Women Audiobooks | Biography & Memoir

We Might Just Make It After All Audiobook

"NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A moving portrait of friendship by Elyce Arons as she reflects on her long relationship with Kate Spade, whom she met in college and with whom she cofounded the multi-billion-dollar fashion company as they came of age in 1990s New York. When Elyce Arons first met Katy Brosnahan in a University of Kansas dorm room, she had no idea that this polo shirt–wearing Missouri girl would not only become her best friend but also change the course of her life. Back then, Katy and Elyce were preoccupied with frat parties and The Mary Tyler Moore Show; within a decade, they'd be scraping by in New York City, working day jobs to spend nights building a new line of handbags that would one day revolutionize the accessories industry. We Might Just Make It After All brings us on the rollercoaster of adventures (and misadventures) that the best friends embarked on, from transferring colleges on a whim, to falling in and out of love with suitors, cramming into roach-infested Hell's Kitchen apartments, and eventually designing the chic, simple bag that would launch the pair to global fame. Through it all, Katy and Elyce's friendship remained unshakeable. This powerful friendship lasted nearly forty years, until Katy's tragic suicide in 2018. We Might Just Make It After All celebrates her legacy as a cultural icon and loyal friend. Set against the glitzy and gritty backdrop of downtown New York at the turn of the century, We Might Just Make It After All lovingly and candidly explores the power of a friendship as close as sisterhood, the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in the 1990s, and the timeless elegance of a generation-defining brand."

Elyce Arons (Author), Elyce Arons (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Different Kind of Power: Read by the author, Jacinda Ardern

"Read by the author, Jacinda Ardern. A deeply personal memoir from the former prime minister of New Zealand, then the world's youngest female head of government and just the second to give birth in office. 'A rare glimpse into the foundations of Jacinda's unique and unprecedented leadership style, one that values humanity above all else. An essential, inspiring read' - Natalie Portman Jacinda Ardern grew up the daughter of a police officer in small-town New Zealand, but as the 40th Prime Minister of her country, she became a global icon for her empathetic leadership that put people first. She guided her country through unprecedented challenges, from the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks to a global pandemic. She advanced visionary policies to address climate change and child poverty. And all while juggling first-time motherhood in the public eye. This is the inspiring story of how a Mormon girl plagued by self-doubt changed our assumptions of what a leader can be. A Different Kind of Power is more than a political memoir. Powerfully evocative and refreshingly open, it is for anyone who has ever questioned themselves, or has wanted to make a difference. A profound insight into how it feels to lead, it asks: what if you, too, are capable of more than you ever imagined? 'Wonderful. As clear-eyed and luminous a depiction of childhood and family life as it is a brilliant insight into the making of a politician, a mother and a head of state' - Bill Bailey"

Jacinda Ardern (Author), Jacinda Ardern (Narrator)

Audiobook

Agents of Change: The Women Who Transformed the CIA

"Years after her successful and impactful career at the CIA, Christina Hillsberg became enthralled with the stories of the trailblazing women who forged new paths within the Agency long before she began her career there in the aughts. These were women who sacrificed their personal lives, risked their safety, defied expectations, and boldly navigated the male-dominated spy organization. Through exclusive interviews with current and former female CIA officers, many of whom have never spoken publicly, Agents of Change tells an enthralling and, at times, disturbing story set against the backdrop of the evolving women's movement. It was the 1960s, a 'secretarial' era, when women first gained a foothold and pushed against the one-dimensional, pop-culture trope of the sexy Cold War Bond Girl. Underestimated but undaunted, they fought their way, decade-by-decade, through adversity to the top of the spy game. Seamlessly weaving together the individual stories of these exceptional women, Hillsberg deftly tackles not just the fight for gender equality at the CIA, but the current dilemma the Agency faces when dealing with the culmination of a decades-long culture of sexual harassment and assault."

Christina Hillsberg (Author), Christina Hillsberg, Valerie Plame (Narrator)

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The Salt Stones: Seasons of a Shepherd's Life

"In the heart of Vermont's Green Mountains, Helen Whybrow and her partner are presented with the opportunity to steward a two-hundred-acre conserved farm. Whybrow knows that 'belonging more than anything requires participation' and radically intertwines her life with the land. Six months after purchasing Knoll Farm, they unload a flock of Icelandic sheep onto the field and Whybrow becomes a shepherd entering into 'nature's constant cycle of life into death into life' and all its unexpected lessons. The challenging and profoundly rewarding work unfolds for Whybrow in the everyday rituals of farmsteading and caring for her family—birthing lambs in the late winter, harvesting blueberries in summer, fending off coyotes and foxes, seasonal shearing—while instilling the lessons of the land in her daughter and caring for her mother. As life at Knoll Farm endures years both abundant and lean, she learns that true stewardship is about accepting change and adapting. She embraces a transcendent rhythm of blood and bone, milk and muck. At once inspiring and brave, deeply felt and gorgeously written, The Salt Stones is a loving look at the world through a shepherd's interconnected ethos."

Helen Whybrow (Author), Cassidy Brown (Narrator)

Audiobook

Hell Gate Bridge: A Memoir

"A Poets & Writers magazine Page One New and Noteworthy Book A Write or Die magazine Most Anticipated Book of June 2024 A Mom Egg Review Bookshelf Pick for June 2024 In the summer of 2016, Barrie Miskin faced a pivotal moment when her pregnancy prompted the discontinuation of a decade-long antidepressant regimen, setting off an unforeseen chain of events. By January 2017, she had become a stranger to her family and herself, navigating the complex and often unforgiving landscape of mental healthcare in the United States. Through encounters marked by compassion and cruelty, Barrie's family embarked on a desperate quest for a diagnosis, ultimately uncovering the rare condition of pregnancy-induced depersonalization and derealization disorder. Hell Gate Bridge not only brings to light these seldom-discussed mental illnesses but also unveils the flaws in our maternal and mental healthcare system. Barrie's journey became a climb out of the abyss, all while balancing the challenges of motherhood, her teaching career, and her marriage. The narrative serves as a testament to the power of determination in overcoming the darkest of challenges and fighting fiercely to save those we hold dear."

Barrie Miskin (Author), Kristin Price (Narrator)

Audiobook

Why Fish Don't Exist

"Longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction 2025: the profound and life-affirming memoir about finding our way in a chaotic world If fish don't exist, what else do we have wrong? As a child, Lulu Miller's scientist father taught her that chaos will come for us all. There is no cosmic destiny, no plan. Enter David Starr Jordan, 19th-century taxonomist and believer in order. A fish specialist devoted to mapping out the great tree of life, who spent his days pinning down unruly fins, studying shimmering scales and sealing new discoveries into jars of ethanol. At a time when Lulu's life is unravelling, David Starr Jordan beckons. Reading about Jordan's sheer perseverance after an earthquake shattered his collection, Lulu stumbles upon an unexpected antidote to life's unpredictability. But lurking behind the lore of this mighty taxonomist lies a darker tale waiting to be told: one about the human cost of attempting to define the form of things unknown. This is a story unlike any other you've read before. It's about a very tall man with a walrus moustache, the injustices and unexpected deliverances of the universe, love that strikes like lightning and about why fish don't exist after all. 'A sumptuous, surprising, dark delight' Carmen Maria Machado 'Fast-moving, deftly balanced, full of surprises' Guardian’s Book of the Day ‘A bold and original blend of memoir and science’ Elizabeth Buchanan"

Lulu Miller (Author), Lulu Miller (Narrator)

Audiobook

Not My Type: One Woman vs. a President

"AN INSTANT INDIE, USA TODAY, AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! “The world knows that Carroll prevailed in her gazillion-dollar lawsuits against Trump for defamation and sexual abuse. But hearing her describe that courtroom battle in her own smoky, mirth-filled drawl is an experience too delicious for the printed page. Which is why you shouldn’t read Not My Type—you should listen to it.”—The Washington Post 'Delightful . . . We already know that E. Jean Carroll looked smashing when she went to court versus Donald J. Trump. But her irrepressible voice was, necessarily, repressed...Now she is saying pretty much everything.' —The New York Times Book Review 'Buoyant.' —The New York Times A hilarious, hopeful, revelatory behind the scenes account of the trials that riveted the nation You’ve heard about the tantrums, the seething, the storming out of court, yes. But what about E. Jean’s side of the story? What about the flight suits, the bottle of green Chartreuse, and the bob? Not My Type puts you in a better seat than the jury box. You will hear Alina Habba, Esq., “Trump’s most beautiful attorney,” asking E. Jean to “list” the people she has “slept with”—a list which turns out to be so marvelous, it is worth twice the price of this book. You will experience the fear and loathing of E. Jean’s “psychiatric evaluations,” and hear how she tries to cheer up Trump’s gloomy, $750-an-hour shrink by telling him about the strange white tablet Hunter S. Thompson gave her. You will be in on the choosing of the “clothes for court,” and the creation of “the look”: a look that will help the jury connect the younger E. Jean who is attacked by Trump in Bergdorf’s with the older E. Jean who sits in the courtroom. It’s all here: two dazzling trials, the full-tilt high stakes, the laugh-out-loud commentary, and the inspiring fact that a woman is never too old to get even."

E. Jean Carroll (Author), E. Jean Carroll (Narrator)

Audiobook

Boogie Wonderland

"A memoir about sea changes, marriage and riding the waves of midlife When Covid lockdowns hit Melbourne, metropolitan midlife couple Kate and Chris decide to make a sea change and move to a small coastal town to ease financial pressures and live out the beach lifestyle many of us dream of. But they didn't give much thought to just how different it would be. With late night drinking sessions in Melbourne's coolest suburbs replaced by the disconcerting peace of a summer destination largely quiet for the rest of the year, they're suddenly rattling around in their beautiful new home without kids, friends or a real community. And when a disturbing truth about their marriage becomes unavoidable, it's time to face up to reality and ask what's really important. Should they stay or should they go? And what's next when your whole world seems to come crashing down around you?"

Kate Halfpenny (Author), Lucy Bell (Narrator)

Audiobook

Way Beyond The GRITS: A Historical Saga of the Antics of a Girl Raised in the South in the 50s, 60s

"Growing up in the Deep South of the USA during the tumultuous 1960s and 1970s, Sidney Kate’s early life was marked by turbulence and uncertainty. Born into a complex, blended family, her journey unfolds against a backdrop of racial tension, gender inequality, and intergenerational challenges. Through her collection of stories, Sidney Kate explores coming of age during a time of profound change. She delves into the complexities of family dynamics and the struggles faced by a young woman determined to break free from societal constraints. Set against the often harsh realities of the times, this book brings to life the characteristics that defined each era. As we follow Sidney Kate’s journey, we witness her remarkable resilience in the face of adversity, as she deals with abuse, sexual promiscuity, abortion, and the unique challenges of raising a gifted neurodivergent child. She also negotiates the highs and lows of marriage and divorce—her one constant throughout being her unwavering rebellion against the stifling norms of her time. Sidney Kate’s life serves as an inspiring reminder that there is always room for hope, even in the darkest of times. One’s learning experiences never cease. Together, these stories constitute a poignant exploration of nature versus nurture, from birth to loss, as well as a testament to the indomitable strength of the human spirit."

Sidney Kate (Author), Sidney Kate (Narrator)

Audiobook

The River's Daughter: A Memoir

"A vivid and propulsive memoir about finding courage and meaning in a life outdoors, by a world-class whitewater rafting guide. After Bridget Crocker’s parents’ volatile divorce, she moved with her mother from Southern California to Wyoming. Her life was idyllic, growing up in a trailer park on the banks of the Snake River with a stepfather she loved, a new baby brother, and the river as her companion—until her mother suddenly took up a radical new lifestyle, becoming someone Bridget barely recognized. The one constant in her life—the place Bridget felt whole and fully herself—was the river. When she discovered the world of whitewater rafting, she knew she’d found her calling. On the river, Bridget learned to read the natural world around her and came to know the language of rivers. One of the few female guides on the Snake River, she then traveled to the Zambezi River in Africa, some of the most dangerous whitewater in the world, where she faced death and learned to conquer her fears—both on the water and off. The river taught her how to overcome years of betrayals and abuse, to trust herself, and, finally, how to help heal her family from generational cycles of trauma and poverty. A beautifully rendered memoir of a woman coming into her own, The River’s Daughter opens us to the possibilities of transformation through nature."

Bridget Crocker (Author), Bridget Crocker (Narrator)

Audiobook

[German] - Ich zeig' euch, wo der Hammer hängt!: Schluss mit alten Vorurteilen I Ab auf den Bau mit

"Sandra Hunke ist Anlagenmechanikerin für Sanitär, Heizung und Klimatechnik. Sie baut schöne Bäder und Heizungen ein. Schon als Kind war es ihr größter Wunsch, Handwerkerin zu werden, doch der Weg dorthin war steinig: In der Berufsschule behandelte man sie wie einen Fremdkörper, sie wurde ausgegrenzt und im Unterricht nicht ernst genommen. Abwertung und Kritik von Kollegen, Kunden und Fremden machten es ihr schwer, an sich und ihre Fähigkeiten zu glauben. Doch Sandra ist ihrer Leidenschaft treu geblieben und hat sich durchgebissen. Bis heute hat sich die Lage für Frauen im Handwerk kaum verbessert. In ihrem Buch 'Ich zeig' euch, wo der Hammer hängt' zeigt sie die noch immer bestehenden Hürden für Frauen im Handwerk auf und macht Mut, sich gegen Diskriminierung und unberechtigte Kritik zu behaupten. Sandra brennt für ihren Beruf und ist davon überzeugt, dass Frauen ins Handwerk gehören. Mit dieser Leidenschaft setzt sich Sandra als 'Das Baumädchen' auch täglich dafür ein, das Handwerk in Deutschland für Frauen nachhaltig zum Positiven zu verändern."

Sandra Hunke (Author), Bettina Hoffmann (Narrator)

Audiobook

Free Ride: Heartbreak, Courage, and the 20,000-Mile Motorcycle Journey that Changed My Life

"By the YouTube sensation with more than two million followers, the inspiring account of a woman in her thirties who, in a moment of personal crisis, embarked on an epic, transcontinental motorcycle ride – and along the way found a new sense of purpose. Noraly Schoenmaker was a thirty-something geologist living in the Netherlands when she learned that her live-in partner had been having a long-term affair. Suddenly without a place to stay, she decided to quit her job and jet off to India in search of a new beginning. Her plans were dashed when she fell quickly and helplessly in love: with a motorcycle. Behind the handlebars, she felt alive and free – nimble enough to trace the narrowest paths, powerful enough to travel the longest of roads. She covered remote and utterly unfamiliar territory; broke down on impossibly steep mountains; and pushed too many miles along empty roads, farther and farther from civilization. Through her travels, she discovered the true beauty of the world - the kindness of its people, the simplicity of its open spaces, as well as her own inner strength. In spirit of The Motorcycle Diaries and Wild, this is an inspiring story of self-discovery and renewal. Filled with unforgettable figures, hilarious disasters and powerful human connections, it shows you what happens when you open your heart and let the world in. © 2025 Noraly Schoenmaker (P) 2025 DK Audio Imani Jade Powers is an actor, writer and singer who has narrated over 90 audiobooks. She has narrated romance, contemporary fiction, fantasy and YA. Including the likes of Ava Reid’s Lady Macbeth and Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s The Beautiful Ones. When she is not narrating she is acting specifically on Broadway in Harry Potter & The Cursed Child. Noraly Schoenmaker is the creator of Itchy Boots, a YouTube channel with more than two million loyal subscribers. A motorcycling obsessive, her journeys have taken her the length of the American continent, from Argentina to Alaska; from the northernmost point of Europe to the southernmost point of Africa; and to some of the least travelled regions of the globe. Trained as a biologist and geologist, she is based in the Netherlands."

Noraly Schoenmaker (Author), Imani Jade Powers (Narrator)

Audiobook

Women Audiobooks in Biography & Memoir