Small Wonder Audiobook By Barbara Kingsolver cover art

Small Wonder

 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.

Small Wonder

By: Barbara Kingsolver
Narrated by: Barbara Kingsolver
Try for $0.00

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

Buy for $22.49

Buy for $22.49

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
In her new essay collection, the beloved author of High Tide in Tucson brings to us from one of history's darker moments an extended love song to the world we still have. From its opening parable gleaned from recent news about a lost child saved in an astonishing way, the book moves on to consider a world of surprising and hopeful prospects, ranging from an inventive conservation scheme in a remote jungle to the backyard flock of chickens tended by the author's small daughter.

These essays are grounded in the author's belief that our largest problems have grown from the earth's remotest corners as well as our own backyards, and that answers may lie in those places, too. In the voice Kingsolver's readers have come to rely on, sometimes grave, occasionally hilarious, and ultimately persuasive, Small Wonder is a hopeful examination of the people we seem to be, and what we might yet make of ourselves.

©2002 Barbara Kingsolver (P)2002 HarperCollins Publishers Essays Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Science United States World Literature Funny Witty

Editorial reviews

Those familiar with Barbara Kingsolver's work are aware of her distinctive literary voice. In the audiobook version of her most recent collection of essays, listeners are also treated to her actual voice, and the result is pleasing. With beautiful language and heartbreaking turns of phrase, Kingsolver reflects on the world community and one's individual role in it. The author's actual voice is as thoughtful and quietly strong as her written voice, lending a certain calm to her thought-provoking commentary. Hearing a brilliant author read her own work is rewarding in this case. No matter what one thinks about Kingsolver's worldviews - she loves her country and sees its flaws as well - this audiobook is timely and interesting.

Critic reviews

"Soulful and soul searching....A passionate invitation to readers to be part of the crowd that cares about the environment, peace, and family....A tantalizing peek into Kingsolver's world." (San Francisco Chronicle Book Review)
"This book of essays by Barbara Kingsolver is like a visit from a cherished old friend." (Publishers Weekly)

Featured Article: 45+ Quotes to Help You Make Peace with—and Take Charge of—Change


Reeling from change? Or ready to make some changes in your life? These wise words from authors just might give you the comfort or boost you need. Their words reflect the nature of change and the swirl of feelings surrounding it—from fear to exhilaration. In this collection, you'll find gentle reminders that change will keep happening and reassurance that you can handle it. When you face it and embrace it, change can enrich your life in unexpected ways.

Featured Article 45+ Quotes to Help You Make Peace with and Take Charge of Change
Captivating Imagery • Thoughtful Essays • Erudite Passionate Narrator • Compelling Storytelling • Poetic Writing
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
I come to this collection for the first time, in early 2017, and find myself grateful for the truths it holds.
I hold these words in my heart, and on a loop in my head as each day seems to bring a new terror in our world. thank you for your grace and compassion

as relevant now as ever

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Thank you for this sharing, it filled me with hope and joy! I recommend this book highly, especially now and truly, every year.

Beautiful, poignant and heartfelt

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I read this book when it was new. This time I listened to it while working in my yard. I have made these same points regarding nature, consumerism, war, etc. to friends and colleagues over the years but I lack the grace and inner beauty of Barbara Kingsolver so I don’t think I changed any minds. As with her other novels, I laughed, cried and finished the book with renewed hope.

Beautifully written

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Another example of why BK is so worth the time.
AMAZING AMAZING
Listen if you can

LISTEN

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
loved it so thought provoking and stimulated my interest in a variety of topics covered

great read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I absolutely adore this thoughtful, compelling collection of essays on topics familiar to Kingsolver fans: the environment, farming, parenting, and being a responsible, thoughtful human being. There is such delight in the way she words things...

Adore.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Barbara Kingsolver is like a favorite teacher: smart, funny, clear, serious in all the right moments, always engaging, passionate, and a GREAT story teller. She makes learning fun and living even funner.

Don't ever stop writing please.

Just Beautiful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
loved animal, vegetable, miracle, but this one was an effort to listen to.

Slow.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Barbara opens her heart and lays it bare. Naysayers can easily take offence, but that is because they either don't want to face up to what is happening to us or don't care. I care, Barbara cares. Wonderful read with lots to think about. Her voice is mesmerizing.

Daring heart

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Very informative about ways to personally make positive changes in our environment and mitigate the damage we are doing to it. I feel the author is a bit self indulgent sometimes. I don't really feel men are to blame for everything, but if they are, women raised them. Maybe THEY should be doing something different.

We can do more!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews