Braille Book Review

Books for Adults The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. Note: For the infomation 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 occurence, as in "some strong language." Nonfiction

The Road to Assisi: The Essential Biography of St. Francis BR 15243
by Paul Sabatier
2 volumes
French protestant's biography of St. Francis of Assisi (1182- 1226) portrays the Italian friar as a forerunner of the Italian Renaissance and as a "gentle mystic and passionate reformer guided by an unwavering vision of fulfilling the ideals of Christ." Edited with 2003 introduction and annotations by Jon M. Sweeney. 1894.

Mexico by Touch: True Life Experiences of a Blind American Deejay BR 15306
by Larry P. Johnson
2 volumes
Larry Johnson relates his personal account of moving to Mexico City in 1957. Details how Johnson spent the next seventeen years advancing his bilingual broadcasting career in radio and TV, becoming the first blind newscaster on Mexican television. 2003.

Connecting to Learn: Educational and Assistive Technology for People with Disabilities BR 15377
by Marcia J. Scherer
4 volumes
Comprehensive guide for people with visual and auditory disabilities. Offers strategies for evaluating the needs of students and matching them to appropriate assistive technology. Provides case studies, checklists, and information on various computer and telecommunication devices. Companion to Living in the State of Stuck (BR 13492). 2004.

Daniel Boone: An American Life BR 15385
by Michael A. Lofaro
3 volumes
Biography of early pioneer Daniel Boone (1734-1820), a central figure in the trans-Appalachian westward movement into Kentucky and beyond. Relates how Boone's trailblazing exploits spurred increasing settlements but left him restless to explore new wilderness. Also describes his dealings with the Indians and land speculation difficulties. Some violence. 2003.

Gouverneur Morris: An Independent Life BR 15387
by William Howard Adams
4 volumes
American historian chronicles the life of Gouverneur Morris (1752-1816) of New York, a sometimes-forgotten founding father, as revealed by private diaries, correspondence, and other historical papers. Explores Morris's accomplishments as a framer of the U.S. Constitution, Revolutionary War financial strategist, international entrepreneur, slavery opponent, minister to France, and womanizer. 2003.

Salt in Your Sock and Other Tried-and-True Home Remedies: A Pediatrician Selects Parents' Favorite Treatments for More than Ninety Childhood Ailments BR 15390
by Lillian M. Beard
3 volumes
An A-to-Z guide to all-natural remedies for everyday childhood health problems: acne, cold sores, rashes, sore throats, and more. Places emphasis on diet and nutrition. Combines folk wisdom with modern medicine by including medical explanations for treatments and advice on when to consult a doctor. 2003.

Martin Luther BR 15393
by Martin Marty
2 volumes
Religion professor and pastor discusses Luther's inner experiences as they relate to his surroundings. Describes Luther (1483-1546) as a person constantly seeking God's grace and willing to die for his beliefs. Covers Luther's 95 Theses, his large and small Catechisms, and his excommunication. 2004.

A Rage for Glory: The Life of Commodore Stephen Decatur, USN BR 15400
by James Tertius de Kay
2 volumes
Biography of early American hero Stephen Decatur (1779-1820) by well-known naval historian. Portraying Decatur as a brilliant, fearless, and adored commander, de Kay recounts his rise to national prominence through exploits in the Barbary wars and the War of 1812. Offers new details on Decatur's tragic death in a senseless duel. 2004.

Francisco Goya BR 15405
by Evan S. Connell
2 volumes
Award-winning author traces the life and career of Spanish painter Francisco Goya (1746-1828). Describes the portraitist of royalty during the last days of the House of Bourbon and, while he pursued wealthy patrons, witnessing the turmoil of the Inquisition and Napoleon's invasion. 2004.

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Hypothyroidism: A Simple Plan for Extraordinary Results BR 15409
by Kenneth Blanchard
2 volumes
Physician outlines the diagnosis, treatment, and care of the thyroid gland. Describes how he works with his patients and modifies treatment according to their needs. Offers advice on seeking medical care. 2004.

Playback: From the Victrola to MP3, One Hundred Years of Music, Machines, and Money BR 15415
by Mark Coleman
2 volumes
New York City journalist examines the recording industry from the start in the 1900s to 2004. Describes its growth, personalities, and intrigues as it evolved from Edison's cylinder to twenty- first-century technology and musical format. Explores the quagmire of computer-based advancements that have prompted numerous legal battles. 2003.

Reflections from a Different Journey: What Adults with Disabilities Wish All Parents Knew BR 15418
edited by Stanley D. Klein and John D. Kemp
2 volumes
Forty informative essays by successful adult role models who have "lived the disability experience." Individuals with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, vision and hearing loss, autism, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, learning disabilities, and other health conditions share their thoughts on acceptance, parenting, sexuality, and education. 2004.

Gonna Do Great Things: The Life of Sammy Davis Jr. BR 15425
by Gary Fishgall
6 volumes
Biography of versatile African American actor, singer, and comedian Sammy Davis Jr. (1925-1990), who began his career in vaudeville at age three. Using interviews, Davis quotations, and primary source materials, drama critic Fishgall describes the evolution of Davis's career, his marriages and affairs, and his involvement in the civil rights movement. 2003.

George Washington BR 15441
by James MacGregor Burns and Susan Dunn
2 volumes
Two historians analyze the strengths and weaknesses of Washington's presidency. While commending his creation of a strong executive and sense of national unity, Burns and Dunn criticize his denunciation of political parties and public silence on slavery. They also contrast his self-effacing persona with intense craving for "esteem and notice." 2004.

Big Russ and Me: Father and Son; Lessons of Life BR 15446
by Tim Russert
3 volumes
Television journalist's memoir celebrating his bond with his father, "Big Russ," a WWII veteran whom Russert calls "endlessly hardworking and eternally optimistic." Author recollects his own 1950s Buffalo childhood in a close-knit Irish Catholic neighborhood and recalls teachers who inspired him throughout his life. Bestseller 2004.

Ace of Aces: The Life of Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker BR 15460
by H. Paul Jeffers
3 volumes
A biography of captain Eddie Rickenbacker (1890-1973), the much decorated "Ace of Aces" who destroyed twenty-six enemy planes in World War I. Fascinated with engines and speed, he began his career as a race-car driver, becoming third-ranked in the country. He later founded Eastern Airlines. 2003.

The World I Live In BR 15462
by Helen Keller
2 volumes
New edition of a short collection of personal essays Helen Keller wrote in 1908 when she was twenty-eight. Follows The Story of My Life (BR 14704). This reflective work is separated into three categories: the senses, especially touch; imagination, thinking, and language; and dream analysis. Introduction by Roger Shattuck. 2003.

The Hedgehog, the Fox, and the Magister's Pox: Mending the Gap between Science and the Humanities BR 15464
by Stephen Jay Gould
3 volumes
Eminent evolutionary biologist, who died in 2002, explores--and rejects--the supposed dichotomy between two major fields of knowledge. Using an ancient Greek proverb as a metaphor to support his point, Gould advocates a unified approach to study of the sciences and the humanities since neither one can suffice alone. 2003.

'Tis Herself: A Memoir BR 15470
by Maureen O'Hara
3 volumes
Illustrious actress reminisces about her six-decade career during Hollywood's "golden age." O'Hara describes her radio and stage child-stardom in Ireland, arrival in California at eighteen, interactions with famous actors and directors, marriages, and retirement in the Virgin Islands. Some strong language. 2004.

The Friendship Crisis: Finding, Making, and Keeping Friends When You're Not a Kid Anymore BR 15471
by Marla Paul
2 volumes
Columnist addresses the loneliness and isolation women often experience during major life changes such as marriage, motherhood, divorce, moving, or leaving a job. Using anecdotes, Paul outlines strategies for meeting new people and maintaining friendships. Steps include overcoming emotional roadblocks, increasing self-confidence, and building a community of support. 2004.

Pocahontas: Medicine Woman, Spy, Entrepreneur, Diplomat BR 15483
by Paula Gunn Allen
4 volumes
Part-Native American scholar analyzes the life of Pocahontas from a feminist perspective. To interpret the young Powhatan woman in the context in which she lived, Allen uses contemporary accounts from English travelers and adventurers, among them John Smith of the Virginia Company. 2003.

The Working Poor: Invisible in America BR 15492
by David K. Shipler
4 volumes
Pulitzer Prize-winning author analyzes an ethnically and racially diverse cross-section of impoverished, low-paid working Americans. Shipler traces their poverty to interlocking problems of poor education and wages, limited abilities, bad parenting, unwise spending, and lack of health insurance. Recommends higher minimum wage, vocational training, and voter registration, among other remedies. 2004.

Losing My Faculties: A Teacher's Story BR 15512
by Brendan Halpin
2 volumes
A Boston inner city school teacher's anecdotes ranging from his perpetual teaching-job search, student disciplinary problems, bureaucratic wrangling and infighting, and other frustrations. Details his involvements in the Famous Athlete Youth and the charter school Better Than You programs. Some strong language. 2003.

The Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability: For All of Us Who Live with Disabilities, Chronic Pain, and Illness BR 15535
by Miriam Kaufman and others
3 volumes
Guide drawn from authors' professional and personal experiences and from an informal survey of people living with various disabilities. Topics include sexual health, self-esteem, communication, and debunking myths. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2003.

Rare Earth: Why Complex Life Is Uncommon in the Universe BR 15537
by Peter D. Ward and Donald Brownlee
4 volumes
Paleontologist/geologist Ward and astronomer Brownlee outline their hypothesis that complex multicellular life--animals and higher plants--"is less pervasive in the universe than is...commonly assumed." The two scientists reexamine Earth's history to identify crucial attributes that have allowed the planet's rare, and perhaps unique, evolutionary achievements. 2000.

Bryson City Tales: Stories of a Doctor's First Year of Practice in the Smoky Mountains BR 15550
by Walt Larimore
3 volumes
Chronicles a young doctor's passage from Duke University to rural North Carolina, where he establishes a practice, raises his family, and expands his spirituality and human understanding. As an emergency physician, coroner, obstetrician, and wilderness search-and-rescue doctor he is shaped in medicine and reinforces his faith. 2002.

When Our Grown Kids Disappoint Us: Letting Go of Their Problems, Loving Them Anyway, and Getting On with Our Lives BR 15568
by Jane Adams
2 volumes
Social psychologist advises parents on how to cope with adult children with maturity issues--mainly by disengaging from their problems and not assuming guilt for their failure to thrive. Uses anecdotes to suggest steps for encouraging offsprings' independence. 2003.

Out of Gas: The End of the Age of Oil BR 15591
by David Goodstein
1 volume
California Institute of Technology professor explains the scientific principles underlying an inevitable fossil fuel crisis and related threats to Earth's climate. Provides a concise overview of various energy sources, the concepts of fission, fusion, and entropy, engine operation, and more. Asserts nuclear and solar power are reasonable alternatives. 2004.



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