A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

What I Learned While Editing My Life

By: Donald Miller

Narrated by: Donald Miller

Length: 5 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

Full of beautiful, heart-wrenching, and hilarious stories, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years details one man's opportunity to edit his life as if her were a character in a movie. Years after writing his best-selling memoir, Donald Miller went into a funk and spent months sleeping in and avoiding his publisher. One story had ended, and Don was unsure how to start another. But he gets rescued by two movie producers who want to make a movie based on his memoir. When they start fictionalizing Don's life for film - changing a meandering memoir into a structured narrative - the real-life Don starts a journey to edit his actual life into a better story.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years details that journey and challenges listeners to reconsider what they strive for in life. It shows how to get a second chance at life the first time around.

©2009 Thomas Nelson (P)2009 Thomas Nelson

Warning: This is a religious book

If you're not a person of faith, then this book will have no meaning for you.

Not a religious book, but Donald is Christian

What made the experience of listening to A Million Miles in a Thousand Years the most enjoyable?

This is not a religious book, I got this for my non-Christian friends. I read books about existential questions by authors who are New-age, Jews, Muslim, agnostic, or non-religious. Donald is Christian, and there are issues in life that he narrate from a Christian's perspective, like how God loves us, how God is present in our lives, but not in the mission to convert the audiences.

I love the fact that Donald narrated his own book, his monotone is embedded with his great sense of humour, and you can hear that subtle cheekiness in the beginning, slowly move to heavier issues he witnessed. He talks about his experiences in life without focusing solely on himself, but people he came across who live not only to write a better life story for themselves, but for strangers, too.

I listen to many of my audio books more than once, and this one, I listen to it a few times already.

What other book might you compare A Million Miles in a Thousand Years to and why?

This is not a self-help book, and author didn't reflect on his life was hard for him, and how others have wronged him, so I don't know what other books to compare this with.

What does Donald Miller bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I like how he is not giving you an answer as if he knows what life is all about, but though his experiences and people he met, he realized there are some common elements to a good story line of one's life. He talks about his own struggles, his friend's baby's birth, and friend's wife's death, he talks in the way that brings us to the experience. I feel like I had a long walk with Donald and he told me all these things he observed.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The words brought me tears, the struggles in a broken family, the sadness of losing your love one. A very honest book.

A story about living a story

I spent a day at the park and listened to this book, start to finish. I laughed out loud, I cried a little, and I took with me some insights for my own life.

This book isn't for the cynical, but the hopeful. With an open heart and mind, you will -- at the very least -- enjoy a well-crafted journey of personal discovery. And if this book comes into your life at the right time, you'll get even more out of it.

I don't want to give anything away, because this book has the potential to delight, and I wouldn't want to rob anyone of that. If you enjoy thoughtful, self-aware writing with a message, this book is probably for you.

Makes you think, powerful, fun.

Don reads his own book and because of that he really makes it. The voice tone and inflection adds something that I did not expect. His cadence and flow make this GREAT story even better. I am sorry, but I don't get the title. The book has nothing to do with bikes, time or traveling.
It reminds you to live a good life, to live a good story - a story worth telling. It is a very human book.

Brilliant

Love Donald Miller................very inspirational, has led to changes in my life. The way he shares his "story" and encourages us to consider our "story" was great. I need to find more from this guy.

Great Audio Book

This audio book was better than expected. It's one of those witty you need to think about life stories. The author was great and love when they are the Narrator of their own books. I felt good after listening to this book and think we can all learn a little something from the authors message about living a better story.

I must have read a different book

I must have read a different book from everyone else that reviewed this. It’s literally just a guy rambling in near monotone about a bunch of really uninteresting things. I got to chapter 8 and just could not finish it. I have no idea what insights and religious angles and disagreements everyone is talking about.

It feeds the appetite of the soul.

If you could sum up A Million Miles in a Thousand Years in three words, what would they be?

More than religion.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Million Miles in a Thousand Years?

When he spoke of his journey with his dad; Donald did not try to sensationalize, but rather captures true feelings. He is just real.

Which scene was your favorite?

The experience of his dad.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I don't know.

Any additional comments?

One of the best reads I have ever experienced. In various subtle tones, it basically shared principles for life itself. In my case it came in handy at a time when listened to it out of a recommendation and despiration. last day in half, I devoured Miller's book. I listen to it an additional time since. I highly recommend the book.

Inspiring me to live a better story.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book, while maybe geared for aspiring writers, will encourage you to get out there and live a better story.

What did you like best about this story?

Donald's stories are real and funny...and encouraging.

What about Donald Miller’s performance did you like?

I like books that are read by the author because it makes it more personal for me. Donald is clearly not a professional narrator, but even so, he is easy to listen to. And hearing the author's actual voice and story helps me flesh out the real author in my mind.

makes you think

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I really enjoyed this book and I am very glad I listened to it instead of reading it. It is narrated by the author and his "voice” for story telling is amazing. This is not a step by step book but rather a narrative to get you thinking about what "story” you are telling with your life. It really did make me ponder and think. A great read! My whole book group read it and I think my experience was the best because of the audio. But still, everyone from the group would recommend this book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Million Miles in a Thousand Years?

I like the reminder that we need a catalyst to change. When we are faced with challenges we should see what we can gain from them. Not a new concept but he words things in a different way.

Have you listened to any of Donald Miller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It is not that kind of book but I wouldn't have minded to listen to the whole thing in one sitting.

Favourite Audio of 2010

I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this audio. I love the concept that our lives are story, that they can be made better or worse depending on how we want to live. Simple but so powerful.

I think this has to be my favourite book of 2010, as its written in a style that really captivated me, easily taking me on the author?s journey with him. His descriptions of emotions, characters, situations, scenery and the mundane is just brilliant and I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

I took a while to listen to it as I didn?t want to rush and miss anything out, by not giving it my full attention.

Donald Miller?s narration is excellent, adding to the enjoyment of the book. I?m a new comer to Miller?s work but I will definitely be looking out for more in the future.

Thanks to christianaudio.com?s reviewers program for this copy.

reflective lessons

simple easy listen, it is full of stuff we should all know but it is put in a way I could understand and action.

Great story … a bit low quality audio

I like Don way of writing and his stories are inspiring and encouraging. The audio quality was a bit low

Inspiring story with great life wisdom

the story starts of slow, however it quickly turns into a booked jam packed with life lessons and anecdotes.

Awesome narration

Notwithstanding a great and thought provoking piece the narrator was first class. Every word was read and gave the book more meaning than it has

Great read(well listen)

i loved how it was read. overall story is engaging , inspirational and it's well writen. Loved the book and I will definitely recommend it to my close ones

A really interesting view on life

The author's voice at the beginning was a little off-putting, a bit monotone. Yet after this initial observation was forgotten about, the stories & his views on them were enlightening.
A really good read.

good story

entertaining story linking bike ride across USA with life experiences. good pace and anecdotes along the way.

Fantastic read

Fantastic read with a resonating message. Narrator was good and the book was written well and flowed very easily.

simply mesmeric!

Very well written book .It has changed my perspective on life and the essence of leading life with a good story!