Marriage & Family Audiobooks | Health & Wellness

The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center

'Rhaina Cohen’s moving, intimate portraits of people in unusually devoted friendships upend our cultural narratives about which relationships matter . . . an arresting work of compassion and insight.' —Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone and co-host of Dear Therapists podcast Why do we assume romantic relationships are more important than friendships? What do we lose when we expect a spouse to meet all our needs? And what can we learn about commitment, love, and family from people who put deep friendship at the center of their lives? In The Other Significant Others, NPR's Rhaina Cohen invites us into the lives of people who have defied convention by choosing a friend as a life partner—these are friends who are home co-owners, co-parents or each other’s caregivers. Their riveting stories unsettle widespread assumptions about relationships, including the idea that sex is a defining feature of partnership and that people who raise kids together should be in a romantic relationship. Platonic partners from different walks of life—spanning age and religion, gender and sexuality and more—reveal how freeing and challenging it can be to embrace a relationship model that society doesn't recognize. And they show that orienting your world around friends isn't limited to daydreams and episodes of The Golden Girls, but actually possible in real life. Based on years of original reporting and striking social science research, Cohen argues that we undermine romantic relationships by expecting too much of them, while we diminish friendships by expecting too little of them. She traces how, throughout history, our society hasn’t always fixated on marriage as the greatest source of meaning, or even love. At a time when many Americans are spending large stretches of their lives single, widowed or divorced, or feeling the effects of the 'loneliness epidemic,' Cohen insists that we recognize the many forms of profound connection that can anchor our lives. A rousing and incisive book, The Other Significant Others challenges us to ask what we want from our relationships—not just what we’re supposed to want—and transforms how we define a fulfilling life.

Rhaina Cohen (Author), Rhaina Cohen (Narrator)

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How to Be The Grown-Up: Why Good Parenting Starts with You

Brought to you by Penguin. Drawing on her years of experience as a clinical psychologist, as well as her growing and dedicated social media community, Dr Martha Deiros Collado's first book is the must-have toolkit for any parent. Martha understands the many modern-day parenting struggles and worries we all face: - How can I make my child listen to me? - Can I stop a tantrum in its tracks? - What can I do when my child feels sad? - Why does my child only eat three very particular things without having a meltdown? - What should I do when I lose my sh*t? With humour, boundless energy, wit and warmth, Dr Martha tackles it all; from how to talk about honesty and lies, death, co-parenting, consent, gender, attachment, boundaries, and tantrums, as well as the small but critical day to day challenges parents face. And she explains why beneath each dilemma, it's the behaviours and scripts we learned as children that shape the parents we become. This deceptively simple and always empathetic guide promises to become the new word of mouth 'must have' for parents or any grown-up interested in what makes a healthy, happy, confident parent and child. ©2023 Martha Deiros Collado (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Martha Deiros Collado (Author), Martha Deiros Collado, TBD (Narrator)

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Will You Care If I Die?

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER 'Piercingly graceful and furiously intelligent' Matt Rowland Hill, author of Original Sins 'It's heartbreaking. It's scary. It's beautiful' Fredrik Backman, author of A Man Called Ove In a world where children murder children, and where gun violence is the worst in Europe, Nicolas Lunabba's job as a social organizer with Malmö's underclass requires firm boundaries and emotional detachment. But all that changes when he meets Elijah - an unruly teenage boy of mixed heritage whose perilous future reminds Nicolas of his own troubled past amongst the marginalized people who live on the fringes of every society. Allowing Elijah into his home and then into his heart, Nicolas crosses one of his own red lines. With the odds stacked against them, and completely unprepared for the journey he and Elijah now set off on together, can Nicolas keep Elijah safe from harm and steer him towards a better future? Written as a letter to Elijah, Will You Care If I Die? is a disarmingly direct memoir about social class, race, friendship and unexpected love. A blazingly topical story about social polarization and the rise of the far right, Nicolas and Elijah's story asks us to reimagine what it means to care for one another in an uncaring world.

Nicolas Lunabba (Author), Nikolas Salmon, TBD (Narrator)

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The Walnut Tree: Women, Violence and the Law – A Hidden History

'An outstanding work' – Philippa Gregory 'A powerful narrative told with frankness and sensitivity' Helen Fry, historian and author of Women In Intelligence 'A woman, a dog and a walnut tree, the more they are beaten, the better they’ll be.' So went the proverb quoted by a prominent MP in the Houses of Parliament in 1853. His words – intended ironically in a debate about a rise in attacks on women – summed up the prevailing attitude of the day, in which violence against women was waved away as a part and parcel of modern living – a chilling seam of misogyny that had polluted both parliament and the law. But were things about to change? In this vivid and essential work of historical non-fiction, Kate Morgan explores the legal campaigns, test cases and individual injustices of the Victorian and Edwardian eras which fundamentally re-shaped the status of women under British law. These are seen through the untold stories of women whose cases became cornerstones of our modern legal system and shine a light on the historical inequalities of the law. We hear of the uniquely abusive marriage which culminated in the dramatic story of the ‘Clitheroe wife abduction’; of the domestic tragedies which changed the law on domestic violence; the controversies surrounding the Contagious Diseases Act and the women who campaigned to abolish it; and the real courtroom stories behind notorious murder cases such as the ‘Camden Town Murder’. Exploring the 19th- and early 20th Century legal history that influenced the modern-day stances on issues such as domestic abuse, sexual violence and divorce, The Walnut Treelifts the lid on the shocking history of women under British law – and what it means for women today.

Kate Morgan (Author), Kristin Atherton, TBD (Narrator)

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Why Can't I Let You Go?: Break Free from Trauma Bonds, End Toxic Relationships, and Develop Healthy

If you experienced physical or emotional abuse, neglect, or abandonment as a child, you may struggle with unhealthy relationships as an adult. Hurtful attachments with our caregivers in early childhood can lay the foundation for toxic relationships. Those experiences can even affect the way we handle conflict, our feelings toward sex, and our expectations of our partners. But this doesn't mean you can't change. This book will help you gain a greater awareness of the trauma bonds that prevent you from getting the love, safety, and security you desire. In Why Can't I Let You Go, relationship expert Michelle Skeen will help you identify your attachment style, core beliefs, and the harmful behavior patterns that are keeping you stuck in toxic relationships. You'll learn proven-effective skills to help you interrupt these unhelpful patterns and attachments in new and old relationships. You'll also discover what you really value in relationships and go on to develop healthy, secure, and lasting love. Understanding yourself and your deeply held, and often unconscious, beliefs is the first step toward liberating yourself from trauma bonds. With this compassionate guide, you'll find the support and guidance needed to create the loving relationships you truly want.

Kelly Skeen, Michelle Skeen Psyd, Michelle Skeen, Psy.D. (Author), Candace Joice (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dear Oliver: An Unexpected Friendship with Oliver Sacks

To the world, he was Dr. Sacks, the brilliant neurologist behind bestselling books like Musicophilia and The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. To professor Susan Barry, he became Dear Oliver-her mentor, friend, and confidant over the course of their ten-year correspondence. It begins with a letter that Sue almost doesn't send. Sue's unheard-of case history-as a 'stereoblind' patient who acquired 3D vision in adulthood-so fascinates Dr. Sacks that he immediately asks to visit her. As 'Stereo Sue,' she becomes the subject of one of his indelible New Yorker pieces-and, as a fellow neuroscientist, his sounding board for every kind of intellectual inquiry. Their shared passions spark a friendship that buoys both of them through life's crests and falls: as Sue becomes an author, as she supports her father in his decline, and as Oliver becomes a patient himself-battling cancer that robs him of his own vision. Dr. Sacks's letters to Sue offer listeners an unprecedented glimpse of the man himself-from his compassion and insight to his love of the periodic table. Throughout Dear Oliver, we are reminded that true friends help each other see the world a little differently.

Susan R. Barry (Author), Jonathan Keeble, Rengin Altay (Narrator)

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[Spanish] - Lo vas a lograr: 50 devocionales matutinos y vespertinos para calmar tu mente, aquietar

En Lo vas a lograr: 50 devocionales matutinos y vespertinos para calmar tu mente, simplificar tu corazón y experimentar la sanación hoy, Lysa TerKeurst, autora best seller del New York Times te ayuda a incorporar un nuevo ritmo para esos días en los que la vida se siente demasiado dura. La práctica diaria de aceptar y liberar --recibir el aliento, la instrucción y la verdad para comenzar tu día y entregar a Dios todo lo que es agobiante al final de cada día-- te coloca en el camino hacia la sanidad. Lo vas a lograr te ayudará a mantenerte conectada con Dios y continuar amando a los demás incluso en medio de circunstancias desalentadoras, decepcionantes o incluso devastadoras. Cada devocional contiene: - Un versículo de la Biblia para comenzar el día - Una declaración de verdad para recordar a lo largo del día - Espacio para escribir y entregar algo a Dios al final de tu día - Una oración para antes de irte a dormir y así prepararte mejor para mañana Sin estos componentes cruciales en medio de nuestras temporadas difíciles, conectarnos con el Señor puede comenzar a sentirse abrumador muy rápidamente y como un elemento más en nuestra lista de tareas pendientes. Con su manera gentil y sencilla, Lysa te guía a través de las páginas de Lo vas a lograr, donde podrás: - Escapar de la soledad de tratar de sanar por tu cuenta con la sabiduría confiable de un maestro de la Biblia y amiga que entiende tu dolor y quiere ayudarte a seguir adelante - Tener la seguridad de que, aunque esta temporada difícil es parte de tu historia, no será toda tu historia Esta dura temporada no tiene que ser un tiempo para adormecer el dolor. Permite que este devocional te ayude a ser intencional y a reconocer que, aunque este puede ser un momento difícil, también puede ser un tiempo santo. You're Going to Make It In You're Going to Make It: 50 Morning and Evening Devotions to Unrush Your Mind, Uncomplicate Your Heart, and Experience Healing Today, New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst helps you incorporate a new rhythm for those days when life feels too hard. The daily practice of receiving and releasing-receiving God's encouragement, instruction, and truth to start your day and releasing to God all that's weighing you down at the end of each day-sets you on a path toward healing. You're Going to Make It will help you stay connected to God and continue loving others even in the middle of discouraging, disappointing, or even devastating circumstances. Each devotion contains: - a Bible verse to start your day - a statement of truth to remember throughout your day - space to write and release something back to God at the end of your day - a prayer to receive before you go to sleep to better prepare for tomorrow Without these crucial components woven into the routine of our harder seasons, connecting with the Lord can very quickly begin to feel overwhelming and like just another item on our to-do lists.

Lysa Terkeurst (Author), Jhoana Nichols (Narrator)

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All My Broken Pieces: Day Battle Plan

Zion Willingham (Author), Digital Voice Mike G (Narrator)

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Cambria: Because Two People Fell in Love

Off the California coast, sits a small town split by the Pacific Coast Highway and in this town actually stood a salmon colored Victorian home where a not so young couple first learned how to trust. This was my second marriage. I was in my forties with a divorce under my belt, a job I hated, and then this woman comes into my life making games of my fears. She came from a world I had never known, one that wasn’t so cruel and dangerous. We married and travelled our little corner of the world together just before the 2008 recession hit, causing a career I thought I had built for myself to crumble just as a dream I had always denied became my only option. And I think the only thing that held us together, that held me together during that difficult time was trust. Trust isn’t something you see too much of anymore. It’s been replaced by confirmation, notarization, and security codes. But, without trust, I would never have even met Vicky, she and I would never have been wed, and we would never have made it to Cambria. Worse still, without trust we never would have lived in that big, pink, Victorian home on the California coast, travelled back to the 1960s, sailed a living room east of the Pacific, made friends with a golden retriever, or spoke with a cow. It was from out of all of this but also for all of this that I recorded my third autobiographical monologue: Cambria. All because two people fell in love.

Ken La Salle (Author), Ken La Salle (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dear Zoe Ukhona: a Journey through Infertility and Adoption

In English for the first time, with a foreword written by Zindzi Mandela, daughter of Nelson Mandela, this is a heartbreaking memoir of infertility, adoption, and fatherhood from one of Denmark’s most beloved tv personalities. One summer evening, on a blind date that is almost cancelled, Pelle Hvenegaard meets Caroline. He knows right away that this woman is the love of his life and the mother of his children. Their path to a family is not smooth. But after six years of infertility and the trials of the adoption system, they finally open the doors of their Copenhagen home to little Zoe Ukhona. Pelle’s account, told through letters to his daughter, is brutally honest, heart-wrenchingly tragic, and yet filled with warmth and good humour. It is a story of love, family, and hope. Highly recommended to those moved by Sarah Sentilles’ “Stranger Care” and 'Finding Chika' by Mitch Albom. Pelle Hvenegaard first became world famous at twelve years old when he played the lead role in Bille August's Oscar-winning film 'Pelle the Conqueror'. A career in television and broadcast journalism followed. He has written four books on themes of adoption, love and identity.

Pelle Hvenegaard, Zindzi Mandela (Author), Keith Higinbotham (Narrator)

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SIMPIN' AIN'T EASY: TWELVE STEPS TO EMBRACING COMMON SENSE AND REJECTING STUPIDITY

Introducing 'Simpin' Ain't Easy: Twelve Steps to Embracing Common Sense and Rejecting Stupidity' - a powerful blend of self-help and memoir philosophy that challenges conventional thinking and transforms lives. In this thought-provoking journey, our author fearlessly embraces accountability and lays bare the truth about life - its ups, its downs, and everything in between. 'Simpin' Ain't Easy' unveils the raw realities of living life on life's terms, leaving no room for excuses or blame. Every decision, every twist and turn, brings us back to the person we see in the mirror, urging us to confront our choices and shape our destinies. But this is not your typical self-help book; our author won't lecture you with empty platitudes. Instead, he invites you into the depths of his own personal catastrophes, baring his soul to reveal the path he took to recovery and self-discovery. Unapologetically honest and void of political correctness, 'Simpin' Ain't Easy' is a real, unfiltered odyssey towards genuine humility. Prepare to challenge your assumptions, shatter barriers, and awaken the greatness within. Are you ready to embark on a journey of self-awareness and genuine change? 'Simpin' Ain't Easy' beckons you to step up, take charge, and seize the reins of your life. If you seek transformation, if you crave authenticity, and if you yearn for a life of purpose, then this raw and empowering masterpiece is your indispensable companion. Embrace the journey and embrace yourself. Are you ready to reject the facade of stupidity and embrace the wisdom of living authentically? Unleash your true potential today with 'Simpin' Ain't Easy.'

Vincent Gervasi (Author), Vincent Gervasi (Narrator)

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Entwined: Essays on Polyamory and Creating Home

In a series of genre-blending essays read by the author, Entwined tells the story of Alex Alberto’s decade-long polyamorous journey toward a new kind of family. In these essays, Alex attempts to build two committed relationships at once when no one involved has done this before; develops a powerful bond with the woman their partner loves; sits through a tense Thanksgiving Dinner with religious in-laws; questions the need for rules and hierarchy in their relationships; experiences the intensity of a triad; wrestles with the fragility baked into the nuclear family after their father’s stroke; and explores their queerness and gender identity in English, in New York, and struggles to reconcile their newfound self in their native French-Canadian language and culture. Entwined explores the fuzzy lines between friendship, romance, and family with various essay forms, including a play, an advice column, and a love letter. Yes, there are challenges, but rather than wallowing in the throes of jealousy, this memoir celebrates the hard work of creating a love life that resists conventional narratives. WHAT EARLY READERS SAY ABOUT ENTWINED: 'Entwined is a goddamn bible for poly-curious people.' —Chloe Caldwell (she/her), 37, questioning 'Entwined is about the desire to create a life outside of capitalism, heteronormativity, and the patriarchy.' —Samantha Paige Rosen (she/her), 33, queer and monogamous 'Entwined had me captivated from start to finish. It will no doubt influence my approach to romance and family.' —Rio C. (she/her), 21, queer, trans, and curious about polyamory 'I laughed, cried, and felt my heart fill the fuck up.' — Dan D. (they), 36, queer and newly navigating non-monogamy within a lifelong partnership.

Alex Alberto (Author), Alex Alberto (Narrator)

Audiobook

Marriage & Family Audiobooks in Health & Wellness