Audiobooks narrated by Ako Mitchell

The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man Audiobook

"A groundbreaking novel that still hits with startling relevance, The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man is a daring exploration of race, identity, and the cost of passing in America. Told through the eyes of a brilliant, musically gifted man born to a Black mother and a white father in post-Reconstruction America, this fictional memoir traces his journey through the color line—from the vibrant Black communities of the South to elite circles in Europe, and finally into the shadows of white anonymity. Caught between pride in his heritage and the lure of safety and success in a racist society, the narrator faces a harrowing choice: to live boldly as a Black man or to disappear into whiteness forever. First published anonymously in 1912, James Weldon Johnson's novel was decades ahead of its time—a powerful meditation on what it means to choose silence over selfhood in a world built on racial lies. Unflinching, intimate, and searingly honest, it remains a vital read in today's conversations about race and identity in America."

James Weldon Johnson (Author), Ako Mitchell (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Liveable Future is Possible

"Brought to you by Penguin. A series of interviews with Noam Chomsky, the world's greatest living public intellectual, about the pressing issues of our time In this illuminating collection of interviews, Noam Chomsky shares his insights on the pressing challenges facing humanity. A Liveable Future is Possible addresses artificial intelligence and the potential for such programs to surpass humans in cognitive awareness; what lies ahead for a world engulfed in a deadly climate crisis; the rise of neo-fascism internationally, and why we should organize across borders to confront it and the striking similarities between Trump and Biden's foreign policies. Noam Chomsky has been an incomparable model of moral clarity and intellectual courage during his many decades as a scholar, political activist and social critic. A Liveable Future Is Possible is not only an urgent and informative book, it is a call-to-action for those hoping to help carry the torch of one of history’s greatest minds. 'One of the greatest, most radical public thinkers of our time’ Arundhati Roy ‘Chomsky is a global phenomenon . . . he may be the most widely read American voice on foreign policy on the planet’ The New York Times Book Review © Noam Chomsky and C. J. Polychroniou 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

C.J. Polychroniou, Noam Chomsky (Author), Ako Mitchell (Narrator)

Audiobook

Overdrive

"'I enjoyed every minute!' Netgalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Shantal knows one thing in life: that success means everything. So when she gets the call to move from London to Brazil, to test out her racing simulator on high performance Formula One racing drivers, she leaves her life behind, and goes. Because she’ll do anything to succeed. Darien knows one thing in life: passion is everything. It’s his passion for driving that has led him to the heights of motorsport, a coveted seat as a Formula One driver. When his team insists he moves to Brazil to trial a new racing simulator and racetrack, he goes. Because the one thing he is more passionate about than cars, is Brazil, his home. When Shantal and Darien meet, sparks aren’t just flying from the gearbox. But in the high stakes world of Formula One, there’s no room for error, and there’s definitely no room for romance on the racetrack… Tropes - Reverse grumpy x sunshine ☀️ - Forced Proximity"

Esha Patel (Author), Ako Mitchell, Amrita Acharia (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Strangers: Five Extraordinary Black Men and the Worlds That Made Them

"Brought to you by Penguin. Richly imaginative and powerfully empathetic, an intimate portrait of five remarkable Black men, and a meditation on race, estrangement and the search for home In the western imagination, a Black man is always a stranger. Outsider, foreigner, intruder, alien. One who remains associated with their origins irrespective of how far they have travelled from them. One who is not an individual in their own right but the representative of a type. What kind of performance is required for a person to survive this condition? And what happens beneath the mask? In answer, Ekow Eshun conjures the voices of five very different men. Ira Aldridge: nineteenth century actor and playwright. Matthew Henson: polar explorer. Frantz Fanon: psychiatrist and political philosopher. Malcolm X: activist leader. Justin Fashanu: million-pound footballer. Each a trailblazer in his field. Each haunted by a sense of isolation and exile. Each reaching for a better future. Ekow Eshun tells their stories with breathtaking lyricism and empathy, capturing both the hostility and the beauty they experienced in the world. And he locates them within a wider landscape of Black art, culture, history and politics which stretches from Africa to Europe to North America and the Caribbean. As he moves through this landscape, he maps its thematic contours and fault lines, uncovering traces of the monstrous and the fantastic, of exile and escape, of conflict and vulnerability, and of the totemic central figure of the stranger. 'Thrilling and ingenious, propulsive and genre-defying: The Strangers is an outstanding book' Bernardine Evaristo 'Luminous and extraordinary... This book will be referenced for years to come' Lemn Sissay ©2024 Ekow Eshun (P)2024 Penguin Audio"

Ekow Eshun (Author), Ako Mitchell, Ekow Eshun (Narrator)

Audiobook

Young, Gifted and Black: Meet 52 Black Heroes from Past and Present

""...to be revisited again and again…" -The New York Times "...diverse collection of iconic figures…beautifully crafted volume…" -Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review "…exuberant…a launching point for more discoveries." -School Library Journal, Starred Review "A luminous and diverse tribute to black movers and shakers across the centuries." -Publishers Weekly Meet 52 icons of color from the past and present in this celebration of inspirational achievement-a collection of stories about changemakers to encourage, inspire, and empower the next generation of changemakers. Written in the spirit of Nina Simone's song "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black," this vibrant book is a perfect introduction to both historic and present-day icons and heroes. Meet figureheads, leaders, and pioneers such as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Rosa Parks, as well as cultural trailblazers and athletes like Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey, and Serena Williams. All children deserve to see themselves represented positively in the books they read. Highlighting the talent and contributions of black leaders and changemakers from around the world, readers of all backgrounds will be empowered to discover what they too can achieve. Strong, courageous, talented, and diverse, these extraordinary men and women's achievements will inspire a new generation to chase their dream…whatever it may be. The 52 icons: Mary Seacole, Matthew Henson, Ava Duvernay, Bessie Coleman, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Cathy Freeman, George Washington Carver, Malorie Blackman, Harriet Tubman, Mo Farah, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jesse Owens, Beyonce Knowles, Solange Knowles, Katherine Johnson, Josephine Baker, Kofi Annan, Langston Hughes, Toni Morrison, Brian Lara, Madam C.J. Walker, Yannick Noah, Maurice Ashley, Alexandre Duma, Martin Luther King, Jr., Maya Angelou, Nina Simone, Simone Biles, Stevie Wonder, Esperanza Spalding, Sidney Poitier, Oprah Winfrey, Pele, Nelson Mandela, Louis Armstrong, Rosa Parks, Naomi Campbell, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Muhammad Ali, Shirley Chisholm, Steve McQueen, Zadie Smith, Usain Bolt, Wangari Maathai, Mae Jemison, W.E.B. Du Bois, Nicola Adams, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and Misty Copeland. If you like this book, check out Young, Gifted and Black Too, for 52 more inspiring icons! For younger readers, Baby Young Gifted and Black is perfect to introduce little ones to these trailblazers who changed the world. If you like this book, check out Step Into Your Power and Big Ideas for Young Thinkers, by the same author-illustrator team. "

Jamia Wilson (Author), Ako Mitchell, Olivia Forrest (Narrator)

Audiobook

You Are Not Alone: Navigating Mental Illness and the Journey to Recovery

"Brought to you by Penguin. This singular book is a powerful reminder that help is here, and you are never alone. Millions of people across the world are affected by mental illness every year. Yet the mental healthcare industry remains chaotic, underfunded and often inaccessible, with many people asking themselves the same questions: What does it mean when different doctors give me different diagnoses? Will I be on medication my whole life? Will I ever feel better? You Are Not Alone is here to offer help and compassion. Written by Dr Ken Duckworth, whose own entry into psychiatry was inspired by his father's lifelong battle with bipolar disorder, this comprehensive guide pairs medical expertise with the empathy of someone who gets it. 'Powerful and poignant, this book is for anyone who has struggled with mental health challenges' Lori Gottlieb '[An] invaluable book' Andrew Solomon 'A unique, hopeful, essential guide. You Are Not Alone is a treasure' Bruce D. Perry © Ken Duckworth 2023 (P) Penguin Audio 2023"

Ken Duckworth (Author), Ako Mitchell (Narrator)

Audiobook

Rogue Trooper: Welcome to Nu Earth: The Classic 2000 AD Graphic Novel in Full-Cast Audio

"Brought to you by Penguin. Nu-Earth, a battle-ravaged world forever scarred by an ongoing war between the Nort and Souther armies. The poison atmosphere makes it hostile to all who fight there, with the exception of one person - the Rogue Trooper. A biologically-engineered war machine, Rogue Trooper is searching for the traitor General responsible for the deaths of his clone brothers. Together with his three 'dead' bio-chipped comrades, Gunner, Bagman and Helm, he won't stop until he has succeeded in his personal mission of revenge! Featuring Chuku Modu as Rogue Trooper with a full cast including Rupert Degas, Vaughn Joseph, Ako Mitchell and Mitchell Mullen long-time fans and newcomers alike will be transported to the hostile world of Nu-Earth for an immersive listening experience like no other. Also available: Judge Dredd: Dredd v Death Judge Dredd: America Judge Dredd: The Pit Judge Anderson: Shambala ©2013 Rebellion 2000 AD Ltd (P)2022 Penguin Audio and Rebellion Publishing"

Dave Gibbons, Gerry Finley-Day (Author), Ako Mitchell, Chuku Modu, Mitchell Mullan, Rupert Degas, Vaughn Joseph (Narrator)

Audiobook

In Praise of Good Bookstores

"This audiobook narrated by Ako Mitchell provides an eloquent and charming reflection on the singular importance of bookstores Do we need bookstores in the twenty-first century? If so, what makes a good one? In this beautifully written book, Jeff Deutsch—the director of Chicago's Seminary Co-op Bookstores, one of the finest bookstores in the world—pays loving tribute to one of our most important and endangered civic institutions. He considers how qualities like space, time, abundance, and community find expression in a good bookstore. Along the way, he also predicts—perhaps audaciously—a future in which the bookstore not only endures, but realizes its highest aspirations. In exploring why good bookstores matter, Deutsch draws on his lifelong experience as a bookseller, but also his upbringing as an Orthodox Jew. This spiritual and cultural heritage instilled in him a reverence for reading, not as a means to a living, but as an essential part of a meaningful life. Central among Deutsch's arguments for the necessity of bookstores is the incalculable value of browsing—since, when we are deep in the act of looking at the shelves, we move through space as though we are inside the mind itself, immersed in self-reflection. In the age of one-click shopping, this is no ordinary defense of bookstores, but rather an urgent account of why they are essential places of discovery, refuge, and fulfillment that enrich the communities that are lucky enough to have them."

Jeff Deutsch (Author), Ako Mitchell (Narrator)

Audiobook

How To Get Your Act Together: A Judgement-Free Guide to Diversity and Inclusion for Straight White M

"Brought to you by Penguin. LEAD MEANINGFUL AND POSITIVE CHANGE WITH THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO IMPLEMENTING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION Of the very few Fortune 500 companies that share diversity data, 72% of their senior executives are white men. And it's been proven that companies with more diverse management teams have nearly 20% higher revenues. Surely YOU don't want to be left behind? Moral imperatives aside, the business case for diversity and inclusion is clear - they are clear drivers of innovation, profit and employer brand. But how can male white leadership implement this change? There's no denying it's difficult - perhaps you feel left out of the conversation, afraid to make mistakes, and confused about the evolving language of diversity and inclusion. In this practical guide, leading diversity specialists Felicity Hassan and Suki Sandhu OBE teach you how to create an inclusive environment for your employees and have educated conversations about diversity, illuminating what can sometimes be tricky territory with humour and heart. © Felicity Hassan, Suki Sandhu 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022"

Felicity Hassan, Suki Sandhu (Author), Ako Mitchell (Narrator)

Audiobook

Chronicles of Dissent

"Brought to you by Penguin. An accessible, powerful overview of Noam Chomsky's political thought In sixteen extended talks with Alternative Radio's David Barsamian, Noam Chomsky explains why the 'war on drugs' is really a war on poor people; how attacks on political correctness are attacks on independent thought; how historical revisionism has recast the United States as the victim in the Vietnam War. Widely recognized as one of the most original and important thinkers of our age, Chomsky's trenchant analysis of current events is a breath of fresh air in a world more and more polluted by mainstream media. © Noam Chomsky 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022"

Noam Chomsky (Author), Ako Mitchell (Narrator)

Audiobook

Take Your Breath Away

"A missing woman. A husband suspected. The truth will … Take Your Breath Away Linwood Barclay is… ‘A suspense master’ Stephen King ‘In a class of his own’ T.M. Logan ‘One of the finest thriller writers in the world’ Mark Billingham It’s always the husband, isn’t it? When his wife Brie vanishes from their home one night, never to be seen again, people assume Andy got away with murder. The police can’t build a case against him, but still his friends and neighbours abandon him. Six years later, Andy’s life is back on track, and he’s settled with a new girlfriend. And when he hears his old house has been bulldozed and rebuilt, he’s not bothered. Things are good. But then one day, a woman who looks like Brie shows up at their old address, screaming ‘Where’s my house? What happened to my house?’ before vanishing as quickly as she appeared. And as dark suspicions resurface, Andy’s future depends on discovering what the hell is going on. The trick is staying alive long enough to find out… PRAISE FOR LINWOOD BARCLAY: ‘A suspense master’ STEPHEN KING ‘A full-throttle powerhouse of a thriller – Linwood Barclay is in a class of his own’ T.M. LOGAN ‘One of the finest thriller writers in the world’ MARK BILLINGHAM ‘The twists keep coming’ THE TIMES 'No one can thrill you and chill you better than Barclay' TESS GERRITSEN ‘Another lightning-paced page-turner with a twist that really did take my breath away. Absolutely classic Linwood’ MARK EDWARDS ‘Gripping, propulsive, and surprising – he wasn’t kidding, I’m breathless’ DAVID KOEPP ‘If you want someone to jangle your nerves and mess with your mind, Barclay’s your man’ SAGA 'Nothing is more satisfying than tucking into a new Linwood Barclay novel' SHARI LAPENA ‘[Exhibits] Barclay’s remarkable strengths in plotting and characterisation. Perhaps only John Grisham is his equal in creating show-stealing supporting characters’ SUNDAY TIMES ‘Linwood Barclay is a stone-cold pro’ JOE HILL ‘A fast-moving, high-concept thriller from the talented Barclay … a rip-roaring rollercoaster of a ride’ DAILY MAIL"

Laurel Lefkow, Linwood Barclay (Author), Ako Mitchell, Julia Locascio (Narrator)

Audiobook

JUDGES Volume Three

"Brought to you by Penguin. United States of America, 2051 A.D. It has been twenty years since Eustace Fargo's justice bill was passed. There are new weapons on the streets and vast city blocks rising to the sky, as the first human being sets out to visit another star system. New York, California and Texas cry out for autonomy, chafing against a federal government they feel has lost control. Reeling from news of Chief Justice Fargo's death in service, the nation asks: has it all been worth it? © Michael Carroll, C. E. Murphy, and Zina Hutton (P) Penguin Audio and Rebellion Publishing 2022"

C. E. Murphy, Michael Carroll, Zina Hutton (Author), Ako Mitchell, Jeannette Robinson, Olivia Forrest (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Ako Mitchell