• Upon Reflection

  • Words + Music | Vol. 12
  • By: Sting
  • Narrated by: Sting
  • Length: 1 hr and 26 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (4,873 ratings)
Upon Reflection  By  cover art

Upon Reflection

By: Sting
Narrated by: Sting

Publisher's summary

Before he was nicknamed “Sting” by the leader of a local show band in northeast England, Gordon Sumner knew he was meant for more than his working-class background promised. He just didn’t know how to get there. In Upon Reflection, hear the singular talent trace his unlikely rise from his days as a young husband and father working as a local schoolteacher, to risking everything on a fateful move to London, and joining an aspiring punk band called The Police. 

The worldwide success of The Police was only the beginning of Sting’s four decades of glory, disappointment, accomplishment, and unexpected good fortune. Featuring new recordings of “Roxanne”, “Message in a Bottle”, “Fields of Gold”, and other classics, Upon Reflection finds the iconic artist revealing his fascinating journey in intimate detail. Hear how a provincial boy determined to make his artistic mark, found his way, and changed our musical landscape.

©2021 Sting (P)2021 Audible Originals LLC

About the Creator and Performer

Composer, singer-songwriter, actor, author, and activist Sting was born in Newcastle, England, before moving to London in 1977 to form The Police with Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers. The band released five studio albums, earned six Grammys and two Brits, and was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.
As one of the world’s most distinctive solo artists, Sting has received an additional 11 Grammys, two Brits, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, four Oscar nominations, a Tony nomination, Billboard Magazine’s Century Award, and MusiCares 2004 Person of the Year. In 2003, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his myriad contributions to music. Also a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, he has received the Kennedy Center Honors, The American Music Award of Merit, and The Polar Music Prize.
Throughout his illustrious career, Sting has sold 100 million albums from his combined work with The Police and as a solo artist. His most recent release, Duets, compiles some of his most celebrated collaborations from throughout his illustrious career, and will be followed by a Las Vegas residency, entitled My Songs, set to open in 2021 at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
Sting’s support for human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Live Aid mirrors his art in its universal outreach. Along with wife Trudie Styler, Sting founded the Rainforest Foundation Fund in 1989 to protect both the world’s rainforests and the indigenous people living there.

Featured Article: Totally Tubular—The Best Audiobooks of and About the 1980s


When you think of the 1980s, what comes to mind? Big hair? Shoulder pads? Ronald Reagan? Madonna? The 1980s were a big time of change in politics and pop culture, and that time remains fresh in our minds because of the iconic moments that mark its importance in history. Whether you're nostaglic or curious, this list of listens will immerse you in the decade that brought us Pac-Man, MTV, Madonna, Ronald Reagan, and the Rubik's cube!

What listeners say about Upon Reflection

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

I like the words and music format

and I'm a big Police and Sting fan but this was one of the least interesting so far. It wasn't very revealing or even very personal but if you're a fan it's worth the free listen

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Sting is a truly unique person.

Another artist that rose out of his background beyond all imagination. He has such an individualistic style, I was so interested in the “technical” side of playing bass and singing at the same time.
* I did get a chuckle out of Sting denying that he is “stand-off-ish, or arrogant- kinda think this is part of the territory- I enjoyed the music and the listen very much.

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  • JD
  • 03-30-21

I give this a ten

I love memoirs and also good music. This recording is delicious! I bet you’ll like it too.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

LOVED IT!

Learned some new info, heard some old favs and a few new to me. The final rendition was beautiful.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What an unexpected pleasure!

What a treat - to hear such a unique artist reflect upon his beginnings and his career, not to mention providing the backstory to may of his best songs! Also such a pleasure to hear Sting play his iconic songs without all the glitzy studio production effects - just a guy playing and singing - what he does so well. Well done, Sting!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A life well lived

A life well lived—not taking anything for granted, and grateful for the luck that came his way.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing

More like this from various artists would be wonderful. I look forward to hearing more from
Audible in the future.

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  • CJ
  • 03-29-21

Superb condensed version of Sting’s life story

Great musician, great storyteller, great humanitarian. Stay curious is the secret ingredient to this brilliant man’s career. 💛

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A lovely journey.

Listening to this, I remembered that The Police Synchronicity was the the very first album I ever owned. I had scraped together my childhood pennies to buy that record... and played it every single day for years.

That the album The Soul Cages kept me sane in college— a time I questioned everything about my parents religious path, their expectations of me and my life, my desires to become a medical doctor and not a wife and mother. Still a mystery who won that battle— maybe my children or my patients can say. But “All This Time” still speaks to my soul deeply about that struggle. “Father, if Jesus exists...” still tears.

This was a wonderful wander along side a storyteller/songwriter. Worth the time.

Beautiful. Thank you.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Very enjoyable and entertaining-MUST listen if you love Sting

I particularly love books narrated by the author. Sting narrates this book in his beautiful voice. Such a treat for a true Sting fan. Another lovely surprise is that he sings songs in between every few chapters or so, in an acoustic manner. Everything about this book is entertaining and wonderful. I highly recommend.

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