A Short Drink of Water

By: Mara Altman

Narrated by: Mara Altman

Length: 1 hr and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

The word pops up anywhere exaggerations are sold. Telling a tall tale. Placing a tall order. Tall, dark, and handsome. And, of course, let’s not forget the proverbial “tall drink of water”. This bothers Mara Altman, and not only because she’s five-foot-zero, but also because her experience as a journalist, humorist, and essayist has led her to challenge assumptions about human existence. Altman’s most recent book, Gross Anatomy: Dispatches from the Front (and Back), was a 2019 finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor, and wittily dissected long-held assumptions about our bodies for the deeper truth. Her conclusion: There is greatness in our grossness.

In her Audible Original A Short Drink of Water, Altman challenges the assumption that taller is better. Her journey to empower those at the short end of the stick (and why is it always the short end?) delivers a hilarious and heartfelt look at the differences between tall and short and how people seek to narrow them both physically and psychologically. You’ll meet people of every size and opinion in this deeply reported and richly comical ride through a world where every inch counts.

©2021 Mara Altman (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC.

my first audiobook

a really awesome experience
it was funny and the performance was great
I would recommend it for anyone

Short and Sweet!

As a 5’2.5” person, I found this incredibly interesting. Who knew that there was so much more to being short, than being short? This is well researched, and as a parent, it tugs at your moral and emotional heartstrings. This is an interesting listen, I highly recommend!

A Short drink of Water

This is brilliant - congratulations to Mara for her amazing new piece. It’s funny, well researched, insightful, relatable, and beautifully performed!

Very well done - Refreshing

I have struggled with my short stature my whole life. I have been laughed by brothers of girls I dated, ignored by peers, and worse of all been told that people would rather be dead than be my height. I am 5’5”, not tall but unsure why death is a better option. Anyway, this book offers fantastic insight. Everyone has something they want to change about themselves. Surprisingly height is not first on my list. I won’t say I am proud of my height, just disappointed that I can sometimes be judged and treated inferior for it. Oh, about those brothers. Usually I would wait until my girlfriend left the room, and asked them if they wanted to tangle with a very experienced varsity wrestler. One took me up on it and regretted it. If Mike Tyson could be heavy weight champion at 5’10”, I am confident that compensating with a skill bridges the gap with the “real men”. No chip on my shoulder, just standing up for myself.

Fantastic!!

A must read / listen to! Well written and funny! We can all learn so much about life and society from Mara’s words, wether you are 7 feet tall or 4’ 2” read this book!!

Food for thought

This is a wonderful perspective on being “different “in this world. Acceptance and diversity are key. Really enjoyed this book.

Narrated by a great author.

Great listen. Awesome perspective. The reader was fun and read with such excitement. Her humor was endearing and a necessary break from such a truly serious topic. Wonderful "short" listen.

Eye opening and hilarious

I would recommend this book to anyone who is in need of laughs and a change in perspective. Interesting ideas on the societal, psychological, and evolutionary judgements of height.

Thoughtful discussion of human nature

Mara Altman leads an important discussion about human nature as it relates to height. With alternating solemnity and humor, Mara shares her own experiences and views from across several scientific specialties. At the conclusion, one is left thinking about how they perceive the world and how the world perceived them. This could lead to people being kinder to themselves and to each other.

I loved it!

So great to have a writer focus on the short point of view(as a shoe woman myself). I really appreciated Mara Altman’s humor and honesty approaching this topic as well as her vulnerability talking about her own experience and as a mother. It’s a great listen, entertaining and informative.