New Reviews: Personal Growth

Amy Morin doesn't have the vocal charisma or stylistic tools of a seasoned audiobook narrator, but her reading has a no-frills honesty that holds listeners close as she delivers her exceptional parenting advice. Don't expect perfection, don't take shortcuts to avoid discomfort, don't prevent your child from making mistakes--these are just a few of the common mistakes strong... Read More

A plethora of Japanese philosophy, history, and culture are revealed in this prescription on living life with ikigai--a Japanese concept that encapsulates living life with purpose and pleasure. Narrator Matt Addis conveys a sense of wonder as he reveals examples on how ikigai is deeply immersed in Japanese life. Despite instances when overmodulation distorts some words, Addis's... Read More

While confronting life and love after divorce and the challenges of caring for an elderly parent, journalist John Leland undertook a transformative assignment on aging and living well. Robert Petkoff capably narrates Leland's close examination of six men and women who have lived long enough--each over 85 years--to offer surprising, and often reassuring, insights to those who... Read More

The director of a center that studies toddlers, Dr. Klein has an extraordinary grasp of how they develop and how parents influence that development. However, her narration falls short. She's comfortable at the microphone and easy to understand but speaks in a tone that will sound less than appealing to many, despite her audible devotion to her work and desire to help. Her... Read More

Actress and author Lauren Graham, best known for her work on TV's "Gilmore Girls" and "Parenthood," gives a warm, cheerful performance of her brief audiobook. The work is based on the 2017 commencement address Graham gave at her high school alma mater. In it she reflects on her high school experience as well as other successes and failures, advising graduates to "find joy in... Read More

Don Hagen's narration persuasively conveys the importance of dreams and daydreams in this investigation of the vital relationship between the unconscious and conscious minds. Philosophy, science, and psychology are interwoven into a practical step-by-step program on how to tap into the unconscious and connect to the forces, beliefs, and ideas that shape our personalities.... Read More

Stacey Abrams's engaging narration will stoke listeners' ambitions and teach minority leaders to take a stand and make a difference. Her clear voice holds power as she shares relatable stories of how she's grown as a leader. She details obstacles that minorities face and strategies to overcome them, illustrating examples with personal stories from her life and the lives of... Read More

To help listeners cope with today's fast-paced, noisy world, narrator Joan Halifax's meditative voice takes us by the ear and reorients us toward serenity. In doing so, she references years of interviews with a wide range of people, including medical professionals and parents, among many others. To prove the value of slowing down, she outlines five "edge states" that contribute... Read More

The mature and fluid performance of narrator Joyce Bean is an excellent conduit for the author's personal stories, insights, and gently crafted advice about being a grandparent. The audiobook covers all aspects of a healthy relationship--playing with your grandchildren with more freedom than you had with your own children, moderating your advice-giving and healing breaches with... Read More

Author Mike Lewis provides not so much a manual for radical career change as an array of examples and lessons from those who have made the jump to more fulfilling work. After an introduction by Sheryl Sandberg, known to LEAN IN readers for her move from Google to Facebook, Lewis and the others recount their own stories. This approach does two things: It adds a layer of... Read More