Audiobooks

[Walilamdzi]

So I tend to come across a lot of audiobooks available on youtube and I thought it would be neat to have a thread, in case people are bored and at a loose end and want something to take their minds off things for a little while. If you know of any good ones, please post.

 

[Redt2go]

thanks for starting this thread :)

 

[EddieAllenPoe]

I was trying to think of some because I love audiobooks. I've listened to a lot of weird stuff though and didn't really want to share any of them. I figured, though, why not?

As a little backstory, when I was about your age I used to have one of the original iPods. I don't even know how I had one because I was dirt poor. Pretty sure I took it out on credit and I had no real way to pay it back. Yay, me. Lenders love trapping college students. Anyways, I had just dropped out of college. I was severely suicidal. I was in and out of psych hospitals dealing with severe depression and suicidal ideation. I still had my iPod though. That was my cherished possession.

Anyways, when I was in college, I had what could only be described as classic bipolar symptoms. My moods would swing up and down all the time. People that I did know only ever saw the "happy" me. I was charming, intelligent, and funny when I was manic. They didn't realize when I was manic I would spend night after night staying up and skipping sleep. I would often be up at 4am absolutely convinced I was figuring out the secrets of the universe. My ex-girlfriend probably saw this and hated me. Anyways, most people definitely didn't see the dark side of me. They didn't see me crashing into crushing depression. Lying crippled on a bed for days with no desire to move or live. I didn't really even know I had bipolar at the time. I just thought I was quirky and I dealt with depression and anxiety on occasion.

The funny thing about that iPod is my music list clearly reflected my bipolar moods. It also clearly reflected my extreme black and white thinking. I can only remember the "dark and depressing" stuff I had on it. Lots of stuff like Eminem, Marilyn Manson, or Nine Inch Nails. There was a time I had to let go of my music because I associated it too much with the pain of dealing with extreme mood swings. Instead, I started turning to more boring and "stable" things like Audiobooks.

Anyways, I had one Audiobook in particular that I felt like saved me from my self. It was "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. It's honestly a little weird and probably will seem a little new agey. But I can remember spending many a day, crashing out on my bed in the dark and dealing with the most horrendous depression. During those really dark times I would turn on my iPod and just listen to "The Power of Now". There was something about his story, his voice, and that little bell ringing that caught my attention and helped me out of the darkness. This man knew what it was like to be severely depressed because he experienced it. He knew how to tip toe out of it.

I remember when I finally got my life back in order, I would shuffle into work trying to practice "being in the now." I don't really practice it now, but I think it's had a good influence on me. I automatically kind of "just breath" when I experience things that would normally be distressing. I'm sure most people at the time thought I was an oddball. They 'd probably laugh if they knew I listened to this stuff. But this book has helped me a lot. The cool part is it's available for free on YouTube. I don't know if it's legal or legit, but it's there.

 

[EddieAllenPoe]

Alright. I'll publish some more weird shit for your consideration. This one is honestly pure gold. I can almost guarantee it will take ten years before you even begin to remotely understand it. It helps to hear other people trying to explain it first. I'd be lying though if I said this wasn't a huge influence in my life. So what is this? You see... back in 1972, this psychologist named Helen Schucman said she started hearing voices. She said the voice she heard said it was Jesus. So she started to write down what she heard. She didn't broadcast this to many people at the time and it took years before she agreed to anonymously publish her work. I bet you're thinking up to this point... YEAH. Sounds awesome... WTF. What is this shit? Some kind of mormon bullshit? I promise this is pure gold though. I first ran into the book at a bookstore almost 20 years ago. I used to be a hardcore atheist. Just hearing the word "Jesus" turned me off. I'm not even saying I actually believe she channelled Jesus. Believing that comes second to the actual content. Somehow, I literally could not get away from this book. I threw it away once and literally saw it on a bookshelf in another town. I just couldn't resist it... I studied Psychology in college and something about this book just kept sucking me in. When I think about it years later... All I can say is it's mind-blowing. It's like... holy fuck. How did she write this? When I finally caved into studying it, I would often listen to the audiobook version. I've never shared this with anyone before. I recommend it though.