Essays & Memoirs Audiobooks | Comedy

If I Knew Then: Finding wisdom in failure and power in aging

Jann Arden--bestselling author, recording artist and late-blooming TV star--is back with this funny, heartfelt and fierce memoir on becoming a woman of a certain age. The power, gravity and freedom she's found at fifty-seven are superpowers she believes all of us can unleash. Digging deep into her strengths, her failures and her losses, Jann Arden brings us an inspiring account of how she has surprised herself, in her fifties, by at last becoming completely her own person. Like many women, it took Jann a long time to realize that trying to be pleasing and likeable and beautiful in the eyes of others was a loser's game. Letting it rip, and damning the consequences, is not only liberating, it's a hell of a lot of fun: 'Being the age I am--that so many women are--is just the best time of my life.' Jann weaves her own story together with tales of her mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, and the father she came close to hating, to show her younger self--and all of us--that fear and avoidance is no way to live. 'What I'm thinking about now aren't all the ways I can try to hang on to my youth or all the seconds ticking by in some kind of morbid countdown to death,' she writes, 'but rather how I keep becoming someone I always hoped I could be. If I'm lucky one day a very old face will look back at me from the mirror, a face I once shied away from. I will love that old woman ferociously, because she has finally figured out how to live a life of purpose--not in spite of but because of all her mistakes and failures.'

Jann Arden (Author), Jann Arden (Narrator)

Audiobook

Lenin Lives Next Door: Marriage, Martinis, and Mayhem in Moscow

'You can't make this stuff up.' So says American writer, Imperial Russia enthusiast, Romanov junkie, and veteran expatriate, Jennifer Eremeeva, who has lived for the last twenty years in Russia after she fell in love with, and married HRH, her Handsome Russian Husband (occasionally a.k.a. Horrible Russian Husband). Luckily for Eremeeva, she didn't need to make up most of the events that inspired this, her first novel. When she (and her alter-ego heroine, coincidentally named Jennifer) quit her job to write full time, she became enthralled with the dingy gray building across the courtyard from her apartment, where, it turned out, Vladimir Lenin's embalmed corpse was routinely freshened up and preserved. The result is Lenin Lives Next Door: Marriage, Martinis, and Mayhem in Moscow. Based on Eremeeva's two decades in Russia, Lenin Lives Next Door knits together vignettes of cross-cultural marriage and expatriate life with sharp observation, colorful historical background, and engaging humor. Each thematic chapter is an anecdotal exploration of an aspect of life in today's Russia, told with the help of a recurring cast of eccentric Russian and expat characters. Lenin Lives Next Door introduces readers to Russians in their everyday milieu: at their dachas, in three-day traffic jams, and celebrating their 300-plus public and professional holidays with mayonnaise-based salads. For anyone who has ever long to visit Russia, this witty and engaging novel is the perfect tour guide. Short listed for a total of ten prestigious publishing awards Lenin Lives Next Door is a delightfully fresh inside look at Russia by a recovering Russophile.

Jennifer Eremeeva (Author), Jennifer Eremeeva (Narrator)

Audiobook

Life in Pieces

*The Sunday Times bestseller* ‘Funny, intimate and honest’ Louis Theroux ‘Moving and funny. I absolutely loved it’ Claudia Winkleman ‘Heartbreaking, hilarious, comforting’ Marie Claire Dear 2020 – can we just start over? Love Dawn x LIFE IN PIECES is a book for anyone who’s been thrown into a life they didn’t plan, or who just wants to stick it to 2020. When it looks like everything’s falling apart, we’ll piece it back together. From reflections on grief and identity, bad hair and parenting, sleep and spirituality, to the things we can control and the things we cannot, Dawn has been doing a lot of thinking about life in lockdown. Mostly from a cupboard. Discover the daily diaries that track the journey – for a hilarious, heartbreaking and highly entertaining glimpse into the new normal. ‘There's been a lot of well-meaning but mad advice on how to contend with the strangest period of human history any of us has ever lived through. Dawn O'Porter redresses the balance by telling it as it really has been: holding out for 5pm to crack open the tequila’ Mark Watson

Dawn O'porter, Dawn O’porter (Author), Dawn O'porter, Dawn O’porter (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Perfect 10: The Truth About Things I'm Not and Never Will Be

Named a Must-Read New Book for October 2020 by Good Morning America The author of I Ain't Doin' It and popular comedian Heather Land returns with a collection of laugh-out-loud, hilarious and unfiltered essays that explore the funny and inspirational moments in everyday life—perfect for fans of Jeff Foxworthy, Jen Hatmaker, and Jeannie Gaffigan. A popular social media comedian, Heather Land's reach includes more than 107 million engaged fans and followers who fill theaters at her stand-up events around the country, and who also fell in love with her first book I Ain't Doin' It. With her trademark Southern charm and sassy yet totally relatable tone, Heather shines a light on those ridiculous moments in our lives that also have the ability to teach us about ourselves. Whether she's joking about her crafting habit, revealing the hard truths of divorce, ranting about the challenges of being a single parent of teenagers, or getting real at the class reunion, Heather's message is that the more authentic we are, the more we connect with others. Heather hilariously encourages you to lighten up and focus on what's really important in life. Like a laughter-filled conversation with an old friend, A Perfect 10 is a great gift to give to others or yourself.

Heather Land (Author), Heather Land (Narrator)

Audiobook

C'mere and I Tell Ya: The 2 Johnnies Guide to Irish Life

Brought to you by Penguin. The 2 Johnnies' massive success has taken them as far afield as Sydney, Compton and Abu Dhabi. But for them nothing compares to living in Ireland. And in C'Mere and I Tell Ya they dig into the tastes, habits and rites of passage that have made them who they are. Whether it's ... - dressing for the debs ('I'd say my cravat was the talk of Templemore for weeks') - succeeding in a band ('I did backing vocals for six months and it turned out I was singing the wrong lyrics') - doing a Strictly fundraiser for your GAA club ('Remember you're not Julia Roberts and the local butcher isn't Richard Gere, so keep it in the pants') - recognizing the no-go moves at a stag ('Nobody wants to see a sixteen-stone man in a pink thong. Nobody') ... Johnny B (O'Brien) and Johnny Smacks (McMahon) capture it perfectly. And they have down-to-earth advice for every conceivable situation - and a few inconceivable ones. C'Mere and I Tell Ya is a one-stop celebration of Irishness, chicken goujons and being sound. © Johnny McMahon and Johnny O'Brien 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

Johnny Mcmahon, Johnny O'brien (Author), Johnny Mcmahon, Johnny O'brien (Narrator)

Audiobook

Hungry: The Highly Anticipated Memoir from One of the Greatest Food Writers of All Time

‘Extraordinary. Vivid, irreverent, heartbreaking.’ NIGEL SLATER ‘So funny and so delicious. I could eat it.’ DAWN O’PORTER From Frazzles to Foie Gras: a memoir of wanting more. From an early age, Grace Dent was hungry. As a little girl growing up in Currock, Carlisle, she yearned to be something bigger, to go somewhere better. Hungry traces Grace’s story from growing up eating beige food to becoming one of the much-loved voices on the British food scene. It’s also everyone’s story – from treats with your nan, to cheese and pineapple hedgehogs, to the exquisite joy of cheaply-made apple crumble with custard. It’s the high-point of a chip butty covered in vinegar and too much salt in the school canteen, on an otherwise grey day of double-Maths and cross country running. It’s the real story of how we have all lived, laughed, and eaten over the past 40 years. Warm, funny and joyous, Hungry is also about love and loss, the central role that food plays in all our lives, and how a Cadbury’s Fruit ‘n’ Nut in a hospital vending machine can brighten the toughest situation.

Grace Dent (Author), Grace Dent (Narrator)

Audiobook

OK, Let's Do Your Stupid Idea

Brought to you by Penguin. Patrick Freyne has tried a lot of stupid ideas in his life. Now, in his scintillating debut, he is here to tell you about them: like the time (aged 5) he opened a gate and let a horse out of its field, just to see what would happen; or the time (aged 19) he jumped out of a plane for charity, even though he didn't much care about the charity and was sure he'd end up dead; or the time (aged old enough to know better) he used a magazine as a funnel for fuel when the petrol cap on his band's van broke. He has also learned a few things: about the power of group song; about the beauty of physically caring for another human being; about childlessness; about losing friends far too young. Life as seen through the eyes of Patrick Freyne is stranger, funnier and a lot more interesting than life as we generally know it. Like David Sedaris or Nora Ephron, he creates an environment all his own - fundamentally comic, sometimes moving, always deeply humane. OK, Let's Do Your Stupid Idea is a joyous reading experience from an instantly essential new writer. © Patrick Freyne 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

Patrick Freyne (Author), Patrick Freyne (Narrator)

Audiobook

Ask Me What's for Dinner One More Time: Inappropriate Thoughts on Motherhood

From the founder of That's Inappropriate—one of the most popular parenting blogs on the web—comes a hilarious, genuine, and relatable essay collection on the ups and downs of motherhood. Meredith Masony founded That's Inappropriate in 2014 as an innocent and humorous way to chronicle her chaotic days as a working mom, child wrangler, and busy wife. It soon evolved into a massive, dynamic community of parents—now nearly three million strong—brought together by their shared belief that parenthood and marriage don't have to be perfect. Now, in Ask Me What's for Dinner One More Time, Meredith shares her collection of witty essays on the universal frustrations of being a mom in today's world, presenting her laugh-out-loud perspective on sex, aging, anxiety, friendship, and much more. Perfect for fans of Jenny Lawson, Laura Clery, and Jen Mann, these essays provide laughter, relief, validation, and "a metaphorical hug for all of those moments you spend crying on your bathroom floor, thinking that you are failing at the hardest job on the planet."

Meredith Masony (Author), Meredith Masony (Narrator)

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A Cry from the Far Middle: Dispatches from a Divided Land

In a time of chaos, the #1 New York Times bestselling political humorist asks his fellow Americans to take it down a notch. Is there an upside to being woke (and unable to get back to sleep)? If we license dentists, why don't we license politicians? Is your juicer sending fake news to your FitBit about what's in your refrigerator? The legendary P. J. O'Rourke addresses these questions and more in this hilarious new collection of essays about our nation's propensity for anger and perplexity, which includes such gems as 'An Inaugural Address I'd Like to Hear' (Ask not what your country can do for you, ask how I can get the hell out of here) and 'Sympathy vs. Empathy,' which contemplates whether it's better to hold people's hands or bust into their heads. Also included is a handy quiz to find out where you stand on the Coastals vs. Heartlanders spectrum. From the author of Parliament of Whores, None of My Business, and other modern classics, this is a smart look at the current state of these United States, and a plea to everyone to take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy a few good laughs.

P. J. O'Rourke, P. J. O'rourke (Author), L.J. Ganser (Narrator)

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An Atlas of Extinct Countries: The Remarkable (and Occasionally Ridiculous) Stories of 48 Nations th

Prisoners of Geography meets Bill Bryson: a funny, fascinating, beautifully illustrated – and timely – history of countries that, for myriad and often ludicrous reasons, no longer exist. ‘Countries are just daft stories we tell each other. They’re all equally implausible once you get up close’ Countries die. Sometimes it’s murder, sometimes it’s by accident, and sometimes it’s because they were so ludicrous they didn’t deserve to exist in the first place. Occasionally they explode violently. A few slip away almost unnoticed. Often the cause of death is either ‘got too greedy’ or ‘Napoleon turned up’. Now and then they just hold a referendum and vote themselves out of existence. This is an atlas of nations that fell off the map. The polite way of writing an obituary is: dwell on the good bits, gloss over the embarrassing stuff. This book fails to do that. And that is mainly because most of these dead nations (and a lot of the ones that are still alive) are so weird or borderline nonsensical that it’s impossible to skip the embarrassing stuff. The life stories of the sadly deceased involve a catalogue of chancers, racists, racist chancers, conmen, madmen, people trying to get out of paying tax, mistakes, lies, stupid schemes and General Idiocy. Because of this – and because treating nation states with too much respect is the entire problem with pretty much everything – these accounts are not fussed about adding to all the earnest flag saluting in the world, however nice some of the flags are.

Gideon Defoe (Author), Ben Allen (Narrator)

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Wheels Galore!: Adaptive Cars, Wheelchairs, and a Vibrant Daily Life with Cerebral Palsy

Through wit, wisdom, great storytelling and lived experience, author Iain MacLeod draws the reader into his vibrant life from childhood to the present, a life not defined by Cerebral Palsy, which he has had since the age of three. Racing from one adventure to the next on wheels galore, from his tricycle as a small child to his first wheelchair and his first car and many more adapted cars after that, he has had many exciting adventures. Iain has travelled throughout his native Scotland, as well as to America and Europe, all with the desire to go as fast as possible and accomplish everything he can.

Iain M. Macleod (Author), Tony Mcgeever (Narrator)

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Psychology of Final Fantasy, The: Surpassing The Limit Break

'No matter how dark the night, morning always comes, and our journey begins anew.' - Lulu, Final Fantasy X. From its initial release in 1987, Final Fantasy has gone on to become one of the most beloved series of role-playing games in history. With narratives revolving around grandiose stories of good versus evil, Final Fantasy has allowed us, as players, to witness heroic battles, experience hard-won victories, and create treasured friendships for almost 40 years. The Psychology of Final Fantasy guides gamers on a real-world quest of self-discovery so that they can surpass their own limit break. And, as part of this examination, psychologists, clinicians, video game researchers, professors, and enthusiasts who love this franchise ask: - How does the storyline in Final Fantasy grab and keep our attention for so many hours of gameplay? - Why do the symbols in the game, such as crystals, magic, and weapons, hold meaning about our own psychological inner workings? - What are the feminine warrior and archetypes found in the game and how are they living in all of our everyday lives? - How does playing Final Fantasy connect us with a larger sense of spiritual guidance as to who we are? - Why is it that, by creating a group, we become whole more than we do when playing as individuals? - How do the musical interludes affect our psyche and push us to become better versions of ourselves? Think you know Final Fantasy? The Psychology of Final Fantasy explores how the game resonates with a player's psychological drive toward an emotional sense of wholeness, bonding, and completion as they take part in this epic quest.

Anthony Bean, Ph.D., Anthony Bean, Phd (Author), Gabriella Pitchford (Narrator)

Audiobook

Essays & Memoirs Audiobooks in Comedy