The Story of My Life

By: Helen Keller

Narrated by: Frances Cassidy

Length: 3 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Before she was two years old, a scarlet fever destroyed Helen Keller's sight and hearing. At seven, alone and withdrawn, she was rescued by Anne Sullivan, her teacher and friend. She learned to read (in several different languages) and speak so well that she graduated with honors in 1904 from Radcliffe, where she authored The Story of My Life.

In addition to her remarkable accomplishment of overcoming such huge disabilities, her other achievements are impressive in their own right. She published 13 books and numerous articles; she devoted her life to social reform; and she campaigned in 35 countries touching the faces, and hearts, of kings, presidents, and movie stars on behalf of the handicapped. Today the foundations she established continue to help the deaf and blind throughout the world.

Enthusiastic and untiring, Helen Keller's life is deservedly inspirational and stands before all of us as an example of what we can accomplish, given fortitude and purpose. Most importantly, she demonstrates that the severely disabled have nothing to be ashamed of.

©1994 Joss Recordings (P)2005 Tantor Media, Inc.

she's a lovely woman

Helen writes a great book of her life. she describes her life poetically and romantically.

Good writing

I would recommend this book to everyone! She does not feel sorry for her! It makes you want to do more with your life…

Audible Player is Not Computer Compatible

Where does The Story of My Life rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

There is little question that anyone who believes in the "five senses" and the certitude of such, needs to listen to this to be jolted to a higher truth. How is it that after proper treatment for having lost her sight and hearing at age 2, Helen Keller was "taught" to use her sense of smell to know the beauty and colors of classical music? Or, to write great poetry-much commorating the best ideas of America? How did she master several languages? In brief she was not only better "educated;" and,most assuredly more truly American than most Congressmen today--as well as recent Presidents. Her life, spanning 1880-1969 spanned times of great diffuculty, as well as the gifts of the Presidencies of President FDR and JFK. While I do not know if she met them, many great people came to meet her,as the tenor Enrico Caruso. And, many lesser men sought to tear her accomplishments--perhaps especially her poetry I believe down. Her poetic genius as an American poet was described by some as 'too colorful. The truth more likely was that it gave fear to those who would destroy the best ideas of America. Braille destroys this extra-sensibility of mind from being developed. We need many teachers of the blind as Helen Kellers' "Annie." A few have employed her method, that I am aware of in one case; but, a 'Gideons Army' of such must be taught. I believe this ought to be part of regular school curriculum: either as read or conveyed verbally verbally and unabridged as in this edition. And I mean general curriculum for all--not just such specialists as neuroscience, doctors, nurses, etc.

What did you like best about this story?

I had already heard many of the more delightful ideas of her autobiography; and, the efforts of the best in neuroscience to "statistically explain this phenomenon," which they failed to do within the realm of their method. (See above for other highlights). But, although your Amazon means to listen to this this book promised it might be heard from your computer--it would possibly take a hired expert or home computer "Geek" to know how to enable this, Your choices for listening to this might take an Edward Snowden "technician" to fascilitate this.

I Forget Frances Cassidy Wasn't Helen Keller

Would you consider the audio edition of The Story of My Life to be better than the print version?

Definitely. I had first purchased the printed version, and read through several chapters. But I became quickly bored and impatient with the, what I presumed, nit picking details. But it was Miss Cassidy's voice which sparked new-found love into the words, and I forgot multiple times that Miss Cassidy is in fact not Helen Keller.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Since this is an autobiography, I wouldn't say there's necessarily any traditional characters, but in the best way possible Helen Keller is quite the character. She beams love and wonder, curiosity for the world, but like all others she has her flaws. Her love for literature surpasses mine indefinitely (for she sees colors and the such through books, while I have the privilege of sight and hearing) I could still latch onto that love which swept me into picking up some of Helen's personal favorite books myself.

Which scene was your favorite?

Whenever Helen Keller discussed education, I found great excitement in showing it to my teacher (we are fairly close). She has even considered picking up Miss Sullivan's (Helen Keller's instructor) autobiography for personal and professional reasons. But honestly, with the help of Miss Cassidy's voice, it is hard to not love every scene. It is a mixture of Keller's superb language and craft, with the mix of Cassidy's vintage voice which implies a greater depth among the novel.

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

"Even though Helen Keller lost two sense, you'll be needing all yours for the next two hours."

Any additional comments?

If you have not yet started your adventure through classic literature but desperately seek guidance and a push to launch you off into this new realm -- it is strange, but Helen Keller almost recommends you onto this path of books throughout her novel. She discussed her personal favorite books, which are classics in every sense of the word. She discussed language and literature, future, and thoughts with such careful precision I believe anyone would do good care with Keller as a guide through the classics. How much I wish for Miss Cassidy to narrate every classic I read! For then, I could truly live out the fantasy that Helen Keller is reading to me.

Such a good story for everyone to know

goid although the narrator is very fast, but it's simple to adjust the playing speed.

Excellent!

I absolutely loved listening to this audible book! Everything about it was exceptional. I highly recommend it to everyone.

Disappointing

I was very disappointed in this book. While it is well-read and performed, the book's content was a let-down. It is not chronologically organized, but jumps around in multiple directions.

It is also extremely descriptive -- offering lovely detailed imagery to help you visual and experience the story. However, I found this annoying, as it clearly could not have been the viewpoint of the purported author, who was deaf and blind.

In addition, this extensive visual and auditory descriptions come at the expensive of plot and activity. The storyline itself is very light, and very shallow. You will not get the feeling of knowing the author from listening to this book. There are a few incidents, such as an accidental plagiarism, where some bits of insight are offered into the author's life, experience and feelings. I wish there had been more of these.

On the whole, i found this book very disappointing. I listened to about 3/4 of it and then simply lost interest -- a rarity for me, indeed.