Audiobooks narrated by John Hastings

Why Animals Talk: The New Science of Animal Communication

"Brought to you by Penguin. Why Animals Talk is a scientific journey through the untamed world of animal communication. From the majestic howls of wolves and the enchanting chatter of parrots to the melodic clicks of dolphins and the spirited grunts of chimpanzees, these diverse and seemingly bizarre expressions are far from mere noise. In fact, they hold secrets that we are just beginning to decipher. For example, wolves – just like humans – possess unique accents that distinguish their howls; gibbons have different alarm-calls for leopards and snakes, and sing romantic duets with their partners; and dolphins not only give themselves names but respond excitedly to recordings of the whistles of long-lost companions. Chapter by chapter and animal by animal, Kershenbaum draws on his extensive research and observations of animals in the wild to explain the science behind why animals are communicating. Also revealing profound insights into our own language and why it is different, In doing so, Why Animals Talks tells the comprehensive story of communication and how it works across the entire animal kingdom. ‘Wonderful . . . Endlessly interesting and beautifully written’ DAILY TELEGRAPH ‘Steady-headed and fun’ SUNDAY TIMES ‘Read this book and, I promise, you’ll never listen to animals in the same way again’ JESSICA PIERCE, author of Who’s a Good Dog? ‘Quirky, insightful . . . based on a deep understanding of recent research’ TIM CLUTTON-BROCK, author of Meerkat Manor ‘A new look at a fascinating subject’ DESMOND MORRIS, author of The Naked Ape ©2024 Arik Kershenbaum (P)2024 Penguin Audio"

Arik Kershenbaum (Author), John Hastings (Narrator)

Audiobook

Ten Hag: The Biography

"Brought to you by Penguin. Good is not good enough. You have to be even better - Erik ten Hag Who is Erik ten Hag? With an air of unperturbability, he ignores critics, follows his own methods and relentlessly pursues perfection on the pitch. His uncanny ability to analyse and solve problems - the 'process' as Ten Hag calls it - has unfailingly led to breakthrough. There is no magic. There is only intelligence at work, personal devotion to players and near-obsessive attention to detail. At Ajax, Ten Hag brooked no dissent and moulded his team into a smoothly operating unit of attack. His team enjoyed an astonishing run, winning three league cups in a row and reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in a quarter of a century. Along the way, they produced some of the brightest and most entertaining football seen in Europe for years. Maarten Meijer's definitive biography follows Erik ten Hag, from his upbringing in the Dutch countryside to his domestic triumphs and European victories. Meijer's book is the ultimate guide to the man with the momentous task of ending a decade of disappointment at Manchester United, and beginning a new era of great and winning football. ©2022 Maarten Meijer (P)2022 Penguin Audio"

Maarten Meijer (Author), John Hastings (Narrator)

Audiobook

Smurfs: Storytime Collection 1

"In this wonderful collection of Smurf stories, get ready for five new adventures! Come along to the Smurf village and hang out with some of your favourite Smurfs. Meet Smurfette for the first time, discover a haunted castle, and help Papa Smurf turn the purple Smurfs back to normal! With exhilarating tales about friendship, evil wizards, and a bridge that is always in need of repair, this five-story collection is sure to delight with its thrilling adventures, filled with magic. 'The Smurfs: Storytime Collection 1' is perfect for early readers, reluctant readers, and older fans, who just want to indulge in some good old 80's nostalgia. Get ready for adventures in Smurf Village with all your favourites: Smurfette, Papa Smurf, Harmony, Hefty and all the other little, blue creatures. Hear what happens when Baker Smurf runs out of eggs for his cake, when Vanity Smurf’s reflection suddenly comes to life, or when Gargamel repeatedly tries to spoil the Smurfs' peaceful life with his evil plans and dangerous elixirs. Buckets of Smurf fun! The Smurfs were created in 1958 by the Belgian cartoonist Pierre 'Peyo' Culliford. The small, blue creatures live together in small mushroom-like houses in a village deep in the forest. When they are not playing, building, eating, or inventing new things, they are meddling with the evil wizard Gargamel and his cat Azrael, who wants to get rid of them... The Smurfs and associated trademarks are owned by Peyo Creations. © 2022 Peyo Creations."

Peyo (Author), John Hastings (Narrator)

Audiobook

Spidertouch

"Enslaved by a mute-race of cruel dictators, Razvan learns their touch-language and works as a translator in order to survive. But war is on the horizon and his quiet life is about to get noisy… When he was a boy, Razvan trained as a translator for the hated Keda, the mute enslavers of his city, Val Kedić. They are a cruel race who are quick to anger. They keep a tight hold on the citizens of Val Kedić by forcing their children to be sent to work in the dangerous mines of the city from the age of eleven until eighteen. By learning fingerspeak - the Keda's touch language - Razvan was able to avoid such a punishment for himself and live a life outside the harsh climate of the slums. But the same could not be said for his son... Now a man, Razvan has etched out a quiet life for himself as an interpreter for the Keda court. He does not enjoy his work, but keeps his head down to protect his son, held hostage in the Keda's mines. The Keda reward any parental misdemeanors with extra lashings for their children. Now the city is under siege by a new army who are perhaps even more cruel than their current enslavers. At the same time, a mysterious rebellion force has reached out to Razvan with a plan to utilize the incoming attack to defeat the Keda once and for all. Razvan must decide which side to fight on, who can be trusted, and what truly deserves to be saved. File Under: Fantasy [ Linguistical Nightmare | Camun Willing | Knuckle Up | Silence isn't Golden ]"

Alex Thomson (Author), John Hastings (Narrator)

Audiobook

On Living and Dying Well

"Brought to you by Penguin. This Penguin Classic is performed by John Hastings. This definitive recording includes an introduction by Thomas Habinek read by John Hastings. In the first century BC, Marcus Tullius Cicero, orator, statesman, and defender of republican values, created these philosophical treatises on such diverse topics as friendship, religion, death, fate and scientific inquiry. A pragmatist at heart, Cicero's philosophies were frequently personal and ethical, drawn not from abstract reasoning but through careful observation of the world. The resulting works remind us of the importance of social ties, the questions of free will, and the justification of any creative endeavour. This lively, lucid new translation from Thomas Habinek, editor of Classical Antiquity and the Classics and Contemporary Thought book series, makes Cicero's influential ideas accessible to every reader. © Thomas Habinek 2012 (P) Penguin Audio 2021"

Cicero (Author), John Hastings (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by John Hastings