Saving Sam
The True Story of an American's Disappearance in Syria and His Family's Extraordinary Fight to Bring Him Home
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Narrated by:
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Sam Goodwin
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Aaran Abano
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Barbara Henslee
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Erin DeWard
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Jonathan Todd Ross
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By:
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Sam Goodwin
About this listen
A gripping testament of resilience, family, and faith, this is the incredible and true story of an American traveler who was captured and wrongfully imprisoned in Syria while on a journey to experience every country in the world.
What would you do if your son suddenly disappeared in Syria, and you had no idea what had happened to him? Would you contact the FBI? The State Department? Pray? Would you Google “What to do if your son disappears in Syria”?
When the unthinkable happened, the answer, in the case of Ann Goodwin and her husband Tag, was: all of the above. Their 30-year-old son Sam, who was attempting to become one of the few people in history to travel to every single country on the planet, vanished in a supposed safe-zone run by the Kurds on the Turkish border. At first, they didn’t even realize he had been abducted: maybe the phone reception had gone down, they told themselves, as had happened plenty of times before when Sam was in an off-the-beaten-path place. Just wait, he’ll call back soon.
But Sam never did call back, and over the coming days, the horror of their situation quickly bore down on the Goodwins, a devout Catholic family of seven living a middle-class suburban lifestyle in St. Louis, Missouri. Frustrated and increasingly terrified, the Goodwin’s came to realize that they couldn’t rely on their government to save Sam. They were going to have to do it themselves.
This is the extraordinary story of Sam’s abduction by the Syrian regime, who threatened to hand him over to ISIS for beheading if he did not confess to being a CIA spy. It’s also the story of a Midwestern American family who transformed themselves into their own detective agency, building up a network of journalists, hostage negotiators, Middle East experts, Russian diplomats, Vatican envoys, and shady mercenaries, until eventually—by nothing short of a miracle—they found a secret backdoor into the heart of the Syrian intelligence service itself.
Through multiple first-person narrators, Saving Sam recounts an inspiring and unforgettable saga that includes a travel journey to every country in the world, famous celebrities, heads of state, high-stakes diplomacy and critical life lessons around curiosity, uncertainty, prayer and what it ultimately means to be free. In a genuine, straightforward and sometimes humorous style, Sam draws on his experience as a hostage to demonstrate how we can all turn our own adversities into assets, whether it be in our personal, professional or spiritual lives.
©2024 Sam Goodwin (P)2024 Center StreetListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
"Saving Sam is both a poignant narrative and an important recount of state-sponsored hostage-taking that’s being routinized, globally. Having worked on freeing American-held hostages from a dystopian Syrian regime, Sam Goodwin’s deeply personal ‘road to Damascus’ and eventual freedom is an important, timely and well-told story."—Col Christopher P. Costa, USA, ret., Former Special Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism, National Security Council, White House.
"As one of the few other people who have journeyed to every country in the world, I resonate deeply with Sam's remarkable odyssey chronicled in Saving Sam. This book is a testament to the indomitable will to survive and thrive, offering invaluable lessons that transcend boundaries and reshape our perspectives on life and the world."—Lee Abbamonte, Travel influencer and Youngest American to Visit Every Country
"Saving Sam is one of the most remarkable stories revealing the miraculous potential for love to liberate us from our most isolating and agonizing situations. In reading this moving book, you’ll recognize the same love that connected dots to save Sam from his confinement can also liberate all of us from ours."—John O’Leary, #1 National Bestselling author of On Fire and In Awe
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Story
Many recognize the blockbuster song “Eye of the Storm”, but few know about the arduous journey that took Ryan Stevenson from farm boy to acclaimed singer and songwriter. Here, Stevenson shares about the turmoil of his early life, the grief experienced during his mother’s long battle with cancer, the stress and burnout of his days working as a paramedic, and how an unexpected lightning storm would turn his life around. When the dark clouds roll in, Stevenson listens to that still, small voice - the voice of a trustworthy God who holds on to him even during the fiercest storms.
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a true testimony!
- By Kristi Lyles on 09-04-20
By: Ryan Stevenson
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Sophie
- The Final Verdict
- By: Senan Molony
- Narrated by: Jonathan White
- Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Sophie: The Final Verdict tells a remarkable story that could not until now be revealed. Senan Molony was the first national crime correspondent at the scene. From his growing unease at his helper Ian Bailey's conduct, to the astonishing moment when Bailey was arrested for a murder the suspect himself had been covering, it is an insider's account of those infamous early days of a doomed investigation, and the astonishing years to follow - as Bailey, a violent misogynist and pathological liar, escaped trial in his adopted country despite compelling evidence.
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Great Delivery
- By Marcia on 11-20-24
By: Senan Molony
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Murderabilia
- A History of Crime in 100 Objects
- By: Harold Schechter
- Narrated by: Buck Groat
- Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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The false teeth of a female serial killer from 1908, the cut-and-paste confession of the Black Dahlia killer, the newly cracked cipher of the Zodiac killer, the shotgun used in the Clutter family murders, which were made famous by Truman Capote's true crime classic In Cold Blood—these are more than simple artifacts that once belonged to notorious murderers. They are objects of fascination to the legion of true crime obsessives around the world. Veteran true crime writer Harold Schechter presents 100 murder-related artifacts spanning two centuries, with accompanying stories of various lengths.
By: Harold Schechter
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Here, Where Death Delights
- A Literary Memoir
- By: Mary Jumbelic M.D.
- Narrated by: Mary Jumbelic M.D.
- Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Mary Jumbelic has been obsessed with death since the loss of her father when she was 13. The sudden departure of her dad, the mother left behind, and her position as an only child led her to grow up quickly. Yet the why and how of her father's death plagued her. She chose to view an autopsy at the age of 15 and discovered a science that explained the process. College, medical school and becoming a forensic pathologist wasn't a given. She struggled before ultimately deciding on a career as a medical examiner.
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Unredacted
- Russia, Trump, and the Fight for Democracy
- By: Christopher Steele
- Narrated by: Christopher Steele
- Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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To a unique degree, Christopher Steele has been an eyewitness observer of modern Russian history. He was a British diplomat and intelligence professional in Moscow when the Soviet Union was collapsing. Steele was there when the putsch against Mikhail Gorbachev took place and when Boris Yeltsin took over the newly independent Russia. After Vladimir Putin came to power, Steele rose to become one of British government’s leading Russia experts and played a central role in the investigation into the Kremlin-ordered murder of Alexander Litvinenko.
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the subject matter
- By Virginia Holloway on 11-25-24
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Dark Tide
- Growing Up with Ted Bundy
- By: Edna Cowell Martin, Megan Atkinson
- Narrated by: Morgan Hallett
- Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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For the first time, Edna Cowell Martin—cousin of Ted Bundy—tells her story of growing up with Ted, living in Seattle during his murderous spree, and learning the horrible truth about the man she thought she knew.
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Bundy book more about the author than Bundy. Awful writing. Boring
- By aglaia on 12-17-24
By: Edna Cowell Martin, and others
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Cursed
- By: RAW
- Narrated by: Femi Oke
- Length: 5 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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On a cold December evening in 2016 a terrified young woman turns up at a brothel in Germany with a French passport but doesn’t speak a word of French. The owner is suspicious and alerts the German authorities, igniting a groundbreaking and history-making global investigation where ancient rituals collide with the modern world of crime fighting.
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A must listen
- By Lenandi on 09-20-24
By: RAW
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Talking with Serial Killers: Sleeping with Psychopaths
- By: Christopher Berry-Dee
- Narrated by: Charles Constant
- Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Bestselling true crime writer and criminologist Christopher Berry-Dee turns his attention to a new kind of victim: the wives and partners of serial murderers who remained unaware of exactly who they had fallen for until after their other half's arrest or, in some cases, conviction. When finding out the truth, these innocents have to face the grim reality of betrayal and deceit and often experience guilt for not having recognized the killer in their home.
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438 Days
- An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea
- By: Jonathan Franklin
- Narrated by: George Newbern
- Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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438 Days is the miraculous account of the man who survived alone and adrift at sea longer than anyone in recorded history - as told to journalist Jonathan Franklin in dozens of exclusive interviews.
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Excellent use of my credit!
- By SGL on 12-13-15
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A Quiet Company of Dangerous Men
- The Forgotten British Special Operations Soldiers of World War II
- By: Shannon Monaghan
- Narrated by: George Weightman
- Length: 11 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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The untold story of four special operations officers who fought together behind enemy lines across multiple theaters of World War II, and then continued to serve, officially and unofficially, for decades after in the hottest parts of the Cold War.
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Disappointing
- By thecol on 10-16-24
By: Shannon Monaghan
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Met the End
- Revisiting Dad’s Death, Reclaiming Life. An Investigation of the Past, a Daughter’s Duty to Herself
- By: Holly Brians Ragusa
- Narrated by: Holly Brians Ragusa
- Length: 13 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Met the End, a true-crime survival memoir, explores the life and death of John Powell, first known victim of American serial killer Donald Harvey, through the eyes of Powell’s daughter. Through research, interviews, and introspection, author Holly Brians Ragusa steers into the tragedy of her family’s past, braced for a collision, and finds reclamation.
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Cult Following
- The Extreme Sects That Capture Our Imaginations—and Take Over Our Lives
- By: J. W. Ocker
- Narrated by: Kimberly M. Wetherell
- Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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In Cult Following, Ocker sheds light on the terrifying attraction of cults, demonstrating the elasticity of belief, the desperateness of belonging, and the tragedy of trust.
By: J. W. Ocker
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The Trail
- A Novel
- By: Ethan Gallogly
- Narrated by: Jake Hunsbusher
- Length: 16 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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The Trail is a moving story of how nature helps us find what’s missing in our lives. The tale begins with Gil, who in the wake of his father’s death and recently fired from his job, agrees to accompany his father’s old hiking partner Syd on a month-long trek on the John Muir Trail. There’s just one problem: Gil hates camping and is woefully unprepared for the rigors of the journey. Moreover, he soon learns Syd may not survive the hike.
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Audible version - excellent!
- By JocelynF on 02-24-22
By: Ethan Gallogly
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Into the Abyss
- An Extraordinary True Story
- By: Carol Shaben
- Narrated by: Tiffany Morgan
- Length: 10 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Only four men survived the plane crash. The pilot. A politician. A cop... and the criminal he was shackled to. On an icy night in October 1984, a commuter plane carrying nine passengers crashed in the remote wilderness of northern Alberta. Four survived: the rookie pilot, a prominent politician, a cop, and the criminal he was escorting to face charges. As the men fight through the night to stay alive, the dividing lines of power, wealth, and status are erased, and each man is forced to confront the precious and limited nature of his existence.
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Too long, and it got boring.
- By Simone on 06-30-17
By: Carol Shaben
What listeners say about Saving Sam
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- Rianne Kuhn
- 09-21-24
Unimaginable resilience
Saving Sam is a true story of resilience. Sam faced unimaginable challenges and found himself in an unexpected predicament.
I initially thought the book was entirely in the first person, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the narration transitions through various perspectives of friends and family, all connected in their quest to bring Sam home.
Life revolves around relationships and the people around us who influence who we choose to be…I feel like the bonds Sam formed during his journey are the most rewarding aspects of his adventures.
Despite being familiar with the story of his adventures before listening to the book, I found myself crying multiple times as I learned all the intricate details about his weeks of wrongful imprisonment. Sam is a special person, and I hope you read this book to understand why.
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- Lyndi Gilliam
- 01-04-25
Great feel good story
Enjoyed the suspense of the story and how faith was incorporated. Liked how different voices were used to tell the story.
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- Elvina Wolcott
- 10-11-24
Extraordinary connections work together to result in the first American hostage ever released from Syria.
I too believe God ordained the sequence of events and people who together were able to get Sam’s release. And I loved the fact God was given credit for bringing Sam back to his family.
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- Brenda Garcia
- 09-18-24
A Fantastic Story of Heroism
Such a horrific experience for Sam and his family to endure, but their faith, love, positivity, and perseverance prevailed. Fabulously narrated by Sam, his family, friends, and those who worked tirelessly to get him back home safely. Well done!
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- Laura
- 10-28-24
Excellent read!!
A miraculous true story of love of God and family & the amazing story of a family working to rescue their son!
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- Trisha
- 09-12-24
Riveting and Inspirational
This is amazing that Sam is alive to share this riveting true story. Faith, family and fortitude were the keys to unlocking the mystery of how to get Sam released from his wrongful imprisonment in Syria. You’ll be engaged from start to finish.
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- LP
- 09-18-24
Resilience, Patience, and Hope
Wow - this is an incredible story and I can’t believe it’s true, but it is. This book describes the painstaking process to survive in a Syrian prison while all your loved ones have no idea where you are and can’t use traditional methods to reunite your family. Written from multiple perspectives, you’ll find yourself hanging on every word, hoping for resolution, preferably one where no one is harmed.
I highly recommend this read if you want to learn about one family’s mission to bring their son home despite the odds stacked against them. You’ll learn about the geo-political tensions and stereotypes that should not have yielded happy results, but with resilience, patience, and hope - we might be able to conquer anything life throws at us.
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- Amazon Customer
- 09-20-24
Incredible and moving book
The author(s) do a fantastic job bringing the reality of what occurred to life. Toward the end I was emotional as even though I knew what happened in the end I could find myself rooting for the family. Truly epic story of determination and resolve. Well written and worth anyone's time.
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- Marsha
- 09-13-24
You’ll gasp in horror and cry - a powerful story!
Prepare yourself for a gripping roller coaster of emotions, and I dare you not to gasp in horror with Sam and cry with his family as you delve into this audiobook.
As a seasoned traveler with a profound grasp of world history, Sam offers captivating accounts of his global adventures and vivid descriptions of his interactions with diverse cultures. When you reach the chapter about his capture, you'll feel terror alongside Sam and be equally impressed by his cleverness and fortitude. You will empathize with Tag and Ann as they embark on a desperate quest to find Sam, and you heart will go out to this tight-knit, faith-filled family. You’ll deeply sympathize with his parents as they endure this nightmare. Ultimately, the power of determination, perseverance, faith, and prayer ultimately brought Sam home safely. In moments of extreme difficulty, we all long for the unwavering support of a family like the Goodwins.
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- Brenda Sharman
- 11-13-24
A story of Faith, Hope and Resiliency!
Sam’s story of being wrongfully accused of being a spy in Syria and thrown into prison is one that you will not soon forget! His description of solitary confinement and life in jail is heart, wrenching, and jaw dropping. At the same time, his story illustrates that with faith, prayer, God, a spirit of resiliency and a loving family we can get through most anything! This story makes me extra grateful to be an American!
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