New Reviews: Personal Growth

Cindy Kay's neighborly performance works well with this kind of self-help audiobook. Fascinating information offered in the language of social science is combined with careful prescriptions on how to adjust our social connections to improve our satisfaction with life. Kay's careful phrasing makes everything clear while her palpable belief in the author's intentions invites... Read More

Lorraine Besser, philosopher and college professor, provides tools that help listeners stop the perpetual pursuit of elusive happiness and focus more on "the interesting" in life. Lauren Ezzo delivers Besser's philosophy in a knowing performance, energizing every nuance, story, and emotional passage in a way that reflects the author herself. Ezzo supplies examples of ways... Read More

The health expert Paul Taylor narrates with relaxed pacing and an alluring British accent that make this audiobook a delight to hear. Combined with his accessible writing and impressive research and recommendations, his relaxed performance creates a wonderful atmosphere for engaging with this kind of guidance. He says that today's modern conveniences, processed foods, and... Read More

Narrator Stewart Crank, with his delightful British accent, brings to life James Parker's collection of odes. The ATLANTIC magazine staff writer begins with a discussion of the origin and history of the poetic ode and then treats listeners to his own odes on a multitude of topics ranging from the pandemic to brain farts. Crank masterfully navigates the full spectrum of tone,... Read More

Author Meik Wiking uses a soothing and peaceful tone to narrate the history and philosophy of the Danish concept of hygge. He comprehensively explains its foundations, focusing on how prioritizing a pleasant atmosphere and immersing oneself in life's simple joys can lead to happiness. Wiking is engaging, enjoyable, and comfortable with his narration as he explains how to... Read More

Hillary L. McBride's audiobook focuses on different ways to connect with one's body. With a gentle, soothing tone and a slow pace, McBride encourages the listener to pay attention to their body in order to establish a healthier connection with their physical self. In particular, she explains how to heal from stress, develop a better body image, and understand the effects that... Read More

Narrator Bill Rassell takes listeners through this detailed exploration of sound and how it can be used to focus on healing and wellness. Key practitioner in sonic therapy Evan Soundwell explores how sounds, such as classical music, can train the brain to heal and fall into more natural rhythms, which can lead to a better life. Rassell's narration helps keep complicated terms... Read More

Life coach Hailey Magee's youthful tone and audible desire to be helpful make it easy for listeners to absorb the guidance offered in this exceptional audiobook. Her appealing confidence invites us to become more curious about ourselves, more open to change. After the likable author opens with her accessible thinking about how people pleasing impacts us, she offers an excellent... Read More

The older half of the tennis-playing Williams duo breaks down her personal growth audiobook into eight principles. They provide a well-organized but approachable path to becoming a better you. While some authors are not adept at narrating their own work, Williams is outstanding. Her diction is perfect, and she obviously knows when to inflect emotion while laying out her... Read More

Rachel Fulginiti narrates with warmth, clear enunciation, and pitch variety. But what makes her performance special is her empathy with the author's altruistic mission and the plight of the intended audience--couples who are wrangling with the fraught business of ending a marriage. Fulginiti's tone is serious, but the optimism in her voice is needed to reach listeners who are... Read More

Narrator Kaleo Griffith delivers an insightful and moving discussion of the transformative power of art, and the beauty born of sorrow. Balancing journalistic flair and storytelling, this audiobook deepens our understanding of the history and experiences that shaped various renowned artists and their work. Highlights include stories about Artemisia Gentileschi's entrepreneurial... Read More