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THE UP SIDE OF DOWN

WHY FAILING WELL IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS

Mia Barron’s tone, enunciation, and phrasing are a good fit for the assertive writing that makes this book so interesting. McArdle says that failures can open doors to creative breakthroughs as long as those who fail have the opportunity to reflect on what they’ve learned and continue to move forward with their ideas. “We should stop spending so much energy trying to avoid failure or engineering it away,” she says. The sardonic edge to some of Barron’s performance mostly serves to forward these arguments but periodically makes the author’s message sound confrontational. With enlightening insights about the way we accept or punish failure and engaging human stories, this is a fast moving must-hear audio for anyone interested in the psychology of risk-taking.

Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2014

Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins

DD ISBN: 9781490603148

Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.

Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026

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    ALL MY DEAD CATS AND OTHER LOSSES

    PRACTICING GOOD GRIEF IN A CULTURE THAT FEARS MOURNING

    Listeners are in good hands with Grosland’s expert performance.

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    Em Grosland performs this in-depth look at the multifaceted nature of grief. Author smith has loved many cats in their life, and after each loss, they have had to grapple with grief in different ways. Each chapter uses the story of a different cat as a springboard into a discussion of the complexities of grief and the many ways it shows up in our lives. Grosland narrates with a clear, direct tone, understanding when to be more expressive and when to let the text speak for itself. This strategy allows them to highlight moments of emotional weight without overwhelming the listener with the subject matter.

    Listeners are in good hands with Grosland’s expert performance.

    Pub Date: July 28, 2026

    Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins

    DD ISBN: 9780063446038

    Publisher: Harper Audio

    Review Posted Online: July 28, 2026

    Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2026

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      A TIME TO GATHER

      HOW RITUAL CREATED THE WORLD—AND HOW IT CAN SAVE US

      Feiler’s heartfelt performance emphasizes his message that rituals are key to forging community.

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      Feiler is interested in how we use rituals to connect with others in an age in which fewer people than ever are baptized, get married, or are eventually buried. He casts a wide net: filing down teeth for coming-of-age ceremonies, divorce parties, placenta burials, gender reveals, and more. Feiler isn’t a professional narrator, but his authenticity and gentle humor are clearly apparent in his voice, which lends the whole endeavor the feeling of a memoir. That seems appropriate, given that Feiler travels the world participating in Vegas weddings and Nordic cold plunges and develops his own new rituals with his family to celebrate beating cancer.

      Feiler’s heartfelt performance emphasizes his message that rituals are key to forging community.

      Pub Date: May 19, 2026

      Duration: 11 hrs, 27 mins

      DD ISBN: 9798217336692

      Publisher: Penguin Audio

      Review Posted Online: June 30, 2026

      Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026

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