Audiobooks narrated by John Sackville

"Brought to you by Penguin. Embark on a captivating journey beyond Earth, from the dawn of human space exploration, through the untold story of the Mercury and Gemini missions When we think of the history of space exploration, we can’t help but think of the Apollo missions and Neil Armstrong’s one giant leap. But what about the small steps that enabled NASA to reach for the Moon? Astronauts working on the earliest space missions, from Project Mercury to the Gemini missions of the mid-1960s, answered fundamental questions about the possibilities of long-duration space travel, paving the way for the Apollo missions and, ultimately, the Moon landings. They also took the first, and still some of the finest, images of Earth ever captured on film. Now, the bestselling author of Apollo Remastered, Andy Saunders has restored images from these first missions to show them in unprecedented detail and tell their full story, filled with dramatic life or death moments, mischievous pranks and astonishing triumphs. This stunning visual odyssey brings to life the pivotal, intimate moments of early space travel, unveiling the raw beauty and profound challenges faced by the pioneering astronauts pushing the boundaries of human achievement. Gemini and Mercury Remastered is a striking tribute to the visionaries who dared to dream beyond our world and a testament to the enduring power of exploration. 'Wickedly exciting' Tom Hanks 'Experience the same incredible awe as we astronauts did on those very first voyages into space' Jim Lovell, Gemini 7 & 12, Apollo 8 & 13 'An unprecedented trip back in time… a vibrant, new, living record' Gene Kranz, Flight Director Mercury, Gemini, Apollo © Andy Saunders 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Andy Saunders (Author), John Sackville (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Mad and the Brave: The Untold Story of Ukraine’s Foreign Legion

"'Elegant and terrifying, the story of those who gave up life in the West for Ukraine's frontlines – some to save democracy, some to save themselves. A modern-day Homage to Catalonia – and Fight Club on steroids.' – Oliver Poole, London Standard ‘A great read’ – Mark Galeotti With real-life echoes of SAS Rogue Heroes – this is an astonishing account of Europe’s biggest major conflict, told through the eyes of a ragbag collection of foreign fighters Three days after Russian tanks roll into Ukraine, President Volodymr Zelensky issues a desperate appeal for foreign military volunteers to help defend his country. Thousands answer the call from all over the world: some of them experienced soldiers, others novices who’ve never held a gun before. Among their ranks are high-minded idealists, adventure-seekers bored with civilian life, and ex-criminals seeking redemption – all risking their lives against the world's most vicious superpower. Some flee at the first sign of trouble, others become heroes; many are killed, and a few turn their guns on each other. This is their story – often terrifying, often tragic, sometimes comic, and sometimes glorious…"

Colin Freeman (Author), John Sackville (Narrator)

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The Animal and the Thinker: Instinct, Reason and the Dance of Our Divided Selves

"Brought to you by Penguin. Why are we so often in conflict—arguing with ourselves and with others, uncertain over who we are and what we need from our lives? In The Animal and The Thinker, the world-leading, pioneering neuroscientist John Duncan explains that each of us is not just one person – we are two. On one side are our animal instincts, built on the sophisticated needs of human life through evolution, but struggling to navigate the complexity of modern life. On the other side is our rational brain which calculates and cogitates, but is often helpless in the face of bigger questions of meaning and purpose. Dovetailing these two competing sides of ourselves, Duncan draws on a lifetime’s pioneering work to attack puzzles that have concerned thinkers, writers and philosophers through human history. Right and wrong. Freedom and responsibility. Women and men. Democracy and justice. Ambition and fulfilment. Understanding how these two sides of ourselves interact offers revealing and often surprising answers to some of the great questions of our lives. Discover a new perspective on human behaviour, and learn how we can better understand ourselves, our struggles, and our search for meaning. © John Duncan 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

John Duncan (Author), John Sackville (Narrator)

Audiobook

Lone Wolf: Walking the Faultlines of Europe

"Brought to you by Penguin. From the winner of the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award comes an epic walk across the Alps in the footsteps of a wolf, throwing unique light on Europe's mountainous hinterlands at a moment of political and environmental change. In 2011, a young wolf named Slavc set out from Slovenia. Tracked by GPS, he travelled a thousand miles through the Alps, arriving four months later on the Lessinian plateau, north of Verona. There had been no wolves in northern Italy for a century, but here he crossed paths with a female wolf on a walkabout of her own. A decade later and there are more than a hundred wolves back in the area, the result of their remarkable meeting. In Lone Wolf, Weymouth walks Slavc's path, examining the changes facing these wild corners of Europe. Here, the call to rewild meets the urge to preserve culture; nationalism and globalisation pull apart; climate change is radically changing lives; and migrants, too, are on the move. The result is a multifaceted account of a region caught in a moment of kaleidoscopic flux, from an award-winning writer with a uniquely perceptive eye for detail. 'A wolf's footsteps, followed; a continent's faultlines, traced: Adam Weymouth has made a formidable, thousand-mile foot-journey, both in the tracks of a wolf and into the heart of human-animal relations in contemporary Europe -- and written an exceptional book about it. His prose has a glinting precision of analysis and evocation to it; his intense curiosity and empathy extend across species boundaries as well towards people and landscapes' Robert Macfarlane, author of UNDERLAND 'A bold, beautiful, confronting journey charting a continent buckling under social and environmental pressure. A book about a wolf, about love and hate, and our conflicted relationship with nature and our fellow human beings. Timely and fascinating.' Isabella Tree, author of WILDING © Adam Weymouth 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Adam Weymouth (Author), John Sackville (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Perfect Psychopath

"**The gripping, new, edge-of-your-seat crime thriller from the bestselling author of the smash-hit novel The Serial Killer's Wife, now a major TV series** ––––––––––– 'Superbly written. Chillingly compulsive.' Jane Corry The mind is a dangerous place to hide… Dr Eleanor Spencer is a well-respected psychologist with a seemingly perfect life. But when a series of women start to vanish, it dredges up memories of her sister’s unsolved disappearance and she finds herself drawn into the investigation. Desperate, she turns to Lucas Hayne, a convicted serial murderer who revels in mind games. But when Lucas cryptically hints the answers lie buried in her past, Ellie’s carefully constructed world begins to splinter. Because now she faces a terrifying possibility: the real monster might just be closer than she ever imagined. Ellie has spent her career deciphering the minds of killers—but now, one of them is inside hers. A gripping psychological suspense about betrayal, courage, and the darkness that can hide behind a seemingly trustworthy façade. Perfect for fans of K.L. Slater and B.A. Paris. PRAISE FOR THE PERFECT PSYCHOPATH: ‘What an absorbing read. An enticing insight into the dark mindset of a serial killer. I couldn’t put it down.’ Amanda Robson ‘The Perfect Psychopath is Alice Hunter's best novel yet. Absolutely addictive, I was captivated from the first page to the last.‘ J.M. Hewitt ‘I swear I had almost every single character down as the killer at one point, but I still didn’t get it right! So brilliantly twisty. Will keep you guessing until the very last page. Loved it.’ Lucy Roth ‘Deviously constructed and utterly compelling. Led me down a twisty path and then grabbed me by the throat with an ending I did not see coming.’ Anne Wyn Clark PRAISE FOR ALICE HUNTER: 'I tore through this edge-of-your-seat, up-all-night thriller that will have you asking how well you really know those closest to you. Hunter has created a menacing villain in John, a monster hiding in plain sight. Timely and gripping, don't miss this one.' Katy Brent ‘A stunning debut … It richly deserves to be a hit.’Daily Mail ‘The steadily unfurling plot … kept me hooked. The final double twist, too, is well worth waiting for.’My Weekly ‘This book hooks you in to the drama straight away and does not let you go, even on the last page. Brilliant.’ Sun ‘Wow, what a read! Alice Hunter is the queen of the serial killer thriller.’ J.M. Hewitt ‘Twisty and suspenseful.’ Jane Corry ‘Absolutely gripping and a brilliant premise – how well does anyone ever know anyone else? Fantastic.’ Catherine Cooper ‘A one-sitting read that absolutely gripped me from the first page.’ C S Green ‘Twisty, turny, tense and so very, very clever.’ Susi Holliday ‘Smart, assured and wickedly twisty.’ Jenny Blackhurst ‘A gripping story of secrets, manipulation and power in a quiet Cotswolds village. Terrific!’ Mick Finlay 'Scarily believable – what does go on behind closed doors? A twisty, addictive read, and brilliantly written – highly recommended.' Elisabeth Carpenter ‘Another cracking read from Alice Hunter. Compelling intrigue from the queen of page turners.’ Amanda Robson ‘Compelling, twisty and completely consuming. The pace is electric, the story kept me guessing all the way. I literally couldn’t put it down.’ Darren O’Sullivan"

Alice Hunter (Author), Catrin Walker-Booth, John Sackville (Narrator)

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How Wars End: A Hopeful History of Making Peace

"Do boycotts work? Should arms sales be stopped? What about supplying weapons to the good guys? In How Wars End an international expert explains how we can act to bring about peace in an age of escalating war. In 2003 Jan van Aken almost helped stop a war. But as he was preparing to go to Baghdad to search for biological weapons, he got a message: the US was determined to avenge 9/11 and wouldn't wait for UN inspections to take place. The invasion went ahead, and only years later, the world discovered that Iraq had had no biological weapons at that time. From this experience and the many others he has had as a weapons inspector, conflict analyst and activist, in How Wars End van Aken shows how conflict resolution really works. From disinformation and dodgy dossiers to chemical weapons and murderous drones, he identifies why wars start and spiral. And he looks at the alternatives, including civil initiatives, diplomacy, sanctions, and international interventions. Interweaving the latest findings from peace research with stories and examples from Northern Ireland, Serbia, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine, Israel-Palestine and more, How Wars End lays out evidence-based strategies for moving from violent conflict to ceasefire, and from ceasefire to lasting peace. Translated by Jo Heinrich."

Jan Van Aken (Author), John Sackville (Narrator)

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Perspectives

"Brought to you by Penguin. Florence, New Year’s Day 1557. As dawn breaks, a painter is discovered lying on the floor of a church, stabbed through the heart. Above him, the paintings he laboured over for more than a decade. At his home, a hidden painting scandalously depicting Maria de Medici, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Florence, as a naked Venus. Who is the murderer? Who is behind the painting? As the city erupts in chaos, Giorgio Vasari, the great art historian, is picked to lead the investigation. Letters fly back and forth carrying news of political plots and speculation about the killer’s identity – between Maria and her aunt Catherine de’ Medici, the queen of France; between Catherine and her scheming agents in Florence; and between Vasari and his friend Michelangelo. Meanwhile, the Pope is banning books and branding works of art immoral. And the truth, when it comes to light, is as shocking as the bold new artworks that have made Florence the red-hot centre of Europe. Bursting with characters and colour, Perspectives is a mystery like no other that shows us Renaissance Florence as we’ve never seen it before – a dazzling, hugely entertaining novel of court machinations, murder and art. © Laurent Binet 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Laurent Binet (Author), John Sackville, Justin Avoth, Rachel Bavidge (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Nazi Mind: Twelve Warnings From History

"Brought to you by Penguin. THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER A groundbreaking narrative history of the motivations and mentalities behind the Nazis and their supporters, from the bestselling author of THE HOLOCAUST and President Zelenskyy’s most-read book, HITLER AND STALIN. How could the Nazis have committed the crimes they did? Why did commandants of concentration and death camps willingly – often enthusiastically – oversee mass murder? How could ordinary Germans have tolerated the removal of the Jews? In THE NAZI MIND, bestselling author Laurence Rees combines history and the latest research in psychology to help answer some of the most perplexing questions surrounding the Second World War and the Holocaust. Ultimately, he delves into the darkness to explain how and why these people were capable of committing the worst crime in the history of the world. Rees traces the rise and eventual fall of the Nazis through the lens of ‘twelve warnings’ – from talk about ‘them’ and ‘us’ to the escalation of racism – whilst also highlighting signs to look out for in present day leaders. Rees uses previously unpublished testimony from former Nazis and those who grew up in the Nazi system, and in-depth psychological insights including cutting edge work on obedience, authority and the brain. THE NAZI MIND is a revelatory new way of understanding how so many people committed the most appalling crime of the 20th century. 'I will recommend to everyone' Alastair Campbell 'World-renowned historian Laurence Rees lays out a past that is also eerily a cautionary tale for our future if we are not careful' Anthony Scaramucci 'This disturbing book is timely, relevant and important' Sir Ian Kershaw © Laurence Rees 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Laurence Rees (Author), John Sackville (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Teaching of the Heart: Volume III - The Heart of the Community

"The Teaching of the Heart has been given to Mankind as a Great Revelation of the Cosmic Light Forces standing guard over not only the planet Earth, but the entire Solar System too. The Messengers of Distant Worlds and unknown star systems, the Masters of Wisdom have Revealed the secret Treasures of Shambhala to you that store secret scrolls since time immemorial. And when the Dates are imminent, Mankind is endowed with the wise knowledge that Their chosen Messenger begins to spread around the world, putting them into the form of the Teachings of Light. Previous Doctrines focused mostly on the mental body — the human mind. But at the junction of two epochs, a Terrible Hour came for the Earth, the position of the heavenly bodies changed, energies of unprecedented Strength are directed towards our planet. The most powerful streams of Fire are pouring out of the unknown depths of the Universe, threatening to incinerate all life on our long–suffering earth The Heart of the Community is a kind of invisible Law of Divine Love, imprinted in human hearts in the first hour of the birth of the fetus. People should unite in more just communities by the force of the magnetic attraction of their hearts in order to create a better world on planet Earth. And this book, which is an integral part of the unified Teaching of the Heart, shows what it should be. Of course, our Community must correspond to the formula: as Above so below! We are the creations of our Heavenly Father, and the spirit of transformation must touch not only every human being, but also the spheres surrounding him, all the Kingdoms of Nature, and the entire Human Race as a whole, uniting us into a single planetary Community. And may the Heart of the Consubstantial Creator Rejoice, Seeing how the Heart of the Earthly Community beats in unison with the Heart of the Community represented by the single breath of the Fiery Worlds."

Zinovya Dushkova (Author), John Sackville (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Beautiful Game

"Brought to you by Penguin. Life is a beautiful game – but how should you play it? For Sven-Göran Eriksson, one of the world’s most revered and respected football managers, the game has come to an end. He leaves us with his parting reflections, looking back on what he has achieved, experienced and learned over a lifetime in service to the beautiful game. It is a journey that has taken him from a small club in his native Sweden, across every continent, to competing on the world’s stage. Before his death, he was able to impart the lessons he’s learned along the way – about life, leadership and love – and to speak candidly about his extraordinary successes, as well as overcoming his failures. On the field, he led some of the finest sportsmen on earth to great victories and heartbreaking defeats, and in the process left his indelible mark on the game. This is a story of lives touched and connections made in the dogged pursuit of excellence. But for Sven the true journey he wanted to share is the one he made on the inside – the man that he became. Because A Beautiful Game is far more than the tale of a successful football manager. It is the story of the biggest game of all – what makes a good life. A story that endures, long after the final whistle. © Bengt Berg and Sven-Goran Eriksson 2024 (P) Penguin Audio 2024"

Bengt Berg, Sven-Göran Eriksson (Author), John Sackville (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Teaching of the Heart: Volume II — The Illumination of the Heart: Leaves of the Garden of M.

"Let The Illumination of the Heart touch every person, who took this book in his hands, and highlight the most secret corners of his life. Reading and listening to its text will help you focus on what is most valuable to you, because this book contains priceless Gifts presented by the Great Mentors of Mankind, who studied the Human Race for many millions of years. Our Spiritual Masters have penetrated into the secrets of not only human souls, but of their physical flesh too, and therefore, to help people climb the steps of Evolution at a quicker pace, they turned to human hearts in particular, in which a gigantic potential is hidden. It was in the fiery heart that a spark of Divine Fire was embedded, which will help to rise the steps of Immortality; that requires that the Stamp of Illumination should mark the human heart, and it should begin to fill with currents of a higher frequency, changing the rhythm of the heart’s breathing, as well as its vibrational constants. So let this book, titled “The Illumination of the Heart”, help you not only realize that you are gods, but also find the shortest path to our Heavenly Father."

Zinovya Dushkova (Author), John Sackville (Narrator)

Audiobook

How to Listen

"Brought to you by Penguin. How to Listen is part of a charming series of books from Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, exploring the essential foundations of mindful meditation and practice. In How to Listen, Thich Nhat Hanh demonstrates how deep listening is a fundamental building block of good communication. With clear and gentle guidance, we learn how truly listening – to ourselves, to each other, to Mother Earth, and to the many ‘bells of mindfulness’ that are available to us in each moment – is the foundation of our practice, an expression of love and a solution to our deepest and most urgent large-scale conflicts. ‘The monk who taught the world mindfulness' Time © Thich Nhat Hanh 2024 (P) Penguin Audio 2024"

Thich Nhat Hanh (Author), John Sackville (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by John Sackville