• Never Broken

  • Songs Are Only Half the Story
  • By: Jewel
  • Narrated by: Jewel
  • Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (4,987 ratings)

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Never Broken  By  cover art

Never Broken

By: Jewel
Narrated by: Jewel
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Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling poet and multiplatinum singer-songwriter Jewel explores her unconventional upbringing and extraordinary life in an inspirational memoir that covers her childhood, rise to fame, marriage, and motherhood.

When Jewel's first album, Pieces of You, topped the charts in 1995, her emotional voice and vulnerable performance were groundbreaking. In the tradition of Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell (she has been compared to both), a singer-songwriter of her kind had not emerged in decades. Now, with over 30 million albums sold worldwide, Jewel tells the story of her life and the lessons learned from her experience and her music.

Living on a homestead in Alaska, Jewel learned to yodel at age three and joined her parents' act, working in hotels, honky-tonks, and biker bars. Behind a strong-willed and independent family life, with an emphasis on music and artistic talent, was also instability, abuse, and trauma.

At age 15 Jewel was accepted into the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, where she began writing her own songs as a means of expression. She was 18, homeless, and living out of her car in San Diego when a radio DJ aired a bootleg version of one of her songs. It was requested in the top-10 countdown, something unheard of for an unsigned artist. By age 21, her debut album went multiplatinum.

There is so much more to Jewel's story, one complicated by family and financial woes, by crippling fear and insecurity, by parents who forced a child to grow up far too quickly, and by the extraordinary circumstances in which she became a world-famous singer and songwriter. Here Jewel reflects on how she survived and how writing songs, poetry, and prose have saved her life many times over. She writes beautifully about the natural wonders of Alaska, about pain and childhood trauma, and about discovering her own identity years after the entire world had discovered the beauty of her songs.

©2015 Jewel (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

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What listeners say about Never Broken

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

I am never broken.

When a book makes you laugh out loud, cry, curse in frustration, or lay awake in bed thinking about your own life, it is a special book indeed. Never before have I been so emotionally tied to a story. Never Broken is the embodiment of a self help novel. If any of Jewel's songs have spoken to your heart, you will certainly find this book fascinating, heartwarming and helpful.

In this audio recording we get to hear Jewel's entire story unabridged and in her own words. I think hearing her tell her own story makes it more authentic. Another bonus to this recording is that when she references a song, not only does she read the lyrics, she sings a beautiful a cappella version as well.

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82 people found this helpful

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This will help me with my anxiety and more.

This book has brought light into my life that I can make it without drugs.

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25 people found this helpful

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brilliant

I listened to the story while traveling by car across the south.
I felt as though my best friend were sitting in the passenger sit talking to me & sharing the truth about life, & hardship, & love for self, & others. I'm ready to listen again. : )" Truth, Sincerity, & Hope these things I dont want to be without. This is what Jewel brings

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4 people found this helpful

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Never Broken, this title says it all!

Where does Never Broken rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This booked ranks among my top five. I really love Jewel, and when her music first came out I thought it was so unique. I still enjoy it today. I had no idea about her story though. She's had an extremely tough upbringing only to be taken advantage of by the one person who should have helped her but it didn't break her. Despite the odds, Jewel stuck to who she was as an artist and persevered even when she didn't see a way to achieve her goals, she had faith.

Who was your favorite character and why?

This was about Jewel's life so of course she was my favorite. I do love how she was fair to each person when telling their story though.

Which character – as performed by Jewel – was your favorite?

I love that Jewel narrated this book herself and when she talked about what inspired her to write certain lyrics sang it too.

Any additional comments?

Even if you have never heard of Jewel or don't like her kind of music, you will still enjoy this book. To see how someone can have nothing but create an amazing career, only to lose it all because someone she trusted took advantage, and then making back her fortune. She learns from life's experiences and rather than break her, each one makes her stronger and who she is today. A very inspiring book, regardless of musical taste. I happen to love her music and forgotten how much. After listening to the book I purchased a few of her albums I had not yet purchased and after knowing why she wrote certain lyrics, have gained a deeper appreciate for her music.

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3 people found this helpful

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Definitely worth your time!

This was really great as an audio book. It felt like I was having a personal conversation with Jewel. I also enjoyed her singing.

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3 people found this helpful

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Makes me love her even more!

Listening to Jewel read her own story made the listen that much better. First off it's s great listen. Her story is shocking at moments, sad sometimes but also gives you a greater respect for her as a woman and an artist. I know want to go back and buy ALL of her music. Loved the book.

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amazing

an amazing journey with excellent insight I saw jewel live at a very small venue. I was moved, her book is more than just a book.

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Blown away! Thank you Jewel for sharing...your real life, and reconstruction!

Ok I remember when "Hands" came out and like many people, I loved Jewels voice and lyrics. But if you asked me to name 5 of her songs or I'd her photo I would fail. But after reading her autobiography, I know I had more in common with her than I ever knew. We all have our struggles in life, all unique in that we alone traveled that path. But what I found out is that how we decided to deal with our weaknesses were the same. How we can focus our mind to be our greatest friend and write a new software program we are happy living with and sharing with others. The manner you shared your recipe is amazing--so I will say thank you, what you did will help anyone who is ready or on the road to making positive changes in their life. Oh yeah, you life story is amazing, but it was the last third of your book that took me on that rocket ride!

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Love the truth and authenticity that pours from this work!

Love that this book is a memoir and a guide and an invitation to action all in one! Truly funny, touching, and inspiring in a beautiful way ... Now I need to go back and listen to her music to reconnect to it in a new way!

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Inspiring!

This book was truly inspiring.

It is very helpful to hear a story about someone with celebrity and the everyday challenges that they have experienced and that are so similar to those of us who are not in the spotlight.

Thank you Jewel, for your tremendous expression of your life's journey!

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