Unexpected Lessons from Professor Higgins Audiobook By Patti Smith cover art

Unexpected Lessons from Professor Higgins

 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.

Unexpected Lessons from Professor Higgins

By: Patti Smith
Narrated by: Tara Janae Smith
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.95

Buy for $19.95

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

About this listen

You will laugh and cry when you listen to how Patti Smith lovingly and honestly reveals transformative lessons gleaned from forty-plus years of caring for (and being tutored by) her son, Christopher. His diagnosis as a baby with Down Syndrome at first tilted her world off-axis, only to reveal itself to be the thing that actually set her worldview at the exact right angle.

In an inspirational and heartwarming manner, Patti explains how her life was changed for the better in profound ways.

With her son as her master teacher, Patti learned to see life through his perspective and discover the joy in situations requiring her to dig deeply into her own psyche to identify beliefs needing adjustment. She shares the way she changes with vulnerability and light-heartedness, while giving credit to her clever son who is respectfully referred to as her own Professor Higgins.

This book is not just a book about how to raise a child with Down Syndrome, but an inspiring and humorous reflection of parenting and relationships in general.

Awarded the Olive Woolley Burt Award for Creative Writing in the New Voices category.

©2024 Two Octaves Publishing (P)2025 Two Octaves Publishing People with Disabilities
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro805_stickypopup

What listeners say about Unexpected Lessons from Professor Higgins

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

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

Audible.com reviews

Amazon reviews
Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Ashley Bigbie

The Perfect Book for Mothers' Day!

This audiobook was such a delight to listen to. The narrator is the author's daughter and the sister of 'Professor Higgins', and she did a great job of imbuing emotion into this memoir. I have fallen in love with this family after hearing all of their heart-wrenching and heartwarming stories.

I loved the chapter about Chris taking singing lessons and dancing onstage with Elvis, and the chapter about Chris' love for wrestling! The chapter where he got 'lost' in the store was terrifying and hilarious. thanks to Chris, I too believe in Santa Claus once again.

Patti is such a loving and compassionate mother (and lawyer) who is truly inspiring. I love that she talks about the lessons her son taught her with such raw honesty, thought-provoking insight, and relatable humor.

Any parent will enjoy this audiobook, even if you don't have a person with Down Syndrome in your family. I highly recommend listening to it.

Report this

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!