
Find the Good
Unexpected Life Lessons From a Small-Town Obituary Writer
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $12.89
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Heather Lende
-
By:
-
Heather Lende
About this listen
As she was digging deep into the lives of community members, Heather Lende, the obituary writer for her tiny hometown newspaper in Haines, Alaska, began to notice something. Even the crustiest old Alaskan sourpuss who died in a one-room cabin always had Halloween candy for the neighborhood kids, and the eccentric owner of the seafood store who regularly warned her about government conspiracies knew how to be a true friend - his memorial service was packed.
When Lende started intentionally seeking what was positive and true in people and situations in her own life - whether it was finding common ground with her opponents on the school board or accepting that her unmarried daughter's pregnancy might be a blessing - she felt happier, and life seemed more meaningful, too. Awful events - from a recent school shooting across the country to a fisherman drowning in Haines - are always followed by dozens and dozens of good deeds. When tragedy strikes, we can choose to focus on the first responders rushing toward the scene or the guys grilling hot dogs for hurricane refugees, and, like yawning, caring is contagious. There's so much to gain by taking responsibility for your own happiness and nothing to lose. In stormy times like these, we have to make our own good weather, and Find the Good shows us how.
©2015 Heather Lende (P)2015 HighBridge, a division of Recorded BooksListeners also enjoyed...
-
Of Bears and Ballots
- An Alaskan Adventure in Small-Town Politics
- By: Heather Lende
- Narrated by: Karen White
- Length: 9 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Following the 2016 election, writer Heather Lende was one of thousands of women inspired to take a more active role in politics. Though her entire campaign for assembly member in Haines, Alaska, cost less than $1,000, she won! But tiny, breathtakingly beautiful Haines isn't the sleepy town that it appears to be: from a bitter debate about the expansion of the fishing boat harbor to the matter of how to stop bears from rifling through garbage on Main Street we witness the nitty-gritty of passing legislation and how the polarizing national politics of our era play out in one small town.
-
-
Wrong reader
- By DAVID on 08-30-20
By: Heather Lende
-
Lessons in Chemistry
- A Novel
- By: Bonnie Garmus
- Narrated by: Miranda Raison, Bonnie Garmus, Pandora Sykes
- Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results.
-
-
Making my 3 adult daughters read this
- By Teresa H. on 04-07-22
By: Bonnie Garmus
-
The Importance of Being Earnest (Dramatized)
- By: Oscar Wilde
- Narrated by: James Marsters, Charles Busch, Emily Bergl, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 58 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This final play from the pen of Oscar Wilde is a stylish send-up of Victorian courtship and manners, complete with assumed names, mistaken lovers, and a lost handbag. Jack and Algernon are best friends, both wooing ladies who think their names are Ernest, "that name which inspires absolute confidence". Wilde's effervescent wit, scathing social satire, and high farce make this one of the most cherished plays in the English language.
-
-
Delightfully silly
- By Tad Davis on 09-12-11
By: Oscar Wilde
-
Demon Copperhead
- A Novel
- By: Barbara Kingsolver
- Narrated by: Charlie Thurston
- Length: 21 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses.
-
-
Wow! It’s a Masterpiece
- By Billy on 10-25-22
-
Going Zero
- A Novel
- By: Anthony McCarten
- Narrated by: Marin Ireland
- Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ten Americans have been carefully selected to Beta test a ground-breaking piece of spyware. FUSION can track anyone on earth. But does it work? For one contestant, an unassuming Boston librarian named Kaitlyn Day, the stakes are far higher than money, and her reasons for entering the test more personal than anyone imagines. When the timer hits zero, there will only be one winner…
-
-
Good Summer Quick Read
- By KS.Bainbridge on 05-10-23
By: Anthony McCarten
-
Braving the Wilderness
- The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone
- By: Brené Brown
- Narrated by: Brené Brown
- Length: 4 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"True belonging doesn't require us to change who we are. It requires us to be who we are." Social scientist Brené Brown, PhD, LMSW, has sparked a global conversation about the experiences that bring meaning to our lives - experiences of courage, vulnerability, love, belonging, shame, and empathy. In Braving the Wilderness, Brown redefines what it means to truly belong in an age of increased polarization.
-
-
Actual Step-By-Step To Authenticity!
- By Gillian on 09-14-17
By: Brené Brown
-
Of Bears and Ballots
- An Alaskan Adventure in Small-Town Politics
- By: Heather Lende
- Narrated by: Karen White
- Length: 9 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Following the 2016 election, writer Heather Lende was one of thousands of women inspired to take a more active role in politics. Though her entire campaign for assembly member in Haines, Alaska, cost less than $1,000, she won! But tiny, breathtakingly beautiful Haines isn't the sleepy town that it appears to be: from a bitter debate about the expansion of the fishing boat harbor to the matter of how to stop bears from rifling through garbage on Main Street we witness the nitty-gritty of passing legislation and how the polarizing national politics of our era play out in one small town.
-
-
Wrong reader
- By DAVID on 08-30-20
By: Heather Lende
-
Lessons in Chemistry
- A Novel
- By: Bonnie Garmus
- Narrated by: Miranda Raison, Bonnie Garmus, Pandora Sykes
- Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results.
-
-
Making my 3 adult daughters read this
- By Teresa H. on 04-07-22
By: Bonnie Garmus
-
The Importance of Being Earnest (Dramatized)
- By: Oscar Wilde
- Narrated by: James Marsters, Charles Busch, Emily Bergl, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 58 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This final play from the pen of Oscar Wilde is a stylish send-up of Victorian courtship and manners, complete with assumed names, mistaken lovers, and a lost handbag. Jack and Algernon are best friends, both wooing ladies who think their names are Ernest, "that name which inspires absolute confidence". Wilde's effervescent wit, scathing social satire, and high farce make this one of the most cherished plays in the English language.
-
-
Delightfully silly
- By Tad Davis on 09-12-11
By: Oscar Wilde
-
Demon Copperhead
- A Novel
- By: Barbara Kingsolver
- Narrated by: Charlie Thurston
- Length: 21 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses.
-
-
Wow! It’s a Masterpiece
- By Billy on 10-25-22
-
Going Zero
- A Novel
- By: Anthony McCarten
- Narrated by: Marin Ireland
- Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ten Americans have been carefully selected to Beta test a ground-breaking piece of spyware. FUSION can track anyone on earth. But does it work? For one contestant, an unassuming Boston librarian named Kaitlyn Day, the stakes are far higher than money, and her reasons for entering the test more personal than anyone imagines. When the timer hits zero, there will only be one winner…
-
-
Good Summer Quick Read
- By KS.Bainbridge on 05-10-23
By: Anthony McCarten
-
Braving the Wilderness
- The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone
- By: Brené Brown
- Narrated by: Brené Brown
- Length: 4 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"True belonging doesn't require us to change who we are. It requires us to be who we are." Social scientist Brené Brown, PhD, LMSW, has sparked a global conversation about the experiences that bring meaning to our lives - experiences of courage, vulnerability, love, belonging, shame, and empathy. In Braving the Wilderness, Brown redefines what it means to truly belong in an age of increased polarization.
-
-
Actual Step-By-Step To Authenticity!
- By Gillian on 09-14-17
By: Brené Brown
-
Weyward
- A Novel
- By: Emilia Hart
- Narrated by: Aysha Kala, Helen Keeley, Nell Barlow
- Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart's Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.
-
-
Awful, Problematic Story
- By Anonymous User on 04-23-23
By: Emilia Hart
-
Emotional Agility
- Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life
- By: Susan David
- Narrated by: Susan David
- Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The path to personal and professional fulfillment is rarely straight. Ask anyone who has achieved his or her biggest goals or whose relationships thrive, and you'll hear stories of many unexpected detours along the way. What separates those who master these challenges and those who get derailed? The answer is agility - emotional agility.
-
-
Slow, Simple, and Easy to Comprehend
- By Jules on 04-21-20
By: Susan David
-
The Codebreaker's Secret
- By: Sara Ackerman
- Narrated by: Jennifer Robideau
- Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A brilliant female codebreaker. An “unbreakable” Japanese naval code. A pilot on a top-secret mission that could change the course of WWII. The Codebreaker's Secret is a dazzling story of love and intrigue set during America’s darkest hour.
-
-
false advertising
- By Bird Miller on 09-14-22
By: Sara Ackerman
-
The Little Book of Hygge
- Danish Secrets to Happy Living
- By: Meik Wiking
- Narrated by: Meik Wiking
- Length: 3 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Why are Danes the happiest people in the world? The answer, says Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, is hygge. Loosely translated, hygge - pronounced hoo-ga - is a sense of comfort, togetherness, and well-being. "Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience," Wiking explains. "It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe."
-
-
BUY THE REAL BOOK
- By Desiree on 06-19-17
By: Meik Wiking
-
Gift from the Sea
- 50th Anniversary Edition
- By: Anne Morrow Lindbergh
- Narrated by: Claudette Colbert
- Length: 2 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Over a quarter of a century after its first publication, the great and simple wisdom in this book continues to influence women's lives.
-
-
A Treasure
- By Rebecca on 11-11-12
-
Joyful
- By: Ingrid Fetell Lee
- Narrated by: Ingrid Fetell Lee
- Length: 9 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Joyful, designer Ingrid Fetell Lee explores how the seemingly mundane spaces and objects we interact with every day have surprising and powerful effects on our mood. Drawing on insights from neuroscience and psychology, she explains why one setting makes us feel anxious or competitive while another fosters acceptance and delight—and, most importantly, she reveals how we can harness the power of our surroundings to live fuller, healthier, and truly joyful lives.
-
-
Boring read of an interesting book
- By Angela Sauer on 12-02-19
-
Resilient
- How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness
- By: Rick Hanson, Forrest Hanson
- Narrated by: Rick Hanson
- Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With his trademark blend of neuroscience, mindfulness, and positive psychology, New York Times best-selling author Dr. Rick Hanson shows you how to develop 12 vital inner strengths hardwired into your own nervous system. Then no matter what life throws at you, you’ll be able to feel less stressed, pursue opportunities with confidence, and stay calm and centered in the face of adversity. This practical guide is full of concrete suggestions, experiential practices, personal examples, and insights into the brain.
-
-
This is Rick Hanson's BEST book yet!
- By Lyle Walter on 03-30-18
By: Rick Hanson, and others
-
These Precious Days
- Essays
- By: Ann Patchett
- Narrated by: Ann Patchett
- Length: 11 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
“Any story that starts will also end.” As a writer, Ann Patchett knows what the outcome of her fiction will be. Life, however, often takes turns we do not see coming. Patchett ponders this truth in these wise essays that afford a fresh and intimate look into her mind and heart.
-
-
Heartfelt Essays, Beautifully Performed
- By Brent Holcomb on 11-23-21
By: Ann Patchett
-
Love Does
- Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World
- By: Bob Goff
- Narrated by: Bob Goff
- Length: 5 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Can a simple concept shift your entire world? Bob certainly thinks so. When it comes to loving your neighbors, instead of focusing on having the “right answers” or checking the “right boxes”, what if you decide to simply do love? To shamelessly show love and grace to those around you—what would that look like? Not the kind of love that stops at thoughts and feelings, Bob's love takes action. Bob believes Love Does.
-
-
One of the most amazing books I have ever read!
- By J. Guy Muse on 03-11-14
By: Bob Goff
-
What I Know for Sure
- By: Oprah Winfrey
- Narrated by: Oprah Winfrey
- Length: 3 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After film critic Gene Siskel asked her, "What do you know for sure?" Oprah Winfrey began writing the "What I Know for Sure" column in O, The Oprah Magazine. Saying that the question offered her a way to take "stock of her life", Oprah has penned one column a month over the last 14 years.
-
-
This one takes the cake
- By Destinee on 11-28-14
By: Oprah Winfrey
-
Britt-Marie Was Here
- A Novel
- By: Fredrik Backman
- Narrated by: Joan Walker
- Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Britt-Marie can't stand mess. She eats dinner at precisely the right time and starts her day at six in the morning because only lunatics wake up later than that. And she is not passive-aggressive. Not in the least. It's just that sometimes people interpret her helpful suggestions as criticisms, which is certainly not her intention. But at 63, Britt-Marie has had enough. She finally walks out on her loveless 40-year marriage and finds a job in the only place she can: Borg, a small, derelict town devastated by the financial crisis.
-
-
A Gem
- By Sara on 05-12-16
By: Fredrik Backman
-
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry
- By: Gabrielle Zevin
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The irascible A. J. Fikry, owner of Island Books - the only bookstore on Alice Island - has already lost his wife. Now his most prized possession, a rare book, has been stolen from right under his nose in the most embarrassing of circumstances. The store itself, it seems, will be next to go. One night upon closing, he discovers a toddler in his children’s section with a note from her mother pinned to her Elmo doll: I want Maya to grow up in a place with books and among people who care about such kinds of things. I love her very much, but I can no longer take care of her.
-
-
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry
- By teatime on 05-07-14
By: Gabrielle Zevin
Critic reviews
What listeners say about Find the Good
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Marlie
- 07-03-16
A Must Read!
This book makes you stop and think about life in a way that makes you unafraid of death. I truly loved the fun stories of her grandchildren & children mixed in with the backgrounds of the great people she has met along the way. I am SO happy I listened to this!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Edward Walden
- 10-25-16
A surprisingly good listen.
She had a lot of great insights on life from dealing with death and grieving families. It was a pleasure to listen to .
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Rio Delta Wild
- 07-25-16
Absolutely loved this! Authentic narration.
Bought it at the Daily Deal price! Loved everything about it. Listened twice, and will revisit again. Lots of attitudes from this title will influence my future life. Brings a light touch to potentially-heavy emotional loads. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Heidi Martinez
- 06-29-16
Oh that voice!
The narrators voice was excruciating to listen to! I now know why we need professional narrators.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Diane E.
- 07-09-16
Entertaining Listen
What made the experience of listening to Find the Good the most enjoyable?
I really enjoyed listening to the author's narration. For me, it came straight from her heart!
What did you like best about this story?
The genuineness of the story. It was totally feel good!
Have you listened to any of Heather Lende’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Never have but I will.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
Life Lessons From Beyond The Grave
Any additional comments?
Nope
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
- C. L. McClish
- 12-25-15
This obit writer writes with her heart
Find the Good, written by Heather Lende. This is the only book I finished this year. I didn't want it to end. Lende, who was the narrator, is an excellent storyteller.
Listening to Lende read her book was like sitting in a cafe with my one of my besties just hanging on each word that fell out of her mouth in each chapter. Since she was an obituary writer in a small town she knew almost every one she wrote about. It was riveting and compelling, especially if the obit she wrote was about a friend.
This book, however, wasn't a tearjerker - OK I did tear up once or twice - the book left me feeling positive and optimistic. The book's title was spot on.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
31 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- K. Daulton
- 09-27-16
A Joyful and Touching Experience
Warning: You might not want to listen to this on the way to work due to tears of joy and sorrow that seem to sneak up on you. This book is full of life lessons and words of wisdom. Most surprisingly, I found myself quoting it soon after beginning it. The narration is effortless and feels like sharing a cup of coffee with a friend.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Dmbartoy
- 01-06-17
It is good!
Find The Good is definitely one to listen to again and again! I love it!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jessica Smith
- 06-27-16
Great Narration
Charming book with a great narration. The writer read it herself, she's not a professional reader, but it wouldn't have been as meaningful if another person read such a personal story.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Synesthë
- 07-30-16
Short and Sweet
This is a very cute little book. It's short, sweet, and easy to listen to. Would be a nice Mother's Day gift.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!