Average at Best

A memoir from the creator of Pub Choir®

De: Astrid Jorgensen

Narrado por: Astrid Jorgensen

Astrid Jorgensen is on a mission to teach the world to sing. But she’s not promising to make anybody better at singing – she simply wants people to feel less ashamed of whatever voice they have.

Why only just listen to a story when you can also hear the author break into song. Original music in every chapter – exclusive to the audiobook!

By its very nature, ‘best’ is rare and elusive: you’re not going to get much of it in life. And I sure don’t want to miss out on deeply experiencing the fullness of my one precious existence, searching for the sliver of ‘best’.

Average At Best is a powerful, funny, and deeply honest memoir about embracing mediocrity if you want to get anything done. As the creator of Pub Choir® – a global phenomenon that unites complete strangers to connect, laugh, and make beautiful music – Astrid takes you behind the curtain as she unflinchingly stares down her dizzying highs, her crushing lows, and everything in between.

Astrid has performed on stages around the world, rubbed shoulders with Prime Ministers and celebrities, and has taught hundreds of thousands of people how to work together in literal harmony. Along the way, she low-key became the best at something, while sometimes feeling the worst. Is that … balance?

From almost becoming a nun (seriously) to committing unspeakable crimes against a chip packet, this joyful, inspired debut traverses the divide between confidence and doubt, performance and authenticity. Because most things happen between the extremes. This is an imperfect perfectionist’s account of how all of it counts in the end.

Reseñas de la Crítica

‘We all knew she had the music in her. Who knew she had the words? All these beautiful, hilarious, heart-stealing, soul-filling words! This is pure book gold from a rare and glistening national treasure. The raw and wild story behind a global phenomenon – and the best three hours I’ve ever spent inside a pub! The story of an anything-but-average woman who dared to open up her sound hole and let her dreams fly across the world.’ (Trent Dalton)

‘Millions of people who’ve attended and watched Pub Choir already know the unmatched electricity that Astrid Jorgensen generates when she conducts. Turns out, she’s just as electric on the page. Hilarious and infectiously giddy, this behind-the-scenes look at a global phenomenon is a companion for life, nothing short of a superhero origin story and contains the most triumphant story involving poo that I’ve ever read.’ (Benjamin Law, writer and broadcaster)

‘On stage, Astrid Jorgensen transforms from introverted music nerd into a choral colossus. In these pages, she is revealed as a beautiful writer who blends heart, wit and insight with rare skill.’ (Andrew McMillen, author and national music writer at The Australian)

‘On stage, Astrid Jorgensen transforms from introverted music nerd into a choral colossus. In these pages, she is revealed as a beautiful writer who blends heart, wit and insight with rare skill.’ (Andrew McMillen, author and national music writer at The Australian)

‘Astrid is a force of nature. But never has there been a more inappropriately titled memoir. There's nothing average about Astrid Jorgensen. Her memoir is testament to the fact she's a mix of magic, mayhem and sheer brilliance. I loved every line. For anyone who's ever been curious about the phenomenon that is Pub Choir and the crazy woman waving her arms around at the front of the stage – read this book.’ (Bec Sparrow, writer, podcaster and co-founder of Birds of a Feather Book Club)

‘Astrid Jorgensen is a national treasure – funny, captivating, and wildly talented. Part maestro, part comedian, she’s transformed group singing into a joyous, unforgettable experience that makes everyone feel like they belong.’ (Sally Hepworth, author of The Good Sister)

‘Take a joy-filled road trip with Astrid in her Daewoo Matiz, via a nunnery, a few false starts, and some excellent side quests all the way to where she teaches the world to sing. Average at Best is anything but. A sharply observed, at times hilarious and poignant debut. You hold in your hands a book about the joy of letting go.’ (Frances Whiting, award-winning journalist, columnist and author)