Audiobooks by John Lithgow

A Confederacy of Dumptys: Portraits of American Scoundrels in Verse

The next book in John Lithgow's New York Times bestselling series Following the success of New York Times bestsellers Dumpty and Trumpty Dumpty Wanted a Crown, award-winning actor, author, and illustrator John Lithgow presents the third book in his runaway hit series. A Confederacy of Dumptys takes us through a history of twenty-five 'American Scoundrels' in this all-new collection of Lithgow's satirical poems and illustrations. While the Trump Era was rife with corruption and abuse of power, it was nothing new. Through Lithgow's cutting humor, you will read about a rogues' gallery of villains that came before Donald J. Trump, powerful men and women who were corrupt, venal, criminal, adulterous, racist, or just plain disgusting. With dark and lyrical stories from across American history, you will learn about long-forgotten figures and bad actors of today, including the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, the perpetrator of 19th century women's pyramid schemes, and participants in both the Watergate scandal and the Capitol insurrection. Trump and Nixon show up, of course, but also Leona Helmsley, Boss Tweed, Typhoid Mary, Newt Gingrich, Ted Cruz, and many more. Skipping through time, and delivered with classic Lithgow wit and style, A Confederacy of Dumptys is an exuberant reminder of how not to repeat history. Digital audio edition read by the author. The perfect book for: • Political satire fans-viewers of The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. • American history buffs and trivia enthusiasts-readers of Jon's Stewart's America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction and Josh Clark's Stuff You Should Know: An Incomplete Compendium of Mostly Interesting Things. • Poetry, art, and illustration aficionados.

John Lithgow (Author), John Lithgow (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

Trumpty Dumpty Wanted a Crown: Verses for a Despotic Age

Following the success of his New York Times bestseller Dumpty, award-winning actor, author, and illustrator John Lithgow presents a brand-new collection of satirical poems chronicling the despotic age of Donald Trump. Trumpty Dumpty Wanted a Crown is darker and more hard-hitting than ever. Lithgow writes and draws with wit and fury as he takes readers through another year of the shocking events involving Trump and his administration. His uproarious poems and illustrations encompass Trump's impeachment, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter protests, and much more. Lithgow targets Mitch McConnell, Mike Pompeo, Bill Barr, Jared Kushner, Elaine Chao, and many others, but also includes a few heroes of the moment, including Anthony Fauci, Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, and even Barack Obama. The book arrives at a time when it's needed most. With all-new poems and never-before-seen line drawings, Lithgow will once again make readers laugh and pause to remember some of the most defining moments in recent history-skewering the reign of King Dumpty one stanza at a time. Digital audio edition read by the author.

John Lithgow (Author), John Lithgow, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

Dumpty: The Age of Trump in Verse

Award-winning actor and bestselling author John Lithgow wields a whip-smart, satirical pen in this poetic diatribe chronicling the last few abysmal years in politics. With lacerating wit, he takes readers verse by verse through the history of Donald Trump's presidency, lampooning the likes of Betsy DeVos, Anthony Scaramucci, Scott Pruitt, Paul Manafort, Trump's doctors, and many others. Illustrated from cover to cover with Lithgow's never-before-seen line drawings, the poems collected in Dumpty draw inspiration from A. A. Milne, Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Mother Goose, and many more. A YUGE feat of laugh-out-loud lyrical storytelling, this hilarious and timely volume is bound to bring joy to poetry lovers, political junkies, and Lithgow fans.

John Lithgow (Author), John Lithgow (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

Drama: An Actor's Education

In this riveting and surprising personal history, John Lithgow shares a backstage view of his own struggle, crisis, and discovery, revealing the early life and career that took place out of the public eye. Above all Lithgow's memoir is a tribute to his most important influence: his father, Arthur Lithgow, who, as an actor, director, producer, and great lover of Shakespeare, brought theater to John's boyhood. From bedtime stories to Arthur's illustrious productions, performance and storytelling were constant and cherished parts of family life. Drama details with poignancy and sharp recollection the moments that introduced a budding young actor to the undeniable power of theater. Before Lithgow gained fame with films like The World According to Garp and television shows like 3rd Rock from the Sun, his early years were full of scenes both hilarious and bittersweet. His ruminations on the nature of theater, film acting, and storytelling cut to the heart of why actors are driven to perform, and why people are driven to watch them do it. Lithgow chronicles the harrowing moments of his past, reflecting with moving candor on friends made and lost, mistakes large and small, and the powerful love of a father who set him on the road to a life onstage. Illuminating, funny, affecting, and thoroughly engrossing, Drama raises the curtain on the making of one of our most beloved actors.

John Lithgow (Author), John Lithgow (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

The Poets' Corner: The One-and-Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family

This unique package provides a one-of-a-kind poetry experience from one of today's most beloved performers. John Lithgow has compiled an outstanding collection of memorable poetry and has gathered his famous friends to read them. The wide variety of carefully selected poems in this audiobook provide the perfect introduction to reel in those who are new to poetry, and for poetry lovers to experience beloved verses in a fresh, vivid way. Read by John Lithgow, Morgan Freeman, Jodie Foster, Glenn Close, Gary Sinise, Helen Mirren, Billy Connelly, Robert Sean Leonard, Kathy Bates, Sam Waterston, and Eileen Atkins. The Poets' Corner: CD 1 //1 Hachette Audio presents: The Poets' Corner Read by John Lithgow (Introduction) 2 One of the Childcraft Books (introduction) Read by John Lithgow 3 Matthew Arnold: The Serious Poet (introduction) 4 Dover Beach, by Matthew Arnold Read by Eileen Atkins 5 W.H. Auden: The High/Low Poet (intro) 6 Musée des Beaux Arts, by W.H. Auden Read by Jodie Foster 7 John Berryman: The Alter Ego (intro) 8 Henry's Confession, by John Berryman Read by Gary Sinise 9 Elizabeth Bishop: The Poet's Poet (intro) 10Filling Station, by Elizabeth Bishop Read by Gary Sinise 11William Blake: The Mystical Visionary (intro) 12 The Tyger, by William Blake Read by Helen Mirren 13 The Lamb, by William Blake Read by John Lithgow 14 Gwendolyn Brooks: The Visionary (intro) 15 We Real Cool, by Gwendolyn Brooks Read by Morgan Freeman 16 Elizabeth Barrett Browning: The Beloved (intro) 17 Sonnet 43, by Elizabeth Barrett Browning Read by Helen Mirren 18 The Best Thing in the World, by Elizabeth Barrett Browning Read by Helen Mirren 19 Robert Burns: The Ploughman Poet (intro) 20 To a Mouse, by Robert Burns Read by Bill Connolly 21 A Red Rose, by Robert Burns Read by John Lithgow FOR A COMPLETE TRACK LISTING, visit: http://www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/9781600240539_TrackIndex.htm

John Lithgow (Author), Billy Connolly, Eileen Atkins, Glenn Close, Helen Mirren, Jodie Foster, John Lithgow, Kathy Bates, Morgan Freeman, Robert Sean Leonard, Sam Waterston (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free