-
Boys Keep Swinging
- Narrated by: Jake Shears
- Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Entertainment & Celebrities
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $22.67
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
I Was Better Last Night
- A Memoir
- By: Harvey Fierstein
- Narrated by: Harvey Fierstein
- Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Harvey Fierstein’s legendary career has transported him from community theater in Brooklyn, to the lights of Broadway, to the absurd excesses of Hollywood and back. He’s received accolades and awards for acting in and/or writing an incredible string of hit plays, films, and TV shows: Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof, Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day, Cheers, La Cage Aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy, Newsies, and Kinky Boots.
-
-
Loved it
- By Mary Ellen Guadagno on 03-09-22
By: Harvey Fierstein
-
Yours Cruelly, Elvira
- Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark
- By: Cassandra Peterson
- Narrated by: Cassandra Peterson
- Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The woman behind the icon known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, the undisputed Queen of Halloween, reveals her full story, filled with intimate bombshells - and told by the bombshell herself.
-
-
Chapter 14 cut off
- By Wildgreenthumb on 09-24-21
-
Too Much Is Not Enough
- A Memoir of Fumbling Toward Adulthood
- By: Andrew Rannells
- Narrated by: Andrew Rannells
- Length: 7 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Andrew Rannells left Nebraska for New York City in 1997, he, like many young hopefuls, saw the city as a chance to break free. To start over. To transform the fiercely ambitious but sexually confused teenager he saw in the mirror into the Broadway leading man of his dreams. In Too Much Is Not Enough, Rannells takes us on the journey of a 20-something hungry to experience everything New York has to offer: new friends, wild nights, great art, standing ovations.
-
-
Very well done - just too raunchy
- By Glenn W on 04-30-21
By: Andrew Rannells
-
Hello, Molly!
- A Memoir
- By: Molly Shannon, Sean Wilsey
- Narrated by: Molly Shannon
- Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At age four, Molly Shannon’s world was shattered when she lost her mother, baby sister, and cousin in a car accident with her father at the wheel. Held together by her tender and complicated relationship with her grieving father, Molly was raised in a permissive household where her gift for improvising and role-playing blossomed alongside the fearlessness that would lead her to become a celebrated actress.
-
-
Molly is a superstar!!!
- By Marlene on 04-29-22
By: Molly Shannon, and others
-
Swimming in the Dark
- A Novel
- By: Tomasz Jedrowski
- Narrated by: Will M. Watt
- Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Set in early 1980s Poland against the violent decline of communism, a tender and passionate story of first love between two young men who eventually find themselves on opposite sides of the political divide - a stunningly poetic and heartrending literary debut for fans of Andre Aciman, Garth Greenwell, and Alan Hollinghurst.
-
-
One of the Best Contemporary Novels Ever
- By Jeffrey veals on 05-11-20
By: Tomasz Jedrowski
-
In Pieces
- By: Sally Field
- Narrated by: Sally Field
- Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this intimate, haunting, literary memoir read by the author, an American icon tells her story for the first time, in her own gorgeous words - about a challenging and lonely childhood, the craft that helped her find her voice, and a powerful emotional legacy that shaped her journey as a daughter and a mother.
-
-
Warning
- By Kkv on 10-14-19
By: Sally Field
-
I Was Better Last Night
- A Memoir
- By: Harvey Fierstein
- Narrated by: Harvey Fierstein
- Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Harvey Fierstein’s legendary career has transported him from community theater in Brooklyn, to the lights of Broadway, to the absurd excesses of Hollywood and back. He’s received accolades and awards for acting in and/or writing an incredible string of hit plays, films, and TV shows: Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof, Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day, Cheers, La Cage Aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy, Newsies, and Kinky Boots.
-
-
Loved it
- By Mary Ellen Guadagno on 03-09-22
By: Harvey Fierstein
-
Yours Cruelly, Elvira
- Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark
- By: Cassandra Peterson
- Narrated by: Cassandra Peterson
- Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The woman behind the icon known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, the undisputed Queen of Halloween, reveals her full story, filled with intimate bombshells - and told by the bombshell herself.
-
-
Chapter 14 cut off
- By Wildgreenthumb on 09-24-21
-
Too Much Is Not Enough
- A Memoir of Fumbling Toward Adulthood
- By: Andrew Rannells
- Narrated by: Andrew Rannells
- Length: 7 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Andrew Rannells left Nebraska for New York City in 1997, he, like many young hopefuls, saw the city as a chance to break free. To start over. To transform the fiercely ambitious but sexually confused teenager he saw in the mirror into the Broadway leading man of his dreams. In Too Much Is Not Enough, Rannells takes us on the journey of a 20-something hungry to experience everything New York has to offer: new friends, wild nights, great art, standing ovations.
-
-
Very well done - just too raunchy
- By Glenn W on 04-30-21
By: Andrew Rannells
-
Hello, Molly!
- A Memoir
- By: Molly Shannon, Sean Wilsey
- Narrated by: Molly Shannon
- Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At age four, Molly Shannon’s world was shattered when she lost her mother, baby sister, and cousin in a car accident with her father at the wheel. Held together by her tender and complicated relationship with her grieving father, Molly was raised in a permissive household where her gift for improvising and role-playing blossomed alongside the fearlessness that would lead her to become a celebrated actress.
-
-
Molly is a superstar!!!
- By Marlene on 04-29-22
By: Molly Shannon, and others
-
Swimming in the Dark
- A Novel
- By: Tomasz Jedrowski
- Narrated by: Will M. Watt
- Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Set in early 1980s Poland against the violent decline of communism, a tender and passionate story of first love between two young men who eventually find themselves on opposite sides of the political divide - a stunningly poetic and heartrending literary debut for fans of Andre Aciman, Garth Greenwell, and Alan Hollinghurst.
-
-
One of the Best Contemporary Novels Ever
- By Jeffrey veals on 05-11-20
By: Tomasz Jedrowski
-
In Pieces
- By: Sally Field
- Narrated by: Sally Field
- Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this intimate, haunting, literary memoir read by the author, an American icon tells her story for the first time, in her own gorgeous words - about a challenging and lonely childhood, the craft that helped her find her voice, and a powerful emotional legacy that shaped her journey as a daughter and a mother.
-
-
Warning
- By Kkv on 10-14-19
By: Sally Field
-
Me
- Elton John Official Autobiography
- By: Elton John
- Narrated by: Elton John, Taron Egerton
- Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In his first and only official autobiography, music icon Elton John reveals the truth about his extraordinary life, from his roller-coaster lifestyle as shown in the film Rocketman, to becoming a living legend.
-
-
A Book as Extraordinary as Elton
- By Tracey Brown on 10-17-19
By: Elton John
-
I Have Something to Tell You
- A Memoir
- By: Chasten Buttigieg
- Narrated by: Chasten Buttigieg
- Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Throughout the past year, teacher Chasten Glezman Buttigieg has emerged on the national stage, having left his classroom in South Bend, Indiana, to travel cross-country in support of his husband, former mayor Pete Buttigieg, and Pete's groundbreaking presidential campaign. Through Chasten's joyful, witty social media posts, the public gained a behind-the-scenes look at his life with Pete on the trail - moments that might have ranged from the mundane to the surprising, but that were always heartfelt.
-
-
A common yet inspiring and hopeful story
- By Steph on 09-03-20
-
Mr. Know-It-All
- The Tarnished Wisdom of a Filth Elder
- By: John Waters
- Narrated by: John Waters
- Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
No one knows more about everything - especially everything rude, clever, and offensively compelling - than John Waters. The man in the pencil-thin mustache, auteur of the transgressive movie classics Pink Flamingos, Polyester, and many more, serves it up raw: how to fail upward in Hollywood; how to develop musical taste from Nervous Norvus to Maria Callas; how to build a home so ugly and trendy that no one but you would dare live in it; more important, how to tell someone you love them without emotional risk; and yes, how to cheat death itself.
-
-
Truth revealed through wicked humor
- By Russell Ricard on 06-01-19
By: John Waters
-
Gay New York
- Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890-1940
- By: George Chauncey
- Narrated by: Graham Halstead
- Length: 18 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gay New York brilliantly shatters the myth that before the 1960s gay life existed only in the closet, where gay men were isolated, invisible, and self-hating. Drawing on a rich trove of diaries, legal records, and other unpublished documents, George Chauncey constructs a fascinating portrait of a vibrant, cohesive gay world that is not supposed to have existed. Gay New York forever changed how we think about the history of gay life in New York City, and beyond.
-
-
An Eye Opening History!
- By Nelson on 04-26-22
By: George Chauncey
-
Unprotected
- A Memoir
- By: Billy Porter
- Narrated by: Billy Porter
- Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It’s easy to be yourself when who and what you are is in vogue. But growing up Black and gay in America has never been easy. Before Billy Porter was slaying red carpets and giving an iconic performance in the celebrated TV show Pose; before he was the Tony Award-winning star of Broadway’s Kinky Boots; and before he was an acclaimed recording artist, actor, playwright, and all-around diva, Porter was a young boy who didn’t fit in.
-
-
I loved it
- By Arica Buchanan on 12-26-21
By: Billy Porter
-
Trixie and Katya's Guide to Modern Womanhood
- By: Trixie Mattel, Katya
- Narrated by: Trixie Mattel, Katya
- Length: 3 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Drag superstars Trixie Mattel and Katya have long captivated fans with their stunning looks, onscreen chemistry, and signature wit. In Trixie and Katya's Guide to Modern Womanhood, the pair channels that energy into an old-school etiquette guide for ladies. In essays, conversations, and how-to sections, Trixie and Katya will advise listeners on beauty and fashion and tackle other vital components of a happy home, such as money, self-love, and friendship; sharing advice and personal stories in high-concept fashion.
-
-
Great follow up after reading the Bible
- By Matthew on 07-14-20
By: Trixie Mattel, and others
-
Dolly Parton, Songteller
- My Life in Lyrics
- By: Dolly Parton
- Narrated by: Dolly Parton
- Length: 5 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A Recorded Books Audio Original production of songs and stories performed by Dolly herself, Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics goes beyond the glitz, glamour, and rhinestones to the warmth, heart, and soul of a treasured pop-culture icon.
-
-
Interview without questions
- By Amazon Customer on 11-19-20
By: Dolly Parton
-
Shortest Way Home
- One Mayor's Challenge and a Model for America's Future
- By: Pete Buttigieg
- Narrated by: Pete Buttigieg
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Once described by The Washington Post as "the most interesting mayor you've never heard of", Pete Buttigieg, the 36-year-old Democratic mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has improbably emerged as one of the nation's most visionary politicians. First elected in 2011, Buttigieg left a successful business career to move back to his hometown, previously tagged by Newsweek as a "dying city", and transformed it into a shining model of urban reinvention.
-
-
This book gives hope for the future
- By E on 05-06-19
By: Pete Buttigieg
-
How Y'all Doing?
- Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived
- By: Leslie Jordan
- Narrated by: Leslie Jordan
- Length: 4 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When actor Leslie Jordan learned he had “gone viral,” he had no idea what that meant or how much his life was about to change. On Instagram, his uproarious videos have entertained millions and have made him a global celebrity. Now, he brings his bon vivance to the page with this collection of intimate and sassy essays.
-
-
What more could you want?
- By Barry Benedict on 04-27-21
By: Leslie Jordan
-
Never Silent
- ACT UP and My Life in Activism
- By: Peter Staley
- Narrated by: Peter Staley
- Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1987, somebody shoved a flyer into the hand of Peter Staley: Massive AIDS demonstration, it announced. After four years on Wall Street as a closeted gay man, Staley was familiar with the homophobia common on trading floors. He also knew that he was not beyond the reach of HIV, having recently been diagnosed with AIDS-related complex. A week after the protest, Staley found his way to a packed meeting of the AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power - ACT UP - in the West Village. It would prove to be the best decision he ever made.
-
-
loved this book so much!
- By L.V. on 12-20-21
By: Peter Staley
-
This Will All Be Over Soon
- A Memoir
- By: Cecily Strong
- Narrated by: Cecily Strong
- Length: 5 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A powerful memoir from the Saturday Night Live cast member Cecily Strong about grieving the death of her cousin - and embracing the life-affirming lessons he taught her - amid the coronavirus pandemic.
-
-
Great Book, from the heart❤️
- By Tammie Castaneda on 08-19-21
By: Cecily Strong
-
Lips Unsealed
- A Memoir
- By: Belinda Carlisle
- Narrated by: Belinda Carlisle
- Length: 5 hrs and 6 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The women of the iconic '80s band the Go-Go’s will always be remembered as they appeared on the back of their debut record: sunny, smiling, each soaking in her own private bubble bath with chocolates and champagne. The photo is a perfect tribute to the fun, irreverent brand of pop music that the Go-Go’s created, but it also conceals the trials and secret demons that the group—and, in particular, Belinda Carlisle—struggled with.
-
-
LOVED!
- By Kathleen on 04-18-17
By: Belinda Carlisle
Publisher's Summary
In this deeply affecting memoir, one of rock music’s most entrancing figures transforms the vividness of his musical world into an unforgettable literary account of overcoming odds and finding his true voice.
Long before hitting the stage as the lead singer of the iconic glam rock band Scissor Sisters, Jake Shears was Jason Sellards, a teenage boy living a fraught life, resulting in a confusing and confining time in high school as his classmates bullied him and few teachers showed sympathy.
It wasn’t until years later, while living and studying in New York City, that Jason would find his voice as an artist and, with a group of friends and musicians who were also thirsting for stardom and freedom, form the band Scissor Sisters. First performing in the smoky gay nightclubs of New York, then finding massive success in the United Kingdom, Scissor Sisters would become revered by the LGBTQ community, sell out venues worldwide, and win multiple accolades with hits like “Take Your Mama” and “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’”, as well as their cult-favorite cover of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb.”
Candid and courageous, Shears’s writing sings with the same powerful, spirited presence that he brings to his live performances. Following a misfit boy’s development into a dazzling rock star, Boys Keep Swinging is a raucously entertaining memoir that will be an inspiration to anyone with determination and a dream.
Critic Reviews
“Wow! So brutally honest and such a really addictive read.” (Elton John)
“One courageous joyride of a memoir. It should be illegal for rock stars to write so beautifully.” (Armistead Maupin)
What listeners say about Boys Keep Swinging
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kelly
- 07-29-20
loved his fun loving attitude
Scissor Sisters is a group that I discovered a few years ago when their music was recommended after I purchased some Mika music. Despite the fact that I enjoyed the music I knew nothing about the group. I didn't know their names. Fast forward to February and March of 2020 when I watched The Masked Singer UK and fell in love with a flamboyant unicorn prancing on the stage. Revealed as Jake Shears I immediately went to Google to learn more and was happy to find this memoir.
Although this memoir is about the creation and rise of Scissor Sisters, it is also about Jake's search for purpose and happiness. He shares stories from his youth and childhood in Arizona. He was a different, unique and slightly odd child. He was an awkward teen struggling with his realization that he was gay. He was extra. He was all the things that made him perfect as that rainbow unicorn on stage all these years later. And this part of his life, while not unexpected, was completely entertaining. I think a lot of us were odd and awkward in childhood and even if we didn't struggle with identity or sexuality we were nonetheless uncomfortable in our own skins. This made me feel I could understand Jake as a child.
As Jake takes the reader into his adulthood we find that he had desires we all had. He wanted friends. He wanted love. And he wanted to share his passions with the world. So, although I have never danced on a bar in my underwear or performed in drag, I found once again that we were more similar than different.
I loved the chatty, gossipy, flamboyant and voyeuristic aspects of this book. But even more I loved the fact that I came away from the book feeling like I had a new friend. Shears is real. He is funny. He is flawed and doesn't hide that from the reader. He shares the things that made him proud of himself but also the things he regrets.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Myles Gullette
- 06-10-18
Boys Keep Swinging Swings with Soul!
Jake Shears reads his Memoir with a relaxed and tender cadence and brings you into his beginnings in life and with Scissor Sisters. what a journey and ending in 2006, I look forward to the continuation of his story in the sequel.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tony C.
- 06-04-18
New Fan Of Jake Shears!
Loved it! Well written! Story captivating! You will not be disappointed. Thank you Jake!
.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Alison McIlroy
- 07-06-21
Love SS & Love this book
Been a fan of Scissor Sisters for well over a decade. The insight this book gave on their evolution as well as the heart felt & raw events shared by Jake Shears has been incredible. Hearing Jake talk about his life was like listening to a good friend. Although not related; I know those stories and have experienced a few myself. Great book! Wish there was more…..
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Keith
- 05-28-21
What A Show!
This was an intimate and candid glimpse into Jake’s life. I loved the honesty and was taken in by his incredible story-telling. This was so satisfying yet left me wanting more. I have recommended this to others.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Chad Darnell
- 10-25-20
Loved it.
Loved this book! Jake is an incredible storyteller. Did want it to end. Highly recommend!!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- B. Frame
- 06-28-19
great story
This book has it all! Drugs sex rock and roll an inside look at the music industry. Lots of gay coming of age stories that I related so closely to
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Carrie Hatley
- 04-30-19
Favorite book in years! I am obsessed with Jake!!
What a surprise! I have gone full stalker mode for Jake Shears after this book. I love this book. He did an amazing job with the narration. The story of his friendship with Mary was so tender and a real clue into who he is , imperfect but beautifully so.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Mark Buckley
- 03-27-21
A beautiful, staggering and heartbreaking journey.
I’m a massive fan of music bios, and saw the Scissor Sisters early on supporting Duran Duran, and fell in love with their music. So I was already engaged with this.
Is a great tale, of one mans journey from being a child to being the frontman of a group. It’s full of inspiration and honesty, full of love. It’s frank, open and honest, and read beautifully by Jake.
I loved it.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Simon James
- 08-05-20
Effortlessly addictive. Devoured in a day
The definition of what a memoir should be: fascinating, effortless, authentic and totally addictive. Couldn't stop going back to it and found before I'd known it, had completed it in just a day. Brilliant that it was read by Jake himself. Such a relatable and personal sharing of a story that resonates in many different ways.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Paul
- 01-06-20
Far better than I expected!
A great incite into how The Scissor Sisters were formed and their early years. Fab!!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- spencear
- 06-27-19
A snip through the fabric of glamour.
This memoir gives a glance behind the struggle to make it in the music industry with only a dream to guide you. Jake Shears (stage name), tells his story with passion, honesty, and a poetic turn of phrase. Before embarking on my time with the Author, I know nothing of who he is or what the overall theme of his journey was. And I am very pleased that I traveled with him through his reading. I loved his voice and energy. Now I have to listen to a whole new artist, that for some reason I missed out on at the height of their fame.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Rob B
- 02-26-19
honest,gritty and insightful
Loved this Audio book - With the author narrating his words this recording really brings home the sincerity and emotion intended. Sometimes a little shocking and not for the prudish (but you knew that if you have followed SS or Jakes career), this book made me laugh and made me cry, made me gasp and made me want to sit in the car and hear more. Its amazing how what you see presented in the media is far from the reality of the Mental and Physical challenges being faced by Jake and those around him. Hope theres a follow up picking up from Ta-Dah! onwards...
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Fintan Geraghty
- 10-13-18
First audiobook to make me cry
I loved hearing the behind the scenes stories of how the scissor sisters was formed as well as Jake's childhood. the middle new York section was disappointingly unromantic, but it more than makes up for it by the end. the book ends in 2006 and I'll just say that it's a very bold place to end. this book will stick with it. I could have done without Jake's attempts at British accents for the narration at points, but at some points it added some nice colour to the experience. A very honest and emotional look at the rockstar lifestyle.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Johan
- 05-19-20
Boys keep swinging...and not much else
Never has a rise to fame sounded so pedestrian and uninspired.
Jake Shears' flamboyant pop persona as leader of the fun, campy Scissor Sisters would make you think an autobiography would be full of witty observations and fun anecdotes. Instead it's a repetitive score of crappy apartments, loser friends, monotonous nightlife encounters, casual sex and tons of drug taking. In fact, even when Scissor Sisters finally get their breakthrough, most of Jake's memories seem to be full of sleaze and gloom.
It doesn't help that Jake himself just seems interested in becoming famous, and then once he's reached his goal, doesn't really know what to do with it.
Disappointing.