I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death cover art

I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death

 Preview
Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death

By: Maggie O'Farrell
Narrated by: Daisy Donovan
Try Standard free

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $21.99

Buy Now for $21.99

About this listen

As selected for the Zoe Ball Bookclub, a Book of the Year in The Sunday Times, The Times, Guardian, Irish Times, Observer, Red and The Telegraph.

I Am, I Am, I Am is a memoir with a difference - the enthralling story of an extraordinary woman's life in near-death experiences. Insightful, inspirational, a story you finish newly conscious of life's fragility, determined to make every heartbeat count.

A childhood illness she was not expected to survive. A teenage yearning to escape that nearly ended in disaster. A terrifying encounter on a remote path. A mismanaged labour in an understaffed hospital. Shocking, electric, unforgettable, this is the extraordinary memoir from Costa Novel-Award winner and Sunday Times best-selling author Maggie O'Farrell. It is a book to make you question yourself. What would you do if your life was in danger, and what would you stand to lose?

I Am, I Am, I Am will speak to readers who loved Cheryl Strayed's Wild or Max Porter's Grief is the Thing with Feathers.

©2017 Maggie O'Farrell (P)2017 Headline Publishing Group Ltd Heartfelt Memoir Near-Death Experience
All stars
Most relevant
I can't wait to listen again. So good. Each chapter a new story. i just loved this. My second Maggie O'Farrell both so human.

Brilliant in every way

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loved it! What a book! Each chapter introduces a different time and age of the author and her brushes with death, it was all so fascinating and written in such a way that you are kept wondering how each situation ended. Beautifully performed.

amazing book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Such a heart wrenching story narrated perfectly for the prose. After loving Hamnet I’m so pleased I reached for this one.

Beautiful narration

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This memoir is beautifully written and read. It is a gripping account of life and near death on too many occasions for one life.

Captivating

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Maggie O’Farrell’s I Am, I Am, I Am is a beautifully written memoir that captivates from the very first page. As the first of O’Farrell’s works I’ve read, I can confidently say it was an excellent introduction to her storytelling prowess, and I am eager to explore her fiction next.

The memoir is structured around seventeen chapters, each representing a distinct event where O’Farrell narrowly escaped death. These vignettes are cleverly titled after different parts of the body—Neck, Cerebellum, Lungs, and so forth—adding a unique thematic touch to each narrative. The non-linear approach to her storytelling was particularly refreshing, offering a rich tapestry of life experiences that kept me perfectly engaged throughout.

O’Farrell’s prose is clear and concise, bringing authenticity and depth to each story. The memoir goes beyond mere recollection of close calls; it offers profound reflections on life, death, family, travel, and the unique experiences of women. Every chapter is infused with such depth and feeling that putting the book down becomes a challenge. It’s intelligent, thought-provoking, and impeccably well-written.

The book concludes with a deeply moving chapter about the author’s daughter and their ongoing health struggles, reminding us of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing our health. This final story resonates as a poignant lesson to live each day fully and appreciate every moment we have.

In all, I Am, I Am, I Am is a compelling read that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend. It’s a testament to O’Farrell’s incredible talent as a writer and storyteller, making it a must-read for anyone interested in memoirs that offer more than just a life story but an exploration of existence itself.

Great listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews
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.