AUGUST 16, 2019
So this zombie snail walks into a salmon cannon…
The oddities of fauna—one of our perennial favorite topics here at Audible—captivated the internet once again, this time in the form of a “zombie” snail and a wild contraption known as a fish tube (or its delightful alternative, “salmon cannon”). The beleaguered mollusk invaded our minds, much like the parasite that causes the snail to look like a colorful, pulsating disco light, thus rendering it an unmissable, caterpillar-like treat to predators. Meanwhile, the fish tube transports its titular sea creatures through a long pipe to aid in its migration over hydroelectric dams. Both are apt metaphors for life and excellent fodder for writers’ wit—much like the collected listens in the first link above, which likely will *not* cause you nightmares...unlike the zombie snail. You’ve been warned!But as usual, humans are the animals making a mess of things.
Dogs, hamsters, alpacas, peacocks, snakes—at some point, all of the above have been registered as Emotional Support Animals. This week The Guardian reported on “ESA mills”—for-profit websites that certify animals as ESAs through lax online appraisals while selling vests, tags, and other swag. Although this might seem like a harmless way to be allowed to travel with your pet, it’s making life harder for legitimate service dog users, who are being denied access by weary taxi drivers, restaurateurs, and other business owners. We love disability advocate Molly Burke’s take on this issue in her new memoir, It’s Not What It Looks Like—it’s permanently changed the way we see service dogs.Considering the slavery-capitalism connection.
A feature on the DNA of American capitalism from The New York Times 1619 Project, which explores the impact of slavery after 400 years, knocked History Editor Christina’s socks off. She says:Written by the Pulitzer-winning author of Evicted (performed by Dion Graham!), it made me question how I had not seen this connection before. An uncomfortable thought wiggled to life: maybe I had? Albion’s Seed details how the second sons of British nobility (disinherited from the big moolah because…primogeniture) arrived in America precisely to remake the old system of people living in servitude to the land. Fischer argues that those lordly wannabes were actually *looking* for a permanently indentured underclass, but that neither white nor Native American victims fit the emerging economic model. I remember being grateful I grew up in the (allegedly) egalitarian Quaker-influenced region of the mercantile mid-Atlantic…and now…well, I’m not feeling quite so, shall we say ‘exempt.’ My editors’ pick for August, Ibram X. Kendi’s How to Be an Antiracist, might have published just in time.
Remembering rock history...
The magic of Woodstock has been an almost mythical thing in pop culture since it happened 50 years ago this weekend. Those three days in upstate New York defined a generation, became fodder for decades of books and movies, and gave us sooooo much great music—from Jimi Hendrix’s rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” to Santana’s “Soul Sacrifice” to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s career-making setlist after helicoptering onto Max Yasgur’s farm. A planned anniversary concert didn’t come together, but we’ll always have the music....and hanging onto our scrunchies.
What happens when you get eight women in a room to talk about why they love The Baby-Sitters Club? Well, first they eat a bunch of junk food and talk about their cool outfits. Then they say super smart things about race, class, and what it meant to their younger selves to see teenage girls make their own money. This week we celebrated the release of all 131 audiobooks in The Baby-Sitters Club series with a free audio essay that we hope you’ll love as much as we do.And a few more must-knows...
- Sarfraz Manzoor’s acclaimed memoir about falling in love with Bruce Springsteen’s music while growing up as a Pakistani boy in 1970s Britain was the inspiration for the new hit film Blinded by the Light. Bonus points for listening to Greetings from Bury Park before you watch, but the author’s winning narration makes this one a treat either way.
- Do you love love? Well then, we think you’re going to love our latest episode of Audicted to Romance, which features our interview with actress, producer, and best-selling author Mindy Kaling. Listen in as we discuss romcoms, her writing process, favorite love stories, and more.
- Audible announced two new theater productions at New York’s Minetta Lane, both starring incredible women. Certain Women of an Age (we see what she did there) stars former Canada first lady Margaret Trudeau; The Swimmer marks record-breaking athlete Diana Nyad’s stage debut. If you can’t join for the live performances in September, fear not. Both will be available this year as audio plays.
- While we’re talking live performances, we’ve got a 🤘🎸 production cooking. Guitar icon Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave) will tell his life story in a three-night run at the Minetta Lane in September, with musical direction by T Bone Burnett; the recording will be available exclusively on Audible.
- Barack Obama released his annual summer
readinglistening list (hot tip, every single one is great in audio). It’s no surprise that the man who presented Toni Morrison with the Presidential Medal of Freedom recommended her collected works, but we still may have wept a little. The rest of the list is pretty darn amazing, too.
—the audible editors
Audiobooks in This Edition
-
Earth Moved
- On the Remarkable Achievements of Earthworms
- De: Amy Stewart
- Narrado por: Heather Henderson
- Duración: 6 h y 2 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
They destroy plant diseases. They break down toxins. They plough the earth. They transform forests. They’ve survived two mass extinctions, including the one that wiped out the dinosaur. Not bad for a creature that’s deaf, blind, and spineless. Who knew that earthworms were one of our planet’s most important caretakers? Or that Charles Darwin devoted his last years to studying their remarkable achievements?
-
-
I bow down to our benevolent worm overlords
- De Kirstin en 04-17-14
-
Evicted
- Poverty and Profit in the American City
- De: Matthew Desmond
- Narrado por: Dion Graham
- Duración: 11 h y 3 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
In Evicted, Princeton sociologist and MacArthur “Genius” Matthew Desmond follows eight families in Milwaukee as they each struggle to keep a roof over their heads. Hailed as “wrenching and revelatory” (The Nation), “vivid and unsettling” (New York Review of Books), Evicted transforms our understanding of poverty and economic exploitation while providing fresh ideas for solving one of twenty-first-century America’s most devastating problems. Its unforgettable scenes of hope and loss remind us of the centrality of home, without which nothing else is possible.
-
-
Former Property Manager
- De Charla en 05-18-16
-
Albion's Seed
- Four British Folkways in America, Vol. 1
- De: David Hackett Fischer
- Narrado por: Julian Elfer
- Duración: 29 h y 40 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
This fascinating audiobook is the first volume in a projected cultural history of the United States, from the earliest English settlements to our own time. It is a history of American folkways as they have changed through time, and it argues a thesis about the importance for the United States of having been British in its cultural origins. While most people in the United States today have no British ancestors, they have assimilated regional cultures which were created by British colonists, even while preserving ethnic identities at the same time.
-
-
This is great, much more than title suggests
- De Kindle Customer en 07-26-14
-
How to Be an Antiracist
- De: Ibram X. Kendi
- Narrado por: Ibram X. Kendi
- Duración: 10 h y 29 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
From the National Book Award-winning author of Stamped from the Beginning comes a “groundbreaking” (Time) approach to understanding and uprooting racism and inequality in our society and in ourselves—now updated, with a new preface.
-
-
80% of the useful content is in the first 1-2 chapters
- De Anonymous User en 03-09-20
-
The Road to Woodstock
- De: Michael Lang, Holly George-Warren
- Narrado por: Sean Pratt
- Duración: 8 h y 58 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
The story of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair begins with Michael Lang, a kid out of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, who liked to smoke a joint and listen to jazz. He would find his way to Florida, open a head shop, and produce his first festival - Miami Pop, featuring Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and others - then travel to Woodstock, where, after meeting Artie Kornfeld, his vision for a festival where folks could come and stay for a few days amid the rural beauty of upstate New York would become a reality.
-
-
Woodstock
- De Pmsrm en 08-10-19
-
It's Not What It Looks Like
- De: Molly Burke
- Narrado por: Molly Burke
- Duración: 3 h y 5 m
- Grabación Original
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
Close your eyes and get ready to see the world in a new and more positive way. As a child in Toronto, Molly Burke was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa and became completely sightless as a teenager. Now an award-winning YouTube star and global influencer, Molly shares what it’s like to be a purple-haired, pink-obsessed fashion and makeup lover in a seeing world. She speaks with authenticity and candor about how she tackles the preconceived notions we have around blindness; Molly has made it her mission to make us see her - and ourselves- in a wholly empowering way.
-
-
Authentic, heart-wrenching, infinitely hopeful
- De B Halliday en 08-02-19
-
Earth Moved
- On the Remarkable Achievements of Earthworms
- De: Amy Stewart
- Narrado por: Heather Henderson
- Duración: 6 h y 2 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
They destroy plant diseases. They break down toxins. They plough the earth. They transform forests. They’ve survived two mass extinctions, including the one that wiped out the dinosaur. Not bad for a creature that’s deaf, blind, and spineless. Who knew that earthworms were one of our planet’s most important caretakers? Or that Charles Darwin devoted his last years to studying their remarkable achievements?
-
-
I bow down to our benevolent worm overlords
- De Kirstin en 04-17-14
-
Evicted
- Poverty and Profit in the American City
- De: Matthew Desmond
- Narrado por: Dion Graham
- Duración: 11 h y 3 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
In Evicted, Princeton sociologist and MacArthur “Genius” Matthew Desmond follows eight families in Milwaukee as they each struggle to keep a roof over their heads. Hailed as “wrenching and revelatory” (The Nation), “vivid and unsettling” (New York Review of Books), Evicted transforms our understanding of poverty and economic exploitation while providing fresh ideas for solving one of twenty-first-century America’s most devastating problems. Its unforgettable scenes of hope and loss remind us of the centrality of home, without which nothing else is possible.
-
-
Former Property Manager
- De Charla en 05-18-16
-
Albion's Seed
- Four British Folkways in America, Vol. 1
- De: David Hackett Fischer
- Narrado por: Julian Elfer
- Duración: 29 h y 40 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
This fascinating audiobook is the first volume in a projected cultural history of the United States, from the earliest English settlements to our own time. It is a history of American folkways as they have changed through time, and it argues a thesis about the importance for the United States of having been British in its cultural origins. While most people in the United States today have no British ancestors, they have assimilated regional cultures which were created by British colonists, even while preserving ethnic identities at the same time.
-
-
This is great, much more than title suggests
- De Kindle Customer en 07-26-14
-
How to Be an Antiracist
- De: Ibram X. Kendi
- Narrado por: Ibram X. Kendi
- Duración: 10 h y 29 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
From the National Book Award-winning author of Stamped from the Beginning comes a “groundbreaking” (Time) approach to understanding and uprooting racism and inequality in our society and in ourselves—now updated, with a new preface.
-
-
80% of the useful content is in the first 1-2 chapters
- De Anonymous User en 03-09-20
-
The Road to Woodstock
- De: Michael Lang, Holly George-Warren
- Narrado por: Sean Pratt
- Duración: 8 h y 58 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
The story of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair begins with Michael Lang, a kid out of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, who liked to smoke a joint and listen to jazz. He would find his way to Florida, open a head shop, and produce his first festival - Miami Pop, featuring Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and others - then travel to Woodstock, where, after meeting Artie Kornfeld, his vision for a festival where folks could come and stay for a few days amid the rural beauty of upstate New York would become a reality.
-
-
Woodstock
- De Pmsrm en 08-10-19
-
It's Not What It Looks Like
- De: Molly Burke
- Narrado por: Molly Burke
- Duración: 3 h y 5 m
- Grabación Original
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
Close your eyes and get ready to see the world in a new and more positive way. As a child in Toronto, Molly Burke was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa and became completely sightless as a teenager. Now an award-winning YouTube star and global influencer, Molly shares what it’s like to be a purple-haired, pink-obsessed fashion and makeup lover in a seeing world. She speaks with authenticity and candor about how she tackles the preconceived notions we have around blindness; Molly has made it her mission to make us see her - and ourselves- in a wholly empowering way.
-
-
Authentic, heart-wrenching, infinitely hopeful
- De B Halliday en 08-02-19
-
Room Full of Mirrors
- A Biography of Jimi Hendrix
- De: Charles R. Cross
- Narrado por: Lloyd James
- Duración: 13 h y 30 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
For many, the name Jimi Hendrix conjures up a larger-than-life image of the man who set fire to guitars, women's hearts, and the status quo. In this groundbreaking account, music journalist Charles R. Cross takes a far deeper look. Beyond Hendrix's legendary onstage and offstage magnetism, and his excessive lifestyle, was a man who struggled to accept his role as an idol and privately craved the kind of normal family life he never had.
-
-
Great Book - Interesting and Sad Story
- De Tim en 02-04-10
-
Greetings from Bury Park
- De: Sarfraz Manzoor
- Narrado por: Sarfraz Manzoor
- Duración: 7 h y 22 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
Sarfraz Manzoor was two years old when, in 1974, he emigrated from Pakistan to Britain with his mother, brother, and sister. Sarfraz spent his teenage years in a constant battle, trying to reconcile being both British and Muslim, trying to fit in at school and at home. But it was when his best friend introduced him to the music of Bruce Springsteen that his life changed completely. Both a tribute to Springsteen and a story of personal discovery, Greetings from Bury Park is a warm, irreverent, and exceptionally perceptive memoir about how music transcends religion and race.
-
-
You don’t have to be a Springsteen fan...
- De Rancy en 08-26-19
-
Ep. 4: Mindy Kaling and Romantic Comedies
- De: The Romance Editors
- Duración: 36 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
Listen in on our interview with actress, producer, and best-selling author Mindy Kaling, plus the editors share their favorite romantic comedies.
-
Changing My Mind
- A Memoir
- De: Margaret Trudeau
- Narrado por: Maureen McAdams
- Duración: 11 h y 5 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
Canadians fell in love with Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s beautiful and high-spirited bride when he brought her to the world stage as the youngest First Lady in the history of the country. But the situation wasn’t as rosy as it seemed. Plagued by mood swings and unprepared for public life, Margaret became increasingly isolated at 24 Sussex, as her depression alternated with bouts of mania. As her behavior became more puzzling - even to Margaret herself - she did her best to mother her three young sons.
-
-
Margaret Trudeau Makes Her Experience Count
- De Don en 05-06-15
-
Find a Way
- De: Diana Nyad
- Narrado por: Diana Nyad
- Duración: 12 h y 15 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
On September 2, 2013, at the age of 64, Diana Nyad emerged onto the sands of Key West after swimming 111 miles, nation to nation, Cuba to Florida, in an epic feat of both endurance and human will, in 53 hours. Diana carried three poignant messages on her way across this stretch of shark-infested waters, and she spoke them to the crowd in her moment of final triumph.
-
-
The best, most inspirational words you will find
- De H dog. en 02-09-16
-
Kristy's Great Idea
- The Baby-Sitters Club, Book 1
- De: Ann M. Martin
- Narrado por: Elle Fanning
- Duración: 2 h y 44 m
- Versión completa
-
General
-
Narración:
-
Historia
When Kristy Thomas has the great idea to form a baby-sitters club - a chance to earn money and spend time with her friends, all while doing something they each love to do - she has no idea how much the club will change everything. Crank calls, uncontrollable toddlers, wild pets, untruthful clients...running a business is hard work! Kristy and her co-founders, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey, are sure they can handle anything. But only if they stick together....
-
-
Fun
- De Beka B. en 08-14-19