
Hero's Journey: A Memoir
John Ritter, the Chip Hilton Goshen, Indiana
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
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $19.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Jack Russell
-
By:
-
Jeff Rasley
About this listen
What makes a real hero?
Chip Hilton was an ideal hero for boys growing up in small Midwestern towns in the 1950s and '60s. Chip was the best athlete at his school, an A-student, loving son, and hard worker at the local drug store. He had a gang of loyal friends and was the star player on his high school teams. But Chip was just a fictional character in a series of sports-action books.
John Ritter was a real, live boy who seemed to be as close to Chip Hilton-like perfection as humanly possible. He grew up in Goshen, Indiana, to become a record-breaking All-Star basketball player and captain of Bob Knight's first outstanding Indiana Hoosiers team. After his college heroics, John Ritter's life began to diverge from the expectations of his hometown fans. Real life has turned out much different for John Ritter than his fictional twin.
Jeff Rasley's childhood memories of his storybook and real-life sports heroes are the launchpad for a far-ranging study on how we create, treat, and mistreat our heroes. Hero's Journey taps voices as diverse as Patti Smith, Homer, Shakespeare, the Grateful Dead, and Dennis Rodman in an examination of the cultural shifts in the meaning of hero.
The lustrous triumphs and pitiable travails of mythical heroes, like Achilles and Lancelot, are compared to ethical martyrs, like Gandhi and King, and to more troubling champions like Allen Iverson, Mike Tyson, Caitlyn Jenner, and Donald Trump.
©2016 Jeff Rasley (P)2020 Jeff RasleyListeners also enjoyed...
-
Love, Zac
- Small-Town Football and the Life and Death of an American Boy
- By: Reid Forgrave
- Narrated by: Jason Culp
- Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In December 2015, Zac Easter, a twenty-four-year-old from small-town Iowa, decided to take his own life rather than continue his losing battle against traumatic brain injuries he had sustained as a high school football player and which led him to develop chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). For this deeply reported and powerfully moving true story, award-winning writer Reid Forgrave was given access to Zac’s own diaries and was able to speak with Zac’s family, friends, and coaches.
-
-
sad book that’s good
- By Karl L. Bender on 03-01-25
By: Reid Forgrave
-
It Takes What It Takes
- How to Think Neutrally and Gain Control of Your Life
- By: Trevor Moawad, Russell Wilson - foreword
- Narrated by: Trevor Moawad, Russell Wilson - foreword
- Length: 5 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
He knows how to win. More, he knows the many ways - subtle, brutal, often self-inflicted - we lose. As the most trusted mental coach in the world of sports, Trevor Moawad has worked with many of the most dominant athletes and the savviest coaches. From Nick Saban and Kirby Smart to Russell Wilson, they all look to Moawad for help finding or keeping or regaining their competitive edge. (As do countless business leaders and members of special forces.) Now, at last, Moawad shares his unique philosophy with the general public.
-
-
It doesn’t take the F word
- By Jeff Daniel on 03-10-20
By: Trevor Moawad, and others
-
Michael Jordan
- The Life
- By: Roland Lazenby
- Narrated by: Bob Souer
- Length: 21 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The definitive biography of a legendary athlete. The Shrug. The Shot. The Flu Game. When most people think of him, they think of his beautiful shots with the game on the line, his body totally in sync with the ball - hitting nothing but net. But for all his greatness, this scion of a complex family from North Carolina's Coastal Plain has a darker side: He's a ruthless competitor and a lover of high stakes. There's never been a biography that encompassed the dual nature of his character and looked so deeply at Jordan on and off the court - until now.
-
-
horrible naration
- By Hiro on 03-27-18
By: Roland Lazenby
-
Stay Sane in an Insane World
- How to Control the Controllables and Thrive
- By: Greg Harden
- Narrated by: Greg Harden
- Length: 5 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Champions aren’t born. They’re built. Greg Harden spent over 30 years building them at the University of Michigan, including 400 future professional athletes, 50 NFL first-round draft picks, and 120 Olympians from over 20 countries. He gained national recognition when 60 Minutes Sports profiled him as “Michigan’s Secret Weapon.” Now, in his first book, Greg Harden is reaching out to help anyone who wants to live their best life by offering powerful and practical advice.
-
-
Good book, However, prejudice shows through a bit
- By Don Dotson on 08-22-23
By: Greg Harden
-
I Came as a Shadow
- An Autobiography
- By: John Thompson, Jesse Washington
- Narrated by: Jesse Washington
- Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After three decades at the center of race and sports in America, the first Black head coach to win an NCAA championship makes the private public at last. Chockful of stories and moving beyond mere stats (and what stats! three Final Fours, four times national coach of the year, seven Big East championships, 97 percent graduation rate), Thompson’s book drives us through his childhood under Jim Crow segregation to our current moment of racial reckoning.
-
-
Great story!
- By JB on 12-22-20
By: John Thompson, and others
-
Wolfpack (Young Readers Edition)
- By: Abby Wambach
- Narrated by: Abby Wambach
- Length: 1 hr and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From rising young star to co-captain of the 2015 Women's World Cup Champion team, Abby Wambach's impressive career has shown her what it truly means to be a champion. Whether you're leading from the bench or demanding the ball on the field, real success comes when you harness your inner strength, forge your own path, and band together with your team.
-
-
Powerful and IMPORTANT
- By Katja E. on 12-02-22
By: Abby Wambach
-
Love, Zac
- Small-Town Football and the Life and Death of an American Boy
- By: Reid Forgrave
- Narrated by: Jason Culp
- Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In December 2015, Zac Easter, a twenty-four-year-old from small-town Iowa, decided to take his own life rather than continue his losing battle against traumatic brain injuries he had sustained as a high school football player and which led him to develop chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). For this deeply reported and powerfully moving true story, award-winning writer Reid Forgrave was given access to Zac’s own diaries and was able to speak with Zac’s family, friends, and coaches.
-
-
sad book that’s good
- By Karl L. Bender on 03-01-25
By: Reid Forgrave
-
It Takes What It Takes
- How to Think Neutrally and Gain Control of Your Life
- By: Trevor Moawad, Russell Wilson - foreword
- Narrated by: Trevor Moawad, Russell Wilson - foreword
- Length: 5 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
He knows how to win. More, he knows the many ways - subtle, brutal, often self-inflicted - we lose. As the most trusted mental coach in the world of sports, Trevor Moawad has worked with many of the most dominant athletes and the savviest coaches. From Nick Saban and Kirby Smart to Russell Wilson, they all look to Moawad for help finding or keeping or regaining their competitive edge. (As do countless business leaders and members of special forces.) Now, at last, Moawad shares his unique philosophy with the general public.
-
-
It doesn’t take the F word
- By Jeff Daniel on 03-10-20
By: Trevor Moawad, and others
-
Michael Jordan
- The Life
- By: Roland Lazenby
- Narrated by: Bob Souer
- Length: 21 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The definitive biography of a legendary athlete. The Shrug. The Shot. The Flu Game. When most people think of him, they think of his beautiful shots with the game on the line, his body totally in sync with the ball - hitting nothing but net. But for all his greatness, this scion of a complex family from North Carolina's Coastal Plain has a darker side: He's a ruthless competitor and a lover of high stakes. There's never been a biography that encompassed the dual nature of his character and looked so deeply at Jordan on and off the court - until now.
-
-
horrible naration
- By Hiro on 03-27-18
By: Roland Lazenby
-
Stay Sane in an Insane World
- How to Control the Controllables and Thrive
- By: Greg Harden
- Narrated by: Greg Harden
- Length: 5 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Champions aren’t born. They’re built. Greg Harden spent over 30 years building them at the University of Michigan, including 400 future professional athletes, 50 NFL first-round draft picks, and 120 Olympians from over 20 countries. He gained national recognition when 60 Minutes Sports profiled him as “Michigan’s Secret Weapon.” Now, in his first book, Greg Harden is reaching out to help anyone who wants to live their best life by offering powerful and practical advice.
-
-
Good book, However, prejudice shows through a bit
- By Don Dotson on 08-22-23
By: Greg Harden
-
I Came as a Shadow
- An Autobiography
- By: John Thompson, Jesse Washington
- Narrated by: Jesse Washington
- Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After three decades at the center of race and sports in America, the first Black head coach to win an NCAA championship makes the private public at last. Chockful of stories and moving beyond mere stats (and what stats! three Final Fours, four times national coach of the year, seven Big East championships, 97 percent graduation rate), Thompson’s book drives us through his childhood under Jim Crow segregation to our current moment of racial reckoning.
-
-
Great story!
- By JB on 12-22-20
By: John Thompson, and others
-
Wolfpack (Young Readers Edition)
- By: Abby Wambach
- Narrated by: Abby Wambach
- Length: 1 hr and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From rising young star to co-captain of the 2015 Women's World Cup Champion team, Abby Wambach's impressive career has shown her what it truly means to be a champion. Whether you're leading from the bench or demanding the ball on the field, real success comes when you harness your inner strength, forge your own path, and band together with your team.
-
-
Powerful and IMPORTANT
- By Katja E. on 12-02-22
By: Abby Wambach
-
One Life
- By: Megan Rapinoe, Emma Brockes
- Narrated by: Megan Rapinoe
- Length: 6 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Megan Rapinoe, Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women's World Cup champion, reveals for the first time her life both on and off the field. Guided by her personal journey into social justice, brimming with humor, humanity, and joy, she urges all of us to ask ourselves, What will you do with your one life?
-
-
inspiring autobiography
- By Christine Nunez on 11-18-20
By: Megan Rapinoe, and others
-
Who Says I Can't
- The Astonishing Story of a Fearless Life
- By: Rob Mendez
- Narrated by: Zach Hoffman
- Length: 4 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On paper, Coach Rob Mendez sounds like any other football coach on any other field across America: passionate, authoritative, knowledgeable. But he’s unlike any other coach you know - in fact, he’s probably unlike any other person you know. Born with an extraordinarily rare condition called tetra-Amelia syndrome, Rob has no arms or legs. He moves with the assistance of a custom-made, motorized wheelchair that he operates with his back and shoulders.
-
-
Fantastic!
- By Jennifer on 05-01-23
By: Rob Mendez
-
Showboat
- The Life of Kobe Bryant
- By: Roland Lazenby
- Narrated by: Ron Butler
- Length: 21 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The definitive portrait of Kobe Bryant, from the author of Michael Jordan. Eighteen-time All-Star, scorer of 81 points in a single game, MVP, and one of the best shooting guards in NBA league history: Kobe Bryant is among basketball's absolute greatest players, and his importance to the sport is undeniable. Third on the NBA career scoring list and owner of five championship rings, he is an undisputed all-time great, one deserving of this deep and definitive biography.
-
-
KOBE BEAN BRYANT
- By Allaeldien Abdelrahman on 12-14-18
By: Roland Lazenby
-
The Road to J.O.Y.
- Leading with Faith, Playing with Purpose, Leaving a Legacy
- By: Scott Drew, Don Yaeger
- Narrated by: Tom Parks
- Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Scott Drew, head basketball coach of the NCAA National Championship-winning Baylor Bears, rebuilt a program mired in scandal by instilling a culture of putting Jesus first. The Road to J.O.Y. is packed with leadership and coaching lessons that can equip any leader to make their team a championship team.
-
-
Filled with Joy
- By Tracey C. on 02-13-25
By: Scott Drew, and others
-
Talking to GOATs
- The Moments You Remember and the Stories You Never Heard
- By: Jim Gray
- Narrated by: Tom Brady, Jim Gray, Carol Burnett, and others
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A journalist who many iconic athletes have trusted to tell their stories (of both triumph and disgrace), Jim has had unprecedented access to the people, places, and extraordinary events in the world of sports. Asking tough but fair questions, he has broken numerous stories, and landed squarely in the middle of others, from the Ben Johnson and Barry Bonds steroid scandals, to Michael Jordan’s surprise retirement, to the off-the-court Kobe/Shaq feud which led to their on-the-court break up, to being part of the live broadcast for 22 Super Bowls.
-
-
Writing a book is not easy, Dan.
- By TheDadAbides on 11-17-20
By: Jim Gray
-
A Game Plan For Life: The Power of Mentoring
- By: John Wooden, Don Yeager, John Maxwelll
- Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
- Length: 6 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After eight books, many of them best sellers, A Game Plan for Life is the one closest to John Woodens heart: a moving and inspirational guide to the power of mentorship. The first half focuses on the people who helped foster the values that carried Wooden through an incredibly successful and famously principled career, including his college coach, his wife, Abraham Lincoln, and Mother Teresa.
-
-
Great!
- By David on 04-01-15
By: John Wooden, and others
-
How to Be Like Mike
- Life Lessons about Basketball's Best
- By: Michael Weinreb, Pat Williams
- Narrated by: Bob Dunsworth
- Length: 6 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. But his preeminence is more than just extraordinary athletic ability: The lessons of his life - such as focus, passion, hard work, perseverance, and accountability - have shaped him into one of the most revered celebrities of the 20th century. In this inspiring audiobook Pat Williams, motivational speaker and senior vice president of the NBA's Orlando Magic, reveals Jordan's method for living a life of greatness that we can all incorporate into our lives.
-
-
Great audio book!
- By lourdiny exume on 05-20-23
By: Michael Weinreb, and others
-
Go Up for Glory
- By: Bill Russell, Bill Mcsweeny
- Narrated by: JD Jackson
- Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From NBA legend Bill Russell, Go Up for Glory is a basketball memoir that transcends time. First published in 1965, this narrative traces Russell's childhood in segregated America and details the challenges he faced as a Black man, even when he was a celebrated NBA star. And while some progress has been made, this book serves as an urgent reminder of how far we still have to go in the fight for human rights and equality.
-
-
Timeless lessons
- By seas on 07-18-24
By: Bill Russell, and others
-
Everyone Can Be a Ninja
- Find Your Inner Warrior and Achieve Your Dreams
- By: Akbar Gbajabiamila
- Narrated by: Akbar Gbajabiamila
- Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The beloved host of the NBC hit show American Ninja Warrior draws inspiration from both the fierce competitors on his show and his own unlikely path to success to outline the essential steps to achieving your goals and becoming a modern-day ninja. Akbar Gbajabiamila did not have an easy path to success. One of seven children by Nigerian immigrant parents, he grew up in the Crenshaw district of South Central Los Angeles during the 1980s and ’90s.
-
-
Great story from Akbar
- By Danny on 06-21-19
-
Uncommon
- Finding Your Path to Significance
- By: Tony Dungy, Nathan Whitaker
- Narrated by: Tony Dungy
- Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Super Bowl-winning coach and number-one New York Times best-selling author Tony Dungy has had an unusual opportunity to reflect on what it takes to achieve significance. He is looked to by many as the epitome of the success and significance that is highly valued in our culture. He also works every day with young men who are trying to achieve significance through football and all that goes with a professional athletic career, such as money, power, and celebrity.
-
-
Great Men's Bible study product
- By DG on 12-14-19
By: Tony Dungy, and others
-
Ultimate Success & Leadership Biography Box Set
- 3 Books in 1!: Learn How to Become a Great Through the Lives, Lessons & Ventures of LeBron James, Nelson Mandela, & Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
- By: Influential Individuals
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Howard
- Length: 3 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If you’re looking for a heavy dose of inspiration that will push you to seek out your own success, then this bundle of three books will give you exactly what you need to feel motivated and excited about your potential. This bundle includes the life stories of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Nelson Mandela, and LeBron James - three men who have overcome immense challenges in their life to become among the most successful people to exist.
-
-
Nice Cliff Notes version
- By Michael Banaag on 01-02-21
-
InSideOut Coaching
- How Sports Can Transform Lives
- By: Joe Ehrmann, Gregory Jordan, Paula Ehrmann
- Narrated by: Michael Prichard
- Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Joe Ehrmann's coaching philosophy was described by Jeffrey Marx in the best seller Season of Life, and since the publication of that book, thousands of coaches have looked to Joe for advice about putting his philosophy into practice. InSideOut Coaching provides the critical information and tools they've been waiting for - the information to help coaches everywhere create more meaningful experiences for themselves and to maximize their impact on the lives of the athletes they coach.
-
-
Less Coaching, More Biography
- By Marcus Chacos on 08-22-20
By: Joe Ehrmann, and others
What listeners say about Hero's Journey: A Memoir
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Janalyn
- 01-17-21
A fans memoir
It’s called a memoir and if it is it’s a very unconventional memoir. I think sports fans would really love this story. I myself am not a big sports fan, but wanted to read it because I love Reading autobiographies and this one wasn’t written like a typical autobiography or a memoir but it was interesting and had a great narrator and when it comes to Audiobooks that’s really all you need to make a great one.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!