Daily walks are non-negotiable. At least once a day; usually twice, Ruffy and I get out the door.
Usually, I’m as eager to go as Ruffy. He can’t wait to stretch his legs and smell the wonders of his ground level world. I’m eager to escape into whatever engaging audio book I’ve downloaded to my phone.
In a large part thanks to this chill labradoodle, I have listened to classics and memoirs; history and humor; books that have made me think, giggle, even cry. Without fear of looking silly, I walk down the street sometimes laughing out loud at a funny story or repeating a colorful phrase that I want to retain to share later.
Below is a list of the books, in no particular order, that I’ve listened to over the past year. I was a little surprised as I compiled it, realizing that there is no way I would have found the time to sit down to read these titles. Though the subjects are diverse, the common thread is that these stories are about people, their choices, and consequences. I have gleaned tremendous insights and varied perspectives from the information generously shared by each author.
I recommend all of these books. Each is entertaining, enlightening and well-produced. There have been others that I didn’t finish, mostly due to the audio production or sometimes the narration. Some voices get in the way of content.
Put your shoes on, put in your earphones, get the dog and go. And, if you want to share an opinion about any of these audiobooks, feel free.
Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
Back from the Dead, by Bill Walton
The Red Pony, by John Steinbeck
A Torch Kept Lit, by William F. Buckley
Why Not Me? By Mindy Kaling
The Most Beautiful: My Life with Prince, by Mayte Garcia
The Perfect Horse, the Daring US Mission to Rescue the Priceless Stallions Kidnapped by the Nazis, by Elizabeth Lotts
Thanks for the Money, by Joel McHale
You’ll Grow Out of It, Jessie Klein
Up from Slavery, by Booker T. Washington
The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible Became Possible . . . on Schindler’s List, by Leon Leyson
Awaken the Giant Within, by Tony Robbins
Rod, The Autobiography of Rod Stewart, Rod Stewart
Paid For: My journey through Prostitution, by Rachel Moran
South and West, From a Notebook, by Joan Didion
NPR Laughter Therapy, a Comedy Collection
Grace of Monaco: The True Story, by Jeffery Robinson
The Magnolia Story, by Chip & Joanna Gaines
You Must Remember This, by Robert Wagner
Stubborn Twig: Three Generations in the Life of a Japanese American Family, by Lauren Kessler
My Mother was Nuts, A memoir, by Penny Marshall
All the Things We Never Knew, by Sheila Hamilton
I Loved Her in the Movies, by Robert Wagner
Theft by Finding: Diaries, by David Sedaris
Play On: Now, Then, and Fleetwood Mac: The Autobiography of Mick Fleetwood, by Anthony Bozza and Mick Fleetwood
Unsinkable: A Memoir by Debbie Reynolds
A Girl Named Zippy, by Haven Kimmel
Through My Eyes, by Tim Tebow
Note: Most titles downloaded from he Multnomah County Library (no charge) with a few from Audible.com.