New Reviews: Personal Growth

Can we make lifestyle changes that will help our brains live to 100? Golden Voice narrator Robert Petkoff brings tremendous energy to this exploration of how brains age and lose function, and what can be done about it. Dr. Bredesen's research into neurodegeneration and its reversal ranges from the basics of common-sense behavior--get more sleep and eat more vegetables--to... Read More

Amina AlTai teams up with Maria Shriver to deliver a compassionate personal growth audiobook that blends encouragement with practical strategies for self-improvement. Shriver's soothing narration pairs with AlTai's warm guidance as a mindset trainer to create an inviting tone for listeners who are navigating career setbacks. The audiobook highlights how social systems can shape... Read More

Author, narrator, and neuroscientist Joseph Jebelli deftly introduces listeners to a revolutionary discovery--the human brain's default network. With the vocal delivery of a seasoned narrator, the author describes what the default network is, why it's been traditionally excluded from neuroscientific research, and how listeners can activate it. Surprisingly, this network of... Read More

Kristen Price narrates this guide in a tone that conveys genuine empathy for those immersed in the care of a loved one with dementia. With her deeper register and audible desire to help, she is an excellent messenger for this kind of resource. The well-informed authors describe strategies for handling issues that have to be addressed as a loved-one's faculties deteriorate,... Read More

Author Zelana Montminy narrates in a serene and reassuring voice as she coaches listeners on how to enhance focus, handle distractions, and increase clarity in their day-to-day lives. Sounding friendly and understanding, Montminy combines scientific research and easy strategies for overcoming absentmindedness and staying in the present. Breathing techniques, time management,... Read More

An American journalist whose grandparents were Sicilian-born offers a delightful collection of observations and insights about the Italian way of life. Based on her family's traditions and her colorful travels throughout Italy, this audiobook provides a deeply satisfying picture of Italians: their lack of urgency, love of conversation and eating, and habit of living in balance... Read More

Though the author's history of childhood sexual abuse, poverty, a father's betrayal, a crippling motorcycle accident, and a chronic pain condition is daunting to hear, Amberly Lago's resilient approach to these tragedies and beguiling narration make this a joyful audiobook. With her quiet strength and warm voice, she sounds familiar, matter-of-fact, and inviting--like an old... Read More

The author's youthful tone and timbre, as well as her audible devotion to her profession, give added energy to the fresh ideas she offers about aging joyfully. A tireless researcher and teacher, the gerontologist presents the empowering research she's produced that glows with promise. She says a long lifespan and good health mean little if you're miserable and joyless during... Read More

Full of delights and narrated with extraordinary charm, this audiobook invites listeners to take a break from their smartphones and open their senses to the serendipity and randomness of life. The man-about-town British author has been hosting recurring no-phones dinners in London, where guests from all walks of life are encouraged to be present and curious about the... Read More

Jennifer Pastiloff narrates her latest audiobook with relaxed passion that makes all her stories and advice ring with truth. Her vocal style has a musical quality that makes her message fun to hear and uniquely hers. She conducts workshops around the world that are aimed at people who hold themselves back from living because of shame, doubt, low self-esteem, or fear. Sharing... Read More

In this personal growth audiobook, the creative director of character design for Sesame Workshop offers up an intriguing guide to creativity for every part of life. Using his own personal and professional experiences, Louis Henry Mitchell narrates his helpful advice on ingenuity. Sounding empathetic and motivating, his delivery is direct and organized as he advises listeners to... Read More

As author Gretchen Rubin narrates this rich collection of aphorisms, her comfort with the wisdom they embody reflects her successful career writing books about character and personal effectiveness. Rubin has a lovely speaking voice, and you can hear her joy in sharing these pithy statements and the larger truths they illuminate. She collected them from the writings of ancients... Read More

Psychologist Tasha Eurich delivers her expertise on using scientifically supported methods to move through life's challenges when relying on resilience is no longer an option. After undergoing her own life-changing health crisis, Eurich discovered that her habitual methods of coping with stress were no longer effective and led to even more personal struggles. So she created a... Read More

Richard Simon's sturdy speaking voice has wonderful clarity and a masculine pitch range that gives his relaxed performance a solid and respectable sound. His vocal personality makes him sound open and flexible. It's a great vehicle for the smartphone addiction remedies he offers in this fresh-sounding audiobook. Stories of how people wrestled with and benefited from ditching... Read More

Three acclaimed podcasters share a collection of wisdom from their own experiences and those of the 118 mostly female luminaries they interviewed. Their stories all involve adversity: self-doubt, oppression, and the challenges of family, workplace, and personal relationships. Drawn from people in diverse fields, the compact quotations fit nicely into 20 types of life... Read More

With her down-to-earth vocal personality and audible commitment to her teaching, teacher/trainer Karen Salmansohn creates a secure atmosphere for considering the invitations in this compelling audiobook. Her conversational phrasing and reasonably quick pacing engage listeners. Her captivating message is that facing the reality of death can jolt us to live more boldly and to pay... Read More