The Eyes and the Impossible Audiobook By Dave Eggers cover art

The Eyes and the Impossible

Preview

Get this deal Try for $0.00
Offer ends January 21, 2025 at 11:59PM ET.
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
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 after 3 months. Cancel anytime.
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 after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Eyes and the Impossible

By: Dave Eggers
Narrated by: Ethan Hawke
Get this deal Try for $0.00

$14.95/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends January 21, 2025 11:59PM ET. Cancel anytime.

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.50

Buy for $13.50

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

About this listen

From the award-winning author of The Every comes an endearing story of a dog who unwittingly becomes a hero to a park full of animals.

Johannes, a free dog, lives in an urban park by the sea. His job is to be the Eyes—to see everything that happens within the park and report back to the park’s elders, three ancient Bison. His friends—a seagull, a raccoon, a squirrel, and a pelican—work with him as the Assistant Eyes, observing the humans and other animals who share the park and making sure the Equilibrium is in balance.

But changes are afoot. More humans, including Trouble Travelers, arrive in the park. A new building, containing mysterious and hypnotic rectangles, goes up. And then there are the goats—an actual boatload of goats—who appear, along with a shocking revelation that changes Johannes’s view of the world.

A story about friendship, beauty, liberation, and running very, very fast, The Eyes & the Impossible will make listeners of all ages see the world around them in a wholly new way.

©2023 Dave Eggers (P)2023 Listening Library
Animal Fiction Animals Dogs Fiction Growing Up Growing Up & Facts of Life Feel-Good Suspenseful
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

2024, John Newbery Medal: Winner

★ “Utterly delightful…. Eggers touches on deep topics with a light hand, effortlessly building suspense and a wonderful sense of adventure.” —Booklist, starred review

★ “Eggers crafts a marvelous, fully fleshed protagonist in Johannes....whose compassionate narration delivers a rousing tale of community, joyful self-reliance, and the pleasures of running very, very fast.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Johannes is a highly engaging narrator whose exuberance and good nature run like a bright thread through the novel’s pages…. There is a deeper story here, too, about being yourself and finding freedom." —New York Times

What listeners say about The Eyes and the Impossible

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    237
  • 4 Stars
    28
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    240
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    204
  • 4 Stars
    36
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2

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

An outstanding story built for reading aloud!

The narrator was MOST EXCELLENT, and I am charmed by the story. The only thing that would have been better would be to have Mrs. Klaich, my 4th- and 6th-grade teacher, here to read it aloud after our noon recess, as she did other gems of stories such as A Wrinkle in Time and The Bridge to Terabithia. Like my new favorite coyote--mesmerized with pictures in squares--I am enthralled with these imagined wise animals in the park.

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
    4 out of 5 stars

The narrator did a masterful job!

A perfect example of a beautiful story that will appeal to children but will be enjoyed by adults and reread by adults who read it first as children.
Ethan Hawke makes this audio book into a one person dramatic performance that is Oscar worthy. He is the characters and makes the narrative come alive with genuine emotion and excitement. He made me believe that talking, thinking animals living in community would sound just like that!
Thank you Mr Eggers for this classic and for not writing down to the children.
Congratulations on the Newberry-well deserved!

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

Excellent Narration

Excellent narration for this Newbery winner! Children will fall in love with the characters. It's a story to be shared.

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

Wild and Wonderful.

This was beyond fabulous. Ethan Hawke perfectly embodied the free dog Johannes. I absolutely loved the tale and I am anxious to purchase a copy for a young reader in my life. Dave Eggers' is a genius. "God is the sun, clouds are her messengers and rain is only rain", is a fine philosophy.

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

Best Storytelling!!!!!

This is a perfect reading - simply delightful! Ethan Hawkes narration is the right voice and the right victory hallo for this story.

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

Excellent in every way!

Loved everything about this audiobook; from the masterful writing, the different vivid characters, and wonderful narration!

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

Delightful!

This was a pleasure that lifted my spirit. Ethan Hawke’s interpretation was perfect. Highly recommend for kids and adults alike.

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

Lovely story and great narration.

I was completely wrapped up in this bittersweet story. It talks of friendship, freedom, and courage, all told from the perspective of a dog. The narrator, Ethan Hawke is excellent, and the story will enthrall both children and adults.

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

Amazing story with the best narration

This is such an inventive story -from the perspective of Johannes - the dog. Eggers’ writing borders on poetic at times, and is filled with such beauty and humor. I can’t imagine a better narration of this book— SO amazing!

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

Didn’t want this book to end

The narration by Ethan Hawke is terrific - the perfect match for Eggers’ story and cast of characters.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!