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Small Great Things: A Novel Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.6 out of 5 stars 97,933 ratings

2017 Audie Awards, Winner

Number-one New York Times Best Seller

With richly layered characters and a gripping moral dilemma that will lead listeners to question everything they know about privilege, power, and race, Small Great Things is the stunning new pause-resister from Jodi Picoult.

Soon to be a major motion picture

“[Picoult] offers a thought-provoking examination of racism in America today, both overt and subtle. Her many readers will find much to discuss in the pages of this topical, moving book.” (Booklist [starred review])

Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than 20 years’ experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she’s been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don’t want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey orders or does she intervene?

Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime. Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, takes her case but gives unexpected advice: Kennedy insists that mentioning race in the courtroom is not a winning strategy. Conflicted by Kennedy’s counsel, Ruth tries to keep life as normal as possible for her family - especially her teenage son - as the case becomes a media sensation. As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other’s trust, and come to see that what they’ve been taught their whole lives about others - and themselves - might be wrong.

With incredible empathy, intelligence, and candor, Jodi Picoult tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion - and doesn’t offer easy answers. Small Great Things is a remarkable achievement from a writer at the top of her game.

Praise for Small Great Things

Small Great Things is the most important novel Jodi Picoult has ever written.... It will challenge her readers...[and] expand our cultural conversation about race and prejudice.” (The Washington Post)

“A novel that puts its finger on the very pulse of the nation that we live in today...a fantastic read from beginning to end, as can always be expected from Picoult, this novel maintains a steady, page-turning pace that makes it hard for readers to put down.” (San Francisco Book Review)

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Product details

Listening Length 16 hours and 14 minutes
Author Jodi Picoult
Narrator Audra McDonald, Cassandra Campbell, Ari Fliakos
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date October 11, 2016
Publisher Random House Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B01JKDTTSQ
Best Sellers Rank

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
97,933 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this novel engaging and well-written, with a riveting storyline that maintains interest to the very end. The book provides insightful exploration of racial prejudice and white privilege, with brilliantly developed characters that readers feel connected to. Customers praise the writing quality, with one noting the author's gutsy approach to tackling difficult issues, while another highlights the three-point-of-view narrative structure.

4,196 customers mention "Readability"4,100 positive96 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as brilliant and worth their time, with one customer noting how the author weaves elements into great literature.

"...She is an amazing writer, always having well researched material, brilliant character development, with thought provoking, deeply layered stories..." Read more

"...Jodi Picoult is a wonderful writer and she has turned out a wonderful novel that will touch you deeply at every level...." Read more

"...Small Great Things is a novel so worth reading." Read more

"...This was SO worth the read and then some." Read more

2,712 customers mention "Thought provoking"2,654 positive58 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and insightful, with well-researched content that provides hope for greater understanding and wonderful discussion material.

"...She is an amazing writer, always having well researched material, brilliant character development, with thought provoking, deeply layered stories..." Read more

"...The characters are complex and conflicted enough to be really interesting and the twists and turns in their stories carry surprises that jar you..." Read more

"...I hope this book opens some eyes and sparks some conversations." Read more

"...She does her homework. She tugs at your heartstrings, your very soul...." Read more

1,799 customers mention "Writing quality"1,508 positive291 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its remarkable prose and masterful storytelling, with one customer highlighting the author's courage in tackling difficult issues.

"...She is an amazing writer, always having well researched material, brilliant character development, with thought provoking, deeply layered stories..." Read more

"...This is not a beach read. Jodi Picoult is a wonderful writer and she has turned out a wonderful novel that will touch you deeply at every level...." Read more

"...What I love about this book is that it is as well written and interesting as all of her books. It is a page turner and it doesn't point fingers...." Read more

"...Jodi Picoult's novels are always extremely well-researched, intelligently-written, and very thought-provoking and "Small Great Things" is an..." Read more

938 customers mention "Storyline"780 positive158 negative

Customers find the book's storyline riveting and suspenseful, with many twists and turns, and one customer notes it contains a courtroom drama.

"...brilliant character development, with thought provoking, deeply layered stories told from various point of views...." Read more

"...Racism is also entwined in the compelling legal story that carries the story along...." Read more

"...Many of the chapters end in cliffhangers and I simply couldn't stop reading! Jodi Picoult is a wonderful storyteller and one of my favorite authors...." Read more

"...There is nothing that can bring him back. The back stories were amazing and uncomfortable to read...." Read more

926 customers mention "Insight"842 positive84 negative

Customers appreciate how the book provides insight into racial prejudice, serving as a good introduction to the subject of white privilege and helping readers better understand the differences between races.

"This is a thought-provoking, raw, honest and amazing story about racism in America...." Read more

"...It is a deep look at prejudice and how it permeates our society, not only from the point of view from a hard core racist but from the self..." Read more

"...what it sets out to do, according to the author's note: educate well-meaning white women on the nuances of racism...." Read more

"...I feel she tackles the topic of race well and paints beautiful portraits of all the individuals involved...." Read more

751 customers mention "Character development"651 positive100 negative

Customers praise the character development in the book, noting that the characters are brilliantly portrayed and felt connected to throughout the story. One customer mentions that the narrative is told through the voices of three different characters.

"...amazing writer, always having well researched material, brilliant character development, with thought provoking, deeply layered stories told from..." Read more

"...The characters are complex and conflicted enough to be really interesting and the twists and turns in their stories carry surprises that jar you..." Read more

"...These protagonists, as well as the supporting characters, are portrayed as individuals whom anyone could see out in public and they are all very well..." Read more

"...Shocking moments. Overall this will be a memorable book with great characters...." Read more

570 customers mention "Reading pace"560 positive10 negative

Customers find the book engaging and riveting, maintaining their interest throughout and to the very end.

"...It has a somewhat complex story that will keep you turning the pages. I enjoyed reading this book. Rating: 4 Stars...." Read more

"...and varied characters that keep me conflicted and engaged until the last page...." Read more

"...Jodi Picoult’s SMALL GREAT THINGS. This book is so riveting as it strikes a chord...." Read more

"...Her books are engaging and pull the reader in. She sells millions of books for a reason...." Read more

481 customers mention "Narrative quality"381 positive100 negative

Customers praise the narrative quality of the book, finding it incredibly real and based on truth, with one customer highlighting its compelling characterization.

"This is a thought-provoking, raw, honest and amazing story about racism in America...." Read more

"...It is sad, poignant, though-provoking, touching, gripping and compelling. Without a doubt, this book will be on my favorites shelf...." Read more

"...- Benjamin Franklin Kindle 1% I really enjoyed how the chapters were done...." Read more

"...I felt that the voices of these three narrators were often unrealistic, thus my mediocre rating of this book...." Read more

Tough read
5 out of 5 stars
Tough read
4.5 stars! This book was difficult to read. The first half was hard. It made me very angry, it made me cringe, and it made me feel like I shouldn’t be reading it. Then the trial started and I grabbed on tight. I didn’t want to put this book down. This book is most definitely about racism. I do believe if this was written by an African American woman this story would have hit a little harder. But regardless this book was not what I was expecting and it opened my eyes quite a bit. I am white and Native American. I love all humans but my skin is white and I know my life was easier because of it. The struggles that a person of color has to face will never fully be understood by someone with skin like myself. But I am glad to see someone addressing it and doing her best to give the story what it deserves. I love that Ruth got her story out no matter what. Ruth is a hero. I love this for her. She deserves it. The end was amazing.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is a thought-provoking, raw, honest and amazing story about racism in America. It is written from the POV of three of the main characters - Ruth Jefferson, Turk Bauer and Kennedy McQuarrie. Their lives are very well developed and rounded out. We see them at home, at work, and in all walks of life.

    Ruth is a veteran L&D nurse with over 20 years experience who is considered one of the best nurses in her hospital. She is also the only African American nurse in her hospital. This has never been an issue until she runs up against Turk, a white supremist who insists that no African American personnel is allowed to care for his baby, Davis. Things happen that lead to Ruth being charged with negligence of care. In walks Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender who's never had a case like this. There are a few outlying characters to take notice of: Francis Mitchum, Turk's father-in-law, and the leader of a large online white supremacist group. There is also Odette, the prosecutor, and African American. And there's Brit, who is Turk's wife, Francis' daughter and also a longtime white supremacist.

    When Davis is 3 days old something happens that causes Turk to go ballistic, and in the end we have Ruth in jail, in her robe, and handcuffed.

    Kennedy believes that race and racism should never be brought up in a trial. She wants to build a case on Ruth being wrongfully indicted. Ruth, on the other hand, knows that everything about her case is based on racism. They make it to the end of the trial, having bickered a bit, and enjoyed each other a bit, with racism never being mentioned. However Ruth is headstrong, and she wants the privilege to take the stand and state her own case. Kennedy is strongly against this, however it is Ruth's right, as an inmate, to tell her story.

    Ruth opens up to the jury, explaining her life, and opening their eyes to what racism is really like, as told from her perspective. Lots of things happen during this time (no spoilers) that bring the case to it's stunning conclusion. You might just find your jaw on the floor like I did at the end.

    Jodi has the way of saying what needs to be said in all her books. She is an amazing writer, always having well researched material, brilliant character development, with thought provoking, deeply layered stories told from various point of views. This story made me take a deep look within myself to see where I stand. Having been raised during the 60s and 70s I feel very blessed to be colorblind - not in the traditional sense - but in the fact that when I look at people I don't see color. I search what's in their heart and choose my alliances based on that regardless of color. The "N" word was commonly used in my household but somehow I instinctively knew it was a "bad" word. My first boyfriend in kindergarten was a black boy named Robert Green, my best friend in first grade was a little black girl, and my best friend now is a black woman I work with. Yet, as much as I want to say she's "just like me," the truth is she's not. I have been the beneficiary of white privilege many times throughout my life, while she has been oppressed many times throughout her life, even today where we work side-by-side together. It's not fair at all, but if we don't speak up about it things will never change. Ruth Jefferson did just that - told the truth. You'll have to read the book to know if that changed things for her or not.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This book was really hard for me. The white power stuff was a real struggle. I even went back to Amazon reviews twice to see if it was really worth getting through it to get through this novel. However, the racial conflicts kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the story so if that's what you are looking for this is the book for you. It is a deep look at prejudice and how it permeates our society, not only from the point of view from a hard core racist but from the self proclaimed non-racist. It can make you look at yourself. This is perhaps the most extraordinary part of this book. Racism is also entwined in the compelling legal story that carries the story along. The characters are complex and conflicted enough to be really interesting and the twists and turns in their stories carry surprises that jar you awake. This is not a beach read. Jodi Picoult is a wonderful writer and she has turned out a wonderful novel that will touch you deeply at every level. If you can, you should read it.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This book does what it sets out to do, according to the author's note: educate well-meaning white women on the nuances of racism. You don't know what you don't know. But now that you do know, do better. Kennedy represents the target audience here, making mistakes and learning from them.

    Story-wise, I felt this played out pretty predictably until the climax. There's always a twist in Jodi Picoult's books, and I'm a sucker for a good twist, but I can't decide if this twist was a good one. I didn't think it was necessary to the story. Ruth even questions why this occurs because it has nothing to do with her trial.

    I'm not sure how I feel about the final section that focuses on Turk six years later. I honestly couldn't care less what happened to him because he was a white supremacist and I have zero sympathy for someone like that. But I suppose some readers would've been curious where he ended up.

    I hope this book opens some eyes and sparks some conversations.

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • amazonlove
    4.0 out of 5 stars 白人優位なコミュニティで生き抜いてきた、黒人女性Ruthが魅力的
    Reviewed in Japan on March 29, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    ダイバーシティという言葉が浸透してきた昨今であっても、白人優位のコニュニティで生き抜いてきた、またこれから生き抜いていく黒人女性の主人公Ruthがとても魅力的な作品でした。様々なことを努力でカバーして、色んなものを手に入れてきたけれど、あっという間にすべてが奪われてしまいそうになる過程は、読んでいてハラハラしました。
    裁判を引き受けた白人女性弁護士Kennedy、白人優位主義者のTurk、その妻Britなどの登場人物の背景をここまで描く必要があるか?と思っていたけれど、最後はこうつながるのか~!と唸りました。
    日本に住む純日本人の私ですが、人種の問題に深く考えさせられたのも事実です。
    作者の著作では「私の中のあなた」を読んだのですが、他にも読んでみたい作品がたくさんあります。
    Report
  • Miss S L Elliott
    5.0 out of 5 stars a very necessary novel
    Reviewed in France on November 14, 2016
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I was originally reticent about a book about race being written by a white person but Picoult handles the subject with delicacy. Having read this novel twice now I am persuaded that Picoult tackles racism from a very relevant angle and manages to catch out today's white liberal population - you may not think of yourself as a racist but it's your actions that count. As the mother of a mixed race child I was encouraged by this book. Picoult writes in a very accessible style which is thought provoking rather than finger pointing. The world is full of white people who deep down feel that somehow they deserve more than the rest.
  • Anni
    5.0 out of 5 stars it's not only about colour
    Reviewed in Australia on October 20, 2016
    I admit to feeling rather uncomfortable when I started reading this story. I'd already read "Shine..Ruth's story" and felt empathy for the main character of both stories, Ruth. Reading further of Ruth's meeting with Turk and Brittany Bauer and Ruth's subsequent banishment from having anything to do with their baby, the discomfort starts. Turk and Brittany Bauer are not nice people But, they are representative of what still happens today in the world when it comes to defining people by their race and not their abilities. Even if the picture drawn about their views leaned towards the extreme, you know that these people do exist. Likewise Ruth's sister is somewhat near the other end of the scale, if not as extreme, and Ruth's mother is shown as a "typical coloured domestic" of the time. My instinctive reaction was to ask myself if I could continue to read this, another probable story of conflict between race, and I found myself putting it down to do other things in the early part of the story. But I persevered, and I am so glad I did. Because this is an amazing and insightful story, and once I met Public Defender Kennedy, who "didn't see colour" I was hooked. Jodie Picoult does not disappoint and she tackles another sensitive subject with clarity, making sure we realize that yes, we do see colour, and differences, but that realizing this fact and coming to terms with it is not always easy, and is quite capable of making you step outside your comfort zone. I only have one small criticism. I would have liked the final chapters expanded a little more, to explain more fully how Ruth ended up where she did. In truth, I could have read 10 more chapters on this story. Well worth five stars.
  • Amy Elizabeth
    5.0 out of 5 stars but now more than ever are books like this important)
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 11, 2017
    This book is a punch in the gut, especially given the current political climate in the USA. (I’m sure the publisher couldn’t have planned it, but now more than ever are books like this important). Ruth is an experienced labour and delivery nurse, but during a routine shift she is abruptly told that she can no longer care for a particular newborn. The parents are white supremacists and they don’t want Ruth, which is African American, to touch their child. When an unfortunate incident leads to the baby’s death, the parents accuse Ruth of a serious crime and the life that she has built up around her starts to crumble. Kennedy, a white public defender, takes the case and the two struggle to see eye-to-eye as they confront racism, privilege and prejudice in order to win Ruth’s freedom.

    I think this book will make for some pretty interesting book club discussions; I’d be interested to see how others have read it. I admit to fluctuating between being completely hooked by the story, compelled by the characters’ journeys and also a little reticent at the sometimes simplistic way that the novel laid out the realities of racism in America. At times I felt it was spoon-feeding the morality of the tale, but that may have just been my reading and, as I mentioned, I’d love to know what others thought. It’s difficult to talk about a book like this without becoming mired in a lot of history and politics (don’t get me wrong, that’s exactly where I like to be mired, if I am to be mired at all, but it’s not always great to be mired). I think it’s an important read, as well as one that is interesting and emotionally smart. However, at times it felt very black and white, if you’ll excuse the pun; I loved Ruth and wanted only the best for her, and she felt like a very rounded character to me, but the white supremacist couple were almost cartoon-ishly bad to me. They were consumed by their obsession with white supremacy; it infected everything they did, even the ordinary mundane things, and whilst I don’t doubt (having seen the evidence in the coverage of Trump rallies) that people like that exist, I thought it made it almost too easy to draw a line between right and wrong. Perhaps the hope is that white people reading this book will identify more with the white lawyer, so sure that she is not racist until her own privilege and prejudice are presented to her starkly by Ruth and by the facts of the case. Either way, whilst I think it would be hard to do, there is room for a little more nuance on each side.

    I am maybe biased because when looking up some facts about the book, I stumbled across the sub-title given to it by Amazon: ‘To Kill a Mockingbird for the 21st Century’. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked this book; maybe even loved it. It’s definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year and will stick with me for a long time. But to compare it to To Kill A Mockingbird, which is very subtle, and therefore perhaps more powerful and long-lasting, in its messaging is mis-leading, I think. I know those were not Picoult’s words, but I think it’s worth thinking about nonetheless. With everything that has happened, are we ready now for a more heavy-handed portrayal of racism in America? Is subtle no longer going to work on us; do we need something more to hit the message home? I urge you to read this book and find out for yourself.
  • S. Whittaker
    5.0 out of 5 stars A poignant and beautifully written story
    Reviewed in Canada on April 30, 2017
    I read, cried, smiled and read some more. I savored reading this book and was sad to finish it last night. This is a special story, unlike anything I’ve read before… it deserves to be read thoughtfully. I found parts of it difficult to read for different reasons. It’s a powerful story, told from different perspectives. One perspective is that of a white supremacist and it briefly includes spontaneous violence that, had it been televised, I surely would have held my hands up to block the view more than once. But the compelling story is so much more than that, so I’m glad I didn’t let those parts deter me from reading through – and in fact, I think those bits are important to the whole story and belong there regardless of how difficult they might be to read. I found myself pausing throughout this novel to allow what I was reading to soak in, and to recess for a little self-reflection.

    Reading this book my eyes are opened wide to just how pervasive racism and biases are – they permeate so many aspects of our daily lives. My own realization that I have not been sensitive enough to recognize just how ubiquitous racism is, and how privileged I am, has left me feeling disappointed and embarrassed at my own naivety around these subjects. Despite that embarrassment, I’m thankful this book afforded the opportunity to learn more about these issues and I appreciated the careful and thoughtful manner the author approached challenging topics.

    I enjoy Jodi Picoult’s writing style, and especially admire how she quietly and expertly weaves examples of veiled racism into a storyline dealing with flagrant racism. I found myself often raising my eyebrows and thinking ‘I never realized or even considered that…’ when encountering so many examples of the injustices minorities can face in every day living.

    I was deeply moved by Ruth’s unyielding bravery in the face of great adversity, by her relationships with her family, and by Kennedy’s journey to self-awareness too.

    Discussing this book with my husband last night, I found myself choked up even just talking about the author’s notes at the end. I don’t feel like I can do this book any justice in trying to capture its importance with my own review. I’ll just say that I expect each person’s experience reading it may be different, but it is so worth reading. I feel enriched for having read it and I can’t wait for my husband to finish it so we can discuss it more fully. I highly recommend this book, especially for book clubs, because this is one you're going to want to discuss after reading.