Uncommon Type cover art

Uncommon Type

Some Stories

Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Uncommon Type

By: Tom Hanks
Narrated by: Tom Hanks
Try Premium Plus free

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

About this listen

Read by two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks.

A collection of 17 wonderful short stories showing that Tom Hanks is as talented a writer as he is an actor.

A gentle Eastern European immigrant arrives in New York City after his family and his life have been torn apart by his country's civil war. A man who loves to bowl rolls a perfect game - and then another and then another and then many more in a row until he winds up ESPN's newest celebrity, and he must decide if the combination of perfection and celebrity has ruined the thing he loves. An eccentric billionaire and his faithful executive assistant venture into America looking for acquisitions and discover a down-and-out motel, romance and a bit of real life.

These are just some of the tales Tom Hanks tells in this first collection of his short stories. They are surprising, intelligent, heart-warming and, for the millions and millions of Tom Hanks fans, an absolute must-have.

©2017 Tom Hanks (P)2017 Random House Audiobooks
Anthologies Anthologies & Short Stories Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Short Stories Heartfelt Celebrity
All stars
Most relevant  
I rarely write a review, although I've enjoyed every Audible book so far. However, something must be said for the author who reads his own fiction. Tom Hanks not only writes superbly but is also a pleasure to listen to. I will be on the lookout for his future works. Many thanks for 10 hours of pleasurable listening.

A Rare Review

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

Oh well here goes, I know I’ll probably be criticised for this but it’s my opinion, as a writer, Tom Hanks is an incredibly talented actor.
I was looking forward to the quite unique typewriter theme, it was certainly different and rather quaint. I did like the idea of character continuity in a number of the Chapters but many of the stories felt flat to me.
As the stories went, only three had me really hooked, Chapter 7-Al and Bean Plus 4, Chapter 10-A Special Weekend, Chapter 11-These are the Meditations of my Heart and Chapter 13-The Past is Important to Us.
Their themes and plots were innovative, interesting and at times heart warming, real “page turners”!
Even so, it was just a collection of short stories that were a little “ho hum” for me.

Ho hum, bit pedestrian unfortunately

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

loved it. entertaining. great variation of stories. fabulous narration with engaging expression. happy days.

I could listen to Tom narrate the phonebook!

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

You only get a snapshot of the characters in these brief stories. They're quick, but catchy, without much detail and no waffle.

Tom's not my favourite narrator but he is also not the worst I've heard. All in all enjoyable for a one time listen but I'm unlikely to think back on this audio book and want to listen to it again.

A Light hearted listen

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

Much as I love Tom Hanks, I just couldn’t finish this book. Each chapter is meant to be a different story. Hmm the first chapter was kind of Okay but I got as far as the beginning of chapter 3 and it just wasn’t for me. The “stories” are too short and rather confusing.
So sad as I love most of his reading.

All over the place

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

Often different to realise one story had finished and another started! Otherwise an entertaining listen.

Pleasant stories

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

Tom Hanks is a master story teller. loved these stories they left me feeling inspired.

A true gem

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

Entertaining, fun and clever. Tom Hanks is a delight to listen to and as it turns out a delightful writer too.

Loved it!

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

All the story’s go no where. The most boring assembly of stories I have had the misfortune to buy!

Boring as

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

I listened to and enjoyed the Hanks’ narration of The Dutch House and this might have been a daily deal.

If you really like Tom Hank’s voice you may enjoy this, if you don’t … you won’t. I think I discovered why books of short stories are usually er short. This is 17 stories in nearly 11hrs. It should have been 4 hrs max and I would have enjoyed it so much more, but he just went on and on.
His descriptions and dialog I found pleasant but I just got bored … still sometimes ya just gotta take a risk.

If you like Tom Hank's voice ..

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.