Spare

By: Prince Harry The Duke of Sussex

Narrated by: Prince Harry The Duke of Sussex

Length: 15 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Discover the global phenomenon that tells an unforgettable story of love, loss, and healing.

“Compellingly artful . . . [a] blockbuster memoir.”—The New Yorker (Best Books of the Year)

It was one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow—and horror. As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling—and how their lives would play out from that point on.

For Harry, this is that story at last.

Before losing his mother, twelve-year-old Prince Harry was known as the carefree one, the happy-go-lucky Spare to the more serious Heir. Grief changed everything. He struggled at school, struggled with anger, with loneliness—and, because he blamed the press for his mother’s death, he struggled to accept life in the spotlight.

At twenty-one, he joined the British Army. The discipline gave him structure, and two combat tours made him a hero at home. But he soon felt more lost than ever, suffering from post-traumatic stress and prone to crippling panic attacks. Above all, he couldn’t find true love.

Then he met Meghan. The world was swept away by the couple’s cinematic romance and rejoiced in their fairy-tale wedding. But from the beginning, Harry and Meghan were preyed upon by the press, subjected to waves of abuse, racism, and lies. Watching his wife suffer, their safety and mental health at risk, Harry saw no other way to prevent the tragedy of history repeating itself but to flee his mother country. Over the centuries, leaving the Royal Family was an act few had dared. The last to try, in fact, had been his mother. . . .

For the first time, Prince Harry tells his own story, chronicling his journey with raw, unflinching honesty. A landmark publication, Spare is full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.

©2023 Random House Group (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Unflinching, introspective, and well-written.” —Time

“Compellingly artful . . . [a] blockbuster memoir.” —The New Yorker

“A scorching account of life in a golden cage.” —The Atlantic

Somewhere, Diana is so proud.

Harry breaking free of the establishment that tormented him and his mother makes for an incredibly empowering story.

After decades of hearing his story through his toxic family and the British press, it’s time to actually listen to him.

For anyone that has dealt with toxic family, the core of his story is surprisingly relatable.

Hopefully more people will look beyond the tabloid narrative and the carpet bomb reviews to actually listen.

LOVED IT!!!

Love his narration! The introduction was superb and sets the book up. Great to hear his story in his own words. HIGHLY recommend!

Speak your truth, and find your peace.

I’m supportive of Harry and Meg trying to find their peace and explaining all the experiences which have shaped their lives. They deserve compassion and understanding for speaking their truth, let them be.

Extraordinary and heartbreaking

After reading over 2000 audiobooks, and thousand more paper books, this is my first ever review. The book is extraordinarily heartfelt, and the reading by the author helps the book to come to life. I have never been happier with a new book, and that is truly saying something. I highly recommend the book not because of the identity of the author, but because of the heartbreaking, frank, emotional, funny, and loving memoir that we now all get to explore—as well as getting a chance to explore our own part in the memoir, as consumers of tabloid culture.

Maybe Spare in the UK but King of our hearts

I drank up every word as he read like a newborn calf waiting for milk.
The rawness of his emotions, thoughts, and reasoning comes across as authentic, powerful, and full of integrity. The story he came to tell is one that everyone, on all sides of thr globe should read. Wishing him peace in the U.S.

Excellent review of Spare!!

Excellent so insightful so honest from his heart and beautiful. He truly loves his mother and his wife and children. I hope one day he’s able to have reconciliation with his father and brother. His mother will always be looking down and after him making sure he’s gonna be okay.

I couldn't stop listening!

All around an amazing job. Prince Harry's voice is like listening to lovely music. So glad he narrated. Raw and honest. There were moments that I burst with laughter and a few that I nearly cried. Excellent.

Loved this story!!

Totally understand how he and Meghan felt, and why he had to leave the Royal family. The rest of the family will ultimately benefit from this and will slowly understand what they have to do for the Monarchy to survive. It may be too late for Charles, I have never been a Camilla fan. He didn’t go out of his way to badmouth them.

His story

If you've been tormented all your life by the press, why let people write your bio. His life, his bio, not only in his word but from his own mouth.

This is the beauty of Audible. Harry, I would not want your life, not even for a minute. The press gets to hoard you and then go home to their regular lifes.

Makes me appreciate my regular boring everyday life. There is absolute beauty in simplicity.

Very well narrated

The book made Prince Harry real. I thought he was believable and down to earth