Listen free for 30 days

  • Life Is Magic

  • An Extraordinary True Story of Trauma and Transformation
  • Written by: Jon Dorenbos, Larry Platt
  • Narrated by: Jon Dorenbos
  • Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (20 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Life Is Magic cover art

Life Is Magic

Written by: Jon Dorenbos, Larry Platt
Narrated by: Jon Dorenbos
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $19.42

Buy Now for $19.42

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

“Jon Dorenbos is a magical person. Life Is Magic shows how we can all choose happiness in the face of overwhelming odds.” (Ellen DeGeneres)

An extraordinary and empowering true story of resilience, forgiveness, and living a life of purpose in the face of unfathomable obstacles.

You may know him as an NFL All-Pro or as a world-class magician who made the finals of America’s Got Talent, but Jon Dorenbos says that what he does is not who he is. He is someone who coached himself, at the most tender of ages, to turn tragedy to triumph.

One morning in August 1992, when Jon was 12 years old and living a seemingly idyllic childhood in suburban Seattle, he woke up for baseball camp. His dad waved good-bye. Later that day, Jon heard the news: His father had murdered his mother in the family’s three-car garage. In an instant, his life had shattered. He’d essentially been orphaned.

Thrust into foster care while his father stood trial for murder, Jon struggled. Left to himself, he discovered an unlikely escape performing magic tricks. If you found a way to alter your reality, after your dad - your hero - killed your mom, wouldn’t you cling to it, too? Then came football, which provided a release for all of his pent-up anger. Together, magic and football saved him, leading to 14 NFL seasons on the gridiron and raucous sleight-of-hand performances to packed houses across the globe.

In 2017, he was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition leaving him with a choice. To either break down or - as he’d by now long taught himself - bounce back.

Life Is Magic shows how we can all choose happiness in the face of overwhelming odds” (Ellen DeGeneres) and provides a road map for overcoming even the darkest of times. Jon’s story is poignant and powerful, told by a charismatic and optimistic man who has overcome life-or-death challenges with grace, persistence, a childlike sense of wonder...and jaw-dropping card tricks.

©2019 Jon Dorenbos (P)2019 Simon & Schuster

What listeners say about Life Is Magic

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    16
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    16
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    15
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing!!

This book was incredible! I sincerely enjoyed every single minute. I'm truly sad it's over.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love this book!

After seeing Jon Perform live I was so inspired to read his book! I got the audible book and his voice is now in each and everything I do all day ! Live inspired !Trauma was my middle name growing up which like Jon I used as fuel to be the person I am proud of today!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

loved this!

I truly loved this book. Jon is a inspirational man and his story is incredible. Quick, easy listen with so many great takeaways!
Thank you for sharing, Jon!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This was also good

I loved this story! Again a motivating and inspiring story that was able to hold my attention throughout the entirety of the book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

life changing

Jon does a fantastic job narrating his incredible story. He is now a person I look up to, respect, admire, and strive to be like. His journey to forgive his father has challenged me to do the same to mine. Some day I hope to shake this incredible man's hand and thank him face to face for sharing his journey in this book. An absolute MUST listen audiobook.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really inspiring and motivating.

One of the best books I’ve read this year. His life is hard to believe and it’s great to see what he was able to do facing all he had to go through.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!