Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • Year of Yes

  • How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person
  • By: Shonda Rhimes
  • Narrated by: Shonda Rhimes
  • Length: 7 hrs and 4 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,353 ratings)
Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Year of Yes cover art

Year of Yes

By: Shonda Rhimes
Narrated by: Shonda Rhimes
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £13.00

Buy Now for £13.00

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

Around the Way Girl cover art
We're Going to Need More Wine cover art
The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl cover art
You Got Anything Stronger? cover art
The Last Black Unicorn cover art
Deep Thoughts from a Hollywood Blonde cover art
The Power of Vulnerability cover art
The Urgent Life cover art
Girl, Wash Your Face cover art
Approval Junkie cover art
Huddle cover art
Who Do I Think I Am? cover art
Scrappy Little Nobody cover art
TED Talks cover art
A Little Bit Wicked cover art
Whistleblower cover art

Summary

2017 Audie Award Finalist for Audiobook of the Year

The megatalented creator of Grey's Anatomy and Scandal and executive producer of How to Get Away with Murder chronicles how saying yes for one year changed her life - and how it can change yours, too.

With three hit shows on television and three children at home, the ubertalented Shonda Rhimes had lots of good reasons to say no when an unexpected invitation arrived. Hollywood party? No. Speaking engagement? No. Media appearances? No.

And there was the side benefit of saying no for an introvert like Shonda: nothing new to fear.

Then Shonda's sister laid down a challenge: Just for one year, try to say yes to the unexpected invitations that come your way. Shonda reluctantly agreed - and the result was nothing short of transformative. In Year of Yes, Shonda Rhimes chronicles the powerful impact saying yes had on every aspect of her life - and how we can all change our lives with one little word. Yes.

©2015 Ships at a Distance, Inc. (P)2015 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Critic reviews

"What makes this such a powerful audiobook is that, behind her colloquial language and assertive style, you can appreciate the work it took for someone this shy to begin making public appearances and to perform this excellent inspirational audio." ( AudioFile)

What listeners say about Year of Yes

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,048
  • 4 Stars
    219
  • 3 Stars
    56
  • 2 Stars
    16
  • 1 Stars
    14
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,018
  • 4 Stars
    122
  • 3 Stars
    34
  • 2 Stars
    14
  • 1 Stars
    12
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    898
  • 4 Stars
    196
  • 3 Stars
    65
  • 2 Stars
    25
  • 1 Stars
    12

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

Life changing

I'm starting this again immediately. I don't know how to describe how I've been feeling listening to this book, but it has changed the way I am, with everything and everyone.

I loved it so much I bought a hard-copy to highlight and keep with me. I bought copies for my friends.

I'm saying yes to being the best me I can be and thank you Shonda.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

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

Fantastic!

Where does Year of Yes rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book has got to be my favourite audiobook I have listened to this year.

What does Shonda Rhimes bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Shonda Rhimes completely draws you in from the very beginning of this book. I expected to be taken on a journey by a very accomplished storyteller and I was not disappointed! Shonda's unique brand of wit, humour and personality comes across fantastically on audio, which made me so glad I chose to listen rather than read. I became completely immersed in her story, I laughed, cried and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. An inspired book, that I cannot recommend highly enough!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Jo
  • 17-01-16

Just like listening to Scandal written by Oprah

I've really tried, but just can't do it! Sounded like sort of topics I'd be interested in by the creator of shows I like... but her way of repeating her sentiment at least 3 times over without any genuine personal insight gets really tiring very quickly. No thanks.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

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

Life-changing

What other book might you compare Year of Yes to, and why?

I had just listened to Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic when I listened to this - what a powerful combination - highly recommend you do both!!

What about Shonda Rhimes’s performance did you like?

Shoeda's enthusiasm and no nonsense attitude are amazing

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
  • b
  • 12-03-20

Not for me

Only listened to an hour and half, found it annoying and repetitive. Took over an hour to finaly get to the point that her plan is to say yes to everything (the build up seemd uneccessary and irrelevant). Apparently her "superpower is being great at telling story's".... Shame this one wasn't great.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

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

If you're looking for inspiration, this is it!

Would you consider the audio edition of Year of Yes to be better than the print version?

As Shonda herself narrates the story, you get a much better feel for her as a person. Plus you get the added bonus of listening to her live speeches, as she spoke them, much more effective than reading the words on the page.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I fell in love with Shonda, I identify with her. I am completely inspired by her year of yes, thinking. She is honest, firm but fair, sassy and frequently hilarious. It's like a friend you never knew you had, telling you a story.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I enjoyed how she laid it all bare for us. No fear of judgement. Here I am, this is my story, take it or leave it.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Visiting Shondaland is a must for women everywhere!

Any additional comments?

Brilliant, brilliant book will listen to it over and over

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

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

So American and cheesy

I found it really hard to take this seriously - it’s just very American and cheesy.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

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

Absolutely Brilliant

Shonda Rhimes' candour is enthralling. She reads with verve. Her back story is a wonderful retinue of events that really made me respect her stance. I learnt a lot about this woman who has become a legend.

This book has called me to say "YES" to whatever presents itself in my life. This book and everything about it is absolutely brilliant.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

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

What a great book to listen to!

Powerful, book. Shonda talks about issues she has, that we all have and helps you understand how it to overcome. She writes in a witty laugh out loud way. I will definitely listen again!!!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

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

Wow.

The recommendation for this book was from
Brene brown. I'm so glad I listened to it on audible. I love shonda's voice. I love the book. I've recommended it to anyone who will listen.

I am now hooked on greys anatomy!

What an inspiring woman. Thank you for writing the year of yes.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful