• Crazy Brave

  • A Memoir
  • By: Joy Harjo
  • Narrated by: Joy Harjo
  • Length: 4 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (808 ratings)

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Crazy Brave  By  cover art

Crazy Brave

By: Joy Harjo
Narrated by: Joy Harjo
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Publisher's summary

In this transcendent memoir, grounded in tribal myth and ancestry, music and poetry, Joy Harjo, one of our leading Native American voices, details her journey to becoming a poet. Born in Oklahoma, the end place of the Trail of Tears, Harjo grew up learning to dodge an abusive stepfather by finding shelter in her imagination, a deep spiritual life, and connection with the natural world. She attended an Indian arts boarding school, where she nourished an appreciation for painting, music, and poetry; gave birth while still a teenager; and struggled on her own as a single mother, eventually finding her poetic voice. Narrating the complexities of betrayal and love, Crazy Brave is a memoir about family and the breaking apart necessary in finding a voice. Harjo’s tale of a hardscrabble youth, young adulthood, and transformation into an award-winning poet and musician is haunting, unique, and visionary.

©2012 Joy Harjo (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Featured Article: The top 100 memoirs of all time


All genres considered, the memoir is among the most difficult and complex for a writer to pull off. After all, giving voice to your own lived experience and recounting deeply painful or uncomfortable memories in a way that still engages and entertains is a remarkable feat. These autobiographies, often narrated by the authors themselves, shine with raw, unfiltered emotion sure to resonate with any listener. But don't just take our word for it—queue up any one of these listens, and you'll hear exactly what we mean.

What listeners say about Crazy Brave

Average customer ratings
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Highly recommend

Being a native of the Creek and Cherokee Nations, growing up with part of my soul in one world while the other struggled. I was born and raised in Tulsa and surrounding vicinities. I am most assuredly related to Ms. Harjo in blood but absolutely in spirit. I loved this book and it could not have come to me at a better time in my life. I have already passed it to my sister in hopes that she will feel the panic abate. Thank You Joy. Great granddaughter of E. Richards. ❤️

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23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Poetic Prose

Such beautiful words beautifully performed by the writer. I can totally believe Joy Harjo’s mom was a singer. I can hear that in Ms. Harjo’s performance. She paints a beautiful picture with her words and voice.

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16 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Inspiring...

I love how her mystique and reality are one. She reminds us to respect our inner voice and when you don’t there is a price. Growing up as an American Indian, in Oklahoma, at that time, was fascinating to hear, very reminiscent of my own mothers stories as a Native growing up in the aftermath of having their indigenous way of life ripped apart. Tough decisions for survival.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Some profound insights, too briefly developed

I loved the beginning of this memoir. It took my right into an amazing place. It was bold and over the edge of 'normal' reality in a way I found enlightening and thrilling. As I listened longer to her story I felt so much that was not understood or expressed by the author that it became a recounting of painful events that she tried to bring to a successful conclusion, but it left me feeling incomplete and somewhat abandoned by this headlong rush of events that were so soul wrenching, that needed so much more understanding and healing. Joy may have done that healing. She may have understood all that chaos and pain in a way that brought her a kind of completion, but it didn't come through to me as a listener.

She is obviously a strong, fearless, passionate, wounded, amazing woman who takes life head on. I was left wanting more. More insights into each of those painful breaks, more history and background in her early imprints, more patience in evaluating and retelling her feelings and memories. More deep magic in transforming pain to transcendence, loss to wholeness.

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8 people found this helpful

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Beautiful & Healing

A beautiful memoir with extraordinary insight & wisdom that is powerful & healing for all. Joy Harjo is a national treasure.

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7 people found this helpful

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I want more!

Powerful story. Amazing, strong woman. I will be looking for more from her. Loved hearing this in her own voice.

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6 people found this helpful

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Wonderful and intentional storyteller...

I don't think I've ever heard words so intentionally and purposefully bound together. What a reflective journey Harjo takes us un!

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great story

Excellent book, authentic and from the heart. highly recommend for group reads, community and students.

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5 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Less Compelling than You'd Wish

I wanted to love this memoire because I so admire Harjo's poetry. But it just isn't particularly compelling. It seems more self-indulgent--a reflection for personal use--than something to be shared with others.

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3 people found this helpful

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Wonderful Experience!

Listening to Joy Harjo read her story and her poetry in this book was magical!

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2 people found this helpful