• Flowers for Algernon

  • By: Daniel Keyes
  • Narrated by: Jeff Woodman
  • Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (11,096 ratings)

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Flowers for Algernon

By: Daniel Keyes
Narrated by: Jeff Woodman
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Publisher's summary

Charlie Gordon knows that he isn't very bright. At 32, he mops floors in a bakery and earns just enough to get by. Three evenings a week, he studies at a center for mentally challenged adults. But all of this is about to change for Charlie. As part of a daring experiment, doctors are going to perform surgery on Charlie's brain. They hope the operation and special medication will increase his intelligence, just as it has for the laboratory mouse, Algernon. Meanwhile, each day Charlie keeps a diary of what is happening to him. This is his poignant record of the startling changes in his mind and his life.

Flowers for Algernon was first published as a short story, but soon received wide acclaim as it appeared in anthologies, as a television special, and as an award-winning motion picture, Charly. In its final, expanded form, this haunting story won the Nebula Award for the Best Novel of the Year. Through Jeff Woodman's narration, it now becomes an unforgettable audio experience.

©1966 Daniel Keyes (P)1998 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

  • Nebula Award, Best Novel, 1966

"A tale that is convincing, suspectful and touching." ( The New York Times)

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What listeners say about Flowers for Algernon

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  • Zy
  • 12-12-20

Thought Provoking, Powerful, and Emotional

The narrator captures your interest and takes you on the brilliant and memorable journey of the rise and fall of Charlie. Grab some tissues.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A classic tale of science versus nature

There are many themes present in this book, but the main theme I take away from it is science versus nature and human ingenuity versus the environment. This is a good book to think about, it stays with you long after you finish reading it.

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Excellent Story, Excellent Performance

There is nothing about this audio book I did not like. This is the first audible review I have written. I don’t have much to say but I feel I have to say it. Daniel Keyes wrote an absolutely amazing book that really got to me emotionally and gave me perspective about myself and others.... I’m bad at explaining and I don’t know how to say what I mean but this book got to me. And Jeff Woodman’s performance was so perfect. This is worth every dollar and every minute to absorb.

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Why no chapter breakdowns?

This is a great performance, but it is one giant file. Finding individual chapters to listen to is impossible. They really pulled a Charlie Gordon on this one.

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Is "smarter" really "better"?

I love what this book has to say about intelligence and its relationship with other traits like empathy, social skills, happiness, etc. The character blatantly puts intelligence on a pedestal at the beginning, which just makes his transformation that much more heartbreaking. I won't say more because I don't want to spoil anything. The entire story is presented in the form of journal entries written by the main character, which is an approach that may seem a little mawkish in many stories but was the ideal one for this story. Some will tell you that the narrative is a little outdated, and I won't say they don't have a point, but I think it was also way ahead of its time and deserves to be read at least once in the modern day, if not over and over again. Seriously, this one sticks with you.

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outstanding.

Amazing. read it !!
one of the best books I've ever read, poetic, philosophical and timeless. Narrator is superb!

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Still a classic

The author and the narrator did a fantastic job of moving through the changes Charlie experiences.. it’s sad, but also an important look at learning, intelligence and how we see ourselves..

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Fantastic!

Thoroughly enjoyed the book and the reader! I loved all the parts he played and how he made all the characters come to life!

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Amazing Book

It’s a very original and unique premise to explore deeper aspects of human nature. I walked away feeling different, like I took a bit of Charlie with me.

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One of great books of our time and all time.

You read it once and it stays with you. This is a book that will forever define human relations and how humans treat others that we feel superior towards. Always remember (because this book reminds us): blood isn’t always thicker than water. Charley Gordon will live forever.

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