Zorba the Greek
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Zorba the Greek Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Nikos Kazantzakis (Author), George Guidall (Narrator), Recorded Books (Publisher)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,370 ratings
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A wonderful tale of a young man’s coming of age, Zorba the Greek has been a classic of world literature since it was first translated into English in 1952 and made into an unforgettable movie with Anthony Quinn. Zorba, an irrepressible, earthy hedonist, sweeps his young disciple along as he wines, dines, and loves his way through a life dedicated to fulfilling his copious appetites. Zorba is irresistible in this charming audio production by veteran narrator George Guidall.

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  1. Listening Length
    12 hours and 35 minutes
  2. Author
    Nikos Kazantzakis
  3. Narrator
    George Guidall
  4. Audible release date
    July 27, 2011
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Recorded Books
  7. ASIN
    B005ES5WV0
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 12 hours and 35 minutes
Author Nikos Kazantzakis
Narrator George Guidall
Audible.com Release Date July 27, 2011
Publisher Recorded Books
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B005ES5WV0
Best Sellers Rank #137,398 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#1,875 in World Literature (Audible Books & Originals)
#2,305 in Cultural Heritage Fiction
#3,462 in Classic Literature

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
1,370 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Irving B. Goldberg
5.0 out of 5 stars "Life is what you do while you are waiting to die...."
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2024
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Kazentzakis is a master of character and archetype. Like "The Last Temptation of Christ" Zoba is populated with archetypal powerful characters- all engaged in life fully. Zorba is all heart, passion, and heat. Niko is thoughtful, logical, linear and reserved. Their challenge is to open a lignite mine on the island of Crete- and to learn what they can from each other. This is a read that deserves deep attention, a sense of humor and a willingness to deal with everything life (and death) can throw at you. Best quote from Zorba "God and the devil boss... God and the devil. They always travel together."
One person found this helpful
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SarahTheYeerk
5.0 out of 5 stars Deeply Moving
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2024
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This story gave me insights into my own life. I feel like I’m Boss, just reading and not going out there and experiencing it for myself. Was a moving story and gave me courage to start traveling more and enjoying life.
3 people found this helpful
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AB
4.0 out of 5 stars Old book/interesting philosophy
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2014
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I remember seeing the film based on this book, way back in the 60's, black and white, but had not read the book, which is much more philosophical even than the "live now" and LIVE, not just exist, philosophy that Zorba puts forth in the book. It was fun to read, and then I watched the film again...but the book is richer, with good descriptions of a zen-like, live in the moment, free spirit with a good heart and a full soul. I enjoyed the book a lot.
4 people found this helpful
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Guillermo Maynez
5.0 out of 5 stars It's only life but I like it
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2009
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In this beautiful novel, who was later turned into an also beautiful film by Elia Kazan with Anthony Quinn, the narrator is a young, wealthy man who is a shy and sedentary intellectual. Eager to experience some action and practical life, he rents a lignite mine in the island of Crete (around 1914). Before boarding the ship, he meets and older man, a strong and experienced guy who convinces the man to hire him as a cook and foreman. Zorba becomes the manager of the mine and the right hand of the young guy. Soon his personality and manners impress him, his opposite. Zorba lives fully in the present: whatever he does, he gives himself completely to the task at hand, thinking of nothing else. Zorba savours everything that comes his way, be it joy or sorrow, he is not afraid of ridicule or embarrassed at expressing his feelings. All this is revealed to us not through theories or explanations, but little by little as Zorba acts. When they arrive to the small town near the mine, they stay for a few days at an inn-brothel run by an old courtesan, who falls head over heels before the constant and melous courting of the old Greek. The (unnamed) young man is shocked: Zorba is capable of taking to bed and old, wrinkled, and teethless woman!. What's more, Zorba is actually capable of having sex at his advanced age! Zorba plays an ancient string instrument and dances in a frenzy frequently. But he's also a hard worker and comes up with an idea for an additional business to which he dedicates much energy and time. After a few days they move to their shared small cabin, and together they go through many adventures, some funny, some sad, and they face moments of joy, uncertainty, sorrow, and even horror. They come to learn from and love each other, and their friendship becomes solid-rock.

Zorba is an unforgettable character, a great literary creation. His spirit is contagious and revealing of our own cowardness and pettiness. But he's much more than a simple Dyonisus. Zorba bears the burden of a deep sorrow, and is haunted by all the people he killed in the Balkan Wars. Even so, he understands it is not worth it to live engaged in sad memories, and that is necessary to live to the fullest, as each person defines it. A great novel.
19 people found this helpful
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Douglas Ferguson
5.0 out of 5 stars Zorba - A Literary Life Force
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2014
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Zorba is “The Most Interesting Man in the World” advertising campaign for Dos Equis beer reached back to Zorba for casting. He is a man’s man - muscular, musical, musing (but not too much) and a Lothario curls into a ball and snoozes at a moment’s notice. Rudyard Kipling’s “If” must have been echoing in Kazantzakis’ when creating his title character. Zorba certainly kept his head about him when others were losing theirs.

I approached this book from two wildly uninformed angles. The first was from either having seen, or believed I had seen, the Anthony Quinn version of Zorba the Greek in the 1960s movie. A swarthy, swashbuckling Mediterranean was what I remembered. In high school I struggled through another Nikos Kazantzakis novel but remembered it as “great literature”.

No matter how I came to it, Zorba is a wonderful, wonderful read with a story and characters which etch themselves into your soul. The narrator sets out on a journey to resurrect a mine on the island of Crete. Early on he picks up a companion- the older and far more experienced Zorba - to help run the mine. Sancho Panza step aside (check the reference).

Zorba invades the narrator’s physical and psychological space. In their first meeting Zorba suggests he can work at anything - after all he has arms, legs and a head. Oh, and he can also smell minerals in the earth. And, a good thing since the narrator is headed to Crete to hire a crew to mine lignite.

Zorba disrupts the narrator’s obsession with books. The spoken word, not just the written word, allow the writer/narrator to develop. Zorba’s lusts - food, work, sex - are as contagious as they can possibly be. The narrator doesn’t transform to become Zorba, he adapts to become a better, fuller version of himself.

Kazantzakis provides plot, characters, and Buddhist ruminations. Indeed, Zorba the Greek was written when existentialism was in full bloom. (The author came in second by one vote in Nobel Prize voting to Albert Camus in 1957). Most existential writing is anxious, verging on desperation and ennui. Zorba the Greek is life - some triumphs, more tragedies with a constant movement forward. Change happens.
27 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Patricia
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfecto
Reviewed in Spain on October 25, 2023
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Rápido y eficaz, libro estupendo
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Peter
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Holiday Read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 14, 2023
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I enjoyed reading this and probably should have done so years ago. Not sure if would find a publisher these days without some significant changes for some modern sensibilities but as a piece of its times and and Zorba being a creature of his time and place a very good read!
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Rodrigo Alves Vieira
5.0 out of 5 stars Livro muito especial que me passou ideias positivas
Reviewed in Brazil on May 9, 2019
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Esse livro tem no seu personagem central uma pessoa autêntica, estoica que vive a vida de maneira um tanto excêntrica e até rústica. Muito bom pra quem procura uma estória leve, mas não por isso rasa. Tem muita coisa no comportamento do Zorba que poderia deixar a todos nós nos sentindo mais realizados na vida.
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Rodrigo Alves Vieira
5.0 out of 5 stars Livro muito especial que me passou ideias positivas
Reviewed in Brazil on May 9, 2019
Esse livro tem no seu personagem central uma pessoa autêntica, estoica que vive a vida de maneira um tanto excêntrica e até rústica. Muito bom pra quem procura uma estória leve, mas não por isso rasa. Tem muita coisa no comportamento do Zorba que poderia deixar a todos nós nos sentindo mais realizados na vida.
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2 people found this helpful
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Daniel
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on July 18, 2017
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Loved it
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Mr. Greg Gaughran
5.0 out of 5 stars swashbuckling good fun
Reviewed in Australia on February 7, 2024
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deserves its fame, loved this book. Zorba is the type of man you might meet in a bar and remember your conversation for the rest of your life.
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