-
Fort Unicorn and the Duchess of Knothing
- A Mother's Fight to Save Her Daughter
- Narrated by: Andrea Nelson, Kristina Stadler
- Length: 5 hrs and 48 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $13.25
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Publisher's summary
A retired boxer sets out in search of her daughter, Shyloh, an addict living with mental illness on the streets of San Diego. In Fort Unicorn and the Duchess of Knothing, Nelson tries desperately to find—and save—her first-born, delving into the roots of mental illness, addiction, and the meaning of unconditional love.
This memoir is an unflinching witness of what it means to be homeless, mentally ill, and addicted in America—and to love someone who is all of those things. Fort Unicorn is, more than anything else, a vivid and tender portrait of people who are too often invisible to society.
Fort Unicorn and the Duchess of Knothing is Nelson’s first published book. Several years before Shyloh's death, while in jail, sober and medicated, Shyloh asked her mother to help write a book chronicling her struggles and triumphs. Shyloh died before the book could be written, and Andrea felt compelled to tell her daughter’s story for her. The result offers an important perspective on homelessness, mental illness, and addiction. Nelson’s goal is to open eyes and hearts, so the story might inspire conversation and instigate change.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrea Nelson lives and coaches boxing in Madison, Wisconsin. When she’s not in the gym training her boxers, you can find Andrea tending her gardens, chickens, and bees, or running the nearby trails. She shares life with her partner, James.
Related to this topic
-
The Definition of Beautiful
- A Memoir
- By: Charlotte Bellows
- Narrated by: Charlotte Bellows
- Length: 4 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Charlotte Bellows wrote The Definition of Beautiful between the ages of 15 and 17, in the wake of lockdown and in recovery from anorexia. In the tradition of Sylvia Plath in The Bell Jar and Françoise Sagan in Bonjour Tristesse, Bellows writes with deceptively straightforward urgency, pushing through society's constraints on the bodies and minds of girls and women to offer a story both achingly familiar and devastatingly new.
-
-
Just so beautiful
- By Amazon Customer on 09-19-24
-
The Finnish Guide to Happiness
- By: Melanie Dower
- Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
- Length: 2 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If you ask a Finn, they will likely be as baffled as you are. That’s why Melanie Dower, an expat who has been living in Finland for the past decade, has taken up the charge. Her vantage as an outsider entrenched in Finnish culture uniquely positions her to identify the keys to Finnish happiness that elude the rest of the world and that Finns take for granted. From sauna to strong social safety nets, Finnish life is made up of a constellation of habits and structures that leave its residents relaxed, healthy, and fulfilled.
-
-
Insightful!
- By Amazon Customer on 09-18-24
By: Melanie Dower
-
How to Stop People-Pleasing
- By: The Great Courses, Wind Goodfriend
- Narrated by: Wind Goodfriend
- Length: 2 hrs and 40 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We all want to be liked and appreciated by the people around us, but some of us may let this desire dictate our choices and behaviors in a way that can become unhealthy. In How to Stop People-Pleasing, psychology professor Dr. Wind Goodfriend examines what drives many of us to sacrifice our well-being to please others and offers guidance on how you can set healthy boundaries and start prioritizing yourself.
-
-
concise and eye-opening discussion of psychological theory and real world application
- By Justin Abel Nordstrom on 09-20-24
By: The Great Courses, and others
-
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
- A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed
- By: Lori Gottlieb
- Narrated by: Brittany Pressley
- Length: 14 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One day, Lori Gottlieb is a therapist who helps patients in her Los Angeles practice. The next, a crisis causes her world to come crashing down. Enter Wendell, the quirky but seasoned therapist in whose office she suddenly lands. With his balding head, cardigan, and khakis, he seems to have come straight from Therapist Central Casting. Yet he will turn out to be anything but.
-
-
It was like a hallmark movie being waterboarded into my ears for 15 hours
- By Amazon Customer on 10-01-19
By: Lori Gottlieb
-
The Unappreciated Power of Naps
- By: Jade Wu, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jade Wu
- Length: 2 hrs and 35 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Unappreciated Power of Naps, sleep researcher and clinical psychologist Dr. Jade Wu will uncover the truth about napping and its amazing benefits for both mind and body. Across six revealing lectures, you’ll examine what science tells us about the benefits—and, yes, the potential downsides—of napping.
-
-
I got a detailed understanding of nap and how important it is to sleep and health.
- By Hansle on 09-07-24
By: Jade Wu, and others
-
The Obesity Code
- Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss
- By: Dr. Jason Fung
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this highly listenable and provocative book, Dr. Jason Fung sets out an original, robust theory of obesity that provides startling insights into proper nutrition. In addition to his five basic steps - a set of lifelong habits that will improve your health and control your insulin levels - Dr. Fung explains how to use intermittent fasting to break the cycle of insulin resistance and reach a healthy weight - for good.
-
-
There is a PDF, Folks
- By Cynthia on 06-27-17
By: Dr. Jason Fung
-
The Definition of Beautiful
- A Memoir
- By: Charlotte Bellows
- Narrated by: Charlotte Bellows
- Length: 4 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Charlotte Bellows wrote The Definition of Beautiful between the ages of 15 and 17, in the wake of lockdown and in recovery from anorexia. In the tradition of Sylvia Plath in The Bell Jar and Françoise Sagan in Bonjour Tristesse, Bellows writes with deceptively straightforward urgency, pushing through society's constraints on the bodies and minds of girls and women to offer a story both achingly familiar and devastatingly new.
-
-
Just so beautiful
- By Amazon Customer on 09-19-24
-
The Finnish Guide to Happiness
- By: Melanie Dower
- Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
- Length: 2 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If you ask a Finn, they will likely be as baffled as you are. That’s why Melanie Dower, an expat who has been living in Finland for the past decade, has taken up the charge. Her vantage as an outsider entrenched in Finnish culture uniquely positions her to identify the keys to Finnish happiness that elude the rest of the world and that Finns take for granted. From sauna to strong social safety nets, Finnish life is made up of a constellation of habits and structures that leave its residents relaxed, healthy, and fulfilled.
-
-
Insightful!
- By Amazon Customer on 09-18-24
By: Melanie Dower
-
How to Stop People-Pleasing
- By: The Great Courses, Wind Goodfriend
- Narrated by: Wind Goodfriend
- Length: 2 hrs and 40 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We all want to be liked and appreciated by the people around us, but some of us may let this desire dictate our choices and behaviors in a way that can become unhealthy. In How to Stop People-Pleasing, psychology professor Dr. Wind Goodfriend examines what drives many of us to sacrifice our well-being to please others and offers guidance on how you can set healthy boundaries and start prioritizing yourself.
-
-
concise and eye-opening discussion of psychological theory and real world application
- By Justin Abel Nordstrom on 09-20-24
By: The Great Courses, and others
-
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
- A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed
- By: Lori Gottlieb
- Narrated by: Brittany Pressley
- Length: 14 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One day, Lori Gottlieb is a therapist who helps patients in her Los Angeles practice. The next, a crisis causes her world to come crashing down. Enter Wendell, the quirky but seasoned therapist in whose office she suddenly lands. With his balding head, cardigan, and khakis, he seems to have come straight from Therapist Central Casting. Yet he will turn out to be anything but.
-
-
It was like a hallmark movie being waterboarded into my ears for 15 hours
- By Amazon Customer on 10-01-19
By: Lori Gottlieb
-
The Unappreciated Power of Naps
- By: Jade Wu, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jade Wu
- Length: 2 hrs and 35 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Unappreciated Power of Naps, sleep researcher and clinical psychologist Dr. Jade Wu will uncover the truth about napping and its amazing benefits for both mind and body. Across six revealing lectures, you’ll examine what science tells us about the benefits—and, yes, the potential downsides—of napping.
-
-
I got a detailed understanding of nap and how important it is to sleep and health.
- By Hansle on 09-07-24
By: Jade Wu, and others
-
The Obesity Code
- Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss
- By: Dr. Jason Fung
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this highly listenable and provocative book, Dr. Jason Fung sets out an original, robust theory of obesity that provides startling insights into proper nutrition. In addition to his five basic steps - a set of lifelong habits that will improve your health and control your insulin levels - Dr. Fung explains how to use intermittent fasting to break the cycle of insulin resistance and reach a healthy weight - for good.
-
-
There is a PDF, Folks
- By Cynthia on 06-27-17
By: Dr. Jason Fung
-
How to Train Your Mind
- Exploring the Productivity Benefits of Meditation
- By: Chris Bailey
- Narrated by: Chris Bailey
- Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Meditation makes you more productive because it lets you earn back time. For each minute you spend meditating, you'll earn around nine minutes back, as Chris Bailey - author of The Productivity Project and Hyperfocus - will show in this candid and counter-intuitive guide to the productivity benefits of meditation.
-
-
Started Listening By Accident
- By T.D.Willis on 01-17-21
By: Chris Bailey
-
Take Control of Your Life
- How to Silence Fear and Win the Mental Game
- By: Mel Robbins
- Narrated by: Mel Robbins
- Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mel Robbins is back! The international bestselling phenomenon and creator of The Five Second Rule and Kick Ass with Mel Robbins returns to help you tackle the single biggest obstacle you face: fear. This life-changing Audible Original features a powerful mix of one-on-one life-coaching sessions and a personal narrative with vital take-aways that you can start using immediately.
-
-
Stop living in fear
- By Nike7 on 02-08-19
By: Mel Robbins
-
Fitness Confidential
- By: Vinnie Tortorich
- Narrated by: Vinnie Tortorich
- Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
America's Angriest Trainer, Vinnie Tortorich, exposes the nasty underbelly of the fitness industry while getting you into the best shape of your life. For over 20 years, Vinnie has been Hollywood's go-to guy for celebrities and athletes looking to get fit fast. Now, in this hilarious and often R-rated memoir, he holds nothing back. What's the best piece of fitness equipment money can buy? What's the fastest way to lose weight: diet or exercise? Why are health clubs worse than used car lots? In Fitness Confidential, Vinnie tells all.
-
-
Its a good listen despite being totally misleading
- By Scottiiee665 on 11-11-13
By: Vinnie Tortorich
-
Mini Habits for Weight Loss
- Stop Dieting. Form New Habits. Change Your Lifestyle Without Suffering.
- By: Stephen Guise
- Narrated by: Daniel Penz
- Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
You will never diet again. Say goodbye to calorie counting, restrictive food bans, or other forced behaviors. In Mini Habits for Weight Loss, you will learn how to lose weight naturally in the precise way your body and brain are meant to change.
-
-
Skip the first half!
- By Cecil on 06-02-17
By: Stephen Guise
-
How to Release Anxiety
- By: Gabrielle Bernstein
- Narrated by: Gabrielle Bernstein
- Length: 1 hr and 29 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It’s not just you. Stress levels are at an all-time high—so much so that a recently convened panel of medical experts in the US has recommended that all adults under the age of 65 be screened for anxiety. In How to Release Anxiety, Gabby Bernstein offers simple, actionable steps for feeling better, living with more ease, and showing up for those around us. Gabby’s unusual advice: Rather than manage your anxiety, what if you befriended it? Gabby posits that what we befriend, we can ultimately be at ease with. So she invites us to get curious.
-
-
Not my thing, but one good point
- By Scott on 10-22-22
-
The Gift of Fear
- Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence
- By: Gavin de Becker
- Narrated by: Gavin de Becker
- Length: 12 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
These days, no one in America feels immune to violence. But now, in this extraordinary, groundbreaking book, the nation's leading expert on predicting violent behavior unlocks the puzzle of human violence and shows that, like every creature on earth, we have within us the ability to predict the harm others might do us and get out of its way. Contrary to popular myth, human violence almost always has a discernible motive and is preceded by clear warning signs.
-
-
Decent book severely undermined by last chapter.
- By zachary on 11-01-22
By: Gavin de Becker
What listeners say about Fort Unicorn and the Duchess of Knothing
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 07-29-23
Heartbreaking Reminder To Live In The Moment
I briefly knew the author's daughter, and made sure to buy the audiobook to better understand what happened. I have 3 daughters and a son, and this book has made me feel way more aware of the limited access to our children we truly have, as well as the importance of cherishing every moment spent with them. Highly recommended.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tiffany
- 11-07-23
Strength and dignity
As a parent of children with mental illnesses the echos of love and heartbreak are so clear. The strength and dignity that Andrea gives to every part of her life is evident. The desire not to burden others the sense of failure and the heartbreak of self reflection are so evident. Thank you for sharing! Though every individual struggle is different the mother child bond and pin is so clear in your experience.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Katelyn
- 05-23-23
A Beautiful Tragedy
Andrea tells an amazing story of the unconditional love of a mother and daughter relationship. She depicts the beauty and tragedy throughout her story by describing Shyloh’s mental illness, substance use, and homelessness. As someone who works in the field of mental health, I encourage this read to not only professionals but anyone. Fort Unicorn and the Duchess of Knothing gives a face and story to those who are so often judged in a negative light by our society. It also explains the challenges of our systems in providing support. Thank you Andrea for sharing your journey.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Shelby Cole
- 03-10-23
I couldn't stop listening!
The author painted a vivid picture of what it was like to love a family member with mental health struggles and addiction without losing sight of what a truly beautiful human being her daughter was.
The story takes you on a journey from rural Wisconsin to the homeless struggles in San Diego. You find yourself cheering for each of her daughter's victory's and just desperately rooting for her happy ending. Just when you think all is hopeless, you get a breath of air through whimsical poems, blog postings and letters. It's hard to not care about Shyloh.
A lot of well intentioned parents who write books on this subject matter, tend to be rather hard on their children. Some may read some of the actions of the author as enabling but I think she does a beautiful job navigating and explaining her difficult choices. As a parent myself, I could only hope to have as much Grace as her. She showed unconditional love can be possible even when society may deem your child undeserving. She also narrates the book beautifully and it adds an extra level of realness to the sensitive subject matter.
There are so many good subjects touched on in this book about homelessness, societal struggles, the desire to be free of expectations of others. Shyloh's reality and world was different than most but her experience was no less valid and meaningful. Even as an individual with so many struggles, she touched the lives of so many people, myself included. I love you Shyloh and was always rooting for your happy ending.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Dorothy A.
- 04-17-23
Couldn’t stop listening
A beautifully-told heartbreaking story detailing a complex relationship rooted in love and complicated by addiction.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- liza mae jane
- 06-15-24
Sadly, this is real.
The issue of addiction, of the bewildering and confounding impact of substance abuse was almost entirely unintoiched. However, as the author/the mother indicates, this was not going to be part of this recounting. It is totally reasonable to make this decision. I guess that is someone else’s story.
I think, for me, this decision increased my (irrelevant, distant) feelings of hopelessness. The author, and her daughter have been/are moving, gift-giving, and, as I said, very real people.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!