Listening Is an Act of Love

A Celebration of American Life from the StoryCorps Project

By: Dave Isay

Narrated by: Dave Isay

Length: 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Drawn from the work of StoryCorps, the largest and most ambitious private oral history project in American history, comes this tapestry of the stories Americans have been sharing from their lives to leave behind to their loved ones.

©2008 Dave Isay (P)2008 Penguin

Critic reviews

"Dave Isay's vision of collecting the everyday stories of Americans is so simple and yet so powerful. Listening Is an Act of Love will make you laugh, cry and think. These stories come from the souls of individual Americans. Collectively, they are who we are as a people. You cannot read this book without feeling proud of your country." (Former US Senator Bill Bradley)

"Here are the observations and memories of a giant, diverse nation's citizens. In its sum, StoryCorps asks Americans to reflect upon their experiences, their times of travail, their achievements. In so doing, these individuals create an encompassing national narration: a people's hopes, fears and aspirations, all rendered poignantly to attentive listeners whose respect has enabled, finally, a presentation of a people's mind, heart, soul." (Dr. Robert Coles, James Agee Professor of Social Ethics, Harvard University)

"This book is absolutely remarkable. Listening is an Act of Love is history in the richest sense of the word, the kind that makes people feel like they count. It's a celebration of the lives of the uncelebrated. In our world today people feel helpless, but once they speak of their lives they become alive! This is what our country is all about. Never has a book been more timely or necessary." (Studs Terkel)

interesting and varied glimpses of American Life

This compilation of interviews from the StoryCorps booths covers a variety of people in different relationships talking about important parts of their lives: a man interviews his grandfather about his late wife; a brother and sister reminisce about the strong religious women who influenced their childhood; a man interviews his wife as she slips into the early stages of dementia; a woman interviews her immigrant mother about her modern marriage. There is something here in these ordinary that will touch you, guaranteed.

Deeply touching

Nicely done. Easy to listen to. I like the music between stories. Very soothing. Thank you for the experience.

Touching human stories

If you could sum up Listening Is an Act of Love in three words, what would they be?

heartfelt, inspiring, moving

Any additional comments?

The Story Core has been around for years and it was a privilege to hear the stories of courage and conviction and hope. They make you glad to be part of the human family.

The Storycorps Project is great!

This is a great little introduction to the Storycorps Project which records people interviewing loved ones about their experiences in order to archive them as part of our public history. Such a great idea! And I really enjoyed the selections in this piece.

SO MUCH BETTER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE

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

YES.. IT JUST SHOWS WHAT IS GOOD IN THE WORLD

What did you like best about this story?

REAL LIFE STORIES

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

BOTH LAUGH AND CRY.

Great moving stories

I got this book because audible gave it to me. I listened to it at work and found all the stories moving. I can relate to some of them and others we're great to listen too. This is not a book I would have purchased because the decription didn't read that good.

NPR Classic

Sweet and affirming stories of loves of all sorts, from real people, in their own voices.

Such a joy

Listening is an Act of Love allows one to sit back and be reminded of what is important in life. I plan to have my entire family listen to it during the holiday season. Why keep it to myself? This is a perfect gift and I thank you Audible.

Okay for a quick listen

Would you try another book from Dave Isay and/or Dave Isay?

Yes, I would. I thought the story line was good and quick to develop, but the short stories were not connected and distracting.

Has Listening Is an Act of Love turned you off from other books in this genre?

No

What aspect of Dave Isay’s performance would you have changed?

No suggestions

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No, there wasn't enough of a story line to be interesting.

this was a nice free gift from Audible and I loved

What made the experience of listening to Listening Is an Act of Love the most enjoyable?

this was really delightful to listen to. so nice of audible to give it away as a gift. really a pleasure