Poetry Unbound cover art

Poetry Unbound

50 Poems to Open Your World

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free + £10 Audible voucher

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

Poetry Unbound

By: Pádraig Ó Tuama
Narrated by: Pádraig Ó Tuama
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £12.39

Buy Now for £12.39

An immersive collection of poetry to open your world, curated by the host of Poetry Unbound This inspiring collection, edited by Pádraig Ó Tuama, presents fifty poems about what it means to be alive in the world today. Each poem is paired with Pádraig's illuminating commentary that offers personal anecdotes and generous insights into the content of the poem. . Engaging, accessible and inviting, Poetry Unbound is the perfect companion for everyone who loves poetry and for anyone who wants to go deeper into poetry but doesn't necessarily know how to do so. Poetry Unbound contains expanded reflections on poems as heard on the podcast, as well as exclusive new selections. Contributors include Hanif Abdurraqib, Patience Agbabi, Raymond Antrobus, Margaret Atwood, Ada Limón, Kei Miller, Roger Robinson, Lemn Sissay, Layli Long Soldier and more. Collections & Anthologies Poetry
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Critic reviews

Mesmerising, magical, deeply moving. I loved and adored this book! If you are looking for a read that will warm your heart, inspire your creative mind and renew your faith in the resilience of the human race, look no further (ELIF SHAFAK)
A poem to Pádraig is like a child to Mary Poppins. It sits, alert, in wonder that he should know it so well. I would go out at night to hear Pádraig talk of the poems. The next best thing, maybe even better, is Poetry Unbound . . . There should be a copy of Poetry Unbound in every bar, every café, every train station, every bus station, every airport, every workplace, every school, every university, everywhere! (LEMN SISSAY)
A wonderful anthology of poetry filled with fascinating and thought-provoking commentary from one of the best voices in contemporary poetry today (WILLIAM SIEGHART)
Pádraig Ó Tuama is a bearer of light. He has been called to bring his illuminating insights into what some might consider encroaching darkness, and we are all the fortunate beneficiaries of his response. This collection of poems by fifty writers, with accompanying essays by Pádraig, is a testament to the rare fineness of feeling and understanding that mark his brilliant work for the On Being Project (LORNA GOODISON)
The Poetry Unbound podcast, and Pádraig's way of finding language to describe the details and intricacies and the shades of grey of the human experience, have made me a better person, a better songwriter and a better artist. Pádraig's perspectives have added so much beauty, wonder and comfort to my life, and I would urge everyone to dive into this deeply rewarding book (CAMILA CABELLO)
Poetry Unbound is terrific and I have been dipping into this magnificent book with enormous pleasure. Pádraig Ó Tuama's abilities as a curator of poems, combined with his remarkable gift for unpacking poems in such illuminating and generous ways, makes this ground-breaking publication one of the most engrossing books I have read in recent years (STEPHEN FRY)
A gorgeous book. Each stunning poem has been so lovingly selected by Pádraig Ó Tuama and then shared with so much generosity and care. This is an essential selection for poets and poetry lovers alike. I loved this glorious celebration of poetry and the ways it can navigate the heart and soul (SALENA GODDEN)
Pádraig's close reading of my "Wonder Woman" poem was a gift. I was and am deeply moved (ADA LIMÓN)
Terrific (CAROLINE SANDERSON)
All stars
Most relevant
Truly amazing from start to finish I was enchanted the whole way through excellent book.

Beautiful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Padraig, in his own calm and beautiful voice, guides us through these exquisite poems. Giving his own thoughts on the words helped me understand and gave depth to each one. I’m looking forward to his next one in this series.

Beauty between the Pages

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Pádraig Ó Tuama gently, as always, gives us 50 poems and stories and reflections and provocations to open our world( his words) and for me I was given that and a life laid bare, a life understood, a life healed a resounding resonance from others like and unlike me and all me… and all you.

50 ways

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
What a privilege to have stumbled upon this outstanding and heart open body of work! I related deeply to some of the poems and learnt a lot from others. In all, I loved everything about this collection, especially the narration. Highly recommended.

Outstanding and heart open collection

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
As a regular listener to the Poetry Unbound podcast I knew that this book would appeal. I never quite felt like I underestood poetry but I love the author's explanations and how he relates each to his own life. The only thing missing from this book is the repetition of each poem at the end of the chapter as well as the beginning which I love in the podcast. Thank you for making poetry accessible to me.

Poetry Expounded

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews