All There Is: Love Stories from StoryCorps [Hardcover]

Dave Isay (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 2, 2012

In ALL THERE, StoryCorps founder Dave Isay shares stories of love and marriage from the revolutionary oral history project, revealing the many and remarkable journeys that relationships can take.

In stories that carry us from the excitement and anticipation of courtship to the deep connection of lifelong commitment, we discover that love is found in the most unexpected of places—a New York tollbooth, a military base in Iraq, an airport lounge—and learn that the course it takes is as unpredictable as life itself. As the storytellers in this book start careers, build homes, and raise families, we witness the life-affirming joy of partnership, the comfort of shared sorrows, and profound gratitude in the face of loss.

These stories are also testament to the heart’s remarkable endurance. In ALL THERE IS we encounter love that survives discrimination, illness, poverty, distance—even death. In the courage of people’s passion we are reminded of the strength and resilience of the human spirit. This powerful collection bares witness to real love, in its many varied forms, enriching our understanding of that most magical feeling.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

For nearly a decade, the StoryCorps oral-history project has invested countless hours in the simple act of listening, yielding more than 30,000 interviews from more than 60,000 participants. Some of those interviews have aired on NPR’s Morning Edition; all are being archived in the Library of Congress; and a powerful few have been gathered in book form, resulting in two best-sellers, Listening Is an Act of Love and Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps. Now, just in time for Valentine’s Day, comes this new collection about the enduring power of love, the perfect antidote to the cynicism and fear that pervade so much of our thinking in America today. StoryCorps founder Dave Isay has pulled together a set of interviews that head straight for the heart, as couples remember their first date, laugh and joke over each other’s foibles, or express their undying love for one another. And if Beverly Eckert remembering her husband’s voice over his cell phone on 9/11 as the South Tower collapsed around him doesn’t move you to tears, you simply have no heart. --Leonard Kniffel

Review

"These testaments of love reveal themselves as profound literature on a par with that of even the grandest poet or novelist. ALL THERE IS is a Valentine's Day gift more meaningful than any box of chocolates."

(ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY )

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} “[A] collection of gems … ALL THERE IS made me verklempt a ridiculous amount of times.”

(THE BOSTON GLOBE )

“[A] heart-poundingly good book…there's just one word for the book: lovely.”

(THE HUFFINGTON POST )

“In reminding us what really matters most, ALL THERE IS is sure to spark renewed reassessments of readers’ own relationships and priorities.”

(CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR )

“These myriad forms of love will provoke readers to contemplate their own love lives with a new sense of depth.”

(KIRKUS )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Press HC, The (February 2, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594203210
• ISBN-13: 978-1594203213
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #310,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars True love stories likely to touch the hearts of even the most jaded readers February 5, 2012

By K. Corn TOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

For anyone unfamiliar with StoryCorps, the concept is both simple and engaging: individuals from all walks of life are encouraged to share moments from their lives for 40 minutes, encouraged by someone who listens deeply and asks questions as needed. Every word is recorded.

The stories, the memories, can cover nearly any topic. Some recordings are shared at video sites online or featured on radio stations.

The book, All There Is, contains a varied collection of love stories recorded by StoryCorps, many arising from relatively recent events (Hurricane Katrina, September 11) and others from a glance, a chance meeting or even an arranged date.

The book is divided into sections focused on three common types of love: falling in love, losing love, reconnecting with a lost love. Each account is unique and most are so touching that I felt compelled to reread many of them. Love can last after early or hasty marriages or die after thirty years, perhaps leading to a new love. Tragedy can leave a legacy of love behind.

Of course there are the " love at first sight" accounts but there are also the "dislike at first sight" stories or embarrassing dates, marriages cut short by tragedy, and amazing reconnections after twenty or thirty years. There are couples who remain good friends after divorce (some even remarry). Love can begin at 17 or when couples are in their 70s.

Some connections start with the oddest of circumstances. An email gets sent to someone by mistake, setting off a series of correspondences which lead to love. Attraction blooms between a tollbooth operator and one of the thousands of drivers who pass through his lane daily.

There is also plenty of wisdom to be gained from this gem of a book. I've copied down the Six Points For a Successful Marriage shared by one couple, info they swore kept their marriage rock solid through the years. Spouses who remain committed even as their partners struggle with cancer or Alzheimer's Disease are inspiring beyond words, demonstrating that love can remain strong even amidst so much pain.

If you've lost hope in lasting romance or need a lift after the end of a relationship or marriage, this book is worth reading. Already drawn to love stories? You won't want to pass up this collection.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars tissues required February 7, 2012

By Sally T

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

i've been a huge fan of storycorps for many years and when "all there is" was ready to launch, I just HAD to pre-order it. got myself a copy and someone very special a copy as well as a "just because" gift. the stories in this book are appropriately categorized into three sections touching on accounts of first encounters, lost, and rememberance. although these are all love stories, each piece pulls at your heart strings differently and demonstrates how love manifests the power and will each of us possesses. they couldn't have come up with a better title for this book because love is all there is. the greatest part of this book is these stories are all real, so have a box of tissues nearby. i bet you'll finish this book in one sitting.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Serendipitous Stories, Among Others, About "All There Is"--LOVE February 11, 2012

By Sheryl Fechter

Format:Hardcover

This book is entirely about the provocative nature of love. This subject is one of particular interest to me; love in all forms, romantic love, familial love and the whole nine yards. The book is predominantly split into separate parts starting with the 'falling into love' period.

The book is a definite page turner, and I read this in two days. It is so interesting to me to have read all the different ways couples are attracted to each other. Sometimes it is at a first glance and a complete love reaction is sparked and remains burning. It is chemistry, tangible and profound how this can and does happen. As you quickly read the stories you are introduced to many heartfelt and different scenerios.

Of real defining and sustaining love, there is a married couple together for decades who give out notable information. They emote how to keep love alive through the thick and thin of it all and offer sage advice. As you read more and more, of each accounting, you begin to feel that love is so very 'worth it'. That goes for even the hardest heart, when love has done some damage. This book breathes new life into the entire subject and there is much to learn from these people. Of this I am certain, that love is possible for everyone, that this book can and will lift your spirits.

This is a great read to set out on an end table or coffee table to pick up at any time. The stories can be short enough to just read one or two, when you need a lift and can be assured of receiving it. A very illuminating piece of art and that's 'All There Is' to it.