Women Audiobooks | Biography & Memoir

Merze Tate: The Global Odyssey of a Black Woman Scholar

Born in rural Michigan during the Jim Crow era, the bold and irrepressible Merze Tate (1905-1996) refused to limit her intellectual ambitions, despite living in what she called a 'sex and race discriminating world.' Against all odds, the brilliant and hardworking Tate earned degrees in international relations from Oxford University in 1935 and a doctorate in government from Harvard in 1941. She then joined the faculty of Howard University, where she taught for three decades of her long life spanning the tumultuous twentieth century. This book revives and critiques Tate's prolific and prescient body of scholarship, with topics ranging from nuclear arms limitations to race and imperialism in India, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa. Tate credited her success to other women, Black and white, who helped her realize her dream of becoming a scholar. Her quest for research and adventure took her around the world twice, traveling solo with her cameras. Barbara Savage's skilled rendering of Tate's story is built on more than a decade of research. Tate's life and work challenge provincial approaches to African American and American history, women's history, the history of education, diplomatic history, and international thought.

Barbara D. Savage (Author), Machelle Williams (Narrator)

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The Fruit Cure: The Story of Extreme Wellness Turned Sour

'The Fruit Cure is an eye-opening, at turns heartbreaking, and long overdue reckoning of wellness culture—the scammy cures, miracle diets, and broken systems that operate like an elaborate MLM scheme, ensnaring people in an endless pursuit of promised cures. Part memoir, part cultural critique, Alnes takes us on a relatable journey through the world of fruitarianism and introduces us to a cast of complicated characters behind the raw food lifestyle. It’s a fantastic look at wellness and diet culture and the influencer economy, all done with nuance, humor, and empathy.' - Christine Yu, author of Up To Speed In The Fruit Cure, Jacqueline Alnes takes readers on an unforgettable deep dive into the world of fruitarianism, populated by eccentric internet personalities and people in pain, ultimately placing her own powerful narrative within the wider problematic history of fruit-based, raw food lifestyles. For readers plagued by mysterious symptoms, inundated by messages from media about how to attain “the perfect body,” or caught in the grips of a fast-paced culture of capitalism, The Fruit Cure offers a powerful critique of the failures of our healthcare system, and an inquiry into the dark world of wellness culture schemes, scams, and diets masquerading as hope.

Jacqueline Alnes (Author), Jacqueline Alnes (Narrator)

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All Will Be Well: Letters to My Daughter

In a series of letters addressed to her daughter, Natasha Illum Berg reflects on her child's forthcoming journey into a world of love, death, and big game hunting. A gorgeous and powerful introduction to the beauty and brutality of the cycle of life, 'All Will Be Well: Letters to My Daughter' poetically examines life's greater values. ©2024 Natasha Illum Berg (P)2024 Saga Egmont Natasha Illum Berg (b. 1971) is an author, hunter, and conservationist known for her debut novel 'Floder af Rød' released in 1999 and her advocacy for African elephant protection through the Ivory Black Foundation.

Natasha Illum Berg (Author), Natasha Illum Berg (Narrator)

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Tea on the Blue Sofa

A compelling and poetic deep dive into the intricacies of a love cut short, 'Tea on the blue Sofa' dissects Natasha Illum Berg's reflections on her childhood in Sweden and her life in Africa. This autobiographical love letter is an ode to the beauty and brutality of life in which Natasha tries to come to terms with the violent loss of her great love. ©2024 Natasha Illum Berg (P)2024 Saga Egmont Natasha Illum Berg (b. 1971) is an author, hunter, and conservationist known for her debut novel 'Floder af Rød' released in 1999 and her advocacy for African elephant protection through the Ivory Black Foundation.

Natasha Illum Berg (Author), Natasha Illum Berg (Narrator)

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[German] - Du bist nicht so wie andre Mütter - Die Geschichte einer leidenschaftlichen Frau (Ungekür

Sie war so kompliziert wie ein Puzzle, das aus Tausenden Stücken zusammengesetzt ist - und ich mußte diese Teile finden und ineinanderfügen', schreibt Angelika Schrobsdorff über ihre Mutter. Die Teile, die sie benutzt, sind Briefe, Fotoalben, Erinnerungen von Freunden und für die spätere Zeit gemeinsam gelebtes Leben. Begonnen hat alles voller Harmonie in einem begüterten jüdischen Geschäftshaus im Berlin des Jahrhundertbeginns. Else Kirschner, sprühend vor Charme, mit dunklen Locken und leuchtenden Augen, liebte die rührend um sie besorgten Eltern, und sie liebte das Leben, das ihr Jahre des Wohlstands bescherte, angefüllt mit Theater und Konzerten, Ferien im Sommerhaus am See und großen Leidenschaften. Doch die Nazis setzen dem ein jähes Ende. Else, inzwischen mit dem preußischen Junker Erich Schrobsdorff verheiratet, flieht mit ihren beiden Töchtern nach Bulgarien ... Voller Leidenschaft, aber ohne Pathos, voller Mitgefühl und Bewunderung und dennoch mit kritischem Blick erzählt Angelika Schrobsdorff von den beiden Leben ihrer Mutter.

Angelika Schrobsdorff (Author), Adriana Altaras (Narrator)

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Joan Crawford: Biography of an American Dancer and Actress

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. In the realm of American cinema, Joan Crawford carved a significant legacy as a versatile actress. Her journey commenced in the world of dance within traveling theatrical troupes, eventually leading her to grace the Broadway stage in 1925. The turning point came when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer extended a film contract, propelling Crawford into the dynamic world of motion pictures. However, Crawford, yearning for substantial roles, embarked on a robust self-promotion campaign. The late 1920s witnessed her metamorphosis into a nationally acclaimed flapper, standing shoulder to shoulder with MGM counterparts Norma Shearer and Greta Garbo during the 1930s. Noteworthy for portraying diligent young women navigating the complexities of love and financial success, Crawford's on-screen narratives resonated deeply, particularly amid Depression-era audiences, predominantly women. Basking in Hollywood's limelight, Crawford ascended to become one of the highest-paid women in the United States. Nevertheless, the tide turned as her films encountered financial setbacks, eventually earning her the unenviable epithet of 'box office poison' by the close of the 1930s. A spectacular resurgence marked Crawford's career with her role in 'Mildred Pierce' (1945), culminating in the coveted Academy Award for Best Actress. Beyond her cinematic prowess, her life took an intriguing turn with marriage to Pepsi-Cola Company president Alfred Steele in 1955. Following his demise in 1959, Crawford assumed a role on the company's board of directors, a position she held until her departure in 1973.

Kelly Mass (Author), Digital Voice Michelle G (Narrator)

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Pauli Murray's Revolutionary Life

Inspiring and timely, Pauli Murray's Revolutionary Life is the riveting story of an African American woman, born in 1910, who blazed through the barriers of race and gender decades before the Civil Rights and Women's Movements. Pauli Murray fearlessly rode freight trains dressed as a boy during the Great Depression and befriended First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt before embarking on a pioneering life of social activism, legal scholarship, and many firsts. In 1944, Pauli graduated first in her class at Howard University; in 1965, she was the first Black woman to earn a doctorate in law from Yale University; in 1966, she was a founder of NOW, the first National Organization for Women; and in 1977, Pauli was the first Black woman to be ordained as an Episcopal priest. Pauli never faced a barrier she couldn't smash through, and her life as a feminist, civil rights lawyer, poet, author, activist, and priest paved the way for all to live a life of equality and purpose.

Simki Kuznick (Author), Sara Ghebremichael (Narrator)

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Josephine Baker: The Life and Career of a Famous French Actress

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. Josephine Baker, a multifaceted French entertainer, emerged not only as a captivating performer but also as a courageous figure in the French Resistance and a fervent advocate for civil rights. Born in the United States, Baker found her artistic haven in Europe, particularly in France, where she carved her niche as the first Black woman to grace the screen in a major motion picture. Collaborating on the silent film 'Siren of the Tropics' in 1927 marked a groundbreaking moment in cinematic history. Her early career witnessed Baker's dazzling performances at the renowned Folies Bergère revues in Paris. The 1927 revue, 'Un vent de folie,' stirred the city's cultural landscape, thanks to Baker's iconic outfit—comprising a daring artificial banana skirt and a beaded necklace. This ensemble not only became an emblem of the Jazz Age and the Roaring Twenties but also solidified Baker's status as a trailblazer. Acknowledged as the 'Black Venus,' the 'Black Pearl,' the 'Bronze Venus,' and the 'Creole Goddess' by contemporary artists and intellectuals, Baker's impact transcended entertainment. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Baker underwent a transformative journey when she married French industrialist Jean Lion in 1937, leading her to embrace French citizenship and nurture her family in the heart of France.

Kelly Mass (Author), Digital Voice Melissa G (Narrator)

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Hedy Lamarr: Biography of One of the Greatest Actresses of All Time

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. Born in Austria, Hedy Lamarr, an American actress and inventor, led a remarkable life that saw her transitioning from an early cinema career in Czechoslovakia to becoming a Hollywood movie star. Her journey took a turn when she discreetly escaped her affluent Austrian ammunition manufacturer husband, seeking refuge in Paris. Notably, her controversial film, Ecstasy (1933), marked the beginning of her intriguing tale. While in London, Lamarr crossed paths with Louis B. Mayer, the studio chief of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, who recognized her talent and offered her a movie deal in Hollywood. The turning point in her career came with the success of Algiers (1938), solidifying her status as a prominent figure in the film industry. Subsequently, she starred in MGM films like Lady of the Tropics (1939), Boom Town (1940), H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941), and White Cargo (1941). However, it was her portrayal of Delilah in Cecil B. DeMille's Samson and Delilah (1949) that truly catapulted her to stardom. Not limited to the silver screen, Lamarr ventured into television, making an appearance in 1958 before the premiere of her final picture, The Female Animal. In recognition of her contributions, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960, a testament to her enduring impact on the entertainment industry.

Kelly Mass (Author), Digital Voice Melissa G (Narrator)

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Virginia Woolf: Writer and Pioneer in the Use of Stream of Consciousness

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. Adeline Virginia Woolf, an esteemed English writer, stands as a luminary among the influential modernist authors of the twentieth century, recognized as a trailblazer in employing the stream of consciousness as a literary device. Woolf's origins trace back to an affluent South Kensington family, where she emerged as the seventh child in a blended family of eight, nurtured by Julia Prinsep Jackson and Leslie Stephen. Noteworthy within this family circle was Vanessa Bell, a prominent modernist painter. Raised in an intellectually stimulating environment, Woolf received her early education in English classics and Victorian literature through homeschooling. Her academic journey led her to the Ladies' Department of King's College London from 1897 to 1901, an experience that brought her into contact with early advocates of women's higher education and the burgeoning women's rights movement. The dawn of Woolf's professional writing career occurred in 1900, spurred by the encouragement of her father. The Stephen family underwent a significant shift after Leslie Stephen's demise in 1904, relocating from Kensington to Bloomsbury. In Bloomsbury, Woolf and her siblings cultivated the Bloomsbury Group, a vibrant intellectual and artistic collective that included the brothers' diverse intellectual associates. The year 1912 marked Woolf's union with Leonard Woolf, leading to the establishment of the Hogarth Press in 1917—a venture that played a pivotal role in publishing a substantial body of her literary works. Seeking a permanent abode, the Woolfs settled in Sussex in 1940, where they rented a house. Woolf's personal and creative life intertwined with Vita Sackville-West, a fellow writer who published novels through the Hogarth Press. This romantic connection endured until Woolf's passing, profoundly influencing the creative trajectories of both women.

Kelly Mass (Author), Digital Voice Marcus G (Narrator)

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The Road to Tangible Hope

Now, having told my story, I feel that a huge burden has been lifted. My secrets are now in the open and I believe that no girl or woman in the world should have such dark secrets hiding in her heart. I want to encourage all women who are or have suffered the indignation of abuse to break free of the silence, live their lives with joy and look for ways to lift up others as well. Together, we can give voice to the voiceless, all over the world.

Telile Yoseph (Author), Janet Dean, Telile Yoseph (Narrator)

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Until the Last Pickle

Born to a Jewish mother and Ukrainian father during the final years of the Soviet Union, Yuliya Patsay grew up believing bread lines were a fun way to spend an afternoon, drafts caused pneumonia, and that Lenin was everyone’s benevolent grandpa. After trading pickled herring and Soviet winters for San Francisco fog and year-round produce (the real American dream!) she found herself occupying two parallel universes: the first grounded in her Soviet roots and the second in her burgeoning ‘Amerikanskiye’ beliefs. Irreverent, nostalgic and vulnerable, Until the Last Pickle, is a memoir replete with remembrances, anecdotes, and exactly 18 recipes. It’s an exploration of identity and belonging — at once, deeply personal and broadly relatable — told through the lens of one family’s “totally average” immigration journey.

Yuliya Patsay (Author), A Full Cast, Yuliya Patsay (Narrator)

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Women Audiobooks in Biography & Memoir