Analog Sun

By: Alex Woodard

Narrator: Scott Brick

ISBN: 9780983988656

Publisher: Alex Woodward

Publication Date: 11/24/2025

Format: Audio

My Rating: 4 Stars (ALC)

NOV 2025 MUST-READ BOOKS

A Prequel

“Stunning, with a twist I didn’t see coming. Analog Sun is the perfect antidote to our digital overwhelm—and a beautiful invitation to a more meaningful, joyful life.”— Zach Bush, MD, leading educator on human and planetary health

A lost traveler wakes up bruised, broken, and confused in a strange alley—no phone, no wallet, and no idea how he’ll find his way home. Analog Sun follows his journey, unfettered by code and concrete, and reminds us of what’s possible when we trade the world we’ve built for the one that built us.

A small book with a big message, for anyone searching for life beyond the algorithm.

Narrated by Scott Brick

Buy the Book

#AnalogSun

My Review

Audiobook Review: Analog Sun by Alex Woodard, a powerful short story prequel (Ordinary Soil)..

Lost without a phone, a traveler must find his way back to reality.What happens when you trade a world of algorithms for the one that built us? Analog Sun by Alex Woodard is a quiet, stunning modern fable that will make you completely question your screen time

First, I want to express how much I enjoyed ORDINARY SOIL by Alex Woodard (Sept 2025), a poignant multi-generational novel that masterfully weaves elements of fiction and fact. Set against the vast and rugged landscape of the Oklahoma Panhandle, the story delves into the intricate connections of agriculture, generational trauma, and environmental health.

Through vivid storytelling, the narrative uncovers the resilience of those who till the earth, reflecting on their struggles and triumphs as they grapple with the legacies of the past and the hope for a sustainable future. Narrated by two favorites, Scott Brick and George Newman, it landed on my Top Books of 2025.

I was delighted to discover Alex's short story, ANALOG SUN, (prequel to Ordinary Soil) also narrated by the talented Scott Brick. We all need to step away from screens and technology.

The Hook

A lost traveler wakes up bruised and confused in a dark alley with absolutely no phone, no wallet, and no memory of how to get home.

Elevator Pitch

Adam is a recovering drug and technology addict living on the streets of California. When he wakes up without a trace of his digital identity, his love for animals and random encounters guide him onto a hidden path. Guided by wise strangers—including an off-the-grid traveler named Max—he embarks on a quiet journey across the state to reclaim his human purpose beyond the algorithm.

Setting

California—drifting from the concrete, digital noise of urban alleys out into wide-open rural farms and isolated, off-the-grid landscapes.

Vibe

Quiet, reflective, luminous, and deeply grounded. It feels like a calming literary digital detox in story form.

Genre

Modern Fable / Literary Fiction / Short Story / Novella

Themes

~Life Beyond the Algorithm:

Breaking free from artificial intelligence and digital overload to find presence.

~Healing & Recovery:

Stepping out of substance abuse and technology addiction to discover purpose.

~The Magic of Nature:

Trading the cold world humans built for the natural world that built us.

Standout Characters

~Adam: A vulnerable, wandering protagonist trying to piece his life back together away from the noise.

~Max: A lonely, thoughtful man living entirely off the grid who helps Adam rethink connection.

Author Writing Standout

Alex Woodard excels at intentional, simple prose. Rather than relying on high-octane drama or massive action sequences, he uses gentle, symbolic moments to craft an atmospheric, multi-layered allegory.

Takeaway

True connection can only be found when you intentionally silence the digital static and step outside.

Title Significance

Analog Sun represents a return to the natural, unprogrammed world—basking in real-life sunlight rather than staring into the artificial blue light of a screen.

Metaphor

The novella operates like a compass spinning in a dead zone—useless until you stop looking at the device and start reading the landscape around you.

Why You Should Read

Listen to this if you desire a short, beautiful, and comforting message about mindfulness that serves as the perfect antidote to modern technological overwhelm.

My Thoughts

ANALOG SUN is such a unique, quiet book that completely sneaks up on you. Because it is a fable, some of the life lessons can feel a little heavy-handed and on-the-nose, but Adam’s journey is written with so much empathy that you can’t help but root for him. It is incredibly short, making it an easy, satisfying listen that stays with you long after the final chapter.

Audio 🎧 Standout

Scott Brick (a long-time favorite) delivers an absolute masterclass in narration. His legendary, measured delivery perfectly embodies the book's reflective tone. Brick doesn't just read the story; he invites you directly into Adam’s inner world, giving the prose a deeply personal and cinematic weight that grounds the fable's grander themes.

Verdict (4/5 Stars)

"A Beautiful, Reflective Listen. Analog Sun is a brief (novella-length) but highly impactful modern fable that handles heavy themes of recovery and digital disconnection with immense grace. Driven by Scott Brick’s flawless performance, this audiobook is a beautifully quiet experience that will make you want to put down your phone and step into the sun. "

Recs or Read-alikes

~Ordinary Soil by Alex Woodard — Another deeply reflective, atmospheric audiobook performed by Scott Brick that handles themes of generational trauma and healing through nature. (Highly recommend and top audiobook of 2025)

~The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho — For readers who love short, profound fables about lost travelers seeking their true purpose in the world.

Special thanks to the author/publisher and NetGalley for sharing an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks

My Rating: 4 Stars

Pub Date: Nov 24, 2025

Nov 2025 Must-Read Books

Praise

“Stunning, with a twist I didn’t see coming. Analog Sun is the perfect antidote to our digital overwhelm—and a beautiful invitation to a more meaningful, joyful life.”

— Zach Bush, MD, leading educator on human and planetary health

“Ordinary Soil brings to haunting life the desperate realities of the American heartland but also offers a glimpse into a better future . . . a call to action for all of us.”

—WOODY HARRELSON

“An epic, beautiful, and compelling story, rich in plot and characters, with a powerful message that needs to be heard by all of us.”

—RANDY ZISK, Producer/Director of Monk, Director of East New York, The Blacklist, The Mentalist, NCIS New Orleans, NYPD Blue, The Blacklist, Grey’s Anatomy

“Beautifully written . . . captivates readers with an urgent call to action and a message of pure hope. Woodard eloquently weaves a tale of relatable humanity that inspires us all to embrace our connection to the earth.”

—EVAN HARRISON, CEO of Kiss the Ground

“Captivating . . . an essential love story between earth and human.”

—JAY NAIDOO, Cabinet Minister for Nelson Mandela

Analog Sun is a prequel to Ordinary Soil.

ORDINARY SOIL on my Top 50 Audiobooks of 2025 list!

ORDINARY SOIL by Alex Woodard is a poignant multi-generational novel that masterfully weaves together elements of fiction and fact. Set against the vast and rugged landscape of the Oklahoma Panhandle, the story delves deep into the intricate connections between agriculture, generational trauma, and the pressing issues of environmental health. READ MORE

About the Author

Alex Woodard lives with three horses, two dogs, two chickens, and two beautiful humans on a small ranch near the California coast.

His first novel found an early supporter in Woody Harrelson, who said, “Ordinary Soil brings to haunting life the desperate realities of the American heartland, but also offers a glimpse into a better future . . . a call to action for all of us.”

His nonfiction For the Sender book, album, and concert series has garnered praise from Huffington Post (“important, enlightening, and ultimately inspiring”), Deepak Chopra (“a beautiful tribute to the resilience of the human spirit”), Dr. Wayne Dyer (“an inspiring, thought-provoking, and life-changing work”), and Billboard magazine (“one of the year’s most touching, unique releases”), among others. Alex has also toured nationally behind several critically acclaimed albums, earning a few prestigious industry nods while sharing the stage with some of his heroes.

Analog Sun, a sequel to Ordinary Soil, is his second work of fiction. WEBSITE