Self Biography

On the surface, Ken Baker seemed a model man. He was a nationally ranked hockey goalie; a Hollywood correspondent for People; a guest-lister at celebrity parties; and girls came on to him. Inside, though, he didn't feel like the man he was supposed to be. Although attracted to women, Ken had little sex drive and thus even less of a sex life. To his anguish, he repeatedly found himself unable to perform sexually. And, regardless of strenuous workouts, his body struggled to build muscle, earning him the nickname "Pear" from his macho teammates.

Acclaimed author Lauren Slater ruminates on what it means to be family. Lauren Slater's rocky childhood left her cold to the idea of ever creating a family of her own, but a husband, two dogs, two children, and three houses later, she came around to the challenges, trials, and unexpected rewards of playing house. In these autobiographical pieces, Slater presents snapshots of domestic life, populating them with the gritty details and jarring realities of sharing home, life, and body in the curious institution called "family."

Jim Morris is no stranger to big dreams. Since he was five years old, he passionately yearned to play baseball in the major leagues. However, despite all his hard work and determination, a series of unfortunate events and injuries scuttled his career before he was 25. Doctors told him he would never play again. Then at age 35 - after a string of highly implausible events and at an age when most players are retiring - Morris found himself on the mound as a relief pitcher for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

If David Sedaris, Chelsea Handler, Larry David, and Caitlin Moran had the unlikeliest orgy in history, the resulting love child might one day write a book like this rollicking collection of true tales from Roy Sekoff, the founding editor of The Huffington Post. Whether he's describing a teenage pilgrimage to a Times Square porn superstore, life-changing experiences with high colonics and psychic readings, or that time Chevy Chase grabbed his balls at a funeral, Sekoff is a lively raconteur whose sharp observations wring laughs out of a ludicrous-yet-relatable life.

It was a wrong turn that changed everything. When Luma Mufleh—a Muslim, gay, refugee woman from hyper-conservative Jordan—stumbled upon a pick-up game of soccer in Clarkston, Georgia, something compelled her to join. The players, 11- and 12-year-olds from Liberia, Afghanistan, and Sudan, soon welcomed her as coach of their ragtag but fiercely competitive group. Drawn into their lives, Mufleh learned that few of her players, all local public school students, could read a single word. She asks, “Where was the America that took me in? That protected me? How can I get these kids to that America?”

You cannot undo this, one of the surgeons told me, you have to be sure. I was sure. My choices were frightening, grim, and daunting. I possess the rare breast cancer genetic mutation BRCA2 and I saw it as a death sentence. My choices were drastic, my actions were immediate. Complete hysterectomy followed by prophylactic double mastectomy with 2. I will never be the same. In so many ways. It was, and is, such a journey.

Half a Century Ago offers a vivid recollection of memories about coming of age in the Bronx, New York, in the 1970s. This engaging story is an empowering listen about how family love provided the foundation to overcome the challenges faced by language and cultural barriers, poverty and social inequities while remaining steadfast focused on positive outcomes. Dr. Arias told these stories to her students over the years in the classroom. She now wishes to share those tales to a larger audience of young immigrants who struggle to overcome adversity and hope for a brighter future.

Overcome your past, improve your present, and believe in your future. What if you can overcome painful circumstances? Imagine finding inspiration and hope through difficulties! Spanning three generations, author Susan Nicholson has written an honest account of her life which is both compelling in its authenticity and deeply moving in the sheer amount of challenges she has faced.

R. Gopalakrishnan, the best-selling author of The Case of the Bonsai Manager, explores how concepts turn into ideas, which then become prototypes, models, and products. Defining thought as the ancestor of innovation - as without thought, there could be no innovation - he explores the impending questions such as: What happens next? How can you take on challenges and keep your ideas relevant? The Biography of Innovation is the definitive audiobook on the life cycle of new ideas and transformations.

My descent into more than a dozen years of sex and cocaine addiction, and how a cow in a Vermont pasture pointed me toward recovery and redemption.

Si usted cree en la reencarnación o en vidas pasadas, entonces Emilio Scotto es Marco Polo o Cristóbal Colón o David Livingstone. Porque en la tradición de los grandes exploradores, Emilio Scotto se embarcó en un viaje que nunca se había realizado, solo que en su caso se estableció alrededor de un mundo aparentemente conocido y explorado. Lo que encontró fue todo lo contrario. Su aventura fue tan aterradora y peligrosa como cualquiera realizada por aquellos grandes hombres de leyenda.

Since she was a child, Lisa wanted to help. Whether it was rescuing a blind duck at a park or defending her younger brother against bullying when he experienced severe asthma attacks—Lisa always found herself in the role of a helper during times of crisis. As an adult, a phone call at four o’clock in the morning launched a trifecta of trauma that changed Lisa’s life forever. When her family’s world imploded, Lisa felt as if she had become irrevocably damaged. Instead, she discovered her calling during a sunrise walk along the beach at the height of her son’s illness.

My purpose was handed to me in the shape of an envelope, a simple paper container with a sealable flap that holds a little bit of hope for our everyday heroes. As it turned out, a life of stationery was my destiny, not a stationary life. And it all began on the heels of a broken heart. For the better part of my life, I dreamed of and even prayed for an epic love story, and this is a love story on so many levels. I just never expected it to come at such a great toll. But then again, if you look back through the course of history, the greatest love stories always do.

This story includes the struggles of mental health, grief and loss, dysfunctional relationships, narcissistic parents, sexual assault, substance abuse, postpartum depression, and autoimmune disorders. It may be triggering to some. It shows the obstacles families overcome and is about abandonment. It shows the unconditional love between a mother and daughter. Despite all the hardships we faced, despite all odds against us, together we proved what the true definition of unconditional love is. It wasn't the prettiest, but to us, it was perfectly "imperfect".

In the eyes of the public, Ron Baker had already become an international success, performing over sixty lead roles in operas and Broadway shows around the world. However, on the inside, he felt empty and insecure. Something important was missing from his life. Then, a chance encounter on a bus changed everything. What follows is an epic saga of spiritual empowerment like no other—from the channeled urgings of Archangel Gabriel for Ron to reframe his entire life, to the planet-shifting quests in the Great Pyramid of Egypt and on the mountaintop of Machu Picchu in Peru.

At the 16 week foetal stage, Paul Whymark’s brain development was frozen as a consequence of the drug, Thalidomide. His journey is one of considerable self discovery, but also reveals greater societal insights. “16 Weeks and Everything After...” uncovers the remarkable fact that over the last 50-60 years the establishment has failed to genuinely independently review Thalidomide, and as a consequence, harms on developing life continue to have the potential to occur into the future.

A horrific event at the age of 17 left Rhonda continually searching for something or someone to fill the dark chasm of her heart. Tears seemed to puddle around her wherever she went. However, she learned to carefully hide herself in a masquerade put on for the outside world, allowing her to project that all was well with her soul even as the slow decay continued from within. Those who find themselves pretending will be drawn to the answers her story presents. But it was God who worked to lift the veil from Rhonda’s eyes.

Forty, chronically single, and up an extra 20 pounds, TV news producer Stephanie Krikorian fell victim to the Great Recession, finding herself suddenly unemployed. One unwanted pregnancy away from being a Lifetime Original Movie, Stephanie had to reinvent herself...and fast. So, to keep her head above water, she started ghostwriting self-help and diet books for a variety of well-known experts. However, she didn't just write each book she took on, she lived it - chanting, journaling, reflecting, reframing - whatever it took to get deep into the heart of each project.

When the credits roll and you've left the park, when your Disney day is over, how do you take the magic with you into your everyday work and life? Jody Jean Dreyer worked for the Walt Disney Company for 30 years, and in Beyond the Castle she shares one-of-a-kind stories and insights into what sets the Disney experience apart as well as secrets to help listeners discover their own happily ever afters.

A poetic narrative organized by regret, Another Shot provides an insightful glimpse into the life and mind of regular guy Joe Kita. It's a tumultuous and sometimes uncomfortable journey. But Kita is hilarious, insightful, and - most of all - inspiring enough to make you ponder: Why not give it another shot?