Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe Audiobook By Benjamin Alire Saenz cover art

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

By: Benjamin Alire Saenz
Narrated by: Lin-Manuel Miranda
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About this listen

A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship - the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

©2013 Benjamin Alire Saenz (P)2013 Simon & Schuster Audio
Coming of Age Difficult Situations Family Friendship LGBTQ+ LGBTQIA+ Essentials Literature & Fiction Romance Essentials Top 100 Essentials Young Adult Heartfelt Suspenseful

Critic reviews

“Benjamin Alire Saenz is a writer with a sidewinder punch. Spare sentences connect resonant moments, and then he knocks you down with emotional truth. The story of Ari and Dante’s friendship widens and twists like a river, revealing truths about how hard love is, how family supports us, and how painfully deep you have to go to uncover an authentic self." (Judy Blundell, National Book Award-winning author of What I Saw and How I Lied)
"This book took my breath away. What gorgeous writing, and what a story! I loved both these boys. And their parents! Don't we all wish we had parents like theirs? The ending - and the way it unfolded - was so satisfying. I could go on and on...suffice it to say I will be highly recommending it to one and all. I'm sure I'll reread it myself at some point. I hated having it end." (James Howe, author of Addie on the Inside)
"I’m absolutely blown away. This is Saenz's best work by far.... It’s a beautiful story, so beautifully told and so psychologically acute! Both Ari and Dante are simply great characters who will live on in my memory. Everything about the book is absolutely pitch perfect.... It’s already my favorite book of the year!" (Michael Cart, Booklist)

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Editor's Pick: Best of the Decade

Lin-Manuel Miranda. Need I say more?
"Following the lives of two best friends during the 1980s, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets to the Universe is so much more than a coming of age story. While it tackles growing up with harmful ideas about masculinity, sexuality, and identity, it’s also a heartwarming tale of finding your person. Ari and Dante are faced with some of life’s most difficult problems while they’re adjusting to the already confusing landscape of being teenage boys. Theirs is a story about the complexities of love, friendship, and family—in addition to a story about learning to love yourself and grow past the cruelties and injustices that the world sometimes throws your way. And to top it all off, when paired with Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s poetic prose, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s performance makes this one impossible to stop."—Michael C., Audible Editor

What listeners say about Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Highly rated for:

Heartfelt Coming-of-age Story Authentic Character Development Sensitive Lgbtq+ Representation Poetic Emotional Writing
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A brilliant gem in a sea of mediocrity

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It's a heartwarming, heart-wrenching, sweet, sad, laugh-out-loud funny, coming-of-age story so deftly told by Mr. Saenz. A better narrator, Mr. Miranda, could not have been chosen. This book will stay with me for the rest of my life. I will never look at teens the same.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Both the main characters and their parents were special beyond words.

Which scene was your favorite?

The entire book was fabulous, even though I think I went through a box of Kleenex.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I don't have time to listen to any audio book in one sitting. I mostly listened to this one in my car and on my long bike rides, as I do all my audio books. Very satisfactory.

Any additional comments?

I simply cannot recommend this book highly enough. To teens and young adults, to parents, to fans of the mm genre... to just about anyone. Oh how I loved it!

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33 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars

great book but lame ending

The ending felt very forced and really watered down a good message. I don't like the narrative that a person wouldn't risk themselves to save someone else's life unless they were sexually attracted to them. Other than that, it's a great story of friendship and the transition to adulthood we all go through.

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1 person found this helpful

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poignant and poetic and truly authentic

Beautiful and poetic writing combine with important messages of self discovery at a most trying time; adolescence. Benjamin Alire Saenz is a writer who speaks clearly to a broad audience and provides both insight and poetry in one beautiful package. As an artist and teacher, I am inspired to read more of his works. I will most certainly recommend this book to others of various ages.

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a perfect performance for a phenomenal book

Miranda was an excellent choice for this beautiful book. Moving, masterful, and dripping in the beauty of raw humanity. Wonderful.

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beautiful

this book was amazing it covers so many topics that need to be covered. This book was honestly pure beauty.

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Beautifully Written

Lin was the perfect choice for narrator! This book makes my heart all fuzzy! Wonderful!

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Absolutely beautiful

The first person coming of age story with Miranda's voice as narrator is my favorite book this year. I fell in love with Ari and Dante too!

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the best book ever and most adored!!

this book is outstanding also because this book has curse words although i´m 11 this book is a perfect match for me!! just splendid i´d rate this 4 out of 5 stars, still great!! I bet people over the world would come to read this book about a boy that truly finds himself.....

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Ahhhh

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH
I honestly found myself really relating to Ari and his relationship with his parents
I loved how things didn’t move so fast and how we just followed Ari though out it all
Dante is so unashamed about who he is
There are also a lot of amazing quotes in this book
Ari and Dante have absolutely stolen my heart

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A bit predictable but Lin-Manuel is amazing!

Lovely story. I could guess each turn of the page on this book so there was nothing suspenseful about it. But it was fun to listen to because of Lin-Manuel. I would listen to anything he narrated! Overall, good book and glad I listened to it.

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