How to Stop Time cover art

How to Stop Time

A Novel

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How to Stop Time

Written by: Matt Haig
Narrated by: Mark Meadows
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About this listen

A novel about love, loss and living in the moment, from the best-selling author of The Humans.

The first rule is that you don’t fall in love. There are other rules too, but that is the main one. No falling in love. No staying in love. No daydreaming of love. Because otherwise, of course, you slowly lose your mind....

Tom Hazard has a dangerous secret. He may look like an ordinary 41-year-old, but he was born in 1581. Owing to a rare condition, he’s been alive for centuries. From Shakespeare’s England to Jazz Age Paris to voyaging the Pacific alongside Captain Cook, Tom has seen a lot, and he now craves an ordinary life.

Always changing his identity to stay alive, Tom now has the perfect cover - working as a history teacher at a London school. Here, he can teach the kids about wars and witch hunts as if he’d never witnessed them first-hand. He can try to tame the past that is quickly catching up with him. The only thing Tom can’t do is fall in love.

How to Stop Time is a wild, bittersweet, time-traveling story about losing and finding yourself, about the certainty of change, about the mistakes humans are doomed to repeat.

And about the lifetimes it can take to learn how to live.

©2018 Matt Haig (P)2018 Canongate Publishers Limited
Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Romance Science Fiction Thriller & Suspense Time Travel England

What the critics say

"Matt Haig’s latest book, How to Stop Time, is marvelous in every sense of the word. Clever, funny, poignant, and written with Haig’s trademark blend of crystalline prose and deft storytelling, this is a book that stirs the heart and mind in equal measure. A hugely enjoyable read." (Deborah Harkness, author of The All Souls Trilogy)

What listeners say about How to Stop Time

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  • Overall
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    3 out of 5 stars

Incredible acting; story dragged

Narrator was fantastic! Did English, aussie, scottish and American accents seamlessly. Story could have been 2-3 hours shorter. Lived for 400 years, managed to meet and get to know EVERY significant historical figure? Shakespeare, Thomas Cooke, etc. Etc. And enough already with the philosophy at the end... live in the moment, don’t fret about the past or future. I was frustrated and bored by the end... yada yada yada, golden rule; love like you will never be hurt, people and relationships is what make us alive....

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Very Enjoyable Story

I saw that someone wrote “comforting” to describe the book and I tend to agree. It’s not a fast paced novel but it moves along in an interesting fashion. I think most people have wondered what it would be like to have more time and this book is a very good exploration of the topic.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Interesting and thought provoking. And comforting

Loved the book. i thought it was a great read as we come through covid

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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I love all things Matt Haig

This book is a wonderful reminder of appreciating the time we have as well investing in the future through empowering our children.

The future is you. <3

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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This narrator is amazing!!

Mark Meadows really brings Matt Haig’s books to life, especially this one. His ability to switch from accent to accent , voice to voice makes you forget it’s only one person speaking.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

I just couldn't finish it

fascinating concept but just not for me. my mind went elsewhere every few minutes while listening.

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Enjoyable.

I'm a sucker for a good immortality story and this one was quite good. The Midnight Library was an absolute masterpiece of insight into the human experience.
This is my second Matt Haig book and I really like his style and voice.

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Matt Haig is a genius!

Amazing book & so well read! I’m going to listen again immediately as I’m going through withdrawal already! Thanks for sharing your stories to make my world brighter!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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I simply love Matt Haig

Matt Haig novels always feel like self help fiction they not only entertain you, but they also make stop and meditate about what you just read. They always feel like soft blanket that comforts you when you need it.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Something creative and different

I enjoyed the narration just as much as the book. I could have listened to the narrator's voice for hours (and did). Creative plot line examining human relationships and what it means to live forever. Would recommend :).

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