Audiobooks narrated by Karen Murray

An Back: Essays on the Soul and Spine of America

"Acclaimed New Yorker contributor Lauren Michele Jackson delivers an essay collection devoted to the back-and the conflicting ideas we load upon it. Moving across literature, film, sport, visual art, and U.S. history, Jackson probes how the back carries powerful ideas about beauty, gender, labor, race, and political solidarity. Here the back emerges as a site of vulnerability and desire, embodiment and rhetoric, dependence and resistance. Jackson's prose effortlessly shifts between conversational and intellectual, inviting readers into digressions that illuminate rather than distract in a set of ranging essays, alighting upon subjects such as bodybuilding, ballet, portrait photography, Gone With the Wind, horse racing, copyright law, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Back opens a broad door onto the body as both structure and metaphor, linking artistic and political representation through a mutual attention to what-and who-is made to bear weight."

Lauren Michele Jackson (Author), Karen Murray, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler

"A magnificent cultural biography that charts the life of one of our greatest writers, situating her alongside the key historical and social moments that shaped her work. As the first Black woman to consistently write and publish in the field of science fiction, Octavia Butler was a trailblazer. With her deft pen, she created stories speculating the devolution of the American empire, using it as an apt metaphor for the best and worst of humanity—our innovation and ingenuity, our naked greed and ambition, our propensity for violence and hierarchy. Her fiction charts the rise and fall of the American project—the nation’s transformation from a provincial backwater to a capitalist juggernaut—made possible by chattel slavery—to a bloated imperialist superpower on the verge of implosion. In this outstanding work, Susana M. Morris places Butler’s story firmly within the cultural, social, and historical context that shaped her life: the Civil Rights Movement, Black Power, women’s liberation, queer rights, Reaganomics. Morris reveals how these influences profoundly impacted Butler’s personal and intellectual trajectory and shaped the ideas central to her writing. Her cautionary tales warn us about succumbing to fascism, gender-based violence, and climate chaos while offering alternate paradigms to religion, family, and understanding our relationships to ourselves. Butler envisioned futures with Black women at the center, raising our awareness of how those who are often dismissed have the knowledge to shift the landscape of our world. But her characters are no magical martyrs, they are tough, flawed, intelligent, and complicated, a reflection of Butler’s stories. Morris explains what drove Butler: She wrote because she felt she must. “Who was I anyway? Why should anyone pay attention to what I had to say? Did I have anything to say? I was writing science fiction and fantasy, for God’s sake. At that time nearly all professional science-fiction writers were white men. As much as I loved science fiction and fantasy, what was I doing? Well, whatever it was, I couldn’t stop. Positive obsession is about not being able to stop just because you’re afraid and full of doubts. Positive obsession is dangerous. It’s about not being able to stop at all.” Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook."

Susana M. Morris (Author), Karen Murray (Narrator)

Audiobook

Camilla's Roses: A Novel

"A reissue of a hidden gem from the award-winning author of Sugar, this novel tells the story of a woman who uncovers the fragility of life and the enduring strength of family love. Camilla's childhood was immersed in love and chaos, and steeped in perfection. As an adult she hasn't looked back, refusing to acknowledge the people and places that scarred her so many years ago. But a cancer diagnosis forces Camilla to turn to the past, and all its pain, to save her daughter. As Camilla discovers the bittersweet limitations of motherhood and reconciliation, she also awakens an inspiring message about the mortality issues we all must face. Unfolding in a progression of powerful chapters, Camilla's Roses portrays a life haunted by the past, and the choices we all make to fight for a future."

Bernice L. McFadden (Author), Adenrele Ojo, Emana Rachelle, Janina Edwards, Karen Murray, Robin Miles (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Book of Alchemy: A guide to the art of journalling and creative practice for an inspired life

"Brought to you by Penguin. A guide to the healing power of journalling and a meditation on the central questions of life, featuring creative contributions from Salman Rushdie, Esther Perel, Alain de Botton, Hanif Kureishi, Jia Tolentino, Elizabeth Gilbert, Gloria Steinem, George Saunders, Lena Dunham and more. Suleika has kept a journal her whole life. Journalling has marked her greatest triumphs and buoyed her in her toughest moments. It has carried her as she fell in love, travelled across the United States, experienced illness, heartbreak and the deepest oceans of uncertainty. And she is not alone. For so many, journalling is a process of discovery – sometimes vulnerable, sometimes terrifying, always transformative. Featuring writing prompts, essays and wisdom from one hundred contributors and serving as a companion during challenging times, The Book of Alchemy explores themes such as fear, love, beginnings, memory, the body and purpose. In doing so, the book offers encouragement, direction and gives readers the tools to engage with discomfort, to ask questions, to peel back the layers and uncover their truest selves. ‘A stellar collection of prompts and invitations that will enrich any journal' Katherine May | ‘This book is not only beautiful, but exceedingly helpful. I recommend it to every dreamer' Elizabeth Gilbert | 'Galvanising and comforting. An instant classic' Emma Gannon | ‘An extraordinary collection of wisdom' Adam Grant | This book is a gift' Hanif Abdurraqib | ‘Brilliant. Gentle. Encouraging' Kate Bowler © Suleika Jaouad 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Suleika Jaouad (Author), Emma Ladji, Fabian Cook Jr, Gail Shalan, Karen Murray, Maggie-Meg Reed, Nikki Patel, Sean Patrick Hopkins, Soneela Nankani, Suleika Jaouad, Vidish Athavale (Narrator)

Audiobook

Tools to Save Our Home Planet: A Changemaker's Guidebook

"A Global Guidebook for Activism in the Age of Climate Chaos and Social Injustice In 1994, Patagonia invited representatives from 75 grassroots nonprofit organizations to gather and learn from active experts how to be more effective at what they do. Through this ongoing conference as well as years of funding these organizations, Patagonia has helped thousands of activists make the changes they envision for the world. In 2016, Patagonia published Tools for Grassroots Activists, a compilation of presentations from the Tools conferences, accompanied by case studies and inspiring essays from environmental leaders. The world since then has changed in profound ways, and this new edition reflects the world we now occupy. Completely revised, Tools to Save Our Home Planet: A Changemaker's Guidebook, captures the wisdom and best advice from activists in the field, creating a resource for any organization hoping to hone core skills. The lessons and examples it shares are as current, diverse, and global as the changemakers working around the world. At a high level, the book's structure echos an activist's journey. It begins with self-reflection, essays prompting readers to identify their purpose and clarify their cause. The focus shifts to the inner workings of an organization or campaign-how to create a communications strategy, organize people, and fundraise-before taking an outward look at creating momentum through mobilizing and events, using political tools, collaborating with other people and organizations, and taking legal action. The book culminates with a chapter all about movements: How combining purpose, effective organizations, and momentum can create a tidal wave that can change the world. A go-to resource for driving change, offering anyone who is passionate about environmental and social justice a timely and relevant resource to support their mission-aligned work, this book is intended for both those who are new to taking action and seasoned activists and community organizers who want to learn how others are finding success. The hope is that, like its predecessor, it will become a reassuring and resourceful companion to the environmental and environmental justice movements."

Nick Mucha (Author), Karen Murray, Peter Ganim (Narrator)

Audiobook

Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown

"How did Jim Jones, the leader of Peoples Temple, convince more than 900 of his followers to commit 'revolutionary suicide' by drinking cyanide-laced punch? From a master of narrative nonfiction comes a chilling chronicle of one of the most notorious cults in American history. Using riveting first-person accounts, award-winning author Candace Fleming reveals the makings of a monster: from Jones's humble origins as a child of the Depression… to his founding of a group whose idealistic promises of equality and justice attracted thousands of followers… to his relocation of Temple headquarters from California to an unsettled territory in Guyana, South America, which he dubbed 'Jonestown"… to his transformation of Peoples Temple into a nefarious experiment in mind-control. And Fleming heart-stoppingly depicts Jones's final act, persuading his followers to swallow fatal doses of cyanide-to "drink the kool-aid," as it became known-as a test of their ultimate devotion. Here is a sweeping story that traces, step by step, the ways in which one man slowly indoctrinated, then murdered, 900 innocent, well- meaning people. And how a few members, Jones' own son included, stood up to him... but not before it was too late. * This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF with sources and a bibliography."

Candace Fleming (Author), Karen Murray (Narrator)

Audiobook

Twelve Stories by American Women

"A collection of twelve essential short stories by iconic American women writers that introduces a more diverse canon and emphasizes non-white and queer writers to better represent the experiences of all American women and to understand the importance of the short story for women A Penguin Classic One of The Millions' Winter Most Anticipated. "Zibrak curates a dozen short stories by women writers who have long been left out of American literary canon-most of them women of color-from Frances Ellen Watkins Harper to Zitkala-Ša." - The Millions When Four Stories by American Women was first published by Penguin Classics in 1990, it understandably reflected the second-wave feminist interpretations of that time-a period marked by an impressive recovery of what were then considered to be minor American writers. Since then, the four white women writers included in the volume-Rebecca Harding Davis, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Sarah Orne Jewett, and Edith Wharton-have become canonical figures, and scholars have grown to see their work as only a small part of the rich tapestry of American women's lives, values, and political beliefs in the fertile period of late nineteenth century and early twentieth century American literature. Today, we not only have a deeper understanding of the significance of these texts and the complicated nature of their authors' ideological orientations, scholars and educators have also expanded the canon of American women writers to more frequently foreground the voices of non-white and queer writers whose work speaks more fully to the experiences and beliefs of all American women. This updated and expanded volume, Twelve Stories by American Women edited by Arielle Zibrak, offers a more diverse selection of writers--including Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, María Cristina Mena, Zitkala-Ša, Sui Sin Far, and Barbara E. Pope--; covers hot-button issues such as environmentalism, queerness, and marital status; and provides a new introduction that highlights the developments in the critical understanding of turn-of-the-century American women writers in all of their complexity. Penguin Classics is the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world, representing a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators."

Arielle Zibrak (Author), Arielle Zibrak, Caroline Hewitt, Catherine Ho, Elena Rey, Karen Murray, Tanis Parenteau (Narrator)

Audiobook

Mad House: How Donald Trump, Maga Mean Girls, a Former Used Car Salesman, a Florida Nepo Baby, and a Man with Rats in His Walls Broke Congress

"NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A "vivid, juicy" (Vogue) fly-on-the-wall account of the epic dysfunction of the American Congress, from the rotating cast of failed Speakers to the MAGA efforts to impeach President Joe Biden to the insanity of the 2024 presidential race-by the star congressional reporters at The New York Times "Mad House contains cyanide and candy on every page, which proves to be a killer combo. I loved it."-Mark Leibovich, author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers This Town and Thank You for Your Servitude The United States Congress has always been messy and far-from-august, but as Annie Karni and Luke Broadwater show here, in scorching, shocking detail, it has reached some kind of chaotic bottom. The anarchy that reigned over Congress's lower chamber in the wake of the January 6th attack on the Capitol Building-the election of serial liar and con-man George Santos, revenge porn being shown on the floor of the house, and the theatrical high jinks of Lauren Boebert-all were a sign of decay and dysfunction of the highest order. Even the members of the 118th Congress would admit it was a circus-but up close, the spectacle was more alarming than funny. Taking the reader into closed door meetings as House Republicans, in thrall to a cult of personality, bumble ever deeper into extremism, and sniping House Democrats lose faith in their President, the authors reveal a level of disorder that we have never seen before. Mad House is a searing, rollicking, and deeply reported portrait of a body at war with itself, riven by pettiness, egomania, and score-settling, and defined by the truly unbelievable antics of people like Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Jim Jordan, who, handed the reins of power, attempted to actually govern a country. They did the bare minimum but voters in the 2024 elections rewarded them nonetheless, giving MAGA Republicans control of the White House, the Senate, and the House-and delivering to President Donald Trump a malleable Congress of loyalists there to serve. If you want a peek at what the next four years might look like, there's no better place to start than the dysfunction that led us here."

Annie Karni, Luke Broadwater (Author), Karen Murray (Narrator)

Audiobook

How Sweet the Sound

"Featuring artists ranging from Miles Davis to Kendrick Lamar, dive into this stunningly illustrated celebration of the history of Black music in America by the award-winning author of The Undefeated. Listen to the sound of survival, courage, and democracy-the soundtrack of America. Hear Billie Holiday's raspy, mournful voice, and tap your foot to Louis Armstrong's trumpet. Scream with James Brown and bop your head to Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Can you spot the 80+ references to artists like Robert Johnson, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimi Hendrix, Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill, and Beyonce? Come dance to Kwame Alexander's melodious narrative of the history of Black music in America, accompanied by the vibrant illustrations of Charly Palmer. The book includes extensive back matter, providing even more context and history about the music and musicians. "

Kwame Alexander (Author), Karen Murray (Narrator)

Audiobook

Untethered: A Novel

"Sometimes family is found in the most unlikely of places . . . In the small college town of Troy, Alabama, amidst the backdrop of 1967, Katia Daniels lives a life steeped in responsibility. At the Pike County Group Home for Negro Boys, she pours her heart into nurturing the young lives under her care, harboring a longing for children of her own. Katia's romantic entanglement with an older man brings comfort but also stirs questions about the path she's chosen. The weight of her family's history bears down on her; a twin brother is missing in action in the heart of the Vietnam War. Having lost her father to cancer, Katia took up the mantle of caretaker, ensuring her mother and brothers were looked after. Her sense of duty extends to the boys at the group home, creating a web of obligations that stretches her emotional bandwidth thin. Amidst a power struggle at work with the board, Katia finds solace in the pages of romance novels and the soothing melodies of Nina Simone. When Seth Taylor, a familiar face from her high school days, reenters Katia's life, he brings with him a breeze of nostalgia and a reminder of a time when her dreams felt less tethered. As their friendship rekindles, Katia grapples with the idea of making choices for herself, even as the realization that she can no longer have children weighs heavily on her. This novel is a poignant tale of a woman torn between the demands of her heart and the responsibilities she's shouldered for so long. Set against the backdrop of a changing South, this novel delves into the complexities of love, family, and self-discovery in a time of transformation and upheaval. 'Jackson-Brown (THE LIGHT ALWAYS BREAKS) delivers a touching story of a middle-aged Black woman and the burdens she shoulders during the Vietnam War . . . Jackson-Brown ably captures Katia's indomitable spirit and devotion to her family. This is worth a look.' --Publishers Weekly"

Angela Jackson-Brown (Author), Karen Murray (Narrator)

Audiobook

When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion

"A New York Times Bestseller A Cosmopolitan Best Nonfiction Book of 2024 'Compulsively readable: I found myself dashing through it like a novel' The Wall Street Journal 'Riveting' Financial Times The New York Times bestselling story of the golden age of luxury department stores, and the trailblazing women who ran them.The twentieth century department store: a wonderland of consumption where every wish could be met under one roof. Dropping off the baby at nursery; an afternoon tea; a stroll through the latest fashions. A wedding (or funeral) could be planned. A Bengal Tiger cub could be purchased. Inside these towering price-tag palaces, anything was possible. They were beacons of modernity, and within this atmosphere of glamour and luxury, women dominated. Men may have owned the buildings, but inside women ruled. Among the rising prices and growing opulence, three women climbed to the top: Hortense Odlum, Dorothy Shaver, and Geraldine Stutz. Julie Satow draws back the curtain on these three visionaries who took great risks, forging new paths for the women who followed in their footsteps. This stylish account, rich with personal drama and trade secrets, captures the department store in all its glitz, decadence and fun, and showcases the women who made that beautifully curated world go round. 'If you liked Mad Men then you'll love When Women Ran Fifth Avenue' #1 New York Times bestselling author Kate Andersen Brower, author The Residence and First Women"

Julie Satow (Author), Karen Murray (Narrator)

Audiobook

Holding It Together: How Women Became America's Safety Net

"Other countries have social safety nets. The U.S. has women. Holding It Together chronicles the causes and dire consequences. America runs on women-women who are tasked with holding society together at the seams and fixing it when things fall apart. In this tour de force, acclaimed Sociologist Jessica Calarco lays bare the devastating consequences of our status quo. Holding It Together draws on five years of research in which Calarco surveyed over 4000 parents and conducted more than 400 hours of interviews with women who bear the brunt of our broken system. A widowed single mother struggles to patch together meager public benefits while working three jobs; an aunt is pushed into caring for her niece and nephew at age fifteen once their family is shattered by the opioid epidemic; a daughter becomes the backstop caregiver for her mother, her husband, and her child because of the perceived flexibility of her job; a well-to-do couple grapples with the moral dilemma of leaning on overworked, underpaid childcare providers to achieve their egalitarian ideals. Stories of grief and guilt abound. Yet, they are more than individual tragedies. Tracing present-day policies back to their roots, Calarco reveals a systematic agreement to dismantle our country's social safety net and persuade citizens to accept precarity while women bear the brunt. She leads us to see women's labor as the reason we've gone so long without the support systems that our peer nations take for granted, and how women's work maintains the illusion that we don't need a net. Weaving eye-opening original research with revelatory sociological narrative, Holding It Together is a bold call to demand the institutional change that each of us deserves, and a warning about the perils of living without it."

Jessica Calarco (Author), Jessica Calarco, Karen Murray (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Karen Murray

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