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Cover of Broken Horses by Brandi CarlileBroken Horses
New · Nonfiction, LGBT

Broken Horses

by Brandi Carlile
2021 · 336 pages · Nonfiction
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 8 hours to read · about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Brandi Carlile grew up poor in rural Washington State, in a musical family that moved constantly. She tells about nearly dying of meningitis as a child, being refused baptism after coming out as gay at fifteen, teaching herself to sing and write songs, playing bars for years, and finally winning Grammys, working with her hero Joni Mitchell and building a family with her wife and daughters.

Why it's worth reading

It hit #1 on the New York Times list and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's warm, honest and full of music.

You'll love it if you liked

Good to know

Faith and religion are major themes. The audiobook includes her singing.

By the numbers

77.4Must-Read Score
  • Readers92 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller46 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Bestseller
#1 New York Times bestseller (1 week at #1)
Shortlisted
Goodreads Choice (memoir autobiography) finalist (2021)

How we rank

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Quick answers

Is Broken Horses worth reading?

Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It ranks #579 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 77.4 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Broken Horses about?

Brandi Carlile grew up poor in rural Washington State, in a musical family that moved constantly. She tells about nearly dying of meningitis as a child, being refused baptism after coming out as gay at fifteen, teaching herself to sing and write songs, playing bars for years, and finally winning Grammys, working with her hero Joni Mitchell and building a family with her wife and daughters.

How long does it take to read Broken Horses?

About 8 hours (336 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Broken Horses?

If you liked it, try Just Kids by Patti Smith, Finding Me by Viola Davis or The Beatles Anthology by The Beatles.