Paul Newman and his friend Stewart Stern, a screenwriter, decided to compile an oral history of the Newman family. The only rule for contributors was complete honesty. They worked on the enormous project from 1986 to 1991. In this extraordinary oral-history-autobiography, Newman’s family, friends, and colleagues provide insightful anecdotes and observations, some narrated by the contributors, others by professional narrators. Best of all, actor Jeff Daniels makes Newman’s first-person remembrances funny, poignant, sexy, and always sincere. Daniels captures the essence of Newman’s self-deprecating honesty as he recounts details of Newman’s privileged yet terribly unhappy childhood; deep love and admiration for his wife, Joanne Woodward; guilt over his son Scott’s suicide; love of high-speed racing, and reflections on his stage and film roles. What better way to experience this exceptional oral history?
Pub Date: 2022
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593627822
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Somewhat Dickensian and somewhat Shakespearean, Anthony Hopkins' memoir is a fascinating, articulate, and deeply moving listen. Actor Kenneth Branagh, Hopkins' close friend, movingly performs the memoir, sounding in timbre, tone, and nuanced pacing very much like the listener might imagine Hopkins to sound today. In this loosely chronological effort, Branagh brings listeners to Hopkins' Welsh birthplace and shares memories of his parents. While huge swaths of his life as a skilled actor may be omitted, candid observations of his own strengths and weaknesses abound. He celebrates his conquering of alcoholism and the success of his marriage to Stella Arroyave. Hopkins himself voices the conclusion and favorite poems, primarily Yeats. This audiobook is a treasure, perhaps a work of art.
Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781668142608
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Roderick Sewell II--Paralympic athlete and Iron Man champion, motivational speaker, and disability advocate--shares his resilience and joy in his impactful memoir. Sewell's performance exudes calm strength as he talks about the myriad challenges he and his mother faced during his childhood in San Diego and Alabama in the 1990s. Their difficulties included struggling to afford the prosthetic legs he needed as a double above-the-knee amputee, as well as experiencing frequent housing insecurity. He also expresses appreciation for the support he received and the empowerment he learned from extended family and sports mentors as he charted his path to adulthood. Sewell shares valuable lessons with listeners, including the importance of getting out of your own way and not allowing others to define your success.
Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 6 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668650080
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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