Try free for 30 days

  • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

  • By: Maya Angelou
  • Narrated by: Maya Angelou
  • Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (311 ratings)

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings cover art

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

By: Maya Angelou
Narrated by: Maya Angelou
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

Maya Angelou's six volumes of autobiography are a testament to the talents and resilience of this extraordinary writer. Loving the world, she also knows its cruelty. As a Black woman she has known discrimination and extreme poverty, but also hope, joy, achievement, and celebration.

In this first volume of her six books of autobiography, Maya Angelou beautifully evokes her childhood with her grandmother in the American south of the 1930s. She learns the power of the white folks at the other end of town and suffers the terrible trauma of rape by her mother's lover.

"I write about being a Black American woman, however, I am always talking about what it's like to be a human being. This is how we are, what makes us laugh, and this is how we fall and how we somehow, amazingly, stand up again." (Maya Angelou)

©1969 Maya Angelou (renewed 1997) (P)2011 Random House Inc

What listeners say about I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    229
  • 4 Stars
    61
  • 3 Stars
    17
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    214
  • 4 Stars
    38
  • 3 Stars
    14
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    200
  • 4 Stars
    53
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0

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

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great author.

I have learnt so much about that time period. It gives an insight to a lovely soul who handles hardship with such forgiveness.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Reaches to your soul.

Maya Angelou's honest and painful and uplifting story is read by her in her old age, adding extra poignancy to this reflection on her childhood years, with the richness and wisdom of her voice lending a special magic to the account. Her insights into her own character and development and the perceptions of her young mind on the people and world around her make this such a thought provoking and life-affirming story.

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
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Read by Maya

This autobiographical story read by the author herself was fascinating from beginning to end. Parts of it were incredibly sad. It covers her childhood years up to the birth of her son at age 17. An emotional journey for author and listener.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Soooo enjoyable!

Wad such a pleasure to have listened to the book in Maya Angelou’s soothing voice!!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So nice

Beautifully written and read. Maya has an ability to write about hard things with absolute grace and sweetness. Highly recommended

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

Loved hearing Maya Angelou narrate the book in her beautiful voice. Really enjoyed her story, and I have the rest of them in my watch list to buy!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Favourite Audiobook

Loved the story and the history
Loved all the messages
Have had this on repeat listening me to sleep for over a year LOVE IT
AND THE ORATOR most calming voice

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Heartbreaking and hopeful rolled into one

Some parts of this story were so difficult to hear but as a white woman with privilege it would be a dishonour to the beautiful and powerful Maya Angelou, who endured and fought against the prejudices of her race her whole life!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A beautiful story, informative and soulfilling

An awakening account into the first 17 years of a brilliant lady. I enjoyed this story so much.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

AMAZING!!

An absolute delight to listen to Maya narrate. What a life she lived. Looking forward to the next one.
Rich rich words

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.