General Audiobooks | Fiction & Literature

Trans Figured: My Journey from Boy to Girl to Woman to Man

Imagine experiencing life not as the gender dictated by birth but as one of your own design. In Trans Figured, Brian Belovitch shares his true story of life as a gender outlier and his dramatic journey through the jungle of gender identity. Brian has the rare distinction of coming out three times: first as a queer teenager; second as a glamorous transgender woman named Tish, and later, Natalia Gervais; and finally as an HIV-positive gay man surviving the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. From growing up in a barely-working-class first-generation immigrant family in Fall River, Massachusetts, to spinning across the disco dance floor of Studio 54 in New York City . . . from falling into military lock-step as the Army wife of a domineering GI in Germany to having a brush with fame as Natalia, high-flying downtown darling of the boozy and druggy pre-Giuliani New York nightclub scene, Brian escaped many near-death experiences. Trans Figured chronicles a life lived on the edge with an unforgettable cast of characters during a dangerous and chaotic era. Rich with drama and excitement, this no-holds-barred memoir tells it all. Most importantly, Brian's candid and poignant story of recovery shines a light on the perseverance of the human spirit.

Brian Belovitch (Author), Joel Froomkin (Narrator)

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Eliza Hamilton: The Extraordinary Life and Times of the Wife of Alexander Hamilton

From the New York Times bestselling author of Irena's Children comes a comprehensive and riveting biography of the extraordinary life and times of Eliza Hamilton, the wife of founding father Alexander Hamilton, and a powerful, unsung hero in America's early days. Fans fell in love with Eliza Hamilton—Alexander Hamilton's devoted wife—in Lin-Manuel Miranda's phenomenal musical Hamilton. But they don't know her full story. A strong pioneer woman, a loving sister, a caring mother, and in her later years, a generous philanthropist, Eliza had many sides—and this fascinating biography brings her multi-faceted personality to vivid life. Eliza Hamilton: The Extraordinary Life and Times of The Wife of Alexander Hamilton follows Eliza through her early years in New York, into the ups and downs of her married life with Alexander, beyond the aftermath of his tragic murder, and finally to her involvement in many projects that cemented her legacy as one of the unsung heroes of our nation's early days. Featuring Mazzeo's "impeccable research and crafting" (Library Journal), and perfect for fans of the richly detailed historical books by Ron Chernow and Erik Larson, Eliza Hamilton is the captivating account of the woman behind the famous man.

Tilar J. Mazzeo (Author), January Lavoy (Narrator)

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Betty Ford: First Lady, Women's Advocate, Survivor, Trailblazer

An intimate and insightful biography of Betty Ford, the groundbreaking, candid, and resilient First Lady and wife of President Gerald Ford, from the #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Five Presidents and Mrs. Kennedy and Me. Betty Ford: First Lady, Women's Advocate, Survivor, Trailblazer is the inspiring story of an ordinary Midwestern girl thrust onto the world stage and into the White House under extraordinary circumstances. Setting a precedent as First Lady, Betty Ford refused to be silenced by her critics as she publicly championed equal rights for women, and spoke out about issues that had previously been taboo—breast cancer, depression, abortion, and sexuality. Privately, there were signs something was wrong. After a painful intervention by her family, she admitted to an addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs. Her courageous decision to speak out publicly sparked a national dialogue, and in 1982, she co-founded the Betty Ford Center, which revolutionized treatment for alcoholism and inspired the modern concept of recovery. Lisa McCubbin also brings to light Gerald and Betty Ford's sweeping love story: from Michigan to the White House, until their dying days, their relationship was that of a man and woman utterly devoted to one another other—a relationship built on trust, respect, and an unquantifiable chemistry. Based on intimate in-depth interviews with all four of her children, Susan Ford Bales, Michael Ford, Jack Ford, and Steven Ford, as well as family friends, and colleagues, Betty Ford: First Lady, Women's Advocate, Survivor, Trailblazer is a deeply personal, empathic portrait of an outspoken First Lady, who was first and foremost a devoted wife and mother. With poignant details and rare insight, McCubbin reveals a fiercely independent woman who had a lively sense of humor, unwavering faith, and an indomitable spirit—the true story behind one of the most admired and influential women of our time.

Lisa Mccubbin, Lisa Mccubbin Hill (Author), Amanda Carlin (Narrator)

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In Pieces

In this intimate, haunting literary memoir read by the author, an American icon tells her story for the first time, and in her own gorgeous words - about a challenging and lonely childhood, the craft that helped her find her voice, and a powerful emotional legacy that shaped her journey as a daughter and a mother. One of the most celebrated, beloved, and enduring actors of our time, Sally Field has an infectious charm that has captivated the nation for more than five decades, beginning with her first TV role at the age of seventeen. From Gidget's sweet-faced "girl next door" to the dazzling complexity of Sybil to the Academy Award-worthy ferocity and depth of Norma Rae and Mary Todd Lincoln, Field has stunned audiences time and time again with her artistic range and emotional acuity. Yet there is one character who always remained hidden: the shy and anxious little girl within. With raw honesty and the fresh, pitch-perfect prose of a natural-born writer, and with all the humility and authenticity her fans have come to expect, Field brings readers behind-the-scenes for not only the highs and lows of her star-studded early career in Hollywood, but deep into the truth of her lifelong relationships--including her complicated love for her own mother. Powerful and unforgettable, In Pieces is an inspiring and important account of life as a woman in the second half of the twentieth century.

Sally Field (Author), Sally Field (Narrator)

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Kafka's Last Trial: The Case of a Literary Legacy

When Franz Kafka died in 1924, his loyal friend Max Brod could not bring himself to fulfill Kafka's last instruction: to burn his manuscripts. Instead, Brod devoted his life to championing Kafka's writing, rescuing his legacy from obscurity and physical destruction. Nearly a century later, an international legal battle erupted to determine which country could claim ownership of Kafka's work: Israel, where he dreamed of living, or Germany, where his three sisters perished in the Holocaust. Benjamin Balint offers a gripping account of the controversial trial in Israeli courts-brimming with dilemmas legal, ethical, and political-that determined the fate of the oeuvre. Kafka's Last Trial is a brilliant biographical portrait of a literary genius as well as the story of two countries whose national obsession with overcoming the traumas of the past came to a head in a hotly contested trial for the right to claim the literary legacy of one of our modern masters.

Benjamin Balint (Author), Greg Rizzo (Narrator)

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Flipping the Script: Bouncing Back From Life's Rock Bottom Moments

Live Through the Hardships: Life is complicated and messy, but every now and then life gives you a syndicated talk show on a major network-and then fires you for being "all icing and no cake." Then it sends your born-again Christian sister to take you out to lunch on your birthday, only to tell you she suddenly believes you can pray the gay away and that you should've used your time on the show you were just fired from to do more for Christ. Then, because there's always another "then," you receive a tax bill from Uncle Sam that almost sends you out your tenth floor bathroom window . . . literally. Luckily, AJ Gibson chose to step back from that open window and share his struggles, rather than succumb to them, because, well . . . not today Satan! He knows what it's like when life feels like a never-ending roller coaster, and in his self-help book Flipping the Script, he doesn't sugar coat the truth. After all, this isn't Hollywood, errr . . . anymore. Know You're Not Alone: AJ's journey from a closeted gay boy from Ohio to that guy people kinda, sorta recognize from TV and Hollywood's biggest red carpets seems glossy, but the truth is anything but. In Flipping the Script, AJ shows how his life has been a series of personal roadblocks and rock bottom moments. Every time he thinks he's in the clear, he finds a new way to crash and burn. Let's just say insecurity was once a pretty close friend of his, so he knows what you feel like whenever you find yourself scrolling social media comparing yourself to others. Really, he does. Luckily, he's a pretty smart guy and moderately witty, always finding his way out of life's rock bottom moments-and you can too! Turn Bad Situations Around: AJ has a gift for shifting his perspective, turning crappy situations around and finding a way to persevere each time the world seems to be telling him he was born to fail. Through all of the mess, all of the hardships, he somehow manages to keep a smile on his face and a roof over his head-even if he really has to stretch his dollar to do it. He also knows that we all have problems that we have to work through, and he's here to help. The true stories in Flipping the Script will make you laugh, encourage you to keep fighting for happiness and inspire you to turn your own rock bottom moments into your proudest accomplishments! Feel Empowered: AJ's "Hollywood" situation may be unique, but his struggles are definitely relatable. After all, you'd be hard-pressed to find a person who has achieved success without problems-especially in the LGBTQ community. As a proud gay man working in the entertainment capital of the world, AJ's personal and professional stories will leave you feeling empowered and a little less defeated. Flipping the Script will give you the strength to overcome your own personal roadblocks and live the life you were created to live. In his book, AJ shares tips and tricks in the form of "Script Rewrites" at the end of each chapter that will help you persevere and find your true purpose. He'll show you how to shift your perspective to find the beauty in not only life's high points, but more importantly, in life's rock bottom moments. Flipping the Script will rip your heart out, make you want to fight somebody, and leave you feeling like you can solve world hunger-all in a single chapter. After listening to this self-help book, you will: feel deeply connected, knowing you're not alone in your struggles; have simple, real world tools to help you bounce back and live the life you were created to live; and see yourself as the wonderful, creative, capable human being that you have always been-but perhaps forgot somewhere along the way.

Aj Gibson (Author), Aj Gibson (Narrator)

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The Cost of Living: A Working Autobiography

To strip the wallpaper off the fairy tale of The Family House in which the comfort and happiness of men and children has been the priority is to find behind it an unthanked, unloved, neglected, exhausted woman. The Cost of Living explores the subtle erasure of women's names, spaces, and stories in the modern everyday. In this "living autobiography" infused with warmth and humor, Deborah Levy critiques the roles that society assigns to us and reflects on the politics of breaking with the usual gendered rituals. What does it cost a woman to unsettle old boundaries and collapse the social hierarchies that make her a minor character in a world not arranged to her advantage? Levy draws on her own experience of attempting to live with pleasure, value, and meaning-the making of a new kind of family home, the challenges of her mother's death-and those of women she meets in everyday life, from a young female traveler reading in a bar who suppresses her own words while she deflects an older man's advances, to a particularly brilliant student, to a kindly and ruthless octogenarian bookseller who offers the author a place to write at a difficult time in her life. The Cost of Living is urgent, essential reading, a crystalline manifesto for turbulent times.

Deborah Levy (Author), Henrietta Meire (Narrator)

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The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters: The Tragic and Glamorous Lives of Jackie and Lee

A poignant, evocative, and wonderfully gossipy account of the two sisters who represented style and class above all else—Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Lee Radziwill—from the authors of Furious Love. When sixty-four-year-old Jackie Kennedy Onassis died in her Fifth Avenue apartment, her younger sister Lee wept inconsolably. Then Jackie’s thirty-eight-page will was read. Lee discovered that substantial cash bequests were left to family members, friends, and employees—but nothing to her. 'I have made no provision in this my Will for my sister, Lee B. Radziwill, for whom I have great affection, because I have already done so during my lifetime,' read Jackie’s final testament. Drawing on the authors’ candid interviews with Lee Radziwill, The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters explores their complicated relationship, placing them at the center of twentieth-century fashion, design, and style. In life, Jackie and Lee were alike in so many ways. Both women had a keen eye for beauty—in fashion, design, painting, music, dance, sculpture, poetry—and both were talented artists. Both loved pre-revolutionary Russian culture, and the blinding sunlight, calm seas, and ancient olive groves of Greece. Both loved the siren call of the Atlantic, sharing sweet, early memories of swimming with the rakish father they adored, Jack Vernou Bouvier, at his East Hampton retreat. But Jackie was her father’s favorite, and Lee, her mother’s. One would grow to become the most iconic woman of her time, while the other lived in her shadow. As they grew up, the two sisters developed an extremely close relationship threaded with rivalry, jealousy, and competition. Yet it was probably the most important relationship of their lives. For the first time, Vanity Fair contributing editor Sam Kashner and acclaimed biographer Nancy Schoenberger tell the complete story of these larger-than-life sisters. Drawing on new information and extensive interviews with Lee, now eighty-four, this dual biography sheds light on the public and private lives of two extraordinary women who lived through immense tragedy in enormous glamour.

Sam Kashner (Author), Bernadette Dunne (Narrator)

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Butterfly on a Pin

Alannah Hill, one of Australia's most successful fashion designers, created an international fashion brand that defied trends with ornamental, sophisticated elegance, beads, bows and vintage florals. But growing up in a milk bar in Tasmania, Alannah's childhood was one of hardship, fear and abuse. At an early age she ran away from home with eight suitcases of costumes and a fierce determination to succeed, haunted by her mother's refrain of 'You'll never amount to anything, you can't sew, nobody likes you and you're going to end up in a shallow grave, dear!' At the height of her success, Alannah walked the razor's edge between two identities - the 'good' Alannah and the 'mongrel bastard' Alannah. Who was the real Alannah Hill? Reprieve came in the form of a baby boy and the realisation that becoming a mother not only changes your life, but completely refurbishes it, forever. Yet 'having it all' turned out to be another illusion. In 2013 Alannah walked away from her eponymous brand, a departure that left her coming apart at the seams. She slowly came to understand the only way she could move forward was to go back. At the heart of it all was her mother, whose loveless marriage and disappointment in life had a powerful and long-lasting effect on her daughter. It was finally time to call a truce with the past.

Alannah Hill (Author), Alannah Hill (Narrator)

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My Alphabet: A Life from A to Z

'I always knew he was quite creative, but I had no idea he was so reckless' Lord Sugar 'The thinking woman's Bakewell tart ... Witty, interesting and underpinned by a sharp intellect' Jo Brand 'This book is a total delight - as wise and witty and surprising as the man himself' Gyles Brandreth When Nick Hewer first appeared on our TV screens in The Apprentice in 2005, he had thought he was heading towards a quiet retirement after a long and successful career in PR and marketing. Little did he realise that appearing on the show with Lord Sugar and Margaret Mountford would mean that his life was about to be transformed. Quickly, he became a regular presence in our homes, renowned for his wry sense of humour and his astute insights. But the story of how the current host of Countdown came to this point has remained largely unknown - until now. In My Alphabet, Nick Hewer takes us through an A to Z of some of the most remarkable and entertaining events his life, covering everything from his Boyhood in Swindon, when he took his Dinky toys on a most unexpected journey, to Regrets, and an episode that ended in a kidnapping. With chapters on subjects from Tottenham Hotspur to one on Underwear, there is sure to be something for all tastes in this book. My Alphabet builds up into a brilliant and fascinating self-portrait, taking the listener on a remarkable journey that will inform, entertain and move you. We get to see behind the scenes on The Apprentice and Countdown, and much else besides. Self-deprecating and witty, Nick Hewer has written and narrated a brilliant book his many fans are sure to treasure.

Nick Hewer (Author), Nick Hewer (Narrator)

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What Would Boudicca Do?

Tired of your boss bropropriating your ideas and presenting them as his own? Wondering if the pursuit of having it all has in fact resulted in having not very much? It is time to start channelling the spiky superwomen of history and conquer the shit sh*w that is the modern world. It is time to turn to women like Mae West and Agatha Christie, Hypatia and Cleopatra, Coco Chanel and Cixi. In this irreverent guide they will help you figure out how to cope with impostor syndrome, dispatch a love rat, stand up for yourself, get politically engaged, kill it at work, and trounce FoMo.

Beth Coates, Elizabeth Foley (Author), Elisabeth Hopper (Narrator)

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What's Your Type?: The Strange History of Myers-Briggs and the Birth of Personality Testing

'History that reads like biography that reads like a novel - a fluid narrative that defies expectations and plays against type' New York Times 'This is a sparkling biography - not of a person, but of a popular personality tool' Adam Grant An unprecedented history of the personality test conceived a century ago by a mother and her daughter - fiction writers with no formal training in psychology - and how it insinuated itself into our boardrooms, classrooms, and beyond. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is the most popular personality test in the world. It has been harnessed by Fortune 100 companies, universities, hospitals, churches, and the military. Its language - of extraversion vs. introversion, thinking vs. feeling - has inspired online dating platforms and Buzzfeed quizzes alike. And yet despite the test's widespread adoption, experts in the field of psychometric testing, a $500 million industry, struggle to account for its success - no less validate its results. How did the Myers-Briggs insinuate itself into our jobs, our relationships, our internet, our lives? First conceived in the 1920s by the mother-daughter team of Katherine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers, a pair of aspiring novelists and devoted homemakers, the Myers-Briggs was designed to bring the gospel of Carl Jung to the masses. But it would take on a life of its own, reaching from the smoke-filled boardrooms of mid-century New York to Berkeley, California, where it was honed against some of the 20th century's greatest creative minds. It would travel across the world to London, Zurich, Cape Town, Melbourne, and Tokyo; to elementary schools, nunneries, wellness retreats, and the closed-door corporate training sessions of today. Drawing from original reporting and never-before-published documents, What's Your Type? examines nothing less than the definition of the self - our attempts to grasp, categorise and quantify our personalities. Surprising and absorbing, the book, like the test at its heart, considers the timeless question: What makes you you?

Merve Emre (Author), Laurence Bouvard (Narrator)

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General Audiobooks in Fiction & Literature