High Hopes

A Memoir

By: Anne Abel

Narrated by: Tyler Darby, Jen Jacob, Marnye Young

Fans of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild will root for Anne Abel as she intrepidly sets out alone for Australia at the age of sixty, seeking to capture some Bruce Springsteen energy and fight off her lifelong, debilitating depression.

At the age of fifty-nine, Anne has never been to a concert. Then, she reluctantly goes to a Bruce Springsteen concert—a man she knows nothing about—to spend time with her son and daughter-in-law. For three-plus hours Bruce Springsteen’s energy, humanity, and enthusiasm lift her out of her lifelong depression and makes her feel alive.

A year later, due to increasing classroom violence where she taught, Anne walks out the door thinking, I’m never coming back. But, getting into her car to go home, she realizes that because she suffers with severe recurrent depression, without the structure and focus of teaching she will be at risk for falling into a deep depression. She’s been inpatient twice at a psychiatric hospital, had three regimens of electroconvulsive shock therapy, and tried over twenty medications. Anne needs a new and different plan. Then she remembers: in four months Bruce Springsteen will be touring in Australia. So even though Anne hates to travel and be alone, she books the trip. Eight concerts, five cities, twenty-six days. She hopes that harnessing some of Bruce Springsteen’s energy will keep her out of the abyss.

Anne doesn’t go on this trip to change. But much to her surprise, she returns home a different person.

©2025 Anne Abel (P)2025 Anne Abel

Powerful Personal Story - Perfectly Narrated

Heartfelt, vulnerable and wonderfully\ written - what really moved me was the journey toward self-acceptance. I related to so much in this terrific memoir and found myself shedding a few tears along with smiles and laughs. I am so glad I chose the audio format - it was beautifully delivered and made me feel as though Anne was right there there with me, personally sharing her story. Highly recommend this fantastic audio book!

Heartfelt Narration

The journey of one woman's path of determination to fight against depression. I found encouragement in Anne's experiences, and the narrator is just perfect pitch.