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Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself
Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself | Alan Alda
17 posts | 14 read | 3 to read
On the heels of his acclaimed memoir, Never Have Your Dog Stuffed, beloved actor and bestselling author Alan Alda has written Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself, an insightful and funny look at some of the impossible questions hes asked himself over the years: What do I value? What, exactly, is the good life? (And what does that even mean?) Picking up where his bestselling memoir left offhaving been saved by emergency surgery after nearly dying on a mountaintop in ChileAlda finds himself not only glad to be alive but searching for a way to squeeze the most juice out of his new life. Looking for a sense of meaning that would make this extra time count, he listens in on things hes heard himself saying in private and in public at critical points in his lifefrom the turbulence of the sixties, to his first Broadway show, to the birth of his children, to the ache of September 11, and beyond. Reflecting on the transitions in his life and in all our lives, he notices that doorways are where the truth is told, and wonders if theres one thingart, activism, family, money, famethat could lead to a life of meaning. In a book that is candid, wise, and as questioning as it is incisive, Alda amuses and moves us with his unique and hilarious meditations on questions great and small. Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself is another superb Alan Alda performance, as inspiring and entertaining as the man himself. From the Hardcover edition.
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BMWtheAuthor
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Pickpick

Some useful graduation advice from Alan Alda. For the full review, please visit http://benjamin-m-weilert.com/index.php/2021/06/30/book-things-i-overheard-while...

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Ash.on.the.line
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Been another busy week. I haven‘t read much so I made the time today. In the shade on a hot day reading lovely speeches by Alda. He says many things I agree with in such a poignant meaningful way. I love connecting with a book or author in this way! 😁
Been awhile since I posted, I hope you‘re all doing well! I hope to post more once life chills just a bit! 😅

BarbaraBB Take care and enjoy your reading and view 😍 4y
Bklover Enjoy! 4y
54 likes2 comments
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Tkgbjenn1
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Mehso-so

A collection of speeches he has given and some background behind why he was put into positions to give the speeches. Most have the feel of speeches given by guest speakers at High School and College Graduations. The idealistic, you have the world ahead of you, the future is yours, and here‘s a little inspiration for you going forward type speeches. Not bad I guess but nothing earth shattering. Alan Alda himself makes the Audiobook.

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melwei609
Pickpick

Fun read!

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rabbitprincess
Pickpick

This makes a good road trip audiobook. Alan is the perfect narrator for his own writing. My favourite story was about the trip he took on the Orient Express with his daughter.

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rabbitprincess
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Got up to 9 hours total reading time last night. After finishing the Father Brown collection, I caught up on my Serial Reader reads and listened to some of this audiobook, narrated by Alan Alda.
#CanadaDayReadathon

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JoyBlue
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Day 14: Audiobooks or Book Podcasts—I suppose it may seem odd that I don't listen to book podcasts. I guess I'm just too busy reading! Here's a small portion of the books on CD in my home library. Most often, now, I use Overdrive and Audible. #RiotGrams #AudiobooksOrBookPodcasts #bookdragon #readwithmyears

rabbitprincess The Alan Alda book is next on my audio list! 6y
Cortg I don‘t do podcasts either. There are too many books to listen to! 6y
JoyBlue @rabbitprincess Ooh—let me know how you like it. I haven‘t read it yet. 6y
JoyBlue @Cortg 👍🏼😉 6y
74 likes4 comments
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peacegypsy
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An image from Pinterest that celebrates the famed M*A*S*H* sign. Not entirely book-related, although the number of literary references made in the show is commendable. I‘m glad these reruns are on. And, when I‘m not reading, I plan to make a bright, bright sign like this of my own. Places loved and longed for belong in my backyard! 🌺🕶🎒🦋🦒🌸🥐🍭🍾

LibrarianRyan When ever I see this sign it makes me wonder what Decatur IL was like in the 60s. Not so nice now. But Cornel Blake was a Fighting Illini from Decatur. 7y
Leftcoastzen ❤️❤️ 7y
somebooksaround Hawkeye❤️ 7y
40 likes3 comments
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mom2bugnbee
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Not a great reading month in November due to illness & life craziness. December is already looking better!

Novel:
* Speaking from Among the Bones by Alan Bradley (Flavia DeLuce 5) ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 / ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Audiobooks:
* Heartburn by Nora Ephron, narrated by Meryl Streep ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 / ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
* Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself by Alan Alda, narrated by Alan Alda ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

MinDea Hope you are feeling better and life settles down a little for you! 7y
mom2bugnbee @MinDea Thank you! My family had a rough month (bronchitis, stomach virus, strep) but we're all on the mend. 7y
45 likes2 comments
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mom2bugnbee
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I have adored Alan Alda since I was old enough to watch M*A*S*H. This was amazing. My younger daughter is an actress & there is so much amazing advice in here from him that I'm going to have to buy the print book. But I'm so glad I listened to it, read by him. On to his next book!

I'm stingy with 5⭐ reviews, so this is a big deal. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

CathyJ I didn't know this existed! I loved Mash and adore Alan Alda. I'll have to check this out. 7y
mom2bugnbee @CathyJ There are others! He's written at least three. 7y
CathyJ @mom2bugnbee oh wow good to know! 7y
36 likes3 comments
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mom2bugnbee
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Well, of COURSE it's delightful. It's Alan Alda. #currentread #currentlyreading #audiobook #readingwithmyears

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JTRobertson
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Mehso-so

I listened to this audiobook because I've always really liked Alan Alda. This was his second book, a follow up to his memoir. Going in, I knew it was going to be him rambling about life, etc., and I was totally fine with that. He has the type of voice that can ramble about anything and I'll be entertained.

I didn't expect half the book to be him reading commencement speeches and talks he's given. So this one turned out to be a mixed bag for me.

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oneworldofbooks
Pickpick

Really enjoyed listening to this audiobook! I'm definitely a fan of audiobooks that are read by the author.

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MariaCristina
Pickpick

He meditates on commencement addresses, funeral orations, and invited lectures he's given, weaving stories in and around the original texts. Unsurprisingly, then, it's a bit self-congratulatory. But it's also a fair portrait of a person who keeps fumbling around the big questions of life, occasionally touching something that may be adjacent to an answer.

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MariaCristina
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Appropriate advice for practicing my calligraphy (noooo I'm not fishing for compliments—don't invalidate the quote!).

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MariaCristina
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Alan Alda gives "now" too much credit.

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TheBookDream
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Ozzy approves of my next read! #pugsoflitsy