It Calls You Back Audiobook By Luis J. Rodríguez cover art

It Calls You Back

An Odyssey Through Love, Addiction, Revolutions, and Healing

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

It Calls You Back

By: Luis J. Rodríguez
Narrated by: Jacob Vargas
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.87

Buy for $18.87

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

Growing up on the streets of East L.A., Luis Rodriguez narrowly escaped a serious jail term and then struggled to overcome his powerful addiction to heroin and alcohol. Eventually, Rodriguez embarked on a career as a successful journalist and a highly regarded poet. In It Calls You Back, Rodriguez describes with heartbreaking honesty his challenges as a husband and a father and his difficulty leaving his criminal past completely behind. Most disturbing is the terrifying realization that he cannot save his own son from the deadly lure of gang life. Luis's emotional journey offers deep insight into barrio life and the embattled souls of those heroic men and women who risk everything to make it out - and return to help those left behind.

©2011 Luis J. Rodríguez (P)2011 Dreamscape Media Art & Literature Authors Cultural & Regional True Crime Exciting

Critic reviews

"...needle-to-skin candor...courageously forthright...every teen concerned about gangs will learn profound lessons from this frank and demanding memoir." - ( Booklist)
"Rodriguez tells an honest, direct story." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Rodriguez's life story is astonishing... It takes a heart broken open by a lifetime of sorrows to write with this wisdom and compassion. It takes a visionary to use this knowledge in service to those the world despises - troubled youth, the homeless, the incarcerated, the poor, the migrant - to be called back for those you love." (Sandra Cisneros, author of Caramelo and The House on Mango Street)

Featured Article: Audiobooks to Support You in Your Addiction & Recovery Journey


Every person who struggles with addiction has a different story. For some, hearing about addiction might be triggering when in the thick of their own personal battles. But for many, many others, audiobooks about addiction and recovery help them feel less alone and provide a source of inspiration and empowerment. If you’re among those who find listening to stories about addiction and recovery helpful and reassuring, here are some options.

Featured Article Audiobooks to Support You in Your Addiction and Recovery Journey
All stars
Most relevant  
His story telling is top tier. His ability to articulate the trials and tribulations he’s gone through is second to none.

Great book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
After reading always running, I wanted more, getting this book fed my interest into his life and family. Narrating awesome, way better than always running.

Interesting and sad

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This story inspires me to continue the work I do and acknowledge how far I’ve come in this journey to come home. Mr. Rodriguez show us how community is an integral part of recovery, healing and finding ourselves. I enjoyed learning about the historical and political phases that he witnessed as mass incarceration continues to grow. I appreciated the many forms of truth telling about his life. May him and his family be blessed always. I read always running while in juvenile hall in California and it was the first book I had ever read. I felt seen and heard in that story. Thank you for your contribution to making us feel seen and heard.

A story of finding and coming home!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I love this story, his writing his history. This story moved me in a way that I didn't think possible. He tells it in a way that I can relate, even though I was never addicted to drugs or gang related!

Moving.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Harsh and truthful!
Depics how only a few make it out of barrio life.
No matter what state, city or county you stay in.
Barrios are all the same and everyone that's been there can relate to this book.

Luis J Rodriguez depics his up bringing to life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Must read book it’s like a part two to his first book always running and if you grew up in the gang life or we’re ever involved like I was this book is very relatable .

Very good book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.