Self-Improvement audiobooks

Jazz is the Sound of God Laughing

By: Colleen Shaddox

Narrated by: Colleen Shaddox

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Colleen Shaddox explains how music unites her family even during difficult times in "Jazz is the Sound of God Laughing", her contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that begins with the series title. The pieces... Read more

The Bright Lights of Freedom

By: Harold Hongju Koh

Narrated by: Harold Hongju Koh

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Harold Hongju Koh describes how the partition of Korea and his role as a human rights official in the State Department shaped his belief in "The Bright Lights of Freedom", for NPR's This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that begins... Read more

Always Go to the Funeral

By: Deirdre Sullivan

Narrated by: Deirdre Sullivan

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Deidre Sullivan describes the lessons she learned from her father's advice to "Always Go To The Funeral" for NPR’s This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that begins with the series title. The pieces that make up the program compel... Read more

There is No Job More Important than Parenting

By: Benjamin Carson

Narrated by: Benjamin Carson

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Former neurosurgeon Ben Carson describes his mother's dedication to his lifelong dream of becoming a doctor in "There Is No Job More Important Than Parenting," his contribution to NPR's This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that... Read more

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

By: Andrew Sullivan

Narrated by: Andrew Sullivan

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Andrew Sullivan reflects on what some of America's most fundamental values mean to him in "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness", his contribution to NPR's This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that begins with the series... Read more

The People Have Spoken

By: Mark Shields

Narrated by: Mark Shields

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Political commentator Mark Shields expresses his faith in politics and admiration for politicians willing to take an unpopular stand, in "The People Have Spoken", his contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that... Read more

When Children Are Wanted

By: Margaret Sanger

Narrated by: Margaret Sanger

Length: 5 minutes

Abridged: No

In this essay originally aired in the 1950s, Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger explains how wanting children before conception can lead to greater good in the world, in "When Children Are Wanted," her contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous... Read more

The Artistry in Hidden Talents

By: Mel Rusnov

Narrated by: Mel Rusnov

Length: 5 minutes

Abridged: No

Mel Rusnov describes the delight of discovering "The Artistry of Hidden Talents", especially music, in people otherwise defined by their careers, for NPR's This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that begins with the series title. The... Read more

A Shared Moment of Trust

By: Warren Christopher

Narrated by: Christopher Warren

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Former Secretary of State Warren Christopher reflects on humanity’s interdependence and reliance on each other, in "A Shared Moment of Trust," her contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that begins with the... Read more

The Hardest Work You Will Ever Do

By: Mary Cook

Narrated by: Mary Cook

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Mary Cook explains how her recovery from grief taught her that grieving is not a battle, but a surrender, in "The Hardest Work You Will Ever Do", her contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that begins with the... Read more

Good Can Be as Communicable as Evil

By: Norman Corwin

Narrated by: Norman Corwin

Length: 5 minutes

Abridged: No

Radio producer and screenwriter Norman Corwin reflects on small but contagious acts of kindness and compassion in "Good Can Be As Communicable As Evil", his contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that begins... Read more

A Daily Walk Just to Listen

By: Susan Cosio

Narrated by: Susan Cosio

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Susan Cosio talks about finding God during "A Daily Walk Just to Listen" to Him in her contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series. This short audio essay is an excerpt from the audiobook edition of NPR's This I Believe anthology.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown,... Read more

My Father's Evening Star

By: William O. Douglas

Narrated by: William O. Douglas

Length: 5 minutes

Abridged: No

In this essay originally aired in the 1950s, Former Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas encourages a return to the faith of his father's generation in "My Father’s Evening Star"*, his contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown,... Read more

An Honest Doubter

By: Elizabeth Deutsch (Earle)

Narrated by: Elizabeth Deutsch (Earle)

Length: 5 minutes

Abridged: No

In this essay originally aired in the 1950s, Elizabeth Deutsch (then 16 years old) became the youngest contributor to the first This I Believe series with "An Honest Doubter", in which she reflects on her active search for a personal philosophy and a personal faith.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from... Read more

Have I Learned Anything Important Since I was Sixteen?

By: Elizabeth Deutsch (Earle)

Narrated by: Elizabeth Deutsch (Earle)

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Elizabeth Deutsch Earle reflects on her original This I Believe Essay, first aired in the 1950s when she was then the youngest contributor to the program, in "Have I Learned Anything Important Since I was Sixteen?"

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought... Read more

A Goal of Service to Humankind

By: Anthony Fauci

Narrated by: Anthony Fauci

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Dr. Anthony Fauci reflects on the meaning of knowledge, excellence, and service in his life in "A Goal of Service to Humankind", his contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that begins with the series title. The... Read more

The Mountain Disappears

By: Leonard Bernstein

Narrated by: Leonard Bernstein

Length: 5 minutes

Abridged: No

In this essay originally aired in the 1950s, composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein expresses his belief in the potential of people to create change, in "The Mountain Disappears," his contribution to NPR's This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing... Read more

Free Minds and Hearts at Work

By: Jackie Robinson

Narrated by: Jackie Robinson

Length: 5 minutes

Abridged: No

In this essay originally aired in the 1950s, baseball legend Jackie Robinson reflects on fighting imperfection to create a better world in "Free Minds and Hearts at Work", his contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the... Read more

The God Who Embraced Me

By: John W. Fountain

Narrated by: John W. Fountain

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

John W. Fountain reflects on the importance of fathers, both biological and divine, in "The God Who Embraced Me", his contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that begins with the series title. The pieces that... Read more

The People Who Love You When No One Else Will

By: Cecile Gilmer

Narrated by: Cecile Gilmer

Length: 3 minutes

Abridged: No

Cecile Gilmer explains how she found a loving family when her biological one failed her in "The People Who Love You When No One Else Will", her contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that begins with the series... Read more

The Connection Between Strangers

By: Miles Goodwin

Narrated by: Miles Goodwin

Length: 3 minutes

Abridged: No

Miles Goodwin describes the profound impact of a small "Connection Between Strangers" for NPR’s This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that begins with the series title. The pieces that make up the program compel listeners to... Read more

Seeing in Beautiful, Precise Pictures

By: Temple Grandin

Narrated by: Temple Grandin

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Animal expert Temple Grandin describes the benefits of the concrete thinking that accompanies her autism, in "Seeing in Beautiful, Precise Pictures," her contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that begins with... Read more

Disrupting My Comfort Zone

By: Brian Grazer

Narrated by: Brian Grazer

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Oscar Award-winning producer Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13) talks about "Disrupting My Comfort Zone" in both his professional and personal life in his contribution to NPR's This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that... Read more

Science Nourishes the Mind and Soul

By: Brian Greene

Narrated by: Brian Greene

Length: 5 minutes

Abridged: No

Physicist Brian Greene describes how an awareness of our small place in the universe can inspire personal strength, in "Science Nourishes the Mind and the Soul," his contribution to NPR's This I Believe series.

This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that... Read more