• The Backpack

  • How to Understand and Manage Yourself While Loving Others Along the Way
  • By: Tim A. Gardner
  • Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
  • Length: 4 hrs and 39 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (14 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
The Backpack  By  cover art

The Backpack

By: Tim A. Gardner
Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.75

Buy for $13.75

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The Backpack: How to Understand and Manage Yourself While Loving Others Along the Way tells the story of Jon, Sofia, and Buddy, whose pathways merge on a life-changing flight. Written by a senior consultant with the Flippen Group (a worldwide leader in self-awareness training), the book brings together an angry passenger, a wise flight attendant, and a down-home cowboy. Their chance meeting leads to the ride of their lives as they fully grasp the importance and meaning of their backpacks.

As this engaging story reveals, self-awareness is like a backpack! If we are to be prepared to succeed on the journey of life, we need to know and accept which backpack is ours, decide what we need to put in it or take out of it, and be fully aware of how our backpacks are affecting all of the other passengers around us. The question is: Are we whacking the other passengers with our backpack as we travel through life...or are we helping them?

The Backpack offers a story that explores the concepts of self-awareness and other-awareness, including the importance of appreciating your personality, living by your core values, mentally preparing for your day, being aware of your impact on others, and packing your backpack wisely.

©2019 John Wiley & Sons, Inc (P)2019 Gildan Media

What listeners say about The Backpack

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    12
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    9
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    10
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing Book

I loved this book so much! It made me think of everything so different! Thank you!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Powerful and Inspiring

The backpack is such an inspiring and relatable story! Every reader is able to relate to one of the characters and find your wisdom and guidance very powerful as we each make critically important choices every day about how we treat others.

I especially love the heart and care that shines through the characters and story line. Thank you!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Instant Classic!

This business fable was beautifully written. It is an engaging story that we can all relate to, and it is the perfect length to cover all the concepts without dragging on. If you are interested in better self-awareness, practical takeaways, and relating better with others, then this is the book for you!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Much needed message for ALL!

I just finished listening to the audio version of The Backpack. I loved everything about it!
Creating a very relatable story with humor and wisdom to express a very important message and life lessons was so impactful. I read (listen) to a lot of self development books and this was a great change to learn and grow from “fictional” characters.
I will definitely be more aware of my own backpack or big red tote in my case.
Thank you Tim A. Gardner for a message that is much needed in our world today!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Fiction with no endinng

Last paragraph ....you decide how this book should end. No closure which means unfulfilling. We read for enjoyment. This was not enjoyable.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!