituality that provides the basis of Wright's work—more than enough to convert skeptics to the mental benefits of Eastern philosophy. Peppered throughout is Wright’s humanizing humor and confession to his own struggles with establishing a steady meditation habit. Who knew Ivy League scholars could be so #relatable?
-
This Naked Mind
- Control Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discover Happiness, and Change Your Life
- By: Annie Grace
- Narrated by: Annie Grace
- Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7,546
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 6,355
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 6,310
This Naked Mind offers a new, positive solution. Here, Annie Grace clearly presents the psychological and neurological components of alcohol use based on the latest science and reveals the cultural, social, and industry factors that support alcohol dependence in all of us. Packed with surprising insight into the reasons we drink, this book will open your eyes to the startling role of alcohol in our culture and how the stigma of alcoholism and recovery keeps people from getting the help they need.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Not as Described
- By Sean on 07-01-18
The no-willpower way to stop drinking
It took me the better part of a decade to quit drinking, which is entirely average according to all the recovery memoirs I consumed in that period. In one of my favorites, Blackout, Sarah Hepola likens it to jumping off a diving board. A lot of us wait there for years, trying to figure out how to get in the water. The thing that got me off the board wasn’t a memoir, though, or rock bottom, or some momentous life decision. I don’t even remember why, one ordinary day last January, I downloaded This Naked Mind. All I know is that Annie Grace’s simple method, which neatly replaced my nearly lifelong love of booze with a different idea—that alcohol isn’t my friend and that, without it, I’m free—worked for me. Coming up on my first full year of sobriety, I haven’t listened to it again, but I like the idea that it’s there in my library if I ever need a pep talk. Of course your mileage may vary, but if you’re struggling, it’s a simple thing to try—she doesn’t even ask that you stop drinking while you listen. And if you jump, I promise, the water’s lovely.
-
The Alchemist
- A Fable About Following Your Dream
- By: Paulo Coelho
- Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
- Length: 4 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 81,094
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 69,828
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 69,736
Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its simplicity and wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an Alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Timeless Tale
- By Judi on 01-07-07
Trust yourself to take risks
I first read Paulo Coehlo’s The Alchemist as part of a Spanish language literature course in college. I wasn’t too focused on it; I saw it as just another assignment and ultimately moved on to the next book. Years later, The Alchemist took on new meaning for me with a copy I was gifted and (reluctantly) re-read. I had become an adult, and like everyone else, had personal triumphs and had also faced failures. The main character’s journey made me question: what is my story? Where do I go from here? I recently re-revisited The Alchemist, this time in audio and wonderfully narrated by Jeremy Irons who brings a profound, mystical voice to the narrative. Some have criticized the story of young Santiago who sells his sheep in order to find treasure as clichés parading as literature. But if you go in to this listen with an open mind, there is plenty to take away; it’s about pursuing your dreams, and the costly risk that comes with that. It’s about finding your inner voice and trusting your gut to make a decision, and if you stumble, trying again. The Alchemist has also taught me to look at the world beyond our borders and, ultimately, learn lessons from others.
