NLS: Talking Book Topics

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes

Anthology of folktales, poems, memoirs, and historical pieces chronicling five hundred years of Pueblo Indian culture. The authors range from conquistadores to anthropologists to the Native Americans themselves. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1997.

read by Candy Shannon

2 cassettes

A 1994 graduate of the Australian Fearless Flying clinic interviews aviation experts and fellow alumni to provide tips on overcoming anxiety during flights. Topics include bad weather, jet maintenance, and air traffic control. Explains how huge planes manage to stay up in the air. 1998.

read by Don Feldheim

4 cassettes

Biography of the controversial radical lawyer who took on cases that no one else wanted. Among those he defended were Black Panthers, Vietnam War protesters, the Attica prison insurgents, and American Indian Movement members, as well as mobsters. Analyzes Kunstler's major trials and looks at his exuberant personal life. 1999.

read by Lindsay Ellison

4 cassettes

Traces Charles's life from his youth in Greenville, Florida. Recalls his vision loss in early childhood, his years at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, his mother's death, and his rise to fame as a musician, performer, and businessman. Describes his lifelong friendships with Quincy Jones, David Newman, and Leroy Cooper. 1998.

read by Jeremy Gage

2 cassettes

A cultural history of Tupperware that "explores the processes by which objects of mass consumption are appropriated as meaningful artifacts of everyday life...and why some objects come to matter more than others do." Discusses the designs of inventor Earl Tupper and the Tupperware home parties concept developed by Brownie Wise. 1999.

read by Dan Bloom

3 cassettes (Reissue)

Two Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporters chronicle their investigation of the Watergate scandal, which began as a burglary of the Democratic National Committee Headquarters on June 17, 1972. They explain the events that precipitated their first suspicions and led them to ascertain the truth. Some strong language. Bestseller 1974.

read by Dan Bloom

3 cassettes

The author recounts tracking the annual monarch butterfly migration from British Columbia to Mexico. He describes their behavior during this mass movement in an anecdotal natural history journal, while trailing them the length of North America. Contains scientific facts, humorous reminiscences, and vivid observations of his trip. 1999.

read by Don Feldheim

2 cassettes

Autobiography by rap star Snoop Dogg, describing his youth in a Los Angeles ghetto and his strong belief in God. Recounts his success in the music field during the early 1990s, the murder of his friend Tupac Shakur, and his own trouble with the law. Strong language and some violence. 1999.

read by Len Mailloux

2 cassettes

In this companion to the History Channel's television series, incidents of military and political blundering are analyzed along with their consequences. Includes the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose driver had gotten lost in Sarajevo; the 1944 plot to kill Adolf Hitler; the 1968 Vietnamese Tet Offensive; and the Bay of Pigs. 1999.

read by Conrad Feininger

3 cassettes

Behind-the-scenes examination of two rivals in the secretive chocolate industry. History of the business empires and the dictators who built them: Forrest Mars Sr. and Milton Hershey. Discusses the production of chocolate, its financial market, and social customs associated with it. 1999.

read by Ray Hagen

2 cassettes

Discusses how the musical theater of the 1950s was revolutionized by the development of the long-playing record, which enabled the quick production of original-cast recordings. Musical comedies dominated the era with shows such as Guys and Dolls, The Music Man, and Can-Can. 1998.

read by Miriam Wagner

2 cassettes

A brief survey of the Renaissance, including the historic and economic background of the period; its art, literature, and architecture; and its eventual decline. 2000.

read by Chuck Young

1 cassette

Biography of the champion boxer, tracing his childhood, athletic career, religious conversion, and charitable activities. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., Ali rose to fame by winning a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics, but later was criticized for his refusal to serve in Vietnam. For junior and senior high readers. 1998.

read by Susan McInerney

2 cassettes

Eight autobiographical pieces contemplating some of the places the author has lived and their influence on her emotional and physical well-being. Gordon explores her childhood reactions to being a visitor in her grandmother's house and then moving in to stay; she also describes her favorite residence, on Cape Cod. 2000.

read by John Lescault

2 cassettes

An inside view of Wall Street investment firms of the 1990s, illustrating how brokers often mislead their clients and abuse their trust. Using the device of a fictitious salesman, Burtelsohn, the authors suggest that portfolio managers are motivated solely to earn profits for themselves, rather than investors. 1999.

read by Corrie James

2 cassettes

Natural and economic history of the tulip, from its origins in Central Asia to its phenomenal popularity in seventeenth-century Europe. Examines the craze for tulip bulbs in the Netherlands in the 1630s--when a rare bulb fetched a higher price than a masterpiece by Rembrandt--and the repercussions when the futures market crashed. 1999.

read by Mark Ashby

1 cassette

In anticipation of the 2004 passage of Venus across the sun--among the rarest of astronomical events--mathematician Maor records the history of the five previously observed transits of Venus, as the phenomenon is technically called, in 1639, 1761, 1769, 1874, and 1882. 2000.

read by John Hammock

5 cassettes

Biography of the African American contralto who began singing as a child in Philadelphia. Anderson toured in America before sojourning in Europe during 1928 for more opportunities. She became renowned for her 1939 Easter concert at the Lincoln Memorial after being denied Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution. 2000.

read by Gary Telles

2 cassettes

A lawyer/journalist recounts the 1990 discovery by Sue Hendrickson of the 90-percent-complete T. rex specimen and the subsequent battle for possession by multiple claimants. Explores the scientific and legal aspects of the case that culminated in a 1997 auction at Sotheby's in which Chicago's Field Museum offered the winning bid. 2000.

read by Jacinda Bronaugh

1 cassette

Facts versus misconceptions about Down syndrome. Chapters focus on successive stages in the lives of people with this condition, from infancy through adulthood; family relationships; and future prospects based on genetic research. For junior and senior high readers. 2000.

read by Nanette Savard

3 cassettes

A field biologist chronicles three decades of her life spent researching reptiles and amphibians in South and Central America. Discusses the natural history, population decline, and reproduction systems of several species--especially the golden toad of Costa Rica. Documents the region's diverse landscapes, traditions, and culture. 2000.

read by Michael Scherer

2 cassettes

The author's view of a late-twentieth-century American elite, a highly educated meritocracy that incorporates bohemian and bourgeois elements of popular culture from the 1960s and 1980s. These "bobos" often demand a high income and, at the same time, pursue free-spirited ideals, seeking both material and spiritual fulfillment. Bestseller 2000.

read by Jennifer Mendenhall

2 cassettes

A biographical study of the revered religious leader, traditionally thought to have died in India in 483 B.C. Traces the main events of his life, from his renunciation of family through his quest for enlightenment, as evidenced in his teachings. Examines his philosophy for its message to humanity. Bestseller 2001.

read by Gary Telles

3 cassettes

The host of Marketplace--Public Radio International's business news hour--provides insights into common concerns about money. Explores various ways people say they would handle an unexpected financial windfall; examples include real estate investment, a shopping spree, and casino gambling. Also presents advice on coping with the social impacts of sudden wealth. 2000.

read by Don Nelson

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Veteran Christian evangelist explains the phrase "born again" as a biblical message that dates back two thousand years. Outlines the steps that can lead to a personal and religious turnabout. 1977.

read by Anne Flosnik

2 cassettes

In 1915 Shackleton's expedition was marooned in ice on one side of Antarctica. Meanwhile, on the other side a small team of men and dogs persevered to supply food depots for Shackleton's expected transcontinental crossing. Relates the attendant tragedies of the 2,000-mile sledge journey to fulfill an obligation of honor. 2000.

read by Ted Stoddard

2 cassettes

Relying on differing accounts of the climbers, Roberts chronicles the 1950 ascent by Herzog, Lachenal, Rebuffat, and others to the summit of Annapurna, the world's tenth highest mountain. Asserts that the team was equally responsible for the success, though only Herzog received accolades for the great French mountaineering venture. 2000.

read by Michael Consoli

2 cassettes

Highlights the career and influence of football's first superstar, Red Grange (1903-1991), beginning with the famous 1924 Illinois-Michigan collegiate game. Grange, the first player to have an agent when he signed with George Halas's Chicago Bears, continued to promote the sport as a broadcaster and coach after his playing days. 1999.

read by Colleen Delany

5 cassettes

After twenty years spent researching large-brained, highly social parrots, a science professor concludes that a male African Grey named Alex has a vocabulary of about 100 words; has learned to identify objects, categorize, and employ terms of reference; and has mastered such concepts as absence and relative size. 1999.

read by Steven Carpenter

3 cassettes

A collection of all the poems by Brodsky (1940-1996) that appeared in book form in English during his lifetime. Includes mainly translations but also poems composed in English by the Russian-born Nobel Prize winner who served as Poet Laureate of the United States in 1991 and 1992. 2000.

read by Butch Hoover

4 cassettes

Sack--a practicing attorney, author, and lecturer--addresses the legal needs of a typical family by offering "a lawyer's wisdom and experience . . . whatever your concern or problem." He presents hundreds of strategies for dealing with issues such as abuse, civil rights, consumer transactions, employment, cohabitation, and wills. 1998.

read by Gregory Gorton

2 cassettes

A polemical account of the Justice Department under President Bill Clinton. In support of his charges of bias and corruption against Clinton-appointed attorney general Janet Reno, Limbaugh introduces evidence from the Waco disaster, the White House travel agency scandal, the Elian Gonzalez case, and the tobacco company prosecutions. Bestseller 2001.

read by Ted Stoddard

1 cassette

Complete and unabridged collection of the 150 psalms from the King James version of the Bible. 1993.

read by Peter Gil

5 cassettes

Describes early nineteenth-century struggles to achieve independence from Spain and Portugal in South America. Portrays the life and times of seven "liberators," including Simón Bolívar, Bernardo O'Higgins, José de San Martín, Emperor Pedro I, Augustín de Itúrbide, Francisco de Miranda, and Admiral Lord Cochrane. Assesses their continuing legacies. 2000.

read by George Holmes

8 cassettes in 2 containers

Large selection of poems from major nineteenth-century English poets, including women; representative pieces from lesser-known poets; and essays on poetic theory. Among those presented, in roughly chronological order, are Hemans, Landon, the Brownings, Tennyson, Lear, Brontë, Arnold, the Rossettis, Swinburne, Hardy, Hopkins, Field, Meynell, Wilde, Kipling, Johnson, and Mew. 2000.

read by Peter Jay Fernandez

5 cassettes

In this companion to Ken Burns's ten-part PBS documentary, Ward discusses the history of jazz in the context of twentieth-century American history. His stories of the men and women who created this American art form include such greats as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Dave Brubeck, and Ella Fitzgerald. 2000.

read by Fred Major

4 cassettes

A biographical portrait of the Nobel Prize-winning physicist, focusing on his productive, youthful years in the first two decades of the 1900s. Provides a detailed treatment of Einstein's romantic and family affairs while discussing his scientific theories. Based on correspondence and documents that became available in the 1990s. 2000.

read by Madelyn Buzzard

2 cassettes

Reichl discusses her decision to become a restaurant critic and the events that followed. She recounts the near disaster of her first on-the-job dinner, meetings with renowned food writers, world travels, an affair with a famous editor, and two marriages. Includes recipes. Sequel to Tender at the Bone RC 46069). Bestseller 2001.

read by David Myers

2 cassettes

Former director of a United Nations commission established after the Gulf War to prevent Iraq from creating arsenals of mass destruction argues that nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons threaten civilization. Butler also details the commission's failed efforts to stop Saddam Hussein's military development. 2000.

read by Erin Jones

3 cassettes

Practical advice on avoiding exposure to man-made, hormone-disrupting chemicals and on self-detoxification. Discusses selecting the safest foods and products; safeguarding the home, room by room; and protecting children's health and intelligence. 2000.

read by Fred Major

4 cassettes

This twenty-fifth anniversary edition collects seventy-four works from fifty-four literary presses. Contains a broad selection of poetry, an essay by Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney, and stories by Kathleen Hill, Bonnie Jo Campbell, Joyce Carol Oates, and Eudora Welty. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2001.

read by Richard Hauenstein

6 cassettes

Scathing study of the thirty-seventh U.S. president based on interviews with his psychiatrist and contemporaries. Suggests that Nixon's flawed character, love of intrigue, and money led to criminal behavior that began in California and continued through Watergate. Strong language. 2000.

read by Randy Davidson

3 cassettes

Traces the history, growth, and development of the Internet from the massive computers of the 1930s and 1940s to the high-tech, high-speed machines of the 1990s. Honors its heroes and reviews their achievements in developing the World Wide Web, crediting the U.S. Defense Department with creating the first electronic networks. 2000.

read by Kerry Cundiff

4 cassettes

Guide to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various types of cardiovascular disease. Describes the human heart, its function, and potential problems. Offers suggestions for dealing with the risks of coronary artery disease and recognizing its symptoms. Includes information on medications and tests, rehabilitation, and emergency care. 2000.

read by Bob Moore

3 cassettes

African American professor rejects the idea that white racism is the main obstacle to success. Outlines the three beliefs he says prevent black achievement: victimology, separatism, and anti-intellectualism. Also discusses affirmative action, ebonics, and suggestions for the future. Some strong language. 2000.

read by Michael Consoli

2 cassettes

The author explains capitalism's failure in developing countries and offers a practical plan for transforming weak economies. Observing that citizens of these nations often lack registered titles to their property, he argues that governments must establish legally integrated systems of ownership and markets to convert work and savings to capital and reward individual enterprise. 2000.

read by Yolande Bavan

1 cassette

Award-winning performer shares tips that have helped her maintain a vital mind and body. Recalling incidents from her seventy-four years of varied and vigorous experiences, Kitt discusses the benefits of deep breathing, exercise, sensible eating habits, and avoiding materialistic clutter. Bestseller 2001.

read by Patricia Kilgarriff

5 cassettes

A biography of the spirited eighteenth-century English writer and feminist. Discusses the origins of her strong-willed, independent thinking, the writings it engendered, and the scandals of her unconventional behavior. Places her published writings in historical context and examines her intellectual legacy. 2000.

read by Suzanne Toren

4 cassettes

The historically documented life of the unschooled young French woman Joan of Arc (1412-1431), who led military troops to victory while still a teenager. Includes details of her imprisonment and execution for heresy at nineteen and the nullification trial decades after her death that reversed the earlier decision. 1986.

read by Gail Nelson

4 cassettes

A journalist highlights women's contributions to the struggle for civil rights in the United States. Beginning with the antislavery movements of the South, through the Civil Rights era, to contemporary feminist issues, Olson describes the works of both black and white women who fought for freedom and equality. 2001.

read by Kerry Cundiff

2 cassettes

More than sixty essays by parents who are raising physically or mentally handicapped children. Includes advice, anecdotes, and words of wisdom. Lists state and national resource centers. Introduction by former U.S. attorney general Dick Thornburgh. 2001.

read by John Richardson

3 cassettes

Traces the development and triumph of American consumerism in the twentieth century. Focuses on the introduction of Ford's "Model T" cars, the impact of amusement parks, the advent of department stores, radio and promotion of domesticity, and altered consumption patterns on the fast-food model. Argues that commercialism will continue to shape the nation's culture. 2000.

read by Fred Major

3 cassettes

Novelist and library activist Baker opposes the library practice of microfilming and then discarding old printed materials. He argues against the purported brittle-paper crisis and pleads for retaining old books and newspapers to be perused in their original format. 2001.

read by Randy Atcher

2 cassettes

Brief biographies of each of the fifty-six patriots who signed the American Declaration of Independence and were subsequently branded as traitors to the English crown. Includes text, summary, and historical background of the 1776 document. 1973.

read by Richard Hauenstein

2 cassettes

Explains how and why to change a personal computer's hardware to increase its speed, memory, or hard-drive capacity. Teaches how to add digital cameras, printers, scanners, cable modems, drives, and other technology. Lists needed tools. 2001.

read by Tom Burch

3 cassettes

Nineteen articles ranging across topics in cutting-edge scientific inquiry from astronomy and cognition to visual perception, evolutionary theory, and the study of ants. Opens with "When Doctors Make Mistakes" by Atul Gawande, explaining the complexity of a heart-wrenching problem. Other contributors include Douglas R. Hofstadter, Oliver Sacks, and Stephen Jay Gould. 2000.

read by Kerry Cundiff

3 cassettes

Stanford University cultural scholar presents the evolution of European and American women's experience of marriage. Examines the Judeo-Christian marital tradition and the changing role of the wife from biblical times to the twenty-first century. Discusses the impact of the depression era and World War II on the institution. 2001.

read by Butch Hoover

4 cassettes

Robert Manning, an economist and sociologist, examines the damaging social, economic, and political consequences of America's increasing dependence on credit cards and its culture of debt. Using personal interviews, he focuses on the nation's attitudes toward investments. He argues that reliance on loans will lead to financial ruin, hardship, and moral decadence. 2000.

read by Carol Dines

2 cassettes

An economist examines the provision of care for children and elderly and disabled people in a competitive market society. Folbre observes that with many women working outside the home, the personal care system evolved in an earlier era has been eroded. She proposes measures for balancing economic self-interest and social welfare. 2001.

read by Bruce Huntey

3 cassettes

Chronicles the development of the American university system, the undergraduate subculture, and sports programs within higher education. Argues that greater prominence in athletics means less money spent on academic concerns. Describes corporate sponsorship conflicts and how enrollment often soars following a school's appearance on national television. 2000.

read by Lou Harpenau

4 cassettes

Describes the major sea battles and campaigns of World War II, beginning with the unexpected attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent struggle in the Pacific. Traces naval operations in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, including U-boat attacks on the eastern seaboard of the United States. 1963.

read by Randy Atcher

2 cassettes

A Presbyterian Church pastor presents a collection of stories from parishes in Virginia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Kentucky that portray the culture and values of the South. Addressing daily life, these accounts depict heroism and tragedy, ingenuity and vanity. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1999.

read by Tom Burch

3 cassettes

Argues strongly that the best way to end cruelty to animals in the name of laboratory research would be to extend their rights under the law. Reviews legal treatment of nonhumans since ancient times, examines scientific evidence of similarities between apes and people, and proposes "personhood" status for chimpanzees. 2000.

read by Lou Harpenau

3 cassettes

History of the Korean War--the first war waged by the United Nations--written from a British perspective. Describes the air, sea, and land battles; the conditions of the prisoners of war; propaganda and public opinion; the contributions of the Commonwealth nations; the armistice; and results of the conflict. 2000.

read by Jill Fox

4 cassettes

Elliott offers a portrait of the Duong clan of northern Vietnam, from their service as high-ranking mandarins in the imperial court to their dispersal as boat people at the end of the Vietnam War. She discusses social, cultural, and political events that affected her extended family over four generations. 1999.

read by Sharon Murray

3 cassettes

Chronicles the career of the Andrews Sisters from Minneapolis--Patty, Maxene, and LaVerne--who epitomize the big-band era of the 1940s. The versatile trio sang together for three decades, recorded more than six hundred songs, and made seventeen movies despite their sibling squabbles. Includes a discography and a filmography. 2000.

read by Tom Burch

3 cassettes

A journalist's account of one year spent as a corrections officer in New York State. Conover's fascination with prisons led him to become a guard. He describes his training and his year on the job, with its moments of horror and grace. Includes a brief history of Sing Sing. Strong language and some violence. 2000.

read by Gary Tipton

3 cassettes

A social and cultural analysis of gold's two main interdependent functions as adornment and money. Begins with the magical and religious attributes of gold and proceeds to the historical transformation of gold into money. Recounts tales of men obsessed with this precious metal and shows how it has shaped human destiny. 2000.

read by John Polk

4 cassettes

A definitive guide for patients and their families in dealing with HIV infection. Offers practical medical, emotional, and financial advice as well as social and legal guidance. Includes information on available research, drugs, and tests. 2001.

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

5 cassettes

Orman states that everyone should create a strong financial foundation and that "money is not stagnant; it is ever-changing. It means different things...at different points in our lives." She discusses debt management, home ownership, insurance, college funds, retirement planning, stocks and bonds, and wills and trusts. Bestseller 2001.

read by Rick Foucheux

3 cassettes

Articles originally published in Vanity Fair about the celebrity trials the author covered. He describes the cases of his daughter's murderer, John Sweeney; O.J. Simpson; the Menendez brothers; and Claus von Bülow. Highlights failings of the legal system, concluding that the rich are tried differently. Strong language. Bestseller 2001.

read by Catherine Byers

5 cassettes

In celebration of the 1,000-year anniversary of the arrival of the Vikings in North America, the Smithsonian Institution provides a history of these explorers, emphasizing their territorial expansionist aims. Uses information from manuscripts and oral tradition and data from archaeological sites and natural science. Preface by Hillary Rodham Clinton. 2000.

read by Peter Johnson

4 cassettes

A history of China from the earliest civilization to 1850. Describes the society, government, philosophy, literature, and art under the different dynasties. 1975.

read by Ralph Lowenstein

4 cassettes

A history of China from 1780 to 2000, outlining its transition from a traditional society to a world power. Includes the consequences of Western imperialism, early twentieth-century cultural upheavals, continuing social transformation, and economic disasters. 2000.

read by Ken Kliban

2 cassettes

The author relates stories and myths from his youth in Jigiga, Ethiopia. Mezlekia recalls that, as the nation's feudalism gave way to Marxism, he found himself in a revolutionary student cell and later became a teenage guerrilla. He survived imprisonment, famine, turmoil, and near execution by a firing squad. Governor General's Award. 2000.

read by Ken Kliban

1 cassette

Free verse translation by poet Brooks Haxton of the surviving sayings and thoughts of the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus. One familiar fragment as rendered by Haxton reads: "The river/ where you set/ your foot just now/ is gone--/ those waters/ giving way to this,/ now this." 2001.

read by Annie Wauters

4 cassettes

A physician and a clinical psychologist give advice on dealing with medical problems that commonly afflict African American women in middle age, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. They also discuss psychological issues such as stress, depression, and negative attitudes that can affect one's health. 2001.

read by Mary Kane

3 cassettes

A physician explains the physical changes that occur in women prior to menopause during the period called "perimenopause." Details symptoms, body functions, and treatments--including medical and herbal--that are available and may help women make a comfortable transition to their next stage of life. 2000.

read by MaryBeth Wise

2 cassettes

Editor of the Washington Post Book World recounts her bicultural upbringing in South America in the 1950s as the daughter of a Peruvian engineer married to a blonde American musician. She reminisces about coming to terms with her dual heritage. 2001.

read by Corrie James

3 cassettes

A maritime scholar's account, structured in the form of a voyage, of women in British and American seafaring life during the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. He discusses women's roles in port, on shipboard, and in lighthouse keeping. Some descriptions of sex. 2001.

read by Ted Stoddard

3 cassettes

A primate-behavior expert argues that human culture is not unique but merely more advanced than cultures found in other species. Drawing on his years of research, de Waal proposes that apes exercise learned, as opposed to instinctual, patterns of behavior. Also explores human attitudes toward animals. 2001.

read by Robert O'Keefe

3 cassettes

Music journalist draws on interviews and diaries to trace the life and untimely death of the Seattle musician. Investigates Cobain's unhappy teen years, success with his band Nirvana, heroin addiction, marriage to fellow rocker Courtney Love, and 1994 suicide at age twenty-seven. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller 2001.

read by Carol Dines

2 cassettes

Psychologist and author of The Dance of Anger RC 27934) and other popular titles explains how to communicate with loved ones. Uses anecdotes from her own and her patients' lives to illustrate how to change one's behavior. 2001.

read by Kerry Cundiff

2 cassettes

Tips and techniques for the older swimmer. Includes training programs and the basics of the sport as well as information about the aging process. Offers sample workouts and advice on the prevention of injuries. 1999.

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

Media magnate Redstone describes his career--begun in his father's drive-in movie business--including his acquisitions of Blockbuster, CBS, Paramount, Simon and Schuster, and Viacom. He intersperses his account with discussions of his childhood, years at Harvard, and military service as a cryptanalyst. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

read by Butch Hoover

3 cassettes

Three journalists from the New York Times discuss germ warfare and the real and rising threat it poses to the United States. They examine scientific advances in bio-weapons and the expertise now available in Iran, Iraq, and North Korea. They use biographical and historical examples to clarify the issue. Bestseller 2001.

read by Jack Fox

3 cassettes

Autobiography by the CEO of General Electric for almost twenty years describes his life and his moves up the company ladder. Explains his management system, which led to his company's phenomenal stock growth. Bestseller 2001.

read by Brian Conn

2 cassettes

Magazine articles that the author of The Perfect Storm RC 44751) wrote between 1992 and 2001 about "people confronting situations that could easily destroy them." Includes a deadly Colorado forest fire in 1994, Kosovo in 1998, and Afghanistan in 2001. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

read by Carol Dines

2 cassettes

Memoir of thirty-one-year-old celebrity actress. Covers her abused childhood, therapy sessions, career, and success. Describes her lesbian affair with comedienne Ellen DeGeneres and her bout of insanity. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2001.

read by Patricia McDermott

2 cassettes

Discusses nutrition and its scientific basis--including the national guidelines presented in the Food Guide Pyramid. Promotes consumption of water, whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Explains how to read labels on packaged foods. Contains fifty healthy and easy-to-prepare recipes. Companion to Strong Women, Strong Bones RC 51016). 2001.

read by Robert Blumenfeld

4 cassettes

Major texts by the medieval Jewish philosopher, physician, and rabbi Maimonides (1135-1204), born Moses ben Maimon in Islamic Spain. Includes selections from the Mishneh Torah, the Guide of the Perplexed, the Book of Commandments, letters, and other writings. Introduction and commentary by Isadore Twersky. 1972.

read by Margaret Strom

4 cassettes

Depicts the personal and professional life of film star Natalie Wood, the daughter of an unstable Russian stage mother. Describes the psychological pressures that shaped the child actress, her two marriages to Robert Wagner, and her successful career on screen until her untimely death in 1981. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

read by Terence Aselford

2 cassettes

Reminiscences of psychic medium and television show host. Discusses how to communicate with those who have died and passed on to an afterlife, or "crossed over." Edward recounts incidents in which he claims to have encountered spirits that help the living. By the author of One Last Time RC 52165). Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

read by Bob Moore

5 cassettes

Interweaving journals, letters, and personal recollections, biographer Rowley illuminates the important African American novelist's life, work, and ideas. Portrays Wright as a self-taught intellectual, an independent thinker, and an outspoken critic of racism. Examines his relationships with other writers, such as Ralph Ellison and Langston Hughes. Bestseller 2001.

read by Mark Ashby

3 cassettes

In this sequel to The Struggle for Russia RC 39258), the former Russian president describes his last four years in office, which ended with his 1999 resignation. Recalls the economic crisis, political infighting, Chechen wars, and his relationships with other world leaders. Also discusses his personal life and Vladimir Putin's rise to power. 2000.

read by Ted Stoddard

6 cassettes

Biography of the nineteenth-century American explorer of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon. Re-creates the adventures of Powell's expeditions and evaluates his contributions as a land and water conservationist and an interpreter of the West. Sets Powell's life in the political and historical context of American westward expansion. 2001.

read by Erik Synnestvedt

2 cassettes

Baseball chronicler Roger Angell examines the life and career of David Cone, a pitcher who has played with four different major league ball clubs. Discusses pitching technique, mental preparation, and Cone's adjustment to fame and fortune as well as his disappointing 2000 season with the Yankees. 2001.

read by Vanessa Maroney

2 cassettes

Discusses concepts of time and the Scottish-born Canadian who conceived the standardization of world time into twenty-four zones. Concludes with the Prime Meridian Conference in Washington, D.C., in 1884. Explains Fleming's reasoning and the importance of worldwide acceptance of his proposals. 2000.

read by Erik Synnestvedt

3 cassettes

Traces the development and decline of the nine-hundred-mile trade route that linked Franklin, Missouri, with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Examines its cultural and political heritage from the arrival of the Spanish settlers in the New World through its replacement by the railroad. Relates personal experiences of travelers. 2000.

read by Bob Moore

2 cassettes

An international brokerage firm's founder and chairman offers older investors and retirees information on basic personal finance, including retirement budgets, pension programs, insurance, mutual funds, estate planning, and charitable giving. Advises investors to modify their strategy and goals as they mature. 2001.

read by Rick Rohan

3 cassettes

A psychologist and former army officer examines the specific nature of the act of killing and its social and psychological implications and repercussions. Compares modern military combat training to conditioning children through media and video-game violence. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1996.

read by Corrie James

2 cassettes

Biography of William Henry Perkin (1838-1907), the British chemist who discovered the artificial dye mauve. Explains how Perkin at age eighteen produced the first aniline dye derived from coal. Discusses his subsequent fame and his importance as an inspiration for chemical advances in medicine, perfumery, food, explosives, and photography. 2001.

read by Robert Sams

6 cassettes

Author of Visions of Jazz RC 48253) chronicles the life and times of Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby--a Jesuit-educated Irish American whose career coincided with the growth of the sound recording technology that fostered his extraordinary popularity. Examines Crosby's family history and work up to World War II. Includes discography and filmography. Some strong language. 2001.

read by Robert Blumenfeld

2 cassettes

The Arab viewpoint of two centuries--1100 to 1300--of fighting the Frankish wars (Crusades). Considers these wars as a turning point in Muslim history that still affects relations between the West and the Arab world. Based on the testimony of Arab historians and contemporary chroniclers of the era. 1984.

read by John Horton

2 cassettes

More than sixty selections by anthropologists, psychologists, missionaries, and travelers explore the world of shamans--the spiritual practitioners and healers who have been found in tribal cultures around the world. Contributions range from accounts by sixteenth-century European explorers in the New World to ethnographic analyses by twentieth-century thinkers such as Claude Lévi-Strauss. 2001.

read by Bill Wallace

3 cassettes

An account of the investigation and arrest of Panamanian dictator General Manuel Noriega on drug trafficking charges in 1989. Explains the roles of the Iran-Contra scandal, the Medellín cocaine cartel, and the Nicaraguan Sandinista government leading to the invasion of Panama by American forces. Strong language. 2001.

read by Frank Coffee

3 cassettes

Octogenarian news analyst for National Public Radio recounts his sixty-plus years in journalism. Recalls his New York boyhood as the child of Jewish immigrants, his quarter century with CBS beginning in 1953, and his joining Ted Turner to develop CNN. Reflects on changing technology and standards in the news industry. Some strong language. 2001.

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes

Internet correspondent for the Wall Street Journal and CNBC explains investing in the dot-com economy. Discusses how the Internet works, evaluates different business models, and advises weaving "Internet-related investments through investment portfolios," always with a long-term approach. 2001.

read by Bill Wallace

3 cassettes

National Public Radio commentator describes the lives of his parents, Günther Goldschmidt and Rosemarie Gumpert. Until their emigration in 1941, the two survived as concert musicians in Nazi Germany by performing in the Culture Association of German Jews--"the Kubu"--a showcase Hitler established for the outside world. 2000.

read by Jill Ferris

1 cassette

Novelist Alison Lurie reminisces about meeting American poet James Merrill (1926-1995) in his youth and becoming friends with him and his companion, David Jackson. Discusses their homosexuality, the importance of the Ouija board in their relationship, and their problems as they aged. 2001.

read by Bill Wallace

4 cassettes (Reissue)

Stevenson, a war correspondent, chronicles the British Security Coordination, an international intelligence operation, and its chief, Bill Stephenson, code-named "Intrepid." The author describes how Intrepid guarded communications between Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940 and directed a network of spies in Nazi-occupied territories. Some violence. Bestseller 1976.

read by John Horton

2 cassettes

Explores political, social, and economic conditions in the troubled West African nation of Nigeria. Profiles its enormous potential and prospects, and explains how corruption, fractious ethnic and religious groups, and poverty threaten to divide the tenth most populous and sixth largest oil-producing country in the world. 2000.

read by Ken Kliban

4 cassettes

An exploration of Afghanistan--its physical beauty, hospitality, religious variations, and long history. Elliot recounts events from his first visit at nineteen in 1986 traveling with anti-Soviet mujahedin and another journey ten years later when the Taliban forces were building power. 1999.

read by Gordon Gould

2 cassettes

Introduction to three masters of the Japanese haiku tradition. Biographical sketches of each poet are followed by representative selections of his work. 1994.

read by Jim Zeiger

2 cassettes

Journalist recounts his vibrant wife's decline following the onset of the incurable, degenerative disease called Parkinson's. Describes their marriage in 1967, their volatile partnership, the first hand tremors in 1987 leading to the diagnosis, and the years of irreversible deterioration. Explains his transformation into a caregiver and activist for disease research. 2001.

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes

Jakes, pastor of a Dallas, Texas, Protestant assembly and best-selling author, proposes specific business and Christian principles that will help people maintain a balanced and successful life. He emphasizes the importance of basic financial planning, beginning with budgeting, in achieving one's ultimate personal fulfillment. 2000.

read by Bill Wallace

4 cassettes

An ethicist surveys twentieth-century atrocities committed against society--among them the massacres of World War I, the Holocaust, and Rwanda's ethnic cleansing. Explains how the perpetrators employ ideological and racial justifications for their crimes and, to deter future cruelties, proposes greater emphasis on respect and sympathy. 1999.

read by Suzanne Toren

2 cassettes

After attending a World Congress on Mummy Studies in Arica, Chile, journalist Pringle visits mummy experts worldwide. She discusses what ancient corpses--from Egypt, Denmark, Italy, China, Japan, and elsewhere--reveal to the living scientists who probe, dissect, and collect them. 2001.

read by Jill Ferris

2 cassettes

Uses case studies to describe the age group called "thresholders"--young people ages eighteen to twenty-four--and the problems they encounter while growing up. Warns parents that their children still need emotional support and offers suggestions for both generations in dealing with stress, money, relationships, college, and jobs. Some strong language. 2001.

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes

Using research in biology, chemistry, physics, and neuroscience, a physicist argues that the origins of life and the universe point to a universal wisdom. Interpreting the organization of organic life and the complexities encoded in DNA, Schroeder reasons that life's direction and purpose provide positive reasons for faith. 2001.

read by Jake Williams

5 cassettes

Explores the notions of race--black, white, and Indian--in America and its historical development from attempted assimilation to separatism to inclusion. Malcomson explains the intricate relationships between the three ethnicities, concluding with his own experiences in his hometown of Oakland, California. 2000.

read by Ray Foushee

2 cassettes

Autobiography by the 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler. He describes growing up in Pittsburgh in a blue-collar family and becoming a World Champion in 1995. He discusses joining Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation, becoming a televised antihero. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

read by Carol Dines

2 cassettes

Geologist and science writer Bruce depicts two devastating volcano eruptions in Colombia: Nevado del Ruiz in 1985, which destroyed a city of 23,000, and Galeras in 1993. Linking these two events, Bruce examines the science of predicting volcanic activity and expedition leader Stanley Williams's role in the Galeras tragedy. Some strong language. 2001.

read by Mitzi Friedlander

3 cassettes

Chronicles the hardships of the Civil War on a generation of young Americans--Yankees, Confederates, and slaves. Uses anecdotes, oral histories, diaries, and memoirs to describe how the fighting affected--either directly or through fear for loved ones--the third of the populace who were children during the 1860s. Some strong language. 1998.

read by Gary Tipton

1 cassette

A guide to buying, riding, and maintaining a bicycle built for two. Includes information on the history of the bike and on touring, traveling, racing, and pedaling with children. 1997.

read by Patricia McDermott

1 cassette

Advice for the transition to living single. Covers entering the work world, handling business and financial matters, setting up living space, organizing the basics, choosing between eating at home or dining out, being a "savvy consumer," and staying connected to people and the community. For senior high and older readers. 2001.

read by Ann Hodapp

1 cassette

Beauty of language transcends themes of death, grief, and privation set in southern landscape. This debut collection of poetry also won the 1999 Walt Whitman Award. National Book Critics Circle Award. 2000.

read by Steven Carpenter

1 cassette

The twenty-five-year-old champion explains his mental and physical approaches to winning. Woods analyzes every aspect of the game from putting to choosing the right club. Explains the fundamentals of his movements and techniques and how to work a course. Includes useful tips from other players. Bestseller 2001.

read by Terence Aselford

1 cassette

Television commentator continues his criticism of American society begun in The O'Reilly Factor RC 51053). Includes his views on George W. Bush, Hillary Clinton, Jesse Jackson, pedophiles, sex, violence, capital punishment, taxes, drugs, and more. Afterword by author James Ellroy. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

read by Margaret Strom

2 cassettes

A history of the World Trade Center, written before the destruction of the twin towers on September 11, 2001. Recounts how the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey first conceived of the complex and how the plans were executed. Includes an account of a day in the center's life. Bestseller 1999.

read by Ted Stoddard

1 cassette

Companion to The Art of Happiness RC 47827) provides the Dalai Lama's teachings to introduce the core of Buddhism. Weaves together his spiritual guidelines for everyday living with two ancient Buddhist texts. Contains text of the Dalai Lama's 1999 New York address. Bestseller 2001.

read by Anne Flosnik

5 cassettes

Biography of the esteemed British actor, director, and writer John Gielgud (1904-2000). Describes his life and times, including his family's theatrical background, his knighthood and the subsequent homosexual scandal in 1953, his ventures on Broadway and in Hollywood, and his numerous radio and television appearances. Some strong language. 2000.

read by Bob Moore

1 cassette

Henson (1866-1955) describes his trip to the North Pole in 1909 with friend and mentor Robert Peary. Henson knew the Inuit language and became critical to the expedition's success. Originally published in 1912, with a foreword by Peary and an introduction by Booker T. Washington. New introduction by S. Allen Counter. 2001.

read by Mary Kane

2 cassettes

Anthology of poems and prose pieces about faith, love, prayer, and divinity representing Christian, Jewish, Native American, and Buddhist traditions. Contains Valerie Martin's biographical essay "Being Saint Francis" and Floyd Skloot's poem "The Yoga Exercise" about a graceful woman in the yogic "heron" posture. 2001.

read by Mary Kane

2 cassettes

Account of a violent crime, its origins, and its aftermath. In 1991 Marine lance corporal Valentine Underwood raped and murdered two young women in California's Mojave desert. Stillman examines the abusive culture the victims inhabited and the Marine code of silence. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2001.

read by Margaret Strom

2 cassettes

Science columnist for the Los Angeles Times elucidates the mysterious concept of nothingness. Discusses the Big Bang, black holes, string theory, vacuums, and zero while tracing their scientific history and the theories of experts in the field--from Isaac Newton to Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking. 2001.

read by Steven Carpenter

3 cassettes

The authors of Mindhunter RC 43669) analyze notorious crimes of the past in an effort to pinpoint the perpetrator of each deadly deed. Cases include the Lindbergh kidnapping, Lizzie Borden, the Boston Strangler, the Black Dahlia, and Lawrencia ("Bambi") Bembenek. 2000.

read by Kimberly Schraf

2 cassettes

Broad cross section of traditional and innovative poetry published in 2000 in periodicals. Includes posthumous poems by Elizabeth Bishop and James Schuyler, and new pieces by John Ashbery, Anne Carson, Billy Collins, Louise Glück, Donald Hall, Yusef Komunyakaa, Robert Pinsky, Adrienne Rich, and many others. Some strong language. 2001.

read by Vanessa Maroney

2 cassettes

A historian's detailed discussion of the critical days in May 1940 when British prime minister Winston Churchill persuaded his war cabinet to continue the war against Hitler, even as the disheartening evacuation from Dunkirk was in progress. Avers that this was the turning point in the Allied effort. 1999.

read by Christopher Walker

4 cassettes

The elder son of Sante Kimes, a con artist and murderess, recalls growing up in a criminal household with a sociopath mother. Sante and the author's half-brother, Kenny, were arrested for the murder of wealthy Irene Silverman. Strong language. 2001.

read by Michael Scherer

3 cassettes

Twenty-three articles explore science's ever-expanding role in human life. Richard Preston describes the race to decode the human genome, Joel Achenbach speculates about extraterrestrial life, John Terborgh reflects on wild animals showing emotional attachments to people, and Helen Epstein discusses AIDS in South Africa. 2001.

read by Barbara Pinolini

1 cassette

Offers suggestions for teenagers who are coping with grief while mourning the passing of a loved one. Advice includes finding an adult to confide in, keeping a journal, and accepting grieving as a natural process. For junior and senior high readers. 2001.

read by Rick Rohan

2 cassettes

The author explains how he, a plumber by trade, became caught in the nightmare world of the Philadelphia Mafia. He describes the violent underworld and tells how witnessing a brutal murder changed his life. He details the hardships he endured in the Federal Witness Protection Program. Strong language and some violence. 1990.

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

1 cassette

Moran, a teacher at Oregon State University, discusses the spiritual insight she has gained into human emotions while helping two people very close to her, who are dying. One is a former student with leukemia. The other is her mother, who has a brain tumor. 2000.

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

American poet and memoirist describes her coming-of-age years in the 1960s at a women's college in Vermont and at her first job with the Academy of American Poets in New York City in the 1970s. Norris's memoir recalls lifestyle choices, friendships, and people who influenced her career. 2001.

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes

Details the last months of U.S. president Woodrow Wilson's second term in office (1919-1921), when he was physically incapacitated and isolated by his physician and second wife, Edith. His forced retreat from political life undermined America's full support of the League of Nations. Continues with the Wilsons' retirement in Washington. 1964.

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

1 cassette

Polemic on the character of the former first lady by Reagan speechwriter and author of What I Saw at the Revolution RC 30709) and other works. Alleging that Senator Clinton feels entitled to power, Noonan summarizes her involvement in a number of scandals. Some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

read by Jake Williams

2 cassettes

Memoir by an African American professor who researched his family's mixed-race genealogy. Tracing familiar oral history, he eventually locates and contacts his Caucasian great-great-grandfather's family. Henry describes the Beaumont branch, his reunion with distant relatives, and his experiences with racism. Some strong language. 2001.

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

3 cassettes

Former special assistant to President Ronald Reagan asserts that his greatness lay in his character. Includes anecdotes from those who knew the president well; analyzes his career as a film star, a union representative, and a politician; and discusses the factors that influenced him. Some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

read by Jake Williams

2 cassettes

Examines the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned state-sponsored racial segregation in America's public schools. Explores the decision's context, the subsequent progress of social equality, and events that have surrounded efforts to implement the court's guidelines. 2001.

read by Barbara Pinolini

1 cassette

Suggestions for coping with romantic and not-so-romantic situations. Tips on finding a suitable mate--from initial attraction through the perils of dating, undressing, sleeping with, or leaving someone special. Advice on survival behavior in bars, restaurants, bedrooms, and airplane lavatories. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2001.

Cassettes Fiction

read by Chuck Young

2 cassettes

During the tense summer of 1966 in Chicago, Martin Luther King Jr. and his followers are trying to quell outbreaks of violence. Matthew Bishop introduces King to Chaym Smith, who could easily pass as King's double. Their struggle against racial prejudice and social upheaval is presented from Bishop's point of view. 1998.

read by Tracy Mickens-Hundley

2 cassettes

1990s Philadelphia. Twenty years ago, Verdi, daughter of a prosperous southern minister, was turned on to drugs by Johnson, a black student leader at college. She was rescued by Professor Rowe, who left his wife for Verdi. But now Johnson is back in town. Strong language and some violence. 1999.

read by Anne Hancock

5 cassettes

The first four works by the twentieth-century French author: Claudine at School, Claudine in Paris, Claudine Married, and Claudine and Annie. They portray a country girl born in France in 1884 and how she grows up to become a sensuous woman. Some descriptions of sex. 1962.

read by Joni Siani

2 cassettes

Dr. Evelyn Sutcliffe's friend and hospital coworker is preparing dinner for her when he falls ill from poisonous mushrooms found in the anonymous gift basket Evelyn received. Horrified when her friend dies, Evelyn wonders if she was the intended victim and if the killer was her lover's stalker. Strong language and some violence. 1999.

read by Dan Bloom

2 cassettes

Nine tales that depict protagonists caught up in difficult circumstances in which the strictures of their Orthodox Judaism clash with life in the modern world. In the title story, when a wife spurns her husband's amorous advances, he finds extramarital relief that leads to a painful problem. 1999.

read by Chuck Young

2 cassettes

In the mid-1980s, a car crash in front of a Washington, D.C., record store puts the owner and his manager in the middle of a cocaine-related power struggle involving crooked cops, teen gangs, and a missing bag of drug money. Strong language, violence, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1998.

read by Conrad Feininger

2 cassettes

Three novellas in which reporter Jim Malloy describes American social mores around the 1930s. In The Girl on the Baggage Truck he narrowly avoids becoming the plaything of an aging actress. Imagine Kissing Pete deals with an adulterous marriage, and in We're Friends Again Malloy reflects on money and sex. 1960.

read by MaryBeth Wise

2 cassettes

Shortly after Temple Banning moves to California, she awakens alone in a honeymoon suite with a marriage license listing a husband she's never met. Fearing amnesia from a previous bout with a deadly virus, Temple reluctantly turns to mysterious Mark Challis for help. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 2000.

read by Gillian Green

2 cassettes

Wyoming Territory, 1890. Raised by an abusive father since the age of ten, seventeen-year-old Simone Dumas finds herself in an even worse situation; she believes she has killed a man. Simone escapes to Chicago, where she meets Jeffery O'Donnell, who offers her hope and love. 1998.

read by Terry Hayes Sales

3 cassettes

Three widowed roommates leave their Pennsylvania boardinghouse for the North Carolina mountains to look at a dilapidated farmhouse one of them has inherited. Against the wishes of their children and landlady, the women move in and soon find their lives dramatically changed--for the better. 2000.

read by Gary Roan

2 cassettes

When Texas law catches up with Johnny Montana and his paramour Katie Swensen, he is ordered returned to Arkansas for trial. Texas Ranger Pete Winter is assigned to escort them. But there are others also looking for Montana, and Texas Ranger Henry Dollar must find them first. Violence. 1993.

read by Jeremy Gage

4 cassettes

Prequel to A Time to Hunt RC 47031) and other stories featuring sharpshooter Bob Lee Swagger. When Bob Lee's hardened marine sergeant father returns from World War II, he is offered a job helping to clean up Hot Springs, Arkansas--a Mafia town full of casinos, whorehouses, and corruption. Violence and strong language. Bestseller 2000.

read by Corrie James

2 cassettes

Elise is left a blind and mute quadriplegic after a terrorist attack, but she can still think and hear. When she becomes the confidant of a little girl who knows the identity of a serial child killer, Elise becomes a target herself. Winner of the French Grand Prix de Litérature. Strong language and some violence. 1996.

read by Conrad Feininger

2 cassettes

When Phil Ainsworth accepts the guardianship of his ten-year-old niece, Betsy, he has no idea of what the future holds. He has been getting eerie sensations in the house he inherited, but when Betsy arrives, she has the ability to sense the past and hear the voices of the dead. 1999.

read by Bruce Nelson

2 cassettes

Twenty-four-year-old twins choose different paths toward self-realization: Jacob loudly proclaims his gay activism in Boston, while Jonathan searches for meaning as an Orthodox Jew in a Jerusalem yeshiva. Their estrangement ends when they face their grandmother's medical crisis. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1998.

read by David Hartley-Margolin

3 cassettes

Shaman Daisy Perika asks her Ute lawman nephew, Charlie Moon, to call Scott Parris, the Granite Creek chief of police. She informs them of her dream foretelling the imminent, violent deaths of people starting to the north. Parris, knowing her powers, takes her warning seriously and cancels his vacation. 1997.

read by Steven Carpenter

2 cassettes

Alan Bellamy, the U.S. Ryder Cup team captain who is desperate to find a twelfth player, settles on south Floridian hustler and amazing golfer Eddie Caminetti. The selection leads to unforeseen and humorous consequences. Strong language. 1999.

read by Michele Schaeffer

1 cassette

Sixteen-year-old Ivy Breedlove feels out of place in her family of opinionated attorneys. While helping an elderly relative compile a family history, Ivy sees similarities between herself and a reclusive aunt who lives in the Adirondacks. Ivy sets out to find her mysterious aunt. For junior and senior high readers. 1999.

read by Kimberly Schraf

3 cassettes

A happily married, middle-aged professor of creative writing at an expensive but obscure New England college falls for a talented, exotic-looking student. With sexual harassment a big topic on campus, what is the professor doing undressed in the girl's dormitory room? Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

read by Don Nelson

1 cassette

Outsider Declan Murray finds trouble with the wrong crowd and is sent by the courts to work in Glacier National Park. Once there, he immerses himself in snowboarding, but takes one too many chances on the slopes. For junior and senior high readers. 1998.

read by Mimi Bederman

1 cassette

Ex-bounty hunter, Jim Ryan, returns home to ranch his family's spread. But he is soon accused of killing a neighbor, his sweetheart's father. Jim finds himself on the wrong side of the law while trying to uncover the truth. Some violence. 2000.

read by Barbara Pinolini

2 cassettes

Los Angeles Dodgers baseball scout Cassidy Sanderson becomes concerned when her latest rookie is blackmailed over an incident in his native Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, Cassidy's new lover, developer Joe Galinis, appears to be involved in turning Cassidy into another convenient target. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2000.

read by Jill Fox

2 cassettes

Soulmates Sudha and Anju are cousins raised in the same Calcutta household by their widowed mothers. Beautiful Sudha is burdened by family secrets, while ambitious Anju wants an education. But both are forced by economics into arranged marriages. Eventually they reunite in America. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1999.

read by Annie Wauters

2 cassettes

In The Meeting Place RC 49353), eighteenth-century friends Catherine and Louise switched babies so Louise's French daughter could receive medical care--an action with far-reaching consequences when the French were suddenly expelled from Acadia. Nicole, now eighteen, learns of her true identity and hears that an English nobleman is searching for her. 2000.

read by Cyn Delafield

2 cassettes

Retired journalist Henrie O travels to Bermuda to support her grandchildren Diana and Neal when their father remarries a wealthy widow--beautiful, flirtatious Connor Bailey. Henrie investigates when the hotel is plagued with ghosts and murders and the wedding guests become endangered. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

read by Jill Fox

4 cassettes

Dashing Pasha Sharif courts British widow Anna nearly a century before American journalist Isabel falls in love with courtly conductor Omar. A trunkful of family journals and letters link the pairs of lovers as they surmount cultural obstacles in Egypt. Booker Prize Finalist. 1999.

read by Gary Tipton

4 cassettes

The fragile peace between Torenth and Gwynedd is threatened, making it imperative that King Kelson of Gwynedd take a bride and produce an heir. Having already lost two brides, one in death and the other through treachery, Kelson's only wish now is to find a woman who also has Deryni blood. 2000.

read by Madelyn Buzzard

2 cassettes

While forensic anthropologist Elizabeth MacPherson is hospitalized for depression over the disappearance and presumed death of her husband, her attorney brother, Bill, buys a mansion with an unwanted elderly resident. Bill's partner, meanwhile, is trying to find an escaped convict and her female lawyer who target lustful men to rob and humiliate. 2000.

read by Mitzi Friedlander

3 cassettes

Macao, China; 1832. On his last adventure before returning home, Kyle Renbourne marries Scottish-Chinese orphan Troth Montgomery. Believing Kyle has been executed, Troth journeys to England to inform his twin, Dominic. But suddenly Kyle resurfaces. Sequel to The Wild Child RC 49450). Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000.

read by Roy Avers

2 cassettes

Hit man Keller lives an orderly life. He gets his assignments from humorous Dot, works on his stamp collection between jobs, and conscientiously serves on a jury. His routine is disrupted when Keller realizes someone is trying to kill him. Sequel to Hit Man RC 49625). Some violence and some strong language. 2000.

read by John Polk

4 cassettes

The Ice Age is ending, and Warakan, now a man, longs for peace and companionship. Yet he still harbors a desire for vengeance. As possessor of the sacred stone, he will soon fulfill his destiny. Sequel to Shadow of the Watching Star RC 52294). Violence and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1996.

read by John Polk

3 cassettes

Ne'gauni, deserted as a child and left to die, was raised by the last two members of the Forest People. Now a hardened warrior, he begins a dangerous journey to fulfill a prophecy. Sequel to Face of the Rising Sun RC 52295). Violence and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1998.

read by Christopher Walker

2 cassettes

Thirteen tales of people possessed in some way, several written in experimental form. The title story, the last in the collection, is a heartfelt elegy for a sister who died unexpectedly while putting her two young children to bed. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2000.

read by Laura Giannarelli

3 cassettes

Seneca Falls, 1857. New in town, female doctor Neva Cardoza is up to her elbows in corpses. Meanwhile librarian Glynis Tryon investigates these mysterious deaths. When half-Iroquois Jacques Sundown is accused of murder, Glynis joins constable Cullen Stuart in the struggle to discern the truth. 1995.

read by Gary Tipton

2 cassettes

Follows a year in the life of an idealistic hospital intern. During that time, Dr. Peters becomes a psychologically aberrant but fully accredited doctor. The new physicians criticize both the treatment they receive and the American Medical Association, and advocate changing the system. Some strong language. 1972.

read by John Polk

9 cassettes in 2 containers

Contains all of the renowned science fiction author's short pieces written during a nearly seventy-year span. The more-than-one-hundred entries include "The Sentinel," "The Hammer of God," and "Guardian Angel." 2000.

read by Bruce Huntey

2 cassettes

Toru Watanabe is overcome by sadness when he hears the Beatles' song "Norwegian Wood." It evokes the events of that long-ago autumn of 1969 when he made love to Naoko, the girlfriend of his best friend, Kizuki, who had committed suicide two years before. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000.

read by Laura Giannarelli

2 cassettes

Sixty-year-old divorcée Julie Roseman runs into fellow florist Romeo Cacciamani at a seminar. Though their families perpetuate a mysterious, long-standing feud, Julie finds the widowed Romeo nonetheless appealing. As their romance develops, the couple hide from their horrified children and Romeo's bitter mother. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000.

read by Laura Giannarelli

2 cassettes

Postmistress Harry of Crozet, Virginia, investigates the murder of two jockeys after the steeplechase races at Montpelier, James Madison's former estate. But it is her pets--feline Mrs. Murphy and corgi Tee Tucker--who uncover the clues. Some violence and some strong language. 1996.

read by Laura Giannarelli

3 cassettes

Seneca Falls, New York; 1859. Librarian Glynis Tryon witnesses a murder aboard the train carrying her and her niece home. But the victim has left a packet of evidence with Glynis that leads to a counterfeiting scheme involving abolitionist John Brown. And more murders occur before the culprits are caught. 1996.

read by Bob Askey

4 cassettes (Reissue)

Saga about Phillipe Charboneau, the half-French illegitimate son of an English nobleman. Denied his inheritance, he changes his name to "Philip Kent" and flees to Boston in 1772 to begin a new life. Followed by The Rebels RC 52647). Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1974.

read by Gregory Gorton

3 cassettes

Vitriolic satire of academic life. Minnesota English professor Nelson Humboldt was once a rising star but has now been relegated to teaching composition. When a freak accident results in the severance and reattachment of a finger, Nelson discovers he has acquired some magical powers. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2001.

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

Someone is impersonating San Francisco private investigator Sharon McCone, destroying her reputation and her credit as well as harassing her family. McCone is determined to track down this culprit who breaks into her house and takes lovers in her name. Some strong language. 1998.

read by Gabriella Cavallero

3 cassettes

In 1580 when Whirlwind, a Cherokee maiden, is sixteen, she compels her twin brother and five others to join her on a dangerous trip to Florida to trade with the Spaniards. On this tragic journey she proves her leadership abilities and is renamed War Woman. Violence. 1997.

read by Robin Miles

4 cassettes

The voice of Ananse, African folklore's storyteller-trickster, traces the lives and fates of generations of black women, spanning almost three centuries and journeying from Africa through the Caribbean and America. A prophecy points to the ninth daughter in the lineage, whose sense of unfulfillment prompts her return to Africa. ALA Black Caucus Award. 1997.

read by Jim Zeiger

3 cassettes

1808. Napoleon is threatening the Caribbean, and Vice Admiral Sir Richard Bolitho devises battle plans. But before he can implement them, he and his lover, Lady Catherine Somervell, are shipwrecked and given up for dead. Sequel to The Only Victor RC 49933). 1992.

read by Jim Zeiger

2 cassettes

Wyoming Territory, 1875. Marshal Sam Keaton must figure out why there is a dead man in his office and why his expedition through Sioux lands is such a disaster. He struggles with alcoholism and strengthens his faith while solving these mysteries. Sequel to Moon Basket RC 40217). Some violence. 2000.

read by Erin Jones

3 cassettes

When Philadelphia attorney Ellie Hathaway retreats to her aunt's house in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, she's drawn into an unusual case--an Amish girl accused of murdering her newborn after a hidden pregnancy. Ellie calls former beau, psychiatrist John Cooper, to help the troubled defendant. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000.

read by John Polk

2 cassettes

New York millionaire Ed Vincent is shot and seriously wounded. Drifting in and out of consciousness, Ed desperately wants to protect his lover, single mother Mel Merrydew. While investigating, NYPD detective Marco Camelia also falls for Mel. Meanwhile, Mel uncovers Ed's past. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2000.

read by Alec Volz

3 cassettes

When an international warrant threatens former American president John Harris, commercial jet pilot Craig Dayton defiantly takes off with Harris on board. While airborne, Harris arranges assistance from disbarred judge Jay Reinhart and a group of World War II veterans. 2001.

read by Richard Hauenstein

2 cassettes

In this dark-humor continuation of Juggling the Stars RC 36393), Morris has eluded arrest after murdering Mimi, his first wife, and is now married to her sister, Paola. But with the voluptuous Mimi's ghost whispering incitements, Morris finds killing ever easier. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1995.

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

Medicine woman Snakewater keeps to herself in a Cherokee village in the early 1800s. Because of her advanced age, the people begin to fear she is a Raven Mocker--one who can suck the breath and years of life from a dying person. Snakewater must flee the village and make a new start. 2001.

read by Richard Hauenstein

3 cassettes

Astrophysicist Grant Archer wants to do research work on the Moon. But the New Morality, Earth's conservative theocratic ruling coalition, has other plans for him. When they order him to spy on scientists who are suspected of a covert subversive research agenda on Jupiter, Archer's loyalties are put to the test. 2001.

read by Fred Major

1 cassette

Pota, a novelist whose first book many years ago made him a legendary figure, seeks a subject for his final work. A possible title, A Sexual Biography of My Wife, elicits laughter from his wife and agent. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2000.

read by Ann Hodapp

2 cassettes

Forty-year-old Larque Harootunian is a painter who has the ability to produce doppelgangers--ghostly apparitions of herself and others. Approaching a midlife crisis, she eventually "splits" into three different people--each representing conflicting facets of her own personality--as she "steps into" the magical world of Popular Street. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1994.

read by Roy Avers

2 cassettes

Fictionalized biography of Harry Gold, a Jewish American chemist who became a Soviet spy. Recounts his early life in depression-era Philadelphia and tells how the loss of a job led him to accept another that set him on the path to becoming a spy who would have connections with Klaus Fuchs and the Rosenbergs. 2000.

read by Erin Jones

2 cassettes

Missouri, 1922. Farm girl Julie Jones has taken care of her siblings since her mother's death. When Evan Johnson, a veteran and son of the town drunk, returns home, they fall in love. But each has secrets. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2001.

read by Roy Avers

3 cassettes

Three collections of Powers's short stories from 1947, 1956, and 1975 are presented together. Many concern the daily preoccupations of priests in the Midwest, as in "A Losing Game," in which the new curate, Father Fabre, maneuvers with the senior pastor for a typing table. 1975.

read by Janis Gray

2 cassettes

Young Miss Charlotte Heywood from the country visits the Parker family at the seaside town Sanditon. A mutual attraction develops between Charlotte and her host's brother, Sidney Parker, while the Parker brothers attempt to promote Sanditon as a popular resort. 2000.

read by Bruce Huntey

3 cassettes

Thirty-one short stories dealing mainly with domestic life by the author of Cloudsplitter RC 45966) and others. In "The Visit" a man returns to one of his childhood homes to remember his abusive, alcoholic father and the last year that he lived with the family. Some violence and some strong language. 2000.

read by Kimberly Schraf

3 cassettes

Folksinger Lark McCourry is preparing to record an album and wants to locate a song she vaguely remembers from childhood. The story of Lark's search is interwoven with the stories of her ancestor Malcolm McCourry, who learned the song from a sailor on his way to America in 1751, and the generations between. 2001.

read by Ann Hodapp

2 cassettes

Daisy Minor awakens on her thirty-fourth birthday and decides she needs her own place, a new wardrobe, a new look, and a husband. While making her transformation, she unknowingly witnesses a murder--placing her life in danger. Explicit descriptions of sex, strong language, and some violence. 2001.

read by Mitzi Friedlander

3 cassettes

Pursuing two seemingly unrelated cases, the private eye explores insurance fraud and probes the past to help her mentor, Dr. Lotty Herschel. Lotty is being stalked by a man who claims he's a child survivor of the Holocaust--and a relative. V.I. investigates whether he is an imposter. Bestseller 2001.

read by Erin Jones

4 cassettes

With humanity facing extinction, Helice and her daughters, Chena and Teal, take refuge on the planet Pandora, a near match to Earth. Instead of safety, however, they find terror. Some violence and some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2001.

read by Fred Major

4 cassettes

On his way to his wife's funeral, ex-convict Shadow meets the mysterious Mr. Wednesday, who has an uncanny knowledge of Shadow's life. Accepting Wednesday's job offer throws Shadow into a supernatural world where ancient gods abound. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 2001.

read by Erin Jones

2 cassettes

When Kit Weston, eighteen, learns Baron Cain has inherited the South Carolina plantation where she grew up, she travels to New York City to kill him. Working as Cain's stable "boy," she gets her chance to try. Then she learns Cain is her guardian. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. 2001.

read by David Hartley-Margolin

5 cassettes

Some twenty years after The Talisman RC 21209), retired homicide detective Jack Sawyer tries to help rural Wisconsin police solve a series of brutal murders. Gradually Jack is drawn back to the parallel universe that he had forgotten. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

read by Barry Bernson

2 cassettes

Sixteen short stories about human interactions, many imbued with wry humor. The title piece conveys a survivor's fears upon encountering a few other remaining people after a worldwide epidemic and has a surprise ending. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2001.

read by Richard Hauenstein

4 cassettes

Raj Ahten, ruler of Indhopal, seeks to bring all humanity under his rule by destroying and slaughtering indiscriminately. Meanwhile, Gaborn Val Orden fulfills a two-thousand-year-old prophecy by becoming the Earth King who can unleash the Earth's forces. Followed by Brotherhood of the Wolf RC 52922). Some violence. 1998.

read by Erik Sandvold

6 cassettes

The band of virtual explorers who entered Otherland are now trapped by the Grail Brotherhood. Unable to go off-line and leave, they follow a river looking for an escape. Instead, they find more and more bizarre landscapes. Sequel to City of Golden Shadow RC 52924). Violence and strong language. 1998.

read by Ray Foushee

2 cassettes

A lion almost kills Detective Steve Carella when he tries to remove a woman's body from the zoo den. Carella and Fat Ollie Weeks uncover drug smugglers, counterfeit money, hit women, and Arab terrorists while pursuing the case. They also face off with the Treasury Department. Violence and strong language. 2001.

read by Barbara Caruso

2 cassettes

Officially a member of the Explorer Corps, Festina Ramos recognizes that unofficially she is "expendable." Her elite military company is not expected to return from its missions. Now Festina's new assignment is a trip to the planet Melaquin, but she plans to survive. Some strong language. 1997.

read by Barbara Caruso

3 cassettes

A friend of Festina Ramos, Oar, tells her own story in this sequel to Expendable RC 52936). Although Oar's transparent body is indestructible, her mind will become catatonic at age fifty, and she is now forty-nine. Oar has much to accomplish before she hibernates. Some strong language. 2001.

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

3 cassettes

The St. Leger family saga continues as Lance's twin, Val, struggles to accept his fate of having to live a solitary life. Yet young Kate hopes to change his mind with sorcery. Sequel to The Night Drifter RC 52938). Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2001.