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Book of Lives

A Memoir of Sorts

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Book of Lives

By: Margaret Atwood
Narrated by: Margaret Atwood
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The greatest writer of our time tells her own story. Immerse yourself in the creative universe of Margaret Atwood for a riot of life, art and everything in between

Raised by scientifically minded parents, Atwood spent most of each year in the wild forest of northern Quebec: a vast playground for her entomologist father and independent, resourceful mother. It was an unfettered and nomadic childhood, sometimes isolated but also thrilling and beautiful.

From this unconventional start, Atwood unfolds the story of her life, linking key moments to the books that have shaped our literary landscape, from the cruel school year that would become Cat’s Eye to the unease of 1980s Berlin, where she began The Handmaid’s Tale. In pages alive with the natural world, reading and books, major political turning points and her lifelong love for the charismatic writer Graeme Gibson, we meet poets, bears, Hollywood stars and larger-than-life characters straight from the pages of an Atwood novel.

As she explores her past, Atwood reveals more and more about her writing, the connections between real life and art – and the workings of one of our boldest imaginations.

'She's taken our times and made us wise to them' ALI SMITH
'She's Margaret Atwood and she can do anything' ANN PATCHETT
'She saw it all coming' TIME
'The outstanding novelist of our age' SUNDAY TIMES

© Margaret Atwood 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

 Art & Literature Authors Best of 2025 Editors Select Women Memoir

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Editorial Review

Nevertheless, she persists
Those searching for a grimoire of writerly wisdom in Margaret Atwood’s memoir may be surprised to find something closer to an almanac of home economics, warnings about bear or moose maulings, and guidance for mild revenges—along with poems, aphorisms, and jokey asides. Naturally, she provides insights into her masterworks, but her curious mind seems primarily interested in turning over minutiae, looking for grubs to devour. Atwood also details her lasting love with her longtime partner, Canadian novelist Graeme Gibson, who died in 2019. She narrates all of her perceptive prose in a steady, mesmerising cadence that drips with dry wit. Atwood claims to have been resistant to writing a “literary memoir,” but thankfully she relented and takes us along for the ride of a lifetime. This is the type of listen that I’ll return to on autumn nights with a warm drink in hand, dipping in to savour a quirky Ontario tale from 70 years ago or a sinister truth gleaned from her years of gimlet-eyed observations. This woman contains multitudes! —Jerry P., Audible Editor

Critic reviews

Sharp, funny and engaging (Blake Morrison)
I can’t recommend Book of Lives enough… it’s the book we’ve been waiting for. Take my word for it. It’s fabulous (Dua Lipa)
Fat and satisfying (Erica Wagner)
Just in time for Christmas... One of the most deliciously engaging memoirs of the decade (Nilanjana Roy)
An intimate, beautifully told journey that captures the essence of a remarkable life
Fiercely funny tales from a literary mafia don... as pacy and fascinating as any of her books (India Block)
The real Margaret Atwood is sentimental, blunt and deliciously naughty (Francesca Steel)
2025's most anticipated non-fiction
A remarkable read... successfully puts time in a bottle
A tremendous showcase for her wisdom and wit (Fiona Sturges)
All stars
Most relevant
I loved this. There’s really nothing I can add to all the superlatives already sloshing about, but if you enjoy listening to her unique voice and are interested in hearing the story of a fascinating life examined by one of the most perceptive minds on the planet, then this is one for you.

A rare treat.

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100% Recommended. Buy it!

Writing a review of Margaret Atwood’s writing feels a little like reviewing Beethoven: comparison is beside the point. This memoir held me completely, and I did not want it to stop.

Her descriptions of people and events are exceptionally precise. The individuals who populate the book—family members, allies, adversaries—are rendered with such clarity that I found myself genuinely caring about them, their struggles, and the moral framework that shapes the life being described.

I was particularly struck by the honesty with which Atwood writes about those who hurt her or treated her unfairly. Many memoirs avoid this territory for fear of offence; this one does not, yet it never feels careless or vindictive. There is a strong sense that real thought has gone into what is shared and what is held back.

The memoir is long, as Atwood’s life has been long, and I appreciated that. There are too many interesting people, ideas, and events here to be rushed, and the book is better for taking its time.

It was expertly narrated.

Honest, Entertaining, Educational, Likeable

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A long awaited book, and I’m a few days away from seeing Ms Atwood again in the flesh talking about it, but her languid tones in her later years have turned into a monotonous intoning which is really, really difficult to listen to. Even speeded up to 1.2 it’s still got the ability to bore which is a massive shame because this book is full of amazing anecdotes and insights into her work and life.

I love Margaret but narration here is disastrous

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Atwood's childhood years in the Canadian wilderness are the most interesting part of the memoir. The later years and backbiting of the Canadian literary scene less so. Atwood is one of my favourite writers but there was too much detail about writers noone outside Canada will have hears of, and not enough about her own life and writing. Disappointingly, Atwood is not a great reader, I had to speed it up and even then she sounds quite robotic.

Some interesting anecdotes but overlong

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