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Seabiscuit cover art

Seabiscuit

Written by: Laura Hillenbrand
Narrated by: George Newbern
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Publisher's Summary

Number-one New York Times best seller

From the author of the runaway phenomenon Unbroken comes a universal underdog story about the horse who came out of nowhere to become a legend.

Seabiscuit was one of the most electrifying and popular attractions in sports history and the single biggest newsmaker in the world in 1938, receiving more coverage than FDR, Hitler, or Mussolini. But his success was a surprise to the racing establishment, which had written off the crooked-legged racehorse with the sad tail. Three men changed Seabiscuit’s fortunes:

Charles Howard was a onetime bicycle repairman who introduced the automobile to the western United States and became an overnight millionaire. When he needed a trainer for his new racehorses, he hired Tom Smith, a mysterious mustang breaker from the Colorado plains. Smith urged Howard to buy Seabiscuit for a bargain-basement price, then hired as his jockey Red Pollard, a failed boxer who was blind in one eye, half-crippled, and prone to quoting passages from Ralph Waldo Emerson. Over four years, these unlikely partners survived a phenomenal run of bad fortune, conspiracy, and severe injury to transform Seabiscuit from a neurotic, pathologically indolent also-ran into an American sports icon.

“Fascinating.... Vivid.... A first-rate piece of storytelling, leaving us not only with a vivid portrait of a horse but a fascinating slice of American history as well.” (The New York Times)

“Engrossing.... Fast-moving.... More than just a horse’s tale, because the humans who owned, trained, and rode Seabiscuit are equally fascinating.... [Laura Hillenbrand] shows an extraordinary talent for describing a horse race so vividly that the reader feels like the rider.” (Sports Illustrated)

“Remarkable.... Memorable.... Just as compelling today as it was in 1938.” (The Washington Post)

©2010 Laura Hillenbrand (P)2010 Random House Audio

What the critics say

"Fascinating... Vivid... A first-rate piece of storytelling, leaving us not only with a vivid portrait of a horse but a fascinating slice of American history as well.” (The New York Times)

“Engrossing... Fast-moving... More than just a horse’s tale, because the humans who owned, trained, and rode Seabiscuit are equally fascinating.... [Hillenbrand] shows an extraordinary talent for describing a horse race so vividly that the reader feels like the rider.” (Sports Illustrated)

"Remarkable... Memorable... Just as compelling today as it was in 1938.” (The Washington Post)

What listeners say about Seabiscuit

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Thank you Laura Hillenbrand

To anyone who feels they might have missed their chance, anyone whose prospects have been dimmed by circumstance or been told they just don’t have what it takes, read this story, and rise again.

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  • Overall
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Wonderfully engaging!

Well written: full of facts and vivid descriptions
It brought me to tears several times

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Perfection

This was my introduction to audiobooks, and I fear I've already peaked. I couldn't "put it down". Every chapter is fascinating, and the narrator does an incredible job, especially of building the excitement and tension during the races. The writing style is flawless - the author packs a whole narrative into each race and sucks you in completely, so that I wanted to throw my phone across the room when Seabiscuit lost in a photo finish. You needn't have more than a passing interest in horses or racing to be enthralled by this book. I loved every minute.

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loved it!

if you love sports, animals and history, you will love this well told true story!

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One of the best audio books I've heard.

Excellently read and the story has so much depth I couldn't stop listening! I know nothing about racing so I was not sure I would enjoy it but I did. What a horse!

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A great listen!

I love this book! I was a little worried at the beginning because I felt my attention drifting, but then the story picked up. I give this book and narrator 5 stars!

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