By Accident

A Memoir of Letting Go

By: Joanne Greene

Narrated by: Joanne Greene

Length: 5 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Joanne Greene grew up in Boston during the 1960s and ’70s, a turning point for women in the United States. Doors were opening wider, and Joanne walked through as many as she could. As a young woman, she dove headfirst into San Francisco radio and television, and went on to host and produce award-winning feminist and other timely features and talk shows for decades. Throughout, she worked at having a great marriage and being an exemplary parent. But underlying her high-achieving life was a sometimes-destructive need for control.

Vulnerability and dependency were okay...for other people. Joanne’s value was tied to how in charge, how together, and how productive she was. Then she suffered a traumatic accident—and it set her on a journey of discovery that taught her true power came in the still moments, the moments when she not only loosened her grip but even allowed herself to crack. In fragility, Joanne found, there was beauty—and possibility, too.

By Accident is a story about discovering that control is a seductive illusion and how letting go of the need for it can reveal great strength and lead us to even firmer ground.

©2023 Joanne Greene (P)2023 Joanne Greene

A compelling journey of recovery, love, & support

A beautifully written and narrated journey of life’s experiences through the lens of an accident. It reminds us of the importance of reflecting on our experiences to find opportunities for growth and changing our perspectives. - KJM

A storyteller from radio with a wonderful voice

I've been to book readings where Ms. Greene captivates an audience of many with her life's tale. But listening to it all by myself was an even greater pleasure. Because of her unique radio voice, it was like listening to her come out of my stereo, or through my headphones. In parts I felt like a child being told a story at night. I understand she has a podcast, so I guess I'll have to go hear her there --- until her next book that is!

An incredible journey of resilience

I couldn’t stop listening! I laughed, I cried, I prayed, I held my breath! How can one person endure so much tragedy and loss. The author kept me on the edge of my seat as she navigates her story of resilience to the unimaginable. This story is well written and performed beautifully. Joanne is a master story teller and an inspiration to anyone who has faced adversity. A wonderful uplifting read!

Inspiring and heart felt

I love a book that moves me, inspires me and educates me. And By Accident does all of that and more. The author does an excellent narration of her work. It was difficult for me to stop listening for the sake of sleep. Well done!

No Accident

It's no accident that By Accident is as well-written and performed as it is. Author Joanne Greene has years of experience in both, developing the expertise that draws us into this memoir, the center of gravity of which is a horrendous automobile accident that she survives and that serves as a lens through which she views key experiences in her life. As readers, we can all take meaning from what she writes.

A Profound Tale of Resilience

Joanne Green’s memoir, “By Accident,” is a profound tale of resilience as the author takes us through the events of her life, with the accident as the centerpiece. With the support and love of her devoted husband, Fred, her children and her community, and her own indomitable spirit, she emerges from loss, injury, illness, and even unexpected exposure to the elements, to living each day clearly focused on what is important in life. She never once asks the question, “why me.” Rather, the author’s spiritual and communal connections allow her to feel gratitude for every day. I felt uplifted by this story and continue to think about its many lessons.
I am an avid "listener" of books and this author's narration is top notch. I felt as though she and I were taking a walk together as she told her story. This book could not have been narrated by anyone else.

Compelling and Moving Memoir

I could not stop listening to this book until it was finished. It is well-written, the narration is excellent, the story is incredibly compelling and moved me to both tears and laughter. It’s an inspirational story of love, fortitude, overcoming adversity, and the power of positivity.

A story of perseverance, courage and triumph

Joanne tells her story with honesty and compassion. It’s a story of challenges and lessons learned from those challenges. Brought me to tears several times. It really is a story of hope and love

One Wow-zer of a Memoir

Listening to this book is an extraordinary ride. From the opening paragraphs, I was thrust into the sights and sounds of the author getting hit by a car, followed by her heartfelt rendering of a series of losses and circumstances that would devastate most people. The author never asks for sympathy, but instead rises phoenix-like with grace, resilience, and a profound understanding of her psyche. I cried many times and stayed quite affected by this complex, rich, and multi-layered story for hours after. Joanne Greene's honest portrayal of vulnerability, her personal journey and growth, and her keen sense of what it means to survive adversity and live fully, are written with quiet humor and wise reflection. While her story is a unique one, her use of back story and flashbacks, the crystal-clear imagery and sensory details, her observations of the world writ large and small, and the importance of her deep and abiding faith, makes this memoir relatable at every level.

The craft and skill as a writer is evident on every page; the author’s resonant narration rivals that of the most-seasoned monologuist.

Oh, did I mention this worthy book is also a love story?

Thumbs way up.

An Odyssey of Discovery

An exceptional achievement! Author Joanne Greene voices her own odyssey of recovery sparked, in her case, by a simple twist of fate. Joanne is a master storyteller and through her many voices she paints pictures—vibrant fragments of her life—that map out for us how extreme vulnerability can lead to a deeper truer strength. After a horrific car accident that she endures as a pedestrian walking toward her car after work, Greene faces a lengthy recovery for her shattered body. She comments early on that she “can hear the space between the seconds.” Taking advantage of those spaces, she rolls back time to share stories with us of her childhood in Boston, followed by a quick rise to meaningful work in San Francisco Bay area media, a seemingly idyllic marriage and growing family. Yet there is turmoil underneath the surfaces of her life and she does not shy away from diving deep. What follows is a riveting reassessment of how her strength and achievements stem largely from a fear hardened fragility that she has never truly explored. She does that task with us along for the ride. As she turns and turns in the widening gyres propelled by exceptional honesty and thirst for self-knowledge, she reveals once again that the road to wisdom is never a straight one. I guarantee that every twist and turn in this tale of self-discovery is worth your time and contemplation.