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NLS: That All May Read

Cassette Books, 2005

This catalog lists adult cassette books produced by NLS during. Books are listed alphabetically within subject categories under nonfiction and fiction headings. Some books may appear in more than one subject category. For instance, a book of science fiction short stories would be found in both "science fiction" and "short stories."

For the information of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description listing strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an infrequent occurrence, as in "some strong language."

Separate sections list books for young adults and books in Spanish under nonfiction and fiction headings. An index to bestsellers is located after the Spanish entries.

Adult Nonfiction

Adventure

Abandoned: The Story of the Greely Arctic Expedition, 1881–1884 RC 57771
by A.L. Todd
read by Geoffrey Centlivre
3 cassettes
Based on Greely family papers, an account of the American expedition, led by then-lieutenant Adolphus Greely, that set off in 1881 to explore islands off the Greenland coast. Describes official bungling and mischance that led to the stranding of the party of twenty-five men, including two Eskimo hunters. 1961.

Among Stone Giants: The Life of Katherine Routledge and Her Remarkable Expedition to Easter Island RC 57458
by Jo Anne Van Tilburg
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Archaeologist chronicles the life and work of English explorer Katherine Routledge (1866–1935), reconstructing her early rebellion against Victorian constraints, the pioneering 1913 expedition, and her struggles with mental illness. Highlights her contributions to the study of the island’s enormous stone heads and other remnants of a civilization. 2003.

The Bounty: The True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty RC 57656
by Caroline Alexander
read by Graeme Malcolm
3 cassettes
Drawing on diaries, correspondence, news items, and other primary source material, Alexander casts a new light on events surrounding the mutineers’ seizure of the Bounty in 1789. Alexander examines the actions and motivations of the central characters, as well as Tahitian seductions and political intrigues, concluding that Captain Bligh was unjustly maligned. 2003.

An Ocean to Cross: Daring the Atlantic, Claiming a New Life RC 58390
by Liz Fordred
read by Janis Gray
2 cassettes
Account of a resourceful paraplegic couple who built a boat in landlocked Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and sailed from South Africa to the Americas in 1981. Fordred describes how she and her husband, Pete, overcame formidable obstacles in constructing the Usikusiku to accommodate their handicaps. Details their remarkable journey to gain independence and a new life. 2001.

Quest for Adventure: Ultimate Feats of Modern Exploration RC 58563
by Chris Bonington
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
Chronicles fifty years of pioneering "firsts" by land, sea, and air. Seventeen stories of perseverance include the first ascent of Mount Everest, the crossing of both poles, and two first circumnavigations of the earth: one nonstop by balloon, the other solo by sailboat. 2000.

Samurai William: The Englishman Who Opened Japan RC 57385
by Giles Milton
read by Robert Sams
3 cassettes
The author of Nathaniel’s Nutmeg (RC 50638) chronicles the adventures of English mariner William Adams, who was marooned in Japan in 1600. Adams is taken under the tutelage of the shogun, learns the language and customs, and opens trade between the two civilizations. 2002.

The Sea Hunters II RC 57292
by Clive Cussler and Craig Dirgo
read by Bob Askey
3 cassettes
In this sequel to The Sea Hunters (RC 43934), the author and his colleagues from the National Underwater and Marine Agency, a nonprofit group that searches for shipwrecks of historical significance, continue their adventures. Among the wrecks they seek are French explorer La Salle’s flagship, Civil War ironclads, and PT-109. 2002.

The Secret Life of Cowboys RC 58774
by Tom Groneberg
read by Alec Volz
2 cassettes
A young college graduate relates how, with his new wife, he rejects an urban lifestyle to become a cowboy. Describes beginning as a Colorado trail guide then settling on a small Montana ranch. He recounts his growth and discovery in the beautiful but brutal Western wilderness. 2003.

Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II RC 58650
by Robert Kurson
read by Bruce Huntey
3 cassettes
Journalist chronicles scuba divers John Chatterton’s and Richie Kohler’s 1991 discovery of a sunken World War II German U-boat off the New Jersey coast. Describes their perilous six-year search in the 230-foot-deep sunken wreck for clues to identify the submarine and its crew. Strong language. Bestseller. 2004.

Survive the Savage Sea RC 58667
by Dougal Robertson
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Author relates his family’s nightmare of trying to survive after killer whales attacked and sank their forty-three-foot schooner Lucette in the Pacific Ocean. Robertson’s daily account describes their thirty-eight-day struggle against thirst, starvation, and exhaustion before being rescued by Japanese fishermen. 1973.

Touching the Void RC 57755
by Joe Simpson
read by Ray Childs
2 cassettes
Mountain climber recounts his harrowing 1985 survival story of plunging off an Andean ice ledge, forcing his partner, Simon Yates, to cut the rope binding them. Describes Simpson’s grueling descent with a broken leg and Yates’s emotional turmoil believing his friend to be dead. Some strong language. Bestseller. 1988.

The Way of a Ship: A Square-Rigger Voyage in the Last Days of Sail RC 58702
by Derek Lundy
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
The author of Godforsaken Sea (RC 50690) recreates the adventures of his great-great-uncle Benjamin Lundy, a Cape Horn seaman during the 1880s. Derek Lundy portrays the challenges and perils Benjamin and the crew most likely faced while learning firsthand the "eternal lessons of the sea." 2002.

The Worst Journey in the World RC 58594
by Apsley Cherry-Garrard
read by David Cutler
5 cassettes
Epic tale of two-and-a-half years of exploration and survival in Antarctica as recounted by the youngest member of Scott’s last expedition to the South Pole. Describes the difficult crossing of the Beardmore Glacier, Cherry-Garrard’s scientific mission to obtain emperor penguin eggs, and his discovery of Scott’s body. 1922.

Animals and Wildlife

The Cruelest Miles: The Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race against an Epidemic RC 58310
by Gay Salisbury and Laney Salisbury
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
Chronicles the valiant efforts of a dogsled relay to bring serum to ice-bound Nome, Alaska, when a deadly diphtheria outbreak put Eskimo natives and especially their children at risk in 1925. Blends Alaska’s early history with portraits of courageous team leaders and their dogs—including the famous Balto—who trekked 674 miles across frozen terrain. 2003.

Dog Is My Co-Pilot: Great Writers on the World’s Oldest Friendship RC 57155
by editors of The Bark read by Barbara Caruso
3 cassettes
Anthology of essays, short stories, and expert commentaries celebrating the unique bond between humans and their dogs. Over forty selections chosen by the editors of a California-based dog magazine pay tribute to the very first meeting between man and animal, pack dynamics, canine wisdom, and the poignancy of friendship and loss. 2003.

The Hidden Powers of Animals: Uncovering the Secrets of Nature RC 58120
by Karl P.N. Shuker
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Explains wild and domestic animal behavior via scientific research on psychic pets, whale strandings, fainting goats, talking apes, homing horses, and waltzing worms, among other species. For senior high and older readers. 2001.

Keep Chickens! Tending Small Flocks in Cities, Suburbs, and Other Small Spaces RC 57434
by Barbara Kilarski
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
A collection of frequently asked questions for city slickers who want to raise poultry. Coop construction, hen selection and care, egg laying and gathering (one doesn’t need a rooster to get eggs), and chicken health are among the tips for the urban breeder. Includes recipes. 2003.

Arts

The Arts RC 58659
by Hendrik Willem Van Loon
read by Janis Gray
6 cassettes (Reissue)
A cultural survey of painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theatre, and many minor arts from prehistory to the twentieth century by the author of Van Loon’s Lives (RC 55071). Covers creative expression in ancient Egypt and Greece, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. Revised and updated 1974. 1937.

Goya RC 58883
by Robert Hughes
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Interpretive biography of Spanish artist Francisco Goya (1746–1828) by Time magazine art critic and author of Culture of Complaint (RC 36854). Chronicles Goya’s development as a man and artist, offering critical analyses of his work, social milieu, professional influences, and dominant events like the Inquisition. 2003.

Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament RC 56789
by Kay Redfield Jamison
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
A professor of psychiatry examines the relationship between mood disorders and artistic creativity. Discusses manic-depression, autobiographical material, family history, biological research, and artistic endeavor to explore their links. Examines these connections in the lives of writers and artists, focusing on Lord Byron as a prime example. 1993.

Astronomy

The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality RC 57798
by Brian Greene
read by Butch Hoover
5 cassettes
Physicist and author of The Elegant Universe (RC 48203) examines three hundred years of scientific investigation into the basic but enigmatic concepts of space, time, and reality. Provides background information on relativity and quantum mechanics before exploring topics like Bell’s theorem, accelerated expansion, man-made black holes, and more. Bestseller. 2004.

For Spacious Skies: The Uncommon Journey of a Mercury Astronaut RC 57329
by Scott Carpenter and Kris Stoever
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Autobiography of one of the seven Project Mercury astronauts. Carpenter revisits his childhood, Naval aviation training, and selection to NASA’s landmark program. He details his 1962 three-orbit mission aboard Aurora 7 and his reactions that averted disaster upon reentry. Cowritten with his daughter. 2002.

Hubble: The Mirror on the Universe RC 58020
by Robin Kerrod
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Astronomer explores the nature and evolution of the universe based on the discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990. Describes the structure of galaxies, the life cycles of stars, and the planets in Earth’s solar system. Includes background information on the Hubble project. 2003.

Lost in Space: The Fall of NASA and the Dream of a New Space Age RC 58278
by Greg Klerkx
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
Former senior manager of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute laments diminished expectations of space exploration. In reexamining NASA’s history, Klerkx criticizes the agency’s political and bureaucratic infighting, self-interest, and misguided focus on the space shuttle and International Space Station. Contends that commercialization would revive popular interest. 2004.

Mapping Mars: Science, Imagination, and the Birth of a World RC 57657
by Oliver Morton
read by Lewis Grenville
3 cassettes
Explores the telecommunications technology, scientists, and artists behind the mapping of the Martian landscape—once left to the imaginations of science fiction writers. Morton chronicles nineteenth-century observations and twentieth-century space expeditions to survey and understand the mountains, canyons, and missing waters of the Red Planet. 2002.

The Mercury Thirteen: The Untold Story of Thirteen American Women and the Dream of Space Flight RC 57609
by Martha Ackmann
read by Carol Dines
2 cassettes
Professor relates the experiences of thirteen female pilots who underwent secret testing for potential inclusion in the U.S. space program during the 1960s. Using historical research and firsthand interviews, Ackmann follows Jerrie Cobb, Wally Funk, and others through the selection process, barrage of trials, and battle against gender discrimination. 2003.

Mission Jupiter: The Spectacular Journey of the Galileo Spacecraft RC 57435
by Daniel Fischer
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Award-winning German columnist describes the landmark discoveries of NASA’s Galileo space probe, which reached Jupiter—after passing by Venus and two asteroids—in December 1995, more than six years after liftoff. Fischer provides mission history and specifications, focusing on what the project data revealed about the planet’s moons and atmosphere. 1998.

The Moonlandings: An Eyewitness Account RC 58578
by Reginald Turnill
read by Bruce Huntey
3 cassettes
Memoir by award-winning British journalist chronicles the U.S. space program from projects Mercury to Apollo. Author’s firsthand account draws on unparalleled access to politicians, scientists, technicians, and early astronauts like Alan Shepard, John Glenn, and Neil Armstrong who pioneered techniques that made moon landings possible. Foreword by Buzz Aldrin. 2003.

The Orion Nebula: Where Stars Are Born RC 57523
by C. Robert O’Dell
read by Gordon Gould
2 cassettes
Former project scientist for the Hubble space telescope chronicles the technology providing better observation of Earth’s nearest nebula, a stellar nursery of collapsing gas and dust from which stars and planets are born. Discusses contributions of seventeenth to twentieth-century astronomers to modern understanding of stars and the nature of the universe. 2003.

Seeing in the Dark: How Backyard Stargazers Are Probing Deep Space and Guarding Earth from Interplanetary Peril RC 57262
by Timothy Ferris
read by Lou Harpenau
4 cassettes
Science writer, inspired by a lifetime of stargazing, chronicles the professional-level contributions of amateur astronomers. Emphasizes their vital role in watching the skies for Near Earth Objects, and explains how advances in technology have made astronomy an accessible hobby. Includes charts, observation guides, and tips for the novice. 2002.

Biography

Athénaïs: The Life of Louis XIV’s Mistress, the Real Queen of France RC 57243
by Lisa Hilton
read by Mitzi Friedlander
3 cassettes
Biography of Athénaïs de Montespan (1640–1707), the longtime mistress of Louis XIV. Discusses her early life, her prominent role as the Sun King’s paramour, their children, her influence on the culture of the French court, and the bizarre Affair of the Poisons which led to her downfall. 2002.

Big Russ and Me: Father and Son; Lessons of Life RC 58298
by Tim Russert
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
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.

The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup: My Encounters with Extraordinary People RC 57670
by Susan Orlean
read by Suzanne Toren
3 cassettes
Collection of over twenty profiles by New Yorker writer, author of The Orchid Thief (RC 48462), of people who captured her interest throughout her career. Subjects range from the well-known, among them designer Bill Blass, to the unknown—for example, a typical ten-year-old boy—and many in between, even Spain’s first female matador. 2001.

Burnt Bread and Chutney: Growing Up between Cultures; a Memoir of an Indian Jewish Girl RC 58131
by Carmit Delman
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Reminiscences of Delman’s childhood in Ohio, New York, and Israel, flavored with her mother’s Bombay Jewish heritage and her American father’s Ashkenazi Jewish background. Compares tastes and traditions and relates matriarch Nana-bai’s India memories. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2002.

Dry RC 58160
by Augusten Burroughs
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
Author continues his memoir begun in Running with Scissors (RC 54817), describing how his alcoholism interfered with work and landed him in a rehab center for gays. He then recalls his return to the Manhattan streets, where he battled cravings and personal demons. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2003.

The Education of Little Tree RC 58621
by Forrest Carter
read by Christopher Walker
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Memoir of an orphaned boy who was raised in a log cabin by his Cherokee grandparents in Tennessee during the Great Depression. Some strong language. 1976.

Facing the Lion: Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna RC 57478
by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton
read by Frank Coffee
1 cassette
Virginia teacher recounts his childhood as a member of a nomadic tribe in northern Kenya. Describes running from lions, tending cattle, being circumcised at thirteen to become a"warrior," attending boarding school, searching for his wandering village during vacations, and leaving home to study in the United States. For junior and senior high readers. 2003.

Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America RC 58685
by Firoozeh Dumas
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
Author recollects her family’s adjustment to American culture after moving from Iran to California in 1972 when she was seven. In a series of vignettes, Firoozeh describes her father’s amusing attempts to assimilate, her uncle’s penchant for fast food, and their experiences during the Iranian Revolution. 2003.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings RC 57200
by Maya Angelou
read by Andrea Frierson-Toney
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Memoir by well-known African American poet and college professor Maya Angelou. She describes her childhood and adolescent years in rural Arkansas, in St. Louis, and in San Francisco, and the racial and gender hardships she endured. 1969.

Indira: The Life of Indira Nehru Gandhi RC 58613
by Katherine Frank
read by Anne Flosnik
5 cassettes
Biography of India’s first woman prime minister. Discusses Indira Gandhi’s (1917–1984) sad childhood and her reluctance to enter politics even though her father was former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Portrays the woman who sublimated her personal inclinations to serve her country and was assassinated by her own bodyguards. 2002.

Isadora: A Sensational Life RC 56529
by Peter Kurth
read by Celeste Lawson
5 cassettes
Details the life, loves, and bizarre death of Isadora Duncan (1877–1927), muse, educator, feminist, and pioneer of modern dance. Set against the backdrop of Europe and America in the early twentieth century, this chronicle draws from major international archival sources, including private collections and unpublished manuscripts. 2001.

L. Frank Baum: Creator of Oz RC 58766
by Katharine M. Rogers
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Biography of celebrated children’s author Lyman Frank Baum (1856–1919). Rogers discusses Baum’s myriad occupations preceding his career as the successful author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (RC 51047). Considers how Baum’s interest in theosophy and his support of feminism influenced his life and work. 2002.

Living to Tell the Tale RC 57362
by Gabriel García Márquez
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
The Nobel Prize-winning Colombian author of novels such as One Hundred Years of Solitude (RC 25181) and Love in the Time of Cholera (RC 26981) presents a memoir—first of a projected trilogy—of his poverty-filled early years including the beginning of his writing career, his love affairs, and politics. Bestseller. 2002.

A Man Called Peter: The Story of Peter Marshall RC 57404
by Catherine Marshall
read by Margaret Strom
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Widow writes the biography of her husband, a poor Scottish immigrant who became the senior minister at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in the nation’s capital and chaplain of the United States Senate. Fiftieth anniversary edition includes additional selections of his prayers and sermons with a foreword by Marshall’s son. 2001.

Mary Queen of Scots: The Fair Devil of Scotland RC 58800
by Jean Plaidy
read by Terry Hayes Sales
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Biography of ill-fated queen of Scotland Mary Stuart (1542–1587), executed on the order of her cousin Queen Elizabeth I of England. Chronicles her childhood in France, her multiple marriages, and the religious and political unrest that plagued her rule. 1975.

Memoirs RC 57198
by David Rockefeller
read by Ted Stoddard
4 cassettes
Autobiography of billionaire John D. Rockefeller’s youngest grandson, born in 1915. Recalls his childhood, college years, and military intelligence service during World War II. Describes his banking career, provides insights into the Rockefeller family, and presents many key twentieth-century figures of his acquaintance from the worlds of politics, finance, and the arts. 2002.

A Mighty Heart: The Brave Life and Death of My Husband, Danny Pearl RC 57615
by Mariane Pearl
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Award-winning journalist relates Islamic fundamentalists’ 2002 abduction and murder of her Jewish husband, Wall Street Journal correspondent Danny Pearl, while the couple was on assignment in Pakistan. Mariane Pearl, who was then pregnant, recalls the frantic search for Danny and the ensuing investigation that captured world attention. 2003.

"My Heart Became Attached": The Strange Journey of John Walker Lindh RC 57347
by Mark Kukis
read by Ralph Lowenstein
2 cassettes
Biography of the "American Taliban," first U.S. citizen charged under the Patriot Act. Traces Lindh’s odyssey from affluent California childhood through Arabic studies in Yemen, terrorist training in Pakistan, and combat alongside the Taliban in the Afghanistan war to his eventual U.S. trial as an enemy combatant. Research included copious author interviews. 2003.

My Invented Country: A Nostalgic Journey through Chile RC 58348
by Isabel Allende
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
The famous author remembers her childhood home, Chile, which she left after the death of her uncle in a 1973 military coup. She talks about Chile’s history, nostalgic memories of her family, and her life as an exile in her new home, the United States. 2003.

Never Forget: An Oral History of September 11, 2001 RC 58697
by Mitchell Fink and Lois Mathias
read by Jill Fox
3 cassettes
Journalist and his wife gather dozens of first-person accounts of World Trade Center workers, Pentagon employees, rescue personnel, witnesses, and others who lived through the events of September 11, 2001. Violence and strong language. 2002.

An Old Wife’s Tale: My Seven Decades in Love and War RC 55808
by Midge Decter
read by Susan McInerney
2 cassettes
Midge Decter, conservative commentator, offers a memoir of her life over the past seventy years. From her first secretarial job in New York City to her reign as executive editor of Harper’s magazine, Decter relates her experiences against a backdrop of her opinions on feminism, motherhood, and politics. 2001.

The Perfect Wife: The Life and Choices of Laura Bush RC 58096
by Ann Gerhart
read by Jill Ferris
2 cassettes
Reporter for the Washington Post, who has covered Laura Bush since her husband’s 2001 inauguration, discusses the First Lady’s life and influences from childhood in West Texas and a career as teacher and librarian to her White House experiences. Examines her character and her pursuit of serenity. 2004.

Queen Anne RC 57389
by Edward Gregg
read by Annie Wauters
4 cassettes
Biography of Britain’s Queen Anne (1665–1714). Presents public and private aspects of her life, portraying her as both ruler and private individual. Examines her reign, dominated at home by political factions vying to succeed her and abroad by a struggle against France’s Louis XIV. 2001.

A Royal Duty RC 57361
by Paul Burrell
read by David Cutler
3 cassettes
Burrell, footman to Queen Elizabeth and butler to the late Princess of Wales, details Diana’s life from the vantage point of his position of trust. Claiming personal access to Diana’s confidences and facts behind the rumor mill, he undertakes to allay speculation about her plans for remarriage and relocation to America. Bestseller. 2003.

Sleeping with Cats: A Memoir RC 58077
by Marge Piercy
read by Suzanne Toren
3 cassettes
Born in Detroit in the 1930s, poet and novelist Marge Piercy details her abusive, racy youth; political activism; marriages; and other relationships. Piercy intersperses this account with depictions of her cats, who have provided faithful companionship and consolation. Includes several of her poems. Some descriptions of sex. 2002.

Soul on Ice RC 58082
by Eldridge Cleaver
read by Peter Jay Fernandez
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Memoirs by African American activist who was an influential leader of the Black Panthers in the 1960s. Includes Cleaver’s letters from Folsom prison— in which he describes his legal troubles—and essays on politics, race, and sex. 1992 preface by Ishmael Reed. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. 1968.

Taking Liberties: Four Decades in the Struggle for Rights RC 58778
by Aryeh Neier
read by Dan Willems
3 cassettes
Neier chronicles his career fighting for civil liberties and his work with the ACLU, Human Rights Watch, and the Soros Foundations. Divided chronologically, the book covers segregation, antiwar protests, abortion, and free speech issues of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, and international rights issues dating to 2003. 2003.

Thura’s Diary: My Life in Wartime Iraq RC 58523
by Thura Al-Windawi
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Nineteen-year-old Iraqi author, a student at the University of Pennsylvania, shares the diary of her life during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Describes the bombing of Baghdad, the first weeks of postwar occupation, and her family’s ambivalence toward political and social events. For senior high and older readers. 2004.

Tour of Duty: John Kerry and the Vietnam War RC 57645
by Douglas Brinkley
read by Jake Williams
5 cassettes
Account of Massachusetts senator’s decorated naval career by history professor and author of Wheels for the World (RC 56812). Drawing on interviews and Kerry’s own wartime correspondence and journals, Brinkley describes Kerry’s schooling, military training, tour of duty in Vietnam, and participation in antiwar protests. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2004.

Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy RC 57745
by Carlos Eire
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
A Yale historian recalls his privileged childhood in Cuba, where his eccentric father was a Havana judge. Author describes living through the revolution, losing everything, and escaping with his brother in 1962 to exile in Miami. Some violence and some strong language. National Book Award. 2003.

Where I Was From RC 57757
by Joan Didion
read by Constance Crawford
2 cassettes
Family memoir and social criticism by Sacramento-born author of Political Fictions (RC 53396). Reexamining her past writings and works by other Californians, Didion contends that the restless individualism of her pioneer ancestors’ generations has spawned many of the state’s emerging social and political dilemmas. Bestseller. 2003.

Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston RC 56643
by Valerie Boyd
read by Anne Hancock
4 cassettes
Biographical appraisal of the life and work of African American folklorist and writer Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960). Discusses Hurston’s roots in rural Florida, her studies at Howard University and Barnard, her Harlem Renaissance friendships, her anthropological travels in the South, and her published writings. 2003.

Yasir Arafat: A Political Biography RC 57851
by Barry Rubin and Judith Colp Rubin
read by Ralph Lowenstein
3 cassettes
Journalists portray the man who became leader of the Palestinian nationalist movement in 1959 when he founded Fatah. Using interviews and archival materials, they analyze his upbringing, his early military experiences, and the development of his reputation as a revolutionary and survivor, focusing on the elusive man himself. Includes chronology, glossary, and bibliography. 2003.

Blindness and Physical Handicaps

An Arrow through the Heart: One Woman’s Story of Life, Love, and Surviving a Near-Fatal Heart Attack
by Deborah Daw Heffernan
read by Gillian Green
2 cassettes
Inspirational tale of recovery from sudden heart failure from which the author almost dies at the age of forty-four. Explains illness and disability from a patient’s point of view and describes the changes in relationships that result when death is a daily possibility. 2002.

The Blindness Revolution: Jernigan in His Own Words RC 59457
by James H. Omvig
read by Roy Avers
4 cassettes
Blindness activist and attorney examines the transformation of the Iowa Commission for the Blind by Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, a National Federation of the Blind leader. Describes Jernigan’s reorganizing the service agency beginning in 1958 from its ineffective medical model to a civil-rights-based "empowerment" organization. 2005.

Blindsided: Lifting a Life above Illness; a Reluctant Memoir RC 57643
by Richard M. Cohen
read by Peter Johnson
2 cassettes
Emmy Award-winning television news producer and journalist chronicles his battle with multiple sclerosis and colon cancer. While detailing his vision loss and other symptoms, Cohen’s frank account is "not about suffering" but about "surviving and flourishing, rising above fear and self-doubt" with the support of his wife and children. Bestseller. 2004.

Cassette Books, 2003 RC 58110
by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
read by Kerry Cundiff
4 cassettes
A catalog of talking books produced on cassette during 2003 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. 2004.

Choosing Assistive Devices: A Guide for Users and Professionals RC 57914
by Helen Pain and others read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
Presents a systematic approach to selecting adaptive equipment and to incorporating such devices into the daily lives of individuals with disabilities. To assure a good match, recommends considering the physical and mental capabilities, lifestyles, and preferences of both users and caregivers. Discusses options for seating, toileting, bathing, and locomotion. 2003.

Connecting to Learn: Educational and Assistive Technology for People with Disabilities RC 57905
by Marcia J. Scherer
read by Laura Giannarelli
3 cassettes
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 (RC 52064). 2004.

A Different Way of Seeing: Youth with Visual Impairments and Blindness RC 58329
by Patricia Souder
read by Margaret Strom
1 cassette
Follows a young girl’s coping with sudden vision loss. Includes descriptions of various visual disorders, their causes, and the kinds of help that adaptive devices like white canes and guide dogs can provide to people with diminished sight. For junior and senior high readers. 2004.

Disabled Rights: American Disability Policy and the Fight for Equality RC 56788
by Jacqueline Vaughn Switzer
read by Margaret Strom
3 cassettes
History and politics of the disability rights movement in the United States. Discusses how the disability community has coalesced in the past fifty years to press its demands and how passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act has shaped public policy and individual expectations. Also reviews ADA-related litigation and some "hot button" issues. 2003.

Disabling America: The Unintended Consequences of Government’s Protection of the Handicapped RC 57766
by Greg Perry
read by Norm Thibeault
2 cassettes
Outspoken critic of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) contends that the 1990 law to help disabled individuals actually hinders all citizens through higher costs, increased regulation, invasive bureaucracies, and frivolous lawsuits. Interweaves firsthand accounts to expose the impact of "government policy gone wrong." 2003.

Finding Wheels: A Curriculum for Nondrivers with Visual Impairments for Gaining Control of Transportation Needs RC 57825
by Anne L. Corn and L. Penny Rosenblum
read by Patricia McDermott
2 cassettes
Presents multifaceted program addressing emotional and physical travel-related issues for young adults with visual impairments who may or may not have additional mild disabilities. Explores options such as para-transit, charity services, and bioptic driving and provides budgeting and route planning strategies to maximize independence. Includes case studies and activities. 2000.

Helen and Teacher: The Story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan Macy RC 57818
by Joseph P. Lash
read by Mitzi Friedlander
7 cassettes in 2 containers (Reissue)
Dual biography reveals the depth and intensity in the mutually dependent relationship between deaf-blind Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan. Chronicles both women’s childhoods and adult years until Keller’s death in 1968. 1980.

Helping Children with Autism Learn: Treatment Approaches for Parents and Professionals RC 57033
by Bryna Siegel
read by Kerry Cundiff
4 cassettes
Guide for teachers, parents, and therapists to designing treatments according to each child’s particular learning style. Siegel, a developmental psychologist, identifies the fundamentals of disabilities associated with autistic spectrum disorders and integrates developmental, behavioral, educational, and medical research and theory into her strategies. 2003.

How I Became a Human Being: A Disabled Man’s Quest for Independence RC 57767
by Mark O’Brien
read by Dan Bloom
2 cassettes
Poet and journalist relates his struggle to live independently despite paralysis. O’Brien (1949–1999), the subject of a 1997 Academy Award-winning documentary, describes how the "disability revolution" gave him the freedom to pursue goals of graduating from college and finding love. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2003.

How to Travel: A Guidebook for Persons with a Disability RC 57909
by Fred Rosen
read by Gregory Gorton
1 cassette
A travel consultant for people with special needs outlines options for transportation, accommodations, dining out, and cruises. Offers practical advice to enhance a trip. 1997.

In the Shadow of Memory RC 57334
by Floyd Skloot
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Poet and novelist pens a first-person account of living with brain damage caused by a virus attack at age forty-one. Describes the process of reassembling his memories, relearning tasks of daily living, and coping with his ravaged mind. Also depicts experiences dealing with the Social Security Administration and dying family members. 2003.

Independent Living: A Viable Option for Long-Term Care RC 57655
by Andrew I. Batavia read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Late founder of the Journal of Disability Policy Studies assesses three models of available long-term care: institutional care, home-based support, and personal assistance services. Details strategies for implementing the "independent living model" and addresses consumer-related issues such as financing and quality assurance. 2003.

Jean Langlais: The Man and His Music RC 58692
by Ann Labounsky
read by Mitzi Friedlander
3 cassettes
Authorized biography of blind twentieth-century organist/composer Jean Langlais (1907–1991) by organist/music scholar Labounsky. Discusses Langlais’s training at France’s National Institute for the Blind, his sub-sequent position as organist at Paris’s Sainte-Clotilde, his American tours, and his instrumental, choral, and vocal compositions. 2000.

Job Search Handbook for People with Disabilities RC 58010
by Daniel J. Ryan
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Comprehensive resource guide to career development for people with mental or physical disabilities. Helps prospective employees assess their strengths, locate job openings, prepare for interviews, organize resumes, utilize government programs, and negotiate the workplace. Includes a state-by-state list of employers who recruit and hire qualified disabled individuals. 2004.

Kate’s Journey: Triumph over Adversity; the Story of a Miracle RC 58321
by Kate Adamson
read by Vanessa Maroney
2 cassettes
Author recounts her survival against immense odds after suffering a brain stem stroke that left her completely paralyzed at the age of thirty-three. Describes the physical and emotional challenges she overcame and the lessons she learned on her long road to recovery. 2004.

Laughing Allegra: The Inspiring Story of a Mother’s Struggle and Triumph Raising a Daughter with Learning Disabilities RC 58016
by Anne Ford
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Memoir by the daughter of Henry Ford II describing her experiences bringing up a child diagnosed as severely learning disabled in 1976. Includes a resource guide and suggestions for parents of children with similar problems. 2003.

Legacy of the Blue Heron: Living with Learning Disabilities RC 56359
by Harry Sylvester
read by John Fulks
2 cassettes
Former president of the Learning Disabilities Association of America relates his experiences growing up with severe literacy problems, causing him to rely on his strengths in other areas to succeed. Sylvester discusses the challenges faced by persons with LD and offers social and academic strategies for parents and teachers. 2002.

Lessons I Learned in the Dark RC 57411
by Jennifer Rothschild
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Christian inspirational speaker and singer, who lost her eyesight in high school due to retinitis pigmentosa, emphasizes the importance of spiritual beliefs in overcoming personal problems. Rothschild describes her first and greatest lesson, learned from God: "Even when it is not well with our circumstances, it can be well with our souls." 2002.

Life on Wheels: For the Active Wheelchair User RC 57050
by Gary Karp
read by Mark Ashby
4 cassettes
A guide to help people with mobility disabilities enhance their quality of life and adapt more completely to wheelchair use. Karp, who lives fully despite his inability to walk, provides information on home access, intimacy issues, medical concerns, and selecting a wheelchair. Also discusses applicable politics and legislation. 1999.

Lullaby of Birdland RC 57996
by George Shearing
read by Fred Major
2 cassettes
Reminiscences by congenitally blind jazz pianist Shearing about his 1920s English childhood and early success in London before he emigrated to America in 1947. Recounts hobnobbing in New York with jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie, among others, and recording with his famed quintet. 2004.

A Measure of Endurance: The Unlikely Triumph of Steven Sharp RC 58189
by William Mishler
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
A former college professor recounts the ordeal of a rural Oregon teen whose arms were violently amputated by a hay baler he had powered off. Mishler details how Sharp sued for millions after discovering the manufacturer knew its machine was defective. Some violence and some strong language. 2003.

My Disability—God’s Ability: Seven Principles of Triumphant Life RC 59622
by Young Woo Kang
read by Bill Wallace
1 cassette
In the sequel to A Light in My Heart (RC 26603), a Korean-born, blind U.S. government senior executive continues his memoir "to tell the world how faith and vision work together" and how they change lives. Kang discusses the principles that helped him thrive and overcome bitterness. 2004.

My Thirteenth Winter: A Memoir RC 58528
by Samantha Abeel
read by Kimberly Schraf
2 cassettes
Abeel, both gifted and learning disabled, describes being different at school. Discusses her diagnosis of dyscalculia, which compromises sequential processing required for spelling, telling time, remembering locker combinations, and understanding math and grammar. Relates learning coping skills in a prescribed special ed math class. For senior high readers. 2003.

Partners in Independence: A Success Story of Dogs and the Disabled RC 58508
by Ed Eames and Toni Eames
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Accounts of disabled people whose lives have been enhanced by specially trained guide, hearing, and service dogs. Documents heroism as well as everyday deeds. The authors, who are visually impaired, also describe their own experiences with canine partners and chronicle the 1990s assistance dog movement. Revision of 1997 edition. 2004.

The Question of David: A Disabled Mother’s Journey through Adoption, Family, and Life RC 58690
by Denise Sherer Jacobson
read by Carol Dines
2 cassettes
An independent thirty-six-year-old woman, happily married, recounts the couple’s decision to adopt a possibly disabled baby boy. Both she and her husband have cerebral palsy and use wheelchairs, but open their hearts to becoming a family. Describes the joys and daily complexities of raising their son. 1999.

The Radical Lives of Helen Keller RC 57987
by Kim E. Nielsen read by Judith Gantly
2 cassettes
Feminist professor analyzes the political and social views of Helen Keller. Describes Keller’s support of the Socialist Party of America in 1909, women’s suffrage and birth control, and radical labor unions. But, according to the author, "the disability politics she adopted were frequently conservative, consistently patronizing, and occasionally repugnant." 2004.

Reflections from a Different Journey: What Adults with Disabilities Wish All Parents Knew RC 58425
edited by Stanley D. Klein and John D. Kemp
read by Carol Dines
2 cassettes
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.

Scattered Shadows: A Memoir of Blindness and Vision RC 58675
by John Howard Griffin
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
The author of Black like Me (RC 17498) recounts losing his sight in 1947 from a war injury and unexpectedly recovering it ten years later. Describes his religious conversion to Catholicism during his blindness and individual and institutional reactions to his physical impairment. Some strong language. 2004.

Sweet Recovery: A Young Woman’s Emotional Ride with Diabetes, Vision Loss, and Food Addiction . . . to Health and Freedom RC 57322
by Denise J. Bradley
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
The author of What Does It Feel Like to Have Diabetes? (RC 32581) describes the effect on her and her family of two decades of uncontrolled illness. Recalls how she became healthy through self-motivation and careful oversight of her condition. 1992.

Teens with the Courage to Give: Young People Who Triumphed over Tragedy and Volunteered to Make a Difference RC 56366
by Jackie Waldman
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Thirty teenagers share their experiences overcoming hardship and finding fulfillment by helping others. In "The Fight for Life" a teen suffering from depression starts a suicide prevention program. In "Born to Win" a one-legged amputee wins races wearing a prosthesis and visits kids in hospitals. For junior and senior high readers. 2000.

Ten Things I Learned from Bill Porter RC 56677
by Shelly Brady
read by Ray Childs
1 cassette
The story of a Portland, Oregon, door-to-door salesman with cerebral palsy, whose "indomitable optimism" enabled him to succeed in business and life. Porter’s tale unfolds as his assistant elaborates on the lessons she learned from this remarkable man. Foreword by actor William H. Macy, who played Porter in a television movie. 2002.

The Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability: For All of Us Who Live with Disabilities, Chronic Pain, and Illness RC 58244
by Miriam Kaufman and others
read by Gabra Zackman
3 cassettes
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.

Wheelchairs on the Go: Accessible Fun in Florida RC 57542
by Michelle Stigleman and Deborah Van Brunt
read by Erik Synnestvedt
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Definitive travel guide to the Sunshine State for people using walkers, canes, and wheelchairs. Highlights tourist attractions, beaches, accommodations, and sports activities that are most accessible to visitors who are mobility impaired. 2002.

The World I Live In RC 57951
by Helen Keller
read by Judith Gantly
1 cassette
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 (RC 55883). This reflective work is separated into three categories: the senses, especially touch; imagination, thinking, and language; and dream analysis. Introduction by Roger Shattuck. 2003.

Why I Burned My Book and Other Essays on Disability RC 58021
by Paul K. Longmore
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
Thirteen articles by history professor, coauthor of The New Disability History (RC 52391), and polio survivor discussing issues posed by "systemic prejudice and institutionalized discrimination." In the title essay, Longmore describes torching a book he spent ten years writing to protest government "work disincentive" policies penalizing disabled persons trying to earn a living. 2003.

Business and Economics

Absolute Beginner’s Guide to eBay RC 57024
by Michael Miller
read by John Richardson
3 cassettes
Guide to buying and selling items on eBay, the online auction site launched in 1995 to facilitate trading of all types of merchandise. Provides information on setting up an account, searching for items, dealing with fraudulent sellers, becoming a successful seller, payment methods, shipment of items, and other topics. 2003.

The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich; The Finish Rich Series RC 57712
by David Bach
read by Christopher Walker
2 cassettes
Financial expert’s simple, commonsense approach to accumulating wealth over one’s working life. Advises people to forget budgeting and instead "pay themselves first" by setting aside a certain percentage of their salary for direct deposit into a retirement account. Stresses the importance of automating personal finances to obviate day-to-day decisions. Bestseller. 2004.

Bittersweet: The Story of Sugar RC 57299
by Peter Macinnis
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Overview of the history of sugar production from its beginnings in New Guinea some nine thousand years ago to New World plantations using slave labor and finally to twentieth century developments. Discusses the sugar trade’s influence on economic policies and international relations. Also notes the environmental destruction caused by sugar cane harvesting. 2002.

Colossus: How the Corporation Changed America RC 58270
edited by Jack Beatty
read by Bill Wallace
4 cassettes
Through a selection of interwoven documents, essays, and commentaries, an Atlantic Monthly senior editor charts the development of American corporations from the seventeenth to the twentieth century. Beatty explores the complex and essential relationship between corporate power and representative government in the United States. 2001.

Final Accounting: Ambition, Greed, and the Fall of Arthur Andersen RC 57336
by Barbara Ley Toffler
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Former ethics consultant for Arthur Andersen chronicles events leading to the prestigious accounting firm’s demise, including its 2002 conviction for obstruction of justice in federal investigation of star client Enron. Toffler provides insider’s look at gradually deteriorating values and increasing corporate corruption that, in her view, caused this and other financial scandals. 2003.

Fish! Tales: Real-Life Stories to Help You Transform Your Workplace and Your Life RC 57384
by Stephen C. Lundin and
read by Dan Toohey
1 cassette
In this companion to Fish! (RC 54813), four companies improve their employees’ morale and boost productivity by using positive reinforcement. They include businesses big and small: a hospital, a phone company, a car dealership, and a roofing company. Offers exercises to achieve a positive attitude. 2002.

The Hidden Cost of Being African American: How Wealth Perpetuates Inequality RC 58125
by Thomas M. Shapiro
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Brandeis professor argues from interviews and national survey data that American racial inequality persists through asset poverty, notwithstanding the nation’s declining racial prejudice and increasing minority employment and income. Presents several antipoverty solutions, among them home ownership, renters’ tax credits, and estate tax reform. 2004.

Jack Welch and the GE Way: Management Insights and Leadership Secrets of the Legendary CEO RC 57915
by Robert Slater
read by David Toney
2 cassettes
Leadership lessons from General Electric CEO Jack Welch, whose revolutionary business philosophy transformed GE in the 1980s from a "bureaucratic, labor-intensive corporate giant into a highly productive machine." Welch’s strategies, which apply to any size corporation, include creating a culture of learning, effectively communicating his ideas, empowering employees, and fighting bureaucracy. 1999.

Life Is a Series of Presentations: Eight Ways to Punch Up Your People Skills at Work, at Home, Anytime, Anywhere RC 58576
by Tony Jeary
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
Lifelong entrepreneur and speaking coach to America’s top executives adapts his corporate techniques to the general public. Explains the psychology of persuasion and reveals eight essential practices for successful communication and social interaction including preparation, delivery, knowing one’s audience, and overcoming anxiety. 2004.

There’s No Such Thing as "Business" Ethics: There’s Only One Rule for Making Decisions RC 57002
by John C. Maxwell read by John C. Maxwell
1 cassette
Leadership expert and author of Running with the Giants (RC 55101) explains how the Golden Rule—"do unto others"—can be applied to business to build morale, increase productivity, and encourage teamwork. Uses real-life ethical dilemmas and in-depth discussion questions to demonstrate the benefits of following this universal guideline. 2003.

Trump: How to Get Rich RC 58051
by Donald J. Trump
read by Ralph Lowenstein
2 cassettes
Author of Trump: The Art of the Deal (RC 26956) offers straightforward advice on getting rich, distilled from thirty years at the top. Rules include: stay focused, pay attention to details, read Carl Jung, reflect three hours daily, trust your instincts, and learn the value of saying no. Bestseller. 2004.

Twenty Ads That Shook the World: The Century’s Most Groundbreaking Advertising and How It Changed Us All RC 58611
by James B. Twitchell
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Traces the evolution of advertising technology; presents twenty commercials and ad campaigns that the author believes have most influenced the American marketplace and culture. Explains the consumer needs that these products filled, how the sponsors gained publicity within each community, and how their successes served as milestones in changing the nation’s perspective. 2000.

Careers and Job Training

The Art of Happiness at Work RC 57386
by Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler
read by Ted Stoddard
2 cassettes
In this sequel to The Art of Happiness (RC 47827), a psychiatrist questions the Dalai Lama about applying Buddhist principles in the workplace. The Tibetan spiritual leader advises that career satisfaction is related to staying motivated, having a realistic "sense of self," and maintaining "basic human values" such as kindness and compassion. 2003.

Getting Your Book Published for Dummies RC 57279
by Sarah Parsons Zackheim
read by Carol Dines
3 cassettes
Describes the publishing industry and emphasizes what budding authors need to know in order to have a book produced. Includes advice on dealing with negotiations, proposals, advances, options, rights, marketing, agents, and self-publishing on the Web. Foreword by Nelson DeMille. 2000.

The Practical Writer: From Inspiration to Publication RC 58698
edited by Therese Eiben and Mary Gannon
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Poets and Writers magazine editors’ compilation of essays to facilitate informed decisions by emerging authors at each career stage. Covers title choice, manuscript revision, grant applications, contracts, interaction with editors, and more. Contributors are novelists, poets, and publishing insiders. 2004.

Young Adult’s Guide to a Business Career RC 58693
by M.J. Giles
read by Carol Dines
1 cassette
Guide for students who are choosing a career. Gives examples of jobs in a variety of fields, highlighting both positive and negative aspects and listing skills and education needed. Profiles include work in computers, accounting, finance, management, and marketing. For senior high and older readers. 2004.

Young Adult’s Guide to Business Communications RC 58626
by Kristi L. Thomason-Carroll
read by Colleen Delany
1 cassette
Outlines the interpersonal skills a new graduate needs for success in the workplace. Covers applying for a job, interviewing, making a good first impression, and using proper written and verbal communication. Includes sample resumés and letters. For senior high and older readers. 2004.

Classics

Aeschylus I—Oresteia: Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides RC 58751
by Aeschylus
read by Anne Flosnik
1 cassette
Three ancient Greek tragedies written and performed in the fifth century B.C. The trilogy of plays comprising Oresteia relates the murder of Agamemnon, the return of his son Orestes to avenge his father’s death and regain the throne, and Orestes’ flight from Argos. Translation, introduction, and critical commentary by Richmond Lattimore. 1953.

The Diamond Sutra and The Sutra of Hui-Neng RC 57343
translated by A.F. Price and Mou-lam Wong
read by Gordon Gould
2 cassettes
The Diamond Sutra, a sacred Buddhist scripture, passed into written format in the fourth century A.D. Price’s English translation of the text was made in 1947. In 1929 Wong made the first English translation of The Sutra of Hui-Neng, a T’ang dynasty record of sermons and sayings belonging to the Zen tradition. 1947.

Herodotus: The Histories; New Translation, Selections, Backgrounds, Commentaries RC 58293
by Herodotus
read by Ken Kliban
5 cassettes
Excerpts from the writings of the fifth-century B.C. Greek historian and traveler known as the "father of history," translated by Walter Blanco. Describes the wars and worlds, even folktales and gossip, of ancient Greece, Persia, Egypt, and Italy. 1992.

Meditations RC 58577
by Marcus Aurelius
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Ethical and spiritual reflections of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 121–180), written during the last decade of his life. Offers advice and insights on daily conduct, leadership, and personal integrity. Modern English translation and introduction by Gregory Hays. 2002.

The Ramayana RC 57852
by Ramesh Menon
read by Yolande Bavan
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Ancient Indian epic rendered in modern prose. Recreates the legend of Prince Rama, his banishment to the forest, his wife Sita’s abduction by the demon emperor, and Rama’s rescue of her. The hero’s journey, one of physical and spiritual devotion, embodies traditional Hindu cultural beliefs. Includes Menon’s introduction. 2001.

Computers

Hacker Culture RC 58336
by Douglas Thomas
read by Todd Scofield
2 cassettes
Communications professor traces the history and evolution of the "computer underground" from its mainly university graduate student origins in the 1950s and 1960s to its wider spread with home computers today. Thomas analyzes media representation and mainstream opinion of hacking and explores the relationship between the subculture and computer industry. 2002.

Making Family Websites: Fun and Easy Ways to Share Memories RC 57845
by Jenni Bidner
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
Easy-to-follow instructions for creating an interactive online scrapbook for exchanging family news, displaying photos, and organizing events. Explains how web sites work and provides information on securing a site name, using computer software, improving photo quality, designing and personalizing a virtual gallery, and uploading a finished product onto the Internet. 2003.

A Shortcut through Time: The Path to the Quantum Computer RC 57444
by George Johnson
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Award-winning New York Times science writer explores the possibilities of quantum computation. Johnson compares present-day desktop and supercomputers based on binary logic to possible future computers relying on principles of molecular physics, which would be exponentially faster. Provides an overview of the basic concepts and evolution of quantum mechanics. 2003.

Windows XP for Dummies RC 57340
by Andy Rathbone
read by John Richardson
3 cassettes
Covers the essentials for novices to become familiar with basic computer parts as well as the Windows XP operating system. Includes how to run programs, move and delete files, connect to the Internet, and use such applications as e-mail, web browsers, and multimedia players. 2001.

Cooking

The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen RC 58509
by Jacques Pépin
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
Memoir of chef who grew up amidst the deprivations and bombings of France in World War II. Pépin recounts the early years in his family’s restaurant and his later move to America, where he befriended Craig Claiborne and Julia Child. Describes his culinary adventures and includes favorite recipes. 2003.

The Best American Recipes, 2003–2004 RC 57235
edited by Fran McCullough and Molly Stevens
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Collection of recipes gathered from various cookbooks, magazines, newsletters, and web sites. Selections, with hints from the back of food packages and tips for cooks, include starters, soups, salads, breakfast and lunch recipes, main dishes, breads, desserts, and drinks. Also includes the top ten food trends of the year. 2003.

Blue Plate Specials and Blue Ribbon Chefs: The Heart and Soul of America’s Great Roadside Restaurants RC 57410
by Jane Stern and Michael Stern
read by Faith Potts
2 cassettes
Celebrated food writers travel across the country to find the tastiest down-home dishes America’s blue-collar chefs have to offer. Going from the busiest truck stop diners to the friendliest greasy spoons, the Sterns introduce a cast of café characters, profile the chefs, and give their favorite recipes. 2001.

The Book Club Cookbook: Recipes and Food for Thought from Your Book Club’s Favorite Books and Authors RC 58177
by Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp
read by Barbara Pinolini
4 cassettes
Each of one hundred entries includes a synopsis of a popular book club selection, an explanation of the role food plays that book, recipes based on those foods, and a profile of the recommending book club. 2004.

Cookoff: Recipe Fever in America RC 58510
by Amy Sutherland
read by Colleen Delany
3 cassettes
Intrigued by the 2000 Pillsbury Bake-Off contest, journalist Sutherland follows a group of contestants around the country for a year. She describes chili cook-offs, county fairs, and other competitive cooking events while recounting the participants’ backgrounds and motivations. Includes winning recipes. 2003.

Near a Thousand Tables: A History of Food RC 58627
by Felipe Fernández-Armesto
read by Annie Wauters
3 cassettes
Oxford historian presents a global perspective of food as a theme of world history, "inseparable from all other interactions of human beings with one another . . . and nature." He has classified his topic into eight "revolutions," including cooking, food as more than sustenance, and food as an indicator of rank. 2002.

Oz Clarke’s New Encyclopedia of Wine RC 57846
by Oz Clarke
read by John Richardson
10 cassettes in 2 containers
Wine expert Clarke begins on the premise that the new world of wine offers endless choices and expands every year. More than 1,500 entries compose his alphabetical listing of wines, grapes, growing regions, and producers. Also provides hints on choosing red, white, and sparkling wines. 2003.

Pillsbury Best of the Bake-Off Cookbook: Recipes from America’s Favorite Cooking Contest RC 58290
by Pillsbury Editors
read by Kerry Cundiff
4 cassettes
Presents about four hundred recipes from the Pillsbury Bake-Off contests begun in 1949. Groupings include soups, sandwiches, and snacks; main dishes, including Quick and Easy Main Meals; side dishes and salads; breads; cookies; cakes; and pies. Details how home cooks perpetuate their ethnic heritages. 2004.

Secrets of Saffron: The Vagabond Life of the World’s Most Seductive Spice RC 58625
by Pat Willard
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Food writer Pat Willard traces the provocative history of saffron, from its medical significance in ancient Egypt, through the spice trade of the Middle Ages, to its present uses in cooking. Includes a short guide to buying saffron and a selection of both ancient and modern recipes. 2001.

Solo Suppers: Simple Delicious Meals to Cook for Yourself RC 57326
by Joyce Goldstein
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette
Restaurant chef offers sophisticated recipes designed for the single diner that minimize leftovers and maximize the versatility of basic ingredients. Goldstein includes tips on "shopping for one," planning meals, stocking a pantry, and outfitting a kitchen. Meal ideas cover soups, salads, sauces, pastas, seafood, meat, poultry, and desserts. 2003.

The Soul of a Chef: The Journey toward Perfection RC 58620
by Michael Ruhlman
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
In this sequel to The Making of a Chef (RC 47657), award-winning journalist explores the professional cooking world by attending the Culinary Institute of America’s Certified Master Chef ten-day examination and observing the candidates’ successes and failures. Also describes three distinctive chefs and their restaurants. Includes appendix of recipes. 2000.

The South Beach Diet Cookbook RC 58161
by Arthur Agatston
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Florida cardiologist’s companion to his bestselling weight loss book, The South Beach Diet (RC 56409). Provides over two hundred recipes, each designated as phase one, two, or three of the diet. Includes healthy ideas for breakfast, soups, salads, side dishes, fish, poultry, meats, vegetarian meals, and more. Bestseller. 2004.

Win Her with Dinner: Food, Booze, and Tunes for Cooking Up the Perfect Evening RC 58515
by Doug Veith and Alex Hilebronner
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
Although intended for guys cooking for girls, this home entertainment guide is helpful to anyone who wants to prepare a meal but doesn’t know where to begin. Accompanying the twenty-four step-by-step recipes are ingredient and equipment lists plus recommendations for drinks and background music. 2004.

Crime

American Mafia: A History of Its Rise to Power RC 58884
by Thomas Reppetto
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
Former Chicago detective and coauthor of NYPD (RC 52137) surveys organized crime in the United States, 1880s to 1950s. Contends that social forces empowering Torrio, Capone, Luciano, and many other mobsters included widespread anti-immigrant bias, Prohibition, and corrupt alliances between politicians and law "enforcers" flagrantly on the take. 2004.

The Anthrax Letters: A Medical Detective Story RC 57599
by Leonard A. Cole
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
Bioterrorist expert chronicles the autumn 2001 anthrax attacks that infected twenty-two people and killed five after spores of the odorless, tasteless bacteria were placed in letters and mailed via the U.S. Postal Service. The account also profiles the scientists, doctors, and researchers at the front lines of biological defense. 2003.

Anyone You Want Me to Be: A True Story of Sex and Death on the Internet RC 58783
by John Douglas and Stephen Singular
read by Carol Dines
2 cassettes
Former FBI profiler Douglas traces the case of John Robinson, one of the first known serial killers to find his victims by using the Internet. Explores the Kansas con man’s world, his decades-long criminal record, and his ability to lure women into sadomasochistic relationships. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2003.

Be Alert, Be Aware, Have a Plan: The Complete Guide to Protecting Yourself, Your Home, Your Family RC 58312
by Neal Rawls
read by Todd Scofield
2 cassettes
Former police officer’s advice for individual and family security in any situation. Includes tips on travel, workplace safety, self-defense, and teaching kids self-protection; guidelines for preventing credit card fraud, road rage, and carjackings; and recommendations for responding to natural disasters and terrorist attacks. Resources provided. 2002.

Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder RC 56255
by Steve Hodel
read by Ray Hagen
4 cassettes
Retired LAPD detective describes how he pieced together evidence that led him to conclude that his own father—a sophisticated Hollywood doctor who died in 1999—was a sadistic serial killer who committed the notorious, long-unsolved 1947 murder and mutilation of Elizabeth Short, known as the Black Dahlia. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2003.

Bringing Elizabeth Home: A Journey of Faith and Hope RC 57429
by Ed Smart and Lois Smart
read by Jack Fox
1 cassette
Mormon parents describe their ordeal when their fourteen-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, was kidnapped in June 2002 and their joy when she was found alive in March 2003. The Smarts recall the deep faith in God that sustained their family and to which they attribute Elizabeth’s miraculous return. Bestseller. 2003.

Broken Vows RC 57931
by Eric Francis
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
Chronicle of a l994 murder in Cherry Hill, New Jersey: Rabbi Fred Neulander, suspected of hiring a hit man to kill his wife in order to continue an adulterous affair with a local radio personality, was indicted for the murder four years later. Some violence and some strong language. 2002.

Circumstantial Evidence: Death, Life, and Justice in a Southern Town RC 56675
by Pete Earley
read by Dan Bloom
3 cassettes
Journalist describes events surrounding the 1986 murder of college student Ronda Morrison in Monroeville, Alabama. When another young woman is murdered in a nearby town, the suspects in that case offer information on Ronda’s murder, and a black man with no record, Walter McMillian, is put on death row for six years until an attorney proves him innocent. Strong language and some violence. 1995.

City of Secrets: The Truth behind the Murders at the Vatican RC 58046
by John Follain
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
The author of Jackal (RC 48352) recounts his investigation of the 1998 murder of the Vatican’s Swiss Guard commander and his wife by lance corporal Cédric Tornay, who then committed suicide. Sensing a Vatican cover-up, Follain interviews officials who reveal homosexuality and the involvement of the ultraconservative Opus Dei organization. 2003.

Crimes of New York: Stories of Crooks, Killers, and Corruption from the World’s Toughest City RC 58736
edited by Clint Willis
read by Todd Scofield
2 cassettes
Fourteen previously published true-crime tales bring to life the Big Apple’s illicit past and present. Selections include "The Annals of Manhattan Crime" listing Manhattan’s most famous social aberrations, examinations of turn-of-the-century Tam-many Hall’s political corruption, and an excerpt from Herbert Asbury’s The Gangs of New York (RC 55088). 2003.

Deadly Innocence RC 57265
by Scott Burnside and Alan Cairns
read by Ray Foushee
4 cassettes
Reconstructs the Canadian "crime of the century" in which Paul and Karla Bernardo—a seemingly normal newlywed couple—abduct, rape, torture, and kill teenage girls, including Karla’s own sister. Paul also turns out to be the serial "Scarborough Rapist" who haunted Ontario for years. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 1995.

Death Sentence: The True Story of Velma Barfield’s Life, Crimes, and Execution RC 56796
by Jerry Bledsoe
read by Steven Carpenter
3 cassettes
Follows the case of a North Carolina woman who was executed in 1984 for poisoning four people (including her mother and her fiancé) with arsenic. Includes interviews with her children and describes her jailhouse religious conversion. Some violence and some strong language. 1998.

Double Deal: The Inside Story of Murder, Unbridled Corruption, and the Cop Who Was a Mobster RC 58285
by Michael Corbitt
read by Richard Davidson
3 cassettes
An account of the author’s rise within the Chicago Mafia’s ranks from the late 1950s through the 1980s, his career as a policeman while on the mob’s payroll, and his eventual imprisonment. Provides insider view of the Mafia’s connections to politicians, federal agencies, and foreign governments. Violence and strong language. 2003.

Down by the River: Drugs, Money, Murder, and Family RC 57446
by Charles Bowden
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
Journalist reconstructs the 1995 murder of Lionel Bruno Jordan in El Paso, Texas, and the subsequent search for the truth by his DEA-agent brother. The trail leads to hypocrisy and corruption as Bowden implicates Mexico and the United States as willing partners in the drug trade. Violence and some strong language. 2002.

Fatal Romance: A True Story of Obsession and Murder RC 58012
by Lisa Pulitzer
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
A real-life account examining what led lawyer and former marine Jeremy Akers in 1999 to murder his estranged wife, a romance writer, at their Washington, D.C., home in front of their children. The author describes the couple’s unhappy marriage and the events culminating in Akers’s suicide. Some violence and some strong language. 2001.

The Guns of Meeting Street: A Southern Tragedy RC 58034
by T. Felder Dorn
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
Reconstructs a series of murders in the early 1940s involving the Logue and Timmerman families of rural South Carolina. Details motivations behind the crimes and subsequent trials that culminated in executions of three persons, including the first woman sent to the electric chair in the state. 2001.

Heart Full of Lies: A True Story of Desire and Death RC 57330
by Ann Rule
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
Former Seattle policewoman reconstructs the murder of an airline pilot by his "brilliant and charismatic sociopath" wife. Reports details of the case from the discovery of Chris Northon’s body at a rural Oregon campsite in October 2000 and Liysa Northon’s claims of abuse and self-defense to her trial and conviction in 2001. 2003.

I Love You Phillip Morris: A True Story of Life, Love, and Prison Breaks RC 58596
by Steve McVicker
read by Robert Sams
1 cassette
Award-winning journalist chronicles the life and crimes of con artist Steven Russell, a former North Carolina police officer. McVicker describes Russell’s ruses to evade Texas jails, including faking his own death, and depicts Russell as a hopeless romantic in his love for a fellow inmate. Some strong language. 2003.

Judgment Ridge: The True Story behind the Dartmouth Murders RC 57543
by Mitchell Zuckoff and Dick Lehr
read by Dan Toohey
3 cassettes
Boston Globe reporters examine the 2001 murder of a professor couple from Dartmouth College by two Vermont teenagers. Explores the rural environment’s social conditions and investigates the mind-set of the killers, Jim Parker and Robert Tulloch. Some violence and some strong language. 2003.

Leavenworth Train: A Fugitive’s Search for Justice in the Vanishing West RC 57459
by Joe Jackson
read by Alec Volz
4 cassettes
Portrait of Frank Grigware, who was convicted of train robbery and sent to the U.S. penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1909. Using prison records, FBI files, and periodicals, Jackson reconstructs Grigware’s story: his unjust sentence, escape, adventurous flight across the American frontier, and arrival in Canada, where he began a new life. Some violence. 2001.

Love, Daddy RC 59015
by Carlton Smith
read by Eric Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
Journalist’s account of a sensational case: in December 2001 con man Christian Longo, a "disfellowed" Jehovah’s Witness, apparently murdered his wife and their three preschoolers, dumped their bodies into waters off the Oregon coast, and vanished. Recounts police searching widely, finding Longo in Mexico, and repatriating him for trial. Some violence. 2003.

Mafia Wife: My Story of Love, Murder, and Madness RC 58730
by Lynda Milito
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
Exposé by the Jewish widow of a member of the Gambino crime family. Recalls her childhood in Brooklyn, the twenty-four years she spent with Louie Milito until he disappeared in 1988, murdered by his own colleagues, and her subsequent mental and emotional problems. Strong language and some violence. 2003.

Mrs. Paine’s Garage and the Murder of John F. Kennedy RC 57918
by Thomas Mallon
read by Steven Carpenter
1 cassette
Essayist Mallon relates the experiences of Ruth Paine who befriended and sheltered Lee Harvey Oswald’s family in Dallas for nine months before Oswald assassinated JFK in November 1963. Explores Paine’s relationship with Oswald’s Russian wife and the multiple investigations of Paine’s involvement, including storage of the murder weapon in her garage. 2002.

Pointing from the Grave: A True Story of Murder and DNA RC 58459
by Samantha Weinberg
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
Recounts efforts to convict Paul Frediani for killing DNA scientist Helena Greenwood in 1985. The crime narrative unfolds alongside a history of DNA testing—the technology that allowed Laura Heilig and a team of San Diego archival detectives to arrest Frediani nearly fifteen years later. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2003.

Rothstein: The Life, Times, and Murder of the Criminal Genius Who Fixed the 1919 World Series RC 58673
by David Pietrusza
read by Barry Bernson
3 cassettes
Baseball historian’s biography of notorious Jazz Age drug kingpin, bootlegger, casino operator, and labor-union racketeer Arnold Rothstein, the "king of Manhattan gamblers." Examines Rothstein’s connections to Tammany politicians and crooked cops, and implicates sports figures involved with Rothstein in the 1919 World Series fix. Reconstructs Rothstein’s 1928 murder. 2003.

Shattered: Reclaiming a Life Torn Apart by Violence RC 58654
by Debra Puglisi Sharp
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
A Delaware hospice nurse and victims’ rights advocate recounts her 1998 abduction and rape by forty-year-old Donald Flagg, who also murdered her husband. Sharp details her agonizing ordeal, Flagg’s trial, and her physical and emotional recovery. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2003.

Sniper: Inside the Hunt for the Killers Who Terrorized the Nation RC 57252
by Sari Horwitz and Michael E. Ruane
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Reporters from the Washington Post chronicle the hunt for the perpetrator(s) of ten random serial shootings during the fall of 2002 around the nation’s capital and elsewhere. Concludes with the arrests of John Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo at a Maryland highway rest stop. Some violence. 2003.

They Broke the Law—You Be the Judge: True Cases of Teen Crime RC 57838
by Thomas A. Jacobs
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Juvenile-court judge presents twenty-one cases involving teenagers who came before him for punishment. Reviews each teen’s background, details of the crime and arrest, mitigating factors, and penalty options so the reader can decide. Reveals actual sentence and offender’s response in court and later. For junior and senior high and older readers. 2003.

Three Weeks in October: The Manhunt for the Serial Sniper RC 57190
by Charles A. Moose and Charles Fleming
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
Account by the police chief of Montgomery County, Maryland, of the massive search for the snipers who killed ten people, wounded four others, and terrorized the greater Washington metropolitan area in October 2002. Moose also recounts his personal journey to becoming the head of two police departments. Some strong language. 2003.

Without Pity: Ann Rule’s Most Dangerous Killers RC 57641
by Ann Rule
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
Veteran crime journalist Rule gathers twelve cases from investigating detectives, victims, grieving survivors, prosecutors, and defense attorneys. Examines the motive and exceptional nature of each crime, including the killing of two hikers in "The Tumbledown Shack" and murder for hire in "Murder and the Proper Housewife." Violence. Bestseller. 2003.

Diet and Nutrition

The Atkins Essentials: A Two-Week Program to Jump-Start Your Low-Carb Lifestyle RC 58001
by Atkins Health and Medical Information Service
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
A "quick set-up guide" intended to supplement Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution (RC 44854) focuses on the first fourteen days of a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet. Includes basic steps to combat obesity, meal plans, recipes, answers to frequently asked questions, and information on individual concerns. Bestseller. 2004.

Change One: The Breakthrough Twelve-Week Eating Plan; Lose Weight Simply, Safely, and Forever RC 56838
by John Hastings
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
Weight reduction plan developed by Reader’s Digest to help "Americans regain control of what they eat." The twelve-week regimen calls for changing one daily habit at a time, starting with breakfast. Includes suggestions for snacks, dining out, stress relief, exercise, meal planning, and recipes. 2003.

Dr. Sears’ LEAN Kids: A Total Health Program for Children Ages Six through Twelve RC 57956
by William Sears and Peter Sears
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Renowned pediatrician William Sears offers a twelve-week plan for parents to help children reach their optimal health. Comprehensive guide addresses four keys to a child’s well-being: L: lifestyle; E: exercise; A: attitude; and N: nutrition. Provides strategies for helping kids develop positive health habits, including wise eating decisions. 2003.

Eating in the Dark: America’s Experiment with Genetically Engineered Food RC 57284
by Kathleen Hart
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Discusses the marketing of genetically modified food products with neither public disclosure nor sufficient government testing. Suggests that regulatory agencies tacitly support biotechnology industries and deny the American public any choice. Contrasts American acceptance of genetically engineered food with European and Japanese refusal. 2002.

Quick and Easy Low-Carb Cooking for People with Diabetes RC 57568
by Nancy S. Hughes
read by Mary Kane
1 cassette
Recipes for diabetics to prepare without having to count carbs. Includes dozens of snacks, breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and desserts from three different carbohydrate levels. 2003.

The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous RC 56864
by Overeaters Anonymous, Inc.
read by Ray Childs
1 cassette
Discusses the disease of compulsive eating and a solution in the form of a twelve-step program of recovery. Also includes an introduction to the twelve traditions used in providing group and individual support. 1990.

Drama

All My Sons: A Drama in Three Acts RC 58209
by Arthur Miller
read by Steven Carpenter
1 cassette
Joe Keller’s son prepares to propose to Steve Deever’s daughter, forcing the families to confront Joe’s crime. Under wartime production pressures, manufacturer Joe Keller knowingly produced faulty airplane parts and allowed his employee, neighbor Deever, to take the fall when soldiers were killed. Includes 2000 introduction. 1947.

"Master Harold" . . . and the Boys RC 58763
by Athol Fugard
read by Fred Major
1 cassette
A one-scene play depicting 1950s South Africa. In a tea room two middle-aged black servants, Sam and Willie, greet the white owner’s seventeen-year-old son, Hally, whom Sam has helped raise. Apartheid’s racial prejudices become manifest when Hally, angry about his father’s shortcomings, lashes out at Sam. Strong language. 1982.

Education

Connecting to Learn: Educational and Assistive Technology for People with Disabilities
RC 57905
by Marcia J. Scherer
read by Laura Giannarelli
3 cassettes
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 (RC 52064). 2004.

Fiske New SAT Insider’s Guide RC 58291
by Edward B. Fiske and Bruce G. Hammond
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Preparation and test-taking strategies for high school students taking the revised version of the SAT college entrance exam. Provides practice problems for each section of the standardized test—critical reading, math, and writing. Discusses coaching courses, the new PSAT, and tactics used by top-scoring students. For senior high readers. 2004.

The Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What Students Learn RC 58373
by Diane Ravitch
read by Carol Dines
3 cassettes
Examines the causes and consequences of censoring educational publications to weed out references deemed offensive by right-wing and left-wing interests. Contends that sanitizing text makes the material so bland, simplistic, and unrealistic that students fail to develop critical abilities. Provides many examples and offers practical solutions to end this problem. 2003.

Not Much Just Chillin’: The Hidden Lives of Middle Schoolers RC 58166
by Linda Perlstein
read by Kimberly Schraf
2 cassettes
Washington Post education reporter chronicles one year in the lives of five junior high school students in suburban Maryland. Reveals how they struggle through the awkward but formative "tween" years, forging new relationships with parents and peers while coping with schoolwork, puberty, romance, and identity. 2003.

School of Dreams: Making the Grade at a Top American High School RC 58674
by Edward Humes
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist spends a year with the faculty, staff, and students of California’s top-ranked public high school, Whitney High in Cerritos. Commenting on his observations, Humes heralds the school’s social and academic achievements, but also examines some unintended con-sequences of such a high-pressure learning environment. 2003.

True Notebooks RC 57380
by Mark Salzman
read by John Lescault
2 cassettes
Collection of writings by juvenile inmates, compiled by their detention-center teacher, a former victim of violent juvenile crime. Salzman develops an understanding of his students in the justice system and helps them explore their vulnerabilities, fears, and hopes through writing. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller. 2003.

The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: College RC 58593
by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht
read by Gregory Gorton
1 cassette
Practical techniques for planning a successful transition to college. Basic rules cover getting settled in the dorm, eating cafeteria food, staying safe at parties, and focusing in the classroom. Includes tips for avoiding laundry and for pulling an all-nighter. For senior high readers. 2004.

Family

Closing the Gap: A Strategy for Bringing Parents and Teens Together RC 56365
by Jay McGraw
read by Gary Roan
1 cassette
Manual written by the young adult author of Life Strategies for Teens (RC 51563), suggesting ways both parents and teens can reconnect by working out differences, respecting each other, and gaining a balance between control and independence. For senior high and older readers. 2001.

Family First: Your Step-by-Step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family RC 58893
by Phil McGraw
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
Host of television’s "Dr. Phil" and bestselling author of Self Matters (RC 54036) offers a guide to "leading your family and parenting with purpose." Explains seven parenting tools needed to instill values, help define and attain success for each child, and counteract outside distractions like peer pressure. Bestseller. 2004.

The Grandparent Guide: The Definitive Guide to Coping with the Challenges of Modern Grandparenting RC 57550
by Arthur Kornhaber
read by Faith Potts
3 cassettes
Medical doctor who is also a child and family therapist offers advice on the role grandparents play in the lives of their grandchildren, as well as changes in that role as people live longer. His topics include baby-sitting, mentoring, spiritual guidance, favoritism, spoiling, adoption, divorce, substance abuse, "cybergrandparenting," legal issues, and legacies. 2002.

The Happiest Toddler on the Block: The New Way to Stop the Daily Battle of Wills and Raise a Secure and Well-Behaved One-to Four-Year-Old RC 58202
by Harvey Karp
read by Erik Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
Karp, author of The Happiest Baby on the Block (RC 55987), suggests toddlers need a simple style of communication. Focuses on praise and discipline and addresses sleep issues, toilet training, biting, and separation anxiety. 2004.

Nature’s Children RC 58612
by Juliette de Bairacli-Levy
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
Revised and expanded edition of classic 1970 childrearing book by an herbalist. Provides recipes and information on raising healthy kids without prescription-drug medication. Includes advice on natural childbirth, parenting, and use of medicinal herbs. 1997.

No More Misbehavin’: Thirty-eight Difficult Behaviors and How to Stop Them RC 57139
by Michele Borba
read by Jill Ferris
2 cassettes
Educator and frequent National Public Radio speaker discusses the most common behavioral problems in children—including temper tantrums, hit-ting, biting, fighting, lying, and stealing—as well as strategies for discouraging them. Offers specific disciplinary methods for each misbehavior with the goal of permanently erasing it. Foreword by Jack Canfield. 2003.

The Privilege of Youth: A Teenager’s Story of Longing for Acceptance and Friendship RC 57704
by Dave Pelzer
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
Bestselling author of A Man Named Dave (RC 49257) and A Child Called "It" (RC 45004) continues his memoir of childhood abuse and recovery. In this installment, Pelzer revisits his adolescence, describing both torment by bullies and the thrill of making friends. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2004.

Raising America: Experts, Parents, and a Century of Advice about Children RC 58767
by Ann Hulbert
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Traces the emergence of conflicting child-rearing guidance in the twentieth century. Offers biographical sketches of major figures in the field (Erik Erikson, Arnold Gesell, and Benjamin Spock, among others) and examines their theories, techniques, and influences. Also analyzes an unintended consequence of their work, which was to exacerbate the anxieties of parenting. 2003.

Teen Life in the Middle East RC 58136
edited by Ali Akbar Mahdi
read by Carol Dines
3 cassettes
A social history describing the daily lives of young adults in twelve Middle Eastern nations and territories. Includes a country profile as well as an overview of the region’s typical family including their education, recreation, and religious and cultural practices. For junior and senior high readers. 2003.

Teens under the Influence: The Truth about Kids, Alcohol, and Other Drugs; How to Recognize the Problem and What to Do about It RC 57302
by Katherine Ketcham and Nicholas A. Pace
read by Jill Ferris
3 cassettes
Resource guide to help parents combat adolescent substance abuse. Detailed passages explain teenage addiction, biological and environmental factors, and the short-and long-term effects of specific drugs. Provides information about diagnosis, intervention, treatment options, the recovery process, and strategies for coping with relapses. 2003.

The Ten Basic Principles of Good Parenting RC 58569
by Laurence Steinberg
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Psychologist author of Beyond the Classroom (RC 45321) draws on scientific research in this philosophical guide to raising a good child and being a better parent. His ten fundamentals of effective child rearing include establishing rules, setting limits, fostering independence, being consistent, and avoiding harsh discipline. 2004.

Three Weeks with My Brother RC 58824
by Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks
read by Henry Leyva
2 cassettes
A memoir chronicling the around-the-world adventure of author Nicholas Sparks and his brother, Micah, in 2003. Leaving wives and families at home, the brothers journeyed to Machu Picchu, Peru; India; and the Australian outback remarking on milestones in their lives, childhood remembrances, and truths about loss and hope. Bestseller. 2004.

What about the Kids? Raising Your Children before, during, and after Divorce RC 58417
by Judith S. Wallerstein and Sandra Blakeslee
read by Carol Dines
3 cassettes
A guide to helping children of all ages cope with the process of divorce and remarried family life. Authors identify the three major challenges facing parents: getting their own lives in order, preparing their kids for and supporting them through the breakup, and building a new relationship with the ex-spouse. 2003.

What to Expect the First Year RC 57900
by Heidi Murkoff and Arlene Eisenberg
read by Mary Kane
8 cassettes in 2 containers
Revised and updated edition addresses a wide range of issues concerning newborns and new parents. Month-by-month guide provides information on preparing for baby’s arrival, breastfeeding, adding solids, sleeping and crying problems, traveling, handling an older sibling, home safety, and health matters. 2003.

Gardening

Building Garden Ponds RC 58289
by Bryan Hirst
read by Butch Hoover
1 cassette
A builder of ponds and water gardens presents ten ideas for creating and maintaining small to large projects, along with complete instructions, helpful hints, and lists of necessary materials. Includes ponds that are natural, planted, or formal; and with a bridge and beach, decking, or mosaics. 2004.

The Medicine Wheel Garden: Creating Sacred Space for Healing, Celebration, and Tranquility RC 57902
by E. Barrie Kavasch
read by Annie Wauters
3 cassettes
Guide to designing a Native American-inspired garden to promote healing through herbal plants and spiritual space. Reviews the history of the medicine wheel, suggests plans for indoor and outdoor gardens, and describes fifty therapeutic herbs including their traditional and modern uses. 2002.

Rodale’s Garden Answers: Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs; At-a-Glance Solutions for Every Gardening Problem RC 56839
edited by Fern Marshall Bradley
read by Coleen Delany
4 cassettes
An all-organic quick reference guide for gardeners who want to "read a little so they can garden a lot." Provides concise information on the causes and symptoms of common problems for a wide range of vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Also covers getting started and gives regional/seasonal tips. 1995.

Government and Politics

After Jihad: America and the Struggle for Islamic Democracy
by Noah Feldman
read by Ted Stoddard
2 cassettes
Explores the question whether democracy can "be made to flourish in the lands where Islam prevails." Discusses the political terrain in Iran, Turkey, Asia, Pakistan, and Arab countries to ascertain the compatibility of the Islamic religion with democratic values. Claiming there is no inherent conflict, Feldman suggests ways to refute anti-Americanism. 2003.

Against All Enemies: Inside America’s War on Terror RC 58049
by Richard A. Clarke read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Former counterterrorism czar alleges twenty years of presidential mishandling of the Al Qaeda threat, from Ronald Reagan’s time in office to George W. Bush’s. Firsthand criticism of Bush’s pre- and post-September 11, 2001, responses to terrorism accuses him of diverging from the war on terror to pursue Saddam Hussein. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2004.

America Afire: Jefferson, Adams, and the Revolutionary Election of 1800 RC 56682
by Bernard A. Weisberger
read by Dan Bloom
3 cassettes
Describes the United States’s first presidential election crisis, in 1800, between the Federalists under John Adams and Republicans under Thomas Jefferson. The election was eventually sent to the House of Representatives, who balloted thirty-six times before Jefferson won. And President Adams peaceful departure set a precedent. 2000.

American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush RC 57760
by Kevin Phillips
read by Constance Crawford
4 cassettes
Former White House strategist and author of Wealth and Democracy (RC 54439) criticizes the Bush family’s "four-generation pursuit of national prominence and power." Re-veals associations and special interests, questions financial practices, and accuses George Bush Sr. and George W. Bush of redefining the presidency to further their own agendas. Bestseller. 2004.

The Best Lawyer in a One-Lawyer Town: A Memoir RC 57778
by Dale Bumpers
read by Erik Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
Autobiography of former Democratic Arkansas governor and U.S. senator Dale Bumpers. Born in 1925, Bumpers describes growing up in a small town during the depression, his military experience, law practice, and twenty-eight years in public office. Includes his closing argument on behalf of President Bill Clinton during the 1999 impeachment trial. 2003.

Bush Country: How Dubya Became a Great President while Driving Liberals Insane RC 58251
by John Podhoretz
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Journalist, political commentator, and former speechwriter for Ronald Reagan offers a partisan defense of president George W. Bush’s policies and personality. Extols Bush’s extraordinary leadership; cites war on terror, tax cuts, AIDS relief, and health care reform; and debunks some liberal accusations. 2004.

Bush v. Gore: Controversial Presidential Election Case RC 57466
by Diana K. Sergis
read by Butch Hoover
1 cassette
Discusses the 2000 Supreme Court landmark decision that resulted in Texas governor George W. Bush becoming the forty-third U.S. president. Describes the contested ballot recounts in Florida, battles in state and federal courts, and constitutional arguments presented to the nation’s highest court by Bush and his challenger, Vice President Albert Gore. For senior high and older readers. 2003.

Deliver Us from Evil: Defeating Terrorism, Despotism, and Liberalism RC 57701
by Sean Hannity
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
Fox news host, author of Let Freedom Ring (RC 54932), addresses "the reality of evil in the world." Posits the importance of acting against it and holds that democratic liberals’ advocacy of accommodation jeopardizes U.S. national security. Bestseller. 2004.

The Dream: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech That Inspired a Nation RC 58666
by Drew D. Hansen
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
Hansen’s essay on the meaning of the 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech describes King as a master of the art of black homiletics, whose gifts had been little known beyond the pulpit and the civil rights movement. Explores the oration’s spontaneity, language, prophetic vision, and public reaction. 2003.

Dude, Where’s My Country? RC 56935
by Michael Moore
read by D. David Morin
2 cassettes
Author of Stupid White Men (RC 53775) continues his criticism of the United States and the Bush administration. Questions the war on terrorism and laments the erosion of domestic civil liberties while supporting Oprah Winfrey for president. Strong language. Bestseller. 2003.

The Enemy Within: Saving America from the Liberal Assault on Our Schools, Faith, and Military RC 57750
by Michael Savage
read by Ray Childs
2 cassettes
Outspoken radio talk-show host and bestselling author of The Savage Nation (RC 55527) asserts that the United States has been "infinitely corrupted by liberalism." In his controversial style, Savage specifies how the "vast left-wing conspiracy" has undermined schools, courts, religion, law enforcement, the media, and the military. Bestseller. 2003.

Grand Old Party: A History of the Republicans RC 57736
by Lewis L. Gould
read by Dan Toohey
4 cassettes
Historian chronicles the U.S. republican party from its antislavery origins in the 1850s under Abraham Lincoln through the 2000 election of president George W. Bush. Notes influential leaders and the shift of its philosophy toward political and social conservatism. Companion to Party of the People (RC 57723). 2003.

Had Enough? A Handbook for Fighting Back RC 58132
by James Carville
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
Political pundit Carville’s guide for restoring power to America’s people. Accusing the Bush administration and Republican-led Congress of squandering the budget surplus, falling short of education and other domestic goals, and mismanaging foreign policy, Carville proposes increased education spending, restructured entitlement programs, fairer income tax policies, and greater international cooperation. 2003.

Hegemony or Survival: America’s Quest for Global Dominance RC 57354
by Noam Chomsky
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
Author of Deterring Democracy (RC 34598) dissects the U.S. "imperial grand strategy," which he asserts has intensified since the September 11, 2001, attacks. Chomsky traces American desire for supremacy to the early days of WWII, analyzes the George W. Bush administration’s aggressive foreign policies, and warns of dire consequences. Bestseller. 2003.

House of Bush, House of Saud: The Secret Relationship between the World’s Two Most Powerful Dynasties RC 58368
by Craig Unger
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
Investigative journalist examines the longstanding connection between the Bush circle and the ruling family of Saudi Arabia. Unger wonders what forged the relationship, if Saudi money given to Muslims created a bloc of votes for Bush in 2000, and why Bush ignored terrorism czar Richard Clarke’s warnings about Al Qaeda. Bestseller. 2004.

In Defense of Liberty: The Story of America’s Bill of Rights RC 57925
by Russell Freedman
read by Ted Stoddard
1 cassette
Describes the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution and explains how they are applied as well as tested. Examples of challenges include a suit brought on behalf of schoolchildren who were required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and rap musicians sued for obscenity. For junior and senior high readers. 2003.

A Look over My Shoulder: A Life in the Central Intelligence Agency RC 57060
by Richard Helms
read by Steven Carpenter
3 cassettes
Posthumous memoir by former director of Central Intelligence (1966-1973) chronicles his thirty years of service, beginning with his 1942 naval training. Helms’s agency career in the world of covert action, espionage, and Cold War operations includes President Nixon’s attempts to involve the CIA in the Watergate cover-up. Foreword by Henry Kissinger. 2003.

Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin RC 58590
by John D’Emilio
read by Mark Ashby
4 cassettes
Chronicles the life (1912–1987) and accomplishments of a pivotal civil rights figure. Covers his influential activism in prison reform, military desegregation, the Montgomery bus boycott, the 1963 March on Washington, and LBJ’s Great Society. Also notes Rustin’s homosexuality and its impact on his career. Some descriptions of sex. 2003.

Madam Secretary RC 57048
by Madeleine Albright
read by Mary Kane
5 cassettes
Memoir by former secretary of state under President Clinton. Albright seeks to "combine the personal with policy" to describe the worldwide events in which she participated. Includes her reminiscences of childhood as a Czechoslovakian refugee and married life before she entered the tumultuous world of politics. Bestseller. 2003.

A National Party No More: The Conscience of a Conservative Democrat RC 57170
by Zell Miller
read by Dan Toohey
2 cassettes
The senator from Georgia, a former marine sergeant, critiques his democratic party, calls for reform, and outlines issues needing to be addressed to benefit the country. Miller also describes his rise from rural poverty and his six decades in public life. Bestseller. 2003.

The 9/11 Commission Report: Fin

NLS: That All May Read

Cassette Books, 2005

Contents