As we hurtle
toward the end of the year, my editor eyes are hungrily scanning the horizon for the best listens of 2019. I’ve come up with a long list of self development titles that deserve recognition, and will soon pare it down to five essential listens that will be shared when Audible announces our picks for Best of the Year. Please do let me know if you’ve got a favorite self development title that came out this year—I’m always looking to hear from fellow listeners.What I’ve noticed this year? Lots of listens focused on burnout, the attention/distraction economy, self-care, and free-range/alternative parenting—as well as more than a fair amount of memoirs with tons of self-dev crossover appeal. In a time that many would describe as high-turmoil, it does seem like people are looking to manage chaos and focus on things that bring them joy—like their families, “me time,” and mindfulness. Here’s hoping one of the recommended listens below gives you some bliss or, at the very least, some much needed relief.
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Atlas
- From the Streets to the Ring: A Son's Struggle to Become a Man
- By: Teddy Atlas, Peter Alson
- Narrated by: Teddy Atlas
- Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 402
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 355
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Story5 out of 5 stars 353
In sharing his stories, Atlas reveals the philosophy by which he lives. Like Teddy Atlas - inimitable, tough, honest, and wise - this book inspires. It is about so much more than boxing. It is a story of overcoming hardships, of compassion for those in need, of tremendous personal integrity, and of personal and professional triumph.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Great story
- By Jonathan on 06-23-23
A fighter-philosopher
Teddy Atlas has earned his reputation as a soothsayer, troublemaker, and generally controversial boxing mainstay. From training to commentating, Teddy’s done it his way, all the way. What I love most about his book Atlas is his unflinchingly honest criticism of boxing promoters and the sport's ruling bodies. He’s an ardent advocate for the fighters as well as the purity of the sport—even when that loyalty has come at great personal cost. There’s a ton of appeal for self-development fans here—in both Teddy’s hard-won life philosophies that stem from his troubled youth, and his high-level insights from a stellar career.
Fight!
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Raising Curious Kids
- By: Nicholas Provenzano, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Nicholas Provenzano
- Length: 4 hrs and 3 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 214
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 184
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Story4 out of 5 stars 181
Child-rearing is a rewarding, beautiful, and amazing experience. But as a parent, there are dozens of frustrating and exasperating moments of self-doubt. Nicholas Provenzano gets it. He’s spent over 15 years in the classroom to shape problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Oh, and he’s a dad, too. Follow Mr. Provenzano as he explores the science behind creativity and the different things that parents can do to support their children as they grow up.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Awful. Boring. Who gave this 5 stars? The speaker’s voice is weak and high pitched. Their are no specifics given past the well
- By Stephen J. Cavanaugh on 11-07-19
Future-proofing your kids
Raising Curious Kids has 11 fundamental, interrelated lessons for raising kids in a world where critical thinking is a daily requirement; with so much information at our fingertips, it’s more important than ever that kids develop empathy, critical thinking skills, and a creative spirit. As a writer and editor of children’s literature, I long ago learned the value of writing simply to most clearly share vital information, and this Great Course embodies that idea. Nothing here is hard to grasp—but it’s all very engaging and interesting—and relevant to even child-free adults like me. From Makerspace to Mazlow’s Hierarchy of Needs, this listen covers a lot of ground without getting mired in unnecessary details.
Get Creative
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Free to Focus
- A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less
- By: Michael Hyatt
- Narrated by: Michael Hyatt
- Length: 4 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,306
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,098
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,089
Most think productivity is just about getting more done at a faster speed. But it's not. Productivity is about getting the right things done. New York Times best-selling author Michael Hyatt has created a total productivity system that's much more than endless box checking. Proven by more than 25,000 professionals, this system helps overwhelmed leaders achieve what matters most so they can succeed at both work and life.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Written for business people, not for busy mom
- By moon light on 09-22-19
The tyranny of the urgent
I’m halfway through Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt; so far, Editor Courtney’s words sum things up better than I can: We hear a lot about the ‘attention economy,’ with sundry social networks and other cultural phenomena constantly vying for a share of our time. Goal-setting and productivity expert Michael Hyatt is here to tell you we’re actually in the midst of a ‘distraction economy,’ ruled by ‘the tyranny of the urgent.’ In this fast-paced listen, he helps you develop techniques to determine what really matters and is worthy of your attention and effort. Perhaps the best part about Free to Focus: listening to it feels a lot like a ‘brain-pick’ advice session over coffee with an empathetic, relatable, and very knowledgeable friend.
Pay Attention
New & Noteworthy Releases
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Don't Burn This Book
- Thinking for Yourself in an Age of Unreason
- By: Dave Rubin
- Narrated by: Dave Rubin
- Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 3,518
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 3,055
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Story5 out of 5 stars 3,041
Dave Rubin launched his political talk show The Rubin Report in 2015 as a meeting ground for free thinkers who realize that partisan politics is a dead end. He hosts people he both agrees and disagrees with - including those who have been dismissed, deplatformed, and despised - taking on the most controversial issues of our day. As a result, he’s become a voice of reason in a time of madness. Now, Rubin gives you the tools you need to think for yourself in an age when tribal outrage is the only available alternative.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Poorly written, wrong on facts, poor content.
- By quintus on 05-01-20
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The Joyful Vegan
- How to Stay Vegan in a World That Wants You to Eat Meat, Dairy, and Egg
- By: Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
- Narrated by: Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
- Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 270
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 234
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 230
Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, the “Joyful Vegan,” has guided countless individuals through the process of becoming vegan. In The Joyful Vegan, she shares her insights into why some people stay vegan and others don’t. Understanding that the food is the easy part of being vegan, Colleen turns her attention to what she believes is the most challenging - dealing with the social, cultural, and emotional aspects: being asked to defend your eating choices, living with the awareness of animal suffering, feeling the pressure to be perfect, and experiencing guilt, remorse, and anger.
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5 out of 5 stars
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As a sad vegan - just what I needed
- By Emily J. on 12-23-19
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Find Your Bliss: 7 Days to Bliss
- 7 audio-guided meditations
- By: MoveWith
- Narrated by: Rock Your Bliss
- Length: 1 hr
- Original Recording
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 621
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 531
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Story4 out of 5 stars 530
Join Mary Beth LaRue and Jacki Carr, co-creators of Rock Your Bliss, for an immersion into your own unique blisscrafting. In this 7 Days to Bliss program, we will land a new tool each day, share examples of living the work, and leave you with bliss homework and a journal practice.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Accessible, action-oriented Life Coaching. ❤️
- By Michael L. on 02-20-19
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Why Are We Yelling?
- The Art of Productive Disagreement
- By: Buster Benson
- Narrated by: Buster Benson
- Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 194
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 168
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 169
Have you ever walked away from an argument and suddenly thought of all the brilliant things you wish you'd said? Do you avoid certain family members and colleagues because of bitter, festering tension that you can't figure out how to address? Now, finally, there's a solution: a new framework that frees you from the trap of unproductive conflict and pointless arguing forever.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Interesting Topic But Unrealistic
- By Ed Barberi on 02-28-20
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Don't Burn This Book
- Thinking for Yourself in an Age of Unreason
- By: Dave Rubin
- Narrated by: Dave Rubin
- Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 3,518
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3,055
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 3,041
Dave Rubin launched his political talk show The Rubin Report in 2015 as a meeting ground for free thinkers who realize that partisan politics is a dead end. He hosts people he both agrees and disagrees with - including those who have been dismissed, deplatformed, and despised - taking on the most controversial issues of our day. As a result, he’s become a voice of reason in a time of madness. Now, Rubin gives you the tools you need to think for yourself in an age when tribal outrage is the only available alternative.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Poorly written, wrong on facts, poor content.
- By quintus on 05-01-20
-
The Joyful Vegan
- How to Stay Vegan in a World That Wants You to Eat Meat, Dairy, and Egg
- By: Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
- Narrated by: Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
- Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 270
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 234
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 230
Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, the “Joyful Vegan,” has guided countless individuals through the process of becoming vegan. In The Joyful Vegan, she shares her insights into why some people stay vegan and others don’t. Understanding that the food is the easy part of being vegan, Colleen turns her attention to what she believes is the most challenging - dealing with the social, cultural, and emotional aspects: being asked to defend your eating choices, living with the awareness of animal suffering, feeling the pressure to be perfect, and experiencing guilt, remorse, and anger.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
As a sad vegan - just what I needed
- By Emily J. on 12-23-19
-
Find Your Bliss: 7 Days to Bliss
- 7 audio-guided meditations
- By: MoveWith
- Narrated by: Rock Your Bliss
- Length: 1 hr
- Original Recording
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 621
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 531
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 530
Join Mary Beth LaRue and Jacki Carr, co-creators of Rock Your Bliss, for an immersion into your own unique blisscrafting. In this 7 Days to Bliss program, we will land a new tool each day, share examples of living the work, and leave you with bliss homework and a journal practice.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Accessible, action-oriented Life Coaching. ❤️
- By Michael L. on 02-20-19
-
Why Are We Yelling?
- The Art of Productive Disagreement
- By: Buster Benson
- Narrated by: Buster Benson
- Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 194
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 168
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 169
Have you ever walked away from an argument and suddenly thought of all the brilliant things you wish you'd said? Do you avoid certain family members and colleagues because of bitter, festering tension that you can't figure out how to address? Now, finally, there's a solution: a new framework that frees you from the trap of unproductive conflict and pointless arguing forever.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Interesting Topic But Unrealistic
- By Ed Barberi on 02-28-20