Try free for 30 days

  • The Call of the Weird

  • Travels in American Subcultures
  • By: Louis Theroux
  • Narrated by: Louis Theroux
  • Length: 3 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (153 ratings)

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Call of the Weird cover art

The Call of the Weird

By: Louis Theroux
Narrated by: Louis Theroux
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $10.63

Buy Now for $10.63

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

Read by the author, this is Louis Theroux's hilarious and thought-provoking journey through weird America.

For 10 years, Louis Theroux has been making programmes about off-beat characters on the fringes of US society. Now he revisits America and the people who have most fascinated him to try to discover what motivates them, why they believe the things they believe, and to find out what has happened to them since he last saw them. Along the way, Louis thinks about what drives him to spend so much time among weird people and considers whether he's learned anything about himself in the course of ten years working with them. Has he manipulated the people he's interviewed, or have they manipulated him?

From his Las Vegas base, Louis revisits the assorted dreamers and outlaws who have been his TV feeding ground. Attempting to understand a little about himself and the workings of his own mind, Louis considers questions such as: what is the difference between pathology and "normal" weirdness? Is there something particularly weird about Americans? What does it mean to be weird, or "to be yourself"? And do we choose our beliefs or do our beliefs choose us?

©2005 Louis Theroux (P)2005 Macmillan Publishers Ltd

Critic Reviews

"Alternately fascinating and sad." ( Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about The Call of the Weird

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    95
  • 4 Stars
    43
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    98
  • 4 Stars
    29
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    75
  • 4 Stars
    39
  • 3 Stars
    14
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    0

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

Enjoyed

it was great to hear some more personal thoughts from Louis in this auido book. I just wish it was longer!

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
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not his best work

Is there anything you would change about this book?

If you have seen a lot of Louis work (and I have) you have to sit through him setting up every anecdote through a re-telling of the stories in his documentaries. In these sections, it seems like he is retelling it based on what details ended up on screen, and adding little in the way of new information or insights. As such, its a bit light on 'new' details for the avid fan.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

There were a few updates on past characters that changed my views on the original tv documentaries. The least interesting part was (again) the amount of pages dedicated to explaining the TV series original material, which felt redundant.

What about Louis Theroux’s performance did you like?

He is a likeable guy, but this telling lacked a little of the humour that he is known for in his interviews - i think he is at his best when he is reacting to scenarios, rather than just writing alone for a reader.

Could you see The Call of the Weird being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

Err.. Louis.

Any additional comments?

This book is only for big fans, and even then its a tad lackluster. I dont say this easily - I'm a tragic fan of Louis work, but I struggled to keep paying attention through this one.

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

Brilliant

What did you like most about The Call of the Weird?

The variety of people that Louis can get to open up about their lives and beliefs. The way he questions while remaining respectful

What other book might you compare The Call of the Weird to, and why?

Them by Jon Ronson. Both attempt to show peoples unusual behaviours and beliefs through their own eyes

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

His own voice

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The young white supremacist singers

Any additional comments?

No

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

Louis is a legend

loved louis doing the voices. funny, thought provoking, chilling at times - truth is stranger than fiction!

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

I Love Louis, in a weird way.

i enjoyed having Louis in my liv8ng room as he shared his stories with me. he has a great voice for story telling.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

Interesting Book but prefer to watch a documentary

Wasn't as engaged as I expected to be throughout as I really enjoy Louis' documentaries but found this book a bit boring and without any real point. Not much had changed and everything was pretty much still the same.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

Loui voice acting is Amazing!!

this book is amazing start to finish.
Louis voice acting and immitaion was a highlight .
wish it was longer

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

great book

another great listen from Louis Theroux.
thoroughly enjoyable . I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys his documentaries

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

I have been a big dan of Mr Theroux for years. This book is another of his works to add. His thoughtful and curious outlook is an absolute delight.

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

Must Read

If you’re a Louis fan, you’re going to love this book..

Performed perfectly and oh so detailed

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.