The Eyes and the Impossible Audiobook By Dave Eggers cover art

The Eyes and the Impossible

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
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 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Eyes and the Impossible

By: Dave Eggers
Narrated by: Ethan Hawke
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.50

Buy for $13.50

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

About this listen

From the award-winning author of The Every comes an endearing story of a dog who unwittingly becomes a hero to a park full of animals.

Johannes, a free dog, lives in an urban park by the sea. His job is to be the Eyes—to see everything that happens within the park and report back to the park’s elders, three ancient Bison. His friends—a seagull, a raccoon, a squirrel, and a pelican—work with him as the Assistant Eyes, observing the humans and other animals who share the park and making sure the Equilibrium is in balance.

But changes are afoot. More humans, including Trouble Travelers, arrive in the park. A new building, containing mysterious and hypnotic rectangles, goes up. And then there are the goats—an actual boatload of goats—who appear, along with a shocking revelation that changes Johannes’s view of the world.

A story about friendship, beauty, liberation, and running very, very fast, The Eyes & the Impossible will make listeners of all ages see the world around them in a wholly new way.

©2023 Dave Eggers (P)2023 Listening Library
Animal Fiction Animals Dogs Fiction Growing Up Growing Up & Facts of Life Suspenseful
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

2024, John Newbery Medal: Winner

★ “Utterly delightful…. Eggers touches on deep topics with a light hand, effortlessly building suspense and a wonderful sense of adventure.” —Booklist, starred review

★ “Eggers crafts a marvelous, fully fleshed protagonist in Johannes....whose compassionate narration delivers a rousing tale of community, joyful self-reliance, and the pleasures of running very, very fast.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Johannes is a highly engaging narrator whose exuberance and good nature run like a bright thread through the novel’s pages…. There is a deeper story here, too, about being yourself and finding freedom." —New York Times

What listeners say about The Eyes and the Impossible

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    226
  • 4 Stars
    28
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    230
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    195
  • 4 Stars
    35
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Joy of a Book

This put was a great different type of story through the eyes of animals. It is a wonderful story for all ages to read. I was sad that the story ended.

Waiting on the next book to continue the story.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

On the Best-Ever shortlist!

I can hardly remember an audio book that I loved more than this one! The writing and story are superb, but Ethan Hawke’s narration really hits it out of the park. I wasn’t sure I would enjoy it — I’m normally not a big fan of animal narrators — but I was hooked from the first chapter. This story is witty, insightful, compelling, and laugh-out-loud funny in parts.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great cast of characters

Really enjoyed Ethan Hawke as the narrator! This was a delightful fun read where each animal has something unique and interesting to offer in the telling of this story of exploration and self discovery

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun whimsical story for the whole family.

The narrator Ethan Hawke is fabulous, he brought the story alive. How refreshing to listen to funny, entertaining and wholesome story.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The humor

I loved all of it, especially all of the characters and the story is amazing

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Oh my god this book is amazing READ IT

The amount of details and plot twists are something I’ve never seen before that actually works amazingly smooth and definitely new that really affects the reader/audience, the voice acting is more spectacular than any book I’ve listened to (I’ve listened to many) and I was left speechless by the end of the book. I almost cried when the credits came on because I knew the book was finished, but I never wanted it to end. Oh my god… it’s the best book I’ve ever read/listened to and I HIGHLY recommend!!!! It’s for all ages, though some of the younger audiences might be a bit confused due to the more advanced vocabulary used in this book. Nevertheless, seriously that was the best book I’ve ever read, please make a sequel and get the same voice actor to voice it; !!SLIGHT SPOILERS!!
I just love the beautiful bond that Yohanus and Bertrund share and how it grows larger and more heart warming at the near-the end of the book, especially in the last chapter. (Don’t mind my spelling for both the names, I don’t know the way they’re both spelled 😭)

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An outstanding story built for reading aloud!

The narrator was MOST EXCELLENT, and I am charmed by the story. The only thing that would have been better would be to have Mrs. Klaich, my 4th- and 6th-grade teacher, here to read it aloud after our noon recess, as she did other gems of stories such as A Wrinkle in Time and The Bridge to Terabithia. Like my new favorite coyote--mesmerized with pictures in squares--I am enthralled with these imagined wise animals in the park.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

The narrator did a masterful job!

A perfect example of a beautiful story that will appeal to children but will be enjoyed by adults and reread by adults who read it first as children.
Ethan Hawke makes this audio book into a one person dramatic performance that is Oscar worthy. He is the characters and makes the narrative come alive with genuine emotion and excitement. He made me believe that talking, thinking animals living in community would sound just like that!
Thank you Mr Eggers for this classic and for not writing down to the children.
Congratulations on the Newberry-well deserved!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Narration

Excellent narration for this Newbery winner! Children will fall in love with the characters. It's a story to be shared.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wild and Wonderful.

This was beyond fabulous. Ethan Hawke perfectly embodied the free dog Johannes. I absolutely loved the tale and I am anxious to purchase a copy for a young reader in my life. Dave Eggers' is a genius. "God is the sun, clouds are her messengers and rain is only rain", is a fine philosophy.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!