Essays audiobooks

The 50-Percent Theory of Life

By: Steve Porter

Narrated by: Steve Porter

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Steve Porter uses his experience on the family farm to explain his "50-Percent Theory of Life" 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... 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

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

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 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

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

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

The Power of Presence

By: Debbie Hall

Narrated by: Debbie Hall

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Psychologist Debbie Hall values the simple act of "being there" as a form of connection in "The Power of Presence," 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 that... Read more

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

The Real Consequences of Justice

By: Frederic Reamer

Narrated by: Frederic Reamer

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Frederic Reamer finds his belief in justice tested every time he faces criminals and victims at parole board hearings in "The Real Consequences of Justice," 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

There is More to Life than Life

By: Jamaica Ritcher

Narrated by: Jamaica Ritcher

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

A daughter's question about their dead cat leads Jamaica Ritcher to realize her beliefs, in "There Is More to Life Than My Life," 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... Read more

Tomorrow Will be a Better Day

By: Josh Rittenberg

Narrated by: Josh Rittenberg

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Teenager Josh Rittenberg contemplates the past his ancestors overcome and the future his generation faces in "Tomorrow Will Be a Better Day," 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... 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

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

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

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

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

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

A Journey Toward Acceptance and Love

By: Greg Chapman

Narrated by: Greg Chapman

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Greg Chapman describes the power of crafting his own story as a gay man from a conservative Baptist background in "A Journey Toward Acceptance and Love", 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

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

The Fellowship of the World

By: Niven Busch

Narrated by: Niven Busch

Length: 5 minutes

Abridged: No

In this essay originally aired in the 1950s, novelist and screenwriter Niven Busch discusses faith, prayer, and subway rides in "The Fellowship of the World", 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

How Is It Possible to Believe in God?

By: William F. Buckley, Jr.

Narrated by: William F. Buckley, Jr.

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

Public intellectual, conservative author and political commentator William F. Buckley, Jr., speaks to his belief in divine creation in "How Is It Possible To Believe In God?", 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

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