Books listed in this issue of Talking Book Topics were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including biographies, classics, gothics, mysteries, romances, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection.In this listing, books on flexible disc are labeled with the code FD and cassette books with the code RC. All disc books have been recorded to play at the speed of 8 rpm; the cassette books play at 15/16 ips. Cassette titles marked with a dagger (+) were produced earlier on flexible discs. To order disc or cassette books, contact your cooperating library.
Note: For the information of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurrence, as in "some strong language."
Love from Nancy: The Letters of Nancy Mitford RC 38360
Capital: A Critique of Political Economy, Volume 3 RC
39629
by Karl Marx
read by Jake Williams
9 cassettes
Compiled by Frederick Engels and published more than a decade
after Marx's death. Certain subjects, such as world markets and
competition, are not fully developed in the original manuscript,
but this volume examines the process of capitalist production in
its totality. Controversial from the start, Marx shows how he
would have solved the problems of what he believed would be the
collapse of capitalism. 1894.
Translated Woman: Crossing the Border with Esperanza's Story
RC 39641
by Ruth Behar
read by Gabriella Cavallero
3 cassettes
Cuban-born North American anthropologist interviews Esperanza, a
Mexican street peddler. Esperanza, over her kitchen table, tells
of witnessing her father abusing her mother, of her marriage and
the births and deaths of several children, of her own husband's
abusiveness, and of her beliefs. The author ends with
observations about her own Latina background. 1993.
Positive Solitude: A Practical Program for Mastering
Loneliness and Achieving Self-Fulfillment RC 39904
by Rae André
read by Jeanne Evans
2 cassettes
Psychologist André wrote this book after her divorce to change
the negative view that being alone means being lonely. Asserting
that living contentedly alone is a goal similar to losing
weight, André discusses "loneliness traps" and outlines steps to
achieve positive solitude, including how to provide one's own
feedback and how to maintain this new philosophy throughout
life. 1991.
Eco-Scam: The False Prophets of Ecological Apocalypse RC
39923
by Ronald Bailey
read by Phil Regensdorf
2 cassettes
A former Forbes science writer scolds environmental
"doomsdayers," including NASA scientists and Vice President Al
Gore, for allegedly indiscriminately latching on to and
publicizing any natural anomaly or local disaster as evidence to
bolster their predictions of impending worldwide catastrophe.
Believing there is "nothing out there that we cannot handle,"
the author urges journalists to stop disheartening people. 1993.
Edith Wharton: An Extraordinary Life RC 40066
by Eleanor Dwight
read by Kimberly Schraf
3 cassettes
A biography examining the American novelist (1862-1937) who
portrayed upper-class society and also enjoyed interior design,
gardening, architecture, art, and travel. Dwight finds
correlations between Wharton's multifaceted life and enthusiasms
and her writing, and she describes Wharton's marriage,
friendships, and volunteer efforts and the places she lived and
visited. 1994.
In Pharaoh's Army: Memories of the Lost War RC 40068
by Tobias Wolff
read by John Lescault
2 cassettes
In This Boy's Life (RC 30165), an account of his
childhood, Wolff seemed at odds with the world. Now he's in
Vietnam, where he volunteered because he imagined it would make
him a better writer. He was promoted, but he proved inept as an
officer. Still, the experience provided material for these
thirteen sketches, including a Thanksgiving celebration with a
televised episode of Bonanza. Some strong language. 1994.
American Mom: Motherhood, Politics, and Humble Pie RC
40071
by Mary Kay Blakely
read by Celeste Lawson
2 cassettes
After experiencing the "reverse pregnancies" of letting her two
grown sons go, cultural reporter Blakely reminisces about their
time as a post-nuclear family in the seventies and eighties. She
writes of her transitions through the roles of working mother,
divorced mother, poor mother, almost remarried mother,
long-distance mother, and, finally, deliberately single mother.
1994.
Fifty Days of Solitude RC 40199
by Doris Grumbach
read by Barbara Rappaport
1 cassette
During the winter of 1993-1994, Grumbach took the opportunity
provided by her companion Sybil's book-buying trip to spend time
by herself in their home on the coast of Maine. She cut off all
means of outside communication to be left alone with her books
and music. As she adjusted to her self-imposed solitude,
Grumbach concluded, "The essence of what I was, am now, and will
be . . . waits to be found by the lasting silence." 1994.
Stanwyck RC 40207
by Axel Madsen
read by Ray Hagen
3 cassettes
Portrait of a movie star whose career spanned more than sixty
years. The author sketches the path of Ruby Stevens from
Brooklyn, where she was born and was orphaned at the age of
three, to the Ziegfeld Follies and on to Hollywood. There
Barbara Stanwyck, as she was known, developed a reputation as a
natural talent in films such as Stella Dallas and
Double Indemnity. Some strong language. 1994.
On the Edge: The Clinton Presidency RC 40208
by Elizabeth Drew
read by Barbara Rappaport
4 cassettes
The author seeks out individuals from the Clinton White House,
cabinet, and Congress for their perspective on the early months
of the administration. She reviews Clinton's successes and
failures relating to foreign hot spots such as Bosnia and Haiti;
domestic policies on health care, the economy, and crime;
personal issues centering on past financial and sexual scandals;
and relations with Congress. 1994.
Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes; Part 2,
Perestroika RC 40255
by Tony Kushner
read by Ray Hagen
1 cassette
Sequel to Millennium Approaches (RC 37012). Part two,
picking up where the angel makes a traumatic entry in the final
scene of Millennium, stands alone or can be seen as a
resolution to Millennium. Prior is fighting for his life,
but in the end he lectures his friends about what AIDS has done
and how the world will go on. Strong language. 1994.
Special Trust RC 40322
by Robert C. McFarlane and Zofia Smardz
read by Michael Stanton
3 cassettes
McFarlane provides a behind-the-scenes look at his decades of
government service--from his years as a Marine through his
appointment as national security adviser to President Reagan.
Hoping to vindicate the "special trust" given him, McFarlane
looks not only at his successes, such as the Strategic Defense
Initiative, but also at his failures, particularly the
Iran-Contra Affair. 1994.
Queer and Loathing: Rants and Raves of a Raging AIDS Clone
RC 40502
by David B. Feinberg
read by Ray Hagen
2 cassettes
Collection of previously published essays about AIDS. With
caustic humor, Feinberg, a novelist with AIDS, reports on a
demonstration at the Food and Drug Administration, explains how
to visit someone with a terminal disease, analyzes the use of
humor in dealing with AIDS, offers sex tips, and chronicles his
own physical deterioration and medical treatment. Strong
language and explicit descriptions of sex. 1994.
The Intelligence of Dogs: A Guide to the Thoughts, Emotions,
and Inner Lives of Our Canine Companions RC 40503
by Stanley Coren
read by Conrad Feininger
2 cassettes
The author draws on his experience as a psychologist and a dog
trainer for a brief account of the natural history of dogs and a
detailed study of canine intelligence. He examines various
breeds for an evaluation of their instinctive and adaptive
intelligence and their potential for obedience. 1994.
Babe: The Life and Legend of Babe Didrikson Zaharias RC
41027
by Susan E. Cayleff
read by Carole Jordan Stewart
3 cassettes
Biography of Mildred (Babe) Didriksen, who was a success at
every sport she tried. In 1932 she won javelin toss and hurdles
at the women's Olympic games, and later she became a golf pro.
Babe created her public image first as an androgynous star and
then as a more feminine wife of wrestler George Zaharias, while
keeping the nature of her relationship with young golfer Betty
Dodd a secret. Babe died of cancer at forty-five. 1995.
The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World out of
Balance RC 41165
by Laurie Garrett
read by Ray Foushee
7 cassettes
Using examples such as HIV, tuberculosis, and the Ebola virus,
science writer Garrett explores the recent history of disease
emergence, examines the biology of viral evolution at the
microbial level, looks at how humans are aiding and abetting the
microbes, and offers some solutions. Strong language. Bestseller
1994.
The Politics of Diplomacy: Revolution, War, and Peace,
1989-1992 RC 41251
by James A. Baker
read by Terence Aselford
6 cassettes
Baker, who served under Presidents Ford, Reagan, and Bush,
highlights his forty-three months as secretary of state under
George Bush. He discusses various crises and diplomatic issues
such as the breakup of the Soviet Union, the invasion of Kuwait,
and the massacre at Tiananmen Square and details the
philosophic, strategic, and tactical calculations on which
diplomatic decisions were based. Bestseller 1995.
Philip Johnson: Life and Work RC 41263
by Franz Schulze
read by Ted Stoddard
4 cassettes
Portrait of the American architect whose name is associated with
the Seagram and AT&T buildings, the Crystal Cathedral, and the
Glass House, as well as many museums and private residences.
Drawing on interviews with Johnson, plus written material;
speeches; and contacts with the subject's family, friends, and
colleagues, the author chronicles the acclaim and criticism
surrounding this late-blooming architectural powerhouse. 1994.
Robert Louis Stevenson: A Biography RC 41264
by Frank McLynn
read by Gary Telles
6 cassettes
Professional writer opines that the author of Treasure Island
(RC 18121) was disparaged during the hundred years after his
death and undertakes to redeem Scotland's "greatest writer of
English prose." McLynn focuses on the personal life of the
chronically ill author who died in Samoa in 1894, arguing that
Stevenson was a martyr to the greed of his wife, Fanny, and her
children. 1993.
The Moral Sense RC 41281
by James Q. Wilson
read by Terence Aselford
3 cassettes
Wilson argues that everyone has a sense of right and wrong but
that this sense is affected by the surrounding social structure
an individual grows up with. Wilson endeavors to uncover those
evolutionary, developmental, and cultural origins of our moral
habits. 1993.
Crusade: The Untold Story of the Persian Gulf War RC
41346
by Rick Atkinson
read by Art Metzler
5 cassettes
Atkinson, who wrote the lead stories about the Persian Gulf War
for the Washington Post, provides a chronological account
of the forty-two-day war. He relies on his familiarity with the
various leaders involved, as well as lower-echelon personnel,
for his account of the bombing runs, strategy sessions,
conflicts, and drug abuse that occurred. Some strong language.
1993.
Walt Whitman's America: A Cultural Biography RC 41371
by David S. Reynolds
read by John Richardson
6 cassettes
A professor of American literature and American studies offers a
scholarly account of the poet, born in 1819, who identified
strongly with the growing America and its "common man." Reynolds
details Whitman's personal life, analyzes some of his writings,
and explores his life-long quest for popularity and influence.
He also probes the poet's sexual orientation, racist attitudes,
and inconsistent social behavior. 1995.
A Year in the Maine Woods RC 41372
by Bernd Heinrich
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
The author hones survival skills he first learned as a refugee
in a German forest when he takes up a year-long residence in
Maine in a log cabin that he built himself. There Heinrich, with
his pet raven for company, reduces his needs to a minimum. As a
naturalist on leave from his teaching post, he explores a few
acres in minute detail and learns that in the forest as in life
"the subtle matters, and the spectacular distracts." 1994.
The Women's Bible Commentary RC 41377
edited by Carol A. Newsom and Sharon H. Ringe
read by Janis Gray
7 cassettes
Women Bible scholars from U.S. universities present women's
perspectives on books of the Old and New Testaments. The authors
use related cultural and historical information to interpret the
experiences of biblical women and probe the contemporary
relevance of biblical accounts. Comments follow the number and
order of the books in the Protestant canon, plus Esther and
Daniel. 1992.
Mapping Fate: A Memoir of Family, Risk, and Genetic Research
RC 41396
by Alice Wexler
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
After the author's mother was diagnosed with Huntington's
disease, Wexler's father and sister became involved in research
to find a cure. Wexler tells of the disease's effect on her
family and the suspense of knowing she and her sister have a 50
percent chance of developing the illness. She describes the
research that resulted in identifying the disease-carrying gene.
1995.
In Their Footsteps: The American Visions Guide to
African-American Heritage Sites RC 41400
by Henry Chase
read by Butch Hoover
6 cassettes
Travel editor for American Visions magazine provides a
state-by-state guide to historical sites throughout the United
States and Canada that are significant to African American
history. Divided geographically, with introductory essays by
authors such as Gloria Naylor, Amiri Baraka, and Ishmael Reed,
this guide includes directions, fees, and operating hours for
each place. 1994.
The Bell Curve Wars: Race, Intelligence, and the Future of
America RC 41401
edited by Steven Fraser
read by Lou Harpenau
2 cassettes
Essays by nineteen academics, writers, and editors rebutting the
thesis of The Bell Curve (RC 39153), which purports to
show that intelligence, seen as the basis for achievement and
social success, is a product of genetic make-up, not environment
or education. Essayists question the methods, conclusions, and
motives of Bell Curve authors Hernstein and Murray. 1995.
Christina Stead: A Biography RC 41426
by Hazel Rowley
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
6 cassettes
This Australian fiction writer born in 1902 lived in England
from age twenty-six to seventy-one and spent her last nine years
in Australia. Stead was largely ignored by her homeland and
considered by some to be difficult, intensely private,
politically outspoken, and generally eccentric. Her work was
appreciated, nevertheless, by respected literary critics. The
Man Who Loved Children was her best-known novel. 1993.
The Complete Poems of John Keats RC 41449
by John Keats
read by George Holmes
3 cassettes
Collected works of the quintessential Romantic poet, who died of
tuberculosis in 1821 at age twenty-six. Includes poems such as
"Ode on a Grecian Urn," "La Belle Dame sans Merci," and "The Eve
of St. Agnes," along with the allegorical romance "Endymion" and
the five-act poetic tragedy "Otho the Great." 1995.
Dreams of a Final Theory RC 41465
by Steven Weinberg
read by Michael Stanton
2 cassettes
A winner of the 1979 Nobel Prize for physics and author of
The First Three Minutes (RC 15438) explains in lay
language the scientific search for a "final theory" that would
unify and explain the physical laws governing the universe. He
speculates on the character of that theory and on what it might
mean for humankind, including the question, "What about God?"
1992.
Sixty-seven Ways to Protect Seniors from Crime RC
41468
by J.L. Simmons
read by Don Feldheim
2 cassettes
The author asserts that protecting oneself against crime "boils
down to two things: recognizing what the hazards are and
eliminating or thwarting these risks." His sixty-seven solutions
cover such diverse topics as walking safety, telemarketing and
mail scams, security for nursing homes, rape prevention, medical
frauds, and public transportation safety. 1993.
Wreath Magic: Eighty-six Magnificent Wreaths, Garlands, and
Swags to Make RC 41486
by Leslie Dierks
read by Jill Ferris
1 cassette
Dierks discusses the materials, tools, and techniques used in
making wreaths, garlands, and swags. Evergreens, flowers, herbs,
nuts, cones, pods, straw, moss, wire, pins, string, and glue are
some of the components. Projects include an edible table wreath,
a wreath with flowering bulbs, a swag of artificial fruit, and a
garland of rhododendron branches. 1994.
Living in the Shadow of Death: Tuberculosis and the Social
Experience of Illness in American History RC 41508
by Sheila M. Rothman
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
Studies how generations of individuals, families, and
communities responded to people with consumption, later called
tuberculosis. Using diaries and letters, a medical researcher
presents patients' perspectives, tracing the disease once
thought hereditary through its successful treatment with drugs
to its resurgence in the late 1900s. 1994.
The Ascent of Man RC 41528
by J. Bronowski
read by Ted Stoddard
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Originally developed as a television series, this work by a
historian, inventor, mathematician, and leader in the modern
movement of scientific humanism traces the growth of science
through "the great monuments of human invention." 1973.
The Unquiet Ghost: Russians Remember Stalin RC 41533
by Adam Hochschild
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
This account of the author's 1991 visit to Russia sketches the
legacy of the man directly responsible for twenty million
deaths. Hochschild visits the arctic Kolyma area, where starving
prisoners mined gold, and a KGB office, where he is invited to
examine files. With terror survivors and former guards, he
probes questions of responsibility and guilt. 1994.
Failing at Fairness: How America's Schools Cheat Girls RC
41600
by Myra and David Sadker
read by Jill Fox
3 cassettes
American University professors and trainers in the prevention of
sexism and sexual harassment report on their studies and
observations. They use examples and anecdotes to illustrate how
female students are shortchanged by stereotypes, low
expectations, minimal teacher attention, few role models, scant
information about women's accomplishments, and sexual
harassment. 1994.
The Language of Life: A Festival of Poets RC 41602
by Bill Moyers
read by James DeLotel
4 cassettes
This companion to a PBS series presents Moyers's conversations
with more than thirty poets. To Moyers, "poetry is news--news of
the mind, news of the heart--and in the reading and hearing of
it, poet and audience are fused." The poets who discuss their
lives and their works include James A. Autry, Jimmy Santiago
Baca, Rita Dove, Robert Hass, Stanley Kunitz, Naomi Shihab Nye,
Octavio Paz, and Mary TallMountain. 1995.
A Match to the Heart RC 41606
by Gretel Ehrlich
read by Carole Jordan Stewart
2 cassettes
Writer Ehrlich, who told of her move to Wyoming in The Solace
of Open Spaces (RC 24607), was struck by lightning while
walking at her Wyoming ranch. She describes waking, barely able
to move. The local doctors didn't know what to make of her
symptoms and Ehrlich didn't really receive treatment until she
returned to her parents' California home. She explores in
lyrical terms her rediscovery of her body and its functions.
1994.
The Lives of Whales and Dolphins RC 41607
by Richard C. Connor and Dawn Micklethwaite Peterson
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
The American Museum of Natural History presents a companion book
to The Lives of Birds (RC 41184) by Lester Short. Connor
describes the behavior of whales and dolphins, the large mammals
of the sea. He discusses the evolution of these animals that
first lived on land, their intelligence, the senses they use,
what they eat, how they communicate, and how they socialize and
raise young. 1994.
The Reengineering Revolution: A Handbook RC 41608
by Michael Hammer and Steven A. Stanton
read by Lou Harpenau
2 cassettes
Hammer, of Reengineering the Corporation (RC 37304), and
Stanton summarize experiences with reengineering since the
concept was first proposed. Defining reengineering as "a radical
redesign of processes to bring about dramatic improvements," the
authors tell what a company needs to reengineer successfully,
offer ways to solve problems, and describe successes and
failures. 1995.
My Dog Skip RC 41612
by Willie Morris
read by Jack Fox
1 cassette
The author tells how he grew up in a small southern town in the
1940s with a dog that could run football patterns and, it was
believed, drive a car. Morris, who also wrote New York Days
(RC 37924), demonstrates his evocative storytelling skills
in this tribute to his dog, Skip. 1995.
Unplanned Parenthood: The Confessions of a Seventysomething
Surrogate Mother RC 41614
by Liz Carpenter
read by Terry Hayes Sales
1 cassette
Writer, lecturer, former reporter, and past press secretary to
Lady Bird Johnson, Liz Carpenter is in her seventies when she
begins raising her late brother's three teenagers. She tells how
her reluctance is overcome by the knowledge that she would
"rather do it than fail to do it" and discusses the humorous
side of parenting in the 1990s. Some strong language. 1994.
Lincoln in American Memory RC 41618
by Merrill D. Peterson
read by Randy Atcher
4 cassettes
A history professor emeritus of the University of Virginia
examines the role Lincoln's image has played in American
thought. Celebrated in poetry and drama as well as biographies,
the "martyred" president was, Peterson argues, mythologized to
meet the needs of the moment--as the great emancipator, the
self-made man, and other archetypes that may or may not reflect
reality. 1994.
AIDS: What the Government Isn't Telling You RC 41623
by Lorraine Day
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
A surgeon says that medical colleagues and government officials
have not told the truth about AIDS. Dr. Day reveals
well-documented facts about the AIDS epidemic. She speaks out on
matters of general concern, such as the safety of blood banks,
ways that the virus can survive and be transmitted, and how to
protect oneself from this fatal disease. 1991.
Dorie: Woman of the Mountains RC 41624
by Florence Cope Bush
read by Terry Hayes Sales
2 cassettes
The occasional stone chimney or foundation in the Great Smokey
Mountains National Park tells something about the families who
farmed there until the 1930s. This account of the author's
mother brings the proud mountain people's story to life with
descriptions of daily work, play, folk wisdom, crafts, and love
of nature. 1992.
Taking Charge: Overcoming the Challenges of Long-term Illness
RC 41631
by Irene Pollin and Susan K. Golant
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
The author, a psychiatric social worker, developed the kind of
counseling she wished had been available when she lost two
children to heart ailments. The aim of this book is to help
chronically ill people and their families preserve their quality
of life, plan a productive future, and master what she calls the
eight fears of chronic illness. 1994.
Abby Aldrich Rockefeller: The Woman in the Family RC
41635
by Bernice Kert
read by Janis Gray
4 cassettes
Portrait of the woman who married John D. Rockefeller Jr., bore
their six children, and influenced the entire family in matters
concerning the arts, politics, and philanthropy. Drawing on a
variety of sources, the author creates a picture of an
extroverted woman who used her privileged position to further
public-service projects, including two museums, a hotel for
working women, and a center for immigrant families. 1993.
The Last Great Frenchman: A Life of General de Gaulle RC
41642
by Charles Williams
read by Robert Blumenfeld
4 cassettes
The author, a member of the British House of Lords, portrays the
wily, dictatorial twentieth-century leader as personally
identified with his country and determined to maintain France as
a world power. After the World War II surrender of France to the
Nazis, de Gaulle formed the Free French, ensuring France a place
at the victory table. Later as president, he resisted union with
other European states and sought nuclear capability. 1993.
Small Acts: Thoughts on the Politics of Black Cultures RC
41645
by Paul Gilroy
read by John Horton
2 cassettes
Essays by a black British sociologist on subjects ranging from
black music forms to the defining of culture on the basis of
race. Gilroy, who is of Caribbean descent, criticizes the
African American tendency to view the black experience as
peculiar to the United States. Citing the examples of W.E.B. Du
Bois, Malcolm X, and others, Gilroy argues that the black
experience transcends national borders. 1993.
Reclaiming the Dead Sea Scrolls: The History of Judaism, the
Background of Christianity, the Lost Library of Qumran RC
41652
by Lawrence H. Schiffman
read by Ralph Lowenstein
4 cassettes
The author, a Judaic scholar and a member of the editorial team
publishing the scrolls, views them as a history of Judaism
during the Second Temple period, which ended in 70 C.E. He
states that, rather than being documents of an early Christian
sect, they are the writings of a Sadducee priest who left
Jerusalem after the Maccabean revolt. 1994.
How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of
Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of
Medieval Europe RC 41657
by Thomas Cahill
read by Patrick Horgan
2 cassettes
Cahill demonstrates how literacy and classical learning survived
through the efforts of "men so strange they lived in little huts
on rocky outcrops and shaved half their heads and tortured
themselves." The author chattily relates how these Irish monks
began in the fifth century to handcopy literature crucial to the
later growth of medieval culture. 1995.
Bernard Shaw, Volume 4: 1950-1991; The Last Laugh RC
41673
by Michael Holroyd
read by Patrick Horgan
1 cassette
This epilogue to the three-volume biography reveals British
playwright Shaw's "afterlife": the settling of his affairs and
estate, complete with dramatic and comedic tussles among
would-be custodians. In addition to the wills of Shaw and his
wife, this volume contains a cumulative index to the entire
biography and a film list. Sequel to Bernard Shaw: Volume 3
(RC 35753). 1992.
Spoonbread and Strawberry Wine: Recipes and Reminiscences of
a Family RC 41680
by Norma Jean and Carole Darden
read by Connie Winston
2 cassettes
African American sisters Norma Jean and Carole are the offspring
of Walter Darden and Mamie Jean Sampson. Dividing the book
between the Sampsons and the Dardens, the sisters celebrate
their heritage with an anecdotal sketch for each grandparent,
aunt, uncle, and parent, and include that person's favorite
recipes. Other chapters give recipes from friends and for
holiday gatherings and funerals. 1978.
9 Highland Road RC 41685
by Michael Winerip
read by Christopher Hurt
3 cassettes
The author examines the lives of five members of a Long Island,
New York, group home for mentally ill people. He first explains
why neighbors objected to a group home and how those same people
now accept it. Then he recounts the daily lives of the
residents, who deal with illness in varying degrees as they
struggle for dignity. He also describes the interaction between
residents, family members, and social workers. 1994.
Aguirre: The Re-Creation of a Sixteenth-Century Journey
across South America RC 41707
by Stephen Minta
read by Peter Gil
2 cassettes
Combines an account of the author's own journey from Cuzco,
Peru, to Barquisimeto, Venezuela, with the story of the infamous
Basque explorer whose footsteps Minta is tracing. On an
expedition to locate El Dorado, Aguirre murdered his leader and
took the expedition to its fruitless end, spreading murder and
devastation as he went. 1993.
An Intimate History of Humanity RC 41716
by Theodore Zeldin
read by Annie Wauters
4 cassettes
The Oxford senior fellow and author explores interpersonal
communication throughout history and speculates on future
possibilities. Each chapter begins with a portrait of an
individual. For example, a woman who fears loneliness leads the
author to discuss hermits, writers, and eccentrics and to
suggest turning solitude into an adventure. 1994.
Aristocrats: Caroline, Emily, Louisa, and Sarah Lennox
1740-1832 RC 41724
by Stella Tillyard
read by Vanessa Maroney
4 cassettes
A former university professor draws on thousands of letters
between the Lennox sisters, daughters of the second duke of
Richmond, to depict the lives of the rich and wellborn. Included
are details of everyday life, stories of marriages and affairs,
and accounts of births and deaths. Family members pursue
personal goals within the confines of conventional propriety.
1994.
Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to
Integrate Little Rock's Central High RC 41725
by Melba Pattillo Beals
read by Kimberly Schraf
2 cassettes
Journalist and writer Pattillo was one of the nine black
students to start integrating Central High School in Little
Rock, Arkansas, in 1957. Diary entries and newspaper headlines
supplement her description of the intense battle she endured
during that year. Her attackers included other students, their
parents, the National Guard, and even the governor. Violence and
some strong language. 1994.
What Ever Happened to the American Dream RC 41729
by Larry Burkett
read by Bob Moore
2 cassettes
The founder of Christian Financial Concepts, Inc., and author of
The Coming Economic Earthquake (RC 35609) again predicts
collapse of the U.S. economy. He blames "amoral" European
values, brought home by returning World War I doughboys and now
generating evils such as government regulations, deficit
spending, environmentalism, and the New Age movement. He advises
readers to pay off debts, diversify investments, and pray. 1993.
My Point...And I Do Have One RC 41736
by Ellen DeGeneres
read by Pam Ward
1 cassette
Ellen DeGeneres, comedian and star of the television sitcom
Ellen, discusses her humorous attempt to train for the
Iditarod with her two pet dogs in California and explains the
perks of being a celebrity, including being allowed to add five
days to milk's expiration date. She rambles on through various
topics until, as she says, she has written the sixty thousand
words her contract calls for. Some strong language. Bestseller
1995.
China Wakes: The Struggle for the Soul of a Rising Power RC
41740
by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
read by Bill Wallace
4 cassettes
The couple, New York Times Beijing correspondents from
1988 to 1993 who won a Pulitzer Prize for their reports on
Tiananmen Square, recount their observations in alternate
chapters. Agonizing over government cruelty, they marvel at
China's economic growth. WuDunn's Chinese heritage allows her an
inside look. Violence and some explicit descriptions of sex.
1994.
Barren in the Promised Land: Childless Americans and the
Pursuit of Happiness RC 41748
by Elaine Tyler May
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
Explores views of childlessness throughout the twentieth century
as well as contemporary attitudes about procreation. American
studies professor May invited childless people to send her their
stories. She draws on five hundred responses from various
people--young, old, gay, and straight--and those of several
ethnic, racial, and religious groups. 1995.
Money: Whence It Came, Where It Went RC 41749
by John Kenneth Galbraith
read by John Rayburn
3 cassettes
Revised edition of the 1975 classic by the Harvard economics
professor emeritus and author of The Affluent Society (RC
25345). With wit and literary elegance, Galbraith details
the evolution of money, examines economic and monetary theories,
and suggests improvements. He says that no monetary trend lasts
forever and that people pursue policies suited to their most
vivid memories rather than to present needs. 1995.
Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto RC
41766
by Vine Deloria
read by Jamie Horton
2 cassettes (Reissue)
The preface to this 1988 edition states, "The Indian world has
changed so substantially since the first publication of this
book that some things contained in it seem new again." Many
myths about Native Americans were debunked by the original 1969
work, and other factors have changed. Problems that remain are
described in the text that has its own tough humor. 1988.
"Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?" How Reginald Lewis
Created a Billion-Dollar Business Empire RC 41767
by Reginald F. Lewis and Blair S. Walker
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
When African American Reginald Lewis died at fifty in 1993 he
was a millionaire many times over. Journalist Walker uses
Lewis's unfinished autobiography and interviews with his family
and colleagues to tell the story of Lewis's rise to attorney and
then to CEO of a multinational company. Some strong language.
1995.
Volcano: A Memoir of Hawai'i RC 41772
by Garrett Hongo
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
A poet and professor at the University of Oregon recounts his
experience as a Hawaii-born Japanese whose family moved to Los
Angeles when he was a child. With his wife and son, he returns
to Volcano, the village of his birth, in search of roots and
identity. He focuses on the natural beauty of Hawaii, on the
volcano, and on the local customs as he discovers long-lost
relatives and ponders his own life. 1995.
Solo: Life with an Electric Car RC 41774
by Noel Perrin
read by Bob Askey
2 cassettes
While teaching environmental studies at Dartmouth College,
Professor Perrin was confronted about commuting to work by
automobile. Vowing to find a more environmentally friendly
method, Perrin decided on an electric car. He describes his
abortive attempt to drive the car he calls Solo back to Vermont
from its factory in California. Once home, however, Solo proves
well-suited to be a commuter car. 1992.
Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations RC
41786
by Al Franken
read by Lou Harpenau
2 cassettes
Best known as a writer and comic for television's Saturday
Night Live, Franken takes a humorous look at the political
right, beginning with talk radio host Rush Limbaugh and his
audience of "fact-challenged dittoheads." Newt Gingrich, Pat
Buchanan, and others are also targeted in what Franken calls
"200-plus pages of . . . mean-spirited (yet accurate) bile."
Strong language. Bestseller 1996.
Religion and the Racist Right: The Origins of the Christian
Identity Movement RC 41797
by Michael Barkun
read by Frank Coffee
3 cassettes
A political science professor documents the little-known
movement he says underpins the 1990s extreme right in the United
States. Members, Barkun says, project a world divided between
the children of God--white Aryans--and the offspring of
Satan--Jews, blacks, and others. They also hold institutions
suspect, see conspiracy everywhere, and think an apocalyptic
struggle is imminent. 1994.
Tisha: The Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaska Wilderness
RC 41798
by Robert Specht
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Autobiography of Ann Hobbs as told to the author. In 1927 the
nineteen-year-old woman went to teach in a one-room schoolhouse
in the former gold-rush settlement of Chicken, Alaska. "Tisha"
is the Indian children's pronunciation of "teacher." For junior
and senior high and older readers. 1976.
Poems RC 41803
by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
read by John Horton
3 cassettes
The juvenile poems that introduce this collection were written
in the 1790s. Poems written after the turn of the nineteenth
century reflect Coleridge's friendship with the Wordsworths and
his growing interest in nature, the exotic, and human emotions.
Contains the complete poems of the Romantic writer, including
such well-known works as "Kubla Khan," "The Rime of the Ancient
Mariner," and "Cristabel." 1991.
The Essays of Virginia Woolf, Volume 1, 1904-1912 RC
41805
edited by Andrew McNeillie
read by Suzanne Toren
4 cassettes
First of six volumes comprising a definitive collection of
Woolf's essays. The editor restored the original manuscripts,
which document Woolf's professional growth and that of the era's
literature. This volume covers 1904-1912, during which Woolf's
career was based on her literary reviews including those of
James Boswell and Oliver Wendell Holmes. Followed by The
Essays of Virginia Woolf, Volume 2 (RC 41806). 1986.
Into the Wild RC 41823
by Jon Krakauer
read by Dan Bloom
2 cassettes
This book, which grew from an article the author wrote for
Outside magazine, discusses a fatal trek by a young man
named Chris McCandless. After graduating from college in 1990,
McCandless abandoned his car, gave away his money, and cut off
contact with his family. Exactly 112 days after he wandered into
the Alaskan wilderness, McCandless was found dead of starvation.
The author looks to himself and other adventurers for an
explanation. Bestseller 1996.
Cleopatra's Nose: Essays on the Unexpected RC 41837
by Daniel J. Boorstin
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
Librarian of Congress Emeritus Daniel Boorstin shares his
enjoyment of how the unexpected has shaped history. Seventeen
essays marvel at the unexpected results of technological
advancement and challenge the predictability of human endeavor.
The title is from the Pascal quote: "Cleopatra's nose, had it
been shorter, the whole face of the world would have been
changed." 1994.
Stop Aging Now! The Ultimate Plan for Staying Young and
Reversing the Aging Process RC 41838
by Jean Carper
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Author of Food--Your Miracle Medicine (RC 37385) examines
the anti aging powers of vitamin supplements, herbs, and food.
She presents what she claims to be "every scientifically valid
dietary substance--and the dose--to forestall aging throughout
your life" and provides a supplement and diet strategy.
Bestseller 1995.
Your Boss Is Not Your Mother: Creating Autonomy, Respect, and
Success at Work RC 41846
by Brian DesRoches
read by Lou Harpenau
2 cassettes
From his experience working in business, the author, a family
systems therapist, recognized that people show similar negative
patterns both on the job and in the family. He presents an
approach for individuals to use to understand the problems,
pinpoint their contributions, and improve their approach to
situations in the workplace. 1995.
When the Hearing Gets Hard: Winning the Battle against
Hearing Impairment RC 41847
by Elaine Suss
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
A basic, but thorough, guide for people who lose some hearing,
and for their families. The author's sometimes awkward
experiences alternate with solid information about types of
loss, hearing aids and other devices, and drugs that can cause
loss. She counsels in a straightforward manner how to make the
most of available technology and how to be most comfortable in
social settings. 1993.
Making Hay RC 41854
edited by Kenneth Jernigan
read by Bruce Huntey
1 cassette
In the title essay in this Kernel Book collection, National
Federation of the Blind spokesperson Kenneth Jernigan tells of
wanting to make hay during the summer as a young man. When he
was turned down, Jernigan made and sold tables at a much higher
rate of pay, proving there are many ways to "make hay." Other
essays show that when blind people are given the right
opportunities, blindness is reduced to the level of a physical
nuisance. 1993.
Return with Honor RC 41856
by Scott O'Grady
read by Jack Fox
1 cassette
Air Force Captain Scott O'Grady prepared for his Deny Flight
mission over Bosnia as usual on June 2, 1995. But several hours
later, his plane was hit by an antiaircraft missile, and his day
became anything but usual. As O'Grady details his survival
during the six days it took for him to be rescued, he also
provides background information on his life up to and following
that mission. Bestseller 1995.
Principal Products of Portugal: Prose Pieces RC
41857
by Donald Hall
read by James DeLotel
2 cassettes
The author's love of words, and the sound of them, resonates
through this collection of prose works. The title was selected
for its "prodigious procession of p's" and its evocation of
schoolroom recitation. The language used in discussing recurrent
topics of baseball, reading (especially while moving one's
lips), nature, and artists reflects the skills of this
prizewinning author. 1995.
Arthritis: Stop Suffering, Start Moving RC 41867
by Darlene Cohen
read by Janis Gray
2 cassettes
In 1977 the author was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at
the age of thirty-five. Not wanting to begin drug therapy but
suffering greatly, Cohen went to a therapist who trained her to
focus on her "bodily sensations" and find small places in her
body where movement was possible without pain. She describes
steps arthritis patients can take to gradually regain (and then
maintain) flexibility and strength. 1995.
Dream City: Race, Power, and the Decline of Washington, D.C.
RC 41919
by Harry S. Jaffe and Tom Sherwood
read by Ralph Lowenstein
3 cassettes
Two Washington journalists discuss changes in Washington, D.C.,
from 1964 to 1994. Their discussion centers around Marion
Barry's terms as mayor because it is their belief that his
career parallels the decline of the nation's capital. They
believe that the Washington of the 1990s was shaped by racism
and racial insecurity. 1994.
Montana RC 41922
by Joe Montana
read by Christopher Hurt
1 cassette
Autobiography of noted quarterback Joe Montana. After proving
his football skill in his last year at Notre Dame, Montana was a
third-round pick for the San Francisco Forty-Niners. He led the
team to victory in four Super Bowls and was named Most Valuable
Player three times. Before retiring in 1995 at thirty-eight,
Montana also played with the Kansas City Chiefs. Some strong
language. Bestseller 1995.
Islamic Fundamentalism in the Modern World RC 41926
by William Spencer
read by Ken Kliban
1 cassette
To diffuse the emotion and confusion he believes exist about the
Islamic world, a professor of Middle East history explains the
Five Pillars of Islam, the true definition of "jihad," and that
only part of the Islamic world practices fundamentalism. The
conflict of values between East and West provides context to
current and historic events. For junior and senior high and
older readers. 1995.
Ring of Truth: A Translator's Testimony RC 41927
by J.B. Phillips
read by John Horton
1 cassette
A personal testimony of how the Bible, and particularly the New
Testament, can bring insight and renewal. The author is an
Anglican cleric whose translation of the New Testament into
modern English has been widely accepted. 1967.
The Beardstown Ladies' Stitch-in-Time Guide to Growing Your
Nest Egg: Step-by-Step Planning for a Comfortable Financial
Future RC 41953
by Beardstown Ladies' Investment Club
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Following up their Common-Sense Investment Guide (RC
39800), the "ladies" offer advice on planning for
retirement. Embellished with personal stories and "finishing
stitch" sidebars, their suggestions include pay yourself first,
create a specific plan, and know what to expect from social
security. Bestseller 1996.
100 Years, 100 Stories RC 41994
by George Burns
read by Jim Zeiger
1 cassette
Burns states that he can't put each of his fans in his will; he
can't even thank them enough. Instead, for his one hundredth
birthday, he provides this collection of one hundred of his
funniest anecdotes, plus a bonus of two. The stories cover
Burns's long career and include many entries about his wife,
Gracie. Bestseller 1996.
Black Judges on Justice: Perspectives from the Bench RC
42007
by Linn Washington
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
The editor of the Philadelphia Tribune and former
assistant to Pennsylvania's chief justice presents gleanings
from interviews with fourteen judges. They tell how they have
seen racism affecting the justice system and describe their
attempts to make the system work better for blacks. They decry
the paucity of black judges and question the effectiveness of
prison and mandatory sentencing. 1994.
More from the Gluten-Free Gourmet: Delicious Dining without
Wheat RC 42079
by Bette Hagman
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
The author, who was diagnosed with celiac disease twenty years
earlier, provides recipes for others with the disorder and those
allergic to wheat or gluten. Not meant as a diet book, the
collection features all types of dishes including the breads,
pastries, cakes, cookies, and desserts that those on gluten-free
diets crave. Also includes instructions for using bread
machines. 1993.
Mountain, Get Out of My Way: Life Lessons and Learned Truths
RC 42085
by Montel Williams
read by Bob Moore
1 cassette
Talk-show host Williams offers a guideline to help young people
and adults reflect on their fundamental beliefs concerning race,
religion, work, family, and various forms of abuse and to then
develop the principles of restraint, responsibility, and
respect. Bestseller 1996.
If This Is Mid-Life, Where's the Crisis? RC 42121
by Sam Cook
read by Peter Gil
1 cassette
A collection of humorous columns from the Duluth
News-Tribune by a man in his forties. Cook discusses recent
changes in his twenty-year marriage to his high school
sweetheart. His wife's return to college for her master's degree
and their two young children have disrupted the Cooks' routines.
The towels they received as wedding gifts are all worn out, but
the fondue pots and TV trays are still hanging in there. 1994.
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