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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.
What members say
Average Customer Ratings
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars33
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4 Stars6
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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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 of 4 people found this review 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 of 2 people found this review 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
- Carla R.
- 10-12-2019
Brilliant
The podcast gave a good insight to the family’s story & I really enjoyed the scientific research & discussions into CTE
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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
- Pash Afaridan
- Manly, Australia
- 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.
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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.
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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
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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
- 28-08-2019
A brilliant podcast
Fascinating Podacast.
The presentation is excellent, well researched and so interesting. Well worth listening to.
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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
- Clayts
- 07-08-2019
A brilliant listening Documentary.
Every human being should listen and heed this documentary.
our children's lives depend on
it.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 25-10-2019
interesting, but a bit boring
it's interesting, and makes you think a lot.
things that we would have never thought about, but that make sense. but it's a bit boring sometimes.. the second part with the doctor, was getting a bit too much.. I have to speed that up a bit.
0 of 1 people found this review 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
- 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 of 2 people found this review 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 of 1 people found this review 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 of 1 people found this review 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 of 7 people found this review 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
- Emily Harris
- 12-12-2019
Riveting, Fascinating, Shocking, Surprising
Couldn't recommend enough! Had to listen to the episodes back to back I was that hooked. Its just unbelievable that people are so unaware of this condition being caused to people in these globally viewed and heavily glamourised sports.
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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
- Jayne Charlton
- 26-11-2019
CTE the truth about brain injuries
This is a heartfelt, honest and hard hitting taste of the truth that little told. Everyone will at some point in their lives suffer a bang to the head. This books talks about the aftermath of head trauma years down the line. it has opened my eyes!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Vicky C.
- 26-11-2019
Interesting, but draw out
Very intereating and great to get the message out. However there is a lot of irrelevant waffle and repeats, this could have bewn done in one longer episode.
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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
- Anonymous User
- 17-11-2019
Thought provoking and touching
Insight into both the victim of this incurable condition, and effects on both the victims and their families. Excellent piece of work by Hana Walker Brown.
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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
- 13-11-2019
Information 😍
I didn't realize how much getting concussion did to me I realized I my short term memory got worse after that but I thought it was because I was forced more on my studies and forgoting things because I was always thinking. Listening to this really made me realize what was the cause of the headaches and memory loss, this was the final piece to the puzzle you must listen too
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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
- 07-11-2019
Thought provoking,moving, insightful
The topic covered should be heard by all parents who enable, encourgage or expect their child to participate in sports. The humble approach of some very good, educated and passionate people is compelling.