Audiobooks narrated by Sam Woolf

The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister's Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Butchering Art by Lindsey Fitzharris, read by Sam Woolf. In The Butchering Art, historian Lindsey Fitzharris recreates a critical turning point in the history of medicine, when Joseph Lister transformed surgery from a brutal, harrowing practice to the safe, vaunted profession we know today. Victorian operating theatres were known as 'gateways of death', Fitzharris reminds us, since half of those who underwent surgery didn't survive the experience. This was an era when a broken leg could lead to amputation, and surgeons were still known to ransack cemeteries to find cadavers. And in squalid, overcrowded hospitals, doctors remained baffled by the persistent infections that kept mortality rates stubbornly high. At a time when surgery couldn't have been more dangerous, an unlikely figure stepped forward: Joseph Lister, a young Quaker surgeon. By making the audacious claim that germs were the source of all infection - and could be treated with antiseptics - he changed the history of medicine forever. With a novelist's eye for detail, Fitzharris brilliantly conjures up the grisly world of Victorian surgery, revealing how one of Britain's greatest medical minds finally brought centuries of savagery, sawing and gangrene to an end.

Lindsey Fitzharris (Author), Sam Woolf (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Ten Equations that Rule the World: And How You Can Use Them Too

Brought to you by Penguin. Is there a secret formula for getting rich? For making something a viral hit? For deciding how long to stick with your current job, Netflix series, or even relationship? This book is all about the equations that make our world go round. Ten of them, in fact. They are integral to everything from investment banking to betting companies and social media giants. And they can help you to increase your chance of success, guard against financial loss, live more healthily and see through scaremongering. They are known only by mathematicians - until now. With wit and clarity, mathematician David Sumpter shows that it isn't the technical details which make these formulas so successful. It is the way they allow mathematicians to view problems from a different angle - a way of seeing the world that anyone can learn. Empowering and illuminating, The Ten Equations that Rule the World shows how maths really can change your life. © David Sumpter 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

David Sumpter (Author), Sam Woolf (Narrator)

Audiobook

Messengers: Who We Listen To, Who We Don't, And Why

Brought to you by Penguin. Why are self-confident ignoramuses so often believed? Why are thoughtful experts so often given the cold shoulder? And why do apparently irrelevant details such as a person's height, their relative wealth, or their Facebook photo influence whether or not we trust what they are saying? When deciding whether or not someone is worth listening to, we think we carefully weigh their words and arguments. But those are far from being the only factors that hold sway with us. In this groundbreaking new book behavioural experts Stephen Martin and Joseph Marks pinpoint the eight powerful traits that determine who gets heard and who gets ignored. They show how such apparently irrelevant details as a person's appearance or their financial status influence our response to what they have to say, regardless of its wisdom or foolishness. They explain how trust is won, even when it may not be deserved. They analyse the nature of the charismatic speaker and the verbal and physical cues they employ. And they demonstrate how the tiniest of signals - from the shoes we wear, to the pitch of our voice and the warmth of our smile - can transform how others perceive us and so determine whether they are prepared to pay heed to what we have to say. Above all, Martin and Marks show how looking and sounding right is often far more persuasive than actually being right. In a world of ambiguity, uncertainty and fake news they compellingly demonstrate how, increasingly, the Messenger is the Message. 'A tour de force. Timely and thoroughly researched.' Professor Robert Cialdini, author of Influence and Pre-suasion 'Messengers is engaging, informative and entertaining. It will change the way you think about who you follow and take advice from. But why would you listen to me? Read their book to find out.' Professor Tali Sharot, author of The Optimism Bias and The Influential Mind 'A powerful, profoundly illuminating exploration of one of the most important subjects of our time. Martin and Marks have a terrific talent for combining evidence and research with lively and vivid writing. Trust these messengers!' Cass R. Sunstein, Robert Walmsley University Professor, Harvard University, and author of Conformity 'Fascinating' The Economist 'Zeitgeisty' Financial Times, Business Book of the Month 'Messengers is a crucial reminder that the messenger is as important as the message. Superficial indicators count.' PR Week

Joseph Marks, Stephen Martin (Author), Sam Woolf (Narrator)

Audiobook

Company of One: Why Staying Small is the Next Big Thing for Business

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Company of One by Paul Jarvis, read by Sam Woolf. What if the real key to a richer and more fulfilling career was not to create and scale up a new business, but rather, to be able to work for yourself, determine your own hours and become a (highly profitable) and sustainable company of one? Suppose the better-and smarter-solution is simply to remain small? Company of One is a refreshing new approach centered on staying small and avoiding growth, for any size of business. Not as a freelancer who only gets paid on a per piece basis, and not as an entrepreneurial start-up that wants to scale up as soon as possible, but as a small business that is deliberately committed to staying that way. By staying small, you can have freedom to pursue more meaningful pleasures in life, and avoid the headaches that result from dealing with employees, long meetings, or worrying about expansion. Company of One introduces this unique business strategy and explains how to make it work for you, including how to generate cash flow on an ongoing basis. Paul Jarvis left the corporate world when he realized that working in a high-pressure, high-profile world was not his idea of success. Instead, he now works for himself out of his home, and lives a much more rewarding and productive life. He no longer has to contend with an environment that constantly demands more productivity, more output and more growth. In Company of One, Jarvis explains how you can do the same, including planning to set up, determining desired revenues and keeping clients happy, and of course, doing all this on your own.

Paul Jarvis (Author), Sam Woolf (Narrator)

Audiobook

Lies Lies Lies

SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER! 'Gripping, moving and elegantly written' Marian Keyes 'Completely addictive' Ruth Jones 'Taut and thrilling' Veronica Henry Daisy and Simon's marriage is great, isn't it? After years together, the arrival of longed-for daughter Millie sealed everything in place. A happy little family of three. And so what if Simon drinks a bit too much sometimes - Daisy's used to it, she knows he's letting off steam. Until one night at a party things spiral horribly out of control. And that happy little family of three will never be the same again. In Lies Lies Lies Sunday Times bestseller Adele Parks explores the darkest corners of a relationship in freefall in a mesmerising tale of marriage and secrets. Praise for Lies Lies Lies: 'Gripping, moving and elegantly written' Marian Keyes 'Brilliant, moving and deeply satisfying, Parks is the queen of the domestic dark side' Veronica Henry 'Completely addictive... superbly drawn. Fabulous' Ruth Jones 'An utterly gripping, dark, addictive read, with characters so real, and an emotional punch so hard it left me a little winded. A brilliant page turner!' Alice Feeney 'Compelling and suspenseful' Catherine Isaac 'I devoured Lies, Lies, Lies... so engaging, well written. It is one of those rare books that earns the title, unputdownable' Sally Hepworth 'Brilliantly twisty and makes for a thrilling, unputdownable read but is also so insightful about human nature: her characters, with all their flaws and secrets, are utterly real. A triumph' Lucy Foley 'The gripping, visceral portrait of the disintegration of a marriage take the "didn't-see-that-coming" plot twist to new heights ****' Heat 'A gripping and unpredictable read hiding some deliciously dark secrets and lies' OK 'A sharply crafted tale ... the ultimate read for fans of domestic noir' Woman's Weekly 'I'm not going to lie! Adele Parks takes you straight into the heart of her characters. Her twists about human nature form the icing on the cake' Jane Corry 'BOOM! What a book! Layers and layers of intrigue and characters I want to spend a lifetime with. Loved it' Suzy K Quinn

Adele Parks (Author), Rachel Bavidge, Sam Woolf (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Eve Illusion

Brought to you by Penguin THE SECOND BOOK IN THE BESTSELLING EVE OF MAN TRILOGY BY TOM AND GIOVANNA FLETCHER Eve is the last girl on earth. For the last sixteen years, Eve has been a prisoner. Guarded by the Mothers. Trapped by her fate. Watched by the world. Until she took her chance, and escaped. Eve finally has the freedom she has wanted for so long, and with Bram she has the love. But both come at a price . . . In this dangerous new world beyond the Tower, the regime are only ever one step behind. And together with the desperate rebel group fighting against them, Eve has found herself in more danger than she ever could have imagined. With everything stacked against them, can Eve and Bram survive? ©Tom Fletcher, Giovanna Fletcher 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

Giovanna Fletcher, Tom Fletcher (Author), Charlotte Ritchie, Josh Dylan, Sam Woolf (Narrator)

Audiobook

Shelf Life

Brought to you by Penguin. 'Shelf Life is whip-smart, slyly heartbreaking, and I felt the truth of it in my bones. Franchini dissects ideas of love, dating and identity in a way that feels both ruthless and humane. I loved it.' Sophie Mackintosh, author of The Water Cure Launching an intelligent, perceptive new voice in fiction, Shelf Life is the exquisite, heart-wrenching story of a woman rebuilding herself on her own terms. Ruth is thirty years old. She works as a nurse in a care home and her fiancé has just broken up with her. The only thing she has left of him is their shopping list for the upcoming week. And so she uses that list to tell her story. Starting with six eggs, and working through spaghetti and strawberries, and apples and tea bags, Ruth discovers that her identity has been crafted from the people she serves; her patients, her friends, and, most of all, her partner of ten years. Without him, she needs to find out - with conditioner and single cream and a lot of sugar - who she is when she stands alone.

Livia Franchini (Author), Daisy Badger, Eleanor Yates, Holly Taylor, Sam Woolf, Seroca Davis (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Betrayals

From the Number 1 bestselling author of THE BINDING ‘Another triumph’ Erin Kelly ‘Totally addictive’ Joanna Glen ‘A rich delight’ Sandra Newman ‘Just beautiful’ Joanna Cannon ‘Dizzyingly wonderful’ The Times If everything in your life was based on a lie Would you risk it all to tell the truth? At Montverre, an exclusive academy tucked away in the mountains, the best and brightest are trained for excellence in the grand jeu: an arcane and mysterious contest. Léo Martin was once a student there, but lost his passion for the grand jeu following a violent tragedy. Now he returns in disgrace, exiled to his old place of learning with his political career in tatters. Montverre has changed since he studied there, even allowing a woman, Claire Dryden, to serve in the grand jeu’s highest office of Magister Ludi. When Léo first sees Claire he senses an odd connection with her, though he’s sure they have never met before. Both Léo and Claire have built their lives on lies. And as the legendary Midsummer Game, the climax of the year, draws closer, secrets are whispering in the walls…

Bridget Collins (Author), Sam Woolf, Sarah Ovens (Narrator)

Audiobook

Tell Me the Planets: Stories of Brain Injury and What It Means to Survive

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Tell Me the Planets by Ben Platts-Mills, read by Sam Woolf. Matthew has a meticulously logical mind. He is intelligent, compassionate and fiercely loyal. He also has a brain injury. When Matthew underwent surgery to remove a life-threatening cyst in the middle of his brain, he was left with extreme fatigue, a difficulty forming new memories and with a tendency to confabulate - to 'remember', with absolute conviction, events that have not occurred. In Tell Me the Planets, Ben Platts-Mills tells stories about his work with survivors of brain injury, offering a rare glimpse into the world as seen through their eyes: charismatic Danny, whose criminal past has left him paralysed down one side, but who now helps others worse off than himself; Sid, whose memory for the present lasts only moments; and Liah, who is caught in a battle with the care system threatening to make her homeless. But above all this is the story of the extraordinary friendship between Ben and Matthew, following their attempts to discover what has happened to Matthew's brain and how he might begin to rebuild his life. It is a journey that takes them to the frontiers of science and to the limits of human resilience: when they discover that the cyst is growing again, Matthew is left with an impossible decision to make. 'Platts-Mills writes with truth and eloquence about his relationships with brain injury survivors' Julia Samuel 'At turns heartbreaking and uplifting, this is not just a brilliant book about the survivors of brain injury, but also a vivid and unforgettable portrait of modern Britain by an extraordinarily-gifted story-teller. Ben Platts-Mills tells the stories of child-refugee Liah, ex-gangster Danny and computer geek Matthew - in hourly peril of having their sense of self annulled - with great vividness and imagination' Robert Newman, author of Neuropolis

Ben Platts-Mills (Author), Sam Woolf (Narrator)

Audiobook

You Were Made for This

'A chilling, gut-wrenching thriller' Helen Fields 'Extremely scary scandi-noir...first class' Daily Mail The perfect wife. The perfect mother. The perfect lie. A gripping page-turner for fans of The Couple Next Door, Michelle Sacks's You Were Made For This provocatively explores the darker side of marriage, motherhood and friendship. Doting wife, devoted husband, cherished child. Merry, Sam and Conor are the perfect family in the perfect place. Merry adores baking, gardening, and caring for her infant son, while Sam pursues a new career in film. In their idyllic house in the Swedish woods, they can hardly believe how lucky they are. What perfect new lives they've built for themselves, away from New York and the events that overshadowed their happiness there. And then Merry's closest friend Frank comes to stay. All their lives, the two women have been more like sisters than best friends. And that's why Frank sees things that others might miss. Treacherous things that unfold behind closed doors. But soon it's clear that everyone inside the house has something to hide. And as the truth begins to show through the cracks, Merry, Frank, and Sam grow all the more desperate to keep their picture-perfect lives intact.

Michelle Sacks (Author), Lucy Scott, Olivia Mace, Sam Woolf (Narrator)

Audiobook

How They Rule the World: The 22 Secret Strategies of Global Power

Random House presents the audiobook edition of How They Rule the World written by Pedro Baños, read by Sam Woolf. *The International Bestseller* Is there anything more cut-throat than global politics? Wherever you turn - Europe, Russia, China, Korea, Syria, the Middle East - we are living in a time of global geopolitical power plays. Once an insider to this closed world, Pedro Banos reveals that however it might be smoothed over by the PR of political diplomacy, the world of geopolitics is one of war and conflict by strategic means, where countries have sought dominion and power over their rivals since the dawn of time. Banos presents this high-stakes game as a series of 27 universal rules on how to act and exert influence in the international sphere. Each principle is contextualised in both classical and modern history, from Bismarck to Kissinger, but also related to the current world of Trump, Putin and Xi Jinping. With titles like 'Kicking Away the Ladder', 'The Tower of Champagne Glasses', 'The Madman', and 'The Mule and the Saddlebags', How They Rule the World is a practical set of rules for engagement that can be enjoyed by anyone. Written with the philosophic, aphoristic timelessness of a von Bulow, Sun Tzu or Machiavelli, Banos has created an utterly gripping manual on the secrets of how strategic power really works.

Pedro Baños (Author), Sam Woolf (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Body Lies

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Body Lies by Jo Baker, read by Imogen Church, Deborah McBride, Sam Woolf, Simon Ludders and Julie Maisey. A layered and thrilling suspense novel that grapples with how to live as a woman in the modern world - or in the pages of a book - when the stakes are dangerously high. When a young writer accepts a job at a university in the remote countryside, it's meant to be a fresh start, away from the big city and the scene of a violent assault she's desperate to forget. But despite the distractions of a new life and single motherhood, her nerves continue to jangle. To make matters worse, a vicious debate about violence against women inflames the tensions and mounting rivalries in her creative writing group. When a troubled student starts sending in chapters from his novel that blur the lines between fiction and reality, the professor recognises herself as the main character in his book - and he has written her a horrific fate. Will she be able to stop life imitating art before it's too late? At once a breathless cat-and-mouse game and a disarming exploration of sexual politics, The Body Lies is an essential book for our times.

Jo Baker (Author), Deborah Mcbride, Imogen Church, Julie Maisey, Sam Woolf, Simon Ludders (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Sam Woolf