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The Beautiful Brain
Non-member price: $30.38
Publisher's Summary
This is a story about the beautiful game – football. (Or soccer, as it's known in Australia). The highs, the lows, historic match days and foul play. It’s a celebration of a beloved player, a history maker, and his tragic ending at the final whistle. It’s a story about science and discovery, about the people on the frontline of life changing research.
But above all it’s a story about family, and about consequence.
All of this is wrapped up in three little letters, C.T.E.
A four part investigative documentary from multi-award winning producer Hana Walker-Brown (Audio Production Awards Best Documentary [Winner, 2017, 2016], Prix Europa [Nominee, 2018, 2017, 2015], Åke Blomström Prize [Winner, 2015] Hearsay International Audio Arts Award [Nominee, 2014] and Charles Parker Prize Gold Award [Winner, 2013]) The Beautiful Brain looks at the devastating effects of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) – a degenerative brain disease found in people who’ve suffered severe or repeated blows to the head.
Beginning with the story of FA Cup winner Jeff Astle, the podcast expands outwards looking at the widows, daughters and families who are left fighting for answers following the death of their loved ones. As the series progresses Hana’s investigation leads her from Britain’s football pitches to support groups for victims of domestic violence and beyond, sparking a vital discussion about accountability and the urgent need for further scientific studies into CTE.
This is an Audible Original Podcast. Free for members. You can download all 4 episodes to your Library now.
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 19-06-2019
Intense story
Intense. I had no idea about this. What's even worse was the kick back from people who wanted the research to be rescinded. Terrible.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- the Chandlers
- 10-07-2019
fascinating, heart breaking, eye opening!
amazing story and intellectually satisfying as well. highly recommend for medics and sports fans (Or their families)
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Pash Afaridan
- 12-11-2019
Eye opening. I'm loving documentary audiobooks
If your not into soccer then just work your way through the first 20 mins; but a very enjoyable book after that. The first 20 mins is still required to connect (emotionally) with the person and family, and what they had to go through.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 08-10-2019
Worth a listen
Great. Emotional, eye opening and informative. If you love to play sport it's worth a listen. If you're interested in the brain or degenerative diseases this opens the door to CTE.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 07-10-2019
valid, groundbreaking takes guts
i found this book compelling and challenging. we are the sum total of our brain
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Clayts
- 07-08-2019
A brilliant listening Documentary.
Every human being should listen and heed this documentary.
our children's lives depend on
it.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Pranamita
- 21-06-2020
Fanatastic
Loved it. This book was very informative and interesting at the same time. After finishing this I got interested in finding out and resarching more about CTE and Jeoff Astler. Also watched the movie Concussion after it. Great effort everyone.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- warmfrog
- 13-05-2020
brilliant work
excellent podcast highlighting the human cost of CTE. should be mandatory listening for every coach of high impact sport.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Emma Peel
- 14-03-2020
Found this story so compelling I need to know more
It was equal in empathy and research. the interviews were balanced between both to give multiple aspects to frame the topic of CTE. well written, constructed and read. loved it
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- AMM
- 28-02-2020
Excellent doco
I've told many people about this. Such a well paced written investigation. I'd love to listen to more work by this author. Really useful information.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- M.G.
- 02-05-2019
Excellent Moving Story
This is excellent. True story that moved me to tears. Told with compassion and respect I think this will stay with me for years to come.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Alexander
- 03-06-2019
A Paper Thin Jeff Astle Biography
Largely disappointed (although I a greatly appreciate that it's free). More like a 3 and a half hour radio discussion
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- S Stevenson
- 29-04-2019
Amazing
Absolutely loving this series so far! It’s very well put together and you really do get immersed into the story. Highly recommended
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mosstin Powers
- 22-04-2019
Outstanding
An horrific tale compellingly told. Free stones left unturned in the telling. The Astle family come across as incredibly stoical and proud people. A shame perhaps that Gordon Taylor's utter indifference to the Astle's story wasn't emphasised more. Brilliantly researched and written.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- lisa stanley
- 30-06-2020
not what I thought would be. moving story!!
I thought this wascdome kind of mindfulness podcast as called beautiful brain. downloaded it quick to listen to whole I walked the dogs. when football came on i thought...oh no. carried on listening an i thought was brilliant! very moving story. so glad I downloaded it.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
- Ellie Mac
- 23-06-2020
interesting
got bored half way through with bits keep being repeated. I think it would have been better over 2 episodes
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- 3ripul A
- 13-06-2020
very enlightening!
I'm looking forward to sharing this knowledge with my students and my local community.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anupadin
- 10-06-2020
An Important Piece of Investigative Journalism
A tragic story for those of us who grew up watching Jeff Astle and important science for those playing, directing and controlling contact sports around the world.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 15-05-2020
Compassionate, Compelling, and Factual Story
I recommend this series 2 everyone very eye-opening and compassionate. The strength of the Astle family have his unbelievable.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Caitlin Hill
- 06-05-2020
Hard hitting
Hard hitting informative documentary on CTE with real life experiences. Poignant, emotional and interesting. Well spoken and well written. A must for any baggies fans out there.
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