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And You Know You Should Be Glad (Abridged): A True Story of Lifelong Friendship Audiobook
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(3.20) - 215 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
A highly personal and moving true story of friendship and remembrance from the New York Times bestselling author of Duty and Be True to Your School.
Growing up in Bexley, Ohio, Bob Greene and his four best friends -- Allen, Chuck, Dan, and Jack -- were inseparable. Of the four, Jack was Bob's very best friend, a bond forged from the moment they met on the first day of kindergarten. They grew up together, got in trouble together, learned about life together -- and were ultimately separated by time and distance, as all adults are. But through the years Bob and Jack stayed close, holding on to the friendship that had formed years before.
Then, the fateful call came: Jack was dying. And in this hour of need, as the closest of all friends will do, Bob, Allen, Chuck, and Dan put aside the demands of their own lives, came together, and saw Jack through to the end of his journey.
Tremendously moving, funny, heart-stirring, and honest, And You Know You Should Be Glad is an uplifting exploration of the power of friendship to uphold us, sustain us, and ultimately set us free.
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"I loved this kinda sappy book about old friends. I love his writing, always have whether in the Tribune or his novels. I actually wrote to the author about how his work had moved me over the years. I got a grateful email back from him within a day or two. I've saved it. Cool stuff."
— Susan (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Wonderful…I have rarely been touched as deeply.”
— Cal Thomas, syndicated columnist and radio commentator -
“You’ll relate to everything in this book. It will make you think about what really matters, and how life used to be, and what you can do to make the most of it…This book will take you right back into the youthful heart of summer vacation.”
— Bob Sirott, “One More Thing,” NBC -
“Through detailed flashbacks, we experience, like one of the gang, afternoons spent imitating Audie Murphy, hitting the Toddle House for seemingly endless cheeseburgers and milkshakes, avoiding making the evening news by giving rude gestures to the camera, and calling up local sports heroes…To anyone who grew up with a group of close friends, it rings absolutely true.”
— Ohioana Quarterly -
“When Greene’s best friend, Jack, was diagnosed with terminal cancer at 57, the group of devastated friends reunited and recounted their past together in order to deal with their future. Greene has an infectious and relaxed storytelling style that makes the listener comfortable immediately as he intermingles endearing and comical stories from his youth with heartbreaking details of Jack’s struggle. It’s as true an account of friendship as one could ever hope to hear.”
— AudioFile
And You Know You Should Be Glad Listener Reviews
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" A great gift for your lifetime-friend. "
— Lora, 2/18/2014 -
" Loved this true story of a group of boys who grew up together and reunite when one of them is dying. "
— Jan, 2/7/2014 -
" It makes for interesting listening, even though the story bounces back and forth in memory. True, that is how the thought process often works, but a biography should go from birth to death, not present day to event-triggered memory. "
— Doris, 2/3/2014 -
" Amazing story of friendship! "
— Julie, 1/31/2014 -
" great writer, new style for me, liked it alot, the end got draggy, and I wanted it to finish, could be that it took me so long to finish, just time-wise. "
— Yaffa, 1/19/2014 -
" Man this book made me cry so bad,lol. It was such a nice story, it will make you appreciate your " true friends". "
— Pilar, 1/16/2014 -
" This is sad, but a nice story. Reminds me of my girls. "
— Heather, 1/8/2014 -
" Greene has a wonderful way of elevating the ordinary goodness in all of our lives, and holding it out there for us all to appreciate. "
— MJ, 1/8/2014 -
" Wonderful book about the meaning and impact of life-long friendships. Greene is easy to read and brings the story alive. Not only enjoyed reading but sharing as a gift with my close friends. "
— Lauren, 12/29/2013 -
" OK, but didn't hold my interest very well. "
— Carolyn, 12/23/2013 -
" Some reviewers have said this book is sappy and sentimental. That is exactly what I loved about it. The friendship of these men over the years and the heartache as one is diagnosed with cancer. It made me think about my friendships and how to make them last a lifetime. "
— Jan, 12/4/2013 -
" I loved this book! I gave it to my best friends for Christmas last year! "
— Bonnie, 12/4/2013 -
" A lovely and sad story of childhood friends reconnecting when one of their group is dying of cancer. A lot of books are written about female friendships, it was interesting to read one about male friendships. "
— Robin, 12/1/2013 -
" Painfully touching. "
— Nelly, 11/1/2013 -
" Keep the tissues handy! Great book...what a friendship! "
— Cyndi, 10/17/2013 -
" I know that Greene is kind of schmaltzy, but I did enjoy this, both because of the flashbacks to life in Bexley and also because of the strong friendships portrayed. "
— Karen, 1/25/2013 -
" This was a great book--especially for anyone who still has a best friend that they keep in touch with--clear back from their elementary or high school days. It really hit close to home and I loved it! I only cried at the end, so it wasn't a horribly sad book either! :) "
— Mindy, 9/13/2012 -
" This was a moving story of a lifelong friendship and its impact on the author. FABULOUS!! "
— Patty, 3/11/2012 -
" Loving this book..Bob Greene is an exceptional writer. "
— Kathie, 12/26/2011 -
" This is a typical Bob Greene book. He writes, at age 57, of the last months of the life of his best friend from childhood. It feels like Bob Greene's my buddy after reading several of his works. "
— Dave, 11/4/2011 -
" If you have friends, you must read this book! I was deeply moved by it. It was even more enjoyable because of references to the local area; the author is from Bexley, Ohio, just outside the Columbus city limits. "
— Andrea, 10/15/2011 -
" an amazing story of a life long friendship. reminded me of the beauty of my lifetime friendship with Barb. I sent barb the CDs. "
— Cheryl, 8/9/2011 -
" So moving that at times I was crying too hard to read...but then Bob would switch to a funny story of the friendship Bob had with Jack, and the laughter would ring out once more. A masterful telling of their lifelong friendship. "
— Dayle, 7/10/2011 -
" great writer, new style for me, liked it alot, the end got draggy, and I wanted it to finish, could be that it took me so long to finish, just time-wise. "
— Yaffa, 5/21/2011 -
" If you have friends, you must read this book! I was deeply moved by it. It was even more enjoyable because of references to the local area; the author is from Bexley, Ohio, just outside the Columbus city limits. "
— Andrea, 4/24/2011 -
" This is a typical Bob Greene book. He writes, at age 57, of the last months of the life of his best friend from childhood. It feels like Bob Greene's my buddy after reading several of his works. "
— Dave, 9/19/2010 -
" So moving that at times I was crying too hard to read...but then Bob would switch to a funny story of the friendship Bob had with Jack, and the laughter would ring out once more. A masterful telling of their lifelong friendship. "
— Dayle, 9/16/2010 -
" A lovely and sad story of childhood friends reconnecting when one of their group is dying of cancer. A lot of books are written about female friendships, it was interesting to read one about male friendships. "
— Robin, 8/19/2010 -
" Loved this true story of a group of boys who grew up together and reunite when one of them is dying. "
— Jan, 4/1/2010 -
" This is sad, but a nice story. Reminds me of my girls. "
— Heather, 1/26/2010 -
" Memoir about lifelong friendship. A bit much in some areas and hard to follow all the flashbacks. "
— Lisa, 12/31/2009 -
" I loved this book! I gave it to my best friends for Christmas last year! "
— Bonnie, 2/3/2009 -
" Keep the tissues handy! Great book...what a friendship! "
— Cyndi, 1/3/2009 -
" One of my favorites... an understated, joyous/heartrending journey. "
— Mandy, 12/25/2008 -
" A great gift for your lifetime-friend. "
— Lora, 11/1/2008
About Bob Greene
Bob Greene has filled a shelf with two dozen books, including his 1993 novel All Summer Long, while appearing as a broadcast journalist on Nightline and writing for the Chicago Tribune and magazines like Life.