• One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

  • By: Ken Kesey
  • Narrated by: Ken Kesey
  • Length: 3 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (731 ratings)

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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest  By  cover art

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

By: Ken Kesey
Narrated by: Ken Kesey
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Publisher's summary

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is one of the most electrifying, most admired novels of our time. Set in the bleak confines of a state mental hospital and narrated by a half-Indian patient named Chief Bromden, it's the story of a titanic battle of wills between two unforgettable characters.

On one side is Big Nurse, who rules her ward with iron discipline. On the other is Randle Patrick McMurphy, a lustful, brawling, life-loving new inmate who refuses to knuckle under to Big Nurse's soul-destroying methods. In the end, McMurphy pays the ultimate price for his defiance, but not before the rebellious spirit has shown Chief Bromden the way to reclaim his future.

©1962 Ken Kesey (P)1993 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"A glittering parable of good and evil." (The New York Times Book Review)
"A roar of protest against middlebrow society's Rules and the Rulers who enforce them." (Time)

What listeners say about One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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Performance
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Great Book

Interesting and captivating story and the author's interpretation makes it that much more interesting. After hearing the book, I had to see the movie, yeah, the book is far better. The interview with Ken Kesey is a very enjoyable addition to the download.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Always A Rollercoaster

There is so much to love about this book. The characters are rich and vibrant, and the story never grows any less powerful over time.
We should all be so lucky as to have our lives narrated by Big Chief.
God bless Ken Kesey.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great!

really great. narration was good. had some sound effects that didn't quite make sense. but really good book. definitely wild though not for the faint of heart

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Movie was better

Thought movie script more subtle and understated. The characters in movie also were more believable. And it has Jack!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing.

Where does One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is my first audiobook—and a good one at that—which entices me to further pursue audiobooks in general.

What was one of the most memorable moments of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?

The moment when McMurphy first entered the story.

Which scene was your favorite?

The fight scene because of its purpose, and overall development to the plot.

If you could rename One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, what would you call it?

"McMurphy and the Maniacs"

Any additional comments?

No.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

yes yes yes

a must read. the part at the end is enlightening to the stuff the CIA did in the past that not enough people talk about. ken is key to opening parts of the mind you may not know exist.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

kool-aid cuckoo test

What did you like best about this story?

Great character development

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

Hearing the book through the authors voice reveals the intended emphasis and inflection that gives the characters their personality

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great story better suited for a physical book.

Always a great story but not a story that can be listened to in the background while otherwise occupied. Missed nuances that changes the tone of the story and had to go back to hear what I missed.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Skips too much

Tried to follow along with text (for school) and realized there were whole sections of texts that were just left out. Not sure if this is because I’m on a free trial or what. Very disappointed because it’s a great book

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Abridged Book

An excellent and intriguing story but this is not the full version of the book qnd I think it's a bit misleading that there is no mention of it being abridged at all

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