My first experience with audiobooks was back around 1982 when I borrowed the autobiography One Step at a Time by Dr. John Hickman from the school library. It was a box set of approximately 12 cassettes. I think I listened to the entire book over a weekend, though changing the cassettes took some time and effort.
These days, with apps such as Audible and similar platforms, I always have a book on the go, which I listen to most mornings while eating breakfast. My support workers must get frustrated having to listen to random fragments of books while assisting me, especially since it's rare to have the same support worker more than two mornings in a row over a fortnight. Since I started listening to audiobooks approximately two years ago, I have probably listened to a dozen books. Many of these have been autobiographies by people such as Peter Garrett and Jimmy Barnes, to name a few.
After finishing Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte, I browsed through my library of books I have bought over several years and saw Able by Dylan Alcott. Yes, Dylan had been the Australian of the Year and has a high public profile, yet I didn’t exactly expect much from his autobiography. Nevertheless, I thought I would give it a crack. Oh boy, was I wrong! This is a well-written, jam-packed book. It is written for both disabled and able-bodied people and is full of tips for everyone, even tennis players. I really like the way Dylan keeps it real and includes many twists and turns to maintain the reader's interest. His attitude to life with a disability is also very genuine. I haven't finished the book yet—I am approximately two-thirds of the way through. Nevertheless, I would say that Able: Gold Medals, Grand Slams and Smashing Glass Ceilings by Dylan Alcott is one of the best, if not the best, books I have read.
Dylan, before starting your book, if we had met, it likely wouldn’t have been as impactful as it would be if we met today. I saw you as just another high-achieving person with a disability. However, learning about your ups and downs, I appreciate that you are much more than that. I know we share many interests, such as travel, music festivals, and beer, but we also have a passion for improving the lives of fellow citizens with disabilities. I know you probably have many fans sending you messages, as you mentioned in your book, asking to meet you. So, if I wrote to you asking to hang out for a few beers at a leading Adelaide music pub, such as the Wheatsheaf Hotel in Thebarton, I know it would be lost among all the other requests. Nevertheless, if you read this and have a few hours to kill in Adelaide anytime, look me up.

Update 24 May 2024: This morning while eating breakfast, I finished listening to Dylan Alcott's autobiography. I still believe it is the best audiobook I have ever listened to. It's down to earth, rarely pulls punches, and is fun to listen to. I can totally relate to his attitude about having a disability and about people with disabilities. Living with a disability can be bloody tough, but it can also be very rewarding.

Again, Dylan, if you read this, the invitation is still open. I’d love to catch up over a few beers when you're in Adelaide sometime soon.

P.S. Don't tell anyone, but listening to your book has encouraged me to get a move on with my autobiography too.