While I enjoy
a lot of things about Thanksgiving, holiday travel isn’t one of them. But as frustrating as it can be, you have to admit that themagnificent, maddening, mysterious world of transportationis kind of impressive. Like so many others, I spent a lot of last week traveling, and with those headaches and delays now safely in my rearview mirror, it’s time to get ready for the season of giving.
I have a long list of gifts to buy for those special people in my life, but I’m also that guy who waits until the last minute to start my holiday shopping. Based on the congested roadways and shopping malls throughout December, I think it’s safe to say that I’m not the only one who puts it off for this long. It’s times like these that make me wonder if I should channel my inner Scrooge and rethink the way I gift. Silver lining: extra time to listen to audiobooks while I’m stuck in all those overcrowded parking lots?
- Michael, Audible editor
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Thanks a Thousand
- A Gratitude Journey
- By: A. J. Jacobs
- Narrated by: A. J. Jacobs
- Length: 3 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Author A.J. Jacobs discovers that his coffee - and every other item in our lives - would not be possible without hundreds of people we usually take for granted: farmers, chemists, artists, presidents, truckers, mechanics, biologists, miners, smugglers, and goatherds. By thanking these people face-to-face, Jacobs finds some much-needed brightness in his life. Gratitude does not come naturally to Jacobs, but he sets off on the journey on a dare from his son. And by the end, it’s clear to him that scientific research on gratitude is true. Gratitude’s benefits are legion.
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Become more grateful
- By Robert I. Maccuspie on 11-26-18
It’s not too late to say thank you
Keeping with the spirit of the season, author A.J. Jacobs recently went on a journey to thank every person who was involved in producing his morning cup of coffee. In addition to making me think of the massive network of production and consumption that we often take for granted, it also served as a great reminder to say thank you
whenever possible.
Give Thanks
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Hello World
- Being Human in the Age of Algorithms
- By: Hannah Fry
- Narrated by: Hannah Fry
- Length: 6 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Hello World takes us on a tour through the good, the bad, and the downright ugly of the algorithms that surround us on a daily basis. Mathematician Hannah Fry reveals their inner workings, showing us how algorithms are written and implemented, and demonstrates the ways in which human bias can literally be written into the code. By weaving in relatable, real world stories with accessible explanations of the underlying mathematics that power algorithms, Hello World helps us to determine their power, expose their limitations, and examine whether they really are improvements.
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Disappointing and meandering book
- By Sc on 02-10-20
Since you already have an internet connection…
…this book is relevant to you. What feels like the omnipotence of the internet has become both an intense fascination and a sometimes terror in our lives. As my fellow editor Lavina put it, this is a critical listen if we want to end up on the right side between the Jetsons’ tech paradise and every dystopian sci-fi ever written,
and I couldn’t agree more.
Pick a Side
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Evil Has a Name
- The Untold Story of the Golden State Killer Investigation
- By: Paul Holes, Jim Clemente, Peter McDonnell
- Narrated by: Paul Holes, Jim Clemente
- Length: 6 hrs and 13 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
For his victims, for their families and for the investigators tasked with finding him, the senselessness and brutality of the Golden State Killer's acts were matched only by the powerlessness they felt at failing to uncover his identity. Then, on April 24, 2018, authorities arrested 72-year-old Joseph James DeAngelo at his home in Citrus Heights, Calif., based on DNA evidence linked to the crimes. Amazingly, it seemed, evil finally had a name. Please note: This work contains descriptions of violent crime and sexual assault and may not be suitable for all listeners.
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Audible Raises The Bar On True Crime Genre
- By R. Squyres on 11-16-18
The case that shook 2018
The Golden State Killer case has made a lot of headlines in 2018: from the posthumously published book I’ll Be Gone in the Dark to the arrest made in April after decades of investigation. In the Audible Original Evil Has a Name, investigators Paul Holes and Jim Clemente give new life to the well-known story with riveting procedural details and powerful interviews with victims. Editor Kat (our resident true crime fanatic) puts it best when she calls it the chilling investigation behind the true crime story of the year.
Get Chills
New Releases
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Strong Ending
- A Journey from Combat to Comedy
- By: Audible Originals
- Narrated by: Mary-Louise Parker
- Length: 1 hr and 16 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
This heartfelt Audible Original, narrated by Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Mary-Louise Parker, follows three military veterans as they reclaim their most painful memories and turn them into comedy. Michael Garvey, Isaura Ramirez, and Patrick Harth left combat zones to challenge themselves in a stand-up comedy boot camp. As they learn to transform their raw emotions into cathartic experiences, they face the daunting challenge of trying to make an audience laugh with jokes about war, trauma, and mental health.
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Battling PTSD with Comedy
- By Kingsley on 11-01-18
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Before I Had the Words
- On Being a Transgender Young Adult
- By: Skylar Kergil
- Narrated by: Skylar Kergil
- Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
At the beginning of his physical transition from female to male, then-17-year-old Skylar Kergil posted his first video on YouTube. In the months and years that followed, he recorded weekly update videos about the physical and emotional changes he experienced. Skylar’s openness and positivity attracted thousands of viewers, who followed along as his voice deepened and his body changed shape. Through surgeries and recovery, highs and lows, from high school to college to the real world, Skylar welcomed others on his journey.
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So grateful to help me as grandma
- By Lisa Bridges on 11-11-20
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Happy
- Why More or Less Everything Is Absolutely Fine
- By: Derren Brown
- Narrated by: Derren Brown
- Length: 14 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
In Happy Derren Brown explores changing concepts of happiness - from the surprisingly modern wisdom of the Stoics and Epicureans in classical times right up until today, when the self-help industry has attempted to claim happiness as its own. He shows how many of self-help’s suggested routes to happiness and success – such as positive thinking, self-belief and setting goals – can be disastrous to follow and, indeed, actually cause anxiety. Happy aims to reclaim happiness and to enable us to appreciate the good things in life, in all their transient glory.
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A witty and thoughtful take on stoicism
- By Sam Russell on 04-07-19
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Well-Read Black Girl
- Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves
- By: Glory Edim
- Narrated by: Glory Edim
- Length: 5 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Remember that moment when you first encountered a character who seemed to be written just for you? That feeling of belonging remains with readers the rest of their lives - but not everyone regularly sees themselves on the pages of a book. In this timely anthology, Glory Edim brings together original essays by some of our best black women writers to shine a light on how important it is that we all - regardless of gender, race, religion, or ability - have the opportunity to find ourselves in literature.
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I wish I had...
- By S. Hayes on 03-18-19
-
Strong Ending
- A Journey from Combat to Comedy
- By: Audible Originals
- Narrated by: Mary-Louise Parker
- Length: 1 hr and 16 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This heartfelt Audible Original, narrated by Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Mary-Louise Parker, follows three military veterans as they reclaim their most painful memories and turn them into comedy. Michael Garvey, Isaura Ramirez, and Patrick Harth left combat zones to challenge themselves in a stand-up comedy boot camp. As they learn to transform their raw emotions into cathartic experiences, they face the daunting challenge of trying to make an audience laugh with jokes about war, trauma, and mental health.
-
-
Battling PTSD with Comedy
- By Kingsley on 11-01-18
-
Before I Had the Words
- On Being a Transgender Young Adult
- By: Skylar Kergil
- Narrated by: Skylar Kergil
- Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the beginning of his physical transition from female to male, then-17-year-old Skylar Kergil posted his first video on YouTube. In the months and years that followed, he recorded weekly update videos about the physical and emotional changes he experienced. Skylar’s openness and positivity attracted thousands of viewers, who followed along as his voice deepened and his body changed shape. Through surgeries and recovery, highs and lows, from high school to college to the real world, Skylar welcomed others on his journey.
-
-
So grateful to help me as grandma
- By Lisa Bridges on 11-11-20
-
Happy
- Why More or Less Everything Is Absolutely Fine
- By: Derren Brown
- Narrated by: Derren Brown
- Length: 14 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Happy Derren Brown explores changing concepts of happiness - from the surprisingly modern wisdom of the Stoics and Epicureans in classical times right up until today, when the self-help industry has attempted to claim happiness as its own. He shows how many of self-help’s suggested routes to happiness and success – such as positive thinking, self-belief and setting goals – can be disastrous to follow and, indeed, actually cause anxiety. Happy aims to reclaim happiness and to enable us to appreciate the good things in life, in all their transient glory.
-
-
A witty and thoughtful take on stoicism
- By Sam Russell on 04-07-19
-
Well-Read Black Girl
- Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves
- By: Glory Edim
- Narrated by: Glory Edim
- Length: 5 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Remember that moment when you first encountered a character who seemed to be written just for you? That feeling of belonging remains with readers the rest of their lives - but not everyone regularly sees themselves on the pages of a book. In this timely anthology, Glory Edim brings together original essays by some of our best black women writers to shine a light on how important it is that we all - regardless of gender, race, religion, or ability - have the opportunity to find ourselves in literature.
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-
I wish I had...
- By S. Hayes on 03-18-19
About the Editor
With a broad range of interests, it’s hard to guess what Michael’s going to listen to next. Although he likes to get his ears into a little bit of everything, some of his favorite listens deal with environmental issues, gender studies, and LGBTQ+ topics. Follow him on Twitter @mikecollina.