The Life of Chuck Audiobook By Stephen King cover art

The Life of Chuck

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.

The Life of Chuck

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Danny Burstein
Try for $0.00

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

Buy for $11.24

Buy for $11.24

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

About this listen

Stephen King’s “The Life of Chuck,” is a “phenomenal” (USA TODAY) tale of life and legacy—now a feature film directed by Mike Flanagan and starring Tom Hiddleston, Mark Hamill, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Karen Gillan—available for the first time in a beautiful stand-alone edition with a new introduction by Stephen King and a design surprise.

Originally featured in the acclaimed story collection If It Bleeds, this unforgettable, mind-bending tale unfolds in reverse, taking listeners through the extraordinary life of Charles “Chuck” Krantz.

In a crumbling world plagued by natural disasters, collapsing infrastructure, and mass panic, bizarre billboards and advertisements appear throughout town: “Charles Krantz. Thirty-nine great years. Thanks, Chuck!” Marty Anderson, a schoolteacher, becomes obsessed with these messages as the world, inexplicably linked to Chuck’s life, seems to be approaching its end.

Told in three acts, presented in reverse order, The Life of Chuck explores one man’s past. We see him in middle age on a business trip in Boston as he is seduced by a busker into spinning a gorgeous sidewalk dance. And we see him as a child, in a house haunted by a terrible secret, learning to dance with his grandmother. In this book King reminds us that life’s quotidian pleasures are even more glorious because they are fleeting: the outrageous good fortune of a beautiful blue day after a string of gray ones; the delight of dancing when every move feels perfect; a serendipitous meeting. King’s ability to describe pure joy rivals his ability to terrify us.

Now a major motion picture and winner of the Toronto International Film Festival People’s Choice Award, The Life of Chuck is a glorious story about community and about humanity at its best, a celebration of joy, mystery, existential wonder, and the multitudes contained in all of us.

©2025 Stephen King (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio
Supernatural Suspense Thriller & Suspense
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro805_stickypopup
All stars
Most relevant  
It was too short. Interesting idea. I am looking forward to seeing the movie

Thought Provoking

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

Loved how it reminds us that life is just encapsulated moments, and to cherish every one.

The wonder of it all

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

I felt so good while listening to this! I always love reading a book before watching the movie or TV show. I could feel his joy while dancing - it's a passion of mine that my older bones don't agree with much. I could see the grandparents so clearly, like I was sitting at the table with them. I am looking forward to the movie.

Felt So Good!

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

Didn’t circle back to other characters after the stars went out. Good night Chuck, it’s been nice.

The love between the characters

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

The story was great. I wish it was longer. Makes me wonder why I never thought of it myself but then there is Stephen King with his wonderful brain. I’m especially looking forward to the movie. Tom Hiddleston dancing? What’s better than that?

Typical Stephen King brilliance

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

This is one of those stories that takes up residence in the recesses of your mind, never to be forgotten. In the beginning, I, too, wanted to know who Chuck was. Now, having learned about him and his short life, I'll never forget it.

A bittersweet read.

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

I still don’t get the beginning. Great narration. Nine, ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen

Doesn’t explain

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