Barry Sonnenfeld, Call Your Mother: Memoirs of a Neurotic Filmmaker Audiobook

At 10 hours and 7 minutes, this unabridged audiobook gives you Barry Sonnenfeld’s memoir in a complete listening format. Sonnenfeld narrates his own book, bringing his stories to the audio edition in his own voice.

Call Your Mother pairs a filmmaker’s memoir with a personal account of family life. Published by Grand Central Publishing, the audiobook was released on March 10, 2020.

Choose this edition to listen to Sonnenfeld’s memoir rather than read it in print. Its full-length format also makes it easy to plan listening around the length of the book.

The essentials

This is an unabridged Audible audiobook, with a total listening time of 10 hours and 7 minutes. Barry Sonnenfeld is both the author and narrator, so the memoir’s stories are delivered by the person who experienced and wrote them. The book offers a personal route into the life of a film director, combining memoir and filmmaking context rather than focusing solely on production details.

Customer feedback often highlights the humor, especially the dry and dark wit, along with the conversations between mother and son. Listeners also praise Sonnenfeld’s storytelling and the engaging feel of the book. Those looking for a serious, reference-style account of filmmaking may prefer a more technical book, this memoir centers on personal stories and an entertaining voice.

Best use cases

This audiobook suits listeners interested in film biographies, a director’s perspective, or memoirs with a strong comic voice. It can be a good fit when you would rather listen than set aside time to read a print edition. For example, its 10-hour-and-7-minute runtime gives you a clear sense of the full commitment when planning longer listening sessions or dividing the book across several shorter ones.

The author-narrated format is especially relevant if you value hearing a memoir told by its writer. Sonnenfeld’s account keeps the focus on his own experiences, while the unabridged presentation preserves the complete audiobook rather than offering a shortened version.

Tips for day-to-day use

Use the total runtime to choose a listening pace that fits your routine: take on a longer stretch when you have time, or work through the memoir over multiple sessions. If you are deciding between audio and print, the main distinction is the experience: this edition is designed for listening, while a physical or digital text suits readers who want to follow the words on a page.

The book’s humor and personal storytelling make it well suited to listeners who want more than a list of career milestones. Customers describe it as lively and enjoyable, and some also appreciate the perspective it offers on movie-making. That combination makes it relevant both to film fans and to anyone drawn to candid, story-led memoirs.

What to clarify

Who narrates the audiobook? Barry Sonnenfeld, the author, narrates the audiobook, so the memoir is presented in his own voice.

How long is the listening experience? The unabridged recording runs 10 hours and 7 minutes, a useful reference when planning how to fit it into your listening routine.

Is this an abridged edition? No. It is listed as unabridged, meaning this is the complete audiobook rather than a shortened adaptation.

When it makes sense

Choose this edition if you want Barry Sonnenfeld’s memoir in audio, told by Sonnenfeld himself and presented without abridgment. Its combination of filmmaking perspective, personal storytelling, and humor makes it a fitting listen for fans of director biographies and memoirs with an entertaining, distinctive voice.