• Everything Sad Is Untrue

  • (A True Story)
  • By: Daniel Nayeri
  • Narrated by: Daniel Nayeri
  • Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,550 ratings)

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Everything Sad Is Untrue  By  cover art

Everything Sad Is Untrue

By: Daniel Nayeri
Narrated by: Daniel Nayeri
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Publisher's summary

At the front of a middle-school classroom in Oklahoma, a boy named Khosrou (whom everyone calls "Daniel") stands, trying to tell a story. His story. But no one believes a word he says. To them he is a dark-skinned, hairy-armed boy with a big butt whose lunch smells funny; who makes things up and talks about poop too much.

But Khosrou's stories, stretching back years, and decades, and centuries, are beautiful, and terrifying, from the moment his family fled Iran in the middle of the night with the secret police moments behind them, back to the sad, cement refugee camps of Italy...and further back to the fields near the river Aras, where rain-soaked flowers bled red like the yolk of the sunset had burst over everything, and further back still to the jasmine-scented city of Isfahan.

Like Scheherazade in a hostile classroom, Daniel weaves a tale to save his own life: to stake his claim to the truth. And it is (a true story).

©2020 Daniel Nayeri (P)2020 Listening Library

What listeners say about Everything Sad Is Untrue

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Mesmerizing!

Hauntingly beautiful story of a refuge child from Iran… excellently performed by the author. Listen!

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1 person found this helpful

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Well written

The story embraced me. Everything sad in untrue indeed. I listened to it everyday on the way home from work. It made me cry, laugh and smile and left a satisfying memory of him, like i know him for years.

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Wonderful

Best book I’ve listened to in a long time - the author weaves such a raw, emotional story with entertaining anecdotes - my whole family from 7 to 57 enjoyed listening to this on a long vacation drive. I recommend this whole heartedly to listeners of all ages.

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Amazing! Get it!

Spellbinding and wonderfully narrated by the author! Get it - trust me, you won’t be sorry!

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This is NOT "Y.A." or Middle Grades Literature

Khosrou Daniel Nayeri expertly tells his tales in a form accessible to those younger readers. However, I think it sells this work short to place it in that genre. This book is a memoir of the highest quality. The author invites the reader into the internal life of his 5th grade self, not so that the reader will understand him or like him. He invited us in so that we will understand a little better what it is to be human and like humans a little more.

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Beautiful

Don’t hesitate.. Listen to this book. It’s unbelievably beautiful and the author is a wonderful narrator

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Because it’s true

I read 20 or so books a year and I’m ranking this #1 for 2022. The author is crafty in bringing his story to life. He has a unique style and draws you into his plight. Well done.

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Pay Attention...You Just May Become a Better Human

My friend recommended this for our book club, and I hated pausing from week to week as we kept to the predetermined pages being read. Reading along while listening to the author on Audible has endeared me all the more to his narrative, and I am moved by how vulnerable he is. To understand people, you have to truly listen to and hear their stories. I would enjoy knowing Khosrou because I have heard his story. Thank you, Daniel. And, thank you to your mom.

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Beautiful Story

Wow! This was recommended by a friend and I’m so glad I downloaded it! Beautiful and sad, with humor and heart. Read by the author.

Started a little slow but I’m so glad I kept listening!

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I thoroughly enjoyed!!

I initially was "pre-screening" this book for my 11 year old but quickly fell in love with the characters, the storytelling, the folklore, and the depths of my own truths. I can't wait to re-read this with my child. So much we can discuss and ponder on together. Kudos!

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