Audiobooks by Kate Williams

How to Stop Trying: An Overachiever’s Guide to Self-Acceptance, Letting Go, and Other Impossible Thi

"This program is read by the author. An unflinchingly honest and sometimes hilarious look at hustle culture, exploring the forces that have shaped a generation of overachieving women who now find themselves in search of a better way forward. Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m trying to make it work,” and thought, “That sounds like a great idea”? Probably not. Because the thing about trying is that it’s tiring; it’s labor. Anyone who has tried to have fun or to relax or to fall asleep knows this to be true. And yet: we exist within a culture that encourages us—often with a frantic urgency—to try, and try harder. We are told to try a different approach, try to do or be better, try to squeeze in a little bit more. This is especially true of women, who not only have to try harder than men to receive access to the same opportunities and resources, but who are also conditioned to try in the name of meeting others' needs and expectations, often at the expense of their own well-being. In this galvanizing and illuminating listen, Kate tackles hustle culture head-on, exploring the ways in which women are primed to become relentless strivers. From the workplace to motherhood, from relationships to “self-care”—no arena of a woman’s life is safe from the pressure to exceed expectations. This conflation of self-worth with achievement, she argues, is both toxic and counterproductive, as the qualities we most seek—happiness, meaning, purpose—are not earned but rather owned. Known for her astute cultural analysis and pitch-perfect observations of generational trends, Williams takes listeners on a journey rooted in her own struggle to divest from an overachieving identity, including the realizations that came in the wake of a painful fertility challenge. Deeply felt, passionately argued, and often laugh-out-loud funny, this is a book for every woman who has ever wondered what would happen if she stopped trying so hard—and just let go. A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books."

Kate Williams (Author), Kate Williams (Narrator)

Audiobook

[German] - Never Coming Home (Ungekürzte Lesung)

"Spannender Jugendthriller um 10 Influencer:innen auf einer einsamen Insel, die zur tödlichen Falle wird. Für Fans von The I-Land und One of Us Is Lying Jeder kennt Unknown Island - es ist das exklusivste Reiseziel der Welt. Weiße Sandstrände, türkisfarbenes Meer, Luxusunterkünfte ... Nur geladene Gäste dürfen kommen und niemand über einundzwanzig. Plus: Es ist absolut kostenlos. Wer würde also nicht hinwollen? Über eine virale Kampagne werden die Türen des Resorts zum ersten Mal und exklusiv für zehn ausgewählte Influencer geöffnet. Jeder kennt sie: Da ist die Gamerin, die Beauty-Bloggerin, das Rich Girl, der Superstar, der Nachwuchspolitiker, die Umweltaktivistin, der DJ, die CEO, der Sternekoch und der Sportler. Was sie nicht wissen: Sie wurden nicht wegen ihrer Followerzahlen auf die Insel eingeladen. Jede:r von ihnen hütet ein tödliches Geheimnis, und es scheint, als hätte jemand entschieden, dass die Zeit der Rache gekommen ist. Unknown Island ist kein Urlaub, es ist eine Falle. Und es sieht alles danach aus, als würden diese Zehn trotz all ihres Einflusses nie wieder nach Hause zurückkehren ..."

Kate Williams (Author), Julian Horeyseck (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Examined Mind: A BBC radio collection exploring the history, philosophy and science of self-help

"This collection brings together history, science, philosophy and comedy to explore our age-old search for meaning. We live in an age of self-improvement and self-examination - lifehacking, wellbeing, self-care, mindfulness retreats - but this seemingly very modern phenomenon is a pursuit that dates back for millennia. Join comedian Robin Ince to explore how the ancient Greeks aimed to get happier, healthier and richer. Will Self asks some of Britain's key scientists, philosophers and faith leaders to share their conclusions on the meaning of our existence. Historian Kate Williams investigates the Grandfather of Self-Help, Samuel Smiles' 1859 book Self Help, and its lasting influence. In 'Hell is Other People', performer Byron Vincent attempts to overcome his paralysing fear of social situations. Emma Barnett traces the multi-billion dollar mindfulness industry to its Buddhist roots to discover whether it's just another health fad. Comedian Felicity Ward tries to solve her mental health issues, one app at a time. Sian Williams presents a practical guide to boosting brain power through exercise, relaxation, stimulation, sleep and diet. From the ancient Greeks to the present day and even into the future, The Examined Mind provides an unique insight into our constant quest to be better people."

Byron Vincent, Emma Barnett, Felicity Ward, Kate Williams, Robin Ince, Will Self (Author), Bryon Vincent, Emma Barnett, Felicity Ward, Kate Williams, Robin Ince, Sian Williams, Will Self (Narrator)

Audiobook

Rival Queens: The Betrayal of Mary, Queen of Scots

"Random House presents the audiobook edition of Rival Queens by Kate Williams, read by Emma Cunniffe. 'Scintillating, provocative... An elegant synthesis of royal biography and political thriller.' Daily Telegraph A Times History Book of the Year Mary and Elizabeth: cousins, rivals, queens. They allied and fought and plotted - but could never escape their bond... A story which inspired the Hollywood film MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. At the end of the Tudor era, two queens ruled one island. But sixteenth-century Europe was a man’s world and powerful voices believed that no woman could govern. All around Mary and Elizabeth were sycophants, spies and detractors who wanted their dominion, their favour and their bodies. Elizabeth and Mary shared the struggle to be both woman and queen. But the forces rising against the two regnants, and the conflicts of love and dynasty, drove them apart. For Mary, Elizabeth was a fellow queen with whom she dreamed of a lasting friendship. For Elizabeth, Mary was a threat. It was a schism that would end in secret assassination plots, devastating betrayal and, eventually, a terrible final act. Mary is often seen as a defeated or tragic sovereign, but Rival Queens reveals instead how she attempted to reinvent queenship and the monarchy – in one of the hardest fights in royal history. 'Brings us a fresh Mary, set in a gloriously rich context, a tragic heroine - irresistibly real and relevant... There isn’t a line wasted in this taut, dramatic and utterly beguiling biography.' Charles Spencer author of Killers of the King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I ‘The perfect combination of scholarship and storytelling, meticulous research and emotional insight, Kate Williams brings Mary vividly to life in all her complexities and contradictions.’ Kate Mosse, author of The Burning Chambers 'It takes a special kind of historian to turn an old story on its head. Eye-opening, provocative, this is the great rivalry re-imagined for the #MeToo generation.' Lucy Worsley"

Kate Williams (Author), Emma Cunniffe (Narrator)

Audiobook

Josephine: Desire, Ambition, Napoleon

"This is the incredible rise and unbelievable fall of a woman whose energy and ambition is often overshadowed by Napoleon’s military might. In this triumphant biography, Kate Williams tells Josephine’s searing story, of sexual obsession, politics and surviving as a woman in a man’s world. Abandoned in Paris by her aristocratic husband, Josephine's future did not look promising. But while her friends and contemporaries were sent to the guillotine during the Terror that followed the Revolution, she survived prison and emerged as the doyenne of a wildly debauched party scene, surprising everybody when she encouraged the advances of a short, marginalised Corsican soldier, six years her junior. Josephine, the fabulous hostess and skilled diplomat, was the perfect consort to the ambitious but obnoxious Napoleon. With her by his side, he became the greatest man in Europe, the Supreme Emperor; and she amassed a jewellery box with more diamonds than Marie Antoinette’s. But as his fame grew, Napoleon became increasingly obsessed with his need for an heir and irritated with Josephine’s extravagant spending. The woman who had enchanted France became desperate and jealous. Until, a divorcee aged forty-seven, she was forced to watch from the sidelines as Napoleon and his young bride produced a child."

Kate Williams (Author), Sandra Duncan (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Ring and the Crown

"The excitement surrounding the marriage of Prince William to Kate Middleton has prompted four of Britain's top historical biographers to look closely at Royal Weddings. Each writer focuses on different areas of interest, from Medieval to the present day, and fascinating anecdotal details are revealed in the course of this most informative and entertaining overview."

Alison Weir, Kate Williams, Multiple Authors, Sarah Gristwood, Tracy Borman (Author), Julia Franklin (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Pleasures of Men

"Spitalfields, 1840. Catherine lives with her Uncle in a rambling house in London's East End, with little to occupy the days beyond her own colourful imagination. Then news reaches her of a disturbing murderer known as The Man of Crows. As Catherine hungrily devours the news, she finds she can channel the voices of the dead ... and comes to believe she will eventually channel The Man of Crows himself. As the murders continue, Catherine gradually realises she is snared in a deadly trap, where nothing is as it first appears ... and behind the lies are secrets more deadly than anything her imagination can conjure."

Kate Williams (Author), Alex Tregear, Andrew Wincott, Clare Corbett, Harriet Carmichael, Jane Collingwood, Karina Fernandez, Multiple Narrators, Roger May (Narrator)

Audiobook

England's Mistress: The Infamous Life of Emma Hamilton

"A dramatic, sparkling tale of sex, glamour, intrigue, romance and heartbreak, England's Mistress traces the rise and rise of the gorgeous Emma Hamilton. Born into poverty, she clawed her way up through London's underworlds of sex for sale to become England's first media superstar. Nothing could stand in her way of her desire to live out her dream- except her self-destructive desires. Drawing on hundreds of previously undiscovered letters, and told with a novelist's flair, 'England's Mistress' captures the relentless drive, innovative style and burning passion of a true heroine. In a world of tabloid fame and three-minute wonders, Emma's life is truly a tale for our time."

Kate Williams (Author), Sophie Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

Becoming Queen

"'I will be good,' promised the thirteen-year-old Victoria, when she understood that she would be Queen of the most powerful country in the world. That, of course, is a matter of opinion. And there are other layers to the story. With a combination of novelistic flair and historical accuracy, Kate Williams begins by relating the heartbreaking story of Princess Charlotte, the Queen who never was, and her impact on the young Victoria. Our perception of Victoria the Queen is coloured by portraits of her older, widowed self - her dour expression embodying the repressive morality propagated in her time. But Becoming Queen reveals an energetic and vibrant woman, determined to battle for power. It also documents the Byzantine machinations behind Victoria's quest to occupy the throne, and shows how her struggles did not end when finally the crown was placed on her head. In the late eighteenth century, monarchies were in crisis across Europe. Discontented with their mad King, George III, and his spendthrift offspring, the English pinned their hopes on the only legitimate grandchild: Princess Charlotte, daughter of George, Prince of Wales. But Charlotte died at the age of twenty-two, a few hours after giving birth to a stillborn son. A grieving nation immediately began venerating her as someone who would have made an ideal Queen while Charlotte's rackety uncles embarked on a race to produce the next heir. No one thought that little Victoria, daughter of the Duke of Kent, would ascend the throne. She, in turn, became increasingly determined to take control of her own destiny, and clashed constantly not only with her hugely ambitious mother but with her protégé and household comptroller, the Irish adventurer, John Conroy. After she became Queen, ministers, even her beloved Prince Albert, still attempted to steal power away from her. Revealing how Charlotte's death shaped Victoria's reign and laying bare the passions that swirled around the throne, Becoming Queen is an absorbingly dramatic tale of secrets, sexual repression and endless conflict. After her lauded biography of Emma Hamilton, England's Mistress, Kate Williams has produced a most original and intimate portrait of Great Britain's longest reigning monarch."

Kate Williams (Author), Carole Boyd (Narrator)

Audiobook