Save Me from the Waves, Jessica Hepburn
Save Me from the Waves, Jessica Hepburn
List: $28.99 | Sale: $20.29
Club: $14.49

Save Me from the Waves
An adventure from sea to summit

Author: Jessica Hepburn

Narrator: Jessica Hepburn

Unabridged: 8 hr 25 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Aurum

Published: 03/07/2024


Synopsis

Includes BBC RADIO 4 DESERT ISLAND DISCS clips by Maya Angelou, Emma Thompson, Edmund Hillary and many more

'A breathtaking adventure of a truly inspirational woman' – Maxine Peake

An adventure story – with a difference. From sea to summit. Fully soundtracked.

Jessica Hepburn is an unlikely athlete – she was labelled the ‘arty’ not the ‘sporty’ one in school. She hates exercise and believes the only reason to do it is for food, booze and box-sets on the sofa.

However, in her forties, following a succession of hard and sad life experiences she started to try and exercise her way out of heartbreak. She has now become one of the world’s most extraordinary endurance athletes. The first and only woman (currently) on the planet to have completed the ‘Sea, Street, Summit Challenge’ – which is to swim the English Channel, run the London Marathon and climb Mount Everest (which she calls Chomolungma – the mountain’s original Sherpa name). And possibly the only woman (although this can’t be officially certified) to have listened to eighty years and over 3,000 episodes of her favourite radio programme – Desert Island Discs.

Save Me from the Waves is an inspirational story of physical and mental endurance which starts on the streets of London and culminates on top of the world, fuelled by song. It explores the redemptive power of music and mountains. How family and friends can be lost and found in the most unusual places. And encourages everyone to live big and bravely when life doesn’t go to plan. Because sometimes we all need saving from the waves. And whether it’s high and far away or closer to home and in your head, an adventure will always change your life for the better.

Features the voices of Marlene Dietrich, Emma Thompson, Maya Angelou, Rob Brydon, Stephen King, Tim Robbins…. and many more from Desert Island Discs.
 
Features audio clips from Desert Island Discs castaways, including:
 
Jimmy Carr
Clive James
Kelly Holmes
Paul Weller
Kay Mellor
Peter Bull
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Emma Thompson
James Blades
Alan Plater
Alfred Wainwright
Jo Brand
Rob Brydon
Gillian Clarke
Lemn Sissay
Tim Minchin
Anne-Marie Duff 
Christina Dodwell
Marlene Dietrich
Liz Lochhead
Jilly Cooper
Bill Morris
Tim Robbins
Robert Macfarlane
Sue Townsend
Jill Balcon
Stephen King
Alice Walker
Kelsey Grammer
Mervyn King
Betty Driver
Wangari Maathai
Edna Adan Ismail
Ali Smith
Stella McCartney
Penelope Wilton
Simon Reeve
Alicia Markova
Edmund Hillary
Winnie Byanyima
Dave Brubeck
Alan Titchmarsh
Isabella Tree
David Nott
Richard Doll
Ruth Westheimer
Ruth Jones
Marisa Robles
Winston Graham
David Mitchell
Ruthie Henshall
Sonita Alleyne
Louis Armstrong
Conrad Anker
Akram Khan
A. H. Halsey
Amanda Khozi Mukwashi
Helen Fielding
Rose Hudson-Wilkin
Nick Webbon
Sheryl Sandberg
Joe Simpson
Maya Angelou

Reviews

Non-athlete Jessica Hepburn goes from midlife despair to world champion, as the first woman in the world to finish the Pond to Peak Challenge ... running the London Marathon, climbing Mount Everest, and swimming the English Channel. An inspiring, compelling memoir!......more

Goodreads review by Debby

Lots to love about this book - especially if you are a Desert Island Disk Fan (as I am). Jessica is an Adventure Activist - not something I'd ever heard of before reading this book. She is an unlikely athlete and believes the only reason to do it is for food, booze and box-sets on the sofa. I couldn......more

Goodreads review by Nelli

“ℐ 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝑜𝓇 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓎. 𝒮𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓈𝒶𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒'𝓈 𝓉𝑜𝑜 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝓂𝓊𝓈𝒾𝒸 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝑒𝓃𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽 𝓂𝑜𝓊𝓃𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓈. 𝒪𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓈𝒶𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒'𝓈 𝓉𝑜𝑜 𝓂𝒶𝓃𝓎 𝓂𝑜𝓊𝓃𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝑒𝓃𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽 𝓂𝓊𝓈𝒾𝒸.“ A beautiful journey of survival, faith and music. Jessica is the first and currently only woman to have completed the ‘Sea,......more

A simple book that should have taken me a day took me a week to read, and I only finished it because I forced myself to. Which is a real shame because I gave her last book 5/5 and was really looking forward to reading this. Didn’t enjoy the set up at all, felt like a collection of facts on a differe......more


Quotes

‘The moment you open this book you’ll feel like you’ve made a new friend. It’s such a delicious adventure and Jessica’s warm voice will immediately make you feel less alone – whatever journey you’re on.’ Lisa Faulkner, Actress, Presenter Author of Meant to Be

‘An amazing, touching, at times deeply moving adventure about mountains and music and love. I loved it.’ Ann Daniels, Record Breaking Polar Explorer Desert Island Disc Castaway

'If you have ever found yourself in a rut listening to endless podcasts like Desert Island Discs, this book is for you.' Emma Gannon, Sunday Times Bestselling Author

'This musical adventure story is written from the heart, and speaks to what it means to be human. It brings the Desert Island Discs archive alive in a skilful and meticulously researched interweaving of a myriad of interconnected stories, Jessica Hepburn takes us on a journey of love and loss but it is so much more than an autobiography - it draws on the power of music, why it matters and means so much to the many protagonists who stories are included. A tour de force of obsession, resilience, and challenge.' Alexandra Lamont, Professor of Music Psychology and Editor in Chief Psychology of Music

'This extraordinary woman took me on an unexpected journey of adventure. Deeply personal, searingly honest, achingly painful. Jessica writes with such self-deprecating heart, you can’t help but love the bones of her. This book will move you with music, mountains, melanjoy and, mostly, Molly.' Hannah Vaughan Jones, Broadcaster

'An inspiring tale of endurance and redemption. Jessica's story will dare you to answer your own call to adventure.' Belinda Kirk, Founder of Adventure Mind Author of Adventure Revolution

‘An intensely vulnerable memoir about heartbreak and healing in its messy, imperfect truth, and the scars life leaves, inside and out. Unflinchingly honest, it is a courageous adventure of the heart as much as an inspiring and sometimes heart-stopping adventure story.’ Jody Day, Founder of Gateway Women

‘A beautiful story that doesn’t hide the hardships of life but still makes you feel warm and cosy. It’s like getting a long hug from a dear friend. I couldn’t put it down.’ Joyce Harper, Professor of Women’s Health at UCL

'Jessica Hepburn’s writing was my salvation through the early days of my not being able to have children. She is brave, fearless and utterly generous with her wisdom … this beautiful book is a must for any Desert Island Discs fan and a miraculous salve for difficult times.' Kat Brown, Author of No One Talks About This Stuff

'An incredible new book. Prepare to be inspired by Jessica’s words as she takes us on an unforgettable journey to the top of the world. Jessica is TOUGH; mentally, physically and emotionally. What a woman, what a story, what a journey. It will encourage you to take on your next challenge!' Sarah Williams, Tough Girl Podcast

'An empowering story of transformation; a testament to the human spirit’s ability to overcome challenges. I couldn’t put it down, there’s such power and beauty in Jessica’s story.' Penny Hearne, Chatty Soul Podcast

'A fantastic book that had me in tears and left me emotional for several days. What this incredible woman has overcome and achieved is an inspiration. Thank you Jessica for being the most extraordinary version of you.' Helen Gallagher, Happy and Childless Podcast

'A delicious adventure'—Lisa Faulkner

'Deeply moving'—Ann Daniels, Polar Explorer

'Deeply personal, searingly honest, achingly painful. Jessica writes with such self-deprecating heart, you can't help but love the bones of her.'—Hannah Vaughan Jones, Broadcaster