Audiobooks narrated by Sean Pratt

The Grief Cure: Looking for the End of Loss

“A wise and perceptive journey into grief and the ways we seek to assuage it. Incredibly powerful reading for all who have known, or who will inevitably know, loss.” —Lauren Elkin, author of Flâneuse and Art Monsters In this lyrical and moving story of the world of Prolonged Grief, journalist Cody Delistraty reflects on his experience with loss and explores what modern science, history, and literature reveal about the nature of our relationship to grief and our changing attitudes toward its cure. When Cody Delistraty lost his mother to cancer in his early 20s, he found himself unsure how to move forward. The typical advice was to move through the five stages, achieve closure, get back to work, go back to normal. So begins a journey into the new frontiers of grief, where Delistraty seeks out the researchers, technologists, therapists, marketers, and communities around the world who may be able to cure the pain of loss in novel ways. From the neuroscience of memory deletion to book prescriptions, laughter therapy, psilocybin, and Breakup Bootcamp, what ultimately emerges is not so much a cure as a fresh understanding of what living with grief truly means. As Delistraty created his own ad hoc treatment plan, the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization gave extended, disruptive grief an official name: Prolonged Grief Disorder. A diagnosis, based on meeting several symptoms and contingencies, has opened innovative avenues of treatment and an important conversation about a debilitating form of grief, but it has also opened a debate as to whether this form of grief, no matter how severe and unrelenting, is best approached medically at all. Braiding deep, emotional resonance with sharp research and historical insight, Delistraty places his own experience in dialogue with great writers and thinkers throughout history who have puzzled over this eternal question: how might we best face loss?

Cody Delistraty (Author), Sean Pratt, TBD (Narrator)

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The Misdirection of Fault Lines

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants goes to the French Open in an emotionally honest and openhearted novel for fans of Yamile Saied Méndez and Mary HK Choi. Three teen girls compete at an elite tennis tournament for a shot at their dreams-if only they knew what their dreams were. Alice is on her own for the first time. She has no coach. No friends. Not even clothes that meet the Bastille Invitational's strict dress code. There's only the steady drumbeat of guilt inside-pressure to make the tournament's costly expense "worth it" in the wake of Ba's unexpected passing. But will a win on court justify the price she paid to get here? Violetta is Bastille's darling: social media influencer, coach's pet, and daughter of a former tennis star who fell from grace. Bastille is her chance to reclaim the future her mother gave up to raise her. But is that what she wants for herself? Leylah hasn't competed in two years, thanks to a back-stabbing ex-friend. Bastille is her last chance to prove she's ready for a life of professional tennis. But will her fixation on past wrongs keep her from reclaiming her rightful place at the top?. One week at the elite Bastille Invitational tennis tournament will decide their futures. If only the competition between them stayed on the court. The Misdirection of Fault Lines is an incisive coming-of-age story, infused with wit and wisdom, about three Asian American teen girls trying to find their ways forward, backward, and in some cases, back to each other again. Anna Gracia, acclaimed author of Boys I Know, delivers with a refreshingly true-to-life teen voice that perfectly captures the messiness of adolescence and the pressures of expectation.

Anna Gracia (Author), Jen Zhao, Louisa Zhu, Sean Pratt, Shannon Tyo (Narrator)

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The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness

Brought to you by Penguin. An urgent and insightful investigation into the collapse in youth mental health, from the influential social psychologist and international bestselling author Jonathan Haidt has spent his career speaking wisdom and truth in some of the most the most difficult spaces - communities polarized by politics and religion, campuses battling culture wars, and now the perfect storm contributing to a public health emergency for teenagers today. In The Anxious Generation, Haidt argues that for the cohort that hit puberty around 2009, their sense of self developed as the threads of three dramatic technological and social changes emerged: smartphones and life with the constant companionship of a screen, front-facing cameras and apps that thrive on selfie-culture, and social networks that reduce engagement and affirmation to likes and hearts alone. This book shows how the ground for the current crisis in teen mental health was seeded by a decades-long shift from play-based childhoods to ones defined by over-supervision, structure, and fear: how adults began to overprotect children in the real world while unwittingly offering scant protection in the brutal online world. Haidt delves into the latest psychological and biological research to show the four fundamental ways in which a phone-based childhood disrupts development - sleep deprivation, social deprivation, cognitive fragmentation, and addiction - while offering concrete and scientifically based advice to parents, schools, universities, governments, and to teens themselves. Drawing on ancient wisdom and cutting-edge research, this eye-opening book is a life-raft and a powerful call-to-arms. ©2024 Jonathan Haidt (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Jonathan Haidt (Author), Sean Pratt, TBD (Narrator)

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The Hidden Tools of Comedy: The Serious Business of Being Funny

While other books give you tips on how to “write funny,” this book offers a paradigm shift in understanding the mechanics and art of comedy and the proven, practical tools that help writers translate that understanding into successful, commercial scripts. The Hidden Tools of Comedy unlocks the unique secrets and techniques of writing comedy. Kaplan deconstructs sequences in popular films and TV that work and don’t work and explains what tools were used (or should have been used).

Steve Kaplan (Author), Sean Pratt, Steve Kaplan (Narrator)

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Going on Offense: A Leader’s Playbook for Perpetual Innovation

How do the most innovative and agile companies develop a winning mindset that runs throughout the entire organization? Going on Offense is a powerful resource for anyone looking to transform their organization and their people into a perpetual innovator. Based on a comprehensive seven-year study from Stanford University, Going on Offense provides an insider view into the drivers of success and challenges in 26 organizations—including industry giants like Apple, Tesla, Amazon, Microsoft, and Starbucks—along with actionable advice on replicating their winning approaches. In addition, the book highlights the similarities and differences among their five cultures, which, interestingly, mirror the five icons of industry who are leading or led them: Steve Jobs (Apple), Elon Musk (Tesla), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Satya Nadella (Microsoft), and Howard Schultz (Starbucks). The findings draw on a survey of over six thousand executives, academics, and consumers and interviews with several dozen current and former employees of most of the 26 firms. Explore the challenges of once-innovative tech giants like Facebook and Google and the factors behind their struggles. Delve into the reasons behind an organization's decline through in-depth analysis and real-world examples. Going on Offense analyzes these cases and offers a practical playbook for companies and individuals looking to transform into a winning mindset. Written by world-renowned expert in transformation, bestselling author, and award-winning teacher, scholar, and global advisor, Behnam Tabrizi, Going on Offense is a must-read for any organization looking to stay innovative and competitive in today's rapidly changing market. Armed with this book, a company will be able to go on offense—continually improving its culture, adapting to new environments, and expanding into new territories.

Benham Tabrizi (Author), Sean Pratt (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Hidden History of American Democracy: Rediscovering Humanity's Ancient Way of Living

America's most popular progressive radio host and New York Times bestselling author Thom Hartmann paves the way to saving our democracy. In this powerful, sweeping history and analysis of American democracy, Thom Hartmann shows how democracy is the one form of governance most likely to produce peace and happiness among people. With the violent exception of the Civil War, American democracy resisted the pressure to disintegrate into factionalism for nearly two centuries, and now our very system of democratic elections is at stake. So how do we save our democracy? Hartmann's newest book in the celebrated Hidden History Series offers a clear call to action and a set of solutions with road maps for individuals and communities to follow to create a safer, more just society and a more equitable and prosperous economy.

Thom Hartmann (Author), Sean Pratt (Narrator)

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The Con Queen of Hollywood: The Hunt for an Evil Genius

“This book is as engrossing as anything by Agatha Christie, as unsettling as a novel by Stephen King, and reported with a vigorous empathy that leaves Truman Capote in the dust. Scott Johnson’s courage, his relentless quest for the truth behind a set of brilliantly obscured cruelties, and his examination of the very fabric of psychopathy ultimately lead him to question how the appalling lies spat out by the Con Queen relate to the daily untruths required of us all. His narrative is further deepened by breathtakingly honest reportage about himself and his family, which led him to this radical investigation of a deformed mind. I cannot remember the last time I read anything with such breathless fascination.”—Andrew Solomon The spellbinding tale of an epic international manhunt for a psychopathic con artist who exploited the dreams of creators to steal dozens of identities and millions of dollars. Blending years of deep reporting with distinctive, powerful prose, Scott C. Johnson’s unique true crime narrative recounts the tale of the brilliantly cunning imposter who carved a path of financial and emotional destruction across the world. Gifted with a diabolical flair for impersonation, manipulation, and deception, the Con Queen used their skill with accents and deft psychological insight to sweep through the entertainment industry. Johnson traces the origins of this mastermind and follows the years-long investigation of a singularly determined private detective who helped deliver them to the FBI. Described by one victim as a “crazy, evil genius,” the Con Queen enacted one of the most elaborate scams ever to hit Hollywood—the perfect criminal, committing the perfect crime for our time. But for what purpose? And with what motive? Johnson’s unparalleled access to sources—including exclusive interviews with victims and never-before-heard recordings of the Con Queen—brought global attention to the scam, spurred law enforcement to act, and led Johnson himself to venture in search of the Con Queen. Journeying from Los Angeles to the United Kingdom to Jakarta, Johnson eventually came face-to-face with one of the most disturbing criminal minds in recent history, only to realize what chasing the Con Queen revealed about himself and his own troubled family history.

Scott C. Johnson (Author), Sean Pratt (Narrator)

Audiobook

Collaborative Intelligence: The New Way to Bring Out the Genius, Fun, and Productivity in Any Team

Create better connected teams and hold more productive meetings In Collaborative Intelligence: Design Better Collaboration, Improve Team Productivity, and Build a Culture of Connection, the workplace collaboration experts at MURAL offer a holistic and comprehensive system for fixing today’s broken teamwork culture. This book introduces the emerging practice of collaboration design, a cutting-edge approach to crafting collaborative experiences with a high degree of intentionality so that they deliver extraordinary, repeatable outcomes. With a strong focus on activities and rituals that can be used by leaders and team members right now, the authors show businesses how they can innovate faster than ever. Readers will learn the skills they need to enable better collaboration, whether their teams are hybrid, remote, in-person, synchronous, or asynchronous. Based on decades of research, experience, and observations from working with thousands of teams globally in all kinds of collaboration spaces, this highly visual book provides the instruction you need to fix teamwork, transform your organization, and re-imagine what’s possible at work. You’ll also find: How to build playbooks of collaboration methods How to create an inclusive, equitable, and collaborative environment that invites participation and unlocks the genius of your teams How to access unprecedented insights into how collaboration happens in your organization Strategies for leading collaboration change at the organization level A can’t-miss guide for knowledge-work professionals, Collaborative Intelligence provides the direction you’ve been looking for to help teams innovate together.

Jim Kalbach, Mariano Battan (Author), Sean Pratt (Narrator)

Audiobook

Assemblage: The Art and Science of Brand Transformation

Brands can no longer force-feed us a plethora of products we don’t need. To succeed, brands must transform us and the world we live in. Assemblage guides you through the art and science of creating transformative brands by combining personal, social, and cultural components. Assemblage will show you - Why perception is the truth and how to shape people’s perceptions - Why we relate to antiheroes, villains, and saviors - How brands can reassure consumers about their past, present, and future - How to leverage data and insights to deliver a personalized, human-centric consumer - experience - How brands can make a positive impact on people, society, and the economy Assemblage is supported by in-depth research in consumer psychology, extensive consumer insights, interviews with industry-leading marketers, and case studies of transformative brands, big and small.

Emmanuel Probst (Author), Sean Pratt (Narrator)

Audiobook

Piercing the Veil: Book One of The Veil Saga

They say that legends are born, not made. But for Jeremy Goodson and Masaru Hagen that is far from the truth. Confronted by something that neither of them can explain, two complete strangers from opposite sides of the world embark on an unforgettable journey that will forge them into living legends. It has been almost 4,000 years since magic disappeared from the Earth. Hidden from humanity by the Veil, those who possess magic live in ancient settlements across the globe. Over the centuries, these beings have pierced the Veil, leaving behind glimpses and shadows of the fantastic and arcane. Fueled by distant memories and humanity's desire for wonder, familiar stories of myths and legends have been passed down for thousands of years in nearly every culture and nation. Jeremy Goodson, an average, overweight teacher in New York City finds his entire world turned upside down when a stranger tempts him to leave everything behind and start a journey that will test Jeremy's mysterious gift and bring magic and hope back to humanity. Masaru Hagen, the adopted son of American tech entrepreneurs living in Tokyo, has been guided by an unseen voice all his life. On the eve of his twentieth birthday, the voice leads him across thousands of miles, on a mysterious and perilous mission he alone can undertake. But there are principalities of this world that will do whatever they can to stop Jeremy and Masaru and keep magic out of the hands of humanity forever. One of these men will bring hope to the world; the other will bring death. The world they once knew will be changed forever, not only for themselves, but for everyone on Earth…and maybe not for the best.

Steven A. Guglich (Author), Sean Pratt (Narrator)

Audiobook

Irresistible: The Seven Secrets of the World's Most Enduring, Employee-Focused Organizations

In this leadership book, renowned industry analyst Josh Bersin introduces a new way to think about organizational design, employee engagement, and employee development. Distilled from decades of research and management theory into seven practical yet profound management principles, Bersin outlines how business leaders can create enduring companies that thrive with improved customer satisfaction, employee retention, and business agility. Irresistible businesses grow faster, they’re more profitable, and they innovate and lead their markets. Most importantly, their employees, customers, and stakeholders are drawn to them like magnets. Leaders have an outsized impact on culture, engagement, and productivity. Irresistible helps leaders at all levels understand how to scale a business through a new organization model - the “network of teams.” Bersin's model emphasizes that effective companies operate as networks, not hierarchies. When focused leadership empowers small teams, the result is increased speed, agility, and traction - along with a sense of purpose, mission, and clarity of roles. Leaders of irresistible companies understand that by unleashing the power of the human spirit, their companies can go faster and farther than their competitors by empowering people and creating employee-centric cultures. If you can make your company – large or small -- irresistible, your employees will contribute, innovate, and grow more than you thought possible. Bersin shares eye-opening examples from his consulting work with HR and executive business teams around the world. Each chapter includes tips and discussion questions to bring these organizational behavior lessons to life. Inspiring yet highly pragmatic, this business book is a leader’s

Josh Bersin (Author), Sean Pratt (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Human Side of Innovation: The Power of People in Love with People

PepsiCo's award-winning chief design officer reveals the secret to creating life-changing innovations: putting human needs at the center of any design process. Innovation is an act of love-or at least it should be. Always. It is a gesture of empathy, respect, generosity, of one human being's devotion to another, writes Mauro Porcini at the beginning of this extraordinary book. It is in part a memoir by one of the world's leading designers-the first chief design officer at both 3M and Pepsi. But even more, it is a manifesto for a genuine, authentic, and deeply humanistic approach to design, one that aims to create personal and social value first and financial and economic value afterward. In every industry, new technologies have lowered the barrier to entry like never before. Either you design exceptional products or somebody will beat you to it. Porcini shows, through example after example and story after story, that the key to real, world-changing innovation is to put people first-not only the people we innovate for but also the people who lead the innovation process. Putting people first requires what Porcini calls unicorns: people who are in love with people, who have a genuine fire in them to create meaningful solutions for actual human beings. In this book, he describes them, celebrates them, and details their superpowers so you can find them, hire them, grow them, and retain them. Some are qualities you might expect-the ability to dream combined with the ability to execute. But when was the last time you heard an executive ask prospective hires if they were kind, optimistic, curious, or humble? Porcini uses his journey across startups and multinational corporations, through successes and failures, to create a handbook for modern innovators.

Mauro Porcini (Author), Sean Pratt (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Sean Pratt