4 3 2 1

A Novel

By: Paul Auster

Narrated by: Paul Auster

Length: 36 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

"...listening to 4 3 2 1 in audio is worth the commitment, thanks to the author’s easy-on-the-ears baritone" — Newsday

This program is narrated by—and includes a bonus interview with—the author.

Paul Auster’s greatest, most heartbreaking and satisfying novel—a sweeping and surprising story of birthright and possibility, of love and of life itself: a masterpiece.

Nearly two weeks early, on March 3, 1947, in the maternity ward of Beth Israel Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, Archibald Isaac Ferguson, the one and only child of Rose and Stanley Ferguson, is born. From that single beginning, Ferguson’s life will take four simultaneous and independent fictional paths. Four identical Fergusons made of the same DNA, four boys who are the same boy, go on to lead four parallel and entirely different lives. Family fortunes diverge. Athletic skills and sex lives and friendships and intellectual passions contrast. Each Ferguson falls under the spell of the magnificent Amy Schneiderman, yet each Amy and each Ferguson have a relationship like no other. Meanwhile, listeners will take in each Ferguson’s pleasures and ache from each Ferguson’s pains, as the mortal plot of each Ferguson’s life rushes on.

As inventive and dexterously constructed as anything Paul Auster has ever written, yet with a passion for realism and a great tenderness and fierce attachment to history and to life itself that listeners have never heard from Auster before. 4 3 2 1 is a marvelous and unforgettably affecting tour de force.

©2017 Paul Auster (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"[Paul] Auster's deep understanding of his characters, soothing baritone, and skillful pacing...deliver an immensely satisfying experience overall for listeners" -AudioFile Magazine

"[Paul] Auster’s compelling, mesmerizing voice so embodies all the Fergusons that “4321” is ...worth an entire week’s worth of listening." -Winston-Salem Journal

"[L]istening to “4 3 2 1” in audio is worth the commitment, thanks to the author’s easy-on-the-ears baritone." -Newsday

Gift that keeps giving

An incredible book. An incredible performance by author Paul Auster, who has such a great voice. 37 hours -- this one feels like the gift that keeps on giving.

Narrated by the author

English is not my native language so getting through the book on my own would have been a struggle. The story is so well written (i.e. told) that listening to the author telling it seemed just as it was meant to be. Thank you Mr. Paul Auster.

Starts Out Great...

then ambled further than even a patient me could sometimes tolerate. The writing was very good, but some serious tightening of the story and extensive editing were needed. I did enjoy quite a few parts, nevertheless, so it was still worth a listen.

Could not put this down!

I fell in love with the characters, and their different iterations. They all sprang to life inside my car while I was driving or when I was walking on the streets. I enjoyed the historical backdrop. I was still very young during the tumultuous late 50’s and 60’s. But I’m aware of how there was so much going on then. All in all a satisfying read and the fact that it was narrated by the author made me feel like he was reading it to me. This alone felt like a treat.

A masterful work

Paul Auster is the best author of or times. This is a well-crafted, mind exercising story, which will entertain and move. Paul’s relaxing, skilled voice adds an even greater level of quality to the audiobook. I can’t recommend listening to this book highly enough.

Really loved this novel

What made the experience of listening to 4 3 2 1 the most enjoyable?

I really like the fact that it was read by the author, so that I was able to hear the cadence in which it was meant to be heard.

What other book might you compare 4 3 2 1 to and why?

I would compare this book to City on Fire and A Little Lie both of which I would really recommend.

What about Paul Auster’s performance did you like?

I actually loved the performance but I did speed it up to 1.25x which resulted in a slight octave raise to the narrators voice. This made it a little easier to relate to him being a young man. He also did not attempt to fein female voices.

Any additional comments?

If you are to purchase this novel, be ready for the long haul. I listened to this over a period of 3 days and couldn't put it down. This was my first Paul Auster book and I definitely don't think it will be my last.

Interesting, but not amazing enough to be so long

I was intrigued by the premise of the novel, so I gave it a shot. It was a huge commitment, and I never missed the story when I was busy. I appreciate the innovative idea, but it did not end up being worth it for me.

amazing and fresh multiple storyline. ..aost sci-f

narration was great. lobed the format of the varying storyline. highly recommend this novel

the four Fergusons were all endearing

I liked that the author read the book. the concept of the book was clever, and the authors explanation at the end tied it all up nicely for me.

4 medium storylines do not make a great book

I fail to see why this book received such good reviews.
There are 4 below average storylines, spliced together with no apparent good reason or sophistication.
What’s the point?
I gave up halfway through.
The monotonous performance did not help much.