Cassette Books 2007 National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Library of Congress Washington 2008 Adult Nonfiction Adventure Dragon Hunter: Roy Chapman Andrews and the Central Asiatic Expeditions RC 60876 by Charles Gallenkamp read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes Biography of the adventurous American who pioneered explorations of the Mongolian Gobi Desert between 1922 and 1930. Discusses the expeditions' hardships as they traveled by automobile and camel across barren areas, "hampered by war, politics, and bandits." Describes the amazing fossils discovered by Andrews's team and the celebrity he subsequently enjoyed. 2001. A Furnace Afloat: The Wreck of the Hornet and the Harrowing 4,300-Mile Voyage of Its Survivors RC 60700 by Joe Jackson read by John Polk 3 cassettes Recounts the 1866 burning and sinking of an American clipper sailing from New York to San Francisco that left thirty-one men adrift in the Pacific for forty-three days. Describes storms and starvation endured and threats of mutiny and cannibalism. Sources include journals and then-journalist Samuel Langhorne Clemens's unpublished notes. 2003. A Mile Down: The True Story of a Disastrous Career at Sea RC 63117 by David Vann read by Erik Sandvold 2 cassettes Charter-boat captain chronicles his ill-fated voyages aboard the ninety- foot-long sailboat Bird of Paradise, which he had constructed in Turkey to house writing workshops. Describes adventures in the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Caribbean, as well as chronic financial and structural problems the latter of which ultimately sank his yacht. Some strong language. 2005. Simple Courage: A True Story of Peril on the Sea RC 62150 by Frank Delaney read by Frank Delaney 2 cassettes Uses archives and interviews to document the December 1951 disaster that befell the freighter SS Flying Enterprise while it crossed the Atlantic. Describes thirty-seven-year-old captain Kurt Carlsen's effort to transfer all the passengers and crew to lifeboats and his refusal to abandon ship after it was damaged in a storm. Strong language and some violence. 2006. Animals and Wildlife A Bevy of Beasts RC 61226 by Gerald Durrell read by Steven Crossley 2 cassettes (Reissue) Author recounts with characteristic wit his early years as student keeper at England's Whipsnade Zoo, one of the country's first "open" exhibitions. Describes humorous experiences with animals including a singing bear, a herd of friendly yaks, and a gentle giraffe whose best friend is a goat. 1973. Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems RC 62405 by Cesar Millan read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Mexican-born dog-rehabilitator and star of television's Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan explains using psychology to train one's pet. Includes anecdotes from his clients and his own pack of dogs. Describes how he teaches owners to "speak" their dog's language and encourages exercise, discipline, and affection. Bestseller. 2006. The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure with Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me RC 62296 by Jon Katz read by Peter Johnson 2 cassettes Author recounts a season on his forty-two-acre upstate New York spread, where he attempted to train three border collies Orson, Homer, and Rose to herd sheep. Describes the challenges of farming and dog-training and relates the ways his relationship with the canines helped him to become a better person. 2004. Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog RC 61561 by John Grogan read by Gregory Gorton 2 cassettes A columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer reminisces about the untrainable Labrador retriever that he and his wife acquired as Florida newlyweds. Recalls Marley's hilarious escapades and his capacity for love as the Grogans become the parents of three kids. Bestseller. 2005. The Pet Lover's Guide to First Aid and Emergencies RC 61875 by Thomas K. Day read by Barbara Caruso 1 cassette Veterinarian explains how to recognize and treat dogs' and cats' common medical emergencies including heatstroke, broken bones, lacerations, poisoning, allergic reactions, and skin, ear, and eye conditions. Provides instructions for performing CPR and preparing a first aid kit. Guide is organized by symptom and severity level, not clinical diagnosis. 2006. Tiger Bone and Rhino Horn: The Destruction of Wildlife for Traditional Chinese Medicine RC 62552 by Richard Ellis read by Ken Kliban 3 cassettes Author of The Empty Ocean (RC 58798) examines international trade in exotic animal parts used in medicinal remedies and aphrodisiacs. Discusses Western and Chinese healing traditions and suggests reducing the threat to endangered species such as tigers, rhinos, bears, and sharks through education and wider distribution of modern pharmaceuticals. 2005. White House Pets RC 61550 by Margaret Truman read by Kerry Cundiff 1 cassette (Reissue) President Truman's daughter provides anecdotes about the domestic and wild animals kept by first families. Discusses dogs, cats, horses, and sheep as well as pigmy hippos and lion cubs received as gifts from foreign officials. Covers Washington's horses and hounds, Teddy Roosevelt's zoo, FDR's dog Fala, and Kennedy's menagerie. 1969. Biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer RC 61087 by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin read by Steven Carpenter 5 cassettes Biography of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (1904 1967) "the father of the atomic bomb." Chronicles his New York City upbringing, marriage to Kitty Puening, work on the Manhattan Project, and life after the 1954 Atomic Energy Commission hearings which denied Oppenheimer his security clearance for questioning the ethics of nuclear weapons. 2005. Anthony Blunt: His Lives RC 60877 by Miranda Carter read by George Holmes 4 cassettes A biography of British art historian Anthony Blunt (1907 1983) who joined the Cambridge spy ring in the 1930s and worked for both British Intelligence and the Soviet Union during World War II. Carter relates Blunt's evolution from student to traitor, homosexual affairs, and eventual public exposure by Margaret Thatcher in 1979. 2001. Bring Me a Unicorn: Diaries and Letters of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, 1922 1928 RC 60406 by Anne Morrow Lindbergh read by Kate Kiley 2 cassettes (Reissue) Collected writings by the daughter of a prominent New Jersey family and wife of pilot Charles Lindbergh. Records her education at Smith College, family trips, struggles to become an author, and courtship with Charles, whom she met in Mexico City in 1927 following his landmark transatlantic flight. Includes introduction. 1971. De Kooning: An American Master RC 60110 by Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan read by Annie Wauters 6 cassettes Biography of Dutch-born artist Willem de Kooning (1904 1997), who became a major figure in the mid-twentieth-century New York abstract expressionism scene. Explores de Kooning's bohemian habits, friendship with Gorky, financial backing from Hirshhorn and Fourcade, only marriage, and passion for painting. Pulitzer Prize. 2004. Dragon Hunter: Roy Chapman Andrews and the Central Asiatic Expeditions RC 60876 by Charles Gallenkamp read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes Biography of the adventurous American who pioneered explorations of the Mongolian Gobi Desert between 1922 and 1930. Discusses the expeditions' hardships as they traveled by automobile and camel across barren areas, "hampered by war, politics, and bandits." Describes the amazing fossils discovered by Andrews's team and the celebrity he subsequently enjoyed. 2001. Dreamer of Dune: The Biography of Frank Herbert RC 61596 by Brian Herbert read by Ted Stoddard 4 cassettes Son's memoir of the author of the popular Dune science fiction series. Intertwines accounts of the son's life with that of his father's to shed light on the people, places, and experiences that played integral roles in the Dune novels. 2003. Edmund Wilson: A Life in Literature RC 61773 by Lewis M. Dabney read by Bill Wallace 5 cassettes Biography of twentieth-century literary and cultural critic and well-known diarist Edmund Wilson (1895 1972), who worked at the New Republic and the New Yorker. Uses Wilson's correspondence and interviews with his friends and colleagues to chronicle his professional and personal life that included four marriages the third to writer Mary McCarthy. 2005. Empire and Odyssey: The Brynners in Far East Russia and Beyond RC 62546 by Rock Brynner read by Ken Kliban 3 cassettes Actor Yul Brynner's son chronicles four generations of his family, beginning with his Swiss-born great-grandfather who cofounded the Russian port city of Vladivostok. Highlights events of each ancestor's life, including Brynner's Academy Award-winning father's path to the movie industry and his own stints as a clown, bodyguard, and writer. 2006. Fat Girl: A True Story RC 61433 by Judith Moore read by Kate Kiley 1 cassette Award-winning author's candid memoir of growing up overweight. Relates her struggles at school and home throughout an unhappy childhood and adolescence that were shaped by an absent, food-obsessed father, an abusive mother, a spiteful grandmother, and a kind, homosexual uncle. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005. The Glass Castle: A Memoir RC 61540 by Jeannette Walls read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Reporter for MSNBC.com looks back on her unsettled life. Describes growing up in a dysfunctional family that was always on the move. She recalls her father's dream of building a "glass castle," and relates how she and her siblings escaped to make lives of their own. Strong language. 2005. Hawthorne: A Life RC 61589 by Brenda Wineapple read by Annie Wauters 4 cassettes Biography of Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804 1864), author of The Scarlet Letter (RC 48457), explores his upbringing in a puritanical and lonely household in Salem, Massachusetts. Discusses how his failings in government work led to and influenced his writing, as did his views on slavery and New England society. 2003. Jesus Land: A Memoir RC 62245 by Julia Scheeres read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Blonde-haired Julia fondly recalls David, her adoptive black brother, and recounts their experiences surviving family violence and a stay at a Christian reform school in the Dominican Republic. Explicit descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. Alex Award. 2005. A Life of Privilege, Mostly RC 59690 by Gardner Botsford read by Gary Roan 2 cassettes Former editor of the New Yorker recounts a privileged youth graced with house servants and glittering society that included Harpo Marx, Alexander Woollcott, and Averell Harriman. Recalls his fearful World War II service, the glory days of New York publishing and its luminaries, and a tragic domestic life. 2003. The Life of Graham Greene, Volume 3: 1955 1991 RC 59889 by Norman Sherry read by Dan Bloom 7 cassettes in 2 containers This sequel to The Life of Graham Greene, Volume 2: 1939 1955 (RC 41053) covers the distinguished author's productive career and the final years of his tumultuous life. Sherry discusses Greene's private relationships and explores the people, places, and events that inspired his writing. 2004. Maude (1883 1993): She Grew Up with the Country RC 61761 by Mardo Williams read by Lindsay Ellison 3 cassettes A son's recollection of his mother Maude (1883 1993) chronicles the times and events of her 110-year lifetime. Maude went from using oil lamps to microwave ovens, from riding in horse-drawn buggies to driving an automobile. She also lived through two World Wars. 1996. My Life in France RC 61606 by Julia Child read by Kimberley Farr 2 cassettes The chef who changed America's culinary habits writes about the years after World War II that she spent in France. Julia Child recalls the difficulty of being an American in a French cooking school and the hard-won publication of her book on French cooking for Americans. 2006. Oh the Glory of It All RC 60643 by Sean Wilsey read by Erik Sandvold 5 cassettes Editor of McSweeney's quarterly relates growing up in San Francisco with dysfunctional, wealthy parents who divorced and "destroyed" his childhood. Describes his cruel stepmother, the Italian reform school he attended, and the drugs he took while his mother sought world peace. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2005. Open the Unusual Door: True Life Stories of Challenge, Adventure, and Success by Black Americans RC 62473 edited by Barbara Summers read by Bill Quinn 1 cassette Sixteen excerpts from autobiographies of African Americans from all walks of life. Discusses the sacrifices and decisions they made to excel in their fields. Includes baseball player Derek Jeter, entertainer Queen Latifah, General Colin Powell, and poet bell hooks, among others. For senior high readers. 2005. A Piece of Cake: A Memoir RC 62657 by Cupcake Brown read by Martha Harmon Pardee 4 cassettes African American attorney chronicles her abusive childhood and years of prostitution and drug use. Describes how she turned her life around through faith in God and the support of her friends and family. Discusses the process of recovery. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2006. Poet of the Appetites: The Lives and Loves of M.F.K. Fisher RC 61668 by Joan Reardon read by Faith Potts 4 cassettes This biography of the popular food writer and bon vivant M.F.K. Fisher (1908 1992) reveals that she often embellished the truth for stylistic effect. While probing the contradictions between Fisher's public and private lives, Reardon discusses the prolific author's marriages, lovers, child-rearing practices, and pleasure in writing about meals. 2004. Pope Benedict XVI: A Biography of Joseph Ratzinger RC 60689 by John L. Allen Jr. read by Lou Harpenau 3 cassettes Biography of the German pope, born Joseph Ratzinger in 1927. Journalist for the National Catholic Reporter traces Ratzinger's rise to prominence as a cardinal during the Second Vatican Council. Uses documents to outline the pope's conservative theological views on controversial subjects. First published as Cardinal Ratzinger. 2000. Right Turns: Unconventional Lessons from a Controversial Life RC 61414 by Michael Medved read by Gordon Gould 4 cassettes Radio talk-show host, film critic, author, and Orthodox Jew comments on his transition from liberal activist to conservative media commentator. Medved traces his ancestors' struggles for success in America and explains the contradictions in his life through the diverse experiences he shares with other baby boomers. 2004. Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers RC 63105 by Elizabeth Edwards read by Bernadette Dunne 3 cassettes The lawyer wife of former Democratic vice-presidential candidate John Edwards describes the ordeal of discovering she had breast cancer just days before the 2004 election. She recounts receiving an outpouring of support that reaffirmed her long-standing belief in the power of community, which she gained during earlier crises. 2006. A Sense of the World: How a Blind Man Became History's Greatest Traveler RC 62703 by Jason Roberts read by David Cutler 3 cassettes Biography of Englishman James Holman (1786 1857), who was blinded at twenty-five after serving in the Napoleonic wars and who then achieved fame as a world traveler. Quoting from Holman's memoirs, describes how he fought slavery in Africa, survived captivity in Siberia, charted the Australian outback, and published three books. 2006. She Got Up off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana RC 62225 by Haven Kimmel read by Kerry Cundiff 2 cassettes Following A Girl Named Zippy (RC 54946), Kimmel continues her saga of growing up in Indiana in the 1970s. Recounts her mother's decision to go to college and become a teacher to help the family's finances, and how that decision caused marital problems for her parents. 2006. Sinatra: The Life RC 61890 by Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan read by Peter Ganim 5 cassettes Author of Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe (RC 22984) provides a birth-to-death biography of singer/actor Frank Sinatra (1915 1998). Summers documents Sinatra's childhood, career, marriages, struggles with alcohol, complex relationships with women, and Mafia connections. Strong language. 2005. Solo: My Adventures in the Air RC 62533 by Clyde Edgerton read by Peter Ganim 2 cassettes Author of Floatplane Notebooks (RC 31559) recalls his lifelong love of flying. Reminisces about his ROTC service at the University of North Carolina and 1960s air force training. Recounts seeing combat in the Vietnam conflict, for which he earned a Distinguished Flying Cross, and declares his dislike of war. 2005. Somerset Maugham: A Life RC 61215 by Jeffrey Meyers read by Gordon Gould 3 cassettes Prolific biographer documents the life of a bestselling twentieth-century British writer, author of Of Human Bondage (RC 24363). Recounts Maugham's lonely childhood with a debilitating stammer, lifelong exile, and literary successes and friendships. Also chronicles his medical education, work as a secret agent, only marriage, and bisexuality. 2004. Spies: The Secret Agents Who Changed the Course of History RC 62416 by Ernest Volkman read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Biographies of nearly fifty people involved in espionage in the twentieth century, including moles, spymasters, defectors, and others. Covers Kim Philby, Dusko Popov the real James Bond Markus Wolf, Mata Hari, and K'ang Sheng as well as writers with undercover experience: Ian Fleming, Graham Greene, Ernest Hemingway, and W. Somerset Maugham. 1994. A Tale of Love and Darkness RC 61238 by Amos Oz read by Ken Kliban 5 cassettes Israeli author's literary memoir of growing up in war-torn Jerusalem in the 1940s and 1950s. Describes his multilingual, book-loving, Jewish family of European background while examining events including the Holocaust. Contemplates his mother's suicide when he was twelve as a pivotal event ending his childhood. 2003. Teacher Man: A Memoir RC 61267 by Frank McCourt read by Alexander Strain 2 cassettes Author of Angela's Ashes (RC 42805) recalls thirty years working in New York City high schools. Relates his experiences as an Irishman teaching English to Americans and beguiling students with stories from his past. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2005. Them: A Memoir of Parents RC 61816 by Francine du Plessix Gray read by Martha Harmon Pardee 4 cassettes Memoir about the author's mother and stepfather, Russian migr s who fled occupied Paris for New York City in 1941. Portrays Tatiana du Plessix Liberman's rise as a famous hat designer and Alexander Liberman's ascent at Cond Nast Publications. Describes the publishing and fashion scenes and her parents' glamorous lives. 2005. They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan RC 62551 by Alephonsion Deng and Benson Deng read by John Horton 2 cassettes Personal accounts of three young men who were five- to seven-year-old orphans when their will to survive led them on a thousand-mile journey away from the civil war raging in their Sudanese villages. They recall hunger, disease, and the predatory animals that followed them to the refugee camps. 2005. The Third Woman: The Secret Passion That Inspired The End of the Affair RC 62216 by William Cash read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes Describes the love affair of British author Graham Greene and his longtime mistress Catherine Walston the American wife of a wealthy nobleman. Uses their correspondence to compare their lives to the characters in Greene's novel The End of the Affair (RC 52415). 2000. Two Lives RC 61809 by Vikram Seth read by Bill Wallace 4 cassettes Author of A Suitable Boy (RC 35921) writes about his great-uncle, an Indian dentist, and the uncle's German Jewish wife. Portrays the couple's meeting in Berlin before World War II, their wartime losses and migrations, postwar marriage, and his own years living with them in England in the 1970s. 2005. Universal Father: A Life of Pope John Paul II RC 61288 by Garry O'Connor read by Alexander Strain 3 cassettes British biographer chronicles the life of Karol Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II (1920 2005), examining the inner man. Assesses Wojtyla's early life in Poland between wars, his interest in the theater, his acting during the Nazi occupation, and his ascent in the Catholic hierarchy. 2005. What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love RC 61248 by Carole Radziwill read by Constance Crawford 2 cassettes ABC reporter recounts meeting and marrying coworker Anthony Radziwill, the nephew of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Carole describes the relationship and friendship she and her husband had with Anthony's cousin John Kennedy. Relates the heartbreak of Anthony's recurring cancer and the 1999 accidental death of John. Strong language. Bestseller. 2005. When I Was a Soldier RC 61463 by Val rie Zenatti read by Anne Hancock 1 cassette French-born Israeli immigrant Val rie Zenatti recounts her compulsory military service from ages eighteen to twenty. Describes her conflicting emotions about national identity, being a soldier, homesickness, breaking up with her boyfriend, and training to shoot to kill. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2002. Where There's a Will RC 61675 by John Mortimer read by David Cutler 1 cassette Thoughts on the good life by the English lawyer, writer, and creator of the Rumpole mystery series. Drawing from literature and his own experiences, Mortimer ponders the pleasures of drink and eating out, the tyranny of political correctness, the pang of missed opportunities, the pursuit of happiness, and more. Some strong language. 2003. A Widow's Walk RC 61783 by Marian Fontana read by Kerry Cundiff 3 cassettes Playwright and comedienne chronicles her first year of coping with losing her firefighter husband, Dave, in the World Trade Center attacks. Now president of the 9/11 Widows and Victims' Families Association, she describes the aftermath of the tragedy and life as a single mother. Strong language. 2005. Wish You Were Here: The Official Biography of Douglas Adams RC 62233 by Nick Webb read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes Writer and personal friend of Adams pens an account of the man who created the Hitchhiker novels. Webb discusses Adams's childhood, schooling, time with the BBC, marriage to Jane, birth of daughter Polly, fascination with gadgets, atheism, and creation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (RC 18339). 2003. The Year of Magical Thinking RC 61740 by Joan Didion read by Anne Hancock 1 cassette Writer reflects on her emotional response to the unexpected death of her husband, John Gregory Dunne, after a visit to their comatose daughter. Discusses the shock of suddenly facing a crisis, the memory of their time together as a family, and the meaning of marriage. National Book Award. Bestseller. 2005. Blindness and Physical Handicaps Alex: The Life of a Child RC 61780 by Frank Deford read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes (Reissue) Journalist's portrait of his daughter, Alexandra, who was just eight years old when she died in 1980 from cystic fibrosis. He recounts Alexandra's life and passing, finds solace in the joy she brought to their family, and reveals the courage of a young girl facing death. Includes 1997 postscript. 1983. Barrier-Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide for Wheelers and Slow-Walkers RC 61293 by Candy Harrington read by Margaret Strom 2 cassettes This edition of Barrier-Free Travel (RC 56626), revised after September 11, 2001, contains updates on access-related rules and regulations and airport security procedures that apply to wheelchair-users and slow walkers. Covers travel with wheeler kids, tips and tools for planning a trip, and expanded sections on cruises and resources. 2005. A Brush with Darkness: Learning to Paint after Losing My Sight RC 60724 by Lisa Fittipaldi read by Jill Ferris 2 cassettes Author discusses her life after being diagnosed with vasculitis in her forties. Describes her feelings of despair during her first two years of blindness. Relates that a gift from her husband a child's watercolor set became the catalyst for her new career as a renowned painter, and for her new outlook. 2004. Cassette Books, 2004 RC 61614 by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped read by Lou Harpenau 4 cassettes A catalog of talking books produced on cassette during 2004 for adult and young adult readers. The nonfiction and fiction sections list books by subject categories. Separate listings identify teen selections, Spanish-language books, and bestsellers. 2005. The Disabled Woman's Guide to Pregnancy and Birth RC 62294 by Judith Rogers read by Catherine Byers 5 cassettes Comprehensive guide to disability-related physical and emotional pregnancy issues. Cites experiences of women with varying types and degrees of conditions including cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, spina bifida, and spinal cord injuries. Covers first, second, and third trimesters, labor and delivery, possible complications, and postpartum concerns. Includes resources. 2006. Education and Rehabilitation for Empowerment RC 61268 by C. Edwin Vaughan and James H. Omvig read by Bob Moore 2 cassettes The authors argue that the history of educational and rehabilitative services for blind people has condoned dependency. Provides an overview of the U.S. rehabilitation system during the twentieth century. Advocates for a positive philosophy toward blindness that includes empowerment, mobility, com- munication, and "blending in." 2005. A Guide to High School Success for Students with Disabilities RC 61627 edited by Cynthia Ann Bowman and Paul T. Jaeger read by Jill Fox 2 cassettes Essays and personal narratives provide guidance and encouragement to students with special needs on achieving a positive high school experience. Highlights self-advocacy, main-streaming, dating, extracurricular activities, and life after graduation. Includes resources about adaptive technology. Foreword by Chris Crutcher. For junior and senior high and older readers. 2004. I'd Rather Be Working: A Step-by-Step Guide to Financial Self-Support for People with Chronic Illness RC 61969 by Gayle Backstrom read by Kerry Cundiff 2 cassettes Author with fibromyalgia offers a guide to finding a job that can accommodate a chronic illness or disability. Discusses the Americans with Disabilities Act, government programs, education and training, assistive technology, and self-employment opportunities. Provides real-life examples and resources and includes exercises to assess abilities and limitations. 2002. The Little Monster: Growing Up with ADHD RC 60918 by Robert Jergen read by Erik Synnestvedt 2 cassettes Professor who didn't learn he had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) until he was twenty-four describes growing up with an undiagnosed disability. Anecdotally relates his social and academic struggles. Celebrates having ADHD and outlines coping strategies that have made him successful. Some strong language. 2004. No End in Sight: My Life as a Blind Iditarod Racer RC 61948 by Rachael Scdoris and Rick Steber read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Twenty-one-year-old author discusses her Oregon childhood, her experience with low vision, and her determination to become a professional sled dog racer. Describes being introduced to the sport by her father, becoming the youngest athlete to win a five-hundred-mile race, and the obstacles she overcame to qualify for the Iditarod. 2006. No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and in Life RC 61528 by Kyle Maynard read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Autobiography of a wrestler born without the lower portions of his arms and legs. Recalls his childhood, his illustrious high school athletic career culminating with the Georgia state tournament, and the support of his family and coach that helped him succeed. Includes his diet and exercise regimen. 2005. Persistence Is Power! A Real-World Guide for the Newly Disabled Employee RC 61175 by Jeanne Lazo and Carol J. Amato read by Bob Moore 2 cassettes Provides disabled employees with information about disability insurance, Social Security, and Workers' Compensation. Explains the Americans with Disabilities Act. Offers advice for filing claims and managing paperwork, and provides forms and resources. Addresses emotional, medical, legal, privacy, and monetary issues. 2004. Rebuilt: How Becoming Part Computer Made Me More Human RC 60850 by Michael Chorost read by Erik Synnestvedt 2 cassettes Science writer recounts his decision to get a cochlear implant, or computer surgically imbedded in the skull, to artificially restore hearing after he became totally deaf in 2001. Describes his physical and mental changes and reflects on the implications of technological advances on the deaf community and on humanity. 2005. Revised Standards and Guidelines of Service for the Library of Congress Network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped RC 61430 by Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies read by Don Hagen 1 cassette Describes service standards that apply to Library of Congress network libraries for blind and physically handicapped individuals. Offers guidelines for direct patron contact, lending, outreach, and production of web sites and reading materials. Also addresses consultants, volunteers, administration, budgeting, policies and procedures, reports, and research and development. 2005. A Sense of the World: How a Blind Man Became History's Greatest Traveler RC 62703 by Jason Roberts read by David Cutler 3 cassettes Biography of Englishman James Holman (1786 1857), who was blinded at twenty-five after serving in the Napoleonic wars and who then achieved fame as a world traveler. Quoting from Holman's memoirs, describes how he fought slavery in Africa, survived captivity in Siberia, charted the Australian outback, and published three books. 2006. There Is Room at the Inn: Inns and B and Bs for Wheelers and Slow Walkers RC 62606 by Candy B. read by Frank Coffee 2 cassettes Guide to one hundred U.S. lodgings that the author deems accessible and welcoming to people with impaired mobility. Reviews inns, bed-and- breakfasts, a safari park, a dude ranch, and other small facilities, detailing accessibility features including sleeping and bathroom accommodations. Lists properties by state and provides sightseeing suggestions. 2006. Two Hundred Fifty Tips for Making Life with Arthritis Easier RC 61090 by Shelley Peterman Schwarz read by Ted Stoddard 1 cassette Practical advice, tips, and techniques on simplifying home lifestyle by organizing, streamlining, and consolidating everyday tasks. Discusses alternating periods of activity and rest, planning ahead, and taking advantage of readily available labor-saving devices. An official publication of the Arthritis Foundation. 1997. Business and Economics Bait and Switch: The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream RC 61157 by Barbara Ehrenreich read by Barbara Pinolini 2 cassettes The author who explored blue-collar work in Nickel and Dimed (RC 52291) investigates the plight of unemployed and underemployed white-collar workers. Ehrenreich poses as an educated and experienced person and still suffers job rejection in the corporate world although she says she "did everything right." Bestseller. 2005. The Billion Dollar BET: Robert Johnson and the Inside Story of Black Entertainment Television RC 60023 by Brett Pulley read by Chuck Young 2 cassettes Forbes magazine senior editor traces the rise of the world's first African American billionaire Robert Johnson, founder and chief executive of the Black Entertainment Television (BET) cable network. Describes Johnson's humble background and success in turning a $15,000 bank loan into a billion-dollar media empire. Some strong language. 2004. The Disposable American: Layoffs and Their Consequences RC 62464 by Louis Uchitelle read by Ralph Lowenstein 3 cassettes Award-winning New York Times reporter examines the psychological and economic impact of corporate firings. Uses United Airlines and other examples to show how layoffs undermine former and remaining employees' mental health as well as overall business productivity. Recommends government regulation and a stronger labor movement to foster job security. 2006. The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time RC 61244 by Jeffrey D. read by Dan Bloom 4 cassettes Special adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General offers an integrated plan for ending extreme poverty by the year 2025 through improved health care, education, and infrastructure in developing nations. Analyzes global economics and wealth distribution. Details his work in Bolivia, Poland, Russia, China, India, and Kenya. Foreword by Bono. 2005. First in Thirst: How Gatorade Turned the Science of Sweat into a Cultural Phenomenon RC 62211 by Darren Rovell read by Jake Williams 2 cassettes Sports business reporter chronicles the development of the athletic drink Gatorade, as a product and a company, from the 1960s when the beverage was invented for the University of Florida Gators. Examines marketing strategies and sponsorship deals behind Gatorade's success and relates its iconic status in popular culture. 2006. How We Compete: What Companies around the World Are Doing to Make It in Today's Global Economy RC 62272 by Suzanne Berger read by Margaret Strom 3 cassettes Analysis of international business strategies based on a Massachusetts Institute of Technology study of five hundred companies in North America, Asia, and Europe. Surveys organizational, operational, and manufacturing processes of businesses from various industries textiles, automobiles, technology, and others. Concludes that cheap labor and outsourcing may not assure success. 2005. Professional Ethics and Etiquette RC 61701 J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company read by Peter Johnson 1 cassette Advice for developing business character and building professional relationships. Urges readers to assess their own personality, values, strengths, and weaknesses to identify areas needing improvement. Offers tips on becoming more responsible, improving time-management and memory skills, balancing life and work, and more. For senior high and older readers. 2004. Revolutionary Wealth: Shaping Tomorrow's Way of Life RC 61608 by Alvin Toffler and Heidi Toffler read by Melissa Edris 3 cassettes Authors of Creating a New Civilization (RC 41142) predict major shifts in business and society by 2025. Discusses skills managers will need as technology, wealth, and culture converge. Considers the crumbling of traditional institutions and the rise of nongovernmental organizations, flexible work schedules, and international dependence. 2006. Three Billion New Capitalists: The Great Shift of Wealth and Power to the East RC 61625 by Clyde Prestowitz read by Butch Hoover 3 cassettes Author of Rogue Nation (RC 57090) warns of danger to the American economy as eastern countries like China and India compete in the world market. Criticizes U.S. trade and budget deficits, insufficient savings, failing schools, and low investments in research. Cautions that such factors could lead to another depression. 2005. Careers and Job Training Don't Sabotage Your Success! Make Office Politics Work RC 61513 by Karen Ginsburg Wood read by Martha Harmon Pardee 1 cassette Provides tips to enhance workplace relationships and gain professional happiness and success when job performance alone may not guarantee advancement. Author shares her personal career experiences and offers strategies for understanding workplace dynamics, altering negative behavior, and perfecting the art of schmoozing. 2001. I'd Rather Be Working: A Step-by-Step Guide to Financial Self-Support for People with Chronic Illness RC 61969 by Gayle Backstrom read by Kerry Cundiff 2 cassettes Author with fibromyalgia offers a guide to finding a job that can accommodate a chronic illness or disability. Discusses the Americans with Disabilities Act, government programs, education and training, assistive technology, and self-employment opportunities. Provides real-life examples and resources and includes exercises to assess abilities and limitations. 2002. What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers RC 61233 by Richard Nelson Bolles read by Ken Kliban 3 cassettes Revised and updated edition of the popular guide for determining job objectives and career goals. This 2005 version assesses the impact of global outsourcing on job growth as compared to actual job vacancies, which are the product of constant employment turnover. Offers advice for finding a niche. Includes resources. 2005. What Color Is Your Parachute? For Teens: Discovering Yourself, Defining Your Future RC 62321 by Richard Nelson Bolles and Carol Christen read by Ken Kliban 2 cassettes Career guide helps adolescents assess personal abilities, interests, and long- term goals and land their dream job. Offers tips on employment searches and interviews. Examines the option of continuing education after high school or not. Includes resources and profiles of successful young adults. For senior high and older readers. 2006. Your Name in Print: A Teen's Guide to Publishing for Fun, Profit, and Academic Success RC 62234 by Elizabeth Harper and Timothy Harper read by Kerry Cundiff 1 cassette Journalist father and his college-age daughter offer teenagers, their parents, and their teachers advice on the different types of writing for publication. The two also guide would-be writers through the steps that are needed to get their work into print. For senior high and older readers. 2005. Computers Downloading Copyrighted Stuff from the Internet: Stealing or Fair Use? RC 62735 by Sherri Mabry Gordon read by Peter Johnson 1 cassette Explains how peer-to-peer file sharing works and presents arguments for and against it, including definitions of actions that are legal under current copyright law. Discusses the rise and fall of Napster, which made downloading music easy, and speculates on future developments. For junior and senior high readers. 2005. PCs: The Missing Manual RC 62256 by Andy Rathbone read by Lou Harpenau 5 cassettes Author of Windows XP for Dummies (RC 57340) offers a guide to basic functions of an IBM-compatible personal computer operating on Microsoft Windows. Covers installing printers and scanners, using digital cameras and music players, burning CDs, upgrading hard drives, getting online, preventing theft, troubleshooting, and more. 2006. Surviving PC Disasters, Mishaps, and Blunders RC 60809 by Jesse M. Torres and Peter Sideris read by Bruce Huntey 3 cassettes An information technology consultant and a systems engineer offer a wide- ranging guide to solving various personal computer problems using real-world scenarios. Provides instructions for handling hardware, software, and network glitches, safeguarding personal information, protecting against identity theft, avoiding Internet hazards, preventing hard drive crashes, recovering lost data, and more. 2005. Consumerism The Automatic Millionaire Homeowner: A Powerful Plan to Finish Rich in Real Estate RC 62371 by David Bach read by Erik Synnestvedt 2 cassettes Financial advisor advocates buying real estate to achieve financial freedom. Proposes developing a long-term commitment. Explains mortgages, down payments, financing, and tax strategies. 2005. Home Buying for Dummies RC 61874 by Eric Tyson and Ray Brown read by Ralph Lowenstein 4 cassettes Real estate and personal finance experts' updated guide to purchasing a condominium or single-family home. Provides in-depth but straightforward information on determining a price range, understanding credit scores, assessing home values, inspecting a property, selecting a mortgage, working with agents, brokers, lenders, and lawyers, and negotiating a deal. 2006. Jim Cramer's Real Money: Sane Investing in an Insane World RC 62042 by James J. Cramer read by Ray Childs 3 cassettes Market pundit and radio talk show host shares trading and investment secrets that he claims "brokers don't want you to know." Explains how to analyze the market and create a diversified portfolio that allows for some high-risk speculation. Encourages selling and urges investors to research stocks and companies. Bestseller. 2005. Make Money, Not Excuses: Wake Up, Take Charge, and Overcome Your Financial Fears Forever RC 63112 by Jean Chatzky read by Susan Denaker 2 cassettes Advice for women about short- and long-term investing. Offers four basic tips to improve one's immediate monetary picture and to guide future spending. Explains financial terminology, stock selection, retirement plans, and hiring a financial planner. Includes practical guidelines based on experience. 2006. The Number: A Completely Different Way to Think about the Rest of Your Life RC 62226 by Lee Eisenberg read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Former Esquire magazine editor examines financial plans and strategies for ensuring security and comfort in retirement. Eisenberg avoids specific mathematical formulas. Instead, he recommends evaluating "the life you want, the life you don't, and the costs of each." Strong language. 2006. Shelf Life: Romance, Mystery, Drama, and Other Page-Turning Adventures from a Year in a Bookstore RC 60048 by Suzanne Strempek Shea read by Nicola Daval 2 cassettes Novelist Suzanne Shea recounts the experience of volunteering to work in a friend's Massachusetts bookstore during cancer recovery. Shea reminisces about the patrons she encountered and her own book tours. 2004. You Can Do the Math: Overcome Your Math Phobia and Make Better Financial Decisions RC 60800 by Ron Lipsman read by Kerry Cundiff 2 cassettes Professor offers an introduction to the mathematics of personal finance. Covers buying or leasing a car, owning or renting a home, insurance, credit cards, college and retirement funds, taxes and inflation, stock market investments, compound interest, and more. Companion web site link gives calculations. 2004. Cooking and Food The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell RC 61328 by Mark Kurlansky read by John H. Mayer 2 cassettes Author of Cod (RC 45502) produces a social history of New York City from 1609 to 2005 by examining the rise and fall of oyster harvesting and consumption in the Hudson River area. Describes the desecration of a natural resource. Includes historic recipes. Descriptions of sex, violence, and some strong language. 2006. Blend It! One Hundred Fifty Sensational Recipes to Make in Your Blender RC 62106 by Good Housekeeping read by Barbara Caruso 1 cassette Simple, time-saving recipes requiring little cleanup. Includes directions for making frappes, smoothies, soups, pancakes, waffles, popovers, frozen cocktails, sauces, dips, salad dressings, and more. Discusses blender basics like purchase, operation, and safety as well as ways to obtain consistent texture. 2003. Chocolate: A Bittersweet Saga of Dark and Light RC 60895 by Mort Rosenblum read by Kimberly Schraf 3 cassettes Food writer exploring the world of chocolate production travels the globe to interview growers, manufacturers, and consumers. Discusses the history, legends, and professional expertise required to process this "elixir of the gods." Covers the origins of cacao beans and the modern $60-billion industry. 2005. Diabetes and Heart Healthy Cookbook RC 62692 by American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association read by Barbara Pinolini 2 cassettes Dozens of recipes following the dietary guidelines of both the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association to combat diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Includes a meal planning guide and suggestions for appetizers, soups, salads, seafood, poultry, meats, vegetarian entrees, breads, and desserts. Provides nutritional analysis for each selection. 2004. Fix-It and Forget-It Diabetic Cookbook: Slow Cooker Favorites to Include Everyone! RC 60692 by Phyllis Pellman Good read by Gary Tipton 5 cassettes Joined by the American Diabetes Association, Good presents healthy, easy-to-prepare meals not only for diabetics, but for all those watching their intake of carbs, sugars, calories, sodium, and fat. Recipes include main dishes, soups, desserts, appetizers, breakfast, and more. Provides exchange and nutritional values and menus for a week. 2005. Giada's Family Dinners RC 62449 by Giada De Laurentiis read by Barbara Caruso 1 cassette Host of television's Everyday Italian presents a collection of down-home dinner recipes that can be prepared for many or just a few. She includes soups and sandwiches; salads and sides; meals to grill; and family-style entr es, pasta, and desserts. Offers suggested menus for various family events. 2006. I'm Just Here for the Food: Food + Heat = Cooking RC 60619 by Alton Brown read by Dan Willems 2 cassettes Host of Food Network's Good Eats offers a manual on "how to control the process known as cooking." The book is arranged according to techniques searing, frying, braising, boiling, and microwaving with each lesson featuring a master recipe to demonstrate the method. James Beard Foundation Award. 2002. The Imus Ranch: Cooking for Kids and Cowboys RC 61309 by Deirdre Imus read by Barbara Pinolini 2 cassettes Author shares organic, vegetarian, and vegan recipes from her family's environmentally friendly, 4,000-acre New Mexico cattle ranch that hosts children experiencing illness or loss. Offers ideas for soups, sandwiches, sauces and dips, salads, main dishes, desserts, and more. Provides information on egg, dairy, and meat substitutes and healthy living. 2004. Mexican Everyday RC 62529 by Rick Bayless read by Lewis Grenville 2 cassettes Host of PBS's Mexico One Plate at a Time assembles recipes for some fifty main dishes along with side dishes for complete meals. Bayless discusses the guiding principles he follows when creating recipes: select the right one, pare back to its skeleton, streamline steps, and maximize use of kitchen equipment. 2005. My Life in France RC 61606 by Julia Child read by Kimberley Farr 2 cassettes The chef who changed America's culinary habits writes about the years after World War II that she spent in France. Julia Child recalls the difficulty of being an American in a French cooking school and the hard-won publication of her book on French cooking for Americans. 2006. The New American Plate Cookbook: Recipes for a Healthy Weight and a Healthy Life RC 60801 by American Institute for Cancer Research read by Dan Willems 3 cassettes Team of experts from the American Institute for Cancer Research provides guidelines for healthy meal planning, recommending that each meal contain approximately two-thirds vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans and one-third animal protein. Includes hundreds of recipes for appetizers, soups, salads, stews, entr es, vegetables, breads, and desserts. 2005. On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen RC 60425 by Harold McGee read by Kerry Cundiff 10 cassettes in 2 containers The 1984 kitchen classic expanded and updated to broaden the range of ingredients and preparations. Explains the nature, composition, and origins of foods and what happens to them when cooked by various methods. Discusses what gives foods their flavor, and offers tips for selecting the best ingredients. 2004. One Bite at a Time: Nourishing Recipes for People with Cancer, Survivors, and Their Caregivers RC 60170 by Rebecca Katz read by Carol Dines 2 cassettes Chef and founder of a culinary business that focuses on healthy food presents more than eighty-five appetite-pleasing and immune-boosting recipes. Includes broths and soups, vegetables, protein-building foods, side dishes such as potatoes and pasta, desserts, and portable foods suitable for anytime meals. 2004. Perfection Salad: Women and Cooking at the Turn of the Century RC 62572 by Laura Shapiro read by Margaret Strom 2 cassettes A history of the American domestic science movement at the beginning of the twentieth century. Describes the efforts of women to gain control of the kitchen using scientific methods that resulted in bland, processed food. Considers the influence of industrialization and economics on the way meals are prepared. 1986. The South Beach Diet Quick and Easy Cookbook: Two Hundred Delicious Recipes Ready in Thirty Minutes or Less RC 61176 by Arthur Agatston read by Mark Ashby 2 cassettes Fast cookery for dieters recommended by the Florida cardiologist and author of The South Beach Diet (RC 56409). Includes healthy appetizers, main courses, and desserts that use a minimum number of ingredients and are easy to prepare. 2005. Tapas: A Taste of Spain in America RC 62462 by Jos Andr s read by Frank Coffee 2 cassettes Award-winning Spanish chef shares dozens of recipes for a traditional cuisine characterized by small portions that can serve either as appetizers or entrees. Dishes are organized by ingredients, such as olives, tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, rice, cheese, eggs, seafood, chicken, and pork. Includes wine tips, serving suggestions, and modern variations. 2005. Crime Almost Paradise: The East Hampton Murder of Ted Ammon RC 60537 by Kieran Crowley read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes New York Post reporter details the October 2001 murder of multimillionaire Ted Ammon allegedly by his wife Generosa's blue collar lover Danny Pelosi. Traces Generosa's troubled childhood, Ted's financial success, and Danny's psychiatric problems all factors in this author's analysis of the crime. Strong language. 2005. American Gunfight: The Plot to Kill Harry Truman and the Shoot-Out That Stopped It RC 61362 by Stephen Hunter and John Bainbridge Jr. read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes Reconstructs the 1950 assassination attempt on President Harry Truman's life by two Puerto Rican nationalists. Describes how Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola opened fire on Truman on a Washington, D.C., street, shooting two guards before being stopped. Analyzes Puerto Rico's home rule movement and its relevance to this crime. 2005. Between Good and Evil: A Master Profiler's Hunt for Society's Most Violent Predators RC 60390 by Roger L. Depue read by Michael Russotto 2 cassettes Autobiography of the former head of FBI behavioral sciences unit, which profiles serial killers. Describing his career, Dupue covers law enforcement, infamous cases, and post-retirement consulting work. Relates entering a Catholic seminary upon his wife's death and eventually counseling prisoners. Violence and strong language. 2005. Cracking Cases: The Science of Solving Crimes RC 61377 by Henry C. Lee read by Jake Williams 2 cassettes Renowned forensic criminologist reviews five homicide cases that involve a man killing a wife or ex-spouse. Focuses on the science used to find information to solve the crimes. Includes the O.J. Simpson case for which Dr. Lee worked for the defense and the "woodchipper" murder case. 2002. Death on the Fourth of July: The Story of a Killing, a Trial, and Hate Crime in America RC 59653 by David A. Neiwert read by Derald Breneman 3 cassettes Award-winning journalist explores the history of hate crimes in America through a fatal July 2000 Washington state incident. Details an Asian American's criminal trial. Argues that the proliferation of intolerance and harassment results from police underinvestigation and lack of education, and that prosecution is a justifiable deterrent. Some violence. 2004. Dying to Cross: The Worst Immigrant Tragedy in American History RC 61284 by Jorge Ramos read by Mark Ashby 1 cassette Emmy Award-winning journalist recounts the 2003 smuggling of illegal aliens across the Mexico-Texas border that resulted in the deaths of nineteen people locked inside a truck. Using survivor interviews and courtroom data Ramos reconstructs the experiences of those who paid human traffickers to enter the United States. 2005. Every Woman's Nightmare: The True Story of the Fairy-Tale Marriage and Brutal Murder of Lori Hacking RC 62849 by Steven Long read by Jim Zeiger 2 cassettes Describes how Mormon Mark Hacking of Salt Lake City, Utah, killed his pregnant wife Lori in 2004, after she learned that he was a pathological liar. Chronicles her discovery of Mark's double life, explains why this knowledge led to her murder, and covers the investigation and trial. Violence. 2006. For Laci: A Mother's Story of Love, Loss, and Justice RC 61637 by Sharon Rocha read by Margaret Strom 3 cassettes Murder victim's mother describes the ordeal of having her twenty-seven-year-old, seven-months-pregnant daughter, Laci Peterson, vanish on Christmas Eve 2002. Relates her conversations with Laci's husband Scott, detectives, and other parties. Discusses anecdotes about Laci's childhood. Strong language. Bestseller. 2006. Honor Killing: How the Infamous "Massie Affair" Transformed Hawai'i RC 60430 by David E. Hannard read by John Polk 4 cassettes Professor chronicles two well-publicized criminal trials in Hawaii in 1931 and 1932: the first of naval officer's wife Thalia Massie, who falsely accused five nonwhite islanders of rape; the second of Thalia's mother and husband, who arranged the abduction and murder of one of the suspects. Some strong language. 2005. The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town RC 63332 by John Grisham read by Craig Wasson 3 cassettes In 1982, a twenty-one-year-old cocktail waitress was raped and murdered in Ada, Oklahoma. Five years later, a former Oakland A's pitcher and his friend were arrested for the crime, convicted, and sentenced. Grisham examines the impact police misconduct, DNA analysis, and the death penalty had on the case. Bestseller. 2006. Inside the Mind of Scott Peterson RC 61593 by Keith Ablow read by Bob Moore 1 cassette In an attempt to find a scientific explanation, a forensic psychiatrist examines the reasons Scott Peterson would kill his pregnant wife. Posits that Peterson's family history caused his sociopathic personality and that a new lover and impending fatherhood created "the perfect psychological storm" behind the 2002 crime. 2005. Murder on the Rails: The True Story of the Detective Who Unlocked the Shocking Secrets of the Boxcar Serial Killer RC 61798 by William G. Palmini and Tanya Chalupa read by Jake Williams 2 cassettes Former detective Palmini details the murder investigation that led to the March 1996 apprehension of serial killer Robert Silveria Jr. Silveria, a member of the little-known Freight Train Riders of America gang, is suspected of murdering an untold number of victims across the country. Violence and strong language. 2004. The Rescue Artist: A True Story of Art, Thieves, and the Hunt for a Missing Masterpiece RC 61523 by Edward Dolnick read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Chronicles the 1994 theft and recovery of Edvard Munch's The Scream, a painting valued at seventy-two million dollars. Describes the heist from Norway's National Gallery in Oslo and the subsequent three-month investigation by half-English, half-American undercover detective Charley Hill of Scotland Yard's elite Art and Antiques Unit. Strong language. 2005. Strong at the Heart: How It Feels to Heal from Sexual Abuse RC 61782 by Carolyn Lehman read by Gabriella Cavallero 1 cassette Personal accounts of nine survivors of rape, molestation, or incest at young ages. They discuss their experiences and the people who helped them reclaim their lives. Lists resources including assistance hotlines, books, movies, organizations, and web sites. Explicit descriptions of sex and violence. For junior and senior high readers. 2005. Thunderstruck RC 63094 by Erik Larson read by Bob Balaban 3 cassettes Edwardian England. Chronicles the 1910 manhunt for Dr. H.H. Crippen, who murdered his wife and fled in disguise by ocean liner to Canada with his lover. Describes how Guglielmo Marconi's 1895 invention of wireless communication enabled Scotland Yard to pursue the killer and enthrall the world. Bestseller. 2006. Unlikely Angel: The Untold Story of the Atlanta Hostage Hero RC 61380 by Ashley Smith read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Author recounts her seven-hour ordeal in 2005 with armed fugitive Brian Nichols, who held her captive in her apartment following his escape from an Atlanta courthouse. She describes convincing Nichols to surrender by telling him about her husband's murder, her trouble with drugs, her five-year-old daughter, and finding God. 2005. Worth More Dead: And Other True Cases; Ann Rule's Crime Files RC 61497 by Ann Rule read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Author analyzes five murders and the motives behind them. "Old Man's Darling" is an account of a young woman who couldn't handle her older lover's rejection. "A Desperate Housewife" recounts a woman's disappearance that ended in her husband's murder conviction. Sequel to Kiss Me, Kill Me: And Other True Cases; Ann Rule's Crime Files, Volume 9 (RC 59525). Violence. Bestseller. 2005. Diet and Nutrition The Biggest Loser: The Weight-Loss Program to Transform Your Body, Health, and Life Adapted from NBC's Hit Show! RC 61738 by Maggie Greenwood-Robinson read by Ray Childs 2 cassettes Outlines the lifestyle modification program that was adopted for The Biggest Loser television series. Trainers and show contestants offer tips for losing weight through diet and exercise changes. Includes recipes, meal plans, exercise instructions, and motivational strategies, including organizing your own Biggest Loser weight-loss competition. Bestseller. 2005. Diabetes and Heart Healthy Cookbook RC 62692 by American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association read by Barbara Pinolini 2 cassettes Dozens of recipes following the dietary guidelines of both the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association to combat diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Includes a meal planning guide and suggestions for appetizers, soups, salads, seafood, poultry, meats, vegetarian entrees, breads, and desserts. Provides nutritional analysis for each selection. 2004. The New American Plate Cookbook: Recipes for a Healthy Weight and a Healthy Life RC 60801 by American Institute for Cancer Research read by Dan Willems 3 cassettes Team of experts from the American Institute for Cancer Research provides guidelines for healthy meal planning, recommending that each meal contain approximately two-thirds vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans and one-third animal protein. Includes hundreds of recipes for appetizers, soups, salads, stews, entr es, vegetables, breads, and desserts. 2005. The South Beach Diet Quick and Easy Cookbook: Two Hundred Delicious Recipes Ready in Thirty Minutes or Less RC 61176 by Arthur Agatston read by Mark Ashby 2 cassettes Fast cookery for dieters recommended by the Florida cardiologist and author of The South Beach Diet (RC 56409). Includes healthy appetizers, main courses, and desserts that use a minimum number of ingredients and are easy to prepare. 2005. Drama The Burial at Thebes: A Version of Sophocles' Antigone RC 61676 by Seamus Heaney read by Barbara Pinolini 1 cassette Nobel Prize winner follows his translation of Beowulf (RC 49742) with a version of this Greek tragedy. Creon, king of Thebes, declares his dead nephew Polyneices a traitor and denies him burial. Polyneices' sister Antigone, defying Creon's edict, performs a symbolic rite for which she is condemned to death. 2004. Doubt: A Parable RC 61127 by John Patrick Shanley read by Martha Harmon Pardee 1 cassette Drama set in Bronx, New York, in 1964. Sister James suspects Father Flynn of misconduct with their Catholic school's first African American student, a twelve-year-old altar boy. She confides her suspicions to Sister Aloysius, who chooses to deal with the matter personally. Pulitzer Prize. 2005. Education Does God Belong in Public Schools? RC 61802 by Kent Greenawalt read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Columbia University law professor examines the relationship between religion and the U.S. public school system. Analyses court decisions about constitutional limits. Considers controversies such as sex education, evolution versus creationism, Christmas celebrations, religious clubs, and alternate lifestyles, among others. Reviews the history and purposes of American education programs. 2005. A Guide to High School Success for Students with Disabilities RC 61627 edited by Cynthia Ann Bowman and Paul T. Jaeger read by Jill Fox 2 cassettes Essays and personal narratives provide guidance and encouragement to students with special needs on achieving a positive high school experience. Highlights self-advocacy, mainstreaming, dating, extracurricular activities, and life after graduation. Includes resources about adaptive technology. Foreword by Chris Crutcher. For junior and senior high and older readers. 2004. High School's Not Forever RC 61364 by Jane Bluestein and Eric Katz read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Bluestein, author of Creating Emotionally Safe Schools (RC 53731), and Katz offer advice to adolescents on navigating through school. Includes anecdotes from thousands of interviews with students about their senior high experience. Discusses race, religion, cliques, dating, violence, body image, and ways to achieve success. For senior high readers. 2005. The Mom Book Goes to School: Insider Tips to Ensure Your Child Thrives in Elementary and Middle School RC 61439 by Stacy DeBroff read by Anne Hancock 3 cassettes Parental guide to enhancing a child's educational experience by taking a proactive role at home and school. The author, a parenting expert, addresses common behavioral, academic, and social issues and offers advice on bolstering student-teacher relationships, coping with learning disabilities, helping a child who is struggling academically, and more. 2005. Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling Class RC 60540 by Ross Gregory Douthat read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes A 2002 graduate of Harvard revisits his college years, revealing a life very different from what he had expected. Author claims the school "was not a refuge of genius and a sanctuary of intellect," but a place rampant with grade inflation, sleepless nights, sex, and status-seeking. Some strong language. 2005. The Promise: How One Woman Made Good on Her Extraordinary Pact to Send a Classroom of First Graders to College RC 62383 by Oral Lee Brown read by Margaret Strom 2 cassettes Author chronicles the mission she began in 1987 to finance higher education for twenty-three disadvantaged East Oakland, California, students if they graduated from high school. Every one did. Describes how she raised funds, established a foundation, helped college applicants get accepted, and decided to adopt future classes. 2005. The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America RC 60734 by Jonathan Kozol read by Robertson Dean 2 cassettes Investigates the decline of inner-city public schools and condemns political policies that erode the Brown v. the Board of Education ruling. Uses anecdotes to portray the resegregation of poor minority children and the establishment of standards of learning that fail to improve education. 2005. Family Discipline the Brazelton Way RC 57871 by T. Berry Brazelton and Joshua D. Sparrow read by Gary Roan 1 cassette Pediatrician Brazelton, author of The Irreducible Needs of Children (RC 52543), and child psychiatrist Sparrow advise parents on setting firm, loving boundaries for children up to age six using discipline as a teaching tool not punishment. Offers solutions for common behavior problems like biting, cheating, lying, swearing, talking back, and more. 2003. How to Talk So Teens Will Listen and Listen So Teens Will Talk RC 61881 by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish read by Catherine Byers 1 cassette Authors of How to Talk So Kids Can Learn at Home and in School(RC 42459) and Siblings without Rivalry (RC 26613) offer advice for parents with teenagers. Discusses how to communicate effectively to ensure compliance and mutual respect. Uses anecdotes to illustrate ways of dealing with drugs, sex, the Internet, and more. 2005. Queen Bee Moms and Kingpin Dads: Dealing with the Parents, Teachers, Coaches, and Counselors Who Can Make or Break Your Child's Future RC 61344 by Rosalind Wiseman read by Lee Adams 3 cassettes Author of Queen Bees and Wannabes (RC 55407) advises parents to model good behavior in difficult situations to set an example for their children. Explains the unspoken rules of being a perfect parent and describes ways to achieve a balance between overprotection and passivity. 2006. You're Wearing That? Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation RC 61332 by Deborah Tannen read by Cassandra Campbell 2 cassettes Sociolinguist author of You Just Don't Understand (RC 32031) and I Only Say This Because I Love You (RC 53484) analyzes conversations between mothers and grown daughters, explains why their interactions are often tense, and suggests ways to improve both communications and relationships. Anecdotes illustrate how misunderstandings arise. 2006. Gardening The Art of Setting Stones: And Other Writings from the Japanese Garden RC 57696 by Marc Peter Keane read by Larry Shapiro 1 cassette Eight philosophical essays by an American-born landscape artist reveal the beauty and meaning of traditional gardens in Kyoto, Japan. Keane describes the elemental principles of art, Buddhism, science, and nature that reflect the humanity and the greater purpose of these harmonious creations. 2002. Theresa Youssef's Vegetable Gardening for Beginners RC 62130 by Theresa Youssef and Wasfi Youssef read by Yolande Bavan 2 cassettes Basic gardening guide covers soil preparation, crop selection, organic and container methods, and pest control. Provides instructions for growing eighteen vegetables and four herbs onions, lettuce, spinach, peas, cabbage, potatoes, broccoli, beets, carrots, radishes, tomatoes, squash, corn, beans, peppers, cucumbers, eggplants, okra, parsley, mint, basil, and catnip grouped according to hardiness. 2000. This Common Ground: Seasons on an Organic Farm RC 61755 by Scott Chaskey read by Anne Hancock 2 cassettes Poet and educator describes one year at a community-supported agriculture project on New York's Long Island. Season by season, Chaskey describes the daily toils of planting, cultivating, and harvesting while reflecting on land stewardship, challenges facing small farms, and the connection between earth and the human family. 2005. Government and Politics America at the Crossroads: Democracy, Power, and the Neoconservative Legacy RC 62668 by Francis Fukuyama read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Author of The End of History and the Last Man (RC 34935) analyzes the history of neoconservatism and its role in American foreign policy since September 11, 2001. Criticizes the war in Iraq and proposes an alternative approach to international relations that would promote democracy and multilateral development. 2006. American Evita: Hillary Clinton's Path to Power RC 59657 by Christopher Andersen read by Conrad Feininger 2 cassettes Journalist Andersen, author of Bill and Hillary: The Marriage (RC 48856), argues that Bill Clinton and his wife, New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, are engaged in a long-term plan to win the presidency for Mrs. Clinton and a Supreme Court position for the former chief executive. Strong language. 2004. American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the Twenty-first Century RC 61924 by Kevin Phillips read by Michael Scherer 4 cassettes Author of American Dynasty (RC 57760) contends that religious zealotry dominating a weak Republican coalition threatens the very survival of the United States through energy-centered foreign policy and reckless debt. Surveys the demise of world powers from ancient Rome to the British Empire. Bestseller. 2006. The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream RC 63126 by Barack Obama read by Barack Obama 2 cassettes Democratic senator from Illinois and author of Dreams from My Father (RC 43877) details his ideas to improve the country. Discusses American values, the U.S. Constitution, religion, globalization, race, and other subjects of interest to voters. 2006. The Battle for Social Security: From FDR's Vision to Bush's Gamble RC 61961 by Nancy J. Altman read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes A pension rights advocate and former Harvard professor outlines the history of the Social Security Administration since its establishment in 1935 by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Details George W. Bush's plan to implement private retirement accounts and offers suggestions to strengthen the program as it exists during the Bush presidency. 2005. Between Worlds: The Making of an American Life RC 62268 by Bill Richardson read by Erik Synnestvedt 3 cassettes Autobiography of a Democratic politician from New Mexico who has served as a congressional representative, ambassador to the United Nations, Secretary of Energy, and governor of his state. Describes his childhood in Mexico City, U.S. government service, negotiations with warring nations, and vision for America. 2005. Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire RC 61407 by Niall Ferguson read by Peter Johnson 4 cassettes Historian and author of The House of Rothschild (RC 51082) examines the origins and nature of U.S. imperialism. Interprets the September 11, 2001, attacks and subsequent invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan in a historical context. Endorses a contemporary liberal American empire for the good of the world. 2004. Condi vs. Hillary: The Next Great Presidential Race RC 61956 by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes The authors posit that the only candidate who can successfully defeat New York senator Hillary Clinton for the U.S. presidency in 2008 is Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. They compare the two women's past accomplishments, experience, character, and reputations, and speculate on the type of leader each could become. 2005. Democracy in America RC 61828 by Alexis de Tocqueville read by Ted Stoddard 7 cassettes in 2 containers (Reissue) Classic treatise by a French aristocrat comprehensively examines the underpinnings of American democratic institutions including the rights and powers provided by the Constitution, forms of governments, and concepts of freedom and equality. Also analyzes the influence of democratic values on intellectual movements, customs, and political society. 2000 translation by Harvey C. Mansfield and Delba Winthrop. 1835. An End to Evil: How to Win the War on Terror RC 61579 by David Frum and Richard Perle read by Michael Scherer 2 cassettes Frum, author of The Right Man (RC 55531) and former special assistant to President George W. Bush, and Perle, former Defense Policy Board chairman, examine foreign, domestic, and ideological threats to America. They support Bush administration initiatives like the Patriot Act but identify U.S. military, intelligence, and diplomatic vulnerabilities. 2003. Fantastic: The Life of Arnold Schwarzenegger RC 61227 by Laurence Leamer read by Richard Davidson 4 cassettes The author of The Kennedy Men (RC 54584) and The Kennedy Women (RC 40698) chronicles Schwarzenegger's rise from immigrant athlete to action hero and governor of California. Describes the bodybuilding culture and Hollywood scene. Comments on Schwarzenegger's business acumen, relationships, and marriage to Kennedy family heiress Maria Shriver. 2005. Flying Blind RC 61092 by Michael A. Smerconish read by Erik Synnestvedt 2 cassettes Journalist criticizes airline security procedures established by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Transportation Security Administration. Contends that random screening which avoids racial or ethnic profiling, particularly of Arab men may be politically correct but actually jeopardizes the war on terror and passenger safety. Foreword by Senator Arlen Specter. 2004. Godless: The Church of Liberalism RC 62602 by Ann Coulter read by Barbara Caruso 3 cassettes Conservative commentator observes that liberalism has all the trademarks of a religion without a divinity. Illustrates her analogy by examining the topics of abortion, crime, education, and bad science. Coulter criticizes ex-CIA employee Valerie Plame, war protester Cindy Sheehan, and the widows of the September 11, 2001, victims. Bestseller. 2006. Herding Cats: A Life in Politics RC 61184 by Trent Lott read by Gregory Gorton 2 cassettes Republican senator from Mississippi recalls growing up the son of a sharecropper, attending "Ole Miss" when it became integrated, and succeeding his mentor, Democrat William Colmer, in the House of Representatives in 1972. Highlights his career in both the House and Senate. 2005. House of War: The Pentagon and the Disastrous Rise of American Power RC 61728 by James Carroll read by Robertson Dean 5 cassettes Chronicle of the U.S. military establishment in the Pentagon, from the building's construction to the institution's rise as a governmental unit. Argues that the bombing of Germany and Japan in World War II, the violence of the Iraq war, and uncontrolled nuclear buildup all illustrate the Pentagon's unrestrained command. 2006. Liberalism Is a Mental Disorder: Savage Solutions RC 61104 by Michael Savage read by Gregory Gorton 2 cassettes Conservative radio talk-show host and author of The Enemy Within (RC 57750) and The Savage Nation (RC 55527) suggests practical ways to reclaim what he calls American social, political, and cultural integrity from the extreme left wing. Discusses the war in Iraq, illegal immigration, Islam, and the ACLU. Bestseller. 2005. The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God, and World Affairs RC 62448 by Madeleine Albright read by Patricia Kilgarriff 2 cassettes Critique of U.S. foreign policy by the former secretary of state and United Nations ambassador. Asserts that religion controls international relations, especially in the Middle East. Traces the history of religious conflicts among nations and offers suggestions for improved international cooperation. Introduction by former president Bill Clinton. Bestseller. 2006. Rednecks and Bluenecks: The Politics of Country Music RC 62224 by Chris Willman read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes Entertainment Weekly reporter interviews country western singers to ascertain the politics behind their brand of show business. Studies the belief that there is Republican partisanship among the genre's base and investigates the shift of the South away from the Democratic party. Some strong language. 2005. State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration RC 61826 by James Risen read by Mark Ashby 2 cassettes New York Times reporter recounts anecdotes, often from anonymous sources, concerning CIA efforts to thwart terrorists since September 11, 2001. Discusses the National Security Agency's domestic wiretapping program, the search for weapons of mass destruction, and the return of Afghanistan's opium trade. Posits that the CIA mission failed. Bestseller. 2006. The Truth (with Jokes) RC 61420 by Al Franken read by Frank Coffee 2 cassettes Political satirist and author of Lies: and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them (RC 56939) continues to condemn conservative politicians. Criticizes President George W. Bush and his administration on matters such as the 2004 election, Social Security, and Iraq. Proposes solutions to America's problems. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2005. The Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy: The Untold Story of How Democratic Operatives, Eccentric Billionaires, Liberal Activists, and Assorted Celebrities Tried to Bring Down a President and Why They'll Try Even Harder Next Time RC 62831 by Byron York read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Journalist argues that Republican-dominated politics and George W. Bush's foreign policy galvanized the liberal movement. Discusses organizations, financial tactics, and activists like director Michael Moore, comedian Al Franken, and billionaire George Soros. York details the Democrats' multimedia fundraising and voter outreach campaigns, predicting that they will strengthen before 2008. 2005. Hobbies and Crafts Knit Wit: Thirty Easy and Hip Projects; a Hands-Free Step-by-Step Guide RC 60467 by Amy R. Singer read by Jill Fox 1 cassette Knitting web-site editor offers a variety of patterns for skirts, sweaters, funky hats and scarves, an ice cream pint cozy, a laptop cover, a yoga mat bag, a water bottle sling, and more, arranged in order of difficulty. Provides information for beginners on equipment, materials, and basic techniques. 2004. Turning Memories into Memoirs: A Handbook for Writing Lifestories RC 61546 by Denis Ledoux read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Writing coach presents a step-by-step guide for recording a personal or family history. Covers jogging one's memory, conducting interviews and research, discerning fact from fiction, choosing a theme, making it meaningful, and editing a finished product. Includes exercises, sample life stories, and tips on grammar and storytelling techniques. 2003. Home Management The Flooring Handbook: The Complete Guide to Choosing and Installing Floors RC 60444 by Dennis Jeffries read by Kerry Cundiff 2 cassettes Industry insider with forty years' experience offers step-by-step instructions for laying ceramic, clay, terra-cotta, concrete, marble, brick, slate, mosaic, vinyl, linoleum, wood, carpet, and more. Helps readers select appropriate flooring materials based on usage, cost, and maintenance considerations. Provides information on necessary tools and materials, preparation, and subflooring. 2004. How to Organize Just About Everything: More than Five Hundred Step-by-Step Instructions for Everything from Organizing Your Closets to Planning a Wedding to Creating a Flawless Filing System RC 60459 by Peter Walsh read by Gary Tipton 6 cassettes Anti-clutter expert and host of television's Clean Sweep offers advice on organizing your entire life from education and career to social life and family affairs. Includes solutions for preparing for the unexpected, simplifying your life, and achieving dreams. 2004. No Place like Home: Staying In, Kicking Back, and Living It Up RC 60557 by Michelle Kehm read by Constance Crawford 1 cassette Journalist's cost-conscious, domestic-arts guide for women looking to make the most of their personal space, be it apartment or house. Offers tips on cleaning and furnishing, growing an indoor herb garden, scrapbooking, starting a book club, hosting parties, indulging in a do-it-yourself spa, and more. 2005. Popular Mechanics Complete Home How-To RC 59731 by Albert Jackson and David Day read by Richard Hauenstein 9 cassettes in 2 containers Comprehensive do-it-yourself home improvement guide. Detailed instructions explain simple tasks like replacing an electrical switch as well as more involved projects like paving with concrete. Covers plumbing, heating, insulation, home security, windows and doors, roof maintenance, pest infestation, floor and wall coverings, appliance repair, wiring, decorating, and more. 2004. The R.A.T. (Real-World Aptitude Test): Preparing Yourself for Leaving Home RC 59861 by Homer E. Moyer Jr. read by Ray Childs 3 cassettes The Real-World Aptitude Test, for young people preparing to live independently, provides questions, answers, and helpful hints on practical knowledge and survival skills. Topics include sex, drugs, etiquette, budget, employment, nutrition, cooking, and emergencies, among others. For senior high and older readers. 2003. Yankee Magazine Vinegar, Duct Tape, Milk Jugs, and More: 1,001 Ingenious Ways to Use Common Household Items to Repair, Restore, Revive, or Replace Just About Everything in Your Life RC 61173 by Earl Proulx read by Erik Synnestvedt 3 cassettes Handyman columnist's ideas for saving time, money, and waste. Tips include using vinegar to clear clogged showerheads, hair spray to end static cling, olive oil to clean grease off hands, and more. 1999. Humor African American Humor: The Best Black Comedy from Slavery to Today RC 62112 edited by Mel Watkins read by Saidah Arrika Ekulona 3 cassettes Anthology of African American humor from traditional trickster tales to twenty-first century comedy. Contains proverbs, short stories, riddles, songs, jokes, and stand-up routines as well as literary works by Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes. Includes historical introductions for each chapter. Foreword by Dick Gregory. Strong language. 2002. Dave Barry's Money Secrets: Like, Why Is There a Giant Eyeball on the Dollar? RC 62030 by Dave Barry read by Peter Johnson 2 cassettes Pulitzer Prize-winning humor columnist and author of Boogers Are My Beat (RC 58286) addresses economics and personal finance. Comments on real estate, corporate ethics, and health care. Offers advice on prospering in the stock market (using time travel), minimizing taxes (by cheating), and arguing with your spouse about money. 2006. New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer RC 61077 by Bill Maher read by Michael Russotto 1 cassette Television humorist pokes fun at modern culture, politics, and fads as he did in When You Ride Alone You Ride with bin Laden (RC 55341). Targets include advertising, cell phones, Starbucks, homeland security, and the movies. Strong language. Bestseller. 2005. Inspiration Believing God RC 62187 by Beth Moore read by Margaret Strom 2 cassettes Bible teacher urges Christians to examine their belief systems and develop an active faith as a lifestyle. Provides examples from scripture and her own life to show how faith in God can help close the gap between theology and reality and allow one to fulfill a successful Christian life. 2004. Can You Stand to Be Blessed? RC 61385 by T.D. Jakes read by Bill Wallace 1 cassette Bishop Jakes offers biblical insight into understanding God's plan. Expresses belief that through prayer individuals can survive the peaks and valleys of life and gain the patience needed to be prepared to serve God. 1994. Chicken Soup for the African American Soul: Celebrating and Sharing Our Culture One Story at a Time RC 61889 by Jack Canfield and Lisa Nichols read by Saidah Arrika Ekulona 3 cassettes Coauthor and radio host Tom Joyner sees this book as an extension of his "efforts to reach the souls of black folks all around the country." Collection covers African American roots, families, resilience, and religion. Includes works and quotations by Colin Powell, Rosa Parks, Reggie Jackson, and Frederick Douglass. 2004. A Gift of Love: Reflections for the Tender Heart RC 62394 by Charles Stanley read by Bob Moore 1 cassette Collection of brief devotional passages, prayers, and scripture verses by pastor and author of The Source of My Strength (RC 39969). Encourages readers to embrace God's unconditional love and accept Jesus as savior to find salvation in life and cope with everyday challenges. 2001. Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling RC 62202 by Wayne W. Dyer read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Educational counselor and author of The Power of Intention (RC 58050) explains ways to lead an inspired life by recognizing and cultivating one's inner spirit. Uses personal examples to show how anyone can tap inherent inspirational powers, bring creativity and energy to daily activities, and find purpose. Bestseller. 2006. A Knock at Midnight: Inspiration from the Great Sermons of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. RC 62329 edited by Clayborne Carson and Peter Holloran read by Martin Luther King, Jr. 2 cassettes Eleven of King's sermons, including his earliest recorded homily "Rediscovering Lost Values" and "Remaining Awake during a Great Revolution," delivered at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., just days before his assassination. Each sermon is introduced by well-known ministers such as the Reverend Billy Graham and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. 1998. Left to Tell: Discovering God amidst the Rwandan Holocaust RC 62290 by Immacul e Ilibagiza read by Catherine Byers 2 cassettes Survivor of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, where Hutus slaughtered almost a million Tutsis within three months, relates her happy, Catholic childhood. Describes the newfound love of God she discovered while hiding in terror from the machete-wielding men who murdered many of her family members. Violence. Bestseller. 2006. Look Great, Feel Great: Twelve Keys to Enjoying a Healthy Life Now RC 62579 by Joyce Meyer read by Anne Hancock 2 cassettes Radio and television host and full-time minister offers her guide to attaining spiritual and physical health to boost self-esteem and better carry out God's work. Describes twelve aspects she deems as crucial to well-being, including eating right, exercising, drinking plenty of water, reducing stress, and trusting in God. Bestseller. 2006. Matters of the Heart RC 61746 by Juanita Bynum read by Melissa Maxwell 2 cassettes Author relates her personal spiritual journey of reconciling her heart with God and finding true enlightenment, harnessing her excessive ambitions, and controlling her frustrations. Uses passages from the Bible to suggest ways of breaking old habits and establishing a daily prayer practice. 2002. My Descent into Death: A Second Chance at Life RC 61973 by Howard Storm read by Bill Wallace 1 cassette Former atheist discusses the near-death experience he had while awaiting surgery in a Paris hospital. Storm decribes first experiencing darkness and pain, being embraced by a brilliant light, seeing his wounds vanish, and conversing with Jesus and his angels. Foreword by Anne Rice. 2005. A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose RC 60650 by Eckhart Tolle read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes The author of The Power of Now (RC 55646) implores people to reject a prevailing ego-based state of consciousness and shift to a higher plane to create a more loving world. 2005. Overcoming Life's Disappointments RC 62155 by Harold S. Kushner read by Arthur Morey 2 cassettes Rabbi Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People (BR 16801), cites the biblical tale of Moses as inspiration for persevering in the face of adversity. Also examines other role models real and fictional for their resilience, faith, and boldly daring to dream. 2006. Soul Survivor: How Thirteen Unlikely Mentors Helped My Faith Survive the Church RC 62513 by Philip Yancey read by Bob Moore 3 cassettes Author of What's So Amazing about Grace? (RC 56055) profiles thirteen notable figures who have directly or indirectly influenced his life and work. Includes Martin Luther King Jr., Leo Tolstoy, Gandhi, John Donne, Annie Dillard, and others. Reveals his spiritual journey back to faith after nearly abandoning Christianity. 2001. A Table in the Presence RC 62822 by Carey H. Cash read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Lt. Carey Cash describes the nine-hour battle on April 10, 2003, to seize a presidential palace in Baghdad. The chaplain explains why he and the soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment believe God saw them through as they suffered only one death. 2004. Journalism and the Media Crime Beat: A Decade of Covering Cops and Killers RC 62770 by Michael Connelly read by Len Cariou 2 cassettes Collection of articles drawn from the author's early experience as a crime reporter in the 1980s and 1990s. The accounts, most of which were published in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Los Angeles Times, portray both the police officers and the criminals who would later inspire Connelly's novels. 2004. Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival RC 62793 by Anderson Cooper read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes CNN correspondent and anchor discusses the events he covered in 2005 the Asian tsunami, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, famine in Africa, and the war in Iraq. Reflects on the connections these crises evoked between his professional and personal life. Bestseller. 2006. The Gay Talese Reader: Portraits and Encounters RC 62444 by Gay Talese read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Collection of articles written between 1961 and 1997 reflecting the author's brand of New Journalism. Profiles New York City and twentieth-century celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Peter O'Toole, Joe DiMaggio, Joe Louis, and Muhammad Ali. Contains autobiographical essays like "Walking My Cigar." Some strong language. 2003. Knightfall: Knight Ridder and How the Erosion of Newspaper Journalism Is Putting Democracy at Risk RC 61483 by Davis Merritt read by Ray Childs 2 cassettes Retired reporter examines the trend of media outlets to dismiss public service obligations in favor of entertaining the public and profit. Analyzes the 1974 merger of Knight Newspapers and Ridder Publications, Inc., as an example of journalistic decline and discusses consequent broader societal implications. 2005. Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity: Get Out the Shovel Why Everything You Know Is Wrong RC 62576 by John Stossel read by Ray Childs 3 cassettes Consumer advocate and author of Give Me a Break (RC 57751) continues to debunk what he says are common media myths. Investigates business, education, government, and other areas, pointing out deception and bad laws. Includes "fast food makes you fat" and "antidiscrimination laws stop discrimination." Bestseller. 2006. The New New Journalism: Conversations with America's Best Nonfiction Writers on Their Craft RC 61180 by Robert S. Boynton read by Steven Carpenter 3 cassettes Professor interviews nineteen writers representing "the continued maturation of American literary journalism" a "new new" style distinct from the traditions of predecessors from Stephen Crane to Tom Wolfe. Eric Schlosser, Gay Talese, Calvin Trillin, and others reflect on their careers and creative process: finding inspiration, researching, writing, rewriting, and publishing. 2005. Sleeping with Custer and the 7th Cavalry: An Embedded Reporter in Iraq RC 61949 by Walter C. Rodgers read by Jake Williams 2 cassettes CNN foreign correspondent, embedded for three weeks in 2003 with a U.S. army reconnaissance unit in Iraq, describes the training provided to journalists, the drive to Baghdad, and the fighting he witnessed. Also relates a 2004 visit during which he reported on the country's conditions. Violence and strong language. 2005. Talking Back to Presidents, Dictators, and Assorted Scoundrels RC 60675 by Andrea Mitchell read by Martha Harmon Pardee 3 cassettes Autobiography by veteran NBC political correspondent who was one of the first women in broadcast news. Describes the three decades she spent covering U.S. presidents, foreign heads of state, and wars. Also portrays her social life as the wife of Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan. 2005. Language The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language RC 60358 by Melvyn Bragg read by Lou Harpenau 3 cassettes Award-winning author and host of a British television program traces the development of English, from a guttural fifth-century Germanic dialect to the language spoken all over the modern world. Describes how English borrowed from Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Arabic, Chinese, and other languages. 2003. Do You Speak American? RC 62014 by Robert MacNeil and William Cran read by Dennis Rooney 2 cassettes Authors of The Story of English (RC 25965) recount their travels across the United States to study regional dialects and assess the state of contemporary American English. They report their findings on speech homogenization, declining grammatical standards, African American and Spanish vernaculars, and the influence of technology and media. 2005. In Other Words: A Language Lover's Guide to the Most Intriguing Words around the World RC 61717 by Christopher J. Moore read by Dennis Rooney 1 cassette Linguist looks at "untranslatable" words from numerous languages around the globe. Moore examines European, Nordic, Middle Eastern, African, Asian, ancient and classical, indigenous, and creole and pidgin languages and explains what each selected word means and how it is used. 2004. One Hundred Words Every Word Lover Should Know RC 61079 by American Heritage Dictionaries read by Mark Ashby 1 cassette A compilation of words from "aesthetic" to "zenith" that have interesting histories, origins, and meanings. Gives examples of how the words were used by well-known English writers. Provides etymological information on changes in usage over time. 2005. Legal Issues Becoming Justice Blackmun: Harry Blackmun's Supreme Court Journey RC 60427 by Linda Greenhouse read by Butch Hoover 2 cassettes Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter uses personal papers, correspondence, and case files to trace the life and career of Supreme Court justice Harry A. Blackmun (1908 1999). Chronicles Blackmun's early years in Minnesota, twenty-four-year tenure on the Supreme Court, childhood friendship with Warren Burger, and prominent cases including Roe v. Wade. 2005. Citizenship Made Simple: An Easy-to-Read Guide to the U.S. Citizenship Process RC 62526 by Barbara Brooks Kimmel and Alan M. Lubiner read by Ralph Lowenstein 1 cassette Reference for foreign nationals describes requirements and procedures for becoming a U.S. citizen. Explains the rights for military personnel and children, and provides a brief history of the country and an overview of the government. Includes a sample test and text of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. 2006. Objection! How High-Priced Defense Attorneys, Celebrity Defendants, and a 24/7 Media Have Hijacked Our Criminal Justice System RC 60520 by Nancy Grace read by Gabra Zackman 2 cassettes Legal commentator on Court TV, a former prosecutor, criticizes the criminal justice system including defense attorneys, judges, and juries. Comments on controversial cases involving Michael Jackson, Kobe Bryant, and Scott Peterson and suggests ways to reform the legal process to help victims of crime rather than criminals. Bestseller. 2005. Scalia Dissents: Writings of the Supreme Court's Wittiest, Most Outspoken Justice RC 61429 edited by Kevin A. Ring read by Peter Johnson 2 cassettes Compilation of rulings by conservative Supreme Court associate justice Antonin Scalia, who was appointed to the bench in 1986. Includes his written opinions on religion, abortion, the ADA, gay rights, capital punishment, free speech, and affirmative action, referencing the U.S. Constitution and its historical interpretations. 2004. Silent Witness: The Untold Story of Terri Schiavo's Death RC 60820 by Mark Fuhrman read by Brian Conn 2 cassettes Former LAPD detective investigates the life and death of Terri Schiavo (1963 2005), a Florida woman who spent fifteen years in a coma and passed away when her husband withheld life support. Explores the possibility that domestic abuse led to Terri's collapse and vegetative state. 2005. Literature Acquainted with the Night: Excursions through the World after Dark RC 60553 by read by Lewis Grenville 3 cassettes Prize-winning poet's compendium of the nocturnal realm blending science, art, and literature. Twelve chapters, each corresponding to an hour of darkness from dusk to dawn, explore night's central themes sunsets, children's bedtime stories, sleep and dreams, evening creatures, festivals, stargazing, and more. 2004. The Best American Essays 2004 RC 59431 edited by Louis Menand read by Don Hagen 3 cassettes Twenty-two essays recalling the past. In "America, Look at Your Shame!" James Agee recalls his own experience with racism in 1943. Wayne Koestenbaum revisits his literary coming of age in "My '80s." Kathryn Chetkovich recounts her lover's professional jealousy in "Envy." Some strong language. 2004. The Book of Imaginary Beings RC 62013 by Jorge Luis Borges read by Robert Blumenfeld 1 cassette A compendium of descriptions for 116 fantastical creatures that cites their origins from world mythology and literature. Describes the familiar elves, gnomes, and unicorns and the lesser- known Lamia, T'ao-T'ieh, and Ouroboros. A 2005 translation of Borges's Spanish version. 1967. Dark Dreams: The Story of Stephen King RC 62634 by Nancy Whitelaw read by Nick Sullivan 1 cassette Biography of award-winning horror writer. Discusses King's difficult childhood in Maine, a setting for many of his stories, as well as his adolescence, college years, marriage, and eventual success. Describes King's struggles with censorship, fame, and the creative process. For senior high readers. 2006. The Life of Graham Greene, Volume 3: 1955 1991 RC 59889 by Norman Sherry read by Dan Bloom 7 cassettes in 2 containers This sequel to The Life of Graham Greene, Volume 2: 1939 1955 (RC 41053) covers the distinguished author's productive career and the final years of his tumultuous life. Sherry discusses Greene's private relationships and explores the people, places, and events that inspired his writing. 2004. A Modest Proposal and Other Satires RC 60552 by Jonathan Swift read by Dan Bloom 2 cassettes Letters, tales, and essays by English satirist Jonathan Swift (1667 1745) assailing such vices and abuses as political corruption, religious intolerance, and England's oppression of Ireland. Includes "A Tale of a Tub" and the title work, which suggests eating children to combat poverty. Introduction by George R. Levine. 1995. The Peabody Sisters: Three Women Who Ignited American Romanticism RC 60723 by Megan Marshall read by Martha Harmon Pardee 5 cassettes Draws on personal letters to depict the first four decades of three New England sisters' lives in the nineteenth-century. Describes how the Peabodys' intellectual pursuits inspired the Transcendentalist movement. Relates the marriages of artist Sophia to writer Nathaniel Hawthorne and teacher Mary to educator Horace Mann men Elizabeth also loved. 2005. Possible Side Effects RC 62601 by Augusten Burroughs read by Frank Coffee 2 cassettes A collection of humorous anecdotes from the author of Running with Scissors (RC 54817). Describes his addiction to nicotine gum, his nosebleed on a red-eye trans-Atlantic flight, and his impulse to buy a puppy with his partner Dennis as a companion for their beloved French bulldog. Strong language. Bestseller. 2006. Reclaiming D.H. Lawrence: Contemporary Writers Speak Out RC 59658 by Gary Adelman read by Mary Beth Wise 2 cassettes English professor explores the opinion gap surrounding author D.H. Lawrence, seen by scholarly critics as "a crude historical curiosity" and by writers as "a great figure." Presents speculations on Lawrence's reputation by nearly one hundred novelists and poets, including John Updike, A.S. Byatt, Gwendolyn Brooks, Richard Ford, and John Hollander. 2002. Somerset Maugham: A Life RC 61215 by Jeffrey Meyers read by Gordon Gould 3 cassettes Prolific biographer documents the life of a bestselling twentieth-century British writer, author of Of Human Bondage (RC 24363). Recounts Maugham's lonely childhood with a debilitating stammer, lifelong exile, and literary successes and friendships. Also chronicles his medical education, work as a secret agent, only marriage, and bisexuality. 2004. Voltaire in Exile: The Last Years, 1753 78 RC 61093 by Ian Davidson read by Steven Carpenter 2 cassettes Portrait of eighteenth-century French playwright, poet, historian, and philosopher who in 1753 was banished to Geneva by Louis XV. References Voltaire's personal correspondence to detail the twenty-five-year isolation during which he developed ideas of equality and human rights, campaigned against injustice, and penned his satirical masterpiece Candide (RC 31736). 2004. Wild Ducks Flying Backward: The Short Writings of Tom Robbins RC 61310 by Tom Robbins read by Michael Scherer 2 cassettes A compilation of the novelist Tom Robbins's nonfiction writing stories, poems, musings, critiques, travel articles, celebrity profiles, and responses to self-posed questions. In "Kissing" Robbins ranks the tradition of osculation as western man's greatest invention. In "Till Lunch Do Us Part" he praises the appeal of a ripe tomato sandwich. 2005. Marriage and Sex Lies at the Altar: The Truth about Great Marriages RC 62637 by Robin L. Smith read by Jill Ferris 2 cassettes Psychologist uses examples from her practice to illustrate that truthfulness is the primary ingredient in a successful marriage. Proposes that couples uncover what each person wants and determine not to settle for something else. Includes topics to discuss before saying "I do" and ideas for wedding vows. Bestseller. 2006. Love Smart: Find the One You Want Fix the One You Got RC 61563 by Phil McGraw read by Erik Synnestvedt 2 cassettes Nationally syndicated television host offers advice to women on building a committed relationship with a new person or a current partner. Offers "secrets and strategies" for finding the right man including insights into the male perspective, tips for self-improvement, rules of dating etiquette, and ways to overcome stereotypes. Bestseller. 2005. Marriage, a History: From Obedience to Intimacy; or, How Love Conquered Marriage RC 61178 by Stephanie Coontz read by Michele Schaeffer 3 cassettes Traces the evolution of marriage from being an economic institution with rigid rules to the modern Western concept of a union based on love and flexibility. Discusses various social crises through the ages that were precipitated by changes in marriage customs and expectations. 2005. VoiceMale: What Husbands Really Think about Their Marriages, Their Wives, Sex, Housework, and Commitment RC 61954 by Neil Chethik read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes An examination of men's attitudes, behavior, and marriage expectations based on firsthand interviews and a national survey of nearly four hundred husbands. Discusses the male perspective on intimacy, sex, money, career, children, in-laws, and fidelity. Offers advice for better relationships. Some strong language. 2006. Medicine and Health American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes RC 61586 by American Diabetes Association read by Gregory Gorton 4 cassettes Revised edition of comprehensive guide to managing type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Contains updated information on monitoring blood glucose levels, using diabetic tools, navigating health care systems, planning meals, and handling emergencies. Covers advances in medications and self-care techniques. Also discusses family and work issues. Includes resources. 2005. Beating Back the Devil: On the Front Lines with the Disease Detectives of the Epidemic Intelligence Service RC 61804 by Maryn McKenna read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes Reporter traces the history of the Atlanta-based Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 1951 to 2003. Follows EIS medical professionals as they investigate disease outbreaks caused by polio, West Nile virus, smallpox, AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, SARS, and biological weapons. 2004. Breast Cancer Basics and Beyond: Treatments, Resources, Self-Help, Good News, Updates RC 61574 by Delthia Ricks read by Barbara Pinolini 3 cassettes A medical reporter at Newsday describes breast cancer therapies including radiation, chemotherapy, and hormone treatment. Discusses diagnosis, risks, recurrence, research, and clinical trials. Includes first-person accounts from patients, caregivers, and others and provides pointers and resources for gathering more information. 2005. Controlling Your Drinking: Tools to Make Moderation Work for You RC 60169 by William R. Miller and Ricardo F. Mu oz read by John Polk 3 cassettes Psychologists' techniques for alcohol abusers to change harmful patterns and learn to imbibe in moderation. They explain the use of self-monitoring by keeping track, taking charge, and slowing down, and offer practical advice on handling social situations and substituting other behaviors for drinking. 2005. Coping with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury RC 62483 by Diane Roberts Stoler and Barbara Albers Hill read by Lewis Grenville 3 cassettes Comprehensive guide to the long-term consequences of brain injury known as postconcussive syndrome. Covers diagnosis and treatments, highlighting the wide-ranging mental, physical, and emotional symptoms including depression, cognitive disabilities, chronic fatigue, migraines, vision problems, and seizures. Offers advice on financial, insurance, and family issues. Includes case studies and resources. 1998. Diabesity: The Obesity-Diabetes Epidemic That Threatens America and What We Must Do to Stop It RC 60037 by Francine Ratner Kaufman read by Ray Childs 3 cassettes Pediatric endocrinologist and past president of the American Diabetes Association addresses the rise of diabetes, especially in children, and its impact on individuals, families, and society. Kaufman discusses obesity as a trigger, diabetes' effects on the body, and ways to reduce the risk of developing the disease. 2005. The Disabled Woman's Guide to Pregnancy and Birth RC 62294 by Judith Rogers read by Catherine Byers 5 cassettes Comprehensive guide to disability-related physical and emotional pregnancy issues. Cites experiences of women with varying types and degrees of conditions including cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, spina bifida, and spinal cord injuries. Covers first, second, and third trimesters, labor and delivery, possible complications, and postpartum concerns. Includes resources. 2006. Dr. Gavin's Health Guide for African Americans RC 61423 by James R. Gavin III read by Bill Quinn 2 cassettes President of the Morehouse College School of Medicine offers guidelines for controlling health problems common among African Americans such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disorders. Advocates making incremental lifestyle changes to eat healthier, exercise more, and reduce stress. An American Diabetes Association publication. 2004. The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History RC 61644 by John M. Barry read by Gregory Gorton 4 cassettes Traces the medical and social history of the 1918 influenza epidemic that erupted during World War I. Discusses the conditions both biological (swiftly mutating flu virus passing between animals and humans) and political (troop movements between continents) under which the disease thrived and its effect on world populations. Keck Award. 2004. The Great Mortality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time RC 61279 by John Kelly read by Michael Russotto 3 cassettes The author uses fourteenth-century records to document the epidemic that swept through Eurasia killing a third of the population in Europe as well as livestock. Describes daily life, steps taken to avoid contagion, the rise of anti-Semitism, and the social and economic effects of the catastrophic loss of life. 2005. The Joslin Guide to Diabetes: A Program for Managing Your Treatment RC 61317 by Richard S. Beaser and Amy P. Campbell read by Madelyn Buzzard 3 cassettes Revised and updated edition of physician's and nutritionist's comprehensive guide to diabetes self-care. Discusses understanding the disease; monitoring blood glucose and administering insulin; treating diabetes with nutrition, exercise, and medications; adjusting treatment programs for possible complications; meal planning; and living well. Includes appendix of food choice lists. 2005. Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Plum Island Germ Laboratory RC 61588 by Michael Christopher Carroll read by Mary Kane 3 cassettes Charts from 1954 the history of New York's Plum Island, home of the federal Animal Disease Center and what the author claims are Earth's "deadliest germs." Details the center's experimental breakthroughs and blunders, links to Lyme disease and West Nile virus, and post-September 11, 2001, research into biological warfare. 2004. Living through Breast Cancer: What a Harvard Doctor and Survivor Wants You to Know about Getting the Best Care while Preserving Your Self-Image RC 60811 by Carolyn M. Kaelin read by Erin Jones 3 cassettes Addresses medical and emotional aspects of coping with breast cancer. Covers understanding your diagnosis, treatment options with surgery and/or drugs, maintaining your physical appearance, and managing menopause. Provides guidance on after-treatment issues, fertility, diet and exercise, and resources. 2005. Living with Lymphoma: A Patient's Guide RC 62293 by Elizabeth M. Adler read by Peter Johnson 4 cassettes Neurobiologist with the disease offers a comprehensive guide to Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma forms of cancer affecting the immune system. Addresses diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment options including chemotherapy and radiation as well as alternative therapies. Provides background information to enable readers to evaluate medical literature and make informed decisions. 2005. Message in a Bottle: The Making of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome RC 61611 by Janet Golden read by Jill Fox 2 cassettes Social history of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), the diagnosis of physical and mental birth defects linked to prenatal alcohol exposure. Examines the changing definitions and meanings of FAS from the 1970s to the 1990s as shaped by the medical establishment, the media, politics, and legal and social concerns. 2005. The New Sjogren's Syndrome Handbook RC 62255 edited by Daniel J. Wallace read by Lou Harpenau 2 cassettes Updated guide for people with this chronic autoimmune disease who may have other health problems such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, or osteoporosis. Provides information on Sjogren's wide-ranging symptoms including dry eyes, and its causes, diagnosis, treatment options, and possible complications. Physicians contribute sections on their particular specialty. Lists resources. 2005. Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era RC 60439 by Boston Women's Health Book Collective read by Madelyn Buzzard 8 cassettes in 2 containers Updated version of Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century (RC 47117). Discusses all aspects of women's health and well-being including nutrition and exercise, sex and relationships, reproduction, and aging. Covers the rearranged food pyramid and provides information on negotiating the complicated healthcare system. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2005. Polio and Its Aftermath: The Paralysis of Culture RC 62101 by Marc Shell read by Peter Johnson 2 cassettes Nuanced account of polio's cultural impact by a Harvard professor and polio survivor. Examines the disease's historical significance, effects on victims, and artistic depictions. Contends the mid-twentieth-century development of the Salk vaccine cut short a medical investigation and consequently left the world unprepared for future outbreaks. 2005. Safe Sex 101: An Overview for Teens RC 62536 by Margaret O. Hyde and Elizabeth H. Forsyth read by Judith Ann Gantly 1 cassette A science writer and a child psychiatrist discuss the physical and emotional aspects of human sexuality including anatomy, contraception, abstinence, social pressures, and diseases such as AIDS. Presents scenarios that teens may encounter and practical responses to them. For senior high and older readers. 2006. The Science and Fiction of Autism RC 61673 by Laura Schreibman read by Annie Wauters 2 cassettes California psychologist and researcher offers a comprehensive guide to autism in the context of historical and contemporary controversies surrounding the disorder. Evaluates conflicting information regarding causes, characteristics, diagnosis, and treatments while maintaining that autism is biological in origin and not a result of parental behavior. 2005. Skin Health Information for Teens: Health Tips about Dermatological Concerns and Skin Cancer Risks; including Facts about Acne, Warts, Hives, and Other Conditions and Lifestyle Choices, Such as Tanning, Tattooing, and Piercing, That Affect the Skin, Nails, Scalp, and Hair RC 60625 edited by Robert Aquinas McNally read by Michele Schaeffer 3 cassettes Skin care advice for teens includes information about acne, cancer, and other disorders. For senior high readers. 2003. Smoking 101: An Overview for Teens RC 62470 by Margaret O. Hyde and John F. Setaro read by Judith Ann Gantly 1 cassette A science writer and a doctor explain the nature of the tobacco industry and its impact on society. Authors discuss the physiology and the health consequences of smoking, the addictive qualities of nicotine, and ways to quit. For junior and senior high and older readers. 2006. The South Beach Heart Program: The Four-Step Plan That Can Save Your Life RC 63116 by Arthur Agatston read by Stephen Hoye 2 cassettes Cardiologist and author of The South Beach Diet Cookbook (RC 58161) proposes a prevention revolution for heart care. Examines standard medical procedures then outlines his program. Recommends noninvasive imaging, advanced blood testing, and a regimen of diet, exercise, and medication with regular physician evaluations. 2006. Staying Safe: A Teen's Guide to Sexually Transmitted Diseases RC 61530 by Miranda Hunter and William Hunter read by Bill Wallace 1 cassette Describes the characteristics of the major sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, herpes, and HIV/AIDS with brief information on a few others. Includes accounts of teenagers who engaged in unsafe sexual practices. Features advice on the prevention of STDs and corrects misconceptions. For junior and senior high readers. 2005. You: The Owner's Manual; an Insider's Guide to the Body That Will Make You Healthier and Younger RC 60685 by Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet C. Oz read by Carol Dines 3 cassettes Layperson's guide to the human body describes the major systems and common diseases. Authors state that "knowing your body gives you the power to change it, maintain it, decorate it, and strengthen it." Includes nutrition advice and recipes. Bestseller. 2005. You: The Smart Patient; an Insider's Handbook for Getting the Best Treatment RC 62514 by Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet C. Oz read by Alexander Strain 2 cassettes In this companion to You: The Owner's Manual (RC 60685), doctors highlight ways to obtain the best medical care by researching hospitals, physicians, and insurance companies, and knowing one's family medical history. Suggests becoming familiar with prescriptions, specialists, treatment options, alternative medicine, and pain management. 2006. Music Artie Shaw: A Musical Biography and Discography RC 60847 by Vladimir Simosko read by Bob Moore 5 cassettes Music librarian pens a biographical essay about Swing Era clarinetist and bandleader Artie Shaw. Chronicles each phase of Shaw's career from 1924 to 1954, places the musician in the context of the times, and concludes with an extensive discography. Foreword by Artie Shaw. 2000. The Beatles: The Biography RC 61584 by Bob Spitz read by Steven Carpenter 7 cassettes in 2 containers Music journalist pens a history of the British rock 'n' roll band that launched a cultural revolution. Uses primary sources to trace each band member's family history, recording sessions, concerts, and business deals. Also discusses fast-lane lives of drugs, sex, and excess. Strong language. 2005. Billy Joel: The Life and Times of an Angry Young Man RC 61511 by Hank Bordowitz read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Music journalist traces the life and career of Grammy Award-winning songwriter/pianist Billy Joel (born 1949). Highlights Joel's coming-of-age in Long Island after his father abandoned the family, and Joel's three marriages, alcohol problems, and adversarial relationship with the press. Analyzes the artist's long-lasting career and versatility. Strong language. 2005. Born in the U.S.A.: Bruce Springsteen and the American Tradition RC 62547 by Jim Cullen read by L.J. Ganser 2 cassettes A professor "explores a series of myths, symbols, and words in American culture, and the ways in which Springsteen's music clarifies, revises, and reinterprets them." Examines the influence of the "American dream" and Catholicism on the musician. Update of 1997 edition includes analysis of Springsteen lyrics written since 2001. 2005. Chronicles, Volume 1 RC 59429 by Bob Dylan read by John Lescault 2 cassettes First of a three-volume memoir by music legend Bob Dylan. Describes his intellectual development, folk songs and blues he listened to in the 1960s, and the growth of his artistic conscience. Recalls early days in Greenwich Village, transient loves, lasting friendships, and experiences in New Orleans and Woodstock. Bestseller. 2004. Classical Music in America: A History of Its Rise and Fall RC 60428 by Joseph Horowitz read by Butch Hoover 5 cassettes American music historian and artistic adviser to several orchestras presents a social history of classical music in the United States. Chronicles the rise of the Boston, New York, and Philadelphia orchestras. Horowitz contends that the post-WWI performance-centered approach of American conductors and performers has been disadvantageous to native-born composers. 2005. Dixie Lullaby: A Story of Music, Race, and New Beginnings in a New South RC 61088 by Mark Kemp read by Bob Moore 3 cassettes Former journalist for Rolling Stone outlines the history of white southern rock music and the influence on his generation of the Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Charlie Daniels. Interviews musicians and fans to illustrate the changes brought by integration and the emergence of a distinctive musical style. Strong language. 2004. From Pieces to Weight: Once upon a Time in Southside Queens RC 61202 by 50 Cent read by Bill Quinn 2 cassettes Rap star describes the ghetto environment he was brought up in and his experience of dealing drugs when he was eleven. Details his life on the streets of 1980s Queens before hard work and determination helped him achieve fame and money. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2005. Hey Ya! The Unauthorized Biography of OutKast RC 59691 by Chris Nickson read by Dave Corey 1 cassette Journalist details the performing career of the award-winning Atlanta rap group OutKast, describing the team created in 1994 by Antwan "Big Boi" Patton and Andre "Dre" Benjamin. Delves into the singers' personal lives, their business interests, and the evolution of their music. For senior high and older readers. 2004. I Feel Good: A Memoir of a Life of Soul RC 60883 by James Brown read by Chuck Young 2 cassettes Autobiography of the outspoken "Godfather of Soul." Brown describes his childhood in the segregated south, personal life, legal troubles, and career in the music business. Assesses his impact on American culture during the 1960s civil rights movement. Introduction by Marc Eliot. Some strong language. 2005. John Lennon: All I Want Is the Truth RC 62133 by Elizabeth Partridge read by Bill Quinn 2 cassettes Portrait of legendary singer-songwriter John Lennon from his birth in 1940 in Great Britain to his murder forty years later in New York City. Explores his career, alcohol and drug addiction, two marriages, and relationship with fellow Beatles band members. Strong language. For senior high readers. 2005. Life Is Not a Fairy Tale RC 62297 by Fantasia read by Melissa Maxwell 2 cassettes Autobiography of the winner of the 2004 American Idol television singing competition. Fantasia describes her hardscrabble life as an African American single mother in North Carolina. Highlights the contest that led to her career and attributes her success to God and her musical family. 2005. O RC 61695 by Omari Grandberry read by Bill Quinn 1 cassette Twenty-year-old Omari Grandberry describes his happy childhood in Los Angeles, his conscious decision to avoid street life, and his rise to hip-hop fame as a member of B2K from 2000 to 2004. Analyzes the music business and the band's breakup. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2005. On Michael Jackson RC 61902 by Margo Jefferson read by Bill Quinn 1 cassette Pulitzer Prize-winning critic for the New York Times pens an essay analyzing the complexity of pop musician Michael Jackson. Traces Jackson's curious transformations over time from child prodigy to accused criminal and studies the people and events that influenced him. Strong language. 2006. Rednecks and Bluenecks: The Politics of Country Music RC 62224 by Chris Willman read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes Entertainment Weekly reporter interviews country western singers to ascertain the politics behind their brand of show business. Studies the belief that there is Republican partisanship among the genre's base and investigates the shift of the South away from the Democratic party. Some strong language. 2005. Searching for the Sound: My Life with the Grateful Dead RC 60265 by Phil Lesh read by John Lescault 3 cassettes Bassist for the Grateful Dead who joined the band in 1965 details the evolution of the group led by Jerry Garcia. Describes the concert tours, fanatic Dead Head fans, and the financial and drug problems that plagued the musicians. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2005. September in the Rain: The Life of Nelson Riddle RC 62135 by Peter J. Levinson read by John Horton 3 cassettes Biography of composer/arranger who began his career with the dance bands of the 1940s, including a stint with Tommy Dorsey's orchestra. Describes Riddle's personal and professional life, his success in rekindling fellow New Jerseyite Frank Sinatra's career, and his work with Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and others. 2005. Sinatra: The Life RC 61890 by Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan read by Peter Ganim 5 cassettes Author of Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe (RC 22984) provides a birth-to-death biography of singer/actor Frank Sinatra (1915 1998). Summers documents Sinatra's childhood, career, marriages, struggles with alcohol, complex relationships with women, and Mafia connections. Strong language. 2005. SPIN: Twenty Years of Alternative Music; Original Writing on Rock, Hip-Hop, Techno, and Beyond RC 61272 edited by Will Hermes read by Mark Ashby 4 cassettes Articles from SPIN magazine that highlight artists and musical movements since 1985. Includes essays and interviews on Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Courtney Love, Phish, Eminem, Tupac, and OutKast as well as grunge, goth, rap-rock, Britpop, Napster, and other trends. Strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2005. Stradivari's Genius: Five Violins, One Cello, and Three Centuries of Enduring Perfection RC 60554 by Toby Faber read by Dennis Rooney 2 cassettes Provides a brief biography of Italian stringed-instrument maker Antonio Stradivari (1644 1737). Recounts the history of five surviving violins and one cello from their creation among more than one thousand to modern ownership by such well-known musicians as Paganini, Yehudi Menuhin, Itzhak Perlman, and Yo-Yo Ma. 2004. Swing, Swing, Swing: The Life and Times of Benny Goodman RC 60340 by Ross Firestone read by Roy Avers 4 cassettes Biography of jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman (1909 1986) recounts his career as a child prodigy in Chicago, early gigs during the depression era, and success with the "big band" sound. Relates Goodman's role in breaking down racial barriers and describes his relationships with other musicians. 1993. Tommy Dorsey, Livin' in a Great Big Way: A Biography RC 62555 by Peter J. Levinson read by Peter Ganim 3 cassettes The author of Trumpet Blues (RC 51218) uses anecdotes to describe the volatile personality of jazz trombonist Tommy Dorsey (1905 1956). Portrays Tommy's roots in Pennsylvania coal mining country, his formation of the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, and his promotion of Glenn Miller and Frank Sinatra. Some strong language. 2005. Nature and the Environment All Flesh Is Grass: The Pleasures and Promises of Pasture Farming RC 60423 by Gene Logsdon read by Jack Fox 2 cassettes Author of Low-Maintenance House (RC 28227) argues against the grain feeding of livestock and contends grass farming is the solution to economic, environmental, sustainability, and food safety concerns posed by commercial factory agriculture. Offers practical advice on pasturing various animals, selecting and rotating crops, fencing, watering, and more. 2004. A Crack in the Edge of the World: America and the Great California Earthquake of 1906 RC 62162 by Simon Winchester read by Steven Carpenter 3 cassettes Geologist and author of Krakatoa (RC 55879) recounts the April 1906 earthquake and subsequent fires that devastated the San Francisco area. Chronicles the natural disaster in historical, political, and social context, detailing Earth's geologic background and the science of tectonic plate theory. 2005. The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed RC 61482 by John Vaillant read by Anne Hancock 2 cassettes Wilderness writer's account of logger-turned-activist Grant Hadwin, who in 1997 cut down a three-hundred-year-old Sitka spruce sacred to the Haida Indians as a protest against timber company practices. Discusses lumberjacks' perilous work, Native American traditions, Hadwin's obsession to stop irreparable damage to forests, and the consequences of his actions. 2005. The Great Hurricane: 1938 RC 60947 by Cherie Burns read by Laura Giannarelli 2 cassettes Account of the hurricane that ravaged coastal regions of Long Island, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts in September 1938, killing hundreds and causing millions of dollars in damage. Draws on archival sources and survivor testimony to trace the storm's path and reconstruct the harrowing experiences of its victims. 2005. The Grizzly Maze: Timothy Treadwell's Fatal Obsession with Alaskan Bears RC 62439 by Nick Jans read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Wilderness writer examines the life and death of Timothy Treadwell, an avid defender of grizzly bears. Describes the fatal mauling of Treadwell and his girlfriend Amie Huguenard by grizzlies in Alaska's Katmai National Park in 2003. Discusses Treadwell's background and his attraction to the dangers of bear-watching. 2005. Holding Back the Sea: The Struggle on the Gulf Coast to Save America RC 62427 by Christopher Hallowell read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Professor examines the plight of coastal Louisiana wetlands. Attributes their decline to sea-level rise, erosion, dredging, and the levee system and discusses how special-interest groups have hampered preservation efforts. The account, first published in 2001, predicts the inevitability and consequences of hurricanes and includes a post-Hurricane Katrina introduction. 2005. The Last Imaginary Place: A Human History of the Arctic World RC 62643 by Robert McGhee read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Award-winning archaeologist offers a multilayered portrait of the northern polar regions of Canada, Alaska, Russia, Norway, Iceland, and Greenland. Combining anthropology, history, and personal memoir, McGhee describes centuries of exploration, exploitation, and settlement of the land by seafarers, hunters, natives, and scientists. 2005. Listening to the Land: Conversations about Nature, Culture, and Eros RC 62486 by Derrick Jensen read by Ralph Lowenstein 3 cassettes Conservationist and author of Strangely like War: The Global Assault on Forests (RC 59441) presents a collection of interviews with environmentalists, theologians, psychologists, indigenous philosophers, and feminists exploring environmental degradation and humanity's relationship with the natural world. Wide-ranging topics include biodiversity, religion, technology, and eroticism. 2004. Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds RC 62048 by Scott Weidensaul read by Dan Bloom 4 cassettes Describes the drama of bird migration in the western hemisphere the problems and the future outlook. Also discusses researchers, amateur birders, land managers, and others who study the birds' travel patterns and work to protect their sanctuaries. Covers southward journeys from Alaska, wintering grounds, nesting season, and north- ward flights. 1999. Oak: The Frame of Civilization RC 61943 by William Bryant Logan read by Jake Williams 2 cassettes Certified arborist evaluates the role of the oak tree in human life and progress. Logan describes the oak's value in providing acorns for food, galls to make ink, and wood for building houses, ships, coffins, and wine barrels. Explains how the tree contributed to the prosperity of humankind. 2005. Out of Eden: An Odyssey of Ecological Invasion RC 61253 by Alan Burdick read by Dan Bloom 3 cassettes Journalist investigates how human travel has accelerated the natural process of species migration by inadvertently introducing exotic plants, animals, insects, and diseases into foreign ecosystems. Burdick records his travels by land and sea to hot spots of ecological invasion to assess the impact on native organisms and bio-diversity. National Book Award. 2005. The Raging Sea: The Powerful Account of the Worst Tsunami in U.S. History RC 60836 by Dennis M. Powers read by Michael Russotto 3 cassettes Professor describes the tragedy of Good Friday, March 27, 1964, when four waves spawned by an Alaskan earthquake hit Crescent City, California, and devastated the town. Interviews survivors and reveals tales of heroism and grief as eleven people lost their lives and the area was ravaged. 2005. A River and Its City: The Nature of Landscape in New Orleans RC 62235 by Ari Kelman read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes Professor explains the environmental history of New Orleans covering fires, floods, hurricanes, and epidemics. Describes the city's value as a port, its social tragedies, and the power of geography. Discusses the struggle to control the Mississippi River through levees and channeling. Includes a post-Hurricane Katrina preface that advocates rebuilding. 2006. Snowstruck: In the Grip of Avalanches RC 62478 by Jill Fredston read by Catherine Byers 2 cassettes Alaskan avalanche expert discusses the causes of avalanches, their victims, and their predictability. Describes her personal encounters with snow disasters, including some that were man-made for movies. Offers advice on assessing snow conditions and planning sensible routes before venturing out on hikes, skis, or snow transport. 2005. The Whale and the Supercomputer: On the Northern Front of Climate Change RC 62605 by Charles Wohlforth read by Peter Johnson 3 cassettes Journalist offers a nuanced account of global warming from the perspectives of scientists and native Alaskan I upiaq people. Examines the impact of climate change on the I upiaq, whose traditional livelihood is threatened by milder winters and thinning sea ice. Provides the contrasting viewpoints of scientists studying Arctic environmental changes. 2004. When the Mississippi Ran Backwards: Empire, Intrigue, Murder, and the New Madrid Earthquakes RC 60365 by Jay Feldman read by Jill Fox 2 cassettes Chronicles a series of catastrophic earthquakes in the Mississippi River Valley from 1811 to 1812 that devastated the New Madrid frontier settlement and temporarily reversed the Mississippi's flow. Links the seismologic activity to the Indian Wars, a slave murder committed by Thomas Jefferson's nephews, and the War of 1812. 2005. Occult and Astrology Phenomenon: Everything You Need to Know about the Paranormal RC 61243 by Sylvia Browne read by Gabra Zackman 2 cassettes Psychic and bestselling author offers an A-to-Z compendium of words commonly used in the world of the paranormal. Provides examples and explanations for everything from affirmations, alchemy, amulets, angels, and astral travel to Zarathushtra and zombies. Bestseller. 2005. We Are Their Heaven: Why the Dead Never Leave Us RC 62854 by Allison DuBois read by Jill Ferris 2 cassettes Professional psychic medium who purports to communicate with the deceased maintains that spirits remain with the living to facilitate healing and growth. Recounts readings with grieving clients during which she revealed messages from their departed loved ones. DuBois's work with missing- persons and murder cases inspired the television series Medium. 2006. Philosophy The Evolution-Creation Struggle RC 62060 by Michael Ruse read by Dan Bloom 3 cassettes Professor of philosophy posits that though evolutionism and creationism are rival responses to a crisis of faith, they share commonalities. Provides a historical analysis of religious and scientific thought about evolution since the eighteenth century. Explores the Enlightenment's effects on Christianity and the subsequent introduction of Darwinian theory. 2005. Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Restless Genius RC 62214 by Leo Damrosch read by Bill Wallace 4 cassettes Professor portrays the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 1778) as an autodidact whose political theory and concepts of education are still influential in the modern age. Discusses Rousseau's personality and its relation to his achievements. Explores the originality of Rousseau's writings and the far-reaching effects of his ideas. National Book Award. 2005. On Desire: Why We Want What We Want RC 62845 by William B. Irvine read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Professor examines the origins and scientific nature of impulses and drives. Considers Buddhist, Taoist, Hindu, Amish, Shaker, and Catholic teachings; theories of Greek, Roman, and modern philosophers; and psychological explanations. Asserts that lasting happiness can be achieved by controlling passions and convincing oneself to want what one already has. 2006. The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology RC 61318 by Ray Kurzweil read by Lou Harpenau 5 cassettes Inventor and author of The Age of Spiritual Machines (RC 48260) posits that humankind will merge its biology with nanotechnology and robotics to create a new species. He predicts the result will eliminate aging, pollution, and world hunger. 2005. Poetry Ariel: The Restored Edition RC 62239 by Sylvia Plath read by Gabriella Cavallero 1 cassette Sylvia Plath's last manuscript before committing suicide in 1963 is restored to her preferred selections and arrangement of poems by her daughter Frieda Hughes. Hughes's foreword discusses the confessional voice in this poetry and her parents' complex marriage. 2004. I'm Too Young to Be Seventy: And Other Delusions RC 62480 by Judith Viorst read by Barbara Caruso 1 cassette Judith Viorst writes poems about the joys and dilemmas of being seventy years old but forever young at heart. Sequel to Suddenly Sixty and Other Shocks of Later Life (RC 62118). 2005. Ogden Nash: The Life and Work of America's Laureate of Light Verse RC 60527 by Douglas M. Parker read by Dan Bloom 3 cassettes An authorized biography of the urbane and witty American poet Ogden Nash (1902 1971) based on his published and unpublished writings and interviews with his two daughters. Discusses Nash's work at the New Yorker, his unique humorous perspective on family life, and his attempts at careers beyond poetry. 2005. One Hundred Great Poems of the Twentieth Century RC 61179 edited by Mark Strand read by Kimberly Schraf 2 cassettes Pulitzer Prize winner and former poet laureate of the United States Mark Strand presents poems that he has "continued to feel strongly about over the years." Most were written by poets born before 1927 and represent Europe and North and South America. 2005. The Poetry Home Repair Manual: Practical Advice for Beginning Poets RC 61714 by Ted Kooser read by Frank Coffee 2 cassettes U.S. poet laureate and author of Braided Creek (RC 59814) draws on more than forty years experience in this guide to writing and revising poetry. Shares his creative philosophy and offers insights and examples on rhyming and prose, metaphors and similes, rules and when to break them and the writer-reader relationship. 2005. Red Hot Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Being Young and Latino in the United States RC 61296 edited by Lori Marie Carlson read by Peter Gil 1 cassette Poems in English, Spanish, or a blend of both speak to themes of identity, neighborhoods, love, family, memories, and victory. Contains an introduction by Oscar Hijuelos, a glossary of selected Spanish terms, and biographical notes on the poets. In English and Spanish. For junior and senior high readers. 2005. Songs of Life and Hope/Cantos de Vida y Esperanza RC 60594 by Rub n Dar­o read by Peter Gil 2 cassettes The major works of the Nicaraguan poet considered to be a founder of the Spanish modernist movement. Includes an in-depth introduction to the life and work of Dar­o in English and his poems in the original Spanish with English translations. (Edici›n bilinge de la poes­a m s importante del famoso poeta nicaragense, fundador del modernismo espa ol. Incluye una introducci›n en ingl s sobre la vida y obra de Dar­o tanto como los poemas en espa ol con traducci›n en ingl s.) 2004. Suddenly Sixty and Other Shocks of Later Life RC 62118 by Judith Viorst read by Catherine Byers 1 cassette A "decade" book of witty and wise poems about being sixty in the vein of Forever Fifty and Other Negotiations (RC 31346). Judith Viorst rhymes her reactions to second marriages, grandchildren, and mortality. 2000. Wounded in the House of a Friend RC 61529 by Sonia Sanchez read by Gabriella Cavallero 1 cassette African American woman's poetry explores betrayal, addiction, war, and sexual violence. Some poems highlight feminist, political, and cultural issues, while others commemorate artists and activists. Also includes haiku. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 1995. Psychology and Self-Help Against Depression RC 61205 by Peter D. Kramer read by Peter Johnson 3 cassettes Author of Listening to Prozac (RC 37014) argues "that depression is a disease, one that we would do well to oppose wholeheartedly." Describes Western culture's long history of romanticizing and trivializing the dis-order. Discusses the need to accept depression as a pathology and to find an effective treatment. 2005. Bad Childhood Good Life: How to Blossom and Thrive in Spite of an Unhappy Childhood RC 61636 by Laura Schlessinger read by Mary Kane 2 cassettes Radio talk-show host addresses the concerns of adults still suffering with childhood pain and offers advice on becoming more secure. Uses examples from her callers to admonish readers to not remain "victims" but to take charge and change their behavior and attitudes. Bestseller. 2006. Beyond Reason: Using Emotions as You Negotiate RC 60680 by Roger Fisher and Daniel Shapiro read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Practical advice on controlling your own and others' emotions to achieve better results during negotiations conducted in the home and office. Authors discuss five core concerns to consider during interactions, and they analyze specific situations to illustrate the constructive rather than confrontational use of feelings. 2005. Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul's The Real Deal: School Cliques, Classes, Clubs, and More RC 61880 by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen read by Catherine Byers 2 cassettes Anecdotes by teens about the highs and lows of high school life and about peer pressure, bullying, stress, gossip, moving, and cliques. Provides encouragement and advice on making positive changes and good choices. For senior high readers. 2005. Conquering Your Quarterlife Crisis: Advice from Twentysomethings Who Have Been There and Survived RC 62305 by Alexandra Robbins read by Catherine Byers 2 cassettes Author addresses the problems of young adults in their twenties and thirties who are struggling with issues of identity, relationships, careers, family, and dreams. Offers anecdotes from others' experiences and suggests finding a mentor and support group. 2004. Exuberance: The Passion for Life RC 60260 by Kay Redfield Jamison read by Susan McInerney 2 cassettes Psychiatry professor explores exuberance and its fueling of creative and scientific achievement, citing John Muir's passion for the environment, Wilson Bentley's obsession with snowflakes, and Watson and Crick's discovery of DNA. Discusses hereditary factors, this emotion's influence on human survival, and the dangers of seeking exuberance through drugs. 2004. Forgiveness Is a Choice: A Step-by-Step Process for Resolving Anger and Restoring Hope RC 62682 by Robert D. Enright read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Psychologist presents a four-phase plan for letting go of anger to find peace in one's life. Draws on anecdotal evidence and scientific studies to show how forgiveness can improve physical and mental well-being and lead to better relationships. Emphasizes that forgiveness does not necessarily entail reconciliation with the offender. 2001. The Grieving Teen: A Guide for Teenagers and Their Friends RC 61852 by Helen Fitzgerald read by Michele Schaeffer 1 cassette Grief counselor and author of The Mourning Handbook (RC 49619) offers practical suggestions for teens coping with loss. Discusses scenarios including illness, death, funerals, and mourning. Describes ways to resume life and deal with the future. For senior high and older readers. 2000. How to Say It When You Don't Know What to Say: The Right Words for Difficult Times RC 62123 by Robbie Miller Kaplan read by Peter Johnson 2 cassettes Verbal, nonverbal, and written communication strategies to help comfort others. Provides a variety of sample scenarios surrounding divorce, mental illness, legal problems, violent crimes, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, disabilities, illness, and death. Offers tips on what to wear and do and what emotions to anticipate. Includes resources. 2004. The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain RC 62467 by Gene D. Cohen read by Ralph Lowenstein 2 cassettes Gerontologist and author of The Creative Age (RC 51737) examines psychological growth in mature adults, refuting the notion that aging brings an inevitable decline. Introduces developmental intelligence as the "synergy of cognition, emotional intelligence, judgment, social skills, life experience, and consciousness." Explores ways to cultivate creativity. Includes resources. 2005. Stumbling on Happiness RC 61735 by Daniel Gilbert read by Daniel Gilbert 2 cassettes Harvard psychologist uses anecdotes and scientific research to argue that people cannot predict what will make them happy. Claims that individuals cannot accurately envision their future and are often surprised at how it really turns out. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2006. Surviving the Roller Coaster: A Teen's Guide to Coping with Moods RC 62375 by Jean Ford read by Barbara Pinolini 1 cassette Addresses the physical and emotional aspects of mood swings in adolescence. Analyzes common feelings such as fear, jealousy, anger, and sadness and gives advice on controlling them and seeking help. For senior high readers. 2005. Twilight Children: Three Voices No One Heard until a Therapist Listened RC 62471 by Torey Hayden read by Barbara Caruso 2 cassettes Educational psychologist and author of Ghost Girl (RC 37247) recounts three challenging cases from a hospital-based psychiatric crisis unit. Chronicles therapy sessions with four-year-old elective mute Drake, elderly stroke victim Gerda, and abused nine-year-old Cassandra, who was kidnapped by her father. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2005. When Will I Stop Hurting? Teens, Loss, and Grief RC 61216 by Edward Myers read by Judith Gantly 1 cassette An overview of coping with the death of a loved one and handling the bereavement process. Combines personal accounts from teens with practical advice. Describes warning signs of psychological complications and suggests other sources of information. For junior and senior high readers. 2004. Yes, Your Parents Are Crazy! A Teen Survival Handbook RC 61269 by Michael J. Bradley read by Erik Synnestvedt 3 cassettes Psychologist and author of Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy! (RC 55891) offers teens advice on dealing with family, school, and peer relationships. Author discusses physical, emotional, and psychological concerns of young adults and includes anecdotes from his practice. Foreword by Clay Aiken. For senior high and older readers. 2004. Religion American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation RC 62640 by Jon Meacham read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes Newsweek managing editor examines U.S. national traditions and the intention of the founding fathers when they created freedom of religion more than two centuries ago. Contends that faith and freedom are inextricably linked a nation will thrive only by cherishing freedom and protecting faith. Bestseller. 2006. American Judaism: A History RC 60567 by Jonathan D. Sarna read by Bill Wallace 4 cassettes Brandeis University professor details 350 years of Judaism in the United States. Sarna portrays American Jews as a people struggling to be both Jewish and American. Addresses their concerns about assimilation, issues of religious adaptation and continuity, and influences from and contributions to a diverse and pluralistic society. 2004. The Beliefnet Guide to Evangelical Christianity RC 61718 by Wendy Murray Zoba read by Peter Ganim 1 cassette Guide to the beliefs and practices of evangelicals. Author describes adherents as those who have had a "born-again" experience, have a "personal" relationship with Jesus, believe the Bible is historically reliable, and feel obliged to share their faith with others. Includes introduction by evangelical Philip Yancey. 2005. The Beliefnet Guide to Islam RC 62223 by Hesham A. Hassaballa and Kabir Helminski read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Two Muslims present an introduction to the Islamic religion. Covers its main beliefs represented by the Five Pillars, its founder Muhammad, and its holy text, the Qur'an. Also explains the meaning of jihad and discusses gender issues. 2006. The Best American Spiritual Writing 2005 RC 62010 edited by Philip Zaleski read by Gordon Gould 2 cassettes Thirty-four essays, short stories, and poems previously published in magazines. "Passed On" by Thomas Lynch explores a young man's reason for becoming a funeral director. In "Kaddish" Richard Chess prays for peace, safety, humility, and life for all. Kenneth Woodward discusses Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ. 2005. The Buddha in Your Mirror: Practical Buddhism and the Search for Self RC 61168 by Woody Hochswender and Ted Morino read by Don Hagen 1 cassette Introduction to this eastern Asian religion by followers of Nichiren Buddhism. Contends that everyone can become a Buddha, or enlightened one, by understanding life's profound truths. Explains basic Buddhist principles and describes ways, including chanting, to access one's "Buddha nature" and apply it to overcome obstacles and attain happiness. 2001. Charles W. Colson: A Life Redeemed RC 61757 by Jonathan Aitken read by Don Feldheim 4 cassettes Former British member of Parliament uses archives and personal papers to chronicle the life of American politician-turned-evangelist Charles Colson. Traces Colson's childhood, involvement as President Nixon's counsel during the Watergate scandal, imprisonment, born-again conversion, and decades-long prison ministry. Highlights Colson's work helping others to help themselves. Some strong language. 2005. Child Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church RC 62032 edited by Louise I. Gerdes read by Peter Johnson 1 cassette Sixteen essays by journalists, professors, psychiatrists, a victim, and a priest explore sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests. Discusses issues of celibacy, homosexuality, Church hierarchy, and policy towards victims. Includes a message from Pope John Paul II and offers possible solutions to the problem. For senior high readers. 2003. The Clergy Sexual Abuse Crisis: Reform and Renewal in the Catholic Community RC 62210 by Paul R. Dokecki read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes A psychologist's multilevel analysis of the Catholic priest pedophilia scandal. Discusses cases in Boston and Nashville, examining the actions of specific clergy and Church officials. Proposes a community-based reform plan calling for greater transparency, more-inclusive governance, and an expanded role for lay Church members. 2004. An End to Suffering: The Buddha in the World RC 61617 by Pankaj Mishra read by Jack Fox 3 cassettes Indian author of the novel The Romantics (RC 52514) presents his autobiographical journey on the subcontinent exploring Buddhist philosophy. Describes his search to understand Buddha's relevance in the modern world by discussing the personal and social issues that Buddha addressed and their impact on twentieth-century politicians. 2004. Family Man: The Biography of Dr. James Dobson RC 62675 by Dale Buss read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes Authorized biography of Christian evangelical leader, who is a child psychologist and the founder of the Focus on the Family ministry. Traces the counseling work that compelled Dobson to write Dare to Discipline (RC 23722) in 1970, create a radio talk show, and lead the Christian right wing. 2005. The First Rasta: Leonard Howell and the Rise of Rastafarianism RC 62178 by H l ne Lee read by Michele Schaeffer 2 cassettes Journalist's account of Jamaican and Rastafarian history, based on an updated translation of a 1999 French work and on oral history interviews with Jamaican elders. Interweaves chronicles of Rasta founder Leonard Howell, Bob Marley, Reggae music, and centrality of ganja (marijuana). 1999. The Gnostic Gospels of Jesus: The Definitive Collection of Mystical Gospels and Secret Books about Jesus of Nazareth RC 60442 by Marvin Meyer read by Lou Harpenau 4 cassettes Scholar on gnosticism provides translations of all known Gnostic gospels and related texts that were discovered in 1945 in Egypt. Also contains concise introductions and suggested readings for further study. Includes the gospels of Thomas, Mary, and Philip; "The Secret Book of John"; and "The Dialogue of the Savior." 2005. Godtalk: Travels in Spiritual America RC 61623 by Brad Gooch read by Lou Harpenau 3 cassettes An English professor explores different forms of worship and spirituality in America. His experiences include meeting with Trappists in Kentucky, devoted readers of the Urantia Book in Chicago, Christian gays in Dallas, Muslims in New York City, and Hindu Deepak Chopra in California. Describes the appeal of spirituality in a "post-denominational" age. 2002. The Great Transformation: The Beginning of Our Religious Traditions RC 61336 by Karen Armstrong read by Karen Armstrong 4 cassettes Chronicles the ninth century BCE, during which time four distinct world civilizations developed lasting belief systems: Confucianism and Daoism in China, Hinduism and Buddhismin India, monotheism in Israel, and philosophical rationalism in Greece. Examines spiritual sages like Buddha, Socrates, Confucius, and Ezekiel and their commonality concerning the primacy of compassion. 2006. How to Read the Bible: History, Prophecy, Literature Why Modern Readers Need to Know the Difference, and What It Means for Faith Today RC 62672 by Steven L. McKenzie read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Biblical scholar contends that recognizing the Bible's various literary genres is vital to accurate interpretation. Relies on textual clues to analyze the meaning of passages such as that of Jonah, which McKenzie posits is not a literal account of a man swallowed by a whale but a humorous satire. 2005. If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get out of the Boat RC 61094 by John Ortberg read by Erik Synnestvedt 2 cassettes Pastor uses the New Testament story from Matthew 14 to help individuals reach their potential outside their comfort zone. Outlines the necessary steps: answering the call, conquering fear, accepting God's reassurance, and making the decision to try all of which will lead to a changed life. 2001. Is Islam a Religion of War or Peace? RC 62484 edited by Jann Einfeld read by Ken Kliban 1 cassette Eleven essays by authors with opposing viewpoints on the nature of the Islamic religion. Includes Osama bin Laden's justification for attacking America, President George W. Bush's claim that Islam is a peaceful religion, Pat Robertson's counterargument, and analyses of women's rights. For junior and senior high readers. 2005. The Jesus Papers: Exposing the Greatest Cover-up in History RC 62292 by Michael Baigent read by Frank Coffee 2 cassettes Religious historian Baigent, author of Holy Blood, Holy Grail (RC 17717), presents the results of his research on the life of Jesus. Details the political and religious climate of that time. Posits that the information culled from his twenty-two-year study proves the Bible's account of Jesus is inaccurate. 2006. The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief RC 63174 by Francis S. Collins read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Head of the Human Genome Project explores the compatibility of science and religious faith. Discusses scientific and theological objections to atheism, creationism, and belief in intelligent design. Supports the theory of "theistic evolution," which proposes that God created both the universe and the natural laws that govern it. Bestseller. 2006. Life after Death: The Burden of Proof RC 63100 by Deepak Chopra read by Shishir Kurup 2 cassettes Doctor and author of How to Know God (RC 52605) explores scientific discoveries and ancient religious traditions to address the subject of the afterlife. Posits that life and death are not separated by an impassable wall and that a person can shape what happens after death. 2006. Misquoting Jesus: The Story behind Who Changed the Bible and Why RC 61941 by Bart D. Ehrman read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Biblical historian posits that scribes' alterations to New Testament manuscripts reflect both human error and the influence of theology, culture, and politics. Explores the development of written scripture from the Greco-Roman era, the effect of inconsistencies on doctrine and later versions, and attempts to reconstruct original text. Bestseller. 2005. Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles RC 61957 by Raymond Arroyo read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes Biography of Mother Angelica (born in 1923), a cloistered nun, television host, and creator of the world's largest religious broadcasting organization, Eternal Word Television Network. Describes her impoverished Ohio upbringing, experiences guiding her faith, and the fiery entrepreneurial spirit that helped her overcome corporate and ecclesiastic challenges to success. 2005. No God but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam RC 61297 by Reza Aslan read by Mark Ashby 3 cassettes Professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern studies reconstructs the origins of Islam from the prophet Muhammad's message of moral accountability and social egalitarianism, and its evolution into ideologies of rigid legalism and uncompromising orthodoxy. Discusses Muslims' current struggle to define the future of their faith and argues for reform. 2005. A People Adrift: The Crisis of the Roman Catholic Church in America RC 60533 by Peter Steinfels read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes New York Times columnist analyzes the major institutional challenges facing American Catholicism in the twenty-first century. Focuses on Church leadership, priest sex-abuse scandals, contrasting visions, and gender issues. Maintains the Church is at a crossroads, poised "on the verge of . . . irreversible decline . . . or a transformation" and offers recommendations for action. 2003. The Pontiff in Winter: Triumph and Conflict in the Reign of John Paul II RC 61224 by John Cornwell read by George Holmes 3 cassettes Cambridge scholar and author of Hitler's Pope (RC 49241) analyzes the long reign of Pope John Paul II, the former Karol Wojtyla. Discusses the pope's accomplishments and his views on controversial issues including birth control and abuses by the clergy. Criticizes the centralization of papal power. 2004. Pope Benedict XVI: A Biography of Joseph Ratzinger RC 60689 by John L. Allen Jr. read by Lou Harpenau 3 cassettes Biography of the German pope, born Joseph Ratzinger in 1927. Journalist for the National Catholic Reporter traces Ratzinger's rise to prominence as a cardinal during the Second Vatican Council. Uses documents to outline the pope's conservative theological views on controversial subjects. First published as Cardinal Ratzinger. 2000. The Prison Angel: Mother Antonia's Journey from Beverly Hills to a Life of Service in a Mexican Jail RC 61811 by Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan read by Kerry Cundiff 2 cassettes Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporters chronicle the life of Mary Clarke, twice-divorced mother of seven who, at age fifty, abandoned an affluent lifestyle, donned a habit, and moved to Tijuana's notorious La Mesa prison. Describes twenty-seven years of her humanitarian work and efforts to improve the Mexican justice system. 2005. Rabbi Jesus: An Intimate Biography RC 60559 by Bruce Chilton read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes Religion professor and priest examines Jesus within the social and cultural context of his time. Using literary and archaeological evidence accumulated since World War II, Chilton presents Jesus as "a witty philosopher" and "Mediterranean peasant-savant" of Greco-Roman heritage who did everything "as a Jew, for Jews, and about Jews." 2000. Rebel with a Cause RC 60715 by Franklin Graham read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Franklin Graham (born 1952) recalls growing up in North Carolina as the first son of the Reverend Billy Graham and his wife Ruth. Franklin relates his early "sinful" life, acceptance of Christ, missionary experiences, crusade ministry, and leadership of Samaritan's Purse an evangelical relief organization. Afterword by his parents. 1995. The Religious History of America RC 61181 by Edwin S. Gaustad and Leigh E. Schmidt read by Michael Scherer 4 cassettes Two professors of religion discuss the cultural, political, and economic influences that helped shape religion in America throughout its history. Topics include the Puritans in New England, separation of church and state, slavery, the growth of the church in the twentieth century, and war's effects on religion. 2002. Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish RC 62609 by Tom Shachtman read by Nick Sullivan 3 cassettes Documentarian examines the period when Amish teenagers are allowed freedom to experiment in order to decide whether to be baptized or enter the wider world. Highlights the tenets of the church and the experiences of the young people. Compares the practice of rumspringa to mainstream parenting. 2006. Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife RC 62108 by Mary Roach read by Catherine Byers 2 cassettes Author of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers (RC 58302) examines historical and contemporary attempts to determine the existence of life after death. Roach avoids the philosophical debate, instead exploring primarily scientific endeavors to monitor out-of-body experiences, weigh souls, and communicate with the dead. 2005. T.D. Jakes: America's New Preacher RC 61903 by Shayne Lee read by Peter Jay Fernandez 2 cassettes Sociologist examines the rise of African American preacher Thomas Dexter Jakes CEO, television host, and author of God's Leading Lady (RC 54897) from his humble beginnings in West Virginia. Attributes Jakes's success to his entrepreneurial spirit and innovative marketing techniques that resonate with postmodernists and an expanding mass-media Christian faith industry. 2005. Universal Father: A Life of Pope John Paul II RC 61288 by Garry O'Connor read by Alexander Strain 3 cassettes British biographer chronicles the life of Karol Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II (1920 2005), examining the inner man. Assesses Wojtyla's early life in Poland between wars, his interest in the theater, his acting during the Nazi occupation, and his ascent in the Catholic hierarchy. 2005. What Jesus Meant RC 62385 by Garry Wills read by Bob Moore 1 cassette Wills, author of Papal Sin (RC 50273), examines the gospels with the motto "What Would Jesus Do?" in mind. Asserts that simply asking what Jesus did or said is not enough one must understand what Jesus meant by his deeds and words. 2006. Where God Was Born: A Journey by Land to the Roots of Religion RC 61658 by Bruce Feiler read by Michael Scherer 3 cassettes The author of Walking the Bible (RC 52171) journeys to Israel, Iraq, and Iran with Israeli archaeologist Avner Goren. Feiler reinterprets accounts of Joshua's conquest of the Promised Land, David and Goliath, the capture of Jericho, and the prophets while contemplating religious intolerance. 2005. Science and Technology American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer RC 61087 by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin read by Steven Carpenter 5 cassettes Biography of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (1904 1967) "the father of the atomic bomb." Chronicles his New York City upbringing, marriage to Kitty Puening, work on the Manhattan Project, and life after the 1954 Atomic Energy Commission hearings that denied Oppenheimer his security clearance for questioning the ethics of nuclear weapons. 2005. Before the Fallout: From Marie Curie to Hiroshima RC 61800 by Diana Preston read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes British historian and author of Lusitania (RC 55923) chronicles five decades of scientific discovery culminating in the 1945 atomic bomb detonation over Japan. Describes the work of Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Ernest Rutherford, Manhattan Project leader J. Robert Oppenheimer, and others who unlocked the secrets of nuclear physics. 2005. The Best American Science Writing, 2005 RC 62017 edited by Alan Lightman read by Dennis Rooney 3 cassettes Physicist and author of Einstein's Dreams (RC 36166) presents twenty-six articles that he believes demonstrate ideal science writing with "clear, captivating, intelligent, provocative, imaginative . . . and funny" prose. Jim Holt examines end-of-the-world scenarios while Philip Alcabes critiques the bioterrorism scare. Other topics include genetic engineering and stem-cell research. 2005. Centauri Dreams: Imagining and Planning Interstellar Exploration RC 61926 by Paul Gilster read by Mark Ashby 2 cassettes Digital Literacy (RC 45205) author evaluates the feasibility of using space travel technology to reach Alpha Centauri, the sun's closest neighbor. Discusses theories and various ongoing projects that experiment with antimatter, solar sails, ion drives, and nuclear fission and fusion drives, as well as major communication and propulsion challenges. 2004. Edison's Eve: A Magical History of the Quest for Mechanical Life RC 63259 by Gaby Wood read by Dan Bloom 2 cassettes British journalist traces the development of automatons from eighteenth-century clockwork dolls to the sophisticated robots of the 1990s programmed with artificial intelligence and emotions. Examining the philosophical basis of man's obsession with automation, Wood contends that each invention which involves artificially simulated life challenges "our perception of what makes us human." 2002. Enough: Staying Human in an Engineered Age RC 62090 by Bill McKibben read by Steven Carpenter 2 cassettes Author of The End of Nature (RC 30866) examines the possibility that advancements in genetic engineering, robotics, and nanotechnology could redefine what it means to be human. McKibben discusses the social implications of altering the human body and debates the benefits and consequences of a "posthuman world." 2003. The Great Arc: The Dramatic Tale of How India Was Mapped and Everest Was Named RC 61208 by John Keay read by Jeremy Gage 2 cassettes History of the arduous and technically difficult nineteenth-century scientific expedition to survey the 1,600-mile length of India and establish its longitude, latitude, and height above sea level. Discusses the roles and personalities of William Lambton, who conceived the idea, and of George Everest, who completed it. 2000. A Life of Discovery: Michael Faraday, Giant of the Scientific Revolution RC 61302 by James Hamilton read by David Cutler 4 cassettes Art historian chronicles the life and accomplishments of British chemist and physicist Michael Faraday (1791 1867), known for his discoveries relating to electricity. Portrays Faraday in a cultural rather than scientific context, highlighting his interests including religion, drawing and painting, and a desire to teach others about natural scientific laws. 2002. The Lost Dinosaurs of Egypt RC 62417 by William Nothdurft read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Relates the 2000 Egyptian expedition by American scientists on the trail of long-forgotten, early-twentieth-century German explorer Ernst Freiherr Stromer von Reichenbach. Uses Stromer's monographs to reconstruct his findings and tragic outcome. Describes the team's furthering of Stromer's research with the discovery of a monumental dinosaur specimen. 2002. The Man Who Found Time: James Hutton and the Discovery of the Earth's Antiquity RC 58844 by Jack Repcheck read by Gillian Green 2 cassettes Historian examines the life and scientific contributions of Scottish natural philosopher James Hutton (1726 1797), whose theory of geologic evolution proved Earth to be incalculably old, a conclusion that conflicted with church teachings. Looks at Hutton's role in the Scottish Enlightenment and his influence on nineteenth-century scientists Lyell and Darwin. 2003. Moondust: In Search of the Men Who Fell to Earth by Andrew Smith read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes Journalist tracks down the nine surviving Apollo astronauts who walked on the moon between 1969 and 1972. Interviews each spaceman from the first to land on the lunar surface, Neil Armstrong, to the last, Gene Cernan to learn what they felt about their missions and how they reconciled with Earthbound life. Some strong language. 2005. Nanofuture: What's Next for Nanotechnology RC 61457 by J. Storrs Hall read by Dan Bloom 3 cassettes Scientist examines trends and possible future developments in nanotechnol- ogy, the emerging science of designing and manufacturing machines at the molecular and atomic levels. Explains quantum engineering principles and uses for engines, computers, space exploration, artificial intelligence, medicine, and transportation. Explores potential dangers and possible effects on humanity and society. 2005. The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance RC 61788 by Henry Petroski read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes A professor and civil engineer's history of the pencil. Presents it as a product of immense complexity and sophistication and as a "paradigm for the engineering process generally." Petroski examines the creation, craftsmanship, engineering, manufacture, and business of producing pencils on both sides of the Atlantic. 1989. A Perfect Red: Empire, Espionage, and the Quest for the Color of Desire RC 61303 by Amy Butler Greenfield read by Anne Flosnik 3 cassettes Cultural history of red dye going back centuries. Traces the color's significance in various societies, the difficulty in finding a natural source in Europe, and Spain's economic triumph in locating and monopolizing the cochineal supply from Mexico for several hundred years. Describes other nations' attempts to penetrate cochineal's mysteries. 2005. The Science of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials RC 61514 by Mary Gribbin and John Gribbin read by Suzanne Toren 1 cassette Relates the mystery and magic in Pullman's trilogy, beginning with The Golden Compass (RC 44343), to real-world scientific concepts. Covers topics from cosmology to string theory to explain such objects as Will's subtle knife and Mary Malone's amber spyglass. For junior and senior high readers. 2003. Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife RC 62108 by Mary Roach read by Catherine Byers 2 cassettes Author of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers (RC 58302) examines historical and contemporary attempts to determine the existence of life after death. Roach avoids the philosophical debate, instead exploring primarily scientific endeavors to monitor out-of-body experiences, weigh souls, and communicate with the dead. 2005. Stargazer: The Life and Times of the Telescope RC 61967 by Fred Watson read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Presents the four-hundred-year history of the telescope and the scientists responsible for its development from a simple spyglass to sophisticated modern engineering marvels. Covers Galileo, Johannes Kepler, Isaac Newton, William Herschel, George Ellery Hale, and Edwin Hubble. 2004. They Made America: From the Steam Engine to the Search Engine; Two Centuries of Innovators RC 60342 by Harold Evans read by Barry Bernson 7 cassettes in 2 containers The author of The American Century (RC 47580) profiles seventy American innovators who turned their ideas into commercial realities that benefited the public. Includes such well-known figures as Eli Whitney and Thomas Edison as well as individuals like Ida Rosenthal, who invented the Maidenform bra. 2004. A Thread across the Ocean: The Heroic Story of the Transatlantic Cable RC 61274 by John Steele Gordon read by Steven Carpenter 2 cassettes Chronicles efforts over twelve years to lay more than 2,000 miles of underwater telegraph cable connecting Europe and America, a project seen through to completion in 1866 by U.S. businessman and entrepreneur Cyrus Field. Examines the influences of the Industrial Revolution and England's role in providing technical and financial support. 2002. Social Sciences Black like Me RC 61703 by John Howard Griffin read by Peter Jay Fernandez 2 cassettes (Reissue) White novelist's account of his six-week experiment in 1959 to learn firsthand what it was like to be a black man in the Deep South. After deliberately darkening his skin with chemicals, Griffin records his revealing and sometimes terrifying experiences with racism, inequality, and segregation. Strong language. 1960. Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster RC 62065 by Michael Eric Dyson read by Anne Hancock 2 cassettes Humanities professor analyzes the effects of hurricane Katrina, which hit the Gulf Coast in August 2005. Contends that delays of aid to impoverished African Americans exposes a race- and class-based culture. Alleges FEMA ineptitude. Questions the federal government's role in relief failures and in perpetuating social inequities. Strong language. 2006. The Covenant with Black America RC 62404 compiled by Tavis Smiley read by Jake Williams 2 cassettes Essays on issues facing African Americans, including criminal and environmental justice, education, employment, health care, and housing. Provides a plan of action for helping communities progress socially, politically, and economically. Introduction by talk show host Tavis Smiley, author of How to Make Black America Better (RC 53011). Bestseller. 2006. Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats RC 61277 by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry read by Mary Kane 1 cassette Social history of the custom of wearing hats to church in accordance with the apostle Paul's edict to cover one's head. Through interviews with African American women of all ages the authors explore the faith and fashion of black American churches. Foreword by Maya Angelou. 2000. Culture Warrior RC 63097 by Bill O'Reilly read by Bill O'Reilly 2 cassettes Emmy Award-winning television commentator continues his analysis of the American culture wars begun in The O'Reilly Factor (RC 51053). Divides the population into traditionalists and secular-progressives. Examines their opposing positions on the war on terror, pornography, and the place of religion in the United States. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2006. Cuttin' Up: Wit and Wisdom from Black Barber Shops RC 61709 by Craig Marberry read by Bill Quinn 1 cassette Journalist crisscrossed the country to collect these anecdotes and quotes from barbershops, the "nation's earliest black businesses." Barbers (including Oprah Winfrey's dad) and customers reminisce about barbershop camaraderie, African American history, women, and current events. 2005. Do-Gooders: How Liberals Hurt Those They Claim to Help and the Rest of Us RC 61085 by Mona Charen read by Michele Schaeffer 2 cassettes Columnist and author of Useful Idiots (RC 56776) contends that liberals from the 1960s countercultural movements have led the country astray. Discusses ways the four decades of left-wing political programs aimed at helping the underclass have instead created crime, racial hatred, and homelessness, and have eroded patriotism. Strong language. 2004. Hip: The History RC 61445 by John Leland read by Constance Crawford 3 cassettes Former Spin columnist traces the origins of "hipness" to the era of American slavery. Discusses "hip" movements in music, literature, and fashion in the twentieth century. Examines the roles of cultural and racial identity in the perception of what is cool. Strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2004. A History of the World in Six Glasses RC 61242 by Tom Standage read by John Lescault 2 cassettes Author of The Victorian Internet (RC 47958) explores the historical impact of six beverages. Documents the role of beer in Mesopotamia and Egypt, wine in Greece and Rome, spirits in colonial times, coffee in the Age of Reason, tea in Britain, and Coca-Cola in America. 2005. It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good RC 61613 by Rick Santorum read by Jack Fox 3 cassettes U.S. senator from Pennsylvania describes his own conservative political views in terms of the founders' vision for the country. Discusses social capital, prosperity, morals, pop culture, and education. Offers proposals for initiatives to enable every family to succeed economically and morally. 2005. Marriage, a History: From Obedience to Intimacy; or, How Love Conquered Marriage RC 61178 by Stephanie Coontz read by Michele Schaeffer 3 cassettes Traces the evolution of marriage from being an economic institution with rigid rules to the modern Western concept of a union based on love and flexibility. Discusses various social crises through the ages that were precipitated by changes in marriage customs and expectations. 2005. Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior: Freshly Updated RC 60597 by Judith Martin read by Margaret Strom 7 cassettes in 2 containers Miss Manners provides her "gentle readers" a guide to gracious living in the twenty-first century. In addition to etiquette for traditional matters such as introductions, dining, weddings, divorce, death, and dress, she also covers decorum for modern issues including breastfeeding, e-mails, cell phones, answering machines, and the Internet. 2005. The New Basic Black: Home Training for Modern Times RC 62084 by Karen Grigsby Bates and Karen Elyse Hudson read by Mary Kane 4 cassettes Etiquette book written for African Americans offers advice on proper and polite behavior in family, school, work, and community settings. Provides guidelines on how to plan social events, take pride in one's heritage, and cope with racial incidents. 2006. One Hundred People Who Are Screwing Up America (and Al Franken Is Number Thirty-seven) RC 61078 by Bernard Goldberg read by Gregory Gorton 2 cassettes Emmy Award-winning correspondent and author of Bias (RC 53649) identifies celebrities, journalists, radicals, and intellectuals whom he criticizes for denigrating the United States. Examines the erosion of American culture that occurs when selfishness, cynicism, and vulgarity replace old-fashioned civility, respect, and decency. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2005. Self-Made Man: One Woman's Journey into Manhood and Back Again RC 61952 by Norah Vincent read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Gay former L.A. Times columnist chronicles her eighteen-month stint disguised as a man. Describes joining a male bowling league, attending a men's retreat, and visiting strip clubs. Explores gender identity, the pressures of masculinity, and the guilt caused by her deception. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2006. Sex and the City RC 61552 by Candace Bushnell read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Collection of pieces from Bushnell's "Sex and the City" column originally published in the New York Observer. Essays discuss the relationships of Bushnell and women friends, who have what she describes as "a never-ending series of freakish and horrifying experiences with men." Descriptions of sex and strong language. 2001. Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism RC 62479 by James W. Loewen read by Bill Quinn 5 cassettes Author of Lies My Teacher Told Me (RC 41440) exposes the historical existence of both northern and southern "sundown towns" communities with signs posted at their limits denying African Americans access after dark. Details the once-widespread phenomenon and residual practices in the twenty-first century. Violence and strong language. 2005. Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives RC 62238 by Tanya Biank read by Kerry Cundiff 2 cassettes Journalist follows the experiences of four army wives with husbands of various ranks at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from 2000 to 2002. Describes successes and hardships one woman loses a son, another a husband, and a third is murdered as they struggle to balance family and military demands. Strong language. 2006. An Unnatural Metropolis: Wresting New Orleans from Nature RC 61120 by Craig E. Colten read by Jake Williams 2 cassettes Louisiana geography professor describes engineering modifications made to New Orleans from the 1800s to 2002 to transform the swampland at the gateway of the Mississippi River into an inhabitable city. Also studies the social consequences of the environmental manipulation, which he asserts led to adverse consequences for minorities. 2005. Who's Afraid of a Large Black Man? RC 61213 by Charles Barkley read by Bill Quinn 2 cassettes Former NBA star and author of I May Be Wrong but I Doubt It (RC 55571) interviews thirteen prominent Americans about the subject of race. Includes insights and reform suggestions from Bill Clinton, Jesse Jackson, Tiger Woods, Barack Obama, and others. Introduction by Michael Wilbon. Strong language. 2005. Winning the Race: Beyond the Crisis in Black America RC 62388 by John McWhorter read by Bob Moore 4 cassettes In this follow-up to his 2000 book Losing the Race (RC 52632), an African American professor encourages blacks to reject separatism, join mainstream America, and accept personal responsibility for their problems. Offers suggestions for the future while denouncing alienation for its own sake. 2005. Women Who Make the World Worse: And How Their Radical Feminist Assault Is Ruining Our Families, Military, Schools, and Sports RC 62827 by Kate O'Beirne read by Jill Ferris 2 cassettes An editor for National Review posits that the feminist movement has weakened American society. Contends the policies championed by Gloria Steinem, Germaine Greer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Betty Friedan, Hillary Clinton, and others have negative consequences. 2006. Sports and Recreation America's Game: The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation RC 61512 by Michael MacCambridge read by Bill Wallace 5 cassettes A history of American football concentrating on the development of the National Football League during the last half of the twentieth century. Focuses on the sport's use of television, marketing, racial integration, and innovative leadership to overtake baseball as the dominant spectator sport. Some strong language. 2004. ATV Projects: Get the Most out of Your All-Terrain Vehicle RC 61091 edited by ATV Magazine andATV Sport read by Ted Stoddard 1 cassette Articles from ATV Magazine and ATV Sport describe the proper use and maintenance of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) stressing safety factors. Includes choosing motors, changing tires, plowing soil and snow, loading and towing, adding accessories, and going ice fishing, among other topics. 2004. The Best American Sports Writing 2004 RC 60391 edited by Richard Ben Cramer read by Erik Synnestvedt 3 cassettes Twenty-six sports and general-interest magazine articles. In "Swimming to Antarctica" Lynne Cox describes her swimming career. "The Race of Truth" chronicles a Scottish cyclist's manic depression and competitive edge, and "Growing up Mantle" describes Mickey Mantle's sons' upbringing in the shadow of their famous father. Strong language. 2004. Chasing the Rodeo: On Wild Rides and Big Dreams, Broken Hearts and Broken Bones, and One Man's Search for the West RC 61369 by W.K. Stratton read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Journalist follows the 2003 season of professional rodeo and bull riding tours. Reminisces over boyhood experiences with this quintessential western pastime as he explores rodeo's disputed history, the culture of cowboys and cowgirls, animals and audiences, and the event's growing popularity. Strong language. 2005. Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero RC 62447 by David Maraniss read by Jonathan Davis 3 cassettes Biography of the Pittsburgh Pirates' right fielder Roberto Clemente (1934 1972), one of the major league's first Latino players. Details Clemente's upbringing in Puerto Rico, his arrival to the majors, and the prejudice he endured. Discusses his charitable works and his death on a disaster relief flight. Strong language. Bestseller. 2006. Driven from Within RC 61922 by Michael Jordan read by Mark Delgado 1 cassette Michael Jordan explains through snapshots, vignettes, stories, and shoe designs the motivations that helped him become a famous basketball player and entrepreneur. Discusses his childhood, athletic career, and business philosophy. 2005. The Education of a Coach RC 61496 by David Halberstam read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Pulitzer Prize-winning author scrutinizes New England Patriots' football coach Bill Belichick. Credits Bill's Super Bowl success to advice from his father Steve, who was a U.S. Naval Academy coach and scout for thirty-three years. Traces the Belichick family's immigrant journey from steel mill to gridiron. Strong language. Bestseller. 2005. Extreme Sports: In Search of the Ultimate Thrill RC 61624 by Joe Tomlinson read by John Polk 1 cassette Discusses a wide range of extreme sports and leading figures in those fields. Covers air, land, and water sports including bungee jumping, hang gliding, skydiving, mountain biking, snowboarding, scuba diving, and surfing. For junior and senior high readers. 2004. Full Throttle: The Life and Fast Times of NASCAR Legend Curtis Turner RC 61129 by Robert Edelstein read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes Sportswriter recounts Curtis Turner's stock car racing career in the 1950s and 1960s. Traces the Virginian's life from his teen moonshining days to later success as a timber baron and builder of the Charlotte Motor Speedway before his early death in 1970. Some strong language. 2005. Lance Armstrong's War: One Man's Battle against Fate, Fame, Love, Death, Scandal, and a Few Other Rivals on the Road to the Tour de France RC 61196 by Daniel Coyle read by Jonathan Davis 3 cassettes Journalist chronicles living in cyclist Lance Armstrong's training camp in Spain for months before Armstrong's sixth Tour de France win in 2004. Describes the intense physical schedule and managerial skills employed to orchestrate a victory in biking's major sporting event. Strong language. Bestseller. 2005. Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig RC 61772 by Jonathan Eig read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes Reporter uses archives, interviews, and letters to depict the man he considers the New York Yankee's "greatest" first baseman, Lou Gehrig (1903 1941). Covers Gehrig's upbringing as the only child of German immigrants, his fallout with teammate Babe Ruth, and his optimism while facing death from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 2005. My Life In and Out of the Rough: The Truth behind All That Bull**** You Think You Know about Me RC 62638 by John Daly read by Jim Zeiger 2 cassettes Candid memoir by professional golfer from Arkansas who is a two-time majors winner and PGA champion. Recounts his addictive lifestyle that included drinking, gambling, overeating, and sex. Details his career from the 1987 Sunshine Tour in South Africa to the 2005 tour season. Strong language. Bestseller. 2006. NASCAR for Dummies RC 61972 by Mark Martin read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes A champion race car driver describes the sport of stock car racing including the rules, strategies, series, tracks, and famous drivers. Explains NASCAR sponsorship and promotion, vehicle design and technology, team composition, and safety measures. Gives tips on how to enjoy the spectacle. 2005. No End in Sight: My Life as a Blind Iditarod Racer RC 61948 by Rachael Scdoris and Rick Steber read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes Twenty-one-year-old author discusses her Oregon childhood, her experience with low vision, and her determination to become a professional sled dog racer. Describes being introduced to the sport by her father, becoming the youngest athlete to win a five-hundred-mile race, and the obstacles she overcame to qualify for the Iditarod. 2006. The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball RC 60949 by Frank Deford read by Erik Synnestvedt 2 cassettes NPR commentator and Sports Illustrated writer portrays two legendary personalities from baseball's infancy and details their role in making the sport America's favorite pastime. Chronicles pitcher Mathewson's and manager McGraw's success in taking the New York Giants from last place to 1905 World Series victors in just three years. 2005. Poker Night: Winning at Home, at the Casino, and Beyond RC 61797 by John Vorhaus read by Betty Williams 2 cassettes A renowned poker strategist and commentator offers a guide to all aspects of home poker: hosting a party, understanding variations of the game, recruiting players, establishing house rules, and setting betting limits. Explains what beats what; basic games such as stud, Omaha, and Texas hold'em; and playing in casinos. 2004. The Smart Girl's Guide to Sports: A Hip Handbook for Women Who Don't Know a Slam Dunk from a Grand Slam RC 62410 by Liz Hartman Musiker read by Kristin Allison 2 cassettes An orientation to the sports of basketball, football, baseball, hockey, golf, boxing, and auto racing. Summarizes the rules, leading athletes, and vocabulary so women can discuss sports with men and understand spectator events. For senior high and older readers. 2005. The Stettner Way: The Life and Climbs of Joe and Paul Stettner RC 62425 by John D. Gorby read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Portrays Joe and Paul Stettner as America's first sports climbers, who conquered many of the United States' western mountains. Describes the brothers' escape from 1920s Germany, war service in the Tenth Mountain Division, founding of the Chicago Mountaineering Club, and pioneering climbs. 2003. Still Life with Brook Trout RC 61832 by John Gierach read by Steven Carpenter 1 cassette Columnist for Fly Rod and Reel travels from Wyoming to Labrador indulging in his favorite sport of fly-fishing. He tells of his adventures and reminisces about drought, environmentalists, water politics, and dam building. 2005. Sunday Money: Speed! Lust! Madness! Death! A Hot Lap around America with NASCAR RC 60477 by Jeff MacGregor read by Jack Fox 3 cassettes Journalist and his wife follow the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup circuit in a motor home, covering hundreds of races in thirty-five states to document the fastest-growing sport in America. Highlights the drivers, fans, and history of stock car racing. Investigates the cultural and economic forces behind the phenomenon. Strong language. 2005. Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way to Swim Better, Faster, and Easier RC 59654 by Terry Laughlin read by Derald Breneman 2 cassettes Coach and editor of Fitness Swimmer describes techniques for becoming a more efficient swimmer. Covers training, racing, balance, and moves to learn for fishlike motion through the water. Includes drills, tips, and dry land exercises for strength, suppleness, and slimming. Revised edition. 2004. Unguarded: My Forty Years Surviving in the NBA RC 61666 by Lenny Wilkens read by Erik Synnestvedt 2 cassettes Autobiography of Basketball Hall of Fame member inducted as player and coach. Recounts his Brooklyn childhood with an African American father and an Irish Catholic mother. Describes attending college on a basketball scholarship, participating in the 1960 NBA draft, and coaching the Seattle Supersonics to the 1979 NBA championship. 2000. The Wildest Ride: A History of NASCAR (or, How a Bunch of Good Ol' Boys Built a Billion-Dollar Industry out of Wrecking Cars) RC 61842 by Joe Menzer read by Robert Sams 2 cassettes Sports writer surveys the history of stock car racing, which began with redneck bootleggers and became a big business. Shares anecdotes from famous drivers. Describes family dynasties and track tragedies. 2001. Wrestling Strength: Dare to Excel RC 60803 by Matt Brzycki read by Alec Volz 1 cassette Professional athletic trainer explains basic training for wrestlers including the order of exercise, free weights, weight machines, the number of sets, and recovery time. Discusses nutrition, diets, and fads. Includes resources. For senior high and older readers. 2004. Yao: A Life in Two Worlds RC 61982 by Yao Ming read by Bill Quinn 2 cassettes Autobiography of the Houston Rockets' seven-foot, six-inch basketball player from Shanghai, China. Yao Ming describes his early career at home, his 2002 adaptation to the NBA's style of play, and cultural differences between East and West. Introduction by coauthor Ric Bucher. 2004. Stage and Screen Alec Guinness: The Authorised Biography RC 61642 by Piers Paul Read read by Steven Carpenter 4 cassettes Author traces the life of his friend, British actor Sir Alec Guinness (1914 2000), based on Guinness's diaries. Chronicles his unhappy childhood, long marriage, and conversion to Catholicism. Also discusses Sir Alec's stage and screen career, which began in 1933 with an acting scholarship. Strong language. 2003. Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams: The Story of Black Hollywood RC 59992 by Donald Bogle read by Ray Hagen 3 cassettes Author of Dorothy Dandridge (RC 46289) chronicles social roles of African American actors in the first half of the twentieth century. Outlines the migration of blacks to California and the lives of such movie stars as Lena Horne, Sammy Davis Jr., Hattie McDaniel, and Stepin Fetchit. Some strong language. 2005. Burnt Toast and Other Philosophies of Life RC 62639 by Teri Hatcher read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Golden Globe-winning actress and star of television's Desperate Housewives shares her experience of coping at forty with being a single mother and television star. Describes her personal and professional ups and downs and overcoming low self-esteem to succeed. Strong language. Bestseller. 2006. Buster Keaton: Tempest in a Flat Hat RC 61581 by Edward McPherson read by Robert Sams 2 cassettes Biography of multitalented actor Buster Keaton (1895 1966). Traces Keaton's career from his start in vaudeville to his success in silent film, work in talking pictures, and rise as a television pioneer. Covers the period in the 1930s when Keaton's dismissal from MGM intensified his struggles with alcohol and depression. 2004. Cary Grant: A Biography RC 60049 by Marc Eliot read by Ray Hagen 3 cassettes Highlights the thirty-four-year film career of one of Hollywood's mid-twentieth-century leading male actors. Traces Grant's (1904 1986) family life and sexual ambivalence, evaluates his career including a monumental break with the studio system, and describes lengthy psychotherapy that included LSD treatments. Some strong language. 2004. De Niro: A Biography RC 60610 by John Baxter read by Steven Carpenter 3 cassettes Movie critic analyzes the various film roles of actor Robert De Niro, born in 1943. Describes his Greenwich Village childhood with a gay father and an artistic mother. Traces the artist's career from his 1976 breakout role in Taxi Driver to later business ventures. Some strong language. 2002. The Good, the Bad, and Me: In My Anecdotage RC 61356 by Eli Wallach read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Acclaimed Tony Award-winning actor of stage and screen recounts his childhood in Brooklyn, college days in Texas, long marriage, and varied career. Discusses his experiences with Method acting, the Actors Studio, directors, and fellow performers. Some strong language. 2005. The Happiest Corpse I've Ever Seen: The Last Twenty-five Years of the Broadway Musical RC 60863 by Ethan Mordden read by Mitzi Friedlander 3 cassettes Author continues his chronicle of the Broadway musical that began with Make Believe: The Broadway Musical in the 1920s (RC 50756) with this self-described "rant" on the condition of musical theatre, which he asserts has been "hijacked" by pop culture. Unsparing critique looks at productions from 1978 to 2003, including The Producers (2001). 2004. Killer Tomatoes: Fifteen Tough Film Dames RC 59428 by Ray Hagen and Laura Wagner read by Ray Hagen 3 cassettes Hollywood leading ladies of the 1930s 1950s identified by the authors as "hot tamales [who] weren't dependent on men to get where they wanted to go." Profiles Lucille Ball, Joan Blondell, Ida Lupino, Jane Russell, Ann Sheridan, Barbara Stanwyck, and others. Foreword by Jane Russell. 2004. The Leading Men of MGM RC 60817 by Jane Ellen Wayne read by Mitzi Friedlander 4 cassettes In this companion to The Golden Girls of MGM (RC 56320) the author writes about legendary actors who were under contract to Louis B. Mayer's Hollywood studio. Reveals personal information regarding the affairs and vices of Clark Gable, Peter Lawford, Robert Taylor, and others. Includes filmographies. Strong language. 2004. Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer RC 61573 by Scott Eyman read by Robert Sams 5 cassettes Author of Mary Pickford (RC 31374) provides a biography of film producer and MGM studios founder. Details Mayer's life (1885 1957) from his birth into a devout Russian Jewish family to his powerful, four-decade career as a star-maker. Describes MGM's organization, values, and roster of stars. 2005. The Other Side of Me RC 61653 by Sidney Sheldon read by Bob Moore 2 cassettes An award-winning screenwriter, playwright, and novelist reminisces about his rags-to-riches life, from an impoverished childhood in Depression-era Chicago to success in Hollywood and on Broadway. Describes the celebrities he has worked with, his personal tragedies, and his lifelong struggle with manic depression. 2005. Paul Scofield: An Actor for All Seasons RC 60888 by Garry O'Connor read by John Lescault 3 cassettes Examination of the life of noted British actor born in 1922, who prefers the stage to film and TV. In O'Connor's portrayal Scofield is intensely private and dedicated. The depth and range of roles in the actor's career include Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons and Shakespeare's King Lear. 2002. Seven Hundred Sundays RC 61437 by Billy Crystal read by Derald Breneman 1 cassette Comedian's autobiography the basis of a Broadway play describes his happy Long Island childhood. Reminisces about his hardworking father Jack, who could spend only Sundays with his family. Celebrates his mother's courage after Jack's early death from a heart attack. Strong language. Bestseller. 2005. Shattered Love: A Memoir RC 60046 by Richard Chamberlain read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Stage and screen actor's autobiography centers on "the spiritual themes of God, love, and forgiveness." Addresses his childhood with an alcoholic parent, his sexual orientation, and his drift into acting during college. Discusses his 1960s breakout role as Dr. Kildare and professional relationships with other actors. Some strong language. 2003. Speedbumps: Flooring It through Hollywood RC 61909 by Teri Garr read by Martha Harmon Pardee 2 cassettes Comic actress Teri Garr describes her youth in Hollywood and her ambition to become a movie star. Discusses a long career that began with dancing, her dedication to acting, and the 1983 diagnosis of multiple sclerosis that forced Teri to refocus her life and priorities. Some strong language. 2005. Spike Lee: That's My Story and I'm Sticking to It RC 61901 by Spike Lee read by Bill Quinn 3 cassettes Oral history of African American filmmaker Spike Lee's rise to fame from his 1986 movie She's Gotta Have It to the 2004 She Hate Me, produced by Lee's own company. Interviews Lee's colleagues, friends, and family and discusses controversial social issues, including stereotyping, racism, and sexuality. Strong language. 2005. Stepin Fetchit: The Life and Times of Lincoln Perry RC 61843 by Mel Watkins read by Bob Moore 3 cassettes Biography of Lincoln Perry (1902 1985), Hollywood's first successful black movie star. Traces his career from minstrel shows to comic roles in talking pictures that made him a millionaire. Describes post-World War II disapproval of Perry's characterizations of African Americans that ended his popularity. Strong language. 2005. Symptoms of Withdrawal: A Memoir of Snapshots and Redemption RC 61158 by Christopher Kennedy Lawford read by Michael Russotto 3 cassettes Lawford recounts his life as the son of Patricia Kennedy and movie actor Peter Lawford. Describes experiences with drugs, alcohol, and debauchery followed by twenty years of sobriety. Details his own acting career and relates competitiveness with his Kennedy cousins. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2005. The Whole Equation: A History of Hollywood RC 61648 by David Thomson read by Robert Sams 4 cassettes Film critic profiles Hollywood from its creation in the 1900s to the early twenty-first century. Depicts studio heads like Louis B. Mayer and David O. Selznick, their stars, and their films. Also describes the growth of the Los Angeles area and the work of developers like William Mulholland. 2004. Travel Apple's America: The Discriminating Traveler's Guide to Forty Great Cities in the United States and Canada RC 60635 by R.W. Apple Jr. read by Michael Scherer 3 cassettes Well-traveled journalist offers background information on forty North American cities. Highlights architecture, museums, ballparks, performing arts centers, and other cultural points of interest. Briefly mentions hotels and restaurants. 2005. Assassination Vacation RC 61591 by Sarah Vowell read by Colleen Delany 2 cassettes Journalist visits sites associated with the first three assassinated American presidents: Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, and William McKinley. Relates pieces of historical trivia, including the fact that Robert Todd Lincoln was present at all three shootings. 2005. Barrier-Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide for Wheelers and Slow-Walkers RC 61293 by Candy Harrington read by Margaret Strom 2 cassettes This edition of Barrier-Free Travel (RC 56626), revised after September 11, 2001, contains updates on access- related rules and regulations and airport security procedures that apply to wheelchair users and slow walkers. Covers travel with wheeler kids, tips and tools for planning a trip, and expanded sections on cruises and resources. 2005. Carnivorous Nights: On the Trail of the Tasmanian Tiger RC 60543 by Margaret Mittelbach and Michael Crewdson read by Dan Bloom 3 cassettes New York-based naturalists recount their quest to find a living Tasmanian tiger, a presumed-extinct carnivorous marsupial with a dog-like body and zebra-like stripes, once native to Tasmania, an island off Australia's coast. They describe their wilderness misadventures down under and their run-ins with unusual creatures and humans. Some strong language. 2005. Dove RC 61462 by Robin Lee Graham read by Ray Childs 2 cassettes (Reissue) Author's true account of adventure when, at age sixteen, he set sail from California for a solo, around-the-world voyage aboard his 24-foot sloop, Dove. Chronicles the five-year, 36,000-mile trip during which he met and fell in love with American Patti Ratterree his future wife. For senior high and older readers. 1972. Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything across Italy, India, and Indonesia RC 61789 by Elizabeth Gilbert read by Gabriella Cavallero 3 cassettes Successful young author, recently divorced, seeks distraction and solace during a year of travel. She describes finding culinary pleasure in civilized Italy, ascetic meditation on an ashram in India, and a love affair in Bali. 2005. The 8:55 to Baghdad RC 61748 by Andrew Eames read by Dan Bloom 3 cassettes British journalist recounts his travels by train in 2002 from London to Baghdad, which replicated Agatha Christie's journey in 1928. Eames interweaves the account of his own adventures in the tumultuous Middle East with Christie's life story, providing background on the culture and history of the places en route. 2004. Ghost Ship: The Mysterious True Story of the Mary Celeste and Her Missing Crew RC 60699 by Brian Hicks read by Mitzi Friedlander 2 cassettes Coauthor of Raising the Hunley (RC 54755) explores the fate of a merchant ship found drifting in 1872 without trace of the captain, his wife and daughter, or seven crewmembers and with no damage or indication of struggle. Chronicles the boat's history and offers possible explanations. 2004. The Global Soul: Jet Lag, Shopping Malls, and the Search for Home RC 61234 by Pico Iyer read by Peter Ganim 3 cassettes The author uses his own international background as a starting point for exploring the multicultural phenomena of an increasingly mobile world. As he travels to far-flung cities (including Atlanta for the Olympics), he reflects on others who commute between cultures and places, probing their psychological makeup and sense of rootlessness. 2000. Istanbul: Memories and the City RC 61985 by Orhan Pamuk read by Robert Blumenfeld 2 cassettes Author of Snow (RC 58863) describes growing up in Istanbul, Turkey, among the remains of past civilizations in an apartment house his extended family owns and occupies. Born in 1952 to a secular family, Pamuk describes their dysfunctional relationships and the sense of melancholy that pervades the city. 2003. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir RC 63131 by Bill Bryson read by Bill Bryson 2 cassettes Travel humorist reminisces about growing up in 1950s middle America. Recalls the simple pleasures of family life and teen culture under the shadow of the Cold War. 2006. Queenan Country: A Reluctant Anglophile's Pilgrimage to the Mother Country RC 61724 by Joe Queenan read by Frank Coffee 2 cassettes New York Times columnist and author of Balsamic Dreams (RC 53282) recounts his 2002 solo journey to his wife's native England. Queenan contends his account is "not a travel book" but rather "an affectionate jeremiad" of the land and its people, who he admits have "always baffled" him. 2004. Rounding the Horn: Being the Story of Williwaws and Windjammers, Drake, Darwin, Murdered Missionaries, and Naked Natives A Deck's-Eye View of Cape Horn RC 61283 by Dallas Murphy read by Steven Carpenter 3 cassettes Journalist and author of Apparent Wind (RC 35271) recounts his voyage in 2000 to Cape Horn, South America's southernmost point and the gateway of the Drake Passage. Murphy describes his adventures along with those of mariners and explorers from the past. 2004. Seasons in Basilicata: A Year in a Southern Italian Hill Village RC 60617 by David Yeadon read by David Cutler 3 cassettes Describes the seasonal delights and ancient traditions an English-speaking couple enjoys while living in rural Italy. Inspired by Carlo Levi's Christ Stopped at Eboli (RC 39274), they settle in the region, discover the pagan streak Levi wrote about, and experience culinary and scenic pleasures. 2004. There Is Room at the Inn: Inns and B and Bs for Wheelers and Slow Walkers RC 62606 by Candy B. Harrington read by Frank Coffee 2 cassettes Guide to one hundred U.S. lodgings that the author deems accessible and welcoming to people with impaired mobility. Reviews inns, bed-and-breakfasts, a safari park, a dude ranch, and other small facilities, detailing accessibility features including sleeping and bathroom accommodations. Lists properties by state and provides sight-seeing suggestions. 2006. Vietnam Today: A Guide to a Nation at a Crossroads RC 61081 by Mark A. Ashwill read by Ted Stoddard 2 cassettes Overview of the southeast Asian country for businessmen and travelers. Explores defining issues in the nation's economy, culture, politics, and history. Highlights the Vietnamese view of Westerners, long history of foreign occupation, and emphasis on maintaining harmony. Offers practical tips for conducting business and developing long-term relationships. 2005. Weird U.S.: Your Travel Guide to America's Local Legends and Best-Kept Secrets RC 61177 by Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman read by Steven Carpenter 3 cassettes A collection of seemingly fantastic tales corroborated by actual events and historical data whenever possible. Grouped not by geography but by broad topics including ancient mysteries, unexplained phenomena, bizarre beasts, local heroes and villains, ghosts, and cemeteries. Covers Emily's Bridge in Vermont and the Winchester Mystery House in California. 2004. A Year in the World: Journeys of a Passionate Traveler RC 61339 by Frances Mayes read by Cassandra Campbell 3 cassettes Author of Under the Tuscan Sun (RC 44847) and her husband explore Spain, Portugal, southern Italy, Sicily, Morocco, Greece, Crete, Scotland, Turkey, and places in between. Discusses each country's cultural, historical, and literary highlights and savors the local cuisine. 2006. U.S. History The Age of Anxiety: McCarthyism to Terrorism RC 61844 by Haynes Johnson read by Mark Ashby 3 cassettes Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of The Best of Times: America in the Clinton Years (RC 53438) chronicles the rise and fall of Senator Joseph McCarthy, whose 1950s anticommunist crusades fueled public paranoia and led to government restrictions. Compares McCarthyism to George W. Bush's war on terrorism. 2005. American Heroines: The Spirited Women Who Shaped Our Country RC 61187 by Kay Bailey Hutchison read by Faith Potts 3 cassettes First female to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate presents pioneering women in American history. Profiles Clara Barton, Mary Cassatt, Amelia Earhart, Margaret Chase Smith, and others. Also includes interviews with contemporary women, such as astronaut Sally Ride, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, and journalist Barbara Walters. 2004. The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin RC 60821 by Gordon S. Wood read by Roy Avers 2 cassettes Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Radicalism of the American Revolution (RC 36630) traces Benjamin Franklin's conversion from fervent British loyalist to American patriot. Highlights Franklin's decades of living abroad, role as a diplomat, shift in allegiance, and efforts to shed his humble beginnings. 2004. The Apache Indians: In Search of the Missing Tribe RC 61467 by Helge Ingstad read by Dan Bloom 2 cassettes Account by Norwegian explorer Ingstad (1899 2001) of his 1930s search for a band of Apache Indians believed to have fled U.S. reservations for Mexico's Sierra Madre mountains. Describes his sojourn among White Mountain Apaches in Arizona and his quest to find their "lost" brethren. Translated by Janine K. Stenehjem. 1945. At Canaan's Edge: America in the King Years, 1965 68 RC 61997 by Taylor Branch read by Ralph Lowenstein 8 cassettes in 2 containers Pulitzer Prize-winning author continues his chronicle of the civil rights movement in America. Covers events beginning with the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, through Martin Luther King's assassination in 1968. Follows Pillar of Fire (RC 45816) and Parting the Waters (RC 29759). Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2006. The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell RC 61328 by Mark Kurlansky read by John H. Mayer 2 cassettes Author of Cod (RC 45502) produces a social history of New York City from 1609 to 2005 by examining the rise and fall of oyster harvesting and consumption in the Hudson River area. Describes the desecration of a natural resource. Includes historic recipes. Descriptions of sex, violence, and some strong language. 2006. Black Kettle: The Cheyenne Chief Who Sought Peace but Found War RC 61754 by Thom Hatch read by Dan Bloom 3 cassettes Biography of the nineteenth-century chief who worked to secure survival of the Cheyenne nation. Portrays Black Kettle in the social, political, and historical context of America's western expansion. Describes the battles and betrayals leading to his death in 1868 when Lieutenant Colonel Custer attacked Black Kettle's village. Spur Award. 2004. Blood Done Sign My Name: A True Story RC 61527 by Timothy B. Tyson read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes Author returns to Oxford, North Carolina, where he lived in 1970. Chronicles the social unrest that followed after African American Henry Marrow was murdered there by three white men who were later acquitted. Examines the consequences for the people involved, including Tyson's minister father. Violence and strong language. 2004. Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America RC 61597 by James Webb read by Erik Synnestvedt 2 cassettes The former Secretary of the Navy examines the Scottish-Irish heritage in the United States. Posits that the Celtic fighting spirit and attitudes of egalitarianism, individualism, and personal honor form the bedrock of America's working-class culture. Traces the immigration of his forebears from the eighteenth century. 2004. Breaking the Color Barrier: The U.S. Naval Academy's First Black Midshipmen and the Struggle for Racial Equality RC 62231 by Robert J. Schneller Jr. read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes Naval historian examines racial discrimination at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis from the post-Civil War Reconstruction era to the graduation of the first African American in 1949. Discusses the political and social climate during this period and the treatment of black midshipmen at the academy. 2005. California: A History RC 61161 by Kevin Starr read by Ted Stoddard 3 cassettes Portrait of California from its sixteenth-century colonization by Spain through 2005. University of Southern California historian Starr describes the megastate's growth and eventual distinction as "the fifth-ranked economy on the planet." Relates the role of California's entertainment industry and natural beauty in defining the state's image as a utopia. Bestseller. 2005. Captain John Smith: Jamestown and the Birth of the American Dream RC 62662 by Dorothy Hoobler and Thomas Hoobler read by Jake Williams 2 cassettes A chronicle of explorer John Smith (1580 1631), who founded and led the Jamestown colony from 1607 to 1609. Uses Smith's writings, colonists' diaries, and archives to trace his adventures, including his arrival in the New World facing possible execution and to demythologize his relationship with Pocahontas and portray wilderness life. 2006. The Death of a President: November 20 November 25, 1963 RC 61781 by William Manchester read by Bill Wallace 7 cassettes in 2 containers (Reissue) Biographer's account of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, who was killed on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. Reconstructs events surrounding the shooting, investigates material and circumstantial evidence, and compares witness statements. Differs from the Warren Commission's criminal inquiry by focusing on the presidency. 1967. Decision at Sea: Five Naval Battles That Shaped American History RC 61299 by Craig L. Symonds read by Robert Sams 3 cassettes Historian illustrates how five pivotal naval battles shaped U.S. history, stimulated the development of new technology, and changed the nature of sea warfare. Analyzes the battles of Lake Erie (1813), Hampton Roads (1862), Manila Bay (1898), Midway (1942), and Operation Praying Mantis (1988). 2005. The Dominion of War: Empire and Liberty in North America, 1500 2000 RC 61545 by Fred Anderson and Andrew Cayton read by Bill Wallace 5 cassettes Professors reinterpret the history of North America, emphasizing the centrality of wars and expansionism to U.S. development. Traces patterns of imperialism over five centuries by focusing on eight individuals from Samuel de Champlain to Colin Powell. Some violence. 2005. Encyclopedia of the Library of Congress: For Congress, the Nation, and the World RC 60351 edited by John Y. Cole and Jane Aikin read by Kerry Cundiff 8 cassettes in 2 containers Essays and articles documenting the growth of the Library of Congress from its beginning in 1800 until 2004. Includes information on the Library's various collections and services, and reviews American librarianship in general. 2004. Finding Ma ana: A Memoir of a Cuban Exodus RC 61443 by Mirta Ojito read by Constance Crawford 2 cassettes Award-winning reporter describes her family's flight from Cuba during the 1980 Mariel boatlift when she was sixteen years old. Reminisces about life under a Communist regime and her subsequent integration into American culture. Relates accounts of other refugees and of those who helped them leave the island. 2005. Flag: An American Biography RC 61466 by Marc Leepson read by Dan Bloom 3 cassettes A look at what's behind the special feeling Americans have for their flag. Traces its history from the Revolutionary War to its twenty-first-century role in the war against terrorism. Leepson describes the events and personalities that created the flag and made it a symbol of pride for the nation. 2005. The Girl He Left Behind: The Life and Times of Libbie Custer RC 61974 by Suzanne Middendorf Arruda read by Kerry Cundiff 1 cassette Traces the life of Elizabeth "Libbie" Custer, who married General George Armstrong Custer during the Civil War. Depicts the nomadic lifestyle of a nineteenth-century military wife, describes George's death at the Little Big Horn, and recounts Libbie's efforts to preserve her husband's reputation. For senior high and older readers. 2004. A G-Man's Life: The FBI, Being "Deep Throat," and the Struggle for Honor in Washington RC 62429 by Mark Felt and John O'Connor read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes The author, the FBI's second in command after the death of J. Edgar Hoover, draws from his memoirs, correspondence, and memos to reconstruct his long career with the agency. With the help of his lawyer John O'Connor, Felt describes his work, role in the Watergate affair, and personal tragedies. 2006. Growing Up in Slavery: Stories of Young Slaves as Told by Themselves RC 62230 edited by Yuval Taylor read by Erik Sandvold 2 cassettes Personal accounts of ten former slaves, including Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs, recalling their childhood and teen years. Descriptions of cruelty, misery, and fear mingle with their memories of learning to read, playing games, and falling in love. Violence and some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2005. How the North Won: A Military History of the Civil War RC 60825 by Herman Hattaway and Archer Jones read by Robert Sams 7 cassettes in 2 containers Provides a military account of the Civil War "from the viewpoint of the higher commanders on both sides." Emphasizes the war's management and planning rather than specific battles and posits that guerrilla raids and defense won the conflict. The authors offer revisionist theories of Lincoln, Lee, and Grant. 1983. John Brown, Abolitionist: The Man Who Killed Slavery, Sparked the Civil War, and Seeded Civil Rights RC 61280 by David S. Reynolds read by Ted Stoddard 5 cassettes Author of Walt Whitman's America (RC 41371) presents a cultural biography of abolitionist John Brown (1800 1859). Argues that Brown's most violent activities, like the Harper's Ferry raid, were inspired by nineteenth-century America's social and political conditions. Traces Brown's family origins and his posthumous influence. Some violence. 2005. John Hancock: Merchant King and American Patriot RC 62213 by Harlow Giles Unger read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes Biography of the wealthy Boston merchant who, as president of the Continental Congress, became the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. Uses first-hand accounts to reconstruct the life of Hancock and the fervor of revolutionary New England. Relates his philanthropy and postwar career as Massachusetts's governor. 2000. John Jay: Founding Father RC 60042 by Walter Stahr read by Dan Bloom 4 cassettes Biography of American diplomat and coauthor of The Federalist Papers (RC 26691). Chronicles Jay's personal and political life that included stints as president of the Continental Congress, chief justice of the Supreme Court, secretary for foreign affairs, governor of New York, and president of the American Bible Society. 2005. Letter from America, 1946 2004 RC 60633 by Alistair Cooke read by Peter Gil 4 cassettes Selected commentaries from among the nearly three thousand written and broadcast by the British-born journalist during his six-decade career in New York City. Cooke's observations about American political and social customs include his encounters with many presidents, friendships with renowned artists, and accounts of landmark events. 2004. The Life of Herbert Hoover: Master of Emergencies, 1917 1918 RC 62191 by George H. Nash read by Robert Sams 6 cassettes Following The Life of Herbert Hoover: The Humanitarian (RC 29631), the third volume in an ongoing biography of the thirty-first president concentrates on Hoover's role as U.S. food administrator during World War I, when government regulation prevented widespread starvation at home and abroad. 1996. The Lost German Slave Girl: The Extraordinary True Story of Sally Miller and Her Fight for Freedom in Old New Orleans RC 61720 by John Bailey read by Frank Coffee 2 cassettes Australian historian describes the nineteenth-century trial between German immigrants and a slave owner. Using court transcriptions and newspaper articles Bailey details the Schuber family's argument that slave Sally Miller was really Salom Mller, their relative, and that her childhood employer had enslaved and sold the indentured servant. Strong language. 2003. Love and Hate in Jamestown: John Smith, Pocahontas, and the Heart of a New Nation RC 62286 by David A. Price read by Mark Ashby 2 cassettes An account of the first American settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. Using letters, chronicles, and papers of the Virginia Company, presents John Smith's and Pocahontas's pivotal roles in America's birth and describes the colonists' struggle to survive amid starvation, infighting, harsh climate, and hostile Indians. 2003. Martha Washington: An American Life RC 61531 by Patricia Brady read by Kerry Cundiff 2 cassettes Biography of widow Martha "Patsy" Dandridge Custis (1731 1802) who married Virginia planter George Washington in 1759 when both were in their late twenties. The author uses primary sources to explore Martha's influence on her husband, her involvement during the Revolutionary War, and her role in developing the presidency. 2005. Martin Van Buren RC 62699 by Ted Widmer read by Annie Wauters 2 cassettes Traces the career of the eighth U.S. President Martin Van Buren (1782 1862), a New Yorker raised in a Dutch-speaking household. Recounts his stints as Andrew Jackson's secretary of state and vice president. Describes the economic crisis and slavery debates that limited the Democrat to one term in office. 2005. Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War RC 62504 by Nathaniel Philbrick read by Ted Stoddard 4 cassettes National Book Award-winner studies two generations of Pilgrims, from the original 102 passengers who arrived in 1620 to the handful of survivors of the 1675 King Philip's War. Describes the initial storm-tossed voyage, starvation and disease in the wilderness, and the help and duplicity of the natives. Some violence. Bestseller. 2006. Mighty Fitz: The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald RC 62656 by Michael Schumacher read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Examines the mysterious sinking of the largest freighter on the Great Lakes during a storm in November 1975, when the twenty-nine-member crew died without sending a distress signal. Chronicles the history of the Fitz from its launch in 1958 to the designation of the shipwreck as a grave site. 2005. Mr. Jefferson's Lost Cause: Land, Farmers, Slavery, and the Louisiana Purchase RC 60062 by Roger G. Kennedy read by Don Hagen 4 cassettes Smithsonian Institution historian argues that, because of the terms he accepted in making the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, Thomas Jefferson supported slaveholding interests in westward expansion and set the stage for civil war. Describes economic forces and ruinous farming methods that made plantation owners depend on forced labor for prosperity. 2003. New World Coming: The 1920s and the Making of Modern America RC 62083 by Nathan Miller read by Kimberly Schraf 4 cassettes Pulitzer Prize-nominee describes the 1920s as an era of contradiction, politically conservative yet culturally in flux, and a precursor of "modern excesses" at the twenty-first century's start. Miller examines corruption, graft, labor strikes, and racial tension as products of unbridled greed. Also discusses social and economic changes, moral attitudes, and the arts. 2003. The Next Attack: The Failure of the War on Terror and a Strategy for Getting It Right RC 61650 by Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon read by Mark Ashby 2 cassettes The authors of The Age of Sacred Terror (RC 55953) contend that U.S. military interventions are jeopardizing the war against radical Islamists. Describes terrorists' use of the Internet to spread their ideology, the role of Christian evangelism in foreign policy, and the influence of Muslims in America. 2005. The Oregon Trail: An American Saga RC 60598 by David Dary read by Michael Russotto 4 cassettes Author of The Santa Fe Trail (RC 53106) chronicles the history of the 2,000-mile route linking Missouri to Oregon used primarily from the 1840s to 1869 when the transcontinental railroad was completed. Recreates experiences of explorers, Indians, fur traders, immigrants, missionaries, mountain men, and pioneers who traversed the trail. 2004. The Pirates Laffite: The Treacherous World of the Corsairs of the Gulf RC 60698 by William C. Davis read by Butch Hoover 4 cassettes Account of Pierre and brother Jean Laffite, who fled revolutionary France for the New World. Traces their business and privateer enterprises along the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, their exploits assisting American forces during the War of 1812, and their changing allegiance when they later spied for Spain. 2005. Posterity: Letters of Great Americans to Their Children RC 61135 by Dorie McCullough Lawson read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Presents parental messages of advice, wisdom, humor, and affection from authors, explorers, presidents, inventors, and soldiers. Includes Carl Sandburg, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, George Patton, Woody Guthrie, Abigail Adams, and Eleanor Roosevelt among others. Grouped by general theme, the selections span four centuries and are introduced with contextual commentary. 2004. The Real Revolution: The Global Story of American Independence RC 62424 by Marc Aronson read by Jake Williams 2 cassettes Examines global events that led to the American Revolution, including the Seven Years' War and the rise and demise of the East India Company. Cites slavery, tea, taxes, and liberty as contributing factors in the mindset transition of British colonists to independent Americans. For junior and senior high readers. 2005. Rebel-in-Chief: Inside the Bold and Controversial Presidency of George W. Bush RC 61743 by Fred Barnes read by Dan Bloom 2 cassettes Fox television news analyst interviewed President George W. Bush and his top officials to report on the ways the Bush administration is using radical conservatism to effect change in the United States. Covers foreign policy and faith-based initiatives. 2006. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln RC 61162 by Doris Kearns Goodwin read by Robert Sams 7 cassettes in 2 containers Pulitzer Prize-winner illustrates the political acumen of Abraham Lincoln. Highlights the careers of Lincoln's three prime competitors in the Republican party William Seward, Salmon Chase, and Edward Bates, men more qualified and educated whom he beat for the 1860 nomination for chief executive. Discusses their subsequent appointments to the cabinet. Bestseller. 2005. The Terrorist Next Door: The Militia Movement and the Radical Right RC 60865 by Daniel Levitas read by Ted Stoddard 4 cassettes Expert on white supremacist and neo-Nazi activities chronicles racist and anti-Semitic right-wing militia groups. Traces evolution of the paramilitary group Posse Comitatus, founded by William Gale in 1971, from its 1950s precursors to the 1990s. Claims constitutional fundamentalism enabled Gale's ideologies to infiltrate mainstream America. Some strong language. 2002. Thomas Jefferson: Author of America RC 61778 by Christopher Hitchens read by Bill Wallace 1 cassette Journalist's concise biography of Thomas Jefferson (1743 1826), third U.S. president. Posits that Jefferson "designed America" by incorporating the concept of human rights into the Declaration of Independence. Describes the public and private life of this man of contradictions, who was both a freedom advocate and a slaveholder. 2005. To the Flag: The Unlikely History of the Pledge of Allegiance by Richard J. Ellis read by Jill Fox 3 cassettes Professor of politics looks at the history of the Pledge of Allegiance from its inception in 1892 through the 2004 Supreme Court decision regarding the words "under God." Ellis argues that five anxieties affected the creation, propagation, and amending of the Pledge: immigration, materialism, freedom, radicalism, and Communism. 2005. Tom Paine and Revolutionary America RC 61835 by Eric Foner read by Erik Synnestvedt 2 cassettes Biography of eighteenth-century writer describes the political, intellectual, and social world he inhabited. Traces Paine's career during the American and French revolutions and his imprisonment by the Jacobins. Highlights major works including Common Sense, The Rights of Man, and The Age of Reason. Includes Foner's 2005 preface. 1976. Vicksburg Is the Key: The Struggle for the Mississippi River RC 61834 by William L. Shea and Terrence J. Winschel read by Ted Stoddard 2 cassettes Details the Civil War struggle for the control of the Mississippi River that culminated in the Union siege of the city of Vicksburg in 1863. Describes Ulysses S. Grant's long campaign by land and sea. 2003. Washington's Secret War: The Hidden History of Valley Forge RC 61803 by Thomas Fleming read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes Historian, using primary documents, describes how General George Washington kept the ragged Continental Army intact in Pennsylvania during the winter of 1777 1778. Argues that after the British captured Philadelphia, Washington's rivals conspired to have him removed but he "outmaneuvered his political enemies, and rescued the Revolution from extremism." 2005. Wedding of the Waters: The Erie Canal and the Making of a Great Nation RC 61923 by Peter L. Bernstein read by Annie Wauters 3 cassettes Economist describes the personality clashes and technological feats that resulted in the 1825 completion of the Erie Canal linking the eastern seaboard to the Midwest. Highlights the work of surveyors, engineers, and laborers using eyewitness accounts. Emphasizes the subsequent economic, social, and political impact on young America. 2005. When the Mississippi Ran Backwards: Empire, Intrigue, Murder, and the New Madrid Earthquakes RC 60365 by Jay Feldman read by Jill Fox 2 cassettes Chronicles a series of catastrophic earthquakes in the Mississippi River Valley from 1811 to 1812 that devastated the New Madrid frontier settlement and temporarily reversed the Mississippi's flow. Links the seismologic activity to the Indian Wars, a slave murder committed by Thomas Jefferson's nephews, and the War of 1812. 2005. White House Pets RC 61550 by Margaret Truman read by Kerry Cundiff 1 cassette (Reissue) President Truman's daughter provides anecdotes about the domestic and wild animals kept by first families. Discusses dogs, cats, horses, and sheep as well as pigmy hippos and lion cubs received as gifts from foreign officials. Covers Washington's horses and hounds, Teddy Roosevelt's zoo, FDR's dog Fala, and Kennedy's menagerie. 1969. War . . . And a Hard Rain Fell: A GI's True Story of the War in Vietnam RC 62667 by John Ketwig read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes Memoir of army veteran sent to Vietnam in 1967 at age nineteen. Chronicles his yearlong tour during which he confronted death and disillusionment with himself, his country, and humanity. Describes his stint in Thailand and the aftermath of his service. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptons of sex. 2002. The Assassins' Gate: America in Iraq RC 61640 by George Packer read by Mark Ashby 4 cassettes Writer for the New Yorker surveys the causes and course of the war in Iraq. Analyzes the liberal and neoconserv- ative political arguments that led to the conflict and their consequences. Interviews civilians, soldiers, and returning migr s to portray the rebuilding of Iraq. Violence and strong language. 2005. Beyond Band of Brothers RC 61999 by Dick Winters read by Jonathan Davis 3 cassettes Memoirs of the leader and men of Easy Company, profiled in Stephen Ambrose's Band of Brothers (RC 40283) book and HBO series. The major describes the WWII battles fought to liberate Europe and the spirit of camaraderie and friendship within his infantry regiment. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2006. The Boys of Pointe du Hoc: Ronald Reagan, D-Day, and the U.S. Army 2nd Ranger Battalion RC 61223 by Douglas Brinkley read by Richard Davidson 2 cassettes The author contends that when President Reagan honored the fortieth anniversary of D-Day the Normandy invasion of Europe on June 6, 1984, he energized the nation and inspired a "New Patriotism." Recalls the way army Rangers scaled the French cliffs to defeat the Nazis and discusses Reagan's American legacy. 2005. The Brave Women of the Gulf Wars: Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom RC 61960 by Karen Zeinert and Mary Miller read by Kerry Cundiff 1 cassette Traces the roots of the Persian Gulf War of 1991 and the subsequent U.S. military operations in Iraq. Discusses the roles of women in modern warfare as soldiers, correspondents, medics, and prisoners of war as well as their peace efforts on the home front. For junior and senior high readers. 2006. Chopper: Firsthand Accounts of Helicopter Warfare, World War II to Iraq RC 61833 by Robert F. Dorr read by Gregory Gorton 3 cassettes Aviation expert uses narratives by pilots and crews to depict the history of U.S. helicopters in warfare from World War II to the war on terrorism. Discusses the machines' critical role in the Vietnam conflict. Illustrates their technical evolution from Sikorskys in Burma to Super Cobras in Iraq. 2005. Cobra Two: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq RC 61326 by Michael R. Gordon and Bernard E. Trainor read by various narrators 5 cassettes Following their analysis of the first Gulf War in The General's War (RC 41075), Gordon, a New York Times Pentagon correspondent, and Trainor, a three-star general retired from the Marine Corps, chronicle the decisions behind the U.S. military engagement in Iraq. Violence and strong language. 2006. Fighting for America: Black Soldiers The Unsung Heroes of World War II RC 61836 by Christopher Paul Moore read by Bob Moore 3 cassettes Author chronicles the contributions of African American WWII service members, interweaving his own family history as the son of black veterans. Describes achievements of units such as the 761st Tank Battalion and the Tuskegee Airmen. Profiles soldiers who fought two battles one abroad and one at home for racial equality. 2005. First In: An Insider's Account of How the CIA Spearheaded the War on Terror in Afghanistan RC 62212 by Gary C. Schroen read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes First-person account from experienced CIA operative who, after the 2001 terrorists attacks, led a team to join Afghanistan's Northern Alliance against the Taliban. Provides background on both U.S. and Soviet Union involvement there. Describes tribal councils, a classic cavalry charge, and the aftermath of war. 2005. The First World War RC 60542 by Hew Strachan read by Jake Williams 3 cassettes British historian analyzes the impact of World War I in Africa, the Middle East, the Pacific, and eastern Europe in addition to the familiar western European arena. Discusses the political backgrounds of the combatant nations, the social consequences of the conflagration, and the roots of twenty-first-century wars. 2003. Forever a Soldier: Unforgettable Stories of Wartime Service RC 61291 edited by Tom Wiener read by Steven Carpenter 2 cassettes Veterans recall experiences of battle from World War I to the war in Iraq. Soldiers' letters, diaries, memoirs, and oral histories provide personal accounts of D-Day, the Tet offensive, heroic actions, and sinking ships. Includes an interview with Senator John McCain about his captivity in Vietnam. 2005. Generation Kill: Devil Dogs, Iceman, Captain America, and the New Face of American War RC 61749 by Evan Wright read by Ray Childs 3 cassettes A journalist embedded with a marine reconnaissance platoon during the invasion of Iraq in 2003 explains how this generation of soldiers differs from their predecessors. Describes cases of collateral damage and the deaths of comrades as American troops entered Baghdad. Violence and strong language. 2004. The Heart of a Soldier: A True Story of Love, War, and Sacrifice RC 61551 by Kate Blaise read by Kerry Cundiff 3 cassettes Account of Missouri high school sweethearts Kate and Mike Blaise. Describes their decision to join the army together and their deployment to Iraq in March 2003. Discusses their family life, training, seven-year marriage, and Mike's tragic death while piloting a helicopter. Some violence. 2005. Hitler's Jewish Soldiers: The Untold Story of Nazi Racial Laws and Men of Jewish Descent in the German Military RC 61814 by Bryan Mark Rigg read by Bill Wallace 4 cassettes History professor draws on hundreds of firsthand interviews with veterans to document experiences of men of Jewish descent who served in the German armed forces during World War II. Analyzes Nazi racial policies between 1933 and 1945 and describes the soldiers' assimilation and military service. 2002. Holy War on the Home Front: The Secret Islamic Terror Network in the United States RC 61117 by Harvey Kushner read by Mark Ashby 1 cassette Terrorism expert contends Americans are no safer today than in the first years following the September 11, 2001, attacks because of government agencies' failure to stop domestic terror suspects. Alleges Muslim extremist infiltration of universities, mosques, and the media by using charities and drug trafficking to fund their operations. 2004. The Interpreter RC 62054 by Alice Kaplan read by John Horton 2 cassettes Describes the experiences of Louis Guilloux, a French interpreter for World War II courts-martial of American GIs accused of crimes against French civilians. Recounts the trials of two soldiers, one black and one white, that led to a single execution. Some violence and some strong language. 2005. The Jewish War RC 59890 by Josephus read by Don Feldheim 5 cassettes Account of the failed first-century Jewish rebellion against Rome, written by rebel leader Josephus (c. 37 100 A.D.), later a captive who changed loyalties. Details Judaean life under Roman rule, the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple, and the resistance at Masada. Portrays Herod, Emperor Vespasian, and others. Violence. 1970. Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II RC 62215 by Lou Potter read by Jake Williams 2 cassettes Traces African Americans' role in the military, focusing on the black 761st Tank Battalion that spearheaded Patton's Third Army into Europe in 1944. First-hand accounts describe intense fighting in six nations and the liberation of two concentration camps. Violence and strong language. 1992. Love My Rifle More than You: Young and Female in the U.S. Army RC 61285 by Kayla Williams read by Mary Kane 2 cassettes An army intelligence expert's account of experiences she had while she was posted to various infantry units in Iraq during 2003. Williams describes the terrible conditions the soldiers endured, the boredom, the realities of war, and the sexual dynamics of being a female among males. Violence and strong language. 2005. The Men Who Stare at Goats RC 60917 by Jon Ronson read by Chuck Young 2 cassettes Filmmaker chronicles the evolution of a secret military intelligence unit, based in Fort Bragg, whose soldiers were trained in mental, spiritual, and psychic components of conflict. Reveals their paranormal initiatives and unorthodox techniques such as trying to kill goats by staring at them from 1979 to postwar Iraq. Strong language. 2004. Mimi and Toutou's Big Adventure: The Bizarre Battle of Lake Tanganyika RC 61690 by Giles Foden read by George Holmes 2 cassettes Africa, 1915. Relates the World War I mission of the oldest lieutenant commander in the British Royal Navy, who with twenty-eight men and two gunboats Mimi and Toutou was dispatched 2,500 miles overland to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa. Their mission: to sink the German steamers that patrolled this vast lake. 2004. Nelson's Trafalgar: The Battle That Changed the World RC 61276 by Roy Adkins read by David Cutler 3 cassettes First-person accounts portray the October 21, 1805, battle during which Lord Horatio Nelson engaged France and her Spanish allies after Napoleon threatened to invade England. Describes nineteenth-century naval warfare technology and tactics. Explains why the battle, which resulted in Nelson's death, marked the beginning of British empire building. Violence. 2004. Night Draws Near: Iraq's People in the Shadow of America's War RC 61450 by Anthony Shadid read by Don Feldheim 4 cassettes Pulitzer Prize-winning Arab American journalist reports on the experiences of ordinary Iraqis in Baghdad through interviews conducted between 1998 and 2004. Describes the effects on the citizenry of the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, the fall of Saddam Hussein, and American occupation. Violence and strong language. 2005. One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer RC 61643 by Nathaniel Fick read by Steven Carpenter 3 cassettes Former Marine Corps captain Nathaniel Fick describes how, as a Dartmouth graduate, he joined the military, trained for reconnaissance, and saw action in Afghanistan and Iraq. Highlights battles, civilian hostility after the invasion, the unintended consequences of combat, and his disappointment with superiors. Violence and some strong language. 2005. One Woman's Army: The Commanding General of Abu Ghraib Tells Her Story RC 61151 by Janis Karpinski read by Bernadette Dunne 2 cassettes General Janis Karpinski, commander of the U.S. military prison in Iraq, provides her personal account of the corruption and failures in the chain of command that permitted prisoner abuse to occur. Discusses her inexperience in running a prison, lack of disciplined guards, and use of private firms. Violence and strong language. 2005. The Path to Victory: The Mediterranean Theater in World War II RC 60601 by Douglas Porch read by Gregory Gorton 6 cassettes The author of The French Secret Services (RC 43366) outlines the battlesin Africa, Greece, Syria, Tunisia, and Italy during World War II. Asserts the importance of this theater of military operations that kept Italy out of the war and Spain and Turkey neutral while diverting German assets south. 2004. Patton and Rommel: Men of War in the Twentieth Century RC 60341 by Dennis Showalter read by Fred Major 4 cassettes Military historian offers a dual biog- raphy of American general George Patton (1885 1945) and German general Erwin Rommel (1891 1944), the "Desert Fox." Chronicles the lives, careers, and military campaigns of the World War II leaders, depicting their complex personalities within the contexts of their respective national and military cultures. 2005. Rising '44: The Battle for Warsaw RC 60875 by Norman Davies read by Bill Wallace 6 cassettes Uses archives and interviews to chronicle the two-month rebellion by Polish Resistance against German occupation. Describes the nearby Soviet army's refusal to help and diplomatic disagreements among Poland's western Allies that led to the Poles' failure and Warsaw's destruction. Violence. 2003. The Setting of the Pearl: Vienna under Hitler RC 61815 by Thomas Weyr read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes The author, who was a child in Vienna during World War II, chronicles the destruction of the city's culture after Austria joined Nazi Germany in 1938. Uses archives, interviews, and his own memories to describe the removal of the Jewish population and the demise of the capital's vibrancy. Violence. 2005. Ship of Ghosts: The Story of the USS Houston, FDR's Legendary Lost Cruiser, and the Epic Saga of Her Survivors RC 63121 by James D. Hornfischer read by Marc Cashman 4 cassettes Recounts the desperate naval battle of the warship the USS Houston against superior Japanese forces in the Java Sea in 1942 after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Follows the American survivors as they endure grim prisoner-of-war atrocities and labor camps on the Burma-Thailand railway. Violence and some strong language. 2006. A Table in the Presence RC 62822 by Carey H. Cash read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Lt. Carey Cash describes the nine-hour battle on April 10, 2003, to seize a presidential palace in Baghdad. The chaplain explains why he and the soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment believe God saw them through as they suffered only one death. 2004. Tiger Force: A True Story of Men and War RC 62820 by Michael Sallah and Mitch Weiss read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists detail the behavior of an elite army unit in Vietnam called Tiger Force. Contends that the platoon's reconnaissance and commando missions increasingly involved killing unarmed civilians. Chronicles the also-controversial criminal investigation led by Gustav Apsey, and Pentagon responses. Violence and strong language. 2006. War Stories II: Heroism in the Pacific RC 61098 by Oliver L. North read by Michael Scherer 3 cassettes Former marine Oliver North, author of War Stories: Operation Iraqi Freedom (RC 57762), presents first-person accounts of heroism during World War II in the Pacific theater. Veterans describe to North their ordeals at Pearl Harbor, on the Bataan Death March, in the Flying Tigers, and during countless battles. Violence. 2004. What Motivates Suicide Bombers? RC 62466 edited by Lauri S. Friedman read by Ken Kliban 1 cassette Twelve essays by people with diverse political views analyze the thinking of terrorists who commit suicide to attack their enemies. Examines the role of the Islamic religion, politics, nationalism, anti-Semitism, and other social causes. Discusses how children and women are recruited for war. For junior and senior high readers. 2005. Women's Concerns Are Men Necessary? When Sexes Collide RC 61165 by Maureen Dowd read by Barbara Pinolini 2 cassettes Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter comments on the state of women's liberation four decades after the sexual revolution. Contends that the sexes are still in combat, women are more focused than ever on their looks, and feminist principles have backfired. Bestseller. 2005. Live Your Best Life: A Treasury of Wisdom, Wit, Advice, Interviews, and Inspiration from O, The Oprah Magazine RC 61289 by O, The Oprah Magazine read by Barbara Pinolini 4 cassettes In articles culled from her magazine, Oprah offers more than a hundred articles on such topics as diet and exercise, happiness, confidence, spirituality, dating, marriage, sex, and parenthood. Also featured are everyday heroes. Contributors include Dr. Phil, Suze Orman, Harry Connick Jr., and Julie Morgenstern. 2005. Make Money, Not Excuses: Wake Up, Take Charge, and Overcome Your Financial Fears Forever RC 63112 by Jean Chatzky read by Susan Denaker 2 cassettes Advice for women about short- and long-term investing. Offers four basic tips to improve one's immediate monetary picture and to guide future spending. Explains financial terminology, stock selection, retirement plans, and hiring a financial planner. Includes practical guidelines based on experience. 2006. Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era RC 60439 by Boston Women's Health Book Collective read by Madelyn Buzzard 8 cassettes in 2 containers Updated version of Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century (RC 47117). Discusses all aspects of women's health and well-being including nutrition and exercise, sex and relationships, reproduction, and aging. Covers the rearranged food pyramid and provides information on negotiating the complicated healthcare system. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2005. Perfection Salad: Women and Cooking at the Turn of the Century RC 62572 by Laura Shapiro read by Margaret Strom 2 cassettes A history of the American domestic science movement at the beginning of the twentieth century. Describes the efforts of women to gain control of the kitchen using scientific methods that resulted in bland, processed food. Considers the influence of industrialization and economics on the way meals are prepared. 1986. The Red Hat Society's Laugh Lines: Stories of Inspiration and Hattitude RC 62531 by Sue Ellen Cooper read by Elisabeth Rodgers 2 cassettes Women's social club founder follows up the bestselling Red Hat Society (RC 58333) with a collection of anecdotes, poems, and quotes celebrating life, sisterhood, and the aging process. Society members from across America share accounts of family, friendship, marriage, parenthood and grandparenthood, and pets. 2005. Sex and the Seasoned Woman: Pursuing the Passionate Life RC 61347 by Gail Sheehy read by Kate Reading 3 cassettes The author of Passages (RC 43929) and Understanding Men's Passages (RC 46534) examines the way women of the baby boom generation are awakening to a "second adulthood" and are reevaluating the role of sex, love, romance, and marriage in their lives. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. 2006. World History Avengers of the New World: The Story of the Haitian Revolution RC 60295 by Laurent Dubois read by Anne Flosnik 3 cassettes Professor analyzes the 1791 1803 revolution in the French Caribbean country of Haiti. Traces the history of Hispaniola and describes how slaves from Africa under Toussaint Louverture defeated France, Britain, and Spain and achieved emancipation at great economic and human cost. Violence. 2004. Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire's Slaves RC 60562 by Adam Hochschild read by Constance Crawford 4 cassettes The author of King Leopold's Ghost (RC 48452) chronicles the five-decade campaign that formally ended slavery in the British empire in 1838 and provided a framework for American abolitionists. Recounts the movement launched in 1787 and its personalities, economics, and moral philosophy. Violence. 2005. A Concise History of China RC 61113 by J.A.G. Roberts read by Mary Kane 3 cassettes British historian summarizes the history of China from ancient times through 1997. Describes key issues by dynastic period including economic, religious, intellectual, and political movements. Includes China's communist rule since 1949. 1999. Europe's Last Summer: Who Started the Great War in 1914? RC 62485 by David Fromkin read by Robert Blumenfeld 2 cassettes Author of A Peace to End All Peace: Creating the Modern Middle East (RC 32198) analyzes the causes of World War I. Asserts that a local conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia and another between Germany and Russia offered an opportunity for Prussian military leaders to instigate war. 2004. For the Survival of Democracy: Franklin Roosevelt and the World Crisis of the 1930s RC 61774 by Alonzo L. Hamby read by Bill Wallace 4 cassettes History professor recounts U.S. president Franklin Delano Roosevelt's handling of the economic disaster of the Great Depression while totalitarian governments rose in Europe. Compares the American response to the crisis with those of Great Britain and Germany and credits FDR with the survival of democracy. 2004. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas before Columbus RC 61198 by Charles C. Mann read by Robert Blumenfeld 3 cassettes Offers conclusions from anthropological and archaeological research about the western hemisphere before European exploration. Examines the evidence of a large indigenous population and the ecological impact the people had on the environment through crop modification, landscaping, and farming the rainforest. Discusses the rise and fall of Indian empires. Bestseller. 2005. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World RC 62418 by Jack Weatherford read by Bill Wallace 3 cassettes Permitted to access restricted Mongol writings and Genghis Khan's homeland and burial site, anthropologist Weatherford reassesses the thirteenth-century conqueror's impact on world civilization. Analyzes his personality, rise to power, military campaigns, and descendants and claims that the Mongol empire's legacy of law, innovations, and free trade sparked European enlightenment. 2004. Greece: The Modern Sequel, from 1821 to the Present RC 60464 by John S. Koliopoulos and Thanos M. Veremis read by Butch Hoover 4 cassettes Thematic, rather than chronological, exploration of the origins and development of modern Greece. The authors, both professors at Greek universities, discuss the country's institutions, politics, economy, society, ideology, foreign policy, and geography beginning with the 1820s War of Independence from Ottoman rule. 2002. The Greek Way RC 60259 by Edith Hamilton read by Kimberly Schraf 2 cassettes The author of Mythology (RC 20026) explores the accomplishments of Greek intellectual life in the fifth century B.C. Discusses customs, philosophy, religion, and art, referencing the era's noted writers the poet Pindar; dramatists Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles; and historians Herodotus, Thucydides, and Xenophon with excerpts from classic works. 1930. A Guide to Korean Cultural Heritage RC 61979 by Korean Overseas Information Service read by Robert Blumenfeld 1 cassette An overview of Korean cultural heritage includes descriptions of traditional customs, sports, religion, music, gardening, dress, food, and arts and crafts. 2003. The History of Central America RC 62725 by Thomas L. Pearcy read by Lewis Grenville 2 cassettes Studies the seven diverse republics of Central America: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. Examines their history, economy, government, population, and physical characteristics. Highlights natural disasters, foreign aggression, dictators, revolutions, relationships to the United States, and twenty-first-century trends. 2006. Into a Paris Quartier: Reine Margot's Chapel and Other Haunts of St.-Germain RC 61522 by Diane Johnson read by Gabriella Cavallero 1 cassette Johnson, a part-time resident of Paris, describes the legendary area in which she lives, St.-Germain-des-Pr s, aka the Left Bank. Discusses the neighborhood's four-hundred-year history as the home of four queens, three Musketeers, several kings, and numerous artistic Americans. Details the region's streets, statues, architecture, and offbeat surprises. 2005. John Winthrop, Oliver Cromwell, and the Land of Promise RC 62222 by Marc Aronson read by Jake Williams 1 cassette Relates the clash of strongly held religious views during the seventeenth century that produced civil war in England and slaughter of the Pequot people, banishment of Quakers, and hanging of witches in the Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony. Sequel to Sir Walter Ralegh and the Quest for El Dorado (RC 51920). For junior and senior high readers. 2004. Kremlin Rising: Vladimir Putin's Russia and the End of Revolution RC 61620 by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser read by Lou Harpenau 4 cassettes Washington Post reporters in Moscow trace the rise of Vladimir Putin and the changes in Russia since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. Posits that the former KGB officer plans to return the country to its authoritarian past. Relates citizens' accounts of problems experienced under Putin's leadership. 2005. The Last Voyage of Columbus: Being the Epic Tale of the Great Captain's Fourth Expedition, Including Accounts of Swordfight, Mutiny, Shipwreck, Gold, War, Hurricane, and Discovery RC 62229 by Martin Dugard read by Jake Williams 2 cassettes Recounts how fifteenth-century explorer Christopher Columbus was stripped of the governorship of Hispaniola, jailed, and returned to Spain, where King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella authorized another expedition. Describes the ensuing voyage through the Caribbean from 1502 to 1504. 2005. The Levant: A Fractured Mosaic RC 61132 by William Harris read by Bill Wallace 2 cassettes Professor investigates the history of the region of the eastern Mediterranean littoral (coastal region) comprising Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestinian Arabs, and northern Turkey. Analyzes the geopolitics of the Levant from ancient times to the year 2002, with insight into its possible future. 2003. The Lost Boys of Sudan: An American Story of the Refugee Experience RC 62006 by Mark Bixler read by John Horton 2 cassettes Journalist documents four African youths' first two years in the United States (2001 2003) and their adaptation to an entirely unfamiliar cultural environment. Describes their reaction to American conveniences and daily life and their dealings with government services, interactions with private citizens, and desire for education. 2005. Machete Season: The Killers in Rwanda Speak RC 61987 by Jean Hatzfeld read by Robert Blumenfeld 2 cassettes French journalist presents his interviews with ten Hutu men who participated in the slaughter of some eight hundred thousand of their Tutsi compatriots during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. In their own words the men recall their crimes and speak about ethnic tensions and prospects for redemption and reconciliation. Violence. 2003. Mao: The Unknown Story RC 61346 by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday read by Robertson Dean 6 cassettes Chang, author of Wild Swans (RC 34458), and university researcher Halliday detail the exploits of Chinese leader Mao Tse-tung (1893 1976), who they claim is responsible for more than seventy million deaths. Drawing on archives, published works, and interviews with Mao's former associates, the biographers portray a ruthless dictator. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2005. Marianne in Chains: Everyday Life in the French Heartland under the German Occupation RC 62173 by Robert Gildea read by Annie Wauters 4 cassettes Oxford historian explores the realities of life in Nazi-occupied France during 1940 1944. Drawing on previously unexamined archives and personalinterviews with survivors, Gildea portrays this difficult period as one of compromise, improvisation, complex relationships, and ambivalent attitudes toward the Resistance not the black-and-white picture of "good" underground fighters versus "bad" collaborators suggested by some postliberation accounts. 2002. My Year in Iraq: The Struggle to Build a Future of Hope RC 61775 by L. Paul Bremer III read by Bill Wallace 4 cassettes Former American diplomat Bremer recounts his work as administrator, from May 2003 until June 2004, of the then newly formed Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. Bremer contends that more troops were needed after the U.S. invasion, justifies dismantling the Iraqi army, and describes the rivalries between diverse groups. 2006. Napoleon: A Political Life RC 60869 by Steven Englund read by Anne Flosnik 5 cassettes French historian highlights the political rather than the military or personal leadership of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 1821). Charts Napoleon's rise and fall from his Corsican boyhood to his political achievements and final exile. Analyzes Napoleon's ideologies and influences, including the French Revolution. 2004. On Hitler's Mountain: Overcoming the Legacy of a Nazi Childhood RC 61273 by Irmgard A. Hunt read by Annie Wauters 2 cassettes Memoir of a German native who grew up during World War II in a Bavarian village near Adolf Hitler's alpine compound. Recalls meeting the dictator, losing her soldier father, and joining the Hitler Youth. Explores her continuing struggle to understand how she, her family, and others tolerated Nazi control. 2005. An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography RC 62684 by Paul Rusesabagina read by Jake Williams 2 cassettes Autobiography of the manager of the hotel Mille Collines in Kigali, Rwanda. Paul Rusesabagina, a man of mixed Hutu and Tutsi heritage, describes how in April 1994 he saved twelve hundred Rwandans from the genocide that slaughtered eight hundred thousand. Basis for the movie Hotel Rwanda. Violence and strong language. 2006. Perfect Soldiers: The Hijackers; Who They Were, Why They Did It RC 60438 by Terry McDermott read by Jack Fox 3 cassettes Prize-winning journalist examines the lives and beliefs of the perpetrators of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Profiles leader Mohamed Atta and the eighteen other airline hijackers. Describes them as young men, mostly from Saudi Arabia, who were recruited to the cause of radical Islam by their hometown clerics. 2005. The Persian Puzzle: The Conflict between Iran and America RC 60252 by Kenneth M. Pollack read by Bill Wallace 5 cassettes Author of The Threatening Storm (RC 54856) chronicles the history of Persia (Iran) including its uneasy relationship with the United States since World War II. Pollack, formerly with the CIA, cautions that although Iran's fundamentalist Islamic government is pursuing nuclear options, American intervention would be a mistake. 2004. Raid on the Sun: Inside Israel's Secret Campaign That Denied Saddam the Bomb RC 61988 by Rodger W. Claire read by Robert Blumenfeld 2 cassettes Account of Israel's 1981 air raid on Iraq's Osirak nuclear complex near Baghdad. Reconstructs the planning and execution of a precise bombing strike designed to eliminate a French-built reactor before it could go "hot." Based on military records and interviews with Israeli officials and the mission's eight pilots. 2004. Rivers of Gold: The Rise of the Spanish Empire, from Columbus to Magellan RC 61405 by Hugh Thomas read by Robert Blumenfeld 5 cassettes The author of Slave Trade (RC 46140) chronicles the conquest of the Caribbean islands and Mexico in the first two generations after Columbus. Portrays the culture of sixteenth-century Spain and the lives of adventurers, conquistadors, kings, governors, missionaries, and others. 2003. Rogue Regime: Kim Jong Il and the Looming Threat of North Korea RC 61711 by Jasper Becker read by Ralph Lowenstein 3 cassettes Author of Hungry Ghosts: Mao's Secret Famine (RC 46134) chronicles the Kim dynasty's rise. Assesses the devastating effects on North Korea of dictator Kim Jong Il's leadership since 1974, and global threats posed by the country's political instability and nuclear arsenal. Urges world action against human rights violations. 2005. Sharon and My Mother-in-Law: Ramallah Diaries RC 61986 by Suad Amiry read by Yolande Bavan 2 cassettes A westernized architect, the daughter of exiled Palestinians, relates her experiences from 1981 to 2004 in the West Bank town of Ramallah, where she married. Describes the hardships and absurdities of life in the Occupied Territories especially having to endure a forty-two-day curfew along with her mother-in-law. Some strong language. 2004. Stalin: A Biography RC 60602 by Robert Service read by Mark Ashby 5 cassettes Russian scholar and author of Lenin (RC 52071) uses archival material to unveil the life and regime of Soviet Union dictator Joseph Stalin (1879 1953). Exposes the contradictory characteristics of the ruler's personality and his involvement in the Communist Party, the October Revolution, World War II, and the Great Terror. 2004. Tower of Babble: How the United Nations Has Fueled Global Chaos RC 61712 by Dore Gold read by Lewis Grenville 2 cassettes Author of Hatred's Kingdom (RC 55888) and former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations asserts that the organization has failed to stop aggression and protect human rights. Outlines the U.N.'s policies in Rwanda and Bosnia, inability to stop terrorism, and lack of moral clarity. 2004. Vietnam Today: A Guide to a Nation at a Crossroads RC 61081 by Mark A. Ashwill read by Ted Stoddard 2 cassettes Overview of the southeast Asian country for businessmen and travelers. Explores defining issues in the nation's economy, culture, politics, and history. Highlights the Vietnamese view of Westerners, long history of foreign occupation, and emphasis on maintaining harmony. Offers practical tips for conducting business and developing long-term relationships. 2005. The Victorians RC 58822 by A.N. Wilson read by Kimberly Schraf 6 cassettes As he examines faith and doubt, progress and poverty, social upheavals, and wars of colonial expansion, novelist and historian Wilson develops a comprehensive portrait of nineteenth-century Britain. The author of Eminent Victorians (RC 32328) claims "the Victorians are still with us, because the world they created is still here, though changed." 2003.