Cassette Books 2001
National Library Service for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped
Library of Congress
Washington 2002
Nonfiction
Adventure
Around the World in Twenty Days: The Story of Our History-
Making Balloon Flight RC 50743
by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones
read by Randy Davidson
2 cassettes
An account of the first nonstop balloon flight to circle the
globe. The authors describe their liftoff in Switzerland in
March 1999, their record-setting journey, and their landing
in the Egyptian desert. Discussion includes equipment used
and crises encountered, with revelations of the personal
quirks of the two adventurers. 1999.
Castaway in Paradise: The Incredible Adventures of True-Life
Robinson Crusoes RC 50673
by James C. Simmons
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
Eight true tales about the experiences of people who were
stranded in remote locations because of shipwreck,
treacherous companions, or personal choice. Describes their
survival strategies and their lives after rescue. Includes
Alexander Selkirk, the model for Defoe's Crusoe, and Herman
Melville, who sojourned in the Marquesas in the South
Pacific. 1993.
Close to the Wind RC 49357
by Pete Goss
read by Jeremy Gage
2 cassettes
Former Royal Marine describes his work toward the goal of
sailing in the Vende Globe, a single-handed round-the-world
race. During the realization of his dream, Goss risks both
the race and his own life by heroically saving a fellow
competitor whose boat sank in a storm. Strong language.
1998.
Fire on the Mountain: The True Story of the South Canyon
Fire RC 50200
by John N. Maclean
read by Jim Johnston
2 cassettes
An account of the 1994 forest fire on Colorado's Storm King
Mountain, which claimed the lives of fourteen elite
firefighters, including four women. Reconstructs the human
errors that compounded the natural disaster, mistakes made
during the investigations that followed, and lessons to be
learned. Some strong language. 1999.
First across the Continent: Sir Alexander Mackenzie RC 49781
by Barry Gough
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Portrait of the intrepid Scottish explorer who ventured
across North America in 1793, driven by dreams of wealth
from the fur trade. His efforts to establish British control
over northwestern trade routes inspired both the 1803
Louisiana Purchase and the 1805 Lewis and Clark expedition.
1997.
Ghosts of Everest: The Search for Mallory and Irvine RC
50812
by Jochen Hemmleb and others
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
Presents research and findings from the 1999 Mount Everest
expedition in search of remains from the ill-fated 1924
climb by George Mallory and Sandy Irvine. Discusses the
latter-day group's reconstruction of Mallory's route, the
dramatic discovery of his body, and the conclusions reached
from forensic examination. 1999.
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex
RC 50271
by Nathaniel Philbrick
read by Brian Conn
2 cassettes
Relying mainly on the cabin boy's journal discovered in
1960, the author recounts the disastrous 1819 voyage of the
whaling ship Essex. He describes the attack of an eighty-
five-foot bull sperm whale, and the ensuing  starvation,
dehydration, and cannibalism that befell the shipwrecked
survivors. Bestseller 2000.
Lost at Sea: An American Tragedy RC 51089
by Patrick Dillon
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
Recounts how in 1983, two boats from a fishing fleet out of
Anacortes, Washington, simultaneously capsized off the coast
of Alaska, without giving distress signals. Describes the
extensive investigation into the mysterious incident and
explains why crabbing had become "the nation's deadliest
occupation." Some strong language. 1998.
The Physician and the Slave Trade: John Kirk, the
Livingstone Expeditions, and the Crusade against Slavery in
East Africa RC 50239
by Daniel Liebowitz
read by Peter Johnson
3 cassettes
Account of the life of Sir John Kirk, who accompanied
explorer David Livingstone on his second expedition to
Africa in 1858. Kirk, a physician and naturalist, sought to
bring Christianity to the continent. Appalled by the slave
trade, he later returned to Zanzibar to work towards its
elimination. Some violence. 1999.
A Rage to Live: A Biography of Richard and Isabel Burton RC
49407
by Mary S. Lovell
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Dual biography of Richard Burton, a nineteenth-century
writer, explorer, and translator, and his wife, Isabel.
Traces their youth in Europe, his translation of the erotic
literature The Arabian Nights and Kama Sutra into English,
and expeditions in East Africa, India, and Egypt. Discusses
the supportive relationship between the couple. 1998.
Submarines under Ice: The U.S. Navy's Polar Operations RC
49157
by Marion D. Williams
read by Randy Atcher
2 cassettes
An account of early polar submarine voyages, from Sir Hubert
Wilkins's 1931 expedition up to the transpolar passage of
USS Nautilus in 1958 and the surfacing of USS Skate at the
North Pole in 1962. Draws on official documents and personal
interviews in describing the cruises. 1998.
Tempting Fate RC 49978
by Bob Rahn
read by Rick Rohan
2 cassettes
Memoir of an experimental test pilot who flew attack and
fighter aircraft for twenty-two years before joining the
aerospace program. Rahn's lifetime interest in aviation
began in 1927 when Charles Lindbergh visited his hometown.
Recounts numerous inspiring and hair-raising experiences
aloft. 1997.
The Terrible Hours: The Man behind the Greatest Submarine
Rescue in History RC 49223
by Peter Maas
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
On May 23, 1939, the Squalus submarine failed to resurface
from a test dive and settled 243 feet down on the ocean
floor off Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Maas provides accounts
of the thirty-three survivors and their families, and of
Charles Momsen, who created the device used in their rescue.
Bestseller 1999.
Animals and Wildlife
Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds RC 51124
by Joy Adamson
read by Jill Ferris
1 cassette (Reissue)
The wife of a Kenya game warden recounts the couple's unique
relationship with the lioness Elsa. Recalls raising the
orphaned cub for three years and ingeniously training her to
fend for herself. Describes how Elsa recognized her human
friends even after she returned to the wild. Reprinted with
a new foreword in 2000. 1960.
Crossing Paths: Uncommon Encounters with Animals in the Wild
RC 48636
by Craig Childs
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
A river guide recounts his observations of wildlife.
Includes meetings with bears, birds, elks, and antelopes, as
well as trout and mosquitoes. Describes excavating bones at
a dig with renowned scientists where the children were the
most serious workers. Also recalls a close encounter with a
blue shark. 1997.
Lost and Found: Dogs, Cats, and Everyday Heroes at a Country
Animal Shelter RC 50170
by Elizabeth Hess
read by Nanette Savard
2 cassettes
Explores behind the scenes in an animal shelter in upstate
New York. Discusses the interaction between animals and
humans and evaluates the interworking between those who
discard and those who care for these creatures. Observes
that families with infants and people with limited time
should not adopt pets. 1998.
The Arts
The Beginner's Guide to Art RC 48873
edited by Brigitte Govignon
read by Gordon Gould
3 cassettes
Designed to help the reader understand and appreciate art.
Covers developments in architecture, sculpture, and painting
from 30,000 B.C. to 1995. Includes brief biographies of
major figures in the evolution of Western forms of
expression. For junior and senior high and older readers.
1998.
Boggs: A Comedy of Values RC 50224
by Lawrence Weschler
read by Michael Scherer
1 cassette
Portrait of artist J.S.G. Boggs, who was known in the 1980s
and 1990s for sketching banknotes and attempting to exchange
his handiwork at face value for goods and services. Recounts
Boggs's clashes with U.S., British, and other treasury
officials. Provides a brief history of money and private
citizens' efforts at replication. 1999.
Caravaggio: A Passionate Life RC 49716
by Desmond Seward
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Biography of the Italian painter Michelangelo da Caravaggio,
born in 1571.  Explores what is known about his life;
investigates his world, his acclaim as an artist, the fatal
duel that made him an outlaw, and his untimely death in
1610. Presents a portrait of a tortured soul. 1998.
Dreaming with His Eyes Open: A Life of Diego Rivera RC 49684
by Patrick Marnham
read by Peter Gil
3 cassettes
Biography of the early twentieth-century Mexican muralist.
Describes his friendship with Picasso in Paris, his
communist leanings, and his series of love affairs,
including his tumultuous relationship with Frida Kahlo.
Discusses his devotion to his art and his tendency to
embellish his past. 1998.
Happy Alchemy: On the Pleasures of Music and the Theatre RC
49381
by Robertson Davies
read by Michael Scherer
3 cassettes
Thirty-three pieces on the theater, opera, and music.
Includes speeches, prologs to plays, articles, a discussion
of folk song, a ghost story set to music, and ideas for a
film scenario. Also contains selections from Davies's
theater diaries going behind the scenes. 1997.
A Life of Picasso: Volume 2, 1907-1917 RC 44599
by John Richardson
read by Bill Richardson
5 cassettes
Volume two of a projected four-volume biography covers the
pivotal ten years in which Picasso and Georges Braque
invented cubism, a revolutionary style that led to
modernism. The author discusses the influence of Cezanne and
Matisse, as well as the women in Picasso's life, on the
artist's work. Sequel to A Life of Picasso: Volume 1 (RC
32044). 1996.
Rembrandt's Eyes RC 49727
by Simon Schama
read by Frank Coffee
6 cassettes
Examines the life and work of the Dutch painter Rembrandt
and of Peter Paul Rubens as a major artistic influence on
him. Chronicles the history of the seventeenth-century
Netherlands as background to Rembrandt's development. Many
detailed descriptions of individual pictures are provided.
1999.
Three Worlds of Michelangelo RC 49989
by James H. Beck
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Examines the artistic development and creations of
Michelangelo Buonarroti from his birth in 1475 to his
completion of the Sistine Chapel ceiling in 1512. Discusses
the three men who influenced his career: his father,
Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni; his patron in Florence, Lorenzo
de' Medici; and Pope Julius II in Rome. 1999.
Yonder: Essays RC 49799
by Siri Hustvedt
read by Catherine Byers
1 cassette
Six pieces by a Norwegian American novelist and poet
contemplating a variety of aesthetic experiences. Reveals
her thought processes while actively exploring such
activities as forming memories, viewing a painting, and
reading literature. 1998.
Astronomy
Carl Sagan: A Life in the Cosmos RC 49347
by William Poundstone
read by Ray Childs
4 cassettes
Biography of the celebrity scientist who sought evidence of
extraterrestrial life. Discusses how the topic's appeal made
Sagan rich and famous. Covers his scientific and media
career; details his personal life and how he used his
political influence to support the space program and
publicize his concerns. 1999.
Dragonfly: NASA and the Crisis aboard Mir RC 48930
by Bryan Burrough
read by Bill Wallace
4 cassettes
An investigation of the series of accidents on the space
station Mir during joint missions between Americans and
Russians in the late 1990s. Reveals details of the mishaps
and looks at the impact of culture clashes and differing
program management techniques. Based on transcripts and logs
of air-to-ground communications and interviews with
participants. 1998.
Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8; the First Manned Flight to
Another World RC 49671
by Robert Zimmerman
read by Gary Telles
2 cassettes
Recounts the flight of Apollo 8, the first manned vehicle to
venture beyond Earth's orbit. Provides personal biographies
of the three astronauts and assesses their accomplishment in
the context of the Cold War and the turbulent political
events of 1968. 1998.
Hunting Down the Universe: The Missing Mass, Primordial
Black Holes, and Other Dark Matters RC 48712
by Michael Hawkins
read by Terence Aselford
2 cassettes
British astronomer expounds his theory that "quasars, black
holes, and big-bang cosmology unite to identify and describe
the nature of the universe's missing mass." Discusses the
great cosmological debates of the twentieth century and
examines the conflict between rationalist and empirical
approaches to science. 1997.
Journey beyond Selene: Remarkable Expeditions past Our Moon
and to the Ends of the Solar System RC 50687
by Jeffrey Kluger
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
Chronicles the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's unmanned
exploration of Earth's solar system with robot spacecraft.
Describes the pre-1969 testing of the Moon's surface in
advance of the manned landing. Recounts the subsequent deep-
space probes of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune and
their moons. 1999.
The Last Man on the Moon: Astronaut Eugene Cernan and
America's Race in Space RC 50403
by Eugene Cernan and Don Davis
read by Steven Carpenter
3 cassettes
This memoir of a space pioneer describes his personal
experiences during his years with NASA, especially the
flights of Gemini 9, Apollo 10, and Apollo 17. Cernan
recalls the technical problems, his relations with fellow
astronauts, and some family repercussions--but mostly the
thrill of being in space and walking on the moon. 1999.
Mars: Uncovering the Secrets of the Red Planet RC 48758
by Paul Raeburn
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
A National Geographic chronicle of Mars exploration. Focuses
on the Viking missions of the 1970s, whose primary goal was
the search for life, and on the July 4, 1997, Pathfinder
landing on Mars's surface. Explains the design, engineering,
and results of the projects. Discusses plans for future
missions. For senior high and older readers. 1998.
The Travellers' Guide to Mars: Don't Leave Earth without It
RC 49723
by Michael Pauls and Dana Facaros
read by Gary Telles
1 cassette
Since more families are considering Mars for their
vacations, the authors have developed a humorous yet factual
guide to educate tourists (and others) about the Red Planet.
Describes Martian geography, the history of Mars in myth and
popular culture, and its space-age exploration. For senior
high and older readers. 1997.
Biography
Other biographies can be found in categories such as the
arts, government and politics, literature, music, stage and
screen, sports, U.S. history, and world history.
The Bodyguard's Story: Diana, the Crash, and the Sole
Survivor RC 50352
by Trevor Rees-Jones
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
As the sole survivor of the 1997 auto accident that killed
the Princess of Wales, Dodi Fayed, and their chauffeur,
bodyguard Rees-Jones offers his account of the events
leading up to the crash and its aftermath. He also discusses
his own efforts to cope with injuries and unwelcome
notoriety. Bestseller 2000.
The Day John Died RC 50930
by Christopher Andersen
read by Gordon Gould
2 cassettes
Calling this the final book in his Kennedy family trilogy,
the author of Jackie after Jack (RC 45845) discusses the
life and untimely death of John Kennedy Jr. in 1999. Thirty-
eight-year-old John, his wife, Carolyn, and her sister died
in a plane John was piloting. Some strong language.
Bestseller 2000.
Einstein's Daughter: The Search for Lieserl RC 49735
by Michele Zackheim
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes
On the basis of the revelation in the 1980s that Albert
Einstein and his Serbian first wife, Mileva, had an
illegitimate daughter, Lieserl, born in 1902, the author
spent five years tracking down clues to determine what
became of her. Zackheim presents her findings and
conclusion. 1999.
The Factory of Facts RC 49982
by Luc Sante
read by Gary Telles
3 cassettes
Memoir of a Belgian-born American who describes various
versions of his early years to dramatize the accidental
nature of life. He also recounts his later return to Belgium
to rediscover "things seen and smelled and tasted and
endured in those few years before our clay hardens." 1998.
Five Thousand Days like This One: An American Family History
RC 49980
by Jane Brox: Goosebumps
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
The author depicts the lives of her parents and Lebanese
immigrant grandparents, who worked as textile mill laborers
before settling down on a hardscrabble farm in the Merrimack
Valley of Massachusetts. She wistfully reflects on the
suffering and uncertainties of their harsh existence. 1999.
Forty Acres and No Mule RC 49288
by Janice Holt Giles
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes (Reissue)
The author recalls how she met her future husband in 1943
and they moved to his family home in Adair County, Kentucky,
after the war. They worked on the hardscrabble farm to eke
out a living while she struggled to understand and conform
to the customs and culture of Appalachia. 1951.
Just Jackie: Her Private Years RC 49210
by Edward Klein
read by Jill Ferris
3 cassettes
Biography of former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy from the
time of her husband's assassination until her own death in
1994 at age sixty-four. Reconstructs her life with various
suitors, including her second husband Aristotle Onassis and
longtime friend Maurice Templesman. Describes her
relationships with and hopes for her children. 1998.
Lanterns: A Memoir of Mentors RC 50799
by Marian Wright Edelman
read by Gail Nelson
2 cassettes
In this autobiographical sketch Edelman discusses the
influences of the "natural daily" mentors who have enriched,
informed, and shaped her life. Her models include not only
adults from her youth, but also persons such as Martin
Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. An afterword includes
twenty-five lessons for life. 1999.
A Man Named Dave: A Story of Triumph and Forgiveness RC
49257
by Dave Pelzer
read by David Elias
2 cassettes
In this sequel to A Child Called It (RC 45004) and The Lost
Boy (RC 46336), the author joins the air force and starts a
family, while still suffering from the effects of his past
abuse. His relationships with his son and second wife help
Dave heal. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller
1999.
My Secret Mother: Lorna Moon RC 48910
by Richard de Mille
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Family history by Cecil B. de Mille's adopted son, Richard.
After he discovered that his paternal uncle is his real
father and that his birth mother is the novelist Lorna Moon,
he traced both families to their roots in Scotland, Holland,
and Canada, where he met his half-siblings. 1998.
The Night Gardener RC 50738
by Marjorie Sandor
read by Ann Hodapp
1 cassette
In twenty linked stories, Sandor creates a memory picture of
her life from childhood to motherhood. She writes of
receiving her first book, being the youngest of four
children, going fly-fishing, gardening, and becoming a wife
and then a single mother. 1999.
The Norton Book of American Autobiography RC 48490
edited by Jay Parini
read by MaryBeth Wise
6 cassettes
Presents more than sixty American autobiographies and
memoirs from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries.
Includes Mary Rowlandson's account of being captured by
Indians, Frederick Douglass's narrative of his life as a
slave, and Mark Twain's recollection of his childhood on the
Mississippi. For senior high and older readers. 1999.
Outside Passage: A Memoir of an Alaskan Childhood RC 47856
by Julia Scully
read by Marilyn Gleason
2 cassettes
A woman's coming-of-age memoir recalls the two years she and
her sister spent in an orphanage, her impoverished youth in
a remote Alaskan town, and her teenage years during World
War II, working in her widowed mother's roadhouse that
served a rough trade of gold miners. 1998.
The Seamstress: A Memoir of Survival RC 49191
by Sara Tuvel Bernstein
read by Gabriella Cavallero
3 cassettes
Sara (Seren) Tuvel was born into a large family in rural
Romania in 1918. She recounts her constant struggle against
anti-Semitism from an early age, her dressmaking talent that
stood her in good stead for most of her life, her time spent
in a concentration camp, her escape, and her immigration to
America. 1997.
A Season in Hell: A Memoir RC 49158
by Marilyn French
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Feminist writer known for The Women's Room (RC 11124) writes
of battling esophageal cancer from diagnosis through
treatment, coma, and unexpected recovery. Includes
discussion of her career and friendships during that time.
1998.
Blindness and Physical Handicaps
Access in London: A Guide for People Who Have Problems
Getting Around RC 49247
by Gordon Couch and others
read by George Holmes
4 cassettes
Presents detailed information about travel, accommodations,
tourist attractions, and leisure activities in London and
the nearby area for people with mobility problems. Includes
suggestions for those with impaired hearing or eyesight.
Contains a section on English pubs and toilet facilities.
1996.
Accessible Gardening: Tips and Techniques for Seniors and
the Disabled RC 49080
by Joann Woy
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Advises gardeners with special needs on ideas, tools, and
methods. Topics include garden design and layout, raised
beds, container and tabletop gardening, easy composting,
watering, lawn care, and accessories to facilitate physical
tasks. An appendix lists sources of tools, supplies, and
information. 1997.
Am I Old Yet? The Story of Two Women, Generations Apart,
Growing Up and Growing Young in a Timeless Friendship RC
50477
by Leah Komaiko
read by Ann Hodapp
1 cassette
An author of children's books recalls her decision, at
forty-four, to conquer her fear of aging by volunteering to
help an elderly person. Describes being paired with a
ninety-four-year-old blind woman in a nursing home.
Conversations from the hundreds of hours they spent together
illustrate their deepening friendship. 1999.
Braille: Into the Next Millennium RC 50969
by Blind and Physically Handicapped National Library Service
for the
read by Annie Wauters
3 cassettes
Essays examining the history and future of braille include
such topics as the development of the literary, Nemeth, and
music codes; braille production; legal issues; library
service; and literacy and computer access concerns. Edited
by Judith Dixon, with a foreword by Frank Kurt Cylke and a
preface by Kenneth Jernigan. 2000.
Cassette Books, 1998 RC 47799
by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped
read by various narrators
4 cassettes
A catalog of talking books produced on cassette for adult
and young adult readers during 1998. The nonfiction and
fiction sections list books by subject categories. Separate
listings identify books for young adult readers and for
Spanish readers. 1998.
Cassette Books, 1999 RC 50116
by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped
read by Butch Hoover
4 cassettes
A catalog of talking books produced on cassette for adult
and young adult readers during 1999. The nonfiction and
fiction sections list books by subject categories. Separate
listings identify books for young adult readers and for
Spanish readers. 1999.
Explorers with Disabilities Program Helps RC 50084
by Boy Scouts of America
read by Ralph Lowenstein
1 cassette
Provides a variety of programs and activities for the scout
leader in an effort to include young adults with
disabilities in the Exploring program, which includes both
men and women from ages fourteen through twenty. Companion
to Scouting for the Physically Handicapped (RC 9429). 1994.
A Field Guide for the Sight-Impaired Reader: A Comprehensive
Resource for Students, Teachers, and Librarians RC 50149
by Andrew Leibs
read by Carol Dines
2 cassettes
Identifies resources available to the visually impaired
student to facilitate reading. Lists appropriate agencies
and publishers as well as producers of technology that
assist the reader, including Internet addresses. For senior
high and older readers. 1999.
For Younger Readers, 1998-1999:  Braille and Talking Books
RC 50716
by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped
read by Jill Fox
4 cassettes
Catalog of books for readers from preschool through grade
nine, produced in braille and cassette formats during 1998
and 1999. Nonfiction and fiction books are arranged under
general subject headings. Also includes separate sections
for print/braille, very young readers, and young adults.
1999.
I Can Feel Blue on Monday RC 50888
edited by Marc Maurer
read by Nanette Savard
1 cassette
This collection of vignettes "tells what blindness is and,
perhaps equally important, what it is not." In the title
article math professor Abraham Nemeth, the originator of the
braille code for mathematics and sciences, describes his
English teacher's frustration because Nemeth could not feel
the color of a piece of paper. 2000.
The Imprisoned Guest: Samuel Howe and Laura Bridgman, the
Original Deaf-Blind Girl RC 51840
by Elisabeth Gitter
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
The life of Laura Bridgman, deaf and blind from age two, who
became one of the most famous women of the mid-nineteenth
century. Explores her education with Samuel Howe at Boston's
Perkins Institution for the Blind. Views her achievements in
the context of American social, cultural, and intellectual
history. 2001.
A Man's Guide to Coping with Disability RC 49629
by Resources for Rehabilitation
read by Richard Hauenstein
3 cassettes
This companion to A Woman's Guide to Coping with Disability
(RC 45924) provides information to help men maintain their
independence and cope with daily activities, despite
physical challenges. Includes strategies for those with
heart disease, diabetes, HIV, multiple sclerosis, prostate
conditions, spinal cord injury, and stroke. Lists national
organizations to contact. 1999.
Me and My Shadow: Learning to Live with Multiple Sclerosis
RC 49634
by Carole Mackie
read by Ann Hodapp
2 cassettes
Memoir of a British Airways stewardess, who at twenty-three
experienced physical numbness and incapacitation, which was
eventually diagnosed as relapsing/remitting multiple
sclerosis. She describes dealing with symptoms, doing MS
celebrity fund raising, and striving to continue working.
Includes a chapter by her employer. Some strong language.
1999.
Modular Instruction for Independent Travel for Students Who
Are Blind or Visually Impaired: Preschool through High
School RC 50652
by Doris M. Willoughby and Sharon L. Monthei
read by Lou Harpenau
4 cassettes
In this companion to Handbook for Itinerant and Resource
Teachers of Blind and Visually Impaired Students (RC 30434),
the authors provide sample exercises for teaching cane
travel to students from preschool through high school.
Covers general techniques as well as specifics for outdoor
travel and use of public transportation. 1998.
The Music of Light: The Extraordinary Story of Hikari and
Kenzaburo Oe RC 48623
by Lindsley Cameron
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Biography of the Japanese classical music composer Hikari Oe
and his devoted father, Kenzaburo Oe, winner of the Nobel
Prize for Literature. Discusses Hikari's physical
disabilities and musical gifts and his close relationship
with the father who began writing to give his son a voice.
1998.
Needles RC 49457
by Andie Dominick
read by Carol Dines
2 cassettes
The author tells of being fascinated with her diabetic older
sister's needles--until age nine when she, too, is diagnosed
with juvenile diabetes. Her sister helps her deal with
taunting classmates, but eventually Dominick realizes the
real dangers she and her sister face. Some strong language.
1998.
Oh, Wow! RC 50895
edited by Marc Maurer
read by Nanette Savard
1 cassette
In this collection of personal accounts, members of the
National Federation of the Blind discuss the importance of
being given the opportunity to try, as well as the value of
training and belief. In the title article Maurer discusses
how key it is to recognize the significance of small
triumphs and successes. 2000.
Only the Eyes Say Yes: A Love Story RC 50373
by Philippe Vigand and Stphane Vigand
read by Nick Sullivan
1 cassette
Chronicles the struggles of a young French couple after
Philippe develops a condition known as locked-in syndrome as
a result of a ruptured brain artery. Describes their
rehabilitation efforts, including the use of a blinking
alphabet and a computer. Stphane reflects on her decision
to remain married and on the birth of their child. 1999.
Over My Head: A Doctor's Own Story of Head Injury from the
Inside Looking Out RC 49060
by Claudia L. Osborn
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Dr. Claudia Osborn recounts her life after sustaining a
severe head injury while bicycling in 1988. Describes her
neurological difficulties, her rehabilitation, her coping
strategies, and her starting over as a different person.
Includes a list of head injury resources. 1998.
Reflecting the Flame RC 50642
edited by Marc Maurer
read by Bruce Huntey
1 cassette
Nine stories recounting how blind adults are creating a past
upon which blind children can build their futures. A lawyer
gains a better understanding of her blindness while learning
how to open a milk carton, and a man discusses how to deal
with things done mainly for visual effect. 1999.
Spinal Cord Injury: A Guide for Living RC 50655
by Sara Palmer and others
read by Patricia McDermott
3 cassettes
Three professionals in rehabilitation medicine and
psychology describe the trauma of spinal cord injury; what
to expect during the therapeutic process; and how to meet
the psychological, medical, and social challenges of living
with the disability. Patients' stories are used to
illustrate each aspect. Some descriptions of sex. 2000.
Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man's Journey to Climb
Farther than the Eye Can See RC 51505
by Erik Weihenmayer
read by Dan Bloom
3 cassettes
In this adventure-packed memoir, the author recalls
rebelling against becoming blind by age fifteen. Relates
acquiring a passion for mountaineering and developing the
character traits that enabled him to succeed. Covers his
climbing exploits and his wedding on top of Mount
Kilimanjaro. Some strong language. 2001.
Twilight: Losing Sight, Gaining Insight RC 49236
by Henry Grunwald
read by Gary Telles
1 cassette
Former editor and ambassador describes his life after
developing age-related macular degeneration. Shares his
research into the disease and discusses medical treatments,
assistive devices, and helpful agencies. Deprived of visual
experiences, he admits that the emotional effects are
profound, but advises disabled people to stay involved in
the world. 1999.
Business and Economics
A Million a Minute: Inside the World of Securities Trading--
the Men, the Women, the Money That Make the Markets Work RC
49403
by Hillary Davis
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
A former equity portfolio manager takes the reader inside
the world of traders in the financial markets. Describes
their motivations, their ethics, and the dynamic,
competitive arena in which they work. Explains how traders
influence the price of everything we buy. Projects future
trends in the field. 1998.
Against the Tide: The Fate of the New England Fisherman RC
50334
by Richard Adams Carey
read by Michael Scherer
3 cassettes
In this portrait of New England's imperiled fishing
industry, the author chronicles his year spent with four
independent fishermen, observing and assisting them.
Describes their arduous and risky work at sea as they vie
for stocks that have been depleted from years of plunder.
Discusses causes of the industry's decline. 1999.
The American Way of Death Revisited RC 47523
by Jessica Mitford
read by Kimberly Schraf
3 cassettes
In this revision of 1963's The American Way of Death (RC
21457), the author examines corruption in the funeral
industry. Presents the large chains and the myths they
propagate to obtain wealth. Discusses the history of
funerals, cremation, and the role of the Federal Trade
Commission. Includes a directory of nonprofit funeral and
memorial societies by state. 1998.
Black and White on Wall Street: The Untold Story of the Man
Wrongly Accused of Bringing Down Kidder Peabody RC 50793
by Joseph Jett
read by Jake Williams
4 cassettes
A graduate of MIT and the Harvard Business School and former
senior bond trader at Kidder Peabody Company asserts that
greed, combativeness, corporate misdeeds, financial
manipulation, racism, and sexism prevail on Wall Street.
Alleges that Kidder and its parent company, General
Electric, falsely accused him of causing their economic
losses. 1999.
Blood: An Epic History of Medicine and Commerce RC 49658
by Douglas Starr
read by Lou Harpenau
3 cassettes
A history of the science, the politics, and the economics of
human blood. Traces its evolution from a substance of myth
to a therapeutic liquid that is collected and stored as a
strategic resource.  Also discusses the global blood
business, the ethics of blood management, and the hazards of
blood-borne viruses. 1998.
Built from Scratch: How a Couple of Regular Guys Grew the
Home Depot from Nothing to $30 Billion RC 49440
by Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
The Home Depot founders recall the creation and development
of their home improvement corporation and expound on their
philosophical beliefs about retailing, management, and
competition. They emphasize the importance of instilling
company loyalty based on integrity and respect for
customers. 1999.
Butterfly Economics: A New General Theory of Social and
Economic Behavior RC 51022
by Paul Ormerod
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
The head of the Economic Assessment Unit at the Economist
and a visiting professor at the Universities of London and
Manchester presents an unconventional economic model.
Asserts that the discipline is unpredictable and
uncontrollable largely because of uncertainties in human
behavior and communities. Appendixes and footnotes explain
specialized and technical terms. 1998.
The Coffee Book: Anatomy of an Industry from Crop to the
Last Drop RC 49855
by Gregory Dicum and Nina Luttinger
read by Michael Consoli
2 cassettes
Examines the coffee industry, from the beverage's origins up
through the specialty coffee craze. Discusses aspects such
as caffeine addiction, marketing techniques, working
conditions for coffee farmers, and international trade.
1999.
Development as Freedom RC 50746
by Amartya Sen
read by John Richardson
3 cassettes
The 1998 Nobel Prize laureate in Economic Science proposes
that a nation's well-being is determined by civil rights,
political liberties, freedom of speech, and social
responsibility, as well as gross national product,
industrialization, technology, and modernization. Argues
that human development depends on citizens' participation in
the decisions that affect their lives. 1999.
Economics Explained: Everything You Need to Know about How
the Economy Works and Where It's Going RC 47632
by Robert Heilbroner and Lester Thurow
read by Dan Bloom
2 cassettes
This revised fourth edition explains the basics of economics
and then discusses how globalization and other trends could
affect American economic life of the late 1990s. 1998.
From Mind to Market: Reinventing the Retail Supply Chain RC
50479
by Roger D. Blackwell
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
Details 1990s trends in retail industry and advises
merchants to initiate consumer-driven policies in the
twenty-first century. Explores customers' knowledge and
improved access to information about merchandise
availability and competitive prices. Avers that the author's
strategies have helped maximize profits for such companies
as Wal-Mart, Kinko's, and The Gap. 1997.
The Greenspan Effect: Words That Move the World's Markets RC
50492
by David B. Sicilia and Jeffrey L. Cruikshank
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Analyzes the writings and speeches of Alan Greenspan,
chairman of the Federal Reserve System since 1987; assesses
the impact of his words on American and global financial
markets. Probes his philosophy on economic and social
issues; provides tips for investors, policymakers, and the
public on how to anticipate the effects of his
pronouncements. 2000.
Home Business, Big Business: The Definitive Guide to
Starting and Operating On-Line and Traditional Home-Based
Ventures RC 49133
by Mel Cook
read by John Richardson
2 cassettes
Using the success stories of a variety of entrepreneurs such
as Michael Dell of Dell Computer Corporation and Lillian
Vernon, whose mail order company brings in hundreds of
millions, this revised edition gives advice on aspects such
as choosing a business, setting up a home office, and using
cybermarketing. 1998.
Legacy: A Biography of Moses and Walter Annenberg RC 50678
by Christopher Ogden
read by Lou Harpenau
5 cassettes
A double biography of the father and son who built up a
publishing empire and a vast family fortune. Covers Moses'
arrival at Ellis Island in 1885; his rags-to-riches tale;
the family's marriages, divorces, scandals, success, and
failures; and Walter's expansion of the business, political
interventions, and philanthropic undertakings. 1999.
The Many Lives of Andrew Carnegie RC 49872
by Milton Meltzer
read by Butch Hoover
1 cassette
The rags-to-riches story of Andrew Carnegie, who rose from
an impoverished Scottish immigrant to become the wealthiest
man in the world after he sold his business interests to
J.P. Morgan in 1900. In retirement, Carnegie became known
for establishing libraries throughout the world. For senior
high and older readers. 1997.
The Millionaire Mind RC 49942
by Thomas J. Stanley
read by Ralph Lowenstein
3 cassettes
In this companion to The Millionaire Next Door (RC 43944)
the author explores people with a "millionaire mind-set"--
those who focus upon accumulating wealth. His nationwide
survey examines such factors as academic performance, career
selection, family and social relationships, lifestyle, and
the ability to conquer fear. Bestseller 2000.
Morgan: American Financier RC 49869
by Jean Strouse
read by Lou Harpenau
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Biography of the powerful capitalist banker of the Gilded
Age, who transformed the United States from an agrarian
society into a powerful industrial state. Relates how
Pierpont Morgan financed the robber barons and rescued the
country from the panic of 1901, while amassing a huge
personal art collection. 1999.
The New New Thing: A Silicon Valley Story RC 49256
by Michael Lewis
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Examines the shift in the focus of U.S. economic culture
from Wall Street to Silicon Valley in the 1990s. Recalls
innovations in computer research and development that
centered around billionaire entrepreneur Jim Clark, who
founded Silicon Graphics, Netscape, and, in late 1999,
Healtheon. Also discusses Clark's computerized sailboat,
Hyperion. Bestseller 2000.
The Plot to Get Bill Gates: An Irreverent Investigation of
the World's Richest Man--and the People Who Hate Him RC
49421
by Gary Rivlin
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
A computer industry journalist analyzes the nature and
motives of attacks on the multibillionaire by competitive
rivals and other parties, such as consumer advocate Ralph
Nader and the Justice Department. Portrays a greedy,
arrogant, overbearing, and obsessive Bill Gates whom his
enemies find easy to hate. Some strong language. 1999.
The Return of Depression Economics RC 50206
by Paul Krugman
read by Ted Stoddard
2 cassettes
A nontechnical analysis of the late-1990s recessions that
rocked various Asian and Latin American economies. Argues
that the crisis countries were initially victimized by the
flight of panicked foreign investors, then further harmed by
IMF-imposed restrictions. Prescribes guidelines for
restraining capital in a global marketplace. 1999.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids about
Money--That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! RC 50090
by Robert T. Kiyosaki
read by Rick Rohan
2 cassettes
Investor describes how he learned about money from his Ph.D.
father, who could never retain wealth, and also from his
friend's father, who was a millionaire with an eighth grade
education. Explains how to make your money work for you by
mastering financial literacy and taking charge. Bestseller
1997.
Savings Bonds: When to Hold, When to Fold, and Everything in
Between RC 48471
by Daniel J. Pederson
read by Rick Rohan
3 cassettes
Discusses U.S. savings bonds: the tax aspects of owning
them, strategies for retirement and estate planning, and
ways to maximize the return on investment. Explains what the
notes' rates mean and when to purchase, redeem, reissue, and
exchange bonds to avoid interest loss. Provides the features
of Series E, EE, H, HH, and I Bonds. 1999.
Sole Influence: Basketball, Corporate Greed, and the
Corruption of America's Youth RC 50731
by Dan Wetzel and Don Yaeger
read by Barry Bernson
2 cassettes
Outspoken report on the questionable practices of sneaker
companies Nike and adidas in their search for athletes to
promote their products. Describes how, after basketball
superstar Michael Jordan made millions for Nike, both
companies began reaching out to schools, coaches, and young
players, offering equipment and money in return for loyalty.
2000.
A Sportsman's Life: How I Built Orvis by Mixing Business and
Sport RC 50814
by Leigh Perkins
read by Gordon Gould
2 cassettes
An entrepreneur recounts how he turned a foundering company
into a thriving $100-million mail-order sporting outfitter.
As an avid outdoorsman who delights in traveling the globe
to field-test the hunting and fishing equipment he sells,
the author wryly observes that "nobody has any reason to
feel sorry for me." 1999.
Careers
Careers for Bookworms and Other Literary Types RC 49693
by Marjorie Eberts and Margaret Gisler
read by Gregory Gorton
1 cassette
Examines occupations for book lovers that involve a lot of
reading. Includes careers in libraries, book publishing,
magazines and newspapers, education, research, movies, and
more. Briefly discusses qualifications and duties for each
job. For junior and senior high readers. 1995.
Careers for Crafty People and Other Dexterous Types RC 50798
by Mark Rowh
read by Jill Ferris
1 cassette
Explores the world of craftsmen and artisans whose
livelihoods involve creating hand-forged objects from wood,
metal, glass, fabrics, or in the graphic arts. Offers
suggestions on pursuing a career outside of the mainstream.
For junior and senior high and older readers. 1994.
Careers for Sports Fans RC 49611
by Andrew Kaplan
read by Jack Fox
1 cassette
The author interviews fourteen people who work in sports-
related fields in order to determine what their jobs entail.
Includes a teacher, a coach, a lawyer, a scout, and an
official, as well as professional players. For senior high
readers. 1991.
Careers for Sports Nuts and Other Athletic Types RC 49092
by William Ray Heitzmann
read by Rick Foucheux
1 cassette
Describes careers in the sports fields for those who are not
professional athletes but love the thrill of the game.
Includes the roles of coaches and managers, officials and
communicators, medical personnel, and others involved before
the team even starts to play. For junior and senior high and
older readers. 1997.
So, You Want to Join the Peace Corps: What to Know before
You Go RC 50478
by Dillon Banerjee
read by Carol Dines
2 cassettes
Returned Peace Corps volunteer answers questions he had when
he joined in the 1990s. Topics include assessing program
requirements, packing for the two-year stint, training,
living among the locals, managing money, handling medical
and safety concerns, maintaining contact with home, and
socializing. Appendixes include restrictions related to
medical conditions. 2000.
Working in Law and Justice RC 50171
by Mary L. Davis
read by Bob Moore
1 cassette
Profiles of twelve Colorado residents employed in legal and
judicial fields; includes a 9-1-1 operator, deputy sheriff,
bail-bonding agent, private investigator, forensic
scientist, security firm owner, paralegal, law librarian,
lawyer, district court judge, court administrator, and court
reporter. For junior and senior high readers. 1999.
Classics
Aias [Ajax] RC 50085
by Sophocles
read by John Horton
1 cassette
Modern translation by Herbert Golder and Richard Pevear of a
lesser-known Sophocles tragedy in which the valiant hero
Aias is betrayed by his comrades, who secretly confer the
dead Achilles' armor on Aias's rival, Odysseus. The shamed
Aias sees no honorable course but suicide. 1999.
Beowulf RC 49742
by Seamus Heaney
read by Patrick Horgan
2 cassettes
Nobel laureate Heaney presents a bilingual edition of the
tenth-century Anglo-Saxon epic, which includes the original
poem in Old English along with his new modern English verse
translation. The poem chronicles the feats of Scandinavian
warrior Beowulf, who battles with monsters and brings wisdom
to leadership. Whitbread Award. Bestseller 2000.
Eugene Onegin: A Novel in Verse RC 49534
by Aleksandr Pushkin
read by Ken Kliban
2 cassettes
Recounts a tale of unrequited love by the romantic young
Tatiana for the disillusioned Russian aristocrat Eugene.
Years later it is Eugene who beseeches Tatiana for love, but
she remains dutiful to her marriage vows. Basis for
Tchaikovsky's opera. Translated by Vladimir Nabokov from the
original 1833 publication by Pushkin. 1964.
Hiroshima RC 50148
by John Hersey
read by Barry Bernson
1 cassette
A Pulitzer Prize-winning author's updated account of the
tragedy of the world's first atomic bomb. In 1945, while the
ashes of Hiroshima were still warm, Hersey traveled to Japan
to interview survivors, whose narratives articulate the
devastating aftermath. The last chapter was added nearly
forty years later. 1985.
The History of Henry the Fourth, Part 2 RC 49248
by William Shakespeare
read by John Horton
2 cassettes
First published in 1600. An annotated version of
Shakespeare's play involving Prince Hal, Falstaff, and the
troubled monarch, Henry IV. Provides historical perspective
and plot summaries. Defines obscure terms and uses modern
spelling. 1961.
The History of Henry the Fourth, Part 1 RC 49020
by William Shakespeare
read by John Horton
2 cassettes
First published in 1598. Depicts the early years of the
reign of England's Henry IV. The Earl of Northumberland's
son, Hotspur, becomes Henry's opponent. Eventually Henry's
son, Prince Hal, leaves the merrymaker Falstaff to join the
battle at Shrewsbury against Hotspur. Annotated version with
historical background and essay on literary perspective.
1994.
Natural History: A Selection RC 49728
by Pliny the Elder
read by Gordon Gould
4 cassettes
An encyclopedic overview of Roman scientific understanding
during the first century A.D. By the author's estimate, this
work presents some two hundred thousand facts about
astronomy, geography, zoology, botany, medicine, art, and
architecture. Discussions are enlivened with anecdotes and
personal commentary. 1991.
Three by Tennessee: Sweet Bird of Youth, The Rose Tattoo,
The Night of the Iguana RC 50178
by Tennessee Williams
read by Kimberly Schraf
3 cassettes
Three classic plays by the Pulitzer Prize-winning dramatist.
In Sweet Bird of Youth, a gigolo returns to his southern
hometown. The Night of the Iguana is set in a run-down
Mexican tourist hotel. In The Rose Tattoo, a Sicilian widow
finds love. Some violence and some strong language. 1961.
Computers
Cyber Crimes RC 50668
by Gina De Angelis
read by Randy Davidson
1 cassette
Discusses high-tech crimes by hackers, crackers, and phone
phreaks using computers to engage in fraud, embezzlement,
espionage, cybersex, and child pornography. Explains how to
minimize one's vulnerability to such offenses and how to
maximize personal privacy and security. For junior and
senior high readers. 2000.
Dealers of Lightning: Xerox PARC and the Dawn of the
Computer Age RC 50127
by Michael Hiltzik
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
An inside view of Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC),
renowned as a Silicon Valley hotbed of technological
development. Traces the facility's evolution from its
inception in 1970, describing some eccentricities of the
brilliant pioneers in the field of personal computers and
related breakthroughs. Alleges that the corporation failed
to exploit PARC's inventions. 1999.
The Pattern on the Stone: The Simple Ideas That Make
Computers Work RC 49454
by W. Daniel Hillis
read by Richard Hauenstein
1 cassette
Explains the nature, elements, and functional principles of
computers. Discusses fundamentals such as bits and Boolean
logic, computer operations, and the concept of an
intelligent "automated machine." Explores the future
frontiers of computing. 1998.
When Things Start to Think RC 49458
by Neil Gershenfeld
read by John Richardson
2 cassettes
Criticizes the state of the digital revolution in the late
1990s as largely irrelevant and unresponsive to the needs of
ordinary people. Proposes a future direction that would aim
to enhance real life and to serve humans without being
intrusive. Describes such applications as computers embedded
in footwear to communicate with other modern devices. 1999.
Bobbi Brown Teenage Beauty: Everything You Need to Look
Pretty, Natural, Sexy, and Awesome RC 51013
by Bobbi Brown and Annemarie Iverson
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
Noted makeup artist provides instructions on choosing and
applying cosmetics. Addresses common teen issues including
blemishes and braces. Includes sections on hair care, body
type, self image, and beauty tips for various ethnic types.
For junior and senior high and older readers.  Bestseller
2000.
Real World Math: Money and Other Numbers in Your Life RC
49046
by Donna Guthrie and Jan Stiles
read by Mimi Bederman
1 cassette
Do I need a savings account? Can I buy whatever I want with
my own credit card? Can I afford my own car? How much should
I tip the waiter? The authors answer these and many more
questions about handling money. Includes discussions of
balancing a checkbook and cost-effective shopping. For
junior and senior high readers. 1998.
Retire and Thrive: Remarkable People Share Their Creative,
Productive, and Profitable Retirement Strategies RC 49142
by Robert K. Otterbourg
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
Retired early from public relations and now a writer, the
author uses his and others' stories to illustrate various
options available to those of retirement age. Topics include
going back to school, starting a new career, starting
hobbies, volunteering, having enough money, and escaping
from retirement altogether. 1999.
Consumerism
The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook RC 50515
by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht
read by Barry Bernson
1 cassette
Techniques and planning for survival in emergencies. Basic
rules include being mentally and physically prepared, having
access to proper equipment, and refusing to panic. Covers
medical crises, natural disasters, attacks by wild animals,
and dangers that require fast escapes. Names experts
interviewed about each situation. Bestseller 1999.
Cooking and Food
Essentials of Cooking RC 50091
by James Peterson
read by Gary Tipton
2 cassettes
Rather than offering a collection of recipes, Peterson
presents a series of basic instructions for various cooking
methods. Includes peeling and cutting fruits and vegetables;
making sauces and stews; and roasting, grilling, frying,
sauting, or poaching fruits, meats, and vegetables. Also
includes kitchen notes and tips. 1999.
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
RC 50845
by Anthony Bourdain
read by Christopher Walker
2 cassettes
An executive chef, who recognized his passion for food as a
nine-year-old on a family trip to France, discusses his love
affair with cooking. He also describes the less glamorous
side, where heavy drinking, drugs, sex, and crime among the
cooks go hand-in-hand with pots and pans. Strong language.
Bestseller 2000.
Real Food for People with Diabetes RC 49328
by Doris Cross
read by Miriam Wagner
1 cassette
Recipes by an author who had written about low-fat cookery
before she was diagnosed with diabetes. In this volume, she
modifies her favorites to accommodate her condition and
still satisfy her family. Includes some 170 foods from
appetizers to desserts. 1997.
Remember When...? Family, Friends, and Recipes RC 50461
by Clara Belle Hooks Eschmann
read by Janis Gray
2 cassettes
Eschmann, who has lived in Georgia all her life, reminisces
and shares favorite recipes. Beginning with the reopening of
school in the fall, she carries the reader through a year of
activities such as making pull candy, waiting for Santa,
having Valentine's Day parties, choosing Easter dresses,
picking wildflowers, and attending church picnics. 1998.
Secrets of Cooking: Armenian, Lebanese, Persian RC 49504
by Linda Chirinian
read by Robert Blumenfeld
2 cassettes
Over two hundred ethnic recipes, many of which also include
brief historical notes about the origins of the dish and/or
suggestions on when to serve it. The recipes were selected
with "special attention to the benefits of eating simple,
basic, naturally healthy foods." 1987. 1987.
Shabbat Shalom: Recipes and Menus for the Sabbath RC 51031
by Susan R. Friedland
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Following a brief discussion of the Sabbath, Friedland
offers more than 175 traditional and contemporary recipes
for celebrating the three Sabbath meals. Includes challah,
appetizers, soups, meats, kugels, vegetables, salads, and
desserts. Also features sample menus. 1999.
The Simply Gourmet Diabetes Cookbook: Easy, Healthy Recipes
and Menus for People with Diabetes and Those Who Love Them
RC 50115
by Mary Donkersloot
read by Patricia McDermott
4 cassettes
A nutritionist discusses how to live well with diabetes and
offers hundreds of recipes (with nutritional analyses and
exchanges) for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
Includes suggested menus and shopping tips. 1998.
Crime
Actual Innocence: Five Days to Execution, and Other
Dispatches from the Wrongly Convicted RC 50636
by Barry Scheck and others
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Civil rights attorneys Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld team
up with columnist Jim Dwyer to give detailed accounts of
innocent people imprisoned for years. The two lawyers draw
on their experiences with the Innocence Project, which seeks
the release of the wrongly convicted through DNA testing.
Includes a list of proposed reforms. 2000.
 ... And Never Let Her Go: Thomas Capano, the Deadly Seducer
RC 49178
by Ann Rule
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
4 cassettes
Describes the 1996 disappearance of Anne Marie Fahey, the
thirty-year-old scheduling secretary for the governor of
Delaware. When her former married lover, attorney Thomas
Capano, was accused of murdering her and disposing of the
body, he tried to blame his other longtime mistress. Details
the two relationships and the trial. Bestseller 1999.
Boggs: A Comedy of Values RC 50224
by Lawrence Weschler
read by Michael Scherer
1 cassette
Portrait of artist J.S.G. Boggs, who was known in the 1980s
and 1990s for sketching banknotes and attempting to exchange
his handiwork at face value for goods and services. Recounts
Boggs's clashes with U.S., British, and other treasury
officials. Provides a brief history of money and private
citizens' efforts at replication. 1999.
Crimes of the Century: From Leopold and Loeb to O.J. Simpson
RC 48924
by Gilbert Geis and Leigh B. Bienen
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Discusses five of the most publicized trials of the
twentieth century: Leopold and Loeb, the Scottsboro affair,
the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, the Alger Hiss spy case, and
the O.J. Simpson murder trial. Examines sensational legal
dramas within the social and political climate of the times.
1998.
Cyber Crimes RC 50668
by Gina De Angelis
read by Randy Davidson
1 cassette
Discusses high-tech crimes by hackers, crackers, and phone
phreaks using computers to engage in fraud, embezzlement,
espionage, cybersex, and child pornography. Explains how to
minimize one's vulnerability to such offenses and how to
maximize personal privacy and security. For junior and
senior high readers. 2000.
The Death of Innocence: The Untold Story of JonBent's
Murder and How Its Exploitation Compromised the Pursuit of
Truth RC 50029
by John Ramsey and Patsy Ramsey
read by Kristin Allison
3 cassettes
John and Patsy Ramsey describe their ordeal following the
murder of their daughter, JonBent, on Christmas Day 1996.
They discuss the events following the discovery of a ransom
note, the police investigation, and the accusations made by
the media condemning them, and they offer possible theories
about what actually happened. Bestseller 2000.
Deliberate Intent: A Lawyer Tells the True Story of Murder
by the Book RC 50533
by Rod Smolla
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Account of prosecuting the publishers of a how-to book, Hit
Man, after its instructions were followed in a triple
homicide. Recalls that Lawrence Horn's ex-wife, brain-
damaged son, and the boy's nurse were killed by Horn's hit
man in 1993. Smolla represented the victims' families to
prove the publisher criminally exploited First Amendment
freedoms. Some strong language. 1999.
Fraud! How to Protect Yourself from Schemes, Scams, and
Swindles RC 50194
by Marsha Bertrand
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Examines economic fraud, a billion-dollar business that
victimizes more people than violent crime. Describes Ponzi
and pyramid schemes, affinity fraud, and scams involving
technology, stocks, commodities, and franchises. Discusses
con artists' techniques, how to prevent being duped, and how
to react if targeted. 2000.
Gotham Unbound: How New York City Was Liberated from the
Grip of Organized Crime RC 50054
by James B. Jacobs
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
An in-depth account of the impact of the Cosa Nostra on
business, labor, and politics in New York City in the
twentieth century. Describes mob infiltration of the
garment, construction, and other major industries.
Chronicles law enforcement initiatives since 1980 to drive
the mob out of the metropolis. 1999.
Hastened to the Grave: The Gypsy Murder Investigation RC
48629
by Jack Olsen
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
Narrative of the investigation of a band of gypsies who
preyed on elderly retirees and ultimately murdered them for
monetary gain. Aided by a female private detective from San
Francisco, Fay "Rat Dog" Faron, the police tracked the Tene
Bimbos for five years before charging them with murder.
Strong language and violence. 1998.
The Hunt for the Engineer: How Israeli Agents Tracked the
Hamas Master Bomber RC 49726
by Samuel M. Katz
read by Robert Blumenfeld
2 cassettes
Chronicles the search for Yehiya Ayyash, the explosives
engineer from the terrorist group Hamas, which rejects both
the Jewish state and the PLO. Recalls Ayyash's bombing spree
that set off a worldwide manhunt in 1994 and ended with his
death at the Shin Bet's hands in 1996. Violence and some
strong language. 1999.
Murder in Brentwood RC 50030
by Mark Fuhrman
read by Bob Askey
3 cassettes
A former Los Angeles Police Department detective chronicles
his June 13, 1994, investigation of the murders of Nicole
Simpson and Ron Goldman. He recounts his testimony in the
O.J. Simpson trial, as well as his own subsequent trial for
perjury. The author maintains he was targeted as a scapegoat
in the Simpson case. Violence. Bestseller 1997.
Profiles in Murder: An FBI Legend Dissects Killers and Their
Crimes RC 49460
by Russell Vorpagel
read by Fred Major
2 cassettes
Memoir of one of the FBI's pioneer psychological profilers.
Walks the reader through a training class on the topic,
citing graphic details from real cases in which profiling
was used. Violence and some strong language. 1998.
Serpico RC 49190
by Peter Maas
read by L.J. Ganser
2 cassettes (Reissue)
The suspense-filled biography of Frank Serpico, the New York
City plainclothesman whose undercover work and testimony on
police corruption triggered the formation of the New York
Knapp Commission. Strong language. 1973.
The Thieves' Opera RC 49794
by Lucy Moore
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Eighteenth-century London. Two notorious criminals operate
in the seamy underground of the capital: Jonathan Wild is
the "thief-taker general," whose criminal organization
colludes with the corrupt police, while Jack Sheppard is a
freelance robber who becomes infamous for his prison escapes
and daring crimes. Some violence. 1997.
Three Month Fever: The Andrew Cunanan Story RC 49017
by Gary Indiana
read by Jeff Baker
2 cassettes
In 1997, twenty-eight-year-old Andrew Cunanan killed four
men, including designer Gianni Versace, before committing
suicide. Using information from police and FBI reports, the
author describes the killing spree and imagines what the
young homosexual Cunanan was doing and thinking during that
time. Strong language, violence, and explicit descriptions
of sex. 1999.
To the Last Breath: Three Women Fight for the Truth behind a
Child's Tragic Murder RC 46781
by Carlton Stowers
read by Jeanne Evans
2 cassettes
Chronicle of an investigation following the death of Annette
Goode's toddler daughter, Renee, at the home of Annette's
estranged husband, Shane. No evidence surfaces to prove
suspicions of murder until a large insurance policy prompts
three other women--the district attorney, a detective, and
Renee's grandmother--to seek more answers. Strong language.
1998.
Why They Kill: The Discoveries of a Maverick Criminologist
RC 50410
by Richard Rhodes
read by Terence Aselford
3 cassettes
Discusses the theories and life of criminologist Dr. Lonnie
Athens, who experienced abuse as a child and later explored
the subject of violence. Athens uses case studies of
criminals in prison to suggest causes and varieties of
destructive behavior and to propose ways to prevent such
outbreaks. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions
of sex. 1999.
Diet
The Anti-Aging Zone RC 50904
by Barry Sears
read by Rick Rohan
3 cassettes
Describing how to live a longer and more functional life,
the author discusses the hormonal group eicosanoids in
greater detail than he had in The Zone (RC 42493) and his
other books. He asserts that through dietary control,
hormonal communication can be improved and the aging process
reversed. 1999.
Balance Your Body, Balance Your Life: Dr. Taub's Twenty-
Eight-Day Permanent Weight Loss Plan RC 49090
by Edward A. Taub
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
Integrative medical doctor outlines a month-long regimen of
eating and exercising patterns, which he claims will lead to
permanent weight loss, better health, and more energy. Diet
stresses "live" foods, including fresh fruits and
vegetables, eaten at optimal times of day. Exercise centers
on walking and yoga stretches. 1999.
The Carbohydrate Addict's Healthy Heart Program: Break Your
Carbo-Insulin Connection to Heart Disease RC 49472
by Richard F. Heller and others
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
The authors of The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet (RC 37248)
team up with a medical doctor specializing in cardiovascular
health to explain how their low carbohydrate diet helps the
heart by reducing insulin release. Also describes additional
methods of fighting heart disease. Bestseller 1999.
The Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Program: A Personalized
Plan for Becoming Slim, Fit, and Healthy in Your 40s, 50s,
60s, and Beyond RC 49281
by Richard F. Heller and Rachael F. Heller
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
The authors of The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet (RC 37248) now
explain how those over forty can create a lifestyle program
using a simple nutritional plan. Explains basic diet;
includes menus and recipes (including vegetarian meals) for
high-protein and fiber-rich breakfasts and lunches, and
"well-balanced feasts" for dinner. Bestseller 1997.
Dieting with the Duchess: Secrets and Sensible Advice for a
Great Body RC 50390
by Sarah, the Duchess of York
read by Lisette Lecat
2 cassettes
Sarah Ferguson describes how she became the spokesperson for
Weight Watchers and her techniques for losing and
maintaining weight. Includes advice on nutrition, exercise,
stress-reduction, and self-esteem as well as recipes. 1998.
Eating Well for Optimum Health: The Essential Guide to Food,
Diet, and Nutrition RC 49744
by Andrew Weil
read by Michael Scherer
3 cassettes
Expanding on his bestselling Eight Weeks to Optimum Health
(RC 44268), Dr. Weil critiques low-fat and low-carbohydrate
diet trends and provides his own nutritional guidelines.
Unwilling to sacrifice the pleasure of eating, he offers
recipes for "healthful and delicious" dishes. Bestseller
2000.
The Fat of the Land: Our Health Crisis and How Overweight
Americans Can Help Themselves RC 49686
by Michael Fumento
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
An overview of obesity, "the most common chronic health
problem in America," affecting one-third of all adults.
Examines the causes and consequences of excess body weight,
debunks many popular fad diets, and denounces pro-obesity
movements. Urges a commonsense approach to weight control:
eat wisely and exercise. 1997.
Feeding Your Child for Lifelong Health: Birth through Age
Six RC 50465
by Susan B. Roberts and Melvin B. Heyman
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Authors explain how foods eaten in childhood can have
lasting effects on the body's growth and functions--a
science called metabolic programming. Avers that a proper
youthful diet influences physical and intellectual
development, prevents allergies and obesity, teaches
children to enjoy healthy foods, and protects against other
health problems. 1999.
Fit Happens: Strategies for Living a Healthier, Happier,
Fitter Life RC 49961
by Joanie Greggains
read by Nona Pipes
2 cassettes
Host of television and radio fitness shows stresses
substituting smart choices for bad habits--making positive
lifestyle choices every day. She provides commonsense
instructions on how to eat right and exercise enough,
warning against fad diets and other fitness gimmicks. 2000.
Lights Out: Sleep, Sugar, and Survival RC 50357
by T.S. Wiley
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Diabetes researcher, anthropologist, and medical theorist
contends that lack of sleep causes obesity, illness, and,
ultimately, death. He recommends that, for at least the
colder seven months of the year, people follow nature's
cycles by sleeping more than nine hours a night and eating a
nutritious, low-carbohydrate diet. 2000.
The Simply Gourmet Diabetes Cookbook: Easy, Healthy Recipes
and Menus for People with Diabetes and Those Who Love Them
RC 50115
by Mary Donkersloot
read by Patricia McDermott
4 cassettes
A nutritionist discusses how to live well with diabetes and
offers hundreds of recipes (with nutritional analyses and
exchanges) for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
Includes suggested menus and shopping tips. 1998.
The Soy Zone RC 51059
by Barry Sears
read by Rick Rohan
3 cassettes
In this companion to The Zone (RC 42493), the author
recommends using primarily soy products as protein sources
and explains why he considers this to be his healthiest
hormone-balancing diet yet. Includes over one hundred
recipes. 2000.
Strong Women Stay Slim RC 50732
by Miriam E. Nelson
read by Patricia McDermott
2 cassettes
In this companion to Strong Women Stay Young (RC 46865) the
author continues with advice on exercising with weights in
order to develop strength, build bone, improve balance and
flexibility, and increase energy. Presents pertinent
scientific evidence, sample exercises, and healthful
recipes. 1998.
A Week in the Zone RC 50447
by Barry Sears
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
In this companion to The Zone (RC 42493) and others, Sears
presents simplified instructions for his insulin-controlling
diet, asserting that trying the "Zone" for a week will
create converts. Includes new research to validate the diet,
which he maintains is neither high in protein nor low in
carbohydrates. Bestseller 2000.
Drama
The History of Henry the Fourth, Part 1 RC 49020
by William Shakespeare
read by John Horton
2 cassettes
First published in 1598. Depicts the early years of the
reign of England's Henry IV. The Earl of Northumberland's
son, Hotspur, becomes Henry's opponent. Eventually Henry's
son, Prince Hal, leaves the merrymaker Falstaff to join the
battle at Shrewsbury against Hotspur. Annotated version with
historical background and essay on literary perspective.
1994.
The History of Henry the Fourth, Part 2 RC 49248
by William Shakespeare
read by John Horton
2 cassettes
First published in 1600. An annotated version of
Shakespeare's play involving Prince Hal, Falstaff, and the
troubled monarch, Henry IV. Provides historical perspective
and plot summaries. Defines obscure terms and uses modern
spelling. 1961.
Three by Tennessee: Sweet Bird of Youth, The Rose Tattoo,
The Night of the Iguana RC 50178
by Tennessee Williams
read by Kimberly Schraf
3 cassettes
Three classic plays by the Pulitzer Prize-winning dramatist.
In Sweet Bird of Youth, a gigolo returns to his southern
hometown. The Night of the Iguana is set in a run-down
Mexican tourist hotel. In The Rose Tattoo, a Sicilian widow
finds love. Some violence and some strong language. 1961.
A Woman Alone and Other Plays RC 50682
by Franca Rame and Dario Fo
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
A collection of twenty monologs from the 1997 Nobel Prize-
winning playwright and his actress wife. The plays deal with
political and sexual themes that are often repressed in
traditional Italian society, including rape, the double
standard, and trophy wives. Strong language, some explicit
descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1991.
Education
Candor and Perversion: Literature, Education, and the Arts
RC 50697
by Roger Shattuck
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
A literary scholar critiques the assumptions, content, and
methods of American education. Argues that a chief aim of
learning is to develop a basic understanding of culture,
morality, and literature in order to coexist in a diverse
society. Discusses a broad range of literary works. 1999.
The Educated Child: A Parent's Guide from Preschool through
Eighth Grade RC 49890
by William J. Bennett and others
read by Butch Hoover
5 cassettes
Maintaining that the years before high school are the most
important for basic learning, the authors describe areas
within core subjects that a pupil should master at each age.
Suggests ways for parents to stay involved in their
children's progress and to ensure they are receiving a good
education. 1999.
High-Tech Heretic: Why Computers Don't Belong in the
Classroom and Other Reflections by a Computer Contrarian RC
50120
by Clifford Stoll
read by John Richardson
2 cassettes
A high-tech skeptic rails against the widespread use of
computers in schools, asserting that the gizmos are more
about entertainment than education. Argues that classroom
PCs divert resources from, and are a poor substitute for,
good teachers and quality library services. Warns that the
Internet can alienate students socially. 1999.
Family
The Assault on Parenthood: How Our Culture Undermines the
Family RC 50126
by Dana Mack
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
After interviewing parents across the country, the author
asserts that millions of them believe the crisis of youth
could be solved if government and social institutions
allowed families to provide children the needed love, time,
protection, and authoritative guidance. Included are seven
pro-family proposals. 1997.
Don't Make Me Stop This Car! Adventures in Fatherhood RC
50765
by Al Roker
read by J.P. Linton
1 cassette
The Today show weatherman humorously describes his
experiences of being a father--both to his older daughter
from adoption through adolescence and to the baby conceived
with his new wife after fertility treatments. Roker also
reminisces about his own bus-driver father. Bestseller 2000.
Fatherneed: Why Father Care Is as Essential as Mother Care
for Your Child RC 51289
by Kyle D. Pruett
read by Rick Rohan
2 cassettes
A psychiatrist who has done extensive research on fathering
examines the importance of the father-child bond and how
paternal care differs from a mother's. Using quotes from
children and parents to illustrate his points, Pruett
discusses the roles of males as primary caregivers and how
fathering changes men for good. 2000.
Feeding Your Child for Lifelong Health: Birth through Age
Six RC 50465
by Susan B. Roberts and Melvin B. Heyman
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Authors explain how foods eaten in childhood can have
lasting effects on the body's growth and functions--a
science called metabolic programming. Avers that a proper
youthful diet influences physical and intellectual
development, prevents allergies and obesity, teaches
children to enjoy healthy foods, and protects against other
health problems. 1999.
The Heart of a Family: Searching America for New Traditions
That Fulfill Us RC 50169
by Meg Cox
read by Laura Giannarelli
3 cassettes
When starting her family, the author researched rituals of
kinship, which she presents here in three sections covering:
the psychology, history, and sociology of rituals and how
they benefit children; the wide variety of family traditions
that exist; and the creation and change of such practices.
1998.
Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way RC 50133
by Susan McCutcheon
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Describes a natural childbirth method begun in the late
1940s by Dr. Robert Bradley. Unlike the Lamaze technique,
the Bradley procedure is drug free in most cases. The
author, who has been teaching this method since 1970, gives
detailed instructions and practice exercises for women and
their coaches. 1996.
Protecting the Gift: Keeping Children and Teenagers Safe
(and Parents Sane) RC 49140
by Gavin De Becker
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
An expert on predicting violent behavior--author of The Gift
of Fear (RC 44931)--discusses what parents can do to ensure
their children do not fall victim to dangerous people at
school, in day care, in public, and even in family settings
and friendships. 1999.
Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys RC 50309
by Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
Case studies support this discussion of the price boys pay
in a culture with rigid ideals of manhood. The authors
identify what youngsters need to achieve emotional
integrity, and they conclude with seven points for
transforming the ways boys are nurtured to better protect
their emotional lives. Bestseller 1999.
Scattered: How Attention Deficit Disorder Originates and
What You Can Do about It RC 50537
by Gabor Mat
read by Jim Leary
3 cassettes
Canadian doctor advises parents of children with attention
deficit disorder to address issues of psychological
security, family relationships, lifestyle, and self-esteem,
rather than to rely on medication for controlling the
child's behavior. Posits that ADD is a problem of society
and human development, rather than a medical ailment. 1999.
Gardening
Accessible Gardening: Tips and Techniques for Seniors and
the Disabled RC 49080
by Joann Woy
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Advises gardeners with special needs on ideas, tools, and
methods. Topics include garden design and layout, raised
beds, container and tabletop gardening, easy composting,
watering, lawn care, and accessories to facilitate physical
tasks. An appendix lists sources of tools, supplies, and
information. 1997.
The Green Guide to Herb Gardening: Featuring the Ten Most
Popular Herbs RC 50470
by Deborah C. Harding
read by Patricia McDermott
1 cassette
Provides the description, history, magical qualities, and
folklore for the herbs basil, calendula, chamomile, chives,
garlic, lemon balm, mint, oregano, parsley, and thyme.
Offers tips on growing, harvesting, and storing them. Lists
remedial, culinary, cosmetic, aromatic, ornamental, and
other uses for each plant. Includes recipes. 2000.
My Garden (Book) RC 50062
by Jamaica Kincaid
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
A series of meditations and reminiscences on the art of
gardening, with a little history thrown in. Kincaid, whose
attachment to gardening began when her husband gave her some
tools and seeds for Mother's Day, discusses the continual
creation of her garden, and why it will never be the garden
in her mind's eye. 1999.
Quick and Easy Indoor Topiary: Crafting and Decorating with
Nature RC 47861
by Chris Jones
read by Miriam Wagner
1 cassette
A guide to growing and shaping plants into beautiful indoor
sculptures. Covers the mechanics of "nonplant backbone,"
plant basics, and techniques for making the suggested
designs or developing one's own creations. 1998.
General
The Book on the Bookshelf RC 49607
by Henry Petroski
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
A history of the evolution of books--from scroll to codex to
printed volume--and the bookshelves that hold them. Examines
ingenious methods used by scholars and libraries over the
centuries, such as the medieval practice of controlling and
preserving texts by chaining them to a lectern. 1999.
The Physics of Christmas: From the Aerodynamics of Reindeer
to the Thermodynamics of Turkey RC 48443
by Roger Highfield
read by Bruce Nelson
2 cassettes
A British scientist probes the origins of Christmas and its
trappings. Discusses icons and rituals. Topics range from
"who was Santa?" to a history of gift giving, to an analysis
of chocolate addiction, to an explanation of snowflakes'
individuality. Speculates about future possibilities in
"Christmas 2020." 1998.
Government and Politics
All the Best, George Bush: My Life in Letters and Other
Writings RC 49101
by George Bush
read by Constance Crawford
5 cassettes
As an alternative to an autobiography, the former president
presents a collection of personal letters, diary entries,
speeches, and other writings that provide a chronological
look into his life and career. He begins with a letter to
his parents during his navy days and continues with
correspondence to family, friends, and colleagues.
Bestseller 1999.
Allen Dulles: Master of Spies RC 49442
by James Srodes
read by Lou Harpenau
4 cassettes
Biography of "the greatest intelligence officer who ever
lived," as he was described by General Eisenhower's chief of
G-2. Dulles's spying career ran from 1916 until the 1961 Bay
of Pigs fiasco. Aiming always to seek out "the intentions
and capabilities" of other governments, he became an expert
on Nazi Germany. 1999.
American Rhapsody RC 51008
by Joe Eszterhas
read by John Polk
4 cassettes
The screenwriter of Basic Instinct and Showgirls provides
his own satiric take on the Clinton sex scandals, using a
combination of researched facts and fictionalized
embellishments. Focuses on the Lewinsky affair and
Hollywood. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of
sex. Bestseller 2000.
The Baltimore Case: A Trial of Politics, Science, and
Character RC 47928
by Daniel J. Kevles
read by Jake Williams
4 cassettes
Examines a case involving scientific accountability,
government funding of research, and the civil rights of
scientists. Explains the origins of an accusation of fraud
against DNA researcher Thereza Imanishi-Kari; the defense of
her integrity by her co-author, Nobel Prize-winner David
Baltimore; and their persecution in the 1980s and
restitution in the 1990s. 1998.
Barbara Jordan: American Hero RC 49009
by Mary Beth Rogers
read by Bob Moore
4 cassettes
Biography of the Texas orator, politician, and teacher who
died in 1996. Describes Jordan's political career as the
first African American in the Texas state senate and the
first elected from the South to serve in the U.S. Congress.
Discusses her ethics, principles, and desire for privacy
about her physical ailments. 1998.
Bill and Hillary: The Marriage RC 48856
by Christopher Andersen
read by Anne Hancock
3 cassettes
A senior editor of People magazine chronicles the marriage
of Bill and Hillary Clinton. Describes Bill's dysfunctional
childhood and his sex addiction as well as the devastation
that it causes to both his wife and daughter. Analyzes the
reasons the couple stays together. Strong language and
descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1999.
The Color of Truth: McGeorge Bundy and William Bundy;
Brothers in Arms, a Biography RC 49155
by Kai Bird
read by Butch Hoover
4 cassettes
Explains the Bundy brothers' roles in pushing the United
States into war in Vietnam, their dismissal of skeptics when
things went wrong, and their silence after the end of the
war. 1998.
Dragonfly: NASA and the Crisis aboard Mir RC 48930
by Bryan Burrough
read by Bill Wallace
4 cassettes
An investigation of the series of accidents on the space
station Mir during joint missions between Americans and
Russians in the late 1990s. Reveals details of the mishaps
and looks at the impact of culture clashes and differing
program management techniques. Based on transcripts and logs
of air-to-ground communications and interviews with
participants. 1998.
Edward M. Kennedy: A Biography RC 49581
by Adam Clymer
read by Jake Williams
5 cassettes
The Washington correspondent of the New York Times examines
the personal and political life of the influential senator
from Massachusetts. Explores Kennedy's legislative
achievements over three decades through the 1990s as well as
his personal crises. 1999.
Eleanor Roosevelt's My Day: First Lady of the World; Her
Acclaimed Columns, 1953-1962 RC 49956
by Eleanor Roosevelt
read by Barbara Rappaport
4 cassettes
This is the third and final volume of select newspaper
columns written by Eleanor Roosevelt during the last nine
years of her life. She champions world peace through the
United Nations, advocates civil rights by promoting
desegregation, and supports Adlai Stevenson for president,
among other topics. Sequel to Eleanor Roosevelt's My
Day...1945-1952 (RC 32151). 1991.
FDR and His Enemies RC 49846
by Albert Fried
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Depicts Franklin Roosevelt's struggles to protect his
progressive presidency against challenges from five powerful
rivals: New York governor Al Smith, radio priest Charles
Coughlin, Louisiana senator Huey Long, aviation hero Charles
Lindbergh, and labor leader John L. Lewis. Avers that FDR
prevailed because he better understood the needs of the
American people. 1999.
First Son: George W. Bush and the Bush Family Dynasty RC
49428
by Bill Minutaglio
read by Randy Wieck
3 cassettes
Portrait of a major contender in the 2000 presidential race.
Draws upon hundreds of interviews in tracing the Texas
governor's education at elite New England schools, his
"nomadic" years in the Texas oil fields, and his later
political career. Discusses various personal traits,
interests, and shortcomings of George W. 1999.
Gore: A Political Life RC 48630
by Bob Zelnick
read by Michael Scherer
3 cassettes
Biography of Al Gore Jr., from his childhood in Tennessee
and Washington, D.C., to his position as vice president.
Traces Gore's succession to his father's political
prominence, his views on important issues, and his role as a
family man. Criticizes him for fund-raising techniques and
hypocrisy when donations are involved. 1999.
The Great Betrayal: How American Sovereignty and Social
Justice Are Being Sacrificed to the Gods of the Global
Economy RC 49265
by Patrick J. Buchanan
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
A leading populist conservative accuses proponents of NAFTA
and GATT trade agreements of betraying American labor.
Argues that American employees, forced to compete with low-
wage foreign workers, are losing ground. Calls for a new
economic nationalism, placing U.S. interests ahead of global
concerns. Companion to A Republic, Not an Empire (RC 49264).
1998.
The Greedy Hand: How Taxes Drive Americans Crazy and What to
Do about It RC 50644
by Amity Shlaes
read by Janis Gray
2 cassettes
An antitax polemic decrying laws that enabled government to
take nearly 40 percent of a two-income family's earnings in
1998. Examines various bases for taxation, such as income,
marriage, home ownership, birth, and death. Calls for
fundamental reforms, constitutional limits on federal taxes,
and reducing the burden on the rich. 1999.
The Gulag Archipelago, 1918-1956: An Experiment in Literary
Investigation; Volume 1, Parts 1-2 RC 49269
by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn
read by Ken Kliban
6 cassettes (Reissue)
A scathing portrayal of the Soviet prison system drawn from
eyewitness accounts and the Nobel Prize winner's own
recollection of his eleven-year internment in the
Archipelago. Prequel to The Gulag...Volume 2, Parts 3-4 (RC
49270). Bestseller 1973.
The Gulag Archipelago, 1918-1956: An Experiment in Literary
Investigation; Volume 3, Parts 5-7 RC 49271
by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn
read by Ken Kliban
5 cassettes (Reissue)
These final sections document the rebellion in the camps,
especially after Stalin's death; the subsequent brutal
quelling of disorders; and the inability of the Russian
government to admit past mistakes. Conveys Solzhenitsyn's
conclusions about the Russian penal system. Sequel to The
Gulag...Volume 2, Parts 3-4 (RC 49270). 1978.
The Gulag Archipelago, 1918-1956: An Experiment in Literary
Investigation; Volume 2, Parts 3-4 RC 49270
by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn
read by Ken Kliban
6 cassettes (Reissue)
Indictment of totalitarian society by the Nobel Prize-
winning author who was deported from the Soviet Union in
1974. Sequel to The Gulag...Volume 1, Parts 1-2 (RC 49269).
1975.
Hell to Pay: The Unfolding Story of Hillary Rodham Clinton
RC 49830
by Barbara Olson
read by Nanette Savard
2 cassettes
A negative look at the career and political aspirations of
the attorney wife of President Clinton. The author, who
served as a Department of Justice attorney, a general
counsel in the Senate, and a congressional investigator,
alleges that Hillary pursues a politics of vendetta, deceit,
and ideological extremes. Bestseller 1999.
Hillary's Choice RC 49560
by Gail Sheehy
read by Kristin Allison
3 cassettes
A psychological biography of the first lady by the author of
Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life (RC 43929).
Sheehy attempts to analyze Hillary Clinton's reasons for
staying married to her profligate husband through the 1990s.
Explores her childhood, early adulthood, her career, and her
marriage. Some strong language. Bestseller 1999.
I Love You, Ronnie: The Letters of Ronald Reagan to Nancy
Reagan RC 51118
by Nancy Reagan
read by Judith Ann Gantly
1 cassette
While preparing Ronald's letters to her for inclusion in the
Ronald Reagan Library, Nancy Reagan realized how much they
said about him as president and as a man. His writings,
which began in the 1950s, and Nancy's reflections on them
provide a glimpse into their lives, both private and public.
Bestseller 2000.
In Praise of Public Life RC 50893
by Joseph I. Lieberman
read by Ted Stoddard
1 cassette
U.S. senator from Connecticut encourages qualified,
intelligent, dedicated people to enter public service or run
for political office as an opportunity to make a difference
in how government performs. Draws on his own experiences to
demonstrate "the nature, complexities, possibilities, and
satisfactions of public life." 2000.
John Glenn: A Memoir RC 49106
by John Glenn
read by Randy Atcher
3 cassettes
The first American to orbit the earth, who in 1998 became
the oldest man in space at seventy-seven, discusses his
career as an astronaut and his lengthy service in the
marines and the U.S. Senate. He recounts growing up in Ohio,
marrying his childhood friend, and raising a family.
Bestseller 1999.
Joseph McCarthy: Reexamining the Life and Legacy of
America's Most Hated Senator RC 49881
by Arthur Herman
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
A sympathetic portrait of the midcentury Wisconsin senator
and "single most despised man in American political memory."
Traces his rise to national prominence, his controversial
record as the Senate's leading anticommunist advocate, and
his subsequent career decline. Avers that while McCarthy may
be widely reviled, he was often right. 2000.
Lady Bird: A Biography of Mrs. Johnson RC 49783
by Jan Jarboe Russell
read by Jill Ferris
3 cassettes
Portrait of a first lady. Examines how marriage to Lyndon
Baines Johnson defined her. Discusses Mrs. Johnson's family
background and her roles as wife, mother, businesswoman, and
conservationist. Also relates LBJ's marital infidelities and
Lady Bird's reactions to them. 1999.
The Last of the Black Emperors: The Hollow Comeback of
Marion Barry in the New Age of Black Leaders RC 50318
by Jonetta Rose Barras
read by Dolores King-Williams
3 cassettes
Traces Marion Barry's youth in Mississippi, years at LeMoyne
College, involvement in the civil rights movement, and
career as mayor of Washington, D.C., for four nonconsecutive
terms. Explores his popularity and charisma; recalls his
arrest, imprisonment, and reelection; discusses his efforts
to broaden social participation and interest in city
government. 1998.
The Lion's Pride: Theodore Roosevelt and His Family in Peace
and War RC 50173
by Edward J. Renehan
read by Peter Gil
2 cassettes
Portrait of a privileged and patriotic leading family whose
men served and sacrificed in America's conflicts. Chronicles
Theodore Roosevelt's derring-do in the Spanish-American War
and the valiant service of his four sons in World War I,
resulting in the death of one and serious injury to two
others. 1998.
Name-Dropping: From F.D.R. On RC 49318
by John Kenneth Galbraith
read by Phil Regensdorf
1 cassette
A renowned economist and political insider reminisces on his
relationships with major public figures, including
presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson.
Offers plentiful anecdotes as well as insights into some of
the key personalities that helped shape the twentieth
century. 1999.
A Necessary Evil: A History of American Distrust of
Government RC 49572
by Garry Wills
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
An inquiry into the origins and evolution of public disdain
for government in the United States. Dispels some ingrained
constitutional myths regarding state sovereignty, checks and
balances, and the right to bear arms. Traces antigovernment
movements through history and assesses Americans' love-hate
relationship with the "necessary evil" of government. 1999.
No Way to Pick a President RC 49821
by Jules Witcover
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
A reporter, who has covered every presidential election
since Eisenhower's, recommends reforms for choosing
candidates. Uses anecdotes to describe how the current
system of campaigning has been corrupted by television,
money, and ambition. Suggestions include dismantling the
electoral college, banning soft money, and shortening the
primary season. 1999.
The Paris Years of Thomas Jefferson RC 51085
by William Howard Adams
read by Peter Gil
3 cassettes
Traces Thomas Jefferson's years in Paris as the preeminent
American diplomat from 1784 to 1789 (after Benjamin
Franklin). Examines the city's intellectual, political, and
cultural influence on his ideas and ideals. Notes its
effects on his performance as third president of the United
States, especially his economic and fiscal initiatives.
1997.
A People's History of the Supreme Court RC 50180
by Peter Irons
read by Robert Sams
6 cassettes
A thematic overview of landmark Supreme Court decisions that
have shaped the meaning of the constitutional aim to secure
"the blessings of liberty." Traces two hundred years of
cases and controversies that involve such seminal issues as
slavery, segregation, patriotic conformity, abortion, and
gay rights. 1999.
The Plutonium Files: America's Secret Medical Experiments in
the Cold War RC 50138
by Eileen Welsome
read by Butch Hoover
4 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist chronicles her
investigation of eighteen human subjects who were
unwittingly injected with plutonium between 1945 and 1947.
She depicts the cultural and political context of the era
and examines the complex issues raised that go to the core
of democratic society. 1999.
The Presidency of Calvin Coolidge RC 49654
by Robert H. Ferrell
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Portrait of Coolidge's youth in Vermont, his years at
Amherst College, and his careers as a lawyer, Massachusetts
governor, vice president, and thirtieth U.S. president.
Explores social, economic, and foreign affairs issues faced
by his 1920s administration. Depicts Coolidge as an honest
and devoted civil servant. 1998.
Privacy on the Line: The Politics of Wiretapping and
Encryption RC 49620
by Whitfield Diffie and Susan Landau
read by Richard Hauenstein
3 cassettes
Examines the nature and the significance of privacy in
telecommunications. Discusses the history of wiretapping and
encryption and considers their implications for democracy,
public policy, and commerce. Argues for privacy protection
and unrestricted public access to encryption technology.
1998.
A Republic, Not an Empire: Reclaiming America's Destiny RC
49264
by Patrick J. Buchanan
read by Michael Scherer
3 cassettes
Political conservative provides an overview of America's
foreign policy from George Washington through the 1990s and
advocates a strategy of "enlightened nationalism" with
limited U.S. commitments abroad. Contends that the United
States will disintegrate unless it becomes politically,
militarily, and economically independent. Companion to The
Great Betrayal (RC 49265). 1999.
Seasons of Her Life: A Biography of Madeleine Korbel
Albright RC 49511
by Ann Blackman
read by Barbara Rappaport
3 cassettes
A personal profile of the secretary of state under President
Bill Clinton. Albright was born to a diplomat in
Czechoslovakia whose family twice fled to avoid persecution-
-first from the Nazis and later from the Communists. Traces
her family history, including her discovery that her
grandparents perished in the Holocaust. 1998.
A Sense of Where You Are: A Profile of Bill Bradley at
Princeton RC 49261
by John McPhee
read by Gregory Gorton
1 cassette (Reissue)
This updated third edition of the 1965 biography and
character study of the then-Princeton basketball player
describes Bradley's family and school background in
Missouri. Analyzes his playing technique and his decision
regarding a professional basketball career or a Rhodes
scholarship. Includes brief 1999 addenda about the
politician. 1999.
Shrub: The Short but Happy Political Life of George W. Bush
RC 49822
by Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
Texas journalists portray presidential candidate George
"Dubya" Bush through an investigation of his record.
Beginning with his Vietnam-era service in the National
Guard, they examine stories about Bush's oil company and his
baseball team's stadium, his religious beliefs, and his
stands on education, the environment, and campaign
financing. Bestseller 2000.
Social Security: The Phony Crisis RC 50184
by Dean Baker and Mark Weisbrot
read by Bob Moore
2 cassettes
Challenges the widespread belief that the Social Security
system is a demographic "time bomb" that will become
insolvent by 2034. Assuming continued economic growth at the
1998 rate, the authors argue, the fund will never run short
of money. They suggest that some "reformers" have ulterior
motives. 1999.
Traitors among Us: Inside the Spy Catcher's World RC 49979
by Stuart A. Herrington
read by Steven Carpenter
3 cassettes
A U.S. Army colonel recounts his real-life espionage
investigations during the Cold War. His counterintelligence
duties in West Berlin resulted in two major cases: the
exposure and capture of Soviet spies Clyde Conrad and James
Hall. 1999.
Uncovering Clinton: A Reporter's Story RC 48449
by Michael Isikoff
read by Len Mailloux
3 cassettes
The reporter chronicles his investigations into President
Clinton's extramarital affairs, beginning in 1994 when Paula
Jones's lawyers contacted him about her story. Later, Linda
Tripp and Lucianne Goldberg also contacted him. Isikoff
recounts how he found himself in precarious situations,
struggling to remain professional and unbiased. Bestseller
1999.
Under This Blazing Light: Essays RC 48743
by Amos Oz
read by Bill Wallace
1 cassette
Eighteen essays written between the early 1960s and the late
1970s consider Israeli policies toward the Palestinians and
the revival of Hebrew, both as a spoken language and as
literature. Oz examines the ethical dimensions of achieving
peace within Israel and with the Arab world. 1995.
A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Story of the Sex Scandal that
Nearly Brought Down a President RC 49966
by Jeffrey Toobin
read by Michael Russotto
4 cassettes
A behind-the-scenes account of the scandals surrounding
President Bill Clinton. Toobin examines the Paula Jones
case, Kenneth Starr's investigations, and the president's
relationship with Monica Lewinsky in detail. He concludes
that "Clinton was, by comparison, the good guy in this
struggle," the victim of powerful forces from the right.
Some strong language. Bestseller 1999.
The View from Alger's Window: A Son's Memoir RC 50379
by Tony Hiss
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
A son pays loving tribute to his father, Alger Hiss, who was
accused of being a communist spy and convicted of perjury in
1950. To defend his father's innocence, Tony Hiss disputes
courtroom testimony by Whittaker Chambers, quotes letters
from prison, and presents the recollections of friends and
family, including the author's half brother. 1999.
Years of Renewal RC 48898
by Henry Kissinger
read by Bill Wallace
9 cassettes in 2 containers
In this continuation of his memoirs, Years of Upheaval (RC
17733), Kissinger concentrates on the Ford administration
and the transition following the 1976 election in which the
presidency was returned to the Democrats. Focuses on the
Vietnam War and recovery from the Watergate crisis. 1999.
Hobbies
How to Carve Wood: A Book of Projects and Techniques RC
50740
by Richard Btz
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Discusses selecting and sharpening tools; selecting and
finishing woods; whittling and different carving techniques;
design aspects of woodwork; and doing lettering and wildlife
and architectural carving. 1984.
The Puzzlemaster Presents Two Hundred Mind-Bending
Challenges from NPR RC 49284
by Will Shortz
read by Timothy Lynch
1 cassette
Audio puzzles from National Public Radio's Weekend Edition
Sunday. Includes word games that take some thought. For
example, "change one letter in each word to name a color"
and "every answer in this puzzle is a word or name that ends
in the letters que." 1996.
Quick and Easy Indoor Topiary: Crafting and Decorating with
Nature RC 47861
by Chris Jones
read by Miriam Wagner
1 cassette
A guide to growing and shaping plants into beautiful indoor
sculptures. Covers the mechanics of "nonplant backbone,"
plant basics, and techniques for making the suggested
designs or developing one's own creations. 1998.
Through the Eyes of Your Ancestors RC 48705
by Maureen A. Taylor
read by Gary Roan
1 cassette
Step-by-step instructions on compiling a family history for
a school project or just as a hobby. Includes suggestions on
conducting personal interviews, visiting genealogical
libraries, researching on the Internet, and keeping records.
Also provides tips on accessing and using specific
resources. For junior and senior high and older readers.
1999.
Homemaking
Fix It Fast and Easy 2: Upgrading Your House RC 47677
by Glenn Haege
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
A guide for home owners who intend to make costly home
improvements, including remodeling and major plumbing,
electrical, and structural jobs. Companion to Fix It Fast
and Easy: America's Master Handyman Answers the Most Asked
"How To" Questions (RC 47676). 1998.
Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House RC 49911
by Cheryl Mendelson
read by Kerry Cundiff
10 cassettes in 2 containers
Helpful hints on a range of domestic topics--planning and
preparing meals, doing laundry, cleaning each room in a
home, preserving books and furniture, caring for pets, fire
safety, and many others. Includes guidelines for both the
novice and longtime housekeeper and bits of wisdom gained
from older relatives. Bestseller 1999.
Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean RC 51054
by Linda Cobb
read by Margaret Strom
1 cassette
Cobb offers down-to-earth housekeeping tips that get
cleaning jobs done quickly throughout the house. She
advocates the use of inexpensive, environmentally friendly
cleaning concoctions such as tea, lemon juice, baking soda,
and vinegar. Her advice includes methods for washing
household and personal items both inside and outside your
home. Bestseller 1998.
Humor
Congratulations! Now What? A Book for Graduates RC 48642
by Bill Cosby
read by Rick Foucheux
1 cassette
Comedian addresses recent college graduates and their
parents about future employment prospects. A humorous review
of the college experience as preparation for a job in the
real world. Bestseller 1999.
Honey, Hush! An Anthology of African American Women's Humor
RC 48155
edited by Daryl Cumber Dance
read by Samarra Mbenga
5 cassettes
Assemblage of wit and wisdom from various types of written
and oral tradition, spanning genres from poetry to political
commentaries. Relays anecdotes from personal experiences as
well as fiction. Includes works of Bessie Smith, Maya
Angelou, and Terry McMillan. Foreword by Nikki Giovanni.
Some strong language. 1998.
Kick Ass: Selected Columns of Carl Hiaasen RC 49343
by Carl Hiaasen
read by Len Mailloux
4 cassettes
Essays taken from the author's Miami Herald column written
from 1985 through the 1990s. Hiaasen, whose latest crime
fiction book was Lucky You (RC 45006), lambasts corruption
and crime in his native south Florida. He criticizes
overpopulation and development, pollution, and crooked
politicians--all of which he has seen firsthand as an
investigative reporter. 1999.
Kids Still Say the Darndest Things! RC 50944
by Art Linkletter
read by Bob Askey
1 cassette
A selection of humorous "quips, slips, and shockers" uttered
by children on the television show "Art Linkletter's House
Party." Companion to The New Kids Say the Darndest Things!
(RC 16266). 1961.
Leo Rosten's Carnival of Wit and Wisdom: Plus Wisecracks,
Ad-Libs, Malaprops, Puns, One-Liners, Quips, Epigrams, Boo-
Boos, Dazzling Ironies, and Wizardries of Wording, Plus
Surprising Tidbits from Politics, Philosophy, Biography, and
(Yes!) Gossip--from Aristotle to Woody Allen RC 49081
compiled by Leo Rosten
read by Terence Aselford
3 cassettes
Over 5,000 items to tickle your funny bone. 1994.
Me Talk Pretty One Day RC 50514
by David Sedaris
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
A comic essayist and public radio commentator recalls having
speech therapy forced upon him (and other "future
homosexuals" with lisps) as a child, acquiring his lifelong
hatred of computers, failing in an attempt at teaching, and
trying to learn French while living in France. Strong
language. Bestseller 2000.
Peanuts: A Golden Celebration; the Art and the Story of the
World's Best-Loved Comic Strip RC 49946
by Charles M. Schulz
read by L.J. Ganser
2 cassettes
In celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Peanuts
comic strip, Schulz offers an autobiographical sketch and
tells how his own life experiences and those of people
around him provided inspiration for the daily strips.
Contains text of more than one thousand Peanuts cartoons.
Bestseller 1999.
The Penguin Book of Women's Humor RC 48268
edited by Regina Barreca
read by Celeste Lawson
5 cassettes
A treasury of women's humor ranging from one-liners to
excerpts from novels. Spanning three centuries, the
collection features authors, comedians, actresses,
feminists, and politicians. Witticisms include Mae West's
famous quips and Jane Austen's astute social observations.
Concludes with brief biographies of the contributors. Some
strong language. 1996.
See You on the Radio RC 50528
by Charles Osgood
read by Peter Gil
1 cassette
Presents selections from the best of the CBS radio
commentator's programs. Includes features on everyday events
and on the "human perversity factor," along with samples of
the author's verse. 1999.
Inspiration
Another Day RC 50838
by Eugenia Price
read by Patricia McDermott
1 cassette (Reissue)
The author shares her informal reflections and
interpretations on those passages of the Bible that are most
meaningful to her. 1984.
Getting through the Night: Finding Your Way after the Loss
of a Loved One RC 50096
by Eugenia Price
read by Terry Hayes Sales
1 cassette (Reissue)
An inspirational guide for those who are grieving the loss
of a loved one. Offers hope for survivors to understand and
accept their loss, to weather the dark night of grief, and
to be renewed with the joy of life in the morning. 1982.
The Lady, Her Lover, and Her Lord RC 50543
by T.D. Jakes
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
A Christian bishop with a weekly television broadcast
exhorts women to develop their three most important
relationships: with themselves, with their husbands, and
with God. Suggests empowerment strategies supported by
biblical verses to help promote peace and healing. Offers
advice on relationships for both men and women. 1998.
Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times RC
49305
by David Wolpe
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
Explores how to use inevitable losses--death of a loved one,
loss of the first home or youthful dreams--to enrich one's
emotional life. The author draws lessons from research, from
the Bible and literature, and from his personal experiences
as teacher, father, husband, and rabbi. Bestseller 1999.
Maximize the Moment: God's Action Plan for Your Life RC
50544
by T.D. Jakes
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
A Christian minister and author of The Lady, Her Lover, and
Her Lord (RC 50543) offers advice on realizing one's full
potential by setting goals and jettisoning toxic
relationships. Encourages readers to take control of their
futures by minimizing their load and developing a winning
life plan. 1999.
A Short Guide to a Happy Life RC 51407
by Anna Quindlen
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
Inspirational advice to find fulfillment in enjoying each
moment of life. Words of wisdom spoken from the heart by the
bestselling author of such works as Object Lessons (RC
33059), One True Thing (RC 40750), and Black and Blue (RC
45715). Bestseller 2000.
Things Seen and Unseen: A Year Lived in Faith RC 49806
by Nora Gallagher
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Memoir of a woman's midlife religious conversion and her
return to the Episcopal church, where she becomes deeply
involved in human-service activities. Recounts her spiritual
passage as she consoles the sick, feeds the hungry in a soup
kitchen, and comes to realize that "the road to the sacred
is paved with the ordinary." 1998.
What Really Matters: What Is Truly Essential to the
Authentic Christian Life RC 50841
by Eugenia Price
read by Madelyn Buzzard
1 cassette (Reissue)
Drawing on personal experience and her thorough knowledge of
the Bible, Eugenia Price searches for what she considers to
be the core of Christianity. She explores faith, prayer,
spiritual growth, service, and giving, and concludes that
the real bedrock is God's eternal love. 1983.
When God Weeps: Why Our Sufferings Matter to the Almighty RC
49793
by Joni Eareckson Tada and Steven Estes
read by Jill Ferris
2 cassettes
A quadriplegic for more than thirty years meditates on the
profound question of why God permits human suffering and
anguish to occur. Examines actual cases of hardship and
tragedy, using the Bible as a "road map," in order to
understand divine purposes and methods. 1997.
Journalism and the Media
Deadlines and Datelines RC 48860
by Dan Rather
read by Dan Bloom
2 cassettes
Nearly one hundred essays collected from Rather's daily
newspaper columns and radio programs, known as "Dan Rather
Reporting." From the serious to the lighthearted, his
articles cover news items in America and abroad, politics,
and the Washington scene. Includes tributes to such people
as his grandmother, Princess Diana, and Mickey Mantle.
Bestseller 1999.
Finding My Voice RC 49385
by Diane Rehm
read by Kimberly Schraf
2 cassettes
National Public Radio talk show host describes her life and
career, including a somewhat troubled childhood with her
Washington, D.C., Christian Arab family. Later, as her
successful D.C. show went national, Rehm began a battle with
a puzzling malady that causes tremors in her voice. 1999.
From Botswana to the Bering Sea: My Thirty Years with
National Geographic RC 49705
by Thomas Y. Canby
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Memoir of a career as a National Geographic writer and
science editor. Describes behind-the-scenes work at
headquarters in Washington, D.C., where Canby started in
1961, and recounts some of his adventures and misadventures
as a world traveler on assignment. 1998.
Front Row at the White House: My Life and Times RC 48559
by Helen Thomas
read by Pam Ward
4 cassettes
White House journalist for more than five decades chronicles
her work covering all of the presidents since John F.
Kennedy. Shares personal reminiscences of the U.S. leaders
as well as of the first ladies. Bestseller 1999.
Outsider, Insider: An Unlikely Success Story; the Memoirs of
Andrew Heiskell RC 49849
by Andrew Heiskell
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
A media tycoon recounts his path from obscurity to the
chairmanship of Time Inc. Traces his nomadic youth in
Europe, his arrival in America during the depression, and
his meteoric ascent in the publishing industry. Offers
candid insights into the risky and intensely competitive
magazine business. 1998.
Peace, War, and Politics: An Eyewitness Account RC 50392
by Jack Anderson
read by Richard Davidson
4 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter continues his life story,
begun in Confessions of a Muckraker (RC 14540), with further
revelations of the corruption that pervades American
politics. Includes recollections of his early career in Utah
and China, the savings-and-loan scandal, the Iran-Contra
affair, and his dealings with presidents and politicians for
five decades. 1999.
A Thousand Suns RC 49186
by Dominique Lapierre
read by Lewis Grenville
4 cassettes
French journalist and author of several bestsellers provides
eyewitness accounts of famous twentieth-century
personalities, such as Caryl Chessman, El Cordobs, Golda
Meir, Lord Mountbatten, and Mother Teresa. Looking back over
his own career, Lapierre also highlights his attachment to
India and his role in humanitarian aid efforts in that
country. Bestseller 1999.
The Trust: The Private and Powerful Family behind the New
York Times RC 49225
by Susan E. Tifft and Alex S. Jones
read by Dan Bloom
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Account of the Ochs-Sulzberger family that owned the New
York Times for more than a century. Describes how Jewish
immigrant Adolph S. Ochs, already in debt, bought the
failing newspaper and built it into "the most influential
newspaper in the world." Traces the publishers through the
late-1990s' Arthur Sulzberger Jr. 1999.
Language
Braille: Into the Next Millennium RC 50969
by Blind and Physically Handicapped National Library Service
for the
read by Annie Wauters
3 cassettes
Essays examining the history and future of braille include
such topics as the development of the literary, Nemeth, and
music codes; braille production; legal issues; library
service; and literacy and computer access concerns. Edited
by Judith Dixon, with a foreword by Frank Kurt Cylke and a
preface by Kenneth Jernigan. 2000.
How to Write a Letter RC 48512
by Patricia Dragisic
read by Miriam Wagner
1 cassette
Describes the basic structure of personal and business
letters, with examples of each type. Includes such diverse
topics as grammar, salutations, and using electronic mail;
presents some famous letters from the past. For junior and
senior high and older readers. 1998.
The Miracle of Language RC 49416
by Richard Lederer
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
A celebration of words in the English language. Explores
vocabulary contributions from productive literary artists
such as Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll, Mark Twain, and George
Orwell. Encourages the art of communication. 1991.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft RC 50873
by Stephen King
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
Prolific, bestselling horror novelist describes his writing
technique and gives tips for aspiring authors. King also
discusses pertinent events from his childhood and tells of
the near-fatal accident in 1999, when he was hit by a truck
while taking his daily walk. Some strong language.
Bestseller 2000.
Legal
All the Laws but One: Civil Liberties in Wartime RC 48639
by William H. Rehnquist
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Chief justice of the Supreme Court expostulates on how civil
liberties are curbed during times of war. Describes the
inherent conflict between citizens' freedoms and military
necessities, concentrating primarily on the Civil War era.
Also discusses World War I espionage cases and the World War
II internment of Japanese Americans. 1998.
The Black O: Racism and Redemption in an American Corporate
Empire RC 50616
by Steve Watkins
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
An account of the lawsuit against Shoney's restaurant chain
for discriminatory hiring practices against African
Americans, which led to a $132.5 million settlement in 1992.
Describes how managers were coerced into blackening the "o"
in "Shoney" on the application forms of blacks in order to
flag minority applicants. 1997.
Closed Chambers: The First Eyewitness Account of the Epic
Struggles inside the Supreme Court RC 48638
by Edward Lazarus
read by Robert Sams
5 cassettes
The author, a Supreme Court law clerk to Justice Harry
Blackmun in 1988-89, recounts the methods and procedures the
justices use in arriving at a decision. Now a federal
prosecutor, Lazarus contends that politics has taken the
place of debate and compromise. Analyzes court cases to
illustrate his concerns. 1998.
Crimes of the Century: From Leopold and Loeb to O.J. Simpson
RC 48924
by Gilbert Geis and Leigh B. Bienen
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Discusses five of the most publicized trials of the
twentieth century: Leopold and Loeb, the Scottsboro affair,
the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, the Alger Hiss spy case, and
the O.J. Simpson murder trial. Examines sensational legal
dramas within the social and political climate of the times.
1998.
Tough Talk: How I Fought for Writers, Comics, Bigots, and
the American Way RC 49566
by Martin Garbus
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Memoir of a First Amendment attorney, who for forty years
defended such notables as Lenny Bruce, Cesar Chavez, Robert
Redford, and Vaclav Havel. Interprets complex legal issues
for the lay reader and explains why "stifling any form of
speech always puts freedom in peril." Some strong language.
1998.
Literature
At Home in the World: A Memoir RC 48781
by Joyce Maynard
read by Susan McInerney
3 cassettes
Recounts her love affair with J.D. Salinger. Describes how
her correspondence with him at age eighteen evolved into a
commitment that prompted her to leave Yale and move in with
the reclusive writer, thirty-five years her senior. At
forty-four, Maynard re-evaluates the impact of the
relationship on her life. 1998.
Becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Woman behind the Legend
RC 48844
by John E. Miller
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
Biography of the woman who wrote the Little House on the
Prairie series. Examines how the child who lived those
experiences evolved into the mature author who wrote about
them. Discusses the role of her daughter Rose in encouraging
and editing her novels. 1998.
The Best American Essays, 1999 RC 49642
edited by Edward Hoagland
read by Fred Major
3 cassettes
The introduction, "Writers Afoot," explores Hoagland's
definition of the essay. His selections by twenty-five
contemporary writers cover a broad range of works, from "In
Search of Proust" by Andr Aciman to "Before Air
Conditioning" by Arthur Miller. Other authors include Joan
Didion, Annie Dillard, Ian Frazier, and Joyce Carol Oates.
1999.
Candor and Perversion: Literature, Education, and the Arts
RC 50697
by Roger Shattuck
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
A literary scholar critiques the assumptions, content, and
methods of American education. Argues that a chief aim of
learning is to develop a basic understanding of culture,
morality, and literature in order to coexist in a diverse
society. Discusses a broad range of literary works. 1999.
Coleridge: Darker Reflections, 1804-1834 RC 49468
by Richard Holmes
read by Roy Avers
4 cassettes
This sequel to Coleridge: Early Visions (RC 33223) covers
the last thirty years of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's life.
Recounts the peregrinations, writing ventures, and
overriding addiction to opium of this brilliant but flawed
personality. Discussion of the poet's problems and passions
includes his breach with Wordsworth. 1998.
Daniel Defoe: The Life and Strange, Surprising Adventures RC
49585
by Richard West
read by Bill Wallace
4 cassettes
Biography of the British author of Robinson Crusoe (RC
27138). Portrays Defoe in the context of his times--England
in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Describes his constant
fear of financial disaster, his Protestant sympathies,
various careers, and talent for writing. 1998.
Dawn Powell: A Biography RC 49397
by Tim Page
read by Samarra Mbenga
3 cassettes
Presents personal facts and traces the career of the mid-
twentieth-century American writer who is achieving
posthumous success. Discusses her move at age twenty-one in
1918 to New York City where she became part of the literary
scene. Describes her dedication to writing throughout the
hardships of her adult years. 1998.
A Devil and a Good Woman, Too: The Lives of Julia Peterkin
RC 48461
by Susan Millar Williams
read by Kimberly Schraf
3 cassettes
Biography of a South Carolina plantation owner who won the
1929 Pulitzer Prize for a novel, Scarlet Sister Mary (RC
14880), about Gullah-speaking African Americans. Because she
wrote about descendents of former slaves in the agrarian
south, Peterkin was shunned. After a family tragedy, she
retired from writing. 1997.
Errata: An Examined Life RC 49801
by George Steiner
read by Robert Blumenfeld
2 cassettes
A scholar, critic, and man of letters offers a discursive
memoir on some of the key influences and experiences in his
life and literary career. He meditates on various themes in
philosophy and religion, using them to assess the state of
Western civilization as the twentieth century draws to a
close. 1997.
Eugene O'Neill: Beyond Mourning and Tragedy RC 50747
by Stephen A. Black
read by Fred Major
5 cassettes
A biography of the Nobel Prize-winning American playwright
O'Neill (1888-1953) and a study of his works from a
psychoanalytic standpoint. Examines O'Neill's personal
tragedies and how he transformed them into drama. Discusses
the composition of Long Day's Journey into Night (RC 19192)
and The Iceman Cometh (RC 12758). 1999.
Experience RC 50335
by Martin Amis
read by David Cutler
3 cassettes
The innovative, controversial English writer remembers his
father, comic novelist Kingsley Amis, and recalls events and
influences in his own artistic development. Contains
anecdotes about major literary figures--both his father's
friends and his own--Philip Larkin, Saul Bellow, and Salman
Rushdie among them. Some strong language. Bestseller 2000.
For the Time Being RC 50052
by Annie Dillard
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
1 cassette
Reflections on the coexistence of God and evil and how an
individual fits into the scheme of things. Recounts a trip
to Israel, visits to an obstetrical ward, and a
paleontologist's story, as well as a discussion of Teilhard
de Chardin and the Baal Shem Tov. 1999.
The Gutenberg Elegies: The Fate of Reading in an Electronic
Age RC 49350
by Sven Birkerts
read by Lindsay Ellison
2 cassettes
Essays exploring ways in which modern information
technologies are fundamentally transforming both traditional
literary culture and the general practice of reading and
writing. Attests to the essential value of literature and
laments its displacement by the pervasive electronic media.
1994.
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius RC 49737
by Dave Eggers
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
An unconventional first-person account of a young man who
takes on the responsibility of raising his eight-year-old
brother, Toph, after both parents die of cancer. Amid
frequent digressions, the author recalls their family
dynamics, his aspirations to become a writer, and an
experimental 'zine, Might. Strong language. Bestseller 2000.
Hemingway: The Final Years RC 49203
by Michael Reynolds
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Sequel to Hemingway: The Paris Years (RC 33134), covering
the last two decades of Hemingway's life. Shows him at the
pinnacle of his literary career with the publication of For
Whom the Bell Tolls (RC 49108), and then his decline as he
could no longer live up to his own expectations. 1999.
Invisible Writer: A Biography of Joyce Carol Oates RC 48445
by Greg Johnson
read by Laura Giannarelli
5 cassettes
An authorized biography exploring the relationship between
Oates's writing and her life. Covers her childhood in
upstate New York; her family, education, and marriage; and
the development of her career. Views her published work in
the context of excerpts from her correspondence, journal
entries, and interviews with friends. 1998.
Just as I Thought RC 50406
by Grace Paley
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
Paley states that "this is not an autobiographical
collection, but it is about my life." In these articles,
poems, reports, and talks covering her life from the 1950s
to the mid 1990s, Paley offers a glimpse into her life as
daughter, mother, grandmother, teacher, and antiwar
activist. 1998.
Lady's Choice: Ethel Waxham's Journals and Letters, 1905-
1910 RC 48646
edited by Barbara Love and Frances Love Froidevaux
read by Margaret Strom
3 cassettes
A chronological record of a twenty-three-year old college
graduate's pursuit of a teaching career while being courted
by a thirty-five-year old Wyoming rancher. Compiled from
diaries, correspondence, and poems. Material was used in the
PBS series "The West." 1993.
The Mute's Soliloquy: A Memoir RC 50426
by Pramoedya Ananta Toer
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
A harrowing account of life in a penal colony by an
Indonesian political dissident. The notes, essays, and
unsent letters collected here were written in the last two
years of a fourteen-year prison sentence, begun in 1965,
during most of which novelist Toer was deprived of books and
writing materials. Some violence. 1999.
My First Cousin Once Removed: Money, Madness, and the Family
of Robert Lowell RC 49874
by Sarah Payne Stuart
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
Novelist Stuart, who wrote Men in Trouble (RC 29911),
humorously discusses her family, most noted for her mother's
cousin, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Robert Lowell. Lowell
and other relatives (including Stuart's brother and mother)
were manic depressive, and the rest of the family were
"screwed up about it." Some strong language. 1998.
One Man's Chorus: The Uncollected Writings RC 50495
by Anthony Burgess
read by Fred Major
3 cassettes
Essays from the 1980s and early 1990s offer a look into
Burgess's life from his childhood in Manchester through his
expatriate years in France. Includes reflections on the
British Royals, a comical account of a trip to Puerto Rico,
a piece about Wagner's "Ring," and comments on first novels.
1998.
A Private Life of Henry James: Two Women and His Art RC
49987
by Lyndall Gordon
read by Faith Potts
4 cassettes
Portraits of two women--both meeting untimely deaths--who
exerted lasting influence on James's literary work. One is
his free-spirited cousin Mary (Minny) Temple, who died of
tuberculosis at age twenty-four in 1870. The second is
Constance Fenimore Woolson, an American writer James knew
from 1879 to her death in 1894 in Venice. 1998.
The Pushcart Prize XXIII: Best of the Small Presses, 1999 RC
48539
edited by Bill Henderson
read by Roy Avers
4 cassettes
Sixty-eight selections--essays, poems, and short stories--
from forty-two publishers. Contains works by both little-
known and famous writers.  Andre Dubus reflects on teaching
Hemingway's "In Another Country." Joyce Carol Oates's
"Faithless" depicts two girls whose mother has disappeared.
Also includes a poem by Edward Hirsch, "The Lectures on
Love." Some strong language. 1999.
Pushkin's Button RC 49372
by Serena Vitale
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
While focusing on the 1837 duel that ended the Russian
poet's life, Vitale portrays nineteenth-century St.
Petersburg society. Uses research based on diaries,
documents, and letters to chronicle events leading up to the
combat. Profiles adventurer Georges d'Anths, who killed
Pushkin, and the woman whose charms provoked the event,
Pushkin's wife, Natalya. 1999.
Randall Jarrell: A Literary Life RC 50075
by William H. Pritchard
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Biography of the literary figure, born in 1914, who was
poetry consultant at the Library of Congress from 1956 to
1958. Considers Jarrell's writings--poetry, essays, reviews,
children's stories, novels, and letters--in the context of
other significant events in his life. Discusses his bouts of
depression and the controversial circumstances of his death
in 1965. 1990.
Robert van Gulik: His Life, His Work RC 49962
by Janwillem Van de Wetering
read by Robert Blumenfeld
1 cassette
Portrait of the Holland-born scholar, diplomat, and writer,
who spent many years in China. Discusses van Gulik's
translations of ancient Chinese text and his eighteenth-
century detective novel featuring Judge Dee, a character
adopted by author Van de Wetering for his own mystery
stories. Some descriptions of sex. 1987.
Secrets of the Flesh: A Life of Colette RC 49547
by Judith Thurman
read by Gabriella Cavallero
5 cassettes
A biography of the provocative early-twentieth-century
French author. Provides psychological insights into
Colette's marriages, music hall career, affairs with women
and younger men, and literary works, such as Gigi (RC 12794)
and Sido (RC 32504). Bestseller 1999.
Shaking a Leg: Collected Writings RC 49912
by Angela Carter
read by Jill Fox
6 cassettes
A substantial selection of Carter's journalism--articles,
criticism, personal essays, and reviews--from the 1960s
until her death in 1992. These cultural and social
commentaries are grouped under broad categories: body
languages, food fetishes, home and away, traveling, Japan,
America, screen and dream, stories and tellers, writers and
readers. Some strong language. 1997.
Something to Declare RC 49567
by Julia Alvarez
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
Alvarez, the author of How the Garcia Girls Lost Their
Accents (RC 34544) and other works, reminisces about her
childhood in the Dominican Republic and her family's escape
to New York City. Also describes how she became an author
and how to experience the writing life. 1998.
Tarzan Forever: The Life of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Creator of
Tarzan RC 49341
by John Taliaferro
read by Constance Crawford
4 cassettes
Biography of the American entrepreneur and pulp-fiction
writer who published Tarzan of the Apes in 1912, when he was
thirty-six. Describes how he capitalized on his creation,
turning Tarzan into a popular twentieth-century icon.
Recalls his private life--his two marriages and his
children--and his career. 1999.
Teller of Tales: The Life of Arthur Conan Doyle RC 48653
by Daniel Stashower
read by Corrie James
4 cassettes
Biography of the doctor, athlete, traveler, writer, and
spiritualist best known as the creator of Sherlock Holmes
and Dr. Watson in 1886. Describes Doyle's frustration with
the popularity of his character, Holmes, and Doyle's
lifelong study of the occult, which damaged his reputation.
1999.
Time to Be in Earnest: A Fragment of Autobiography RC 50626
by P.D. James
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
3 cassettes
British mystery writer P.D. James, the creator of Inspector
Dalgliesh, begins a diary in 1997 that leads her to
reminisce about her personal life, civil service career, and
development as a writer, while disdainfully commenting on
pop culture. Describes her struggles as her late husband
slowly succumbed to mental illness. 1999.
A Tramp Abroad RC 49345
by Mark Twain
read by Anne Hancock
3 cassettes
Mark Twain constructs a tour through Germany, Switzerland,
France, and Italy. Integrates humor, autobiography, and
history to entertain. 1880.
Under This Blazing Light: Essays RC 48743
by Amos Oz
read by Bill Wallace
1 cassette
Eighteen essays written between the early 1960s and the late
1970s consider Israeli policies toward the Palestinians and
the revival of Hebrew, both as a spoken language and as
literature. Oz examines the ethical dimensions of achieving
peace within Israel and with the Arab world. 1995.
Vra (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov) RC 49299
by Stacy Schiff
read by Michael Scherer
4 cassettes
The biography of Vra is largely the portrait of her fifty-
two-year literary marriage with Russian author Vladimir
Nabokov. Relates the main events of their relationship where
she was wife, muse, editor, translator, and publishing
agent. Notes her lifelong devotion to her husband's work and
her preference for privacy.  Pulitzer Prize.  1999.
Walden; or, Life in the Woods and On the Duty of Civil
Disobedience RC 50835
by Henry David Thoreau
read by Bradley Bransford
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Autobiographical record of the author's experiment in
essential living at his Walden Pond retreat in the 1850s
along with detailed observations of nature and his
commentaries on world problems. His essay "Civil
Disobedience" is a protest against government's interference
with individual liberty. 1960.
Wormholes: Essays and Occasional Writings RC 48178
by John Fowles
read by David Cutler
3 cassettes
Some thirty representative pieces of Fowles's
autobiographical statements, literary criticism, and
commentaries on society and nature written between 1963 and
1997. The essays reflect themes found in his novels, the
role of the writer, and his lifelong commitment to
environmental issues. 1998.
The Yeats Reader: A Portable Compendium of Poetry, Drama,
and Prose RC 49120
by William Butler Yeats
read by Roy Avers
4 cassettes
Although Yeats is known mainly for his poetry, his other
writings, which were frequently derived from events in his
personal life, were "often a substantial achievement on
(their) own terms." Includes major poems written between
1889 and 1939, eight plays, and a selection of
autobiographical and critical writings. 1997.
You Are Not I: A Portrait of Paul Bowles RC 49896
by Millicent Dillon
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Traces the writer's childhood on Long Island, his training
as a composer and writer, his years in Paris and Morocco,
and his rise to fame as author of the bestseller The
Sheltering Sky (RC 23642). Reflects on the relationship
between his work and life, and examines the ties between
biographers and their subjects. 1998.
Zane Grey: Romancing the West RC 48694
by Stephen J. May
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
Biography of the popular author discusses how he spent his
youth fishing and hunting near Zanesville, Ohio, a town
named after his pioneer ancestor. Grey became a dentist at
his father's insistence but later returned to his love of
writing. Tells how Riders of the Purple Sage (RC 17362)
became his first bestseller in 1912. Bestseller 1997.
Marriage and Sex
Beyond Viagra: A Commonsense Guide to Building a Healthy
Sexual Relationship for Both Men and Women RC 50480
by Gerald A. Melchiode
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
A psychiatrist involved with early Viagra studies describes
the medication as being of "vast indisputable importance."
However, he emphasizes the advisability of exploring the
underlying causes of sexual dysfunction, rather than
stopping at the temporary fix of Viagra. Some explicit
descriptions of sex. 1999.
Changing Bodies, Changing Lives: A Book for Teens on Sex and
Relationships RC 47124
by Ruth Bell
read by Kerry Cundiff
5 cassettes
Expanded third edition discusses sexual and emotional change
during the adolescent years. Topics include sexually
transmitted diseases, homosexuality, birth control, eating
disorders, substance abuse, and living with violence.
Teenagers are quoted throughout the book. Explicit
descriptions of sex. For high school and older readers.
1998.
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff in Love: Simple Ways to Nurture
and Strengthen Your Relationships While Avoiding the Habits
That Break Down Your Loving Connection RC 49280
by Richard Carlson and Kristine Carlson
read by Jeff Baker
2 cassettes
Married fourteen years, the authors present one hundred
essays designed to improve relationships between partners.
Topics include being pals, letting go of pet peeves, and
being willing to say "I'm sorry." Bestseller 1999.
From This Day Forward RC 49968
by Cokie Roberts and Steve Roberts
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Chronicle of the long-term marriage of a high-powered media
couple. Cokie--also the author of We Are Our Mothers'
Daughters (RC 46340)--and Steve laud the benefits of
matrimony for both individuals and society. They also
describe marital unions of slaves, pioneers, and immigrants,
and the harmful effects of divorce. Bestseller 2000.
Overcoming Male Infertility RC 50160
by Leslie R. Schover and Anthony J. Thomas
read by John Richardson
3 cassettes
A clinical psychologist and a urologist, both specializing
in infertility, describe the male reproductive system and
the workup of tests for those experiencing infertility.
Discusses various diagnoses and their treatments, assisted
reproductive technology, donor sperm, adoption, living
without children, and coping with infertility. 2000.
Relationship Rescue: A Seven-Step Strategy for Reconnecting
with Your Partner RC 49740
by Phillip C. McGraw
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
The author of Life Strategies (RC 47962) presents a plan for
saving a marriage or other intimate partnership by taking
personal responsibility for the situation. Lists ten
"relationship myths," provides questionnaires and other
tools to analyze problems, and suggests steps to achieve a
balance and mutual respect. Bestseller 2000.
Medicine and Health
Acupuncture: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know RC 49096
by Gary F. Fleischman
read by Tim Fullerton
1 cassette
Board-certified acupuncturist and medical doctor discusses
the use of his specialty and other traditional Chinese
healing practices. In a question-and-answer format he
explains such topics as balancing yin and yang, the energy
known as qi, and the role of diet in overall well-being.
1998.
AIDS: An All-About Guide for Young Adults RC 49988
by Alvin Silverstein and others
read by Rick Rohan
1 cassette
A concise account of the AIDS virus, similar to the authors'
previous title, AIDS: Deadly Threat (RC 25945). Includes a
definition and research update on the disease, as well as
information about the history, diagnosis, treatment, and
prevention of the illness. For senior high and older
readers. 1999.
American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes:
The Ultimate Home Diabetes Reference RC 49100
by American Diabetes Association
read by Michael Consoli
3 cassettes
This guide to managing diabetes explains the two types of
the disorder, their causes and symptoms, and the importance
of maintaining overall good health. The contributors also
discuss handling emergencies, planning meals, selecting
diabetic tools, controlling costs, and evaluating health
care providers. 1997.
The Best Alternative Medicine: What Works? What Does Not? RC
50092
by Kenneth R. Pelletier
read by Butch Hoover
4 cassettes
Director of Stanford's complementary and alternative
medicine program discusses pros and cons of various
therapies including traditional Chinese medicine, Western
herbal medicine, naturopathy, homeopathy, chiropractic,
dietary supplements, Ayurvedic medicine, yoga, spirituality,
and more. Advises which therapies work best for specific
conditions. 2000.
Beyond the Influence: Understanding and Defeating Alcoholism
RC 49986
by Katherine Ketcham and William F. Asbury
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
Using scientific research, the authors make the case that
alcoholism is a medical disease resulting from abnormalities
in brain chemistry. Explains how to diagnose the condition
and proposes that treatment programs include psychological
and spiritual elements. Investigates fallacies promoted by
the liquor industry. Foreword by former Senator George
McGovern. 2000.
Blood: An Epic History of Medicine and Commerce RC 49658
by Douglas Starr
read by Lou Harpenau
3 cassettes
A history of the science, the politics, and the economics of
human blood. Traces its evolution from a substance of myth
to a therapeutic liquid that is collected and stored as a
strategic resource.  Also discusses the global blood
business, the ethics of blood management, and the hazards of
blood-borne viruses. 1998.
The Carbohydrate Addict's Healthy Heart Program: Break Your
Carbo-Insulin Connection to Heart Disease RC 49472
by Richard F. Heller and others
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
The authors of The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet (RC 37248)
team up with a medical doctor specializing in cardiovascular
health to explain how their low carbohydrate diet helps the
heart by reducing insulin release. Also describes additional
methods of fighting heart disease. Bestseller 1999.
The Challenges of Lupus: Insights and Hope RC 49242
compiled by Henrietta Aladjem
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
Doctors and patients (including the book's compiler, whose
lupus has long been in remission) discuss various aspects of
the autoimmune disease that often affects the skin, blood,
and joints. Describes how, in about half the cases, the
kidneys are also impaired. 1999.
The Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Survival Guide RC
48641
by Judith McKay and Nancee Hirano
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Explains what chemotherapy and radiation are, how they work,
and what their effects are. Gives suggestions for before,
after, and during treatment covering both the physical and
emotional elements of medical therapy. Includes relaxation
and stress-reduction exercises. 1998.
Conversations about Cancer: A Patient's Guide to Informed
Decision Making RC 48697
by Michael Auerbach
read by Margaret Strom
1 cassette
An oncologist describes the disease and its treatments.
Stresses communication between patient and physician and the
importance of exploring all possible options. Advocates
empowering people to discuss their illness knowledgeably.
Explores special problems of dealing with terminal
conditions. 1997.
Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy RC 48691
by Malin Dollinger and others
read by Gregory Gorton
9 cassettes in 2 containers
Synopses of common cancers and how they are treated.
Discusses how appropriate therapies are chosen and offers
patients coping mechanisms for dealing with the physical and
emotional effects of the disease and the treatments.
Explores quality-of-life issues and advances in research,
diagnosis, and treatment. 1997.
Fibroids: The Complete Guide to Taking Charge of Your
Physical, Emotional, and Sexual Well-Being RC 50107
by Johanna Skilling
read by Patricia McDermott
2 cassettes
Researching fibroids after her own diagnosis, the author
compiled information from doctors and patients on the
symptoms, treatments, and impact of having solid lumps of
muscle and connective tissue growing in and around the
uterus. Usually benign, the tumors affect at least 25
percent and possibly 75 percent of women. 2000.
Flu: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and
the Search for the Virus That Caused It RC 49373
by Gina Kolata
read by Kimberly Schraf
3 cassettes
A science reporter for the New York Times describes how a
mysterious virus, nicknamed the "Spanish flu," killed 20-100
million people worldwide, leaving no clue to its origins.
Striking during wartime in 1918, the epidemic affected young
adults disproportionately. Discusses other historic plagues
and the possibility of future pandemic scourges. 1999.
Handbook for Mortals: Guidance for People Facing Serious
Illness RC 48469
by Joanne Lynn and Joan Harrold
read by Rick Rohan
2 cassettes
Physicians offer practical advice to caretakers and patients
on planning both medical and emotional responses to cases of
severe illness. Topics include coping techniques, family
matters, sudden death, mourning and grieving, and enduring
losses. Suggests steps that help prepare for the future and
lists organizations that can provide information and
assistance. 1999.
The Jock Doc's Body Repair Kit: The New Sports Medicine for
Recovery and Increased Performance RC 49049
by Andrew Feldman
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
Director of sports medicine at St. Vincent's Hospital in New
York provides instructions on self-diagnosing injuries,
determining if medical care or self-treatment is called for,
and performing self-treatments and exercises. 1999.
Lights Out: Sleep, Sugar, and Survival RC 50357
by T.S. Wiley
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Diabetes researcher, anthropologist, and medical theorist
contends that lack of sleep causes obesity, illness, and,
ultimately, death. He recommends that, for at least the
colder seven months of the year, people follow nature's
cycles by sleeping more than nine hours a night and eating a
nutritious, low-carbohydrate diet. 2000.
Live Now, Age Later: Proven Ways to Slow Down the Clock RC
48603
by Isadore Rosenfeld
read by Norm Thibeault
3 cassettes
A physician offers advice on how to delay the onset of
disability and chronic disease by practicing good health
habits including proper diet, exercise, stress reduction,
vitamins, and medicine. Covers symptoms, diagnosis, and
treatment for common conditions such as cancer, heart
attacks, depression, Alzheimer's, impotence, menopause, and
loss of vision and hearing. Bestseller 1999.
The Lost Art of Healing RC 50125
by Bernard Lown
read by John Richardson
3 cassettes
A cardiologist asserts that the medical profession has
broken down because doctors are relying unduly on
technology, rather than examining and listening to patients.
He relates anecdotes about his elderly patients to reinforce
the importance of getting to know the person behind the
symptoms. 1996.
Lyme Disease RC 49603
by Scott Veggeberg
read by Richard Hauenstein
1 cassette
Discusses the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Lyme
disease, which is caused by a bite from a deer tick. Notes
that patients can be easily cured with antibiotics, but in
rare cases might develop a long-term illness such as
rheumatoid arthritis. For senior high and older readers.
1998.
A Man's Guide to Coping with Disability RC 49629
by Resources for Rehabilitation
read by Richard Hauenstein
3 cassettes
This companion to A Woman's Guide to Coping with Disability
(RC 45924) provides information to help men maintain their
independence and cope with daily activities, despite
physical challenges. Includes strategies for those with
heart disease, diabetes, HIV, multiple sclerosis, prostate
conditions, spinal cord injury, and stroke. Lists national
organizations to contact. 1999.
Melanoma: Prevention, Detection, and Treatment RC 49073
by Catherine M. Poole
read by Barbara Pinolini
1 cassette
Health writer and melanoma survivor Poole, assisted by
melanoma expert Dr. Dupont Guerry, explains skin cancer and
identifies the people most susceptible to it. She describes
cancerous moles and discusses how they are diagnosed and
treated. 1998.
Menopause and the Mind: The Complete Guide to Coping with
Memory Loss, Foggy Thinking, Verbal Slips, and Other
Cognitive Effects of Perimenopause and Menopause RC 50807
by Claire L. Warga
read by Jill Ferris
3 cassettes
Psychologist describes the self-named Warga's Hormonal
Misconnection Syndrome (WHMS). Asserts that troubling memory
and speech problems occur in women as their estrogen levels
drop. Includes detailed descriptions of symptoms, self-
screening techniques, and both hormonal and nonhormonal
therapies. 1999.
Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way RC 50133
by Susan McCutcheon
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Describes a natural childbirth method begun in the late
1940s by Dr. Robert Bradley. Unlike the Lamaze technique,
the Bradley procedure is drug free in most cases. The
author, who has been teaching this method since 1970, gives
detailed instructions and practice exercises for women and
their coaches. 1996.
One Hundred Days: My Unexpected Journey from Doctor to
Patient RC 50142
by David Biro
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
Biro describes how an odd flashing in his eye troubled him
when he was a thirty-one-year-old neophyte dermatologist.
After Biro was finally diagnosed with an unusual paroxysmal
nocturnal hemoglobinuria, his doctors then disagreed on the
best treatment option. Choosing a bone-marrow transplant,
Biro faced the critical one-hundred-day recovery period.
2000.
Outsmarting the Midlife Fat Cell: Winning Weight Control
Strategies for Women over Thirty-five to Stay Fit through
Menopause RC 48546
by Debra Waterhouse
read by Patricia McDermott
2 cassettes
Nutritionist explains why midlife weight gain is so
pervasive and what one can do about it. Discusses the role
of fat cells and estrogen, why dieting doesn't work, and how
to work around biology to minimize weight gain. Emphasizes
attitude changes and stress management by modifying eating
and exercise habits. 1998.
Overcoming Male Infertility RC 50160
by Leslie R. Schover and Anthony J. Thomas
read by John Richardson
3 cassettes
A clinical psychologist and a urologist, both specializing
in infertility, describe the male reproductive system and
the workup of tests for those experiencing infertility.
Discusses various diagnoses and their treatments, assisted
reproductive technology, donor sperm, adoption, living
without children, and coping with infertility. 2000.
The Plutonium Files: America's Secret Medical Experiments in
the Cold War RC 50138
by Eileen Welsome
read by Butch Hoover
4 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist chronicles her
investigation of eighteen human subjects who were
unwittingly injected with plutonium between 1945 and 1947.
She depicts the cultural and political context of the era
and examines the complex issues raised that go to the core
of democratic society. 1999.
Prozac Backlash: Overcoming the Dangers of Prozac, Zoloft,
Paxil, and Other Antidepressants with Safe, Effective
Alternatives RC 50692
by Joseph Glenmullen
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
A psychiatrist warns against the current practice of
indiscriminately prescribing serotonin boosters for
patients. After describing the medication's potentially
severe side effects, he uses case histories to illustrate
alternatives such as herbal remedies and psychotherapy.
2000.
Reinventing Medicine: Beyond Mind-Body to a New Era of
Healing RC 49902
by Larry Dossey
read by Andy Chappell
2 cassettes
A physician and pioneer in mind-body medicine envisions a
new era of understanding the "nonlocal mind"--the concept
that consciousness and mental events are not confined to the
physical self. Presents evidence for this phenomenon from
scientific research and everyday experience. Companion to
Healing Words (RC 39215). 1999.
Reversing Hypertension: A Vital New Program to Prevent,
Treat, and Reduce High Blood Pressure RC 50159
by Julian Whitaker
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Outlines a program designed to reduce high blood pressure
without medication or with less medication. Components
include reducing body fat, taking supplements, stopping
smoking and drinking, eating low-glycemic foods, drinking
more water, exercising, and trying alternative therapies,
including acupuncture. Includes recipes. 2000.
Saving the Heart: The Battle to Conquer Coronary Disease RC
50193
by Stephen Klaidman
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
This history of the treatment of coronary disease examines
the intersections of medical practice, clinical science,
technology, and entrepreneurship. Details the development of
life-enhancing and sometimes life-extending treatments for
the number-one killer. Introduces such men as Mason Sones,
inventor of the coronary angiography, and Andreas Gruentzig,
angioplasty pioneer. 2000.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases RC 50772
by Christine Perdan Curran
read by Catherine Byers
1 cassette
Examines the history, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of
sexually transmitted diseases--both bacterial and viral--as
well as other contagious problems such as lice, scabies, and
fungi. Includes information on syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes,
AIDS, and hepatitis. For junior and senior high and older
readers. 1998.
Showdown with Diabetes RC 49883
by Deb Butterfield
read by Patricia McDermott
2 cassettes
Autobiography of the diabetic who founded the Insulin-Free
World Foundation. Chronicles the path of her disease from
its diagnosis until serious complications led to the
pancreas and kidney transplants that cured the disorder.
Describes how science, research funding, health-care policy,
and society influence the health and choices of diabetics.
1999.
Spinal Cord Injury: A Guide for Living RC 50655
by Sara Palmer and others
read by Patricia McDermott
3 cassettes
Three professionals in rehabilitation medicine and
psychology describe the trauma of spinal cord injury; what
to expect during the therapeutic process; and how to meet
the psychological, medical, and social challenges of living
with the disability. Patients' stories are used to
illustrate each aspect. Some descriptions of sex. 2000.
Strong Women, Strong Bones: Everything You Need to Know to
Prevent, Treat, and Beat Osteoporosis RC 51016
by Miriam E. Nelson
read by Patricia McDermott
2 cassettes
The author of Strong Women Stay Young (RC 46865) prescribes
a strength training program and nutritional guidelines to
fight osteoporosis and osteopenia. She also discusses
diagnostic tests; medications, including hormone replacement
therapy; and myths regarding bone density. Provides an
altered program for men at risk. 2000.
Stuttering RC 48569
by C. Woodruff Starkweather and Janet Givens-Ackerman
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Summarizes theories, evaluations, and treatments available
for people who stutter. Offers guidelines for professionals
and patients and alternatives to speech therapy, including
self-help groups and drugs. Examines the practice of
behavior modification, the role of spirituality, and
differences between children and adults who stutter. 1997.
Sweet Invisible Body: Reflections on a Life with Diabetes RC
49131
by Lisa Roney
read by Carol Dines
2 cassettes
Now a graduate student, the author describes her life from
the age of twelve when she was diagnosed with diabetes. She
details the frustrations revolving around food, insulin
shots, and being chronically ill while appearing well to the
outside world. Some strong language. 1999.
Syndrome X: Overcoming the Silent Killer That Can Give You a
Heart Attack RC 50358
by Gerald Reaven and others
read by Betty Williams
3 cassettes
Endocrinologist Reaven of Stanford explains the metabolic
disorder known as insulin resistance syndrome or Syndrome X,
which increases risk for heart attacks. Frequently
undiagnosed, this condition is worsened by diets usually
recommended for coronary health. Prescribes an appropriate
nutritional plan with additional steps for reducing the
syndrome's impact. 2000.
There's Still a Person in There: The Complete Guide to
Treating and Coping with Alzheimer's RC 50722
by Michael Castleman and others
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Presents research on the causes, diagnosis, and treatments
for Alzheimer's disease, as well as how to reduce the risks.
Also deals extensively with the caretaker's role, the
medicine and support systems that are available, and how to
select and pay for residential care. 1999.
Timeless Healing: The Power and Biology of Belief RC 50143
by Herbert Benson
read by Gary Tipton
2 cassettes
The author of Beyond the Relaxation Response (RC 22254)
describes how self-care can be combined with
pharmaceuticals, surgery, and other procedures to help the
healing process. Self-care methods include a belief in
"something good," the placebo effect of "remembered
wellness," and religious convictions that enhance the
relaxation response. 1996.
The Trembling Mountain: A Personal Account of Kuru,
Cannibals, and Mad Cow Disease RC 50650
by Robert Klitzman
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Recounts the author's experiences in Papua New Guinea in
1981 studying kuru, an illness caused by essentially the
same infectious agent as mad-cow disease. Documents his
encounters with the Stone Age Fore group that practices
cannibalism. Discusses the difficulties and triumphs of
conducting field work in epidemiology and medical
anthropology. 1998.
Understanding Parkinson's Disease RC 49300
by David L. Cram
read by Kimberly Schraf
1 cassette
A Parkinson's patient who is also a doctor describes the
disease,  its physical and emotional effects, and things the
patient can do as a partner in his or her treatment. Topics
include exercise, caregivers, medications, surgeries, and
tips for easier daily living. 1999.
Viruses, Plagues, and History RC 47020
by Michael B.A. Oldstone
read by Constance Crawford
2 cassettes
Chronicles the effects that the smallpox, measles, polio,
and yellow fever viruses once had worldwide. Traces the
history of newer viruses such as mad cow disease, Ebola, and
HIV. Includes discussion of the social and political
climates during epidemics, the major scientists who struggle
to combat the diseases, and the principles of immunology.
1998.
Your Life Is in Your Hands: The Path to Lasting Health and
Happiness RC 48476
by Krishan Chopra
read by Rick Rohan
2 cassettes
An Indian physician's guide to achieving a balance in life
in order to increase physical and mental well-being. Offers
advice on reducing stress through diet, exercise, and
meditation. Explores the concept of karma and the power of
prayer and self-discipline. Foreword by the author's son,
philosopher Deepak Chopra. 1997.
Multicultural
After Long Silence: A Memoir RC 49198
by Helen Fremont
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
The author describes her Catholic upbringing in the Midwest
after the Second World War. When she and her sister uncover
their Jewish roots, they reconstruct their mother's and
aunt's Polish background and their family's fate. But their
mother and aunt deny the memories of their past. 1999.
Blessed by Thunder: Memoir of a Cuban Girlhood RC 50530
by Flor Fernandez Barrios
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
A woman's account of her childhood years during Castro's
revolution. Describes harvesting crops at a work camp and
witnessing her family's disillusionment with the changes
under the new government. Also depicts the love and wisdom
of the author's grandmothers and Afro-Cuban nanny, which
sustained her after she left Cuba. 1999.
A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey
RC 49491
by Leila Ahmed
read by Gabriella Cavallero
3 cassettes
 A perceptive Egyptian reflects on cultural, historic, and
personal transitions affecting her self-identity. Describes
her privileged childhood in Cairo, the Socialist changes
imposed by Nasser, and the differences between men's and
women's practices of Islam. Makes observations on her
treatment in England and later in the United States. 1999.
Bowman's Store: A Journey to Myself RC 47175
by Joseph Bruchac
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
An autobiography detailing the author's earliest childhood
memories through age twenty-eight, when his grandfather
Bowman died in 1970. Bowman raised Bruchac without ever
admitting his Abenaki heritage, yet in these reminiscences
Bruchac traces the evidence of Native American customs in
his grandfather's behavior. For senior high and older
readers. 1997.
By the Color of Our Skin: The Illusion of Integration and
the Reality of Race RC 50382
by Leonard Steinhorn and Barbara Diggs-Brown
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Argues that integration between blacks and whites is a myth
and not a reality, based on evaluating the ways Americans
live, learn, work, and think. Notes that 70 percent of
African American children attend predominantly black
schools. Opines that the goal of incorporating all racial
groups into society is unattainable. 1999.
A Country of Strangers: Blacks and Whites in America RC
49062
by David K. Shipler
read by Bob Moore
5 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Shipler examines attitudes
toward race relations in America. Explores how blacks and
whites view each other, how perceptions are shaped from
birth, and how interpretations of others' behavior are often
based on prior assumptions, even among unbiased individuals.
Also considers multiracial families and religious minorities
and their reactions to social stereotypes. 1997.
Freedom's Child: The Life of a Confederate General's Black
Daughter RC 48998
by Carrie Allen McCray
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Carrie Allen McCray tells of the extraordinary life of her
mother, Mary Rice Hayes Allen, a civil rights leader who was
born in 1875 to an ex-Confederate general and a former
slave, Malinda Rice. The general was subsequently ostracized
by the community because he publicly acknowledged and
educated his illegitimate children. 1998.
The Hairstons: An American Family in Black and White RC
50321
by Henry Wiencek
read by John Hammock
4 cassettes
Traces the lineage, legacy, and lives of both black and
white members of the Hairston family from the American
Revolution through the twentieth century. Recalls the
importance of land ownership and inheritance in shaping
attitudes toward marriage and kinship. Notes the acceptance
between the two groups in the 1990s. 1999.
In Search of the Racial Frontier: African Americans in the
American West, 1528-1990 RC 48117
by Quintard Taylor
read by Jake Williams
4 cassettes
Examines contributions of African Americans in the West from
their arrival with the Spanish conquistadors to the civil
rights era. Includes cowboys, buffalo soldiers, pioneers,
and urbanites who lived in the nineteen states between the
Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean. Explains how
individuals and events shaped a distinct subculture. 1998.
The Jew Store RC 49207
by Stella Suberman
read by Pam Ward
2 cassettes
The author's parents, Russian-Jewish immigrants, arrived in
a small Tennessee town in 1920 to open a dry goods store.
The Bronsons were the only Jews in town, but through the
years established a close relationship with the locals
despite anti-Semitism and racism. But what to do about bar
mitzvahs and husbands? 1998.
Out of Place: A Memoir RC 50068
by Edward W. Said
read by Ken Kliban
3 cassettes
Reminiscences of a Palestinian American's formative years--
from his birth in 1935 until 1962, when he was completing
his doctorate. Describes his youth as an exile and refugee,
speaking Arabic at home and English at school. Said calls
his memoir "an unofficial personal record of those
tumultuous years in the Middle East." 1999.
Places Left Unfinished at the Time of Creation RC 50503
by John Phillip Santos
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
A Mexican American writer from Texas examines his family
heritage on both sides of the border. While exploring themes
of home and identity, he recounts stories about various
relatives--his grandparents and his madrina (godmother)
among others. 1999.
Project Girl RC 50336
by Janet McDonald
read by Samarra Mbenga
2 cassettes
Autobiography of an African American lawyer who now resides
in France. McDonald was raised in a Brooklyn housing project
but was accepted at Vassar. She recalls her problems fitting
into a new culture and her early struggles with drugs,
despair, poverty, and alienation. Strong language and some
violence. 1999.
The Scalpel and the Silver Bear RC 50241
by Lori Arviso Alvord and Elizabeth Cohen Van Pelt
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
Raised on the reservation near Gallup, New Mexico, half-
Navajo Alvord graduated from Dartmouth and then went to
Stanford for her medical degree. She describes her career as
the first Navajo woman surgeon and her belief that
integrating tribal ways into orthodox Western medicine
improves healing. 1999.
A Season on the Reservation: My Sojourn with the White
Mountain Apache RC 50198
by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
read by Bob Moore
2 cassettes
Inspired by General Colin Powell, ex-basketball star Abdul-
Jabbar volunteers to assist in coaching a high school team
on the White Mountain Apache Reservation in Arizona. Over
time he learns about the Native American culture and the
problems facing many of the young people he encounters. For
senior high and older readers. 2000.
The Tall Mexican: The Life of Hank Aguirre, All-Star
Pitcher, Businessman, Humanitarian RC 49549
by Robert E. Copley
read by Jake Williams
1 cassette
Authorized biography of the Detroit Tigers' all-star
pitcher. Recalls Aguirre's childhood in a large Mexican
American family in California and how, after his baseball
career ended, he founded Mexican Industries in Detroit in
order to help other Hispanics succeed. For junior and senior
high readers. 1998.
To See and See Again: A Life in Iran and America RC 49409
by Tara Bahrampour
read by Yolande Bavan
3 cassettes
Memoir of the daughter of an American mother and Iranian
father. Describes her bicultural background and upbringing:
moving to Iran at age three and having to readjust to
America at eleven. Through her trips and family connections,
she is able to examine living conditions and customs in Iran
before and after the revolution. 1999.
The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood among Ghosts RC
50624
by Maxine Hong Kingston
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Girlhood recollections of a Chinese American in California,
where her parents had settled and operated a laundry. Her
mother's "talk-stories" filled the girl's head with mythic
Chinese figures and traditions as she coped with daily life
in America. Some strong language. National Book Critics
Circle Award. 1976.
Music
Aaron Copland: The Life and Work of an Uncommon Man RC 49034
by Howard Pollack
read by Gordon Gould
5 cassettes
Biography of the twentieth-century American composer by a
professor of music. Portrays a Jewish, discreetly homosexual
New Yorker, whose popularity and fame grew in the 1940s,
1950s, and 1960s, with his successful ballets, film scores,
and symphonic works. Discusses his musical versatility and
high standards of craftsmanship. 1999.
American Aria: From Farm Boy to Opera Star RC 49388
by Sherrill Milnes
read by Peter Gil
2 cassettes
Memoir of the famous Verdi baritone. Recalls his childhood
on an Illinois dairy farm, his musical training, his career
from regional opera companies to the Metropolitan Opera, and
experiences with other great singers. Discusses his loss of
voice in the 1980s and leaving the Met in the 1990s. 1998.
American Bandstand: Dick Clark and the Making of a Rock 'n'
Roll Empire RC 48752
by John A. Jackson
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Chronicles the career of Dick Clark from a little-known
radio disc jockey to the host of the national teen dance
show American Bandstand. Explores Clark's nonstop pursuit of
wealth, his escape from the 1959 payola scandal, and his
business affairs after the popularity of the show decreased.
1997.
Amy Beach, Passionate Victorian: The Life and Work of an
American Composer, 1867-1944 RC 50332
by Adrienne Fried Block
read by Margaret Strom
4 cassettes
Biography of the first American woman to succeed as a
composer of both art song and large-scale vocal and
instrumental works. Discusses the early recognition of her
talent and the personal freedom she finally enjoyed on tours
as a concert pianist after her husband's death in 1910.
1998.
Aretha: From These Roots RC 49374
by Aretha Franklin and David Ritz
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Hoping to set the record straight about her life, Franklin
tells of her childhood, the noted performers she grew up
around, the mistakes she made in business and in love, the
honors she has received, and her recent enrollment in the
Juilliard School of Music. 1999.
Been There, Done That RC 49224
by Eddie Fisher
read by Jeremy Gage
3 cassettes
Fisher recounts his rise to fame, beginning with his
discovery at around age three that he could open his mouth
and a beautiful sound would come out. He discusses his
career, his marriages and affairs, the scandals, and his
long-running battle with drug addiction. Some strong
language. Bestseller 1999.
Dialogues and Discoveries: James Levine; His Life and His
Music RC 50498
by Robert C. Marsh
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
Music critic Marsh presents a biography of the American
conductor along with reports of conversations between them
over a period of nearly twenty-five years. Levine expresses
his opinions on composers, favorite pieces, live
performances, and other musical topics. Contains a Levine
discography from 1970 to 1998. 1998.
Dixie Chicks: Down-Home and Backstage RC 51290
by James L. Dickerson
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Traces the singing careers of sisters Martie and Emily Erwin
and cohort Natalie Maines from their early days in Dallas to
the award-winning achievements of their country-western
band. Discusses the group's original members and the later
merchandising success of the Dixie Chicks. For senior high
and older readers. 2000.
Dreaming Out Loud: Garth Brooks, Wynonna Judd, Wade Hayes,
and the Changing Face of Nashville RC 47886
by Bruce Feiler
read by L.J. Ganser
3 cassettes
Traces the evolution of country music from the Grand Ole
Opry to later methods of developing potential new stars.
Highlights the careers of famous musicians Garth Brooks and
Wynonna Judd. Discusses the business aspect of the music
industry in Nashville. Some strong language. 1998.
Electro Shock! Groundbreakers of Synth Music RC 50113
by Greg Rule
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
This survey of synthesizer music offers profiles of
seventeen performers, compiled from Keyboard magazine, and
discusses the electronic instruments used. Presents
interviews with Nine Inch Nails, Mark Snow of the X-Files,
and Depeche Mode, among others. Includes a listening guide.
For senior high and older readers. 1999.
Garth Brooks: The Road out of Santa Fe RC 48788
by Matt O'Meilia
read by Don Emmick
1 cassette
Former drummer in a band called Santa Fe describes the early
career of the group's country western singer. O'Meilia
recalls meeting Garth Brooks in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in
1986, appearing with him during the next year, and being
impressed with the singer's determination to succeed even
after a series of failures. Some strong language. 1997.
Girl Singer: An Autobiography RC 49352
by Rosemary Clooney
read by Anne Hancock
3 cassettes
Seventyish Clooney discusses her singing career (which began
in her teens with her sister), love affairs and famous
friends, marriage and five children with philandering movie
star Jos Ferrer, and her 1968 pill-induced breakdown. The
nineties brought both marriage to an old flame and a career
comeback that included multiple Grammy nominations. 1999.
A Good-Natured Riot: The Birth of the Grand Ole Opry RC
50736
by Charles K. Wolfe
read by Randy Atcher
3 cassettes
History of the country music radio station that founded the
Grand Ole Opry following a well-received broadcast of old-
time fiddle tunes in 1925. Recalls the show's early
performers. Discusses social and cultural conditions that
fueled its immense popularity and created a nationwide
audience by the 1940s. 1999.
Grown Up All Wrong: Seventy-five Great Rock and Pop Artists
from Vaudeville to Techno RC 50337
by Robert Christgau
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
Tours the realm of popular music--its different styles and
well-known artists from the 1950s to 1997. These critical
essays trace the evolution of pop, rock-and-roll, hip-hop,
and other musical expressions, offering insights and
discussing performers from the sophisticated Nat King Cole
to the iconoclastic Beastie Boys. Some strong language.
1998.
Jewel: Pieces of a Dream RC 49095
by Kristen Kemp
read by Michael Scherer
1 cassette
Biography of songwriter-singer Jewel, who grew up in Alaska
with no running water, electricity, or heat. Describes her
early singing career, her struggles with dyslexia, and her
parents' divorce. Jewel's determination to succeed led her
to a famous boarding school for the arts and then to
California. For junior and senior high readers. 1998.
Lone Star Swing: On the Trail of Bob Wills and His Texas
Playboys RC 48652
by Duncan McLean
read by Gary Telles
2 cassettes
Describes how, after finding a scratchy LP recording of
Texan Bob Wills in Edinburgh, Scotland, McLean was hooked.
He recalls his statewide musical quest to track down the
spirit of Texas swing, along with his Scotsman's reactions
to catfish, chili, honky-tonks, tumbleweed, and the local
language. Some strong language. 1997.
Mozart: A Cultural Biography RC 49965
by Robert W. Gutman
read by Dennis Rooney
8 cassettes in 2 containers
Presents the Austrian composer's life and music within the
political and social context of eighteenth-century Europe.
Describes his early tours as a child prodigy and his
evolution as a performer and composer. Analyzes Mozart's
work and its reception by his contemporaries. 1999.
Pop Goes Latin! RC 49901
by Nancy Krulik
read by Carol Dines
1 cassette
Traces the life of eleven Latino singers including Ricky
Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Enrique Inglesias, and Christina
Aguilera. Analyzes the changes in society and the music
industry that led to acceptance of Spanish-language
entertainers. For junior and senior high readers. 1999.
Sessions with Sinatra: Frank Sinatra and the Art of
Recording RC 51213
by Charles L. Granata
read by Barry Bernson
3 cassettes
Portrays Frank Sinatra as producer and perfectionist in the
recording studio. Traces technological advances, including
the shift from monaural to stereo sound, that affected his
method. Features recollections of associated musicians and
arrangers. Foreword by Phil Ramone and afterword by Nancy
Sinatra. 1999.
Shania Twain RC 49365
by Michael McCall
read by Mary Ann Nichols
1 cassette
Biography of the Canadian country-pop singer-songwriter who,
after an unspectacular 1993 debut album, gained widespread
fame and awards with her second album, which was expensively
produced by her now-husband Robert Lange. Details such
controversies as the dismissal of her manager and Twain's
initial claim of being Native American. 1999.
Stephen Sondheim: A Life RC 48997
by Meryle Secrest
read by Steven Carpenter
3 cassettes
Biography of the musical theater composer based on
interviews with Sondheim, his family, friends, and
coworkers. Interweaves facts about his personal background
with information about his artistic career spanning more
than forty years of Broadway shows. Discusses his
experiences with Oscar Hammerstein, Leonard Bernstein, and
Harold Prince, among others. 1998.
Suits Me: The Double Life of Billy Tipton RC 49817
by Diane Wood Middlebrook
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
Describes the life and career of jazz musician Billy Tipton,
who passed as a man during her entire career, fooling
friends, numerous wives, and adopted sons. Born Dorothy in
1914, Tipton used her Billy identity from age nineteen until
her death in 1989. Some strong language and some explicit
descriptions of sex. 1998.
Tammy Wynette: A Daughter Recalls Her Mother's Tragic Life
and Death RC 50734
by Jackie Daly
read by Sharon Murray
2 cassettes
One of Tammy Wynette's four daughters recounts her mother's
career in country-western music, her five marriages, her
addictions, and her untimely and mysterious death. 2000.
Wagner without Fear: Learning to Love--and Even Enjoy--
Opera's Most Demanding Genius RC 50021
by William Berger
read by Gordon Gould
3 cassettes
After a summary of Richard Wagner's life, the author
examines his mature operas. Provides a guide to performances
of such works as The Flying Dutchman, Lohengrin, Tristan und
Isolde, and Der Ring des Nibelungen. Concludes with
commentary on Wagner's influence on everyday culture. 1998.
Who Killed Classical Music? Maestros, Managers, and
Corporate Politics RC 48168
by Norman Lebrecht
read by Ted Stoddard
4 cassettes
Music columnist discusses the history of classical music's
transformation from artistic performance to corrupt
business. The author details stars' fees, financial
conspiracies, and illegal and unpunished sexual practices
backstage. 1996.
Nature and the Environment
Against the Tide: The Battle for America's Beaches RC 49167
by Cornelia Dean
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
The New York Times science editor explores the history,
science, and dire future of beach erosion, primarily on the
east coast, where storms and hurricanes threaten (mostly
private) property. Discusses the high cost and eventual
failure of man-made barriers and suggests alternatives.
1999.
Appointment at the Ends of the World: Memoirs of a Wildlife
Veterinarian RC 49831
by William B. Karesh
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
Autobiography of a veterinarian for the Wildlife
Conservation Society who travels throughout the world for
the association and for other government agencies. He
describes the animals he treats as well as the occupational
hazards of disease, attack--both human and animal--and
deadly predators. 1999.
Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds RC 51124
by Joy Adamson
read by Jill Ferris
1 cassette (Reissue)
The wife of a Kenya game warden recounts the couple's unique
relationship with the lioness Elsa. Recalls raising the
orphaned cub for three years and ingeniously training her to
fend for herself. Describes how Elsa recognized her human
friends even after she returned to the wild. Reprinted with
a new foreword in 2000. 1960.
A Dark Place in the Jungle RC 50617
by Linda Spalding
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes
A writer recounts her arduous expedition into the sweltering
forests of Borneo in search of a reclusive primatologist who
has devoted her life to protecting orphaned orangutans.
Describes the forbidding beauty of the island, the colorful
local society, and the despoilment of natural resources
through poaching, deforestation, and misguided ecotourism.
1998.
Earth Odyssey: Around the World in Search of Our
Environmental Future RC 48309
by Mark Hertsgaard
read by Lewis Grenville
3 cassettes
Analyzes the impacts of human behavior on Earth's ecosystems
and the consequences of environmental degradation. Examines
the effects of global warming, the disappearance of rain
forests, unchecked population growth, and pollution.
Interviews scientists, activists, business leaders, and
politicians about the condition of the biosphere and
implications for the future. 1998.
The Enchanted Braid: Coming to Terms with Nature on the
Coral Reef RC 50502
by Osha Gray Davidson
read by Rick Rohan
2 cassettes
Presents a natural history of coral reefs and explains their
importance to the ecosystem. Surveys the conditions of major
reefs and describes the complexity and diversity of marine
life found there. Enumerates the threats posed by humanity
to these fragile areas and advocates their preservation.
1998.
Greenhouse: The Two-Hundred-Year Story of Global Warming RC
48918
by Gale E. Christianson
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Chronicles the scientific theories and development of global
warming. Discusses entrepreneurs from the Industrial
Revolution era whose inventions accelerated the process.
Studies the causes and consequences of the greenhouse effect
and summarizes the 1997 United Nations Conference on Climate
Change in Kyoto. 1999.
Mama Poc: An Ecologist's Account of the Extinction of a
Species RC 49417
by Anne LaBastille
read by Jill Fox
2 cassettes
An American wildlife expert recounts her adventures in
Guatemala as she documents the decline of the giant grebe, a
flightless bird called poc in the Mayan language of the
region. Although she makes valiant efforts to save the giant
grebe population, natural disasters and pollution of the
habitat take a steady toll. 1990.
My Family and Other Animals RC 48465
by Gerald Durrell
read by David Cutler
2 cassettes (Reissue)
A naturalist recounts his adventures and those of his
British family during the five years they lived on the
island of Corfu. Age ten on arrival, Durrell enjoyed
collecting insects and wildlife. He recalls his parents' and
siblings' reactions to his escapades, and his to theirs.
Some strong language. 1956.
The Nearsighted Naturalist RC 49405
by Ann Haymond Zwinger
read by Nanette Savard
2 cassettes
A nature writer depicts the flora and fauna of the wild in
twenty-one essays spanning two decades of exploration. She
describes Robinson Crusoe's island off the coast of Chile,
the Snake River Canyon, the Three Gorges of the Yangtze
River, and other natural wonders. 1998.
The Trees in My Forest RC 48702
by Bernd Heinrich
read by Michael Scherer
1 cassette
In 1977 the author purchased 300 acres of recently cutover
woodlands in Maine. His "biography" of that land shows how
he went about restoring its ecological balance. As
caretaker, owner, scientist, and teacher, Heinrich muses on
the relationships of the trees, plants, animals, and natural
forces at work within the forest. 1997.
Wickerby: An Urban Pastoral RC 48518
by Charles Siebert
read by Terence Aselford
1 cassette
A poet-writer reflects on what he, a city dweller, learned
during a five-month stay in an isolated Canadian cabin
called Wickerby. Ponders the human role in the context of
nature while he describes scenes from his Brooklyn
neighborhood and the cabin's bucolic setting. Offers
insights from readings, contemplation, and reminiscences.
1998.
Wild Fruits: Thoreau's Rediscovered Last Manuscript RC 50242
by Henry David Thoreau
read by Peter Johnson
4 cassettes
Botanical observations and reflections by the author of
Walden (RC 15949). Describes the plants, fruits, and nuts of
the New England woodlands that Thoreau was examining at the
time of his death in 1862. Long unpublished because of
editorial difficulties. 2000.
Wind: How the Flow of Air Has Shaped Life, Myth, and the
Land RC 49589
by Jan DeBlieu
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
The author incorporates science, history, myth, religion,
and her own personal experiences in describing the effects
the wind has had on the earth and on humankind. Describes
global wind systems, the results of windblown insects and
seeds, catastrophic storms, pollution, and the destruction
of forests. 1998.
The Occult
The Camino: A Journey of the Spirit RC 50589
by Shirley MacLaine
read by Pam Ward
2 cassettes
MacLaine, approaching her sixtieth birthday, recounts her
decision to make the approximately 500-mile journey alone
along the Santiago de Compostela Camino in Spain, and the
resulting spiritual experiences in which she struggles to
understand who she is "in relation to others, to time, and
to history." Bestseller 2000.
Old Souls: The Scientific Evidence for Past Lives RC 50688
by Tom Shroder
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
A skeptical journalist's account of a scientist's extensive
study of children born with unique knowledge, birthmarks,
and other indicators that suggest reincarnation. Describes
field trips to Lebanon and India where cases of supposed
reincarnation were documented. Explores various theories for
explaining these uncanny phenomena. 1999.
The Other Side and Back: A Psychic's Guide to Our World and
Beyond RC 48861
by Sylvia Browne
read by Lindsay Ellison
2 cassettes
Well-known psychic provides a "how-to" primer with simple
pointers on applying her basic perceptions of life, death,
and The Other Side to improve daily existence. Discusses
angel and spirit guides, past lives, the mind-body
connection to health, and confronting ten deep-seated fears.
Makes predictions for the new millennium. Bestseller 1999.
Philosophy
African-American Philosophers: Seventeen Conversations RC
50597
edited by George Yancy
read by Peter Jay Fernandez
3 cassettes
Explores in conversational format the beliefs, identities,
and ideologies of seventeen African American philosophers
representing various legal, social, political, and moral
schools of thought. Topics include existentialism, feminism,
race, culture, religion, science, and ideas about the nature
of existence. Reflects on these thinkers' formative
influences and significant contributions. 1998.
The Examined Life: Readings from Western Philosophy from
Plato to Kant RC 49741
edited by Stanley Rosen
read by Annie Wauters
5 cassettes
Representative texts by major philosophers grouped into six
categories: social and political thought, religion, art and
culture, metaphysics, epistemology, and science. Each
section is prefaced with an introduction to the topic.
Includes excerpts from works by Aristotle, Hobbes,
Augustine, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Hegel, Wittgenstein,
Descartes, Kuhn, and Ayala, among others. 2000.
The Genteel Tradition: Nine Essays RC 49700
by George Santayana
read by David Elias
2 cassettes
Essays by a Spanish-born philosopher on the culture of his
adopted homeland, the United States. Santayana coins the
term "genteel tradition" to describe a divided American
mentality--progressive in practical affairs but conservative
in religion, literature, and "the higher things of the
mind." 1967.
Kant's Life and Thought RC 49818
by Ernst Cassirer
read by Bill Wallace
4 cassettes
Twentieth-century philosopher Cassirer portrays the life of
Immanuel Kant and discusses his influence on Western thought
over two centuries. Provides an interpretation of Kant's
writings on the nature of knowledge. Explores his ideas
about the role of experience, a priori understandings, and
linguistic categories in human comprehension of the
universe. 1981.
The Leviathan RC 48622
by Thomas Hobbes
read by Robert Sams
3 cassettes
An English philosopher discusses the idea of absolute
government that is embedded in a contract between the
citizens and a sovereign authority. Examines human passion
and its effect on reason and the need to restrain emotions.
Originally written in 1651. 1988.
Plato's The Republic RC 50843
by Plato
read by Ralph Lowenstein
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Classic dialogues between Socrates and his friends
concerning justice in man and the state, the Platonic theory
of ideas, and concepts of nature, poetry, and philosophy.
1980.
The Second Treatise on Civil Government RC 50100
by John Locke
read by Richard Hauenstein
1 cassette
In this essay renowned Enlightenment philosopher John Locke
explores the origins and nature of civil society and
political power. Discusses concepts of property, slavery,
war, and conquest. Asserts the right of citizens to dissolve
a tyrannical government. 1986.
Poetry
Americans' Favorite Poems: The Favorite Poem Project
Anthology RC 50000
edited by Robert Pinsky and Maggie Dietz
read by Gordon Gould
2 cassettes
Two hundred poems selected by Americans as their favorites
in response to an appeal from poet laureate Pinsky to mark
the bicentennial of the Library of Congress. Each work is
preceded by comments on why it was chosen. Writers
represented include Anna Akhmatova, John Ashbery, Andrew
Marvell, Pablo Neruda, W.B. Yeats, and others. 2000.
Beowulf RC 49742
by Seamus Heaney
read by Patrick Horgan
2 cassettes
Nobel laureate Heaney presents a bilingual edition of the
tenth-century Anglo-Saxon epic, which includes the original
poem in Old English along with his new modern English verse
translation. The poem chronicles the feats of Scandinavian
warrior Beowulf, who battles with monsters and brings wisdom
to leadership. Whitbread Award. Bestseller 2000.
Blizzard of One: Poems RC 50109
by Mark Strand
read by Bruce Huntey
1 cassette
A collection of twenty poems about the delights of life in
everyday experience. The title, taken from "A Piece of the
Storm," focuses attention on a solitary snowflake that
enters a room. Includes an elegy for the Russian-born poet,
"In Memory of Joseph Brodsky." Pulitzer Prize. 1998.
Carnival Evening: New and Selected Poems, 1968-1998 RC 49588
by Linda Pastan
read by Gabriella Cavallero
1 cassette
A collection of short poems that probe the experiences,
thoughts, and feelings of everyday life. The title poem is a
deft work on the theme of Henri Rousseau's painting by that
name. 1998.
The Collected Poems of John Ciardi RC 49171
by John Ciardi
read by Fred Major
3 cassettes
A selection of 450 poems from twenty books published between
1940 and 1993, representative of the author's life work.
Opens with pieces from Homeward to America when Ciardi was
twenty-four, and closes with poems from three books
published posthumously. 1997.
Eugene Onegin: A Novel in Verse RC 49534
by Aleksandr Pushkin
read by Ken Kliban
2 cassettes
Recounts a tale of unrequited love by the romantic young
Tatiana for the disillusioned Russian aristocrat Eugene.
Years later it is Eugene who beseeches Tatiana for love, but
she remains dutiful to her marriage vows. Basis for
Tchaikovsky's opera. Translated by Vladimir Nabokov from the
original 1833 publication by Pushkin. 1964.
Haiku: This Other World RC 50234
by Richard A. Wright
read by Gordon Gould
1 cassette
Collection of Richard Wright's eight hundred seventeen short
poems composed in the late 1950s. In his snail haiku, he
depicts mankind's relationship with nature and observes the
unity and harmony among things. In "Lines of Winter Rain,"
the author explains that beauty can be savored. 1998.
How to Read a Poem: And Fall in Love with Poetry RC 48477
by Edward Hirsch
read by Timothy Lynch
3 cassettes
A poet explores the nature of poetry by quoting and
explaining a broad range of international poems written
across many centuries. He advocates participatory poetics
and encourages the reader to engage full attention and
wrestle with interpretation. Contains a glossary and a
reading list of works cited. 1999.
Kahlil Gibran, Man and Poet: A New Biography RC 50020
by Suheil Bushrui and Joe Jenkins
read by Graeme Malcolm
3 cassettes
Biography of the poet, artist, and mystic. Describes his
relatively short life--he was born in a Lebanese village in
1883 and died in New York in 1931. Discusses his writings
and artistic temperament. Analyzes his fame in the Arab-
speaking world and his popularity in the West. 1998.
The Last Avant-Garde: The Making of the New York School of
Poets RC 50415
by David Lehman
read by Kimberly Schraf
3 cassettes
Combines cultural history, biography, and literary analysis.
Profiles four major poets: John Ashbery, Kenneth Koch, Frank
O'Hara, and James Schuyler. Depicts their friendships and
interaction in New York City in the 1950s and early 1960s.
Examines their reinvention of poetry and collaboration with
other artists. 1998.
The Little Space: Poems Selected and New, 1968-1998 RC 49649
by Alicia Suskin Ostriker
read by Mitzi Friedlander
1 cassette
Ninety poems that trace the author's personal and artistic
development over thirty years of writing. Delving into such
subjects as childhood, family, religion, and politics, she
depicts elements of the human experience with unflinching
candor. Some strong language. 1998.
Lives of the Poets RC 49963
by Michael Schmidt
read by George Holmes
9 cassettes in 2 containers
A history of English-language poetry from the 1300s to 1998,
with emphasis on the twentieth century. Encompasses writers
from the British Isles, the Caribbean, Australia, India, and
North America, discussing their lives and works and the
poets' influences on one another over time. Some
descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1998.
Night Errands: How Poets Use Dreams RC 50661
edited by Roderick Townley
read by Fred Major
2 cassettes
Twenty-six poets reflect on the "generative relationship"
between dreams and poetry. Most quote complete works or
fragments of poems in their essays. Writers include Laurel
Blossom, Edward Hirsch, David Ignatow, Maxine Kumin, Denise
Levertov, Paul Mariani, Joyce Carol Oates, and Richard
Wilbur, among others. 1998.
The Sonnets RC 50129
by William Shakespeare
read by Fred Major
1 cassette
The complete collection of 154 sonnets attributed to
Shakespeare, without commentary. Sonnets 1 to 126 are
addressed to a beloved friend--a young man--while Sonnets
127 to 152 are to a lady of dark beauty, and the last two
poems are adaptations of a Greek epigram. 1609.
The Space between Our Footsteps: Poems and Paintings from
the Middle East RC 50238
selected by Naomi Shihab Nye
read by Yolande Bavan
1 cassette
Anthology of more than one hundred twentieth-century poems
from twenty countries, some written in English and many
translated into free verse. Subjects include affection for
children and family, patriotic feelings, and grief over
exile. Contains brief biographical notes on the
contributors. For junior and senior high readers. 1998.
This Time: New and Selected Poems RC 49884
by Gerald Stern
read by Fred Major
1 cassette
In the tradition of Walt Whitman, a poet describes his
impressions formed during lengthy perambulations. In "Here I
Am Walking" he meditates as he strolls along New Jersey
beaches, taking only simple fare, savoring the seashore, and
musing on his past life and lost dreams. 1998.
What Have You Lost? Poems RC 50773
selected by Naomi Shihab Nye
read by Suzanne Toren
1 cassette
Selections from 140 contemporary poets expressing their
thoughts and observations in free verse on the theme of
loss--of objects, people, places, or concepts. Many of the
poems are first-time publications. Biographical notes on the
contributors are included. For junior and senior high
readers. 1999.
The Yeats Reader: A Portable Compendium of Poetry, Drama,
and Prose RC 49120
by William Butler Yeats
read by Roy Avers
4 cassettes
Although Yeats is known mainly for his poetry, his other
writings, which were frequently derived from events in his
personal life, were "often a substantial achievement on
(their) own terms." Includes major poems written between
1889 and 1939, eight plays, and a selection of
autobiographical and critical writings. 1997.
Psychology and Self-Help
After the Death of a Child: Living with Loss through the
Years RC 48488
by Ann K. Finkbeiner
read by Margaret Strom
3 cassettes
The author, whose son died at eighteen, describes stages of
grief that follow the loss of a child. Based on interviews
with bereaved parents contacted through a national self-help
organization, Compassionate Friends, she presents anecdotal
evidence for her conclusion that no one ever completely lets
go of the loved one. 1996.
Autism: Understanding the Disorder RC 49730
by Gary B. Mesibov and others
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
Traces the history of defining autism from the 1940s
psychological perception to the 1990s understanding of it as
a neurobiological condition. Synthesizes what is known in
1997 about "the nature, causes, underlying mechanisms,
diagnosis, and treatment of autism." 1997.
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul III: More Stories of Life,
Love, and Learning RC 50351
edited by Jack Canfield and others
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
In this sequel to Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II (RC
47252), the authors present additional stories and anecdotes
written by teenagers. The inspirational themes include
relationships, friends and family, and overcoming obstacles.
For senior high and older readers. Bestseller 2000.
Coping with Teen Suicide RC 50643
by James M. Murphy
read by Carol Dines
1 cassette
A psychiatrist and minister offers a teen suicide-prevention
guide for teenagers, parents, and teachers. The author
explains some of the causes and consequences, and suggests
ways of dealing with problems such as stress, depression,
and "mistaken thinking." For senior high and older readers.
1999.
Death and Dying: Opposing Viewpoints RC 49583
edited by Paul A. Winters
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
Examines a range of perspectives and opinions on topics
related to the end of life. Presents opposing outlooks on
such issues as physician-assisted suicide, near-death
experiences, and grief. Challenges readers to confront and
understand conflicting points of view. For senior high and
older readers. 1998.
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens: Simple Ways to Keep
Your Cool in Stressful Times RC 51201
by Richard Carlson
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
This companion to Don't Sweat the Small Stuff (RC 45257) and
others in the series for adults, advises teens on
controlling stress in their lives. Includes one hundred tips
on coping with such things as breakups, bad hair days, and
peer pressure. For junior and senior high readers.
Bestseller 2000.
Double Down: Reflections on Gambling and Loss RC 50040
by Frederick Barthelme and Steven Barthelme
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
The author of Bob the Gambler (RC 46676) joins his brother,
also a professor and writer, to describe how they became
addicted to gambling. They recall cheerfully losing their
inheritance and more, only to be falsely accused of cheating
and arrested. Some strong language. 1999.
Everything You Need to Know When Someone You Know Has Been
Killed RC 49164
by Jay Schleifer
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
Discusses death, especially the violent death of a young
person, and the process of grieving. Offers suggestions on
how to mourn as well as how to help others handle their
emotions. For senior high readers. 1998.
Handbook for Mortals: Guidance for People Facing Serious
Illness RC 48469
by Joanne Lynn and Joan Harrold
read by Rick Rohan
2 cassettes
Physicians offer practical advice to caretakers and patients
on planning both medical and emotional responses to cases of
severe illness. Topics include coping techniques, family
matters, sudden death, mourning and grieving, and enduring
losses. Suggests steps that help prepare for the future and
lists organizations that can provide information and
assistance. 1999.
The Healing Circle: Authors Writing of Recovery RC 50192
edited by Patricia Foster and Mary Swander
read by Kimberly Schraf
2 cassettes
Explores strategies of recovery for people with chronic
illnesses or long-term injuries from accidents. The writers,
including such literary artists as Jane Smiley, Dennis
Covington, and Andrew Sullivan, discuss disability and
recovery in the context of personal experience. Examines the
notion that healing through imagination is an act of
courage. 1998.
How to Meditate: A Guide to Self-Discovery RC 49030
by Lawrence LeShan
read by Candy Shannon
1 cassette (Reissue)
Explains why people meditate and what the exercise does
psychologically and physiologically. Describes basic types
of meditation and provides specific exercises and programs.
1974.
The Interpretation of Dreams RC 50005
by Sigmund Freud
read by Clifford Carpenter
4 cassettes
Joyce Crick's new translation of Freud's first edition of
his classic work written in 1899. Introductory material
describes how Freud incorporated autobiography into his
theoretical writing. Provides glimpses of daily life in
late-nineteenth-century Vienna. Companion to James
Strachey's earlier translation, On Dreams (RC 9451). 1999.
Living When a Young Friend Commits Suicide: Or Even Starts
Talking about It RC 49770
by Earl A. Grollman and Max Malikow
read by Candy Shannon
1 cassette
Grief counselors present a thorough discussion of suicide
specifically for teenagers. Examines survivors' feelings and
how to cope with those reactions, why people commit suicide
and how to help someone suicidal, religious issues, and
popular misconceptions. Lists additional resources. For
junior and senior high readers. 1999.
The Mourning Handbook: The Most Comprehensive Resource
Offering Practical and Compassionate Advice on Coping with
All Aspects of Death and Dying RC 49619
by Helen Fitzgerald
read by Carol Dines
2 cassettes
A certified death educator, who was widowed young, discusses
various aspects of grief and mourning, including preparing
for loss, dealing with funeral arrangements, understanding
how certain complications or variables (such as sudden death
or suicide) will affect grief, and creating a life without
the loved one. 1994.
Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide RC 49382
by Kay Redfield Jamison
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
Examines the cultural history of suicide, biological and
psychological factors, and effects on survivors. Focuses on
victims younger than forty. Includes case studies, literary
quotations, and insights from the author's personal
experience. Proposes ways in which society could address
this increasingly prevalent problem. 1999.
Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys RC 50309
by Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
Case studies support this discussion of the price boys pay
in a culture with rigid ideals of manhood. The authors
identify what youngsters need to achieve emotional
integrity, and they conclude with seven points for
transforming the ways boys are nurtured to better protect
their emotional lives. Bestseller 1999.
The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem RC 49897
by Nathaniel Branden
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
In this companion to How to Raise Your Self-Esteem (RC
26281), the author discusses six action-based principles for
improving one's sense of self-worth. Discusses self-esteem
in relation to school, parenting, work, and culture.
Includes anecdotes and practical exercises for increasing
self-knowledge and bolstering psychological health. 1994.
Straight Talk about Teenage Suicide RC 48666
by Bernard Frankel and Rachel Kranz
read by Kimberly Schraf
1 cassette
Explores the "rising epidemic" of teenage suicide from
social, family, and personal perspectives. Discusses
circumstances and motives that incline young people to
consider ending their lives. Offers advice for getting help.
For junior and senior high readers. 1994.
Suicide: Tragic Choice RC 50486
by Karen Zeinert
read by Carol Dines
1 cassette
Surveys the issue of suicide, including its history, causes,
and psychology. Includes information about the right-to-die
debate, assisted suicide, and survivors of the deceased. For
junior and senior high readers. 1999.
Take Time for Your Life: A Personal Coach's Seven-Step
Program for Creating the Life You Want RC 50519
by Cheryl Richardson
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
A personal coach describes how to eliminate energy drains
and replace them with things that fuel you in the areas of
relationships, surroundings, body, mind, spirit, work, and
money. The author uses clients' stories to illustrate points
and provides lists of resources. Bestseller 1998.
Ten Things I Wish I'd Known--Before I Went into the Real
World RC 50263
by Maria Shriver
read by Jacinda Bronaugh
1 cassette
Expands on a commencement speech given by the author. She
discusses lessons she's learned since college on work,
money, family, and humor. Describes life as an award-winning
television journalist, author of a bestselling children's
book, wife of a movie star, niece of a president, and mother
of four children. Bestseller 2000.
The Vein of Gold: A Journey to Your Creative Heart RC 49779
by Julia Cameron
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
A step-by-step guide to a journey of spiritual healing and
discovery of the creative potential, or "spiritual DNA,"
that resides in every person. Describes practical tools such
as writing, singing, mask-making, and walking meditation to
uncover deep-seated strengths and abilities. Companion to
The Artist's Way (RC 41149). 1996.
Who Moved My Cheese? An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in
Your Work and in Your Life RC 49513
by Spencer Johnson
read by Jack Fox
1 cassette
Dr. Johnson, coauthor of The One Minute Manager (RC 18672),
presents a parable about two mice and two tiny people
searching through a maze for cheese. Their behaviors
illustrate how different personality types react to change.
The author explains why we all should embrace having our
cheese moved. Bestseller 1998.
Winning People Over: Fourteen Days to Power and Confidence
RC 49895
by Burton Kaplan
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
Tips from a business communications consultant on such
topics as taking control of interpersonal relationships on
and off the job, making a lasting impression, generating
enough energy to reach goals, dressing correctly, and
getting rid of self-defeating habits. Includes two weeks of
daily assignments to "reinvent yourself." 1996.
Religion
The Barbarian Conversion: From Paganism to Christianity RC
48040
by Richard Fletcher
read by Nanette Savard
5 cassettes
History of Christianity from its inception in the
Mediterranean world of the Roman Empire to its spread across
Europe. Explains how it carried Roman and Mediterranean
customs and values to northwestern Europe. Asserts the
ensuing merger of Christian and "barbarian" concepts founded
a new civilization. 1997.
Book of Shadows: A Modern Woman's Journey into the Wisdom of
Witchcraft and the Magic of the Goddess RC 50473
by Phyllis Curott
read by Sharon Murray
3 cassettes
Explores the concept, history, and contemporary practice of
witchcraft, or Wicca, through a personal encounter with
"goddess spirituality"--an ancient belief system that seeks
to enhance life through divine empowerment. Chronicles the
author's ascent to high priestess; asserts that world
harmony is the overriding goal. Some descriptions of sex,
some violence, and some strong language. 1998.
The Catholic Vision RC 51210
by Edward D. O'Connor
read by Lou Harpenau
5 cassettes
A Roman Catholic priest and Notre Dame theology professor
discusses the mysteries of God, Jesus Christ, and the
Church. Outlines defining features, teachings, and practices
of his religion. Asserts that Catholic doctrine is coherent,
intelligible, reasonable, and socially relevant. Disputes
the notion of a conflict between faith and reason. 1992.
Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Soul: Stories to Open
the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit RC 50391
by Jack Canfield and others
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Stories designed to deepen faith and nourish the soul, about
people who have chosen hope over despair, offered a helping
hand to someone in need, or put their faith in God against
all odds. Includes tales of love, divine intervention, acts
of kindness, the power of belief, and overcoming obstacles.
Bestseller 2000.
Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years RC 49163
by David L. Edwards
read by Janis Gray
7 cassettes in 2 containers
An account of Christianity's development from an obscure
sect to a major world religion over two millennia. Explores
the origins of the faith, the evolution of its various
traditions, its different expressions in regional cultures,
and its standing in the postmodern age. 1997.
Contemporary Paganism: Listening People, Speaking Earth RC
49215
by Graham Harvey
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
Examines Paganism as a religion that celebrates the natural
world. Covers the origins and history of various practices,
including druidism, witchcraft, heathenism, and shamanism
among others. Identifies seasonal festivals and central
themes between them and their relationships with mainstream
religions. 1997.
Dancing in the Water of Life: Seeking Peace in the
Hermitage; the Journals of Thomas Merton, Volume 5, 1963-
1965 RC 49273
by Thomas Merton
read by Gordon Gould
4 cassettes
In these diaries the monk and author chronicles the years
during which he struggled to reconcile his life of
contemplation with his interest in the reform movements of
the church and society. As Merton pondered the "absurdity"
of worldly concerns, he continued to enjoy "dancing in the
water of life." 1997.
Desire of the Everlasting Hills: The World before and after
Jesus; Hinges of History, Volume 3 RC 50633
by Thomas Cahill
read by Gordon Gould
2 cassettes
Examines "the phenomenon of Jesus" and assesses his impact
through history and at the end of the second millennium.
Analyzes accounts of his life, teachings, and followers.
Confronts the question of whether Christianity has benefited
the world. Sequel to The Gifts of the Jews (RC 46335). 1999.
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
RC 50851
by Miguel Ruiz
read by Jim Johnston
1 cassette
These four agreements, or steps, are based on the wisdom of
the Toltec, a pre-Colombian society that embraced the
spiritual knowledge and practices of their ancestors. Ruiz
asserts that these four beliefs can guide one in developing
a code of conduct that leads to personal freedom. Bestseller
1997.
God's Perfect Child: Living and Dying in the Christian
Science Church RC 50001
by Caroline Fraser
read by Mary Kane
4 cassettes
Fraser, a former Christian Scientist, offers a history of
the Church of Christ, Scientist. Following a biographical
account of founder Mary Baker Eddy, whose doctrine states
that "man is a perfect manifestation of a perfect God,"
Fraser traces the church's development from a small,
peculiar sect to a politically powerful religion, now in
decline. 1999.
Hitler's Pope: The Secret History of Pius XII RC 49241
by John Cornwell
read by Robert Blumenfeld
3 cassettes
Catholic journalist argues that Eugenio Pacelli, Pope Pius
XII, bears personal responsibility for the massacre of
millions of Jews because of his public failure to condemn
Hitler's actions. Cornwell describes how he gained access to
archival papers in the Vatican and other European countries,
expecting to vindicate the canonization of Pius XII.
Bestseller 1999.
Learning to Love: Exploring Solitude and Freedom; the
Journals of Thomas Merton, Volume 6, 1966-1967 RC 49274
by Thomas Merton
read by Gordon Gould
4 cassettes
During 1966 and 1967, Merton moves from a period of monastic
routine to an intense love affair with a student nurse, then
back to the quiet life of contemplation. He discusses his
emergence from the experience with a deeper understanding of
love and a renewed commitment to his religious vocation.
1997.
The Life of Thomas More RC 49033
by Peter Ackroyd
read by George Holmes
4 cassettes
Portrait of the renowned jurist, writer, and Catholic saint
who was executed for refusing to acknowledge the spiritual
authority of King Henry VIII. Depicts More's London
childhood, his religious and intellectual formation, his
ascendant political career, his political fall from grace,
and his martyrdom. 1998.
Papal Sin: Structures of Deceit RC 50273
by Garry Wills
read by Lou Harpenau
2 cassettes
A Pulitzer Prize-winning author--for Lincoln at Gettysburg
(RC 35368)--and practicing Catholic indicts the Church's
hierarchy for the papal sin of deception. Calls for internal
reform regarding teachings on birth control and abortion,
priests' celibacy, and the ordainment of women. Challenges
the Vatican's attitude toward the Holocaust. Bestseller
2000.
Powerful Prayers RC 49165
by Larry King
read by Barry Bernson
2 cassettes
Probes politicians, preachers, artists, doctors, patients,
businessmen, athletes, and soldiers about prayer and their
relationships with God. Includes discussions with ex-U.S.
presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, Senator John
McCain, and former world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali.
Presents their concepts of the human spirit and expressions
of faith and hope. 1998.
Sacred Roads: Adventures from the Pilgrimage Trail RC 50428
by Nicholas Shrady
read by Jim Leary
2 cassettes
A "pilgrim's progress is both an interior journey, a
spiritual exercise, and a physical journey toward an actual
site imbued with a divine character." Shrady describes the
six routes he traveled in such countries as Bosnia, India,
and the Holy Land that took him to sites encompassing
Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, and Islamic traditions.
1999.
Saints and Sinners: A History of the Popes RC 47645
by Eamon Duffy
read by Don Feldheim
5 cassettes
Overview of the papacy from Saint Peter to Pope John Paul
II. Traces the evolution of the institution, its influence
in history, and the political and spiritual power of the
office. Includes a glossary and chronological list of popes.
1997.
Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and
Death in the Peoples Temple RC 48730
by Deborah Layton
read by Kristin Allison
3 cassettes
The author recalls how as a young woman in 1978, she was
living with her mother, brother, and hundreds of other
American followers of the reverend Jim Jones in Guyana. She
describes their wretched lifestyle and her decision to
escape, just months before Jonestown residents were ordered
to commit mass suicide. Some strong language. 1998.
Shabbat Shalom: Recipes and Menus for the Sabbath RC 51031
by Susan R. Friedland
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Following a brief discussion of the Sabbath, Friedland
offers more than 175 traditional and contemporary recipes
for celebrating the three Sabbath meals. Includes challah,
appetizers, soups, meats, kugels, vegetables, salads, and
desserts. Also features sample menus. 1999.
To Begin Again: The Journey toward Comfort, Strength, and
Faith in Difficult Times RC 48561
by Naomi Levy
read by Jill Ferris
2 cassettes
Rabbi offers suggestions on how to regain one's faith after
a crisis. Uses examples from her congregation to illustrate
how prayers and meditation can sustain one through trouble.
Explains the importance of rituals and means of getting
started on a new life. 1998.
Turbulent Souls: A Catholic Son's Return to His Jewish
Family RC 49878
by Stephen J. Dubner
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
Shortly after World War II, a rising ballerina and an
alienated soldier convert from Judaism to Catholicism and
marry. Years later their son, the youngest of eight
children, feels a yearning for the lost faith of his
forebears and begins a harrowing journey to recover his
Jewish heritage. 1998.
Turning toward the World: The Pivotal Years; the Journals of
Thomas Merton, Volume 4, 1960-1963 RC 49272
by Thomas Merton
read by Gordon Gould
3 cassettes
In these diaries the monk and author recounts his years at a
forest hermitage. He reflects on his growing concern with
peace and civil rights issues and the proper role of the
church in addressing them. The material reveals the
development of the social activist that Merton would remain
until his death in 1968. 1996.
Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II RC 49018
by George Weigel
read by Ken Kliban
10 cassettes in 2 containers
Traces John Paul II's childhood, early priesthood, and
election to the papacy at the age of fifty-eight. Discusses
the contradictory assessments of the pontiff as man and
priest. This unauthorized account, written with the pope's
cooperation, culminates twenty years of studying and writing
about him. 1999.
World Religions: An Introduction for Students RC 48693
by Jeaneane Fowler and others
read by Margaret Strom
5 cassettes
Five British professors outline the tenets, rites, and
traditions of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism,
Buddhism, and Sikhism, emphasizing the view that these
religions are relevant to life in the late twentieth
century. Summarizes basic information to enable believers
and nonbelievers to engage in conversation about the
spiritual realm. For senior high and older readers. 1997.
Science and Technology
Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold RC 50177
by Tom Shachtman
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Historical survey of Western scientists' efforts to control
cold. Discusses Boyle's experiments in the seventeenth
century, the invention of the sealed glass thermometer, the
work of Fahrenheit and Celsius, the discovery of
refrigeration, twentieth-century research on attaining
absolute zero, and related topics of superconductivity and
superfluidity. 1999.
Almost Everyone's Guide to Science: The Universe, Life, and
Everything RC 49321
by John Gribbin
read by Gillian Green
2 cassettes
An overview of modern science that explains our
understanding of the universe. Encompasses atoms, chemistry,
evolution, and the solar system, among other topics.
Discusses how all of the sciences fit together and can be
comprehensible to the average person. 1999.
The Baltimore Case: A Trial of Politics, Science, and
Character RC 47928
by Daniel J. Kevles
read by Jake Williams
4 cassettes
Examines a case involving scientific accountability,
government funding of research, and the civil rights of
scientists. Explains the origins of an accusation of fraud
against DNA researcher Thereza Imanishi-Kari; the defense of
her integrity by her co-author, Nobel Prize-winner David
Baltimore; and their persecution in the 1980s and
restitution in the 1990s. 1998.
The Bonehunters' Revenge: Dinosaurs, Greed, and the Greatest
Scientific Feud of the Gilded Age RC 50723
by David Rains Wallace
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
Account of the historical feud between two nineteenth-
century American paleontologists--Othniel Charles Marsh and
Edward Drinker Cope. After the Civil War both men amassed
large collections of dinosaur bones discovered in the West,
but their intense rivalry led to muckraking and scandal
rather than scientific cooperation. 1999.
Calendar: Humanity's Epic Struggle to Determine a True and
Accurate Year RC 48474
by David Ewing Duncan
read by Ted Stoddard
3 cassettes
Traces humanity's struggle to create a workable calendar
from the earliest Stone Age markings to twentieth-century
atomic clock accuracy. Discusses the concepts of time,
numbers, and fixing dates in various world civilizations,
with emphasis on European developments. 1998.
Captured by Aliens: The Search for Life and Truth in a Very
Large Universe RC 50820
by Joel Achenbach
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
A reporter and National Public Radio commentator delves into
the question of belief in extraterrestrial life. Drawing on
interviews with NASA scientists, a Heaven's Gate survivor,
UFO conventioneers, Roswell enthusiasts, X-Files stars, and
the late Carl Sagan, Achenbach tests claims of encounters
with aliens against the scientific evidence. 1999.
Carl Sagan's Universe RC 47883
edited by Yervant Terzian and Elizabeth Bilson
read by Ralph Lowenstein
3 cassettes
Twenty-four symposium papers to honor Carl Sagan's work on
the occasion of his sixtieth birthday in October 1994 at
Cornell University. Four major topics are presented:
planetary exploration; life in the cosmos; science
education; and science, environment, and public policy.
1997.
Carrier: A Guided Tour of an Aircraft Carrier RC 49536
by Tom Clancy
read by Ralph Lowenstein
4 cassettes
History of the men and machines that comprise naval
aviation. Describes the design and capabilities of aircraft
carriers, as well as the role they play in international
policy. Follows activities of the crew aboard the USS George
Washington as they complete exercises in the Persian Gulf.
1999.
The Code Book: The Evolution of Secrecy from Mary Queen of
Scots to Quantum Cryptography RC 49955
by Simon Singh
read by Dennis Rooney
3 cassettes
Charts the history of ciphers and the ongoing battle between
codemakers and codebreakers, which has spurred corresponding
technological development. Relates tales of political
intrigue and historical turning points in which codes played
a role. Also discusses the continuing importance of
encryption in the digital world. 1999.
Dancing Naked in the Mind Field RC 50458
by Kary Mullis
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
Reminiscences of the maverick Nobel laureate who invented
the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a procedure that
revolutionized research on genetic material. Recounts his
precocious youth, his involvement in the O.J. Simpson murder
trial, and his encounter with aliens. Refutes some widely
held theories, including global warming. Some strong
language. 1998.
Endless Frontier: Vannevar Bush, Engineer of the American
Century RC 49430
by G. Pascal Zachary
read by Butch Hoover
5 cassettes
Biography of the World War II engineer who coordinated
American technology for military enterprise and initiated
the atomic age. Describes his career, concentrating on the
war years when he advised President Roosevelt on scientific
and technological matters and organized the Manhattan
Project. 1997.
Faster: The Acceleration of Just About Everything RC 50472
by James Gleick
read by Barry Bernson
2 cassettes
Examination of why people always seem to be in such a rush,
and a look at the technology that has put us in this
position. In brief chapters, Gleick explores such topics as
the "close" button on an elevator, the television remote-
control, the computer, the cell phone, and multitasking.
1999.
Floods, Famines, and Emperors: El Nio and the Fate of
Civilizations RC 49950
by Brian Fagan
read by Ralph Lowenstein
2 cassettes
Investigates the connection between deadly weather phenomena
and anthropology. Discusses the historical impact of methods
used by various ancient civilizations to adapt to stressful
climatic changes. Describes monsoons in India; famines in
ancient Egypt; droughts in the American Southwest, which
destroyed the Anasazi; and "El Nio," which has serious
effects worldwide. 1999.
Galileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith,
and Love RC 48871
by Dava Sobel
read by Gabriella Cavallero
3 cassettes
Reappraisal of the famous scientist based on 124 surviving
letters from his oldest daughter, Sister Maria Celeste.
Discusses how her loving devotion sustained her father
during his persecution for stating that the Earth revolves
around the Sun. Reveals details of daily life in Italy in
the early 1600s. Bestseller 1999.
Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in Twenty-Three
Chapters RC 50310
by Matt Ridley
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
As the mapping of the sixty to eighty thousand genes in the
human genome comes to a close, the author examines an
interesting gene on each of the twenty-three chromosomes.
Discusses genes' roles in such things as intelligence,
memory, and personality, and explains mutations that cause
Huntington's chorea and other diseases. 1999.
Glass: From the First Mirror to Fiber Optics, the Story of
the Substance That Changed the World RC 50653
by William S. Ellis
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Explores the history of glass, its technology and
manufacture, and its creative use as an art form. Traces the
origins of glass from Mesopotamia to Murano, Italy, and into
the modern age. Discusses how the scientific development of
the material's versatile properties has expanded its uses.
1998.
Great Feuds in Science: Ten of the Liveliest Disputes Ever
RC 49011
by Hal Hellman
read by Rick Foucheux
2 cassettes
Recounts ten major disputes that roiled the world of
intellectual research since the seventeenth century.
Discusses Galileo's censure by the Catholic Church for his
theories of astronomy, the furor over Darwin's proposals
concerning evolution, and other historic quarrels about the
nature of the universe. 1998.
Greenhouse: The Two-Hundred-Year Story of Global Warming RC
48918
by Gale E. Christianson
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Chronicles the scientific theories and development of global
warming. Discusses entrepreneurs from the Industrial
Revolution era whose inventions accelerated the process.
Studies the causes and consequences of the greenhouse effect
and summarizes the 1997 United Nations Conference on Climate
Change in Kyoto. 1999.
The Hand: How Its Use Shapes the Brain, Language, and Human
Culture RC 48322
by Frank R. Wilson
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
A neurologist examines the human hand's role in the
evolution of the species and in the development of the
brain. Discusses the hand's versatility and influence on
cognitive, emotional, linguistic, and psychological
abilities. Interviews musicians, puppeteers, and surgeons
for insights on how hands influence learning and career
choices. 1998.
High-Tech Harvest: A Look at Genetically Engineered Foods RC
49433
by Elizabeth L. Marshall
read by Patricia McDermott
1 cassette
Explores the realm of genetically engineered foods and the
social, environmental, economic, and ethical issues
associated with the technology. Describes the process of
gene transfers in both plants and animals. Discusses
opposition viewpoints and the prospects for alleviating
world hunger with this new type of food. For senior high and
older readers. 1999.
Huxley: From Devil's Disciple to Evolution's High Priest RC
48637
by Adrian Desmond
read by Gary Telles
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Biography of the nineteenth-century scientist who coined the
term "agnostic" and stirred the working class with the
theory of evolution. Thomas Huxley supported Charles Darwin
in his struggles in the 1860s and shocked Victorian society
with his scandalous views. Discusses the social milieu of
the time and the increasing importance of scientists. 1997.
Immortality: How Science Is Extending Your Life Span--and
Changing the World RC 49383
by Ben Bova
read by Gary Telles
2 cassettes
On the strength of evidence from biological research, the
author asserts "that human immortality is no longer a
fantasy or a dream but may be achievable within this
generation." Explains the scientific basis for this claim
and discusses the social implications of extending life
expectancy. 1998.
The Invention That Changed the World: How a Small Group of
Radar Pioneers Won the Second World War and Launched a
Technological Revolution RC 47888
by Robert Buderi
read by Dennis Rooney
5 cassettes
Traces the development of radar technology, its use as a
weapon in World War II, and its extensive peacetime
applications. Recounts the secretive development of
microwave radar early in the war and describes its critical
value in the Battle of Britain, at Midway, and in other
important conflicts. 1996.
Leonardo's Mountain of Clams and the Diet of Worms: Essays
on Natural History RC 48483
by Stephen Jay Gould
read by Gary Telles
3 cassettes
Essays by a paleontologist from Natural History magazine.
Discusses scientists of the past and their (often erroneous)
theories about the earth. Includes Leonardo da Vinci's
writings on how marine fossils ended up on mountaintops. The
Diet of Worms refers, not to a culinary treat, but to the
court that banned Martin Luther's work in 1521. 1998.
Life in the Treetops: Adventures of a Woman in Field Biology
RC 49268
by Margaret D. Lowman
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
A doctor of herbivory in rain-forest canopies describes the
projects she has worked on and the unusual methods used to
access the treetops, such as suspension walkways and
inflatable canopy sleds. She also discusses being a woman in
science and the effect her career has had on her personal
life. 1999.
The Lighthouse Stevensons: The Extraordinary Story of the
Building of the Scottish Lighthouses by the Ancestors of
Robert Louis Stevenson RC 50634
by Bella Bathurst
read by Frank Coffee
2 cassettes
Portrayal of the family of writer Robert Louis Stevenson.
Recalls the ingenuity and perseverance of four generations
of engineers who designed and built most of Scotland's
lighthouses. Fighting harsh weather, politicians, and
scavengers known as "wreckers," the Stevensons redefined the
treacherous, jagged coastline. 1999.
Measuring the Universe: Our Historic Quest to Chart the
Horizons of Space and Time RC 49733
by Kitty Ferguson
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes
An account of scientific discoveries used to calculate
astronomical distances, dating from ancient times to the
space age. Chronicles Eratosthenes' ingenious derivation of
Earth's circumference more than 2,200 years ago and such
recent milestones as the 1998 designation of supernovas some
seven billion light-years away. 1999.
Natural History: A Selection RC 49728
by Pliny the Elder
read by Gordon Gould
4 cassettes
An encyclopedic overview of Roman scientific understanding
during the first century A.D. By the author's estimate, this
work presents some two hundred thousand facts about
astronomy, geography, zoology, botany, medicine, art, and
architecture. Discussions are enlivened with anecdotes and
personal commentary. 1991.
The Patent Files: Dispatches from the Frontiers of Invention
RC 49329
by David Lindsay
read by Gary Roan
2 cassettes
An introduction to the world of inventors and their
intriguing and often quirky creations. This collection of
fifty articles covers pheromone deodorant, space elevators,
a greenhouse helmet, Doppler radar, a toilet-seat lock, and
many other products of human ingenuity. 1999.
Peace and War: Reminiscences of a Life on the Frontiers of
Science RC 49378
by Robert Serber
read by Terence Aselford
2 cassettes
Memoir of a key member of the Manhattan Project scientific
team, who assembled the bombs that were dropped on Japan in
1945. Recounts the development and testing of the atomic
bomb, its use and effects on the Japanese population, and
the postwar controversy that surrounded this revolutionary
weapon of war. 1998.
Physics in the Twentieth Century RC 51220
by Curt Suplee
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
Describes advances in physics over the last century.
Includes chapters on the electromagnetic spectrum, quantum
mechanics, atomic structures, chaos and order, and the
evolution of the universe. Chronicles the research that
resulted in the creation of new technology. For senior high
and older readers. 1999.
Robot: Mere Machine to Transcendent Mind RC 49732
by Hans Moravec
read by Dennis Rooney
2 cassettes
A leader in robotics research surveys the state of the art
and then mixes predictions with suggested actions. Estimates
that by 2040 there will be fourth-generation universal
robots with the general competence of human beings and the
capability of designing their own successors. 1999.
Star Trek on the Brain: Alien Minds, Human Minds RC 50105
by Robert Sekuler and Randolph Blake
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
Uses segments from the TV and movie series to explain brain
functions and psychological phenomena. Examines nonhuman
life forms and their cultural customs as a means of studying
human beings from a different perspective. Contains a
glossary of main characters and a list of Star Trek
episodes. 1998.
The Substance of Civilization: Materials and Human History
from the Stone Age to the Age of Silicon RC 49991
by Stephen L. Sass
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Chronicles the role of physical substances in the evolution
of human civilization, asserting that "materials not only
affect the destinies of nations but define the periods
within which they rise and fall." Traces developments from
the military use of iron during biblical times to the
reliance on silicon in the information age. 1998.
Time, Love, Memory: A Great Biologist and His Quest for the
Origins of Behavior RC 50356
by Jonathan Weiner
read by Ken Kliban
2 cassettes
Biography of biologist Seymour Benzer, whose groundbreaking
work revolutionized the study of genetics. Experimenting on
fruit flies at the California Institute of Technology,
Benzer and his students developed ideas about the relation
between genes and behavior that had far-reaching
implications for ethical and social thought as well as
biology. 1999.
The Yard: Building a Destroyer at the Bath Iron Works RC
50423
by Michael S. Sanders
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Portrait of Maine's Bath Iron Works, a venerable
shipbuilding firm that has produced hundreds of vessels
since it was founded in 1884. Chronicles the four-year
process of constructing the destroyer USS Donald Cook.
Describes the planning and craftsmanship needed to assemble
a warship in the late 1990s. 1999.
Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea RC 49949
by Charles Seife
read by Dennis Rooney
2 cassettes
The history of the concept of the number zero--from its
birth in the East to its eventual acceptance in the West.
Recounts the battles among scholars and mystics, scientists
and clergymen. Discusses zero's impact on science,
mathematics, and religion, and comments on zero's
counterpart, infinity. 2000.
Social Sciences
America the Wise: The Longevity Revolution and the True
Wealth of Nations RC 50134
by Theodore Roszak
read by Randy Davidson
2 cassettes
A historian's optimistic outlook on the social and economic
consequences of the aging of the baby-boom generation.
Expresses the hope that a healthier, wealthier, better
educated, and politically influential older population can
help build a more humane society. Exhorts seniors to become
agents of positive change. 1998.
Apocalypse Pretty Soon: Travels in End-Time America RC 50663
by Alex Heard
read by Barry Bernson
2 cassettes
A ten-year survey of millennialists and utopians who
anticipate a coming apocalypse, "a period of dramatic
upheaval and change that will lead to a new and improved
tomorrow." Using published sources and personal interviews,
the author describes UFO cultists, Earth Change zealots,
life-extensionists, New Agers, and other radical believers.
1999.
The Assault on Parenthood: How Our Culture Undermines the
Family RC 50126
by Dana Mack
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
After interviewing parents across the country, the author
asserts that millions of them believe the crisis of youth
could be solved if government and social institutions
allowed families to provide children the needed love, time,
protection, and authoritative guidance. Included are seven
pro-family proposals. 1997.
Before His Time: The Untold Story of Harry T. Moore--
America's First Civil Rights Martyr RC 50596
by Ben Green
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
Traces the life of Harry T. Moore as a Florida
schoolteacher, NAACP coordinator, Progressive Voter's League
executive secretary, and educator of African Americans
concerning their constitutional rights. Recalls his murder
in 1951 when a bomb was planted in his home. Violence. 1999.
Beyond the Influence: Understanding and Defeating Alcoholism
RC 49986
by Katherine Ketcham and William F. Asbury
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
Using scientific research, the authors make the case that
alcoholism is a medical disease resulting from abnormalities
in brain chemistry. Explains how to diagnose the condition
and proposes that treatment programs include psychological
and spiritual elements. Investigates fallacies promoted by
the liquor industry. Foreword by former Senator George
McGovern. 2000.
Building a Bridge to the Eighteenth Century: How the Past
Can Improve Our Future RC 49447
by Neil Postman
read by John Richardson
2 cassettes
Posits that society should look back to the Enlightenment to
guide us into the twenty-first century, in part because the
ideals that led to the modern age were created during that
era. Discusses children, education, technology, and
progress, and calls for a return to tradition. 1999.
Celebration, U.S.A.: Living in Disney's Brave New Town RC
50494
by Douglas Frantz and Catherine Collins
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
Portrays the authors' experiences after moving their family
to the Florida town created by the Walt Disney Company.
Celebration was built on the five cornerstones of education,
wellness, technology, the sense of place, and community; its
first residents arrived in 1996. Assesses its successes and
failures, including problems in construction and schooling.
1999.
Comrades: Brothers, Fathers, Heroes, Sons, Pals RC 48827
by Stephen E. Ambrose
read by Arnie Warren
1 cassette
Historian investigates male friendships; includes ties
between members of his own family. Discusses famous
relationships between Lewis and Clark, General Eisenhower
and General Patton, Crazy Horse and He Dog, and others. Also
studies interactions and sentiments among veterans from one
company of soldiers. Bestseller 1999.
An Empire Wilderness: Travels into America's Future RC 50369
by Robert D. Kaplan
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Author who wrote Balkan Ghosts (RC 37464) describes his
travels across western North America and envisions a
scenario for the future based on his experience. He foresees
a fragmented society in which the "haves" and "have-nots"
are separated by access to technology and class differences
override national boundaries. Some strong language. 1998.
Hurricane: The Miraculous Journey of Rubin Carter RC 49829
by James S. Hirsch
read by Bob Moore
3 cassettes
In 1966, boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter was arrested for the
murder of three white men in Paterson, New Jersey. Hirsch
recounts Carter's rage over his imprisonment, his refusal to
conform to prison rules, and his relentless efforts to prove
his innocence. Violence, strong language, and some
descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2000.
Illness as Metaphor and AIDS and Its Metaphors RC 50695
by Susan Sontag
read by Mitzi Friedlander
1 cassette
Two previously published works about perceptions of disease.
In the first, from 1978, an American intellectual discusses
punitive or sentimental fantasies "concocted" about being
seriously ill--especially suffering from cancer. The second,
a sequel produced in 1989, deals specifically with social
attitudes toward AIDS. 1989.
The Imprisoned Guest: Samuel Howe and Laura Bridgman, the
Original Deaf-Blind Girl RC 51840
by Elisabeth Gitter
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
The life of Laura Bridgman, deaf and blind from age two, who
became one of the most famous women of the mid-nineteenth
century. Explores her education with Samuel Howe at Boston's
Perkins Institution for the Blind. Views her achievements in
the context of American social, cultural, and intellectual
history. 2001.
Mighty like a River: The Black Church and Social Reform RC
50405
by Andrew Billingsley
read by Bob Moore
2 cassettes
Account of the socially and politically active role of
churches in the black community. Asserts that these churches
have been a major force in advancing equality and justice
for African Americans. Evaluates their effectiveness in
relation to family issues, youth development, the elderly,
and health care. 1999.
Miss Manners' Guide to Domestic Tranquility: The
Authoritative Manual for Every Civilized Household, However
Harried RC 49452
by Judith Martin
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Advice from an etiquette maven on everyday living and
special circumstances such as entertaining, community
living, and the necessity of having shared rules. Includes
letters from her newspaper columns. 1999.
No Go the Bogeyman: Scaring, Lulling, and Making Mock RC
50024
by Marina Warner
read by Frank Coffee
3 cassettes
Examines art, folktales, and myths for themes of terror
usually manifest in male figures such as bogeys, giants,
ogres, and cannibals. Develops into "a cultural exploration
of fear, its vehicles, and its ambiguous charge of pleasure
and pain." Spans material dating from ancient Greece to
modern Hollywood. 1998.
Note Found in a Bottle: My Life as a Drinker RC 49446
by Susan Cheever
read by Madelyn Buzzard
1 cassette
Memoir of an alcoholic. Recounts the seductive allure in
childhood of observing her parents' cocktail rituals.
Drinking becomes such a fundamental part of her existence
that she never connects it with her problems--at school,
with men, or with her marriages. Then in 1991, she chooses
sobriety. 1999.
The O'Reilly Factor: The Good, Bad, and Completely
Ridiculous in American Life RC 51053
by Bill O'Reilly
read by Terence Aselford
2 cassettes
A running commentary on society by the Fox News Channel's
broadcast journalist. Discusses a wide-range of topics,
including class, race, money, politics, and sex, as well as
interpersonal relationships and the ridiculousness of life.
Some strong language. Bestseller 2000.
Outlaw Machine: Harley-Davidson and the Search for the
American Soul RC 50469
by Brock Yates
read by Ray Foushee
2 cassettes
An editor of Car and Driver magazine examines the myth and
reality behind Harley-Davidson motorcycles, beginning with
the company's first machine in 1903. Traces the evolution of
bikers' clubs, their image in film, and their eventual
revival. Also examines the competition from Japan that
almost destroyed the company. Some strong language. 1999.
Say Please, Say Thank You: The Respect We Owe One Another RC
49659
by Donald McCullough
read by Andy Chappell
2 cassettes
Responding to news articles about the lack of courtesy in
the United States, a theological college president and
professor offers suggestions on ways in which little acts of
courtesy can create a more humane society. Topics include
making polite requests, apologizing when necessary, paying
your share, and showing respect for elders. 1998.
A Shining Thread of Hope: The History of Black Women in
America RC 50032
by Darlene Clark Hine and Kathleen Thompson
read by Robin Miles
3 cassettes
A chronology of diverse African American women's lives
across the United States from colonial times to the late
twentieth century. Uses first-person narratives, where
available, to recall efforts to resist oppression, improve
education, impart religious values, and assume leadership
roles in the community and the nation. 1998.
A Short History of Rudeness: Manners, Morals, and
Misbehavior in Modern America RC 50725
by Mark Caldwell
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
An inquiry into the generally perceived deterioration of
etiquette and civility in daily life. Discusses proper
conduct for various situations including weddings, funerals,
the workplace, and the Internet. Argues that manners evolve
continuously and have been doing so for centuries. 1999.
Symptoms of Culture RC 50780
by Marjorie Garber
read by Peter Johnson
2 cassettes
Essays identify and analyze cultural symbols that highlight
anxieties of modern life in the United States. A Harvard
University English professor argues that such practices as
praying for God's favor at sports contests and quoting
Shakespeare as arbiter of social truth serve to indicate
basic beliefs about reality. Some discussion of sexuality.
1998.
A Thread of Years RC 49399
by John Lukacs
read by Rick Rohan
3 cassettes
Ordinary characters and a few notable historical figures
appear in a series of vignettes portraying the decline in
manners, especially in the United States; each chapter
covers one year, from 1901 to 1969. A dialog following each
scenario allows the author to debate his views with an alter
ego. 1998.
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big
Difference RC 50027
by Malcolm Gladwell
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
A journalist proposes that fads are social epidemics in
which little changes have big effects. He refers to the one
dramatic moment during such a contagion, when everything can
change all at once, as "the tipping point." Gladwell also
analyzes trends to further explain his theory. Bestseller
2000.
Sports and Recreation
Babe: The Legend Comes to Life RC 49636
by Robert W. Creamer
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes (Reissue)
An editor of Sports Illustrated documents the life of Babe
Ruth from his early years in a Baltimore reform school to
his later success in baseball. Discusses his private life of
profligate drinking, eating, and carousing, as well as his
legendary career. Some strong language. 1974.
The Best American Sports Writing, 1998 RC 48316
edited by Bill Littlefield
read by Bill Wallace
4 cassettes
Twenty-six sports articles from American and Canadian
magazines and newspapers. Linda Robertson writes about
Richard Williams's grooming his daughters for tennis careers
in "On Planet Venus." In "Late Boomer," Tom Boswell
describes Brady Anderson, the Orioles center fielder. David
Remnick covers boxer Mike Tyson in "Kid Dynamite Blows Up."
Some strong language. 1998.
The Best American Sports Writing, 1999 RC 50491
edited by Richard Ford
read by Randy Atcher
2 cassettes
Seventeen sports stories of the year highlighting different
aspects of athletics including a female perspective on
shooting hoops, the rivalry between Mark McGwire and Sammy
Sosa, Canadian junior league hockey, and Michael Jordan's
last game. Includes writers David Halberstam, the late
Shirley Povich, John McPhee, and David Mamet. 1999.
The Best American Sports Writing of the Century RC 50162
edited by David Halberstam
read by Bruce Huntey
6 cassettes
A selection of more than fifty articles describing
twentieth-century sporting events. Includes authors Gay
Talese, Tom Wolfe, Mike Royko, Ring Lardner, Jimmy Breslin,
John Updike, and George Plimpton. Profiles athletes such as
Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Mohammad Ali, Joe DiMaggio, and Jackie
Robinson. Some strong language. 1999.
Cinderella Story: My Life in Golf RC 48858
by Bill Murray
read by Len Mailloux
1 cassette
While comic actor Murray humorously discusses his favorite
pastime, golf, he digresses about childhood incidents. An
enthusiastic participant in celebrity golf tournaments,
Murray began his involvement with the sport with early
experiences as a caddy. He also describes his role in the
movie Caddyshack. Bestseller 1999.
A Coach's Life RC 49993
by Dean Smith
read by Jim Johnston
4 cassettes
Memoir of the award-winning college basketball coach. The
son of a Kansas high school coach, Dean Smith played
basketball for the University of Kansas before beginning his
coaching career, which included a record-breaking thirty-
six-year stint as head coach at the University of North
Carolina. 1999.
The Complete Book of Fishing: Tackle, Techniques, Species,
Bait RC 50161
by John Wilson and others
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Five expert fishermen present a guide to many aspects of
their sport--types of tackle and bait, various techniques,
popular species, and how to "read the water." Emphasizes
English approaches but notes comparisons with North American
waters. Includes tips on finding good spots. 1997.
Confessions of a Baseball Purist: What's Right--and Wrong--
with Baseball, as Seen from the Best Seat in the House RC
48422
by Jon Miller
read by Phil Regensdorf
2 cassettes
Longtime Baltimore Orioles announcer and later ESPN
broadcaster reminisces about his three decades in baseball.
Discusses famous players including Cal Ripken and Reggie
Jackson, the development of interleague play, the unions,
the new breed of players, and the owners. 1998.
Death and Money in the Afternoon: A History of the Spanish
Bullfight RC 50715
by Adrian Shubert
read by David Elias
2 cassettes
Discusses bullfighting as a social institution within the
framework of a broader society. Traces modern bullfighting
from the eighteenth to the twentieth century, revealing
changes in Spanish attitudes toward entrepreneurship and the
bullfighters. Views the sport from the perspectives of
business, politics, and gender. 1999.
Explorer Leader Handbook RC 49836
by Boy Scouts of America
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Handbook for advisors and youth leaders of Explorer Scouts.
Describes the role of an advisor to an Explorer post in
setting up the post and training the youth leaders.
Discusses the nature of Exploring and the responsibilities
of officers, and tells how to plan and conduct a successful
meeting. 1991.
Explorers with Disabilities Program Helps RC 50084
by Boy Scouts of America
read by Ralph Lowenstein
1 cassette
Provides a variety of programs and activities for the scout
leader in an effort to include young adults with
disabilities in the Exploring program, which includes both
men and women from ages fourteen through twenty. Companion
to Scouting for the Physically Handicapped (RC 9429). 1994.
Fair Ball: A Fan's Case for Baseball RC 50094
by Bob Costas
read by James Leary
1 cassette
Emmy Award-winning broadcaster outlines what he believes is
wrong with baseball and offers some cures. Includes
suggestions for a new contract in 2001 between owners and
players, which includes revenue-sharing, salary basements
and ceilings, modification of rules, and realignments of
schedules. Bestseller 2000.
A Flame of Pure Fire: Jack Dempsey and the Roaring Twenties
RC 49905
by Roger Kahn
read by Randy Atcher
4 cassettes
Biography of the former heavyweight champion of the world,
whose name became synonymous with the Roaring Twenties and
the advent of millionaire athletes. Traces his childhood,
four marriages, and various careers. Kahn, a sportswriter,
came to know Dempsey personally from patronizing his New
York City restaurant. 1999.
Fledgling Days RC 50425
by Emma Ford
read by Vanessa Maroney
2 cassettes
Memoir of an English childhood spent in the country, where
the author adored animals and became interested in the
training of birds of prey. Ford describes how she learned
the ancient sport of falconry in Kent and, along with her
husband, opened the British School of Falconry while still a
teenager. 1996.
The Glory of Their Times: The Story of the Early Days of
Baseball Told by the Men Who Played It RC 48889
by Lawrence S. Ritter
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes (Reissue)
The history of baseball in the early 1900s as recorded in
first-person accounts by twenty-six major league players.
Contains the complete text of the 1966 edition plus four
later interviews. 1984.
Godforsaken Sea: Racing the World's Most Dangerous Waters RC
50690
by Derek Lundy
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
Depicts the grueling and perilous 27,000-mile Vende Globe
solo sailing race, which circumnavigates Antarctica in the
Southern Ocean. Narrates the 1996 contest through the eyes
of the sixteen competitors as they endure fifty-foot waves
and hurricane-force winds in the world's most hostile seas.
1998.
Hockey Now! RC 50607
by Mike Leonetti
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Brief biographies of seventy top National Hockey League
players, including goalies Patrick Roy and Grant Fuhr,
forwards Eric Lindros and Mark Messier, and wingers Brett
Hull and Jaromir Jagr among others. For junior and senior
high readers. 1999.
In the Ballpark: The Working Lives of Baseball People RC
49627
by George Gmelch and J.J. Weiner
read by Brian Conn
2 cassettes
Interviews with twenty-one people who work in baseball but
are not big stars--food vendors, ushers, scouts, reporters,
front-office personnel, and minor-league players and their
managers. Jerry Collier, a bond trader during the day,
describes his job selling beer at Camden Yards; Mark
Letendre explains the role of a trainer. 1998.
It's Not about the Bike: My Journey Back to Life RC 50265
by Lance Armstrong
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
The internationally recognized Texan cyclist relates how a
diagnosis of testicular cancer at age twenty-five changed
his priorities. Recounts the major events in his life,
including the ordeals of his treatment, his comeback to win
the 1999 Tour de France, and his joy in being a father. Some
strong language. Bestseller 2000.
The Jock Doc's Body Repair Kit: The New Sports Medicine for
Recovery and Increased Performance RC 49049
by Andrew Feldman
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
Director of sports medicine at St. Vincent's Hospital in New
York provides instructions on self-diagnosing injuries,
determining if medical care or self-treatment is called for,
and performing self-treatments and exercises. 1999.
Joe DiMaggio: The Hero's Life RC 50881
by Richard Ben Cramer
read by Roy Avers
4 cassettes
Muckraking biography of sports legend Joe DiMaggio, who rose
from his Sicilian working-class background in San Francisco
to become an American icon. Explores his pivotal games and
business decisions, his obsession--and fights--with Marilyn
Monroe, his dubious mob acquaintances, his life after
baseball, and his lonely death in Florida. Some strong
language. Bestseller 2000.
A Kind of Grace: The Autobiography of the World's Greatest
Female Athlete RC 48895
by Jackie Joyner-Kersee
read by Robin Miles
2 cassettes
Heptathlon champion recalls her poor childhood with a loving
family in Illinois, her years playing basketball at UCLA,
and her career in track and field that led to an Olympic
medal in 1996. She describes overcoming numerous injuries
and health problems. For senior high and older readers.
1997.
King of the World: Muhammad Ali and the Rise of an American
Hero RC 48026
by David Remnick
read by Chuck Young
2 cassettes
Remnick discusses the myth and reality surrounding Muhammad
Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay. The author portrays the
1960s, compares Ali with other boxers of his time, and shows
how this rebel grew as a man through his search for a belief
and a cause. An epilog discusses Ali's later life. 1998.
Mankind, Have a Nice Day! A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks RC
49315
by Mick Foley
read by Mark Ashby
3 cassettes
The author, who wrestles under the names of Cactus Jack,
Dude Love, and Mankind, discusses his career and personal
life. Describes his extensive injuries, including a
partially amputated ear and blood shed on five continents.
In 1998 Foley briefly held the World Wrestling Federation
championship. Violence and strong language. Bestseller 1999.
My Turn at Bat: The Story of My Life RC 50016
by Ted Williams
read by Rick Rohan
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Autobiography of top-hitting baseball player Ted Williams,
beginning with his childhood in San Diego and his first
contract--at age seventeen--with the minor-league Padres in
1936 for $150 per month. Reminisces about his career with
the Boston Red Sox, his military service, and his years as a
manager. 1969.
One River More RC 49055
by W.D. Wetherell
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
A celebration of rivers and fly-fishing. While extolling the
sense of well-being that fishing in a beautiful setting
often engenders, Wetherell sometimes digresses into other
topics--memories of earlier trips, environmental protection,
and his profession as a writer. Sequel to Upland Stream: ...
(RC 49025). 1998.
Payne Stewart RC 50516
by Tracey Stewart
read by Pam Ward
2 cassettes
The Australian wife of the late champion golfer Payne
Stewart recalls his personal and professional life,
including the tournaments he participated in as well as his
belief in God. She tells of the faith that sustained their
family following her husband's death in a 1999 air crash.
Bestseller 2000.
A Resource Book for Senior Girl Scouts RC 50039
by Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette
Guidebook for Girl Scouts fourteen years and older. Explains
the organization and offers suggestions for community
service projects. Includes advice on physical and emotional
health, career choices, and skills for living. For senior
high readers. 1995.
Road Swing RC 50322
by Steve Rushin
read by Jim Johnston
2 cassettes
A writer from Sports Illustrated takes a year-long road trip
across America, visiting halls of fame and stadiums while
conversing with fans and athletes. Rushin's 23,000 miles of
travel take him to Cooperstown, New York; Canton, Ohio;
Iowa's Field of Dreams; and the hometowns of some famous
heroes. Some strong language. 1998.
The Rock Says...: The Most Electrifying Man in Sports-
Entertainment RC 49518
by The Rock
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
The Rock's account of growing up as Dwayne Johnson in a
family of wrestlers, playing pro-football, and becoming a
champion wrestler. Discusses his childhood in Hawaii, his
early sexual initiation, his entry into the World Wrestling
Federation, and his friendship with Owen Hart. Some
descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller
2000.
Rockne of Notre Dame: The Making of a Football Legend RC
49690
by Ray Robinson
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
Robinson briefly touches on Knute Rockne's childhood and
playing years, then focuses on the Norwegian-born football
coach's career at Notre Dame from 1918 to 1930. Describes
Rockne as a "complicated, (and) enormously ambitious man,"
who was a master of player motivation. 1999.
The Scoutmaster Handbook RC 50372
by Boy Scouts of America
read by Ralph Lowenstein
2 cassettes
This official guide for leaders of Boy Scout troops
describes the qualifications and training required for the
job as well as the methods, values, and aims of the
organization. Explains leadership techniques, program
features, awards, uniforms, finances, community service, and
other elements of the Scouting program. 1998.
A Season on the Reservation: My Sojourn with the White
Mountain Apache RC 50198
by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
read by Bob Moore
2 cassettes
Inspired by General Colin Powell, ex-basketball star Abdul-
Jabbar volunteers to assist in coaching a high school team
on the White Mountain Apache Reservation in Arizona. Over
time he learns about the Native American culture and the
problems facing many of the young people he encounters. For
senior high and older readers. 2000.
A Sense of Where You Are: A Profile of Bill Bradley at
Princeton RC 49261
by John McPhee
read by Gregory Gorton
1 cassette (Reissue)
This updated third edition of the 1965 biography and
character study of the then-Princeton basketball player
describes Bradley's family and school background in
Missouri. Analyzes his playing technique and his decision
regarding a professional basketball career or a Rhodes
scholarship. Includes brief 1999 addenda about the
politician. 1999.
Sole Influence: Basketball, Corporate Greed, and the
Corruption of America's Youth RC 50731
by Dan Wetzel and Don Yaeger
read by Barry Bernson
2 cassettes
Outspoken report on the questionable practices of sneaker
companies Nike and adidas in their search for athletes to
promote their products. Describes how, after basketball
superstar Michael Jordan made millions for Nike, both
companies began reaching out to schools, coaches, and young
players, offering equipment and money in return for loyalty.
2000.
A Sportsman's Life: How I Built Orvis by Mixing Business and
Sport RC 50814
by Leigh Perkins
read by Gordon Gould
2 cassettes
An entrepreneur recounts how he turned a foundering company
into a thriving $100-million mail-order sporting outfitter.
As an avid outdoorsman who delights in traveling the globe
to field-test the hunting and fishing equipment he sells,
the author wryly observes that "nobody has any reason to
feel sorry for me." 1999.
Summer of '98: When Homers Flew, Records Fell, and Baseball
Reclaimed America RC 49844
by Mike Lupica
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Sportswriter and his three sons eagerly follow the amazing
1998 baseball season, which included the McGwire-Sosa home
run duel, David Wells's perfect game, the end of Cal
Ripken's streak, and the New York Yankees' World Series
victory. 1999.
The Tall Mexican: The Life of Hank Aguirre, All-Star
Pitcher, Businessman, Humanitarian RC 49549
by Robert E. Copley
read by Jake Williams
1 cassette
Authorized biography of the Detroit Tigers' all-star
pitcher. Recalls Aguirre's childhood in a large Mexican
American family in California and how, after his baseball
career ended, he founded Mexican Industries in Detroit in
order to help other Hispanics succeed. For junior and senior
high readers. 1998.
Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man's Journey to Climb
Farther than the Eye Can See RC 51505
by Erik Weihenmayer
read by Dan Bloom
3 cassettes
In this adventure-packed memoir, the author recalls
rebelling against becoming blind by age fifteen. Relates
acquiring a passion for mountaineering and developing the
character traits that enabled him to succeed. Covers his
climbing exploits and his wedding on top of Mount
Kilimanjaro. Some strong language. 2001.
Upland Stream: Notes on the Fishing Passion RC 49025
by W.D. Wetherell
read by Bruce Huntey
1 cassette
Reflections on the author's favorite sport, fly-fishing, and
on the pleasures of the outdoors. Wetherell ventured beyond
New England to try his luck in the rivers of Yellowstone
Park during the forest fires of 1988 and to sample the
fishing and hiking in Scotland. Sequel to Vermont River (RC
49024). 1991.
Varsity Scout Leader Guidebook RC 49858
by Boy Scouts of America
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette
Qualifications and responsibilities for the adult leader of
Boy Scouts ages fourteen through seventeen. Explains the
program and planning objectives, discusses leadership and
age-appropriate behavior, and provides a parent's guide to
protecting offspring from child abuse. 1996.
Vermont River RC 49024
by W.D. Wetherell
read by Bruce Huntey
1 cassette (Reissue)
Novelist and short story writer describes his enjoyment of a
beloved, unnamed Vermont river where he goes to fly-fish for
trout. He relates his adventures, sometimes humorous, over
the course of a year and contemplates the insights he gained
beside the water. Prequel to Upland Stream: ... (RC 49025).
1984.
When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi RC 49258
by David Maraniss
read by Michael Scherer
5 cassettes
The life and times of football giant Vince Lombardi are
chronicled, including his humble beginnings in Brooklyn and
his many years in school athletics, before he became head
coach of the Green Bay Packers in 1959. Recalls his
philosophy of winning and the influences on his life.
Bestseller 1999.
Where's Harry? Steve Stone Remembers His Years with Harry
Caray RC 50813
by Steve Stone
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
Wacky anecdotes about the late legendary baseball
broadcaster Harry Caray by his partner and fellow announcer
of fifteen years. Recalls Caray's life as the Chicago Cubs'
biggest fan, who enjoyed life in the fast lane. Foreword by
Bob Costas. 1999.
Stage and Screen
Andy Kaufman Revealed! Best Friend Tells All RC 50114
by Bob Zmuda
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
Longtime friend and writer for the late comic (who is best
known for his role on the sitcom Taxi) discusses the work
they did together before Kaufman died of cancer at thirty-
five in 1984. Zmuda is coexecutive producer for Man on the
Moon, a movie about Kaufman. Strong language. 1999.
Balancing Act: The Authorized Biography of Angela Lansbury
RC 48837
by Martin Gottfried
read by Kimberly Schraf
3 cassettes
Gottfried describes how he talked with the actress, her
family, and her colleagues, and learned of her belief in the
importance of maintaining a balance between personal life
and career. Looks at the actress's offstage accomplishments
and her success in the movies, on Broadway, and on
television. 1999.
Bob Hope: The Road Well-Traveled RC 48566
by Lawrence J. Quirk
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Traces Bob Hope's life from his youth in England to his
career as a vaudevillian, and his rise to fame as a Broadway
musical celebrity, radio comedian, Hollywood star, and
friend to American servicemen around the globe. Discusses
his association with entertainment personalities, including
Jack Benny, Dorothy Lamour, and Bing Crosby. 1998.
Conjuring: Being a Definitive Account of the Venerable Arts
of Sorcery, Prestidigitation, Wizardry, Deception, and
Chicanery and of the Mountebanks and Scoundrels Who Have
Perpetrated These Subterfuges on a Bewildered Public RC
49098
by James Randi
read by Jeff Baker
3 cassettes
A professional magician discusses forms of magic. He also
offers biographical sketches of Harry Houdini, Harry
Blackstone, Joseph Dunninger, Doug Henning, David
Copperfield, and Penn and Teller. 1992.
Conversations with Wilder RC 49823
by Cameron Crowe
read by Gary Telles
3 cassettes
Crowe, himself a movie director, recounts the interviews he
conducted with Billy Wilder over a period of more than a
year, when Wilder was already in his nineties. Topics
include movie stars, screenwriting, set designs, studios,
behind-the-scenes stories, and films of the late twentieth
century. Bestseller 1999.
Cybill Disobedience: How I Survived Beauty Pageants, Elvis,
Sex, Bruce Willis, Lies, Marriage, Motherhood, Hollywood,
and the Irrepressible Urge to Say What I Think RC 50450
by Cybill Shepherd
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Actress recalls her professional life as a model and
performer, as well as her family life, including marriages
and affairs. After over thirty years in the movie business,
Cybill celebrates having survived her way. Some explicit
descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller
2000.
Farewell: A Memoir of a Texas Childhood RC 49782
by Horton Foote
read by Bob Askey
2 cassettes
The prize-winning writer of drama and screenplays reminisces
about his family experiences in Wharton, a small Texas town.
Describes his parents' circumstances at the time of his
birth in 1916 and continues until he leaves home at age
seventeen to attend the Pasadena Playhouse in California.
1999.
Gene Kelly: A Life of Dance and Dreams RC 50466
by Alvin Yudkoff
read by Gary Tipton
3 cassettes
Chronicles the personal life and career of Gene Kelly,
beginning with his childhood as part of a family dance
troupe in Pittsburgh. Follows his move to Broadway in the
1930s, his first marriage, and his transition to work in
films in Hollywood, where he became a sought-after
choreographer, actor, and director. 1999.
Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland RC 49967
by Gerald Clarke
read by Margaret Strom
4 cassettes
Examines the life of performer Judy Garland, tracing her
family roots, marriages, lovers, and children until her
death at age forty-seven. Describes various people who
influenced the star, including her mother, who gave Judy
amphetamines at age four, and the unsavory Hollywood
characters of her later years. Some strong language.
Bestseller 2000.
The Last Mogul: Lew Wasserman, MCA, and the Hidden History
of Hollywood RC 50190
by Dennis McDougal
read by Robert Sams
6 cassettes
Biography of one of Hollywood's most powerful moguls who
joined the industry at the beginning of talking films and
could singlehandedly make or break a career. Wasserman was
also a confidant to other powerful people--politicians and
businessmen as well as Mafia bosses--as the head of
Universal Studios. Some strong language. 1998.
Laughing Matters: On Writing M*A*S*H, Tootsie, Oh, God!, and
a Few Other Funny Things RC 48520
by Larry Gelbart
read by Gary Telles
2 cassettes
The writer for such programs as M*A*S*H and for comedians
Sid Caesar and Bob Hope provides an account of his life and
his career that is "part memoir, part primer, part sampler."
Discusses his work in radio and television, in movies, and
in the theater. 1998.
The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography RC 50313
by Sidney Poitier
read by Bob Moore
2 cassettes
The first African American actor to win an Oscar recalls his
idyllic childhood in the Bahamas, his move to Florida at age
fifteen, his early struggles to establish an acting career,
and his later successes. Poitier reflects on the family
values, ethics, and integrity that sustain him. Some strong
language. Bestseller 2000.
Monty Python Speaks! John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle,
Terry Jones, and Michael Palin (and a Few of Their Friends
and Collaborators) Recount an Amazing--and Silly--Thirty-
Year Spree in Television and Film--in Their Own Words,
Squire! RC 49984
by David Morgan
read by David Cutler
2 cassettes
Thirty years after the comedy group was formed, its members
look back on their collaborations. Strong language. 1999.
My Movie Business: A Memoir RC 49602
by John Irving
read by Fred Major
1 cassette
The author describes making a movie of his novel The Cider
House Rules (RC 21531), which centers on an orphanage doctor
and his orphan apprentice. Irving laments the painful
process of modifying the book's plot to make it movie
length. He also discusses his physician-grandfather, who
inspired the book. 1999.
The Operator: David Geffen Builds, Buys, and Sells the New
Hollywood RC 49945
by Tom King
read by Michael Scherer
4 cassettes
Discusses the show business mogul's career, which began in
the William Morris mail room and grew to include pivotal
roles in the record industry, Broadway, and the movies. Also
examines the billionaire's personal life, including a 1970s
relationship with Cher and the public announcement of his
homosexuality in 1992. Strong language. Bestseller 2000.
The Play Goes On: A Memoir RC 49177
by Neil Simon
read by Lewis Grenville
3 cassettes
Begins where Rewrites: A Memoir (RC 43297) concluded in the
days following his wife Joan's funeral in 1973. Covers the
playwright's subsequent marriages to Marsha Mason and Diane
Lander, and his relationships with his daughters. Discusses
Simon's award-winning plays and books of this period.
Bestseller 1999.
Preston Sturges RC 49610
by Preston Sturges
read by Fred Major
3 cassettes
Because Sturges had once said he hoped his autobiography
would discourage anyone else from writing about his life,
his widow completed his manuscript to recount his early
travels to and from Europe, his time among New York's "beau
monde," and his days as writer and director in Hollywood
during the 1930s and 1940s. 1990.
Raised on Radio: In Quest of The Lone Ranger, Jack Benny,
Amos 'n' Andy, The Shadow, Mary Noble, The Great
Gildersleeve, Fibber McGee and Molly, Bill Stern, Our Miss
Brooks, Henry Aldrich, The Quiz Kids, Mr. First Nighter,
Fred Allen, Vic and Sade, The Cisco Kid, Jack Armstrong,
Arthur Godfrey, Bob and Ray, the Barbour Family, Henry
Morgan, Joe Friday, and Other Lost Heroes from Radio's
Heyday RC 48481
by Gerald Nachman
read by Robert Sams
4 cassettes
The author discusses the golden age of radio from the 1920s
to the 1950s, when it was "America's national indoor
pastime." 1998.
Sophia Loren: A Biography RC 47901
by Warren G. Harris
read by Laura Giannarelli
4 cassettes
Biography of the Italian movie star. Born illegitimate in
1934, Sophia struggled to survive the hardships of World War
II. With her mother orchestrating her career, she left
school at fourteen to become a model. Traces her involvement
with her future husband, Carlo Ponti, and the highlights of
her film career. Includes a list of her films. Some strong
language. 1998.
Vincent Price: A Daughter's Biography RC 49706
by Victoria Price
read by Mary Kane
4 cassettes
Biography of Renaissance man Vincent Price by his daughter.
Traces the family history, Price's childhood in St. Louis,
his time at Yale University, and his career in theater and
later Hollywood. Discusses his "greylisting" during the
McCarthy period and his passion for art, as well as his
children and multiple marriages. 1999.
The Way We Lived Then: Recollections of a Well-Known Name
Dropper RC 49283
by Dominick Dunne
read by Terence Aselford
1 cassette
Memoirs and anecdotes from the twenty-four years Dunne lived
in Hollywood hobnobbing with actors, producers, and
directors until he succumbed to drugs and alcohol.
Bestseller 1999.
Where Did I Go Right? You're No One in Hollywood Unless
Someone Wants You Dead RC 50312
by Bernie Brillstein
read by Terence Aselford
3 cassettes
Brillstein reflects on his career as Hollywood agent,
television and movie producer, studio head, and personal
manager to John Belushi, Jim Henson, and other show-business
successes. Discusses business relationships that went sour
and client friendships that were cut short by untimely
deaths. Strong language. Bestseller 1999.
Which Lie Did I Tell? More Adventures in the Screen Trade RC
50163
by William Goldman
read by Ray Hagen
3 cassettes
Screenwriter Goldman continues his revelations about
Hollywood moviemaking begun in Adventures in the Screen
Trade (RC 21633). Critically analyzes films and discusses
the pros and cons of the screenwriter's life. Some strong
language. Bestseller 2000.
Wisecracker: The Life and Times of William Haines,
Hollywood's First Openly Gay Star RC 48096
by William J. Mann
read by Ray Hagen
3 cassettes
Biography of the silent-screen star who was the number one
box office draw in 1930. Focuses on the decade of Haines's
stardom. Emphasizes his personal lifestyle--living with his
male companion Jimmie Shields for fifty years--as a
courageous and honest feat in the era before the gay
movement. 1998.
Travel
Access in London: A Guide for People Who Have Problems
Getting Around RC 49247
by Gordon Couch and others
read by George Holmes
4 cassettes
Presents detailed information about travel, accommodations,
tourist attractions, and leisure activities in London and
the nearby area for people with mobility problems. Includes
suggestions for those with impaired hearing or eyesight.
Contains a section on English pubs and toilet facilities.
1996.
Almost an Island: Travels in Baja California RC 50635
by Bruce Berger
read by Peter Johnson
2 cassettes
A writer depicts the beautiful and unique world of the
Mexican peninsula known as Baja California, characterizing
its terrain as an "eight-hundred-mile dead end." Describes
its natural and cultural history, its contemporary society,
and the environmental threats posed by land development and
technological advancement. Chronicles his thirty-year love
affair with the region. 1998.
Cairo: The City Victorious RC 48700
by Max Rodenbeck
read by Ted Stoddard
3 cassettes
A correspondent for the Economist and longtime resident of
Cairo presents the city's history, inhabitants, and social
life, mingled with personal observations. Discusses Cairo's
geographic importance, the prevailing influence of Islam,
and the pull of Western materialism. Portrays past elegance
in contrast to twentieth-century problems. 1998.
Fodor's Europe, 2000 RC 49953
read by Robert Blumenfeld
16 cassettes
Practical guide to travel and tourism in eastern and western
Europe. Contains information on planning a trip, including
transportation to and within the continent. Provides
specific recommendations concerning lodging, meals, and
tourist attractions in each destination. 1999.
The Golden Age of Travel, 1880-1939 RC 50683
by Alexis Gregory
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Examines the era of glamorous travel. Depicts the wealthy
and privileged elite who sailed on luxury ocean liners,
traversed continents in private railroad cars, and cruised
on personal yachts while vacationing in exotic spots,
staying in palatial hotels, and dining from extensive menus.
1998.
Green Hills of Africa RC 49481
by Ernest Hemingway
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Account of an African big-game-hunting expedition in 1933
that included Hemingway and his wife, Pauline. Describes
their adventures on the Serengeti Plain near Mount
Kilimanjaro. 1935.
I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America
after Twenty Years Away RC 49051
by Bill Bryson
read by Gary Roan
2 cassettes
After some twenty years in England, Bryson and his family
move to New Hampshire, where he records his impressions and
opinions as a returning American. He explains good-humoredly
some of the cultural clashes between British and American
attitudes toward daily occurrences and routines. 1999.
In a Sunburned Country RC 50276
by Bill Bryson
read by John Stratton
3 cassettes
The author of A Walk in the Woods (RC 46519) now chronicles
his exploration of Australia. This good-humored traveler
relates his outback adventures with anecdotes about the
history and local inhabitants. Describes the harsh terrain
and hostile wildlife, including crocodiles, poisonous
snakes, and attacking seashells. Some strong language.
Bestseller 2000.
A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains RC 48842
by Isabella L. Bird
read by Jill Ferris
2 cassettes
An intrepid traveler's account of her sojourn in Colorado in
1873, as she was returning to England from Hawaii.
Journeying alone, without a gun, Miss Bird describes the
American West, mining towns, isolated cabins, and the people
she encountered--especially the desperado "Mountain Jim"
Nugent. Originally published in 1879. 1960.
Lone Star Swing: On the Trail of Bob Wills and His Texas
Playboys RC 48652
by Duncan McLean
read by Gary Telles
2 cassettes
Describes how, after finding a scratchy LP recording of
Texan Bob Wills in Edinburgh, Scotland, McLean was hooked.
He recalls his statewide musical quest to track down the
spirit of Texas swing, along with his Scotsman's reactions
to catfish, chili, honky-tonks, tumbleweed, and the local
language. Some strong language. 1997.
One Year Off: Leaving It All Behind for a Round-the-World
Journey with Our Children RC 50779
by David Elliot Cohen
read by Peter Johnson
2 cassettes
Travelog of a forty-year-old suburbanite who sold his house
and possessions, closed his thriving business, and set out
in 1996 with his wife, three children, and a baby sitter on
a thirteen-month, sixteen-country trip. This is a
compilation of the lengthy descriptive e-mails he sent to
friends while on the road. 1999.
River-Horse: The Logbook of a Boat across America RC 49478
by William Least Heat-Moon
read by Bill Wallace
4 cassettes
In April 1995 William Least Heat-Moon embarked on a 5,288-
mile journey across America aboard his twenty-two-foot boat,
Nikawa, accompanied by copilots, whom he names Pilotis.
Heat-Moon describes his adventures along waterways from New
York City to Astoria, Oregon. Companion to Blue Highways (RC
18700). Some strong language. Bestseller 1999.
Sacred Roads: Adventures from the Pilgrimage Trail RC 50428
by Nicholas Shrady
read by Jim Leary
2 cassettes
A "pilgrim's progress is both an interior journey, a
spiritual exercise, and a physical journey toward an actual
site imbued with a divine character." Shrady describes the
six routes he traveled in such countries as Bosnia, India,
and the Holy Land that took him to sites encompassing
Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, and Islamic traditions.
1999.
The Search for the North West Passage RC 50536
by Ann Savours
read by Anne Flosnik
3 cassettes
Chronicles four centuries of expeditions seeking a sea route
west from the Atlantic through the Canadian Arctic
archipelago to reach China. Excerpts from diaries and
letters recount the hardships and courage of these intrepid
explorers, including John Barrow, Edward Parry, John Ross,
John Franklin, and others. 1999.
The Seasons of Rome: A Journal RC 49488
by Paul Hofmann
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
A former New York Times bureau chief who lived in Rome off
and on for over five decades portrays events of one year in
the mid-1990s. Vignettes depict city residents' nonchalant
attitude toward the pope, the erratic mail service, the
growing number of young pensioners, and a local opera
company. 1997.
Seductive Journey: American Tourists in France from
Jefferson to the Jazz Age RC 49797
by Harvey Levenstein
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Examines the changes in the types of American travelers and
their motives for touring France during the first 150 years
of U.S. history. Initially an experience reserved for the
wealthy, tourism becomes increasingly open to the middle
class as cultural interests are gradually supplanted by
recreational travel. 1998.
The Shadow of Kilimanjaro: On Foot across East Africa RC
50611
by Rick Ridgeway
read by David Hartley-Margolin
3 cassettes
Recalls encounters with wild animals and the reflections
engendered while on a hiking trek from the summit of Mt.
Kilimanjaro, crossing Tsavo national park, and ending at the
Indian Ocean. Ponders man's relationship with African
animals as hunter and conservationist, and considers future
possibilities. 1998.
Shadows in the Sun: Travels to Landscapes of Spirit and
Desire RC 50662
by Wade Davis
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Anthropologist and ethnobotanist Davis describes the
pleasures of living among indigenous peoples who preserve
their traditional ways. He meets the Penan in the forests of
Borneo, the Vodoun acolytes in Haiti, and wandering holy men
in the Sahara among others who demonstrate different
approaches to interacting with the Earth. 1998.
A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush RC 50235
by Eric Newby
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
The wry account of an Englishman who leaves the London
fashion industry for the adventure of hiking into Nuristan,
a remote corner of Afghanistan. Accompanied by a Foreign
Service friend, he takes a four-day beginner's course in
mountain climbing in Wales before departing on their
expedition. 1958.
Siberian Dawn: A Journey across the New Russia RC 50417
by Jeffrey Tayler
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
An American recounts his adventures and pays tribute to the
people he met in 1993 as he traveled 8,325 miles across the
Russian Far East through Siberia, the Urals, and Ukraine to
Warsaw, Poland. Offers glimpses of the often bleak existence
of residents of remote and rarely visited areas. Describes
popular disillusionment in the post-Soviet era. 1999.
A Stranger in the Village: Two Centuries of African American
Travel Writing RC 50560
edited by Farah J. Griffin and Cheryl J. Fish
read by Jeremy Gage
3 cassettes
A collection of nineteenth- and twentieth-century travel
writings by African American writers who have journeyed
abroad in search of opportunity, insight, pleasure, and
adventure. Includes excerpts from nurse Mary Seacole's
Crimean War memoir and W.E.B. DuBois's reflections on Ghana.
With contributions by Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, June
Jordan, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Ntozake Shange. 1998.
Throwim Way Leg: Tree-Kangaroos, Possums, and Penis Gourds--
On the Track of Unknown Mammals in Wildest New Guinea RC
48739
by Tim Flannery
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
An Australian research scientist recounts his biological
fieldwork in remote areas of New Guinea. Describes his
adventures among uncontacted peoples (previously cannibals),
traveling in uncharted territory, discovering the world's
largest rat, naming four kinds of tree-kangaroos,
encountering animals thought to be extinct, and finding
fossilized bones of unknown marsupial giants. 1998.
A Tramp Abroad RC 49345
by Mark Twain
read by Anne Hancock
3 cassettes
Mark Twain constructs a tour through Germany, Switzerland,
France, and Italy. Integrates humor, autobiography, and
history to entertain. 1880.
Waiting for Fidel RC 48658
by Christopher Hunt
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
An American writer recounts his visit to Cuba, where
capricious inquiries about the aging Fidel Castro lead him
on an unlikely course through the island. His examination of
the nation's state of affairs is a depiction of decay,
hunger, prostitution, and overcrowded conditions. Yet his
reflections show the generosity of the people. 1998.
Wonders of the African World RC 50022
by Henry Louis Gates
read by Ken Kliban
2 cassettes
A Harvard professor's travels on the African continent,
exploring ideas about archaeology, ancient civilizations,
history, and cultural identity. Discusses the heritage of
Nubia, Ethiopia, and Timbuktu and the impact of Swahili as a
unifying factor in East Africa. Concludes his travelog in
South Africa and Zimbabwe. 1999.
The World, the World RC 48464
by Norman Lewis
read by David Cutler
2 cassettes
Memoirs of a British travel writer emphasizing places
visited and people encountered. His peripatetic lifestyle
and five-decade search for unspoiled locales include trips
to a remote Guatemalan coffee farm, a Welsh island fort,
Havana (where he meets Hemingway), and Goa. 1996.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into
Values RC 49089
by Robert M. Pirsig
read by Rick Rohan
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Recounts a man's cross-country motorcycle trip with his
eleven-year-old son and his philosophic digressions on
sanity and on living an authentic life. This 1999 twenty-
fifth anniversary edition contains a new introduction by the
author and his afterword to the tenth edition. 1974.
U.S. History
America's Library: The Story of the Library of Congress,
1800-2000 RC 50345
by James Conaway
read by Peter Johnson
2 cassettes
A history of this cultural institution--often considered the
world's greatest library--and the thirteen Librarians of
Congress who guided its development. Discusses its
transformation from modest legislative resource to the vast
national library of the United States. Describes some of the
variety found in its diverse collection of over 115 million
items. 2000.
The American President RC 49738
by Philip B. Kunhardt and others
read by Rick Foucheux
4 cassettes
Companion to a PBS television series; a survey of U.S.
presidents using a thematic, rather than chronological,
approach. In ten chapters, the chief executives are grouped
by campaign style, challenges faced, or other circumstances
that shaped their public image. Different historical periods
are represented in each category. 1999.
The Americans: The Democratic Experience RC 49285
by Daniel J. Boorstin
read by Robert Sams
7 cassettes in 2 containers
In this sequel to The Americans: The National Experience (RC
47247), historian Boorstin covers American history since the
Civil War. He discusses how Americans found a new way of
holding together through "countless little-noticed
revolutions" that created "communities of consumers"
touching countrymen everywhere and every day in their new
democratic world. 1973.
Battling Demon Rum: The Struggle for a Dry America, 1800-
1933 RC 49906
by Thomas R. Pegram
read by Janis Gray
2 cassettes
Traces the history of the temperance movement in America
from colonial days to the repeal of Prohibition in 1933.
Probes the relationship between politics and the anti-liquor
movement. Analyzes the power of the Anti-Saloon League and
causes of the eventual failure of the Eighteenth Amendment.
1998.
Before the Storm: American Indians before the Europeans RC
49390
by Allison Lassieur
read by Rick Foucheux
1 cassette
Based on archaeologic and ethnographic evidence, an account
of the people living in North America prior to 1492.
Presented by geographic area, describes what is known about
the lives of the inhabitants, including their villages,
foods, and societies. For junior and senior high readers.
1998.
The Boys of '98: Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders RC
49578
by Dale L. Walker
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
An account of the four-month campaign waged by the First
U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment in Cuba during the summer of
1898. The high-spirited troops' ebullient commander, Teddy
Roosevelt, extolled his "Rough Riders" in the press. Their
victory at San Juan Hill cleared the way for Roosevelt's
later political career. 1998.
Charles Kuralt's American Moments RC 47457
by Charles Kuralt
read by Arnie Warren
1 cassette
A collection of the Emmy-award-winning broadcaster's last
work--all short pieces chronicling Kuralt's travels
throughout America. Includes a preface by Peter Freundlich
and a foreword by Charles Osgood. 1998.
Coming Apart: An Informal History of America in the 1960s RC
49903
by William L. O'Neill
read by Barry Bernson
4 cassettes (Reissue)
A journalistic survey dealing with foreign relations,
domestic politics, and the counterculture in the early
1960s. Though the emphasis is on political rather than
cultural history, sports and pop entertainment are included.
1971.
Day of Deceit: The Truth about FDR and Pearl Harbor RC 50665
by Robert B. Stinnett
read by Randy Atcher
4 cassettes
The author contends that the December 7, 1941, attack on
Pearl Harbor was effectively orchestrated by the U.S.
government in order to justify entering World War II. Cites
archival material to support the conspiracy theory that
President Franklin D. Roosevelt deliberately provoked the
Japanese into military action. 2000.
Dream's End: Two Iowa Brothers in the Civil War RC 50648
by Orr Kelly and Mary Davies Kelly
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
A genealogist and her historian husband chronicle the
military service of two teenage brothers--his great uncles--
in the Civil War. Traces their Union regiments' battle
histories, depicting the valor and arduous existence of the
common soldier, the horrific conditions in hospitals and POW
camps, and the often incompetent leadership. Violence. 1998.
1898: The Birth of the American Century RC 49644
by David Traxel
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
A narrative on the pivotal year of 1898 in United States
history, during which the country changed from a rural,
isolated society into a major world player. Discusses the
Spanish-American War as well as union uprisings, racial
conflict, advances in technology and advertising, and the
last Native American battle. 1998.
Eisenhower RC 49646
by Geoffrey Perret
read by Lou Harpenau
5 cassettes
Biography of President Dwight D. Eisenhower covering his
childhood, military career, and years in public office. Uses
primary sources such as diaries and letters to document his
personal and professional life. Chronicles postwar events of
the McCarthy era, the civil rights movement, and military
actions in Korea and Vietnam. 1999.
Empire Express: Building the First Transcontinental Railroad
RC 50430
by David Haward Bain
read by Robert Sams
8 cassettes in 2 containers
The epic story of connecting America's east and west coasts
by railroad during the nineteenth century's Gilded Age.
Chronicles the engineering feats, the scandals and political
dealings, and the lives of the movers and shakers that
accomplished the feat of uniting the country by rail. 1999.
The Era of Good Feelings RC 47873
by George Dangerfield
read by Ralph Lowenstein
5 cassettes
Explores the nineteenth-century transitional period from the
popular acceptance of Thomas Jefferson's political ideas,
which stressed the importance of limiting central government
in size and scope, to Andrew Jackson's, which emphasized the
need for institutions to help protect the weak, oppressed,
and exploited. Pulitzer Prize winner in American history.
1952.
Eyewitness to the American West: From the Aztec Empire to
the Digital Frontier in the Words of Those Who Saw It Happen
RC 50552
edited by David Colbert
read by Dan Bloom
4 cassettes
The editor of Eyewitness to America (RC 44136) presents
firsthand accounts of events in America from 1519 to the
1990s. Several of these short essays explain reasons for the
nation's westward expansion--e.g., to seek religious
freedom, escape from creditors, or pursue profits from
endeavors such as mining. 1998.
First across the Continent: Sir Alexander Mackenzie RC 49781
by Barry Gough
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Portrait of the intrepid Scottish explorer who ventured
across North America in 1793, driven by dreams of wealth
from the fur trade. His efforts to establish British control
over northwestern trade routes inspired both the 1803
Louisiana Purchase and the 1805 Lewis and Clark expedition.
1997.
The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin
RC 50878
by H.W. Brands
read by Mark Ashby
5 cassettes
Biography of one of America's founding fathers,
incorporating correspondence and anecdotes of his
contemporaries. Franklin was heralded as a leading inventor
and scientist, author, and diplomat as well as a bon vivant.
In exploring Franklin's conversion from British loyalist to
revolutionary, Brands seeks out the genius behind the man.
Bestseller 2000.
The Forgotten Heroes: The Story of the Buffalo Soldiers RC
50051
by Clinton Cox
read by Jake Williams
1 cassette
Relates the history of the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry--the
"Buffalo Soldiers"--from 1867 to 1898. The units, composed
of emancipated slaves, were used to subjugate and remove
Native Americans onto reservations and for other hazardous
duties in the American west. For junior and senior high
readers. 1993.
The Great Republic: A History of America RC 50002
by Sir Winston Churchill
read by Corrie James
4 cassettes
In this work, edited by his grandson, Churchill expounds on
the history of his mother's country from its conception to
the beginning of the twentieth century. Includes his later
speeches and articles about the United States on such topics
as California, the death of President Roosevelt, and NATO.
1999.
The Greatest Generation Speaks: Letters and Reflections RC
49312
by Tom Brokaw
read by Ted Stoddard
2 cassettes
Collection of letters and other responses Brokaw received in
response to The Greatest Generation (RC 47490); offers more
accounts of the "heroism, values, friendships, and pain" of
the Great Depression and World War II; explores the effects
of these two crises on that generation and those that
followed. Bestseller 1999.
The Haunted Wood: Soviet Espionage in America--the Stalin
Era RC 49185
by Allen Weinstein and Alexander Vassiliev
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Based on KGB archives released between 1993 and 1995,
previously untold accounts of Soviet spying in the United
States during the 1930s, World War II, and the Cold War.
Relates struggles for control among "contending operatives,"
love affairs between agents, personality conflicts, and some
of the murders that were committed. 1999.
The Hungry Years: A Narrative History of the Great
Depression in America RC 49631
by T.H. Watkins
read by Kerry Cundiff
4 cassettes
An account of the Great Depression as viewed by ordinary
Americans. Using primary documents, Watkins describes the
New Deal, the Dust Bowl, the rise of the American Communist
Party, and the growth of massive assistance programs, as
well as the people's challenge of the system that caused
such a calamity. 1999.
Jefferson Davis: Unconquerable Heart RC 50418
by Felicity Allen
read by Mary Kane
6 cassettes
Biography of the president of the Confederacy, tracing his
ancestry, marriages, children, and career until his death in
1889. Uses first-person accounts as well as autobiographies
of Davis and his wife, Varina, to portray his character,
personal beliefs, and politics. Discusses Davis's activities
following his postwar imprisonment. 1999.
Lasting Echoes: An Oral History of Native American People RC
46838
by Joseph Bruchac
read by Bill Wallace
1 cassette
Presents American history from the Native American viewpoint
from the arrival of European colonists through the 1990s.
Written by an Abenaki Indian who quotes from primary sources
such as journals, letters, and speeches for documentation.
For junior and senior high and older readers. 1997.
The Lost Cause: The Confederate Exodus to Mexico RC 50150
by Andrew Rolle
read by Randy Davidson
2 cassettes
A historian's account of the thousands of Confederate
soldiers who, unable to accept defeat, fled abroad at the
conclusion of the Civil War. Encouraged by the French
puppet, Emperor Maximilian, many entered Mexico to start new
colonies. Relates the struggles and failures encountered by
the Southerners in a hostile and foreign land. 1965.
Nathan Boone and the American Frontier RC 48647
by R. Douglas Hurt
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Biography of Daniel Boone's youngest son, who followed in
his father's footsteps as a frontiersman. Nathan worked as
trapper and hunter, a surveyor, and a soldier, eventually
settling in Missouri with a family of fourteen children. He
was instrumental in the removal of tribes to the Indian
Territory that enabled settlement of the plains by pioneers.
1998.
Nothing like It in the World: The Men Who Built the
Transcontinental Railroad, 1863-1869 RC 50872
by Stephen E. Ambrose
read by Randy Atcher
4 cassettes
A look at the investors, politicians, engineers, surveyors,
and laborers involved in the construction of America's first
transcontinental railroad. Records the Union Pacific and the
Central Pacific Railroads' fierce competition, which ended
in a team effort in 1869, to connect America's two coasts by
rail. Bestseller 2000.
Playing Indian RC 49554
by Philip J. Deloria
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Explores Anglo Americans' penchant for emulating Native
Americans--adopting their attire, traditions, and images.
Traces this pattern from the Boston Tea Party to the
formation of various cultural organizations throughout U.S.
history. Avers that such "Indian play" was essential to the
development of a national identity. 1998.
Strike Able-Peter: The Stranding and Salvage of the USS
Missouri RC 50726
by John A. Butler
read by Lou Harpenau
2 cassettes
An account of the January 1950 grounding of the USS
Missouri, the ship aboard which the Japanese surrendered in
World War II. At the time the mishap was a major news event-
-and naval embarrassment. Reconstructs the cause of the
Chesapeake Bay stranding and the subsequent salvaging
effort. 1995.
To Shining Sea: A History of the United States Navy, 1775-
1998 RC 49063
by Stephen Howarth
read by Ted Stoddard
5 cassettes
A history of the United States Navy from the Revolutionary
War to the Persian Gulf conflict. Includes discussion of
naval adventures, strategic development, and technology as
well as the relationship between the armed service and the
American public. 1999.
Venona: Decoding Soviet Espionage in America RC 49245
by John Earl Haynes and Harvey Klehr
read by Frank Coffee
4 cassettes
Examines deciphered World War II-era cables that provide
evidence of many Americans' betrayal of government,
industrial, and military secrets to the Soviets. Discusses
breaking the code, the military decision to maintain
confidentiality until 1995, and the historical and political
importance of these documents. 1999.
The Watergate Scandal in American History RC 48511
by David K. Fremon
read by Miriam Wagner
1 cassette
Summarizes a "third-rate burglary attempt" at the Watergate
hotel on June 17, 1972, that eventually caused President
Richard Nixon to resign. Discusses the events and people
that led to the near impeachment and its effect on the
country. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1998.
A Wild Kind of Boldness: The Chicago History Reader RC 48451
edited by Rosemary K. Adams
read by Jeremy Gage
4 cassettes
Thirty-five articles from the Chicago Historical Society's
magazine Chicago History tracing key events from the city's
past. Includes the Great Fire of 1871, immigration patterns,
labor strikes, and Jane Addams and the Hull House, as well
as entertainments like the 1933-1934 World's Fair, saloons,
and department stores. Foreword by Studs Terkel. 1998.
William Cooper's Town: Power and Persuasion on the Frontier
of the Early American Republic RC 47225
by Alan Taylor
read by Dan Bloom
5 cassettes
Portrays the life of wealthy land speculator and politician
William Cooper, who rose from humble origins to prominence
as the founder of Cooperstown, New York. The spectacular
rise and later decline of Cooper's fortunes inspired the
writings of his author son, James Fenimore Cooper. Winner of
the 1996 Pulitzer Prize. 1995.
World of Our Fathers RC 48385
by Irving Howe
read by David Elias
6 cassettes (Reissue)
A social history of the two million Eastern European Jewish
immigrants who, beginning in the 1880s, settled the East
Side of New York City. Drawing on newspaper accounts,
fiction, and memoirs, Howe re-creates the Yiddish culture of
a bygone era. Bestseller 1976.
Wars
Air Warriors: The Inside Story of the Making of a Navy Pilot
RC 50535
by Douglas C. Waller
read by Gregory Gorton
3 cassettes
Chronicles the inside story of how air warriors are made by
tracking a group through school and interviewing two hundred
aviators. The author, a reporter for Time magazine who
previously investigated the U.S. services' special forces in
The Commandos (RC 39046), spent two years following the
grueling training of navy pilots.  1998.
A Better War: The Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of
America's Last Years in Vietnam RC 49293
by Lewis Sorley
read by Laura Giannarelli
3 cassettes
Recounts the latter half of the Vietnam War, after General
Creighton Abrams assumed command in 1968. Describes how
Abrams abandoned the prevailing strategy of attrition in
favor of protecting the South Vietnamese and bolstering
their military. Asserts that America had the war won by late
1971 but failed to secure the advantage. 1999.
Between Silk and Cyanide: A Codemaker's War, 1941-1945 RC
49964
by Leo Marks
read by George Holmes
4 cassettes
Witty memoir of a British cryptographer's exploits during
World War II. Describes how, as a brash youth, he
revitalized the Special Operations Executive--a unit for
secret agents parachuting into Europe--by devising a code
issued on lightweight silk. Discusses other inhouse efforts
to simplify and expedite messages from those in the field.
1998.
The Book of War RC 49803
edited by John Keegan
read by Bill Wallace
4 cassettes
Military historian compiles twenty-five centuries of
writings about conflicts dating from the ancient Greeks to
the 1990 Iraqi incursion into Kuwait. Includes an account of
Caesar's invasion of Britain, the fall of Constantinople,
the siege of Malta, the French withdrawal from Russia, and
the Normandy Invasion, along with poetry and reminiscences.
Violence. 1999.
Breakout: The Chosin Reservoir Campaign, Korea 1950 RC 48994
by Martin Russ
read by Rick Rohan
3 cassettes
First-person accounts of what some contemporaries called
"one of the greatest retreats in the course of military
history." Describes how the First Marine Division,
surrounded by the North Korean army in subzero temperatures,
fought its way out with all its dead and wounded. 1999.
Clash of Chariots: The Great Tank Battles RC 49123
by Tom Donnelly and Sean Naylor
read by Lou Harpenau
2 cassettes
Describes the development, tactics, and operations of major
tank battles beginning with their first use in World War I
in 1917 to Desert Storm in 1991. Includes Germany's six-week
blitzkrieg of France in 1940, Rommel's northern Africa
conflicts, and the Sinai Desert victories of Israel. 1996.
Clash of Titans: World War II at Sea RC 48920
by Walter J. Boyne
read by Jake Williams
4 cassettes
Recounts famous naval battles of World War II and explains
how sea power changed the course of the conflict. Boyne
describes relationships between land and sea operations,
discusses strategies and tactics, and assesses strengths and
weaknesses of each side. 1995.
Day of Infamy RC 49907
by Walter Lord
read by Randy Atcher
2 cassettes
Describes events before, during, and after the December 7,
1941, Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, as well as the
reactions of the men who lived through the attack. 1957.
Doomed at the Start: American Pursuit Pilots in the
Philippines, 1941-1942 RC 49970
by William H. Bartsch
read by Steven Carpenter
4 cassettes
A history of the 24th Pursuit Group squadron of the U.S.
Army Air Corps, which was stationed in the Philippines when
World War II broke out. Chronicles the destruction of the
American-Philippine Army on Bataan and Corregidor after five
months of fighting. Describes the pilots' heroism along with
their fates. 1992.
Duty: A Father, His Son, and the Man Who Won the War RC
50894
by Bob Greene
read by Terence Aselford
2 cassettes
Based on interviews with his father's hero--the B-29 pilot
who dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, in August
1945--a syndicated columnist delivers a tribute to a passing
generation. Explores the values of World War II veterans and
their commitment to patriotism, courage, and a sense of
duty. Bestseller 2000.
1863: The Rebirth of a Nation RC 49370
by Joseph E. Stevens
read by Rick Foucheux
4 cassettes
Examines the calamitous and pivotal Civil War year of 1863,
which began with the Confederacy dominating the fields of
battle and, after a series of dramatic Northern reversals,
ended with an ascendant Union Army. Recounts major events
such as the battles of Vicksburg and Gettysburg, which
turned the tide of the war. 1999.
Every Man a Tiger RC 48534
by Tom Clancy and Chuck Horner
read by Gregory Gorton
4 cassettes
Examines the early 1990s military operations known as Desert
Shield and Desert Storm through the eyes of retired general
Chuck Horner. Clancy describes Horner's unique
qualifications to be commander of U.S. and allied air
troops, including his knowledge of, and respect for, Arab
culture. Companion to Into the Storm (RC 44821). Bestseller
1999.
Flags of Our Fathers RC 50264
by James Bradley
read by Ted Stoddard
3 cassettes
Recounts the story of the six young marines who raised the
flag at Iwo Jima during fierce combat on the obscure
Japanese-held island in 1945. Author Bradley, the son of one
of the soldiers, recreates his father's experiences as well
as those of the five men who fought beside him. Bestseller
2000.
The GI Offensive in Europe: The Triumph of American Infantry
Divisions, 1941-1945 RC 49019
by Peter R. Mansoor
read by Ralph Lowenstein
3 cassettes
Army lieutenant colonel analyzes the combat effectiveness of
the U. S. general infantry in the European front during
World War II. Posits that the Allies won the war through the
endurance of its soldiers rather than through the sheer
preponderance of its equipment. 1999.
Gray Ghost: The Life of Col. John Singleton Mosby RC 49691
by James A. Ramage
read by Michael Russotto
4 cassettes
Biography of Confederate colonel John Singleton Mosby, who
led the 43rd Battalion Virginia Partisan Rangers in
guerrilla operations against Union forces in northern
Virginia. Mosby, who had no military training, specialized
in night raids aimed at disrupting enemy battle plans and
supply trains. 1999.
Hiroshima RC 50148
by John Hersey
read by Barry Bernson
1 cassette
A Pulitzer Prize-winning author's updated account of the
tragedy of the world's first atomic bomb. In 1945, while the
ashes of Hiroshima were still warm, Hersey traveled to Japan
to interview survivors, whose narratives articulate the
devastating aftermath. The last chapter was added nearly
forty years later. 1985.
Journey among Warriors: The Memoirs of a Marine RC 49997
by Victor Croizat
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
Memoir of a Marine Corps officer who served his country in
war and diplomacy for twenty-six years. Recounts the Pacific
island assaults in World War II using amphibious craft that
he helped develop, his years in diplomatic liaison around
the world, and his time in Vietnam before retiring in 1966.
1997.
Jubal: The Life and Times of General Jubal A. Early, CSA,
Defender of the Lost Cause RC 49679
by Charles C. Osborne
read by Michael Scherer
4 cassettes
Biography of Confederate general Jubal Early, concentrating
on his military exploits and his rejection of reconstruction
and amnesty after the Civil War. Discusses Early's personal
eccentricity, his refusal to accept blame for military
blunders, and his later success in promoting the myth of the
"lost cause." 1992.
The Kamikazes RC 49713
by Edwin P. Hoyt
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
An account of Japan's kamikaze special attack forces that
were formed to defend their homeland against the approaching
Allies in October 1944. Explains how the belief that their
self-sacrifice would ensure an eternal reward enabled the
young aviators to inflict damage on three hundred warships
and to kill or wound fifteen thousand troops. 1983.
Lincoln's Men: How President Lincoln Became Father to an
Army and a Nation RC 49400
by William C. Davis
read by David Elias
3 cassettes
Explores the role of Abraham Lincoln as the practical and
inspirational leader of the Union Army. An examination of
letters and diaries of Union soldiers reveals their
affection for the president, their belief that he understood
and supported them, and their abiding loyalty to "Father
Abraham." 1999.
Mighty Stonewall RC 49637
by Frank E. Vandiver
read by Randy Atcher
5 cassettes (Reissue)
Biography of Confederate general Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall"
Jackson. Traces his orphaned youth, his days at West Point,
his role in the war with Mexico, and his tenure at the
Virginia Military Institute. Chronicles his Civil War
service up to his death by friendly fire in 1863. 1957.
My Experiences in the First World War RC 49069
by John J. Pershing
read by Robert Sams
6 cassettes
Then General of the Armies chronicles the United States's
involvement in the "Great War" from Woodrow Wilson's 1917
appointment of Pershing to command the American
Expeditionary Forces in France through the armistice in
1918. Won the 1932 Pulitzer Prize for history under the
title My Experiences in the World War. 1931.
Napoleon on the Art of War RC 50672
edited by Jay Luvaas
read by Fred Major
2 cassettes
An exposition of Napoleon's views on the proper conduct of
warfare, based on extensive correspondence and other
writings of the French military genius. Covers preparation
for war, combat arms, organization, command, and operational
art. Discusses the "great captains," including Alexander the
Great, Julius Caesar, and Frederick the Great. 1999.
Napoleon's Lost Fleet: Bonaparte, Nelson, and the Battle of
the Nile RC 49734
by Laura Foreman and Ellen Blue Phillips
read by Robert Blumenfeld
2 cassettes
Provides biographical backgrounds on Napoleon Bonaparte and
Horatio Nelson, along with historical accounts of their 1798
naval battle in Aboukir Bay near Alexandria, Egypt. Details
the intricacies of ship-to-ship fighting and the
complexities of late-eighteenth-century warfare. Includes
brief coverage of marine excavation of Napoleon's fleet.
1999.
Return to Midway RC 50181
by Robert D. Ballard and Rick Archbold
read by Ted Stoddard
2 cassettes
Fifty-six years after the fateful World War II sea and air
conflict, underwater explorer Ballard returns in search of
the lost ships. Describes the events of June 4, 1942, and
the author's discovery of sunken remains. 1999.
The Road to Appomattox RC 48510
by Robert Hendrickson
read by Phil Regensdorf
2 cassettes
Using first-person accounts and diaries, the author
describes the last year of the Civil War in terms of
military and social consequences. He depicts the prominent
generals of both sides, Sherman's march to the sea, the
capture of Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia, and the
South's surrender at Appomattox. 1998.
The Rough Riders RC 50049
by Theodore Roosevelt and Richard Bak
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
1899 memoir by future president Theodore Roosevelt of his
experiences in Cuba during the Spanish-American War, first
published in Scribner's magazine. Describes how he organized
his unique regiment, which consisted of wealthy Ivy
Leaguers, cowboys and Native Americans, and western
scoundrels. Includes supplementary historical information.
1997.
Seven Roads to Hell: A Screaming Eagle at Bastogne RC 49652
by Donald R. Burgett
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
Combat memoir of a Screaming Eagle--a member of the army's
101st Airborne Division, which defended the strategically
crucial town of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge in
the winter of 1944. Recounts the valiant stand of the ill-
equipped and beleaguered American troops against superior
German firepower. Some violence. 1999.
A Soldier's Story RC 50099
by Omar N. Bradley
read by Lou Harpenau
4 cassettes
Memoirs of "GI's General," Omar Nelson Bradley, on his
campaigns in World War II, including the conquest of Africa,
the invasion of Sicily, D Day at Normandy, the liberation of
Paris, the Battle of the Bulge, and the German surrender.
Discusses tactics and maneuvers, as well as fellow officers.
1951.
Until the Last Trumpet Sounds: The Life of General of the
Armies John J. Pershing RC 49464
by Gene Smith
read by Lou Harpenau
3 cassettes
Portrait of the commander of the American Expeditionary
Force in France in 1918. Chronicles his years at West Point,
on the Western frontier, and in the Mexican and Spanish-
American Wars, before he led his nation's forces in World
War I. Discusses the triumphs and tragedies that visited his
extraordinary life. 1998.
The Vietnam Reader: The Definitive Collection of American
Fiction and Nonfiction on the War RC 49295
edited by Stewart O'Nan
read by Steven Carpenter
4 cassettes
Depicts the American war in Vietnam through fiction,
nonfiction, poetry, drama, descriptions of films, and
popular song lyrics. Collected works provide a historical
reference tool and overview of the conflict and its impact
on American culture. Strong language, violence, and
descriptions of sex. 1998.
The War Journal of Major Damon "Rocky" Gause RC 50102
by Damon Gause
read by Jack Fox
1 cassette
Memoir of a World War II U.S. army pilot who was captured
when Japanese forces seized the Philippines in 1942.
Recounts his narrow and harrowing escape aboard a leaky
fishing boat across 3,200 miles of hostile sea to eventual
safe harbor in Australia. Some violence. 1999.
Warriors Who Ride the Wind RC 48965
by William F.X. Band
read by Randy Atcher
3 cassettes
World War II fighter pilot recounts his adventures as a
member of General Chennault's Flying Tigers. Band provides a
brief account of his childhood, then regales the reader with
stories of the Flying Tigers' assistance to the Chinese army
in battles with the Japanese beginning in December 1941.
1993.
We Band of Angels: The Untold Story of American Nurses
Trapped on Bataan by the Japanese RC 50664
by Elizabeth M. Norman
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Traces the experiences of the army and navy nurses who were
trapped on the Philippine Islands during World War II.
Nicknamed the "Angels of Bataan and Corregidor," the women
worked in makeshift jungle hospitals before being captured
and sent to prison camps for three years. All seventy-seven
survived. Some violence. 1999.
We Die Alone RC 49996
by David Howarth
read by Ted Stoddard
2 cassettes
Chronicles a daring covert landing of Allied commandos in
German-occupied Norway in 1943. The small force of invaders
was soon betrayed and, except for one, Jan Baalsrud, killed
by the Nazis. Recounts Baalsrud's his harrowing escape,
aided by courageous Norwegian villagers, to neutral Sweden.
Violence. 1955.
What If? The World's Foremost Military Historians Imagine
What Might Have Been RC 49463
edited by Robert Cowley
read by John Richardson
3 cassettes
Twenty essays examine alternate outcomes in military
history. Examples include the death of Alexander the Great
in his first battle, the defeat of the thirteen colonies in
the American Revolution, and a Confederate victory in the
Civil War, among others. Authors include Stephen E. Ambrose,
John Keegan, and James M. McPherson. 1999.
Winds of Freedom: The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers of
World War II RC 49954
by Margaret T. Bixler
read by Catherine Byers
1 cassette
An account of the only code never deciphered by the enemy
during World War II. Discusses the cultural background of
the young Navajos who became Code Talkers, explains how they
developed and implemented the secret language, and describes
their war experiences in their own words. 1992.
Yankee Doodle Days: Exploring the American Revolution RC
48625
by Lincoln Diamant
read by Ted Stoddard
2 cassettes
Explores acts of heroism among ordinary soldiers in the
American Revolution using diaries and first-person accounts.
Discusses the fighting role of African Americans. Recalls
the Wappinger Native American volunteers, courageous women
like Molly Pitcher, and spies, including Aaron Burr's wife.
Also recounts instances of betrayal and obscure footnotes of
the war effort. 1996.
The West
Butch Cassidy: A Biography RC 49845
by Richard Patterson
read by Rick Foucheux
3 cassettes
Separates the reality from the myths about the legendary
outlaw. Contrasts his Mormon family background with his long
criminal record, detailing his years with the Wild Bunch and
the Sundance Kid. Discusses Butch Cassidy's supposed
reappearance in the United States after the shoot-out in
Boliva. 1998.
The Cowboy Way: Seasons of a Montana Ranch RC 50045
by David McCumber
read by Chuck Benson
3 cassettes
A journalist's memoir of his year spent working as a hired
hand on a central Montana ranch. At forty-four the author
quit his job, divorced, and returned to the land of his
grandfather to experience the life of a cowboy. 1999.
Last of the Great Scouts RC 49361
by Zane Grey and Helen Cody Wetmore
read by Don Feldheim
2 cassettes
An account of the adventurous life of Buffalo Bill Cody as
narrated by the sister of the legendary Western figure.
Traces his childhood in rural Iowa through his years as a
mule driver on the Kansas plains, Pony Express rider, Indian
fighter, and performer in the world-famous Wild West Show.
1996.
Walter Benjamin at the Dairy Queen: Reflections at Sixty and
Beyond RC 49319
by Larry McMurtry
read by Arnie Warren
1 cassette
Reading Benjamin's essay "The Storyteller" leads McMurtry to
reflect on the decline of oral tradition in twentieth-
century life. He discusses his experiences with books--as a
reader, author, and bookdealer--and his feelings about his
ancestors, his open-heart surgery, cowboys, and the open
spaces of Texas. 1999.
Zane Grey: Romancing the West RC 48694
by Stephen J. May
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
Biography of the popular author discusses how he spent his
youth fishing and hunting near Zanesville, Ohio, a town
named after his pioneer ancestor. Grey became a dentist at
his father's insistence but later returned to his love of
writing. Tells how Riders of the Purple Sage (RC 17362)
became his first bestseller in 1912. Bestseller 1997.
Women's Concerns
Amy Beach, Passionate Victorian: The Life and Work of an
American Composer, 1867-1944 RC 50332
by Adrienne Fried Block
read by Margaret Strom
4 cassettes
Biography of the first American woman to succeed as a
composer of both art song and large-scale vocal and
instrumental works. Discusses the early recognition of her
talent and the personal freedom she finally enjoyed on tours
as a concert pianist after her husband's death in 1910.
1998.
A Border Passage: From Cairo to America--A Woman's Journey
RC 49491
by Leila Ahmed
read by Gabriella Cavallero
3 cassettes
 A perceptive Egyptian reflects on cultural, historic, and
personal transitions affecting her self-identity. Describes
her privileged childhood in Cairo, the Socialist changes
imposed by Nasser, and the differences between men's and
women's practices of Islam. Makes observations on her
treatment in England and later in the United States. 1999.
Desert Flower: The Extraordinary Journey of a Desert Nomad
RC 48649
by Waris Dirie and Cathleen Miller
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes
Autobiography of a Somali woman's journey from nomadic
tribal life to a career as a fashion model in London and to
the post of special ambassador at the United Nations. Dirie
recounts her personal experience with female genital
mutilation that began with circumcision at age five. Some
strong language. 1998.
Honey, Hush! An Anthology of African American Women's Humor
RC 48155
edited by Daryl Cumber Dance
read by Samarra Mbenga
5 cassettes
Assemblage of wit and wisdom from various types of written
and oral tradition, spanning genres from poetry to political
commentaries. Relays anecdotes from personal experiences as
well as fiction. Includes works of Bessie Smith, Maya
Angelou, and Terry McMillan. Foreword by Nikki Giovanni.
Some strong language. 1998.
Life in the Treetops: Adventures of a Woman in Field Biology
RC 49268
by Margaret D. Lowman
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
A doctor of herbivory in rain-forest canopies describes the
projects she has worked on and the unusual methods used to
access the treetops, such as suspension walkways and
inflatable canopy sleds. She also discusses being a woman in
science and the effect her career has had on her personal
life. 1999.
A Lifetime of Labor: The Autobiography of Alice H. Cook RC
50744
by Alice H. Cook
read by Mitzi Friedlander
4 cassettes
Feminist and labor organizer discusses her life and
multifaceted career in an autobiography she completed before
her death in 1998 at the age of  ninety-five. Her activism,
teaching, and research took her around the world and helped
working women everywhere strive for gender equality. 1997.
Love's Apprentice RC 49838
by Shirley Abbott
read by Faith Potts
2 cassettes
A woman's memoir of her introduction to the world of
romance, love, and sex. Chronicles the influence of movies
and literature on her early development, her sensual
involvement with a college roommate, her year abroad in
Paris, her marriage, and the experience of becoming a
mother. Some strong language. 1998.
Menopause and the Mind: The Complete Guide to Coping with
Memory Loss, Foggy Thinking, Verbal Slips, and Other
Cognitive Effects of Perimenopause and Menopause RC 50807
by Claire L. Warga
read by Jill Ferris
3 cassettes
Psychologist describes the self-named Warga's Hormonal
Misconnection Syndrome (WHMS). Asserts that troubling memory
and speech problems occur in women as their estrogen levels
drop. Includes detailed descriptions of symptoms, self-
screening techniques, and both hormonal and nonhormonal
therapies. 1999.
Ophelia Speaks: Adolescent Girls Write about Their Search
for Self RC 48809
compiled by Sara Shandler
read by Lindsay Ellison
2 cassettes
Inspired by reading Reviving Ophelia (RC 40455) as a
seventeen-year-old, the author solicited essays from other
adolescent girls to create a forum for them to express their
concerns dealing with family, friends, body image, and
societal expectations. Some strong language and some
descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1999.
Outsmarting the Midlife Fat Cell: Winning Weight Control
Strategies for Women over Thirty-five to Stay Fit through
Menopause RC 48546
by Debra Waterhouse
read by Patricia McDermott
2 cassettes
Nutritionist explains why midlife weight gain is so
pervasive and what one can do about it. Discusses the role
of fat cells and estrogen, why dieting doesn't work, and how
to work around biology to minimize weight gain. Emphasizes
attitude changes and stress management by modifying eating
and exercise habits. 1998.
The Penguin Book of Women's Humor RC 48268
edited by Regina Barreca
read by Celeste Lawson
5 cassettes
A treasury of women's humor ranging from one-liners to
excerpts from novels. Spanning three centuries, the
collection features authors, comedians, actresses,
feminists, and politicians. Witticisms include Mae West's
famous quips and Jane Austen's astute social observations.
Concludes with brief biographies of the contributors. Some
strong language. 1996.
The Remarkable Mrs. Ripley: The Life of Sarah Alden Bradford
Ripley RC 50632
by Joan W. Goodwin
read by Jill Ferris
4 cassettes
Biography of a Victorian woman who influenced many of New
England's literary elite, including Thoreau and Emerson (who
wrote her obituary). A descendant of Pilgrims, Ripley was a
classical scholar who helped her Unitarian-minister husband
operate a boys' boarding school while raising seven children
of her own. 1998.
A Shining Thread of Hope: The History of Black Women in
America RC 50032
by Darlene Clark Hine and Kathleen Thompson
read by Robin Miles
3 cassettes
A chronology of diverse African American women's lives
across the United States from colonial times to the late
twentieth century. Uses first-person narratives, where
available, to recall efforts to resist oppression, improve
education, impart religious values, and assume leadership
roles in the community and the nation. 1998.
Strong Women, Strong Bones: Everything You Need to Know to
Prevent, Treat, and Beat Osteoporosis RC 51016
by Miriam E. Nelson
read by Patricia McDermott
2 cassettes
The author of Strong Women Stay Young (RC 46865) prescribes
a strength training program and nutritional guidelines to
fight osteoporosis and osteopenia. She also discusses
diagnostic tests; medications, including hormone replacement
therapy; and myths regarding bone density. Provides an
altered program for men at risk. 2000.
A Useful Woman: The Early Life of Jane Addams RC 50429
by Gioia Diliberto
read by Renee Dutton-O'Hara
2 cassettes
Biography of the first thirty-nine years of the social
reformer's life--from her birth in 1860 through the 1889
founding of Hull-House to 1899, when she gained national
recognition. Discusses influences during her formative
years, her private life, and her meaningful career in an age
when women had few choices. 1999.
Where the Girls Are: Growing Up Female with the Mass Media
RC 46790
by Susan J. Douglas
read by Kimberly Schraf
3 cassettes
Examines the media images of women during four decades from
the 1960s through the 1990s to explain the cultural identity
crisis experienced by many females. Discusses the mixed
messages about women as sex symbols or feminists in
magazines, television, and movies and how these influence
self-perception. 1995.
World History
Africa: A Biography of the Continent RC 47170
by John Reader
read by Graeme Malcolm
6 cassettes
Eschewing regional and chronological approaches, Reader
presents developmental progressions that have evolved across
Africa. Traces geological, biological, ecological, and
anthropological processes in order to explain the history of
human interaction with the earth's second-largest continent.
1997.
Anglomania: A European Love Affair RC 49183
by Ian Buruma
read by Steven Crossley
3 cassettes
The author, half Dutch and half British, interweaves his
personal family history into his examination of England's
place in Europe's unification. Beginning with the eighteenth
century, Buruma reviews England's history in light of
changing European favor. He also surveys the country's
ability to survive in the union. 1998.
The Barbarian Conversion: From Paganism to Christianity RC
48040
by Richard Fletcher
read by Nanette Savard
5 cassettes
History of Christianity from its inception in the
Mediterranean world of the Roman Empire to its spread across
Europe. Explains how it carried Roman and Mediterranean
customs and values to northwestern Europe. Asserts the
ensuing merger of Christian and "barbarian" concepts founded
a new civilization. 1997.
The Basque History of the World RC 49531
by Mark Kurlansky
read by Robert Blumenfeld
3 cassettes
Traces the Basque cultural identity from its ancient origins
to the twentieth century. Combines history, travelog, and
reporting, including culinary and literary background.
Examines the Basques' contributions to western civilization,
even as they preserved their fierce independence and
venerable traditions through the ages. 1999.
Bosnia: Fractured Region RC 49354
by Eric Black
read by Dan Bloom
1 cassette
Examines the history and culture of the former country of
Yugoslavia in order to make sense of the 1990s conflicts
there, some of which involved "ethnic cleansing." Discusses
opposing viewpoints among its residents and assesses future
prospects for the area. For senior high and older readers.
1999.
Bulgaria RC 48602
by Steven Otfinoski
read by Mary Ann Nichols
1 cassette
Examines the Eastern European country's history, politics,
and culture as well as its problems and potential. Describes
the change from a Communist satellite to a free nation. For
senior high and older readers. 1999.
Cairo: The City Victorious RC 48700
by Max Rodenbeck
read by Ted Stoddard
3 cassettes
A correspondent for the Economist and longtime resident of
Cairo presents the city's history, inhabitants, and social
life, mingled with personal observations. Discusses Cairo's
geographic importance, the prevailing influence of Islam,
and the pull of Western materialism. Portrays past elegance
in contrast to twentieth-century problems. 1998.
The Chan's Great Continent: China in Western Minds RC 48127
by Jonathan D. Spence
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Based on a series of lectures presented at Yale, a survey of
China's influence on the West from 1253 to the 1980s. Citing
diplomatic reports, letters, plays, films, poetry, and
novels, Spence argues that the Western view of China has
been shaped by the observations of outsiders rather than the
words of the Chinese people themselves. 1998.
Chronicle of the Guayaki Indians RC 48392
by Pierre Clastres
read by Rick Foucheux
2 cassettes
A study of surviving members of a dwindling population in
the forests of Paraguay, originally published in 1972.
Written by a French anthropologist who lived with this small
group in 1963 and 1964, it portrays rituals surrounding
birth, initiation, and death, as well as social customs
involving food and cannibalism. Some violence. 1998.
Constantine the Great: The Man and His Times RC 50962
by Michael Grant
read by Robert Blumenfeld
2 cassettes
Biography of the first Christian Roman emperor and founder
of Constantinople. Constantine (c. 272-337) fought numerous
civil and foreign wars and murdered his eldest son and wife.
Grant describes Constantine's government and character, the
founding of his capital, and the establishment of
Christianity as the state religion. 1994.
Constantinople: City of the World's Desire, 1453-1924 RC
48041
by Philip Mansel
read by Anne Flosnik
5 cassettes
Describes Constantinople, once capital of the Ottoman
Empire, as an international center with power and influence
that extended across political, cultural, social, and
religious boundaries. Observes that the metropolis now known
as Istanbul has also been called the "city of saints,"
"refuge of the universe," and "eye of the world." 1995.
Country of My Skull: Guilt, Sorrow, and the Limits of
Forgiveness in the New South Africa RC 49408
by Antjie Krog
read by Lisette Lecat
4 cassettes
Account of the formation and proceedings of the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission begun in 1995 with Archbishop Tutu
as chairman. A poet and journalist covers two years of
victims' public testimony. Recounts their reports of
torture, massacre, and suffering with background commentary
on the horrors of apartheid. 1998.
The Czech Republic RC 48407
by Steven Otfinoski
read by Connie Crawford
1 cassette
Introduces the land and people of the eastern European
country, its culture, and history, including its release
from the Iron Curtain in 1989. Discusses economic problems
and possible solutions. Includes a chronology. For junior
and senior high and older readers. 1997.
Dark Continent: Europe's Twentieth Century RC 49031
by Mark Mazower
read by Ralph Lowenstein
4 cassettes
A British professor examines the century-long struggle for
dominance between liberal democracy, communism, and fascism.
His chronological account discusses events and struggles
within Europe from the onset of the First World War to the
collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989. 1998.
Desire of the Everlasting Hills: The World before and after
Jesus; Hinges of History, Volume 3 RC 50633
by Thomas Cahill
read by Gordon Gould
2 cassettes
Examines "the phenomenon of Jesus" and assesses his impact
through history and at the end of the second millennium.
Analyzes accounts of his life, teachings, and followers.
Confronts the question of whether Christianity has benefited
the world. Sequel to The Gifts of the Jews (RC 46335). 1999.
Down with Big Brother: The Fall of the Soviet Empire RC
48303
by Michael Dobbs
read by Ken Kliban
4 cassettes
Journalist's account of the demise of the Soviet Union based
on reporting tours in Yugoslavia, Poland, and the Soviet
Union between 1977 and 1993. Uses a dateline approach to
discuss major economic and political events that led to
Soviet president Gorbachev's resignation in 1991. 1996.
Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II RC 49484
by John W. Dower
read by Ralph Lowenstein
5 cassettes
In this companion to War without Mercy: Race and Power in
the Pacific War (RC 25306), the author chronicles life in
Japan during the American occupation, as seen through the
eyes of the defeated. Focuses on social and cultural
developments as an entire people had to start over. National
Book Award, Pulitzer Prize. 1999.
The End of the World RC 48557
edited by Lewis H. Lapham
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Selections from letters, memoirs, reports, and a few
imaginary portrayals, presenting first-person descriptions
of human tragedies. Illustrates the impact of disasters on
society, recounts instances of extreme brutality inflicted
on groups and communities, explores the capacity for
regeneration, and cites examples of people's responses to
doomsday scenarios. 1997.
First Person: An Astonishingly Frank Self-Portrait by
Russia's President Vladimir Putin RC 50742
by Vladimir Putin
read by Fred Major
1 cassette
A portrait of the Russian president that includes
transcripts of interviews with three journalists, who also
talked with Putin's wife and teenage daughters and his
friends. Recalls his working-class childhood, legal
training, career as a KGB officer, and dramatic rise to
prominence in the post-Communist era. 2000.
France on the Brink RC 50422
by Jonathan Fenby
read by Steven Carpenter
4 cassettes
Explores the uniqueness of France as well as the problems
confronting the nation during the second half of the
twentieth century,  including political scandals, economic
decline, shifting demographics, and social stagnation.
Discusses the necessity for national reformation in a global
order that requires French stability. 1999.
Gandhi: A Life RC 47325
by Yogesh Chadha
read by John Horton
4 cassettes
An Indian author's portrait of Mahatma Gandhi seeks to
reclaim the "human being out of the many myths surrounding
him." Presents his family background and details of the
private man as well as the public persona. Places the Indian
leader within the context of the political and historical
developments of the early twentieth century. 1997.
Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire RC 49514
by Amanda Foreman
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
4 cassettes
Account of Georgiana Spencer's life and a social history of
the British aristocracy in the late eighteenth century.
Describes Georgiana's role as a political hostess for the
Whig Party, a fashion trendsetter, and an author. Also
discusses the mnage  trois that involved Lady Elizabeth
Foster. Whitbread Prize. Bestseller 1998.
Germany: A New History RC 48181
by Hagen Schulze
read by Lewis Grenville
3 cassettes
Two thousand years in the history of Germany, from the time
of the Roman Empire until the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Describes efforts to forge common bonds among diverse
peoples and to instill national pride. Concludes with
speculation about the future of the reunited country. 1998.
The Great Shame: And the Triumph of the Irish in the
English-Speaking World RC 49595
by Thomas Keneally
read by Ralph Lowenstein
6 cassettes
A narrative history of the nineteenth-century Irish
migrations to Australia and America. Depicts the plight of
Ireland's emigrants through biographical accounts of the
author's ancestors. Among them is Thomas Francis Meagher,
who in 1849 was exiled to Australia but escaped to the
United States to lead the Union's Irish Brigade at Antietam.
1998.
Hadrian: The Restless Emperor RC 48493
by Anthony R. Birley
read by Ted Stoddard
4 cassettes
Biography of the Roman emperor Hadrian (A.D. 76-138), who
traveled extensively throughout his empire and constructed
massive walls to identify its boundaries. Hadrian promoted
Greek cultural influences and attacked Judaea when the Jews
resisted Hellenic tradition. Investigates his personal life
with his lover Antinous, a Bithynian youth whose death
devastated the emperor. 1997.
Haiti: Land of Inequality RC 50901
by Mary C. Turck
read by Ted Stoddard
1 cassette
Examines the history of Haiti's ethnic conflicts and their
continuing effects on its people. Chronicles important
milestones and describes Haitian leaders. Discusses
geography, religion, language, economics, and class
divisions in terms of the nation's social problems. For
junior and senior high readers. 1999.
Hannibal Crosses the Alps: The Enigma Re-Examined RC 49001
by John Prevas
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
Political and military history of the Second Punic War that
began when Hannibal, a Carthaginian, left Spain to invade
Italy in 218 B.C. Traces his route through the treacherous
French Alps with an army of mercenaries and recalls the
engineering feats that allowed them to transport elephants
across rivers and mountains. 1998.
Hearts Grown Brutal: Sagas of Sarajevo RC 48628
by Roger Cohen
read by Steven Carpenter
5 cassettes
A New York Times reporter relates his experiences during the
1990s war in Bosnia. Uses the personal histories of four
ethnically mixed families to illustrate how the region was
destroyed. Criticizes the United Nations and the U.S.
Department of State for the apparent lack of a cohesive
policy. Violence and strong language. 1998.
The Hindenburg RC 49148
by Michael Macdonald Mooney
read by Andy Chappell
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Presents a history of the Zeppelin airships, their voyages
to and from Germany, and a detailed account of the last
flight of the Hindenburg. Mooney writes of the passengers on
that fatal flight and of the Luftwaffe officers and crew who
were unable to prevent the explosion, perhaps the result of
sabotage. 1972.
Hitler's Pope: The Secret History of Pius XII RC 49241
by John Cornwell
read by Robert Blumenfeld
3 cassettes
Catholic journalist argues that Eugenio Pacelli, Pope Pius
XII, bears personal responsibility for the massacre of
millions of Jews because of his public failure to condemn
Hitler's actions. Cornwell describes how he gained access to
archival papers in the Vatican and other European countries,
expecting to vindicate the canonization of Pius XII.
Bestseller 1999.
Hungary RC 48412
by Raymond Hill
read by Mary Ann Nichols
2 cassettes
Presents the history, economy, and geography of this Eastern
European country.  Also includes the cultural revival in its
capital, Budapest. For junior and senior high and older
readers. 1997.
I Will Bear Witness: A Diary of the Nazi Years, 1933-1941 RC
48053
by Victor Klemperer
read by Michael Consoli
5 cassettes
Klemperer, a professor of Romance languages in Dresden,
presents portions of the diaries he kept in his youth.
Chronicles everyday life in Nazi Germany, where--even after
his conversion and marriage to a Protestant--government
restrictions slowly stifled his life. Describes the kindness
of some Germans and being saved by the bombing of Dresden.
1998.
India Britannica RC 50836
by Geoffrey Moorhouse
read by Gordon Gould
2 cassettes (Reissue)
A popular history of three centuries of British rule in
India. The account begins with a description of the
profoundly alien country the seventeenth-century traders
encountered, traces the gradual ascension of the East India
Company, and concludes with the sudden disengagement under
the last viceroy, Lord Mountbatten. 1983.
King Hussein: A Life on the Edge RC 50188
by Roland Dallas
read by David Elias
2 cassettes
Biography of the late king of Jordan, including his family
origins, his four marriages, and the major events of his
forty-six-year reign up to his death from cancer in 1999.
Describes Hussein's achievements--which include a stable
economy, strong public institutions, and peace--along with
his failures. 1999.
King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism
in Colonial Africa RC 48452
by Adam Hochschild
read by Dan Bloom
3 cassettes
Chronicles the nineteenth-century enslavement, mutilation,
and murder of millions of Africans by King Leopold of
Belgium. Details the crusade by human-rights activists and
the exposure of crimes against the Congolese. Argues that
European and American governments contributed to these
atrocities and tragedies by their silence. 1998.
The Life of Thomas More RC 49033
by Peter Ackroyd
read by George Holmes
4 cassettes
Portrait of the renowned jurist, writer, and Catholic saint
who was executed for refusing to acknowledge the spiritual
authority of King Henry VIII. Depicts More's London
childhood, his religious and intellectual formation, his
ascendant political career, his political fall from grace,
and his martyrdom. 1998.
Loosing the Bonds: The United States and South Africa in the
Apartheid Years RC 48043
by Robert Kinloch Massie
read by Ted Stoddard
8 cassettes in 2 containers
Chronicles the relationship between the United States and
South Africa in the second half of the twentieth century.
Compares their historical efforts to overcome racial
injustice and advance democracy. Discusses economic
sanctions against South Africa's internal policies. Includes
biographical portraits of principal figures. 1997.
The Making of Stonehenge RC 50708
by Rodney Castleden
read by Gordon Gould
3 cassettes
Deals exclusively with the prehistoric Stonehenge site in
southern England. The author compiles scientific evidence to
"take account of modern archaeologists' interpretations and
attempt a synthesis that contains Stonehenge's meaning." The
analysis provides an explanation of what the site's creators
were trying to achieve. 1993.
The Man Who Tried to Save the World: The Dangerous Life and
Mysterious Disappearance of Fred Cuny RC 49144
by Scott Anderson
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
Biography of a disaster relief expert who vanished in
Chechnya in 1995. Examines the Texan's twenty-five-year
career assisting refugees of natural disasters and civil
wars. Second half of book focuses on the war in Chechnya,
Cuny's last days there, and the intensive multinational
search for him. 1999.
Mandela: The Authorized Biography RC 49243
by Anthony Sampson
read by Lisette Lecat
6 cassettes
Traces Nelson Mandela's youth in South Africa, career as a
lawyer and freedom fighter, and rise to fame as the leader
who transformed the nation from apartheid to a multicultural
democracy through unity, justice, reconciliation, and
forgiveness. Explains how the ex-president developed into a
renowned statesman while in prison. 1999.
Michael and Natasha: The Life and Love of Michael II, the
Last of the Romanov Tsars RC 48312
by Rosemary Crawford and Donald Crawford
read by Frank Coffee
4 cassettes
Recounts the romance between Grand Duke Michael, brother of
Tsar Nicholas, and Natasha Wulfert, a commoner already twice
divorced. Traces their courtship, Russian society's
reactions, their eventual marriage, and Michael's brief
reign as tsar before his execution in June 1918. Based on
diaries and private correspondence released from the Russian
state archives. 1997.
Murder in the Name of God: The Plot to Kill Yitzhak Rabin RC
49200
by Michael Karpin and Ina Friedman
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Examines the events that culminated in the assassination of
Israel's prime minister in 1995. Includes an interview with
Yigal Amir, the Jewish zealot who shot Rabin. Studies the
factions in Israeli society that foment political dissension
and the foreign support for these movements. 1998.
The Murder of Tutankhamen: A True Story RC 47024
by Bob Brier
read by Bob Kuhn
2 cassettes
Combining modern forensic technological evidence with
historical facts, Brier proposes that the eighteen-year-old
pharaoh was murdered. He supports his theory by detailing
circumstantial evidence gleaned from reviewing Tutankhamen's
remains and Brier's studies of the interaction of society
and religion with the role of rulers in Ancient Egypt. 1998.
Noah's Flood: The New Scientific Discoveries about the Event
That Changed History RC 49074
by William Ryan and Walter Pitman
read by Terence Aselford
2 cassettes
Two geophysicists present the results of years of
international research that sought historical data from the
mid-sixth millennium B.C. to confirm biblical and mythical
accounts of a great flood. They explore linguistic,
archaeological, and other evidence of an inundation around
the Black Sea and hypothesize that a diaspora followed.
1998.
The Pacific Rim: East Asia at the Dawn of a New Century RC
50174
by Elaine Pascoe
read by Rick Foucheux
1 cassette
Brief summaries of the historical, economic, and political
importance of the countries that make up East Asia--
principally China and Taiwan, Japan, and both Koreas, as
well as mainland Southeast Asia and several island nations.
Discusses their relevance to the United States and others in
the West. For senior high and older readers. 1999.
Poland RC 48408
by Steven Otfinoski
read by Anne Hancock
1 cassette
The history, culture, and prospects for the future of the
eastern European country of Poland. Discusses its seven
geographical regions and recalls its "golden age." Describes
the systems of democracy, Nazism, and communism embraced at
various times over the years. Includes a brief chronology.
For junior and senior high and older readers. 1995.
The Proudest Day: India's Long Road to Independence RC 48049
by Anthony Read and David Fisher
read by Michele Schaeffer
5 cassettes
Traces India's transition to democratic self-rule after the
British departure in 1947 and chronicles the internal
struggles that followed. Examines the inability of the
leaders--Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Mohammad Jinnah,
and Lord Mountbatten--to coordinate efforts to bring the
numerous ethnic and religious groups together. 1997.
The Punic Wars RC 49722
by Don Nardo
read by Terence Aselford
1 cassette
Describes the three wars between Rome and Carthage during
the third and second centuries B.C., which took a
devastating toll on resources and manpower and ended in
total annihilation of one of the powers. Includes Hannibal's
crossing of the Alps in 218 B.C. For senior high and older
readers. 1996.
The Road to Kosovo: A Balkan Diary RC 49087
by Greg Campbell
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
A reporter describes his solo sojourn into Kosovo in 1998
just when the Kosovo Liberation Army was becoming known in
the West. Campbell had been to Bosnia in 1996 and wanted to
ascertain the success or failure of the Dayton Accords.
1999.
Russia RC 48604
by Michael Kort
read by Lindsay Ellison
2 cassettes
Introduces the history of Russia, including its political
upheavals and economic development and the impact of its
transition to a free-market system on its people and future.
Also contains a chronology. For junior and senior high and
older readers. 1998.
Saints and Sinners: A History of the Popes RC 47645
by Eamon Duffy
read by Don Feldheim
5 cassettes
Overview of the papacy from Saint Peter to Pope John Paul
II. Traces the evolution of the institution, its influence
in history, and the political and spiritual power of the
office. Includes a glossary and chronological list of popes.
1997.
The Search for the North West Passage RC 50536
by Ann Savours
read by Anne Flosnik
3 cassettes
Chronicles four centuries of expeditions seeking a sea route
west from the Atlantic through the Canadian Arctic
archipelago to reach China. Excerpts from diaries and
letters recount the hardships and courage of these intrepid
explorers, including John Barrow, Edward Parry, John Ross,
John Franklin, and others. 1999.
The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision RC 50886
by Henry Kamen
read by Annie Wauters
4 cassettes
The author reexamines his original research on the medieval
Spanish Inquisition. Includes information on how the
Inquisition operated, its trials and punishments, its impact
on literature and science, the dispersion of the Jews, and
anti-Catholic propaganda. Argues that the Inquisition was
not as powerful or cruel as it has often been judged. 1997.
The Sword and the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the
Secret History of the KGB RC 49240
by Christopher Andrew and Vasili Mitrokhin
read by Ken Kliban
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Based on Mitrokhin's twelve-year compilation of smuggled
notes on the foreign operations of the KGB. Details the
KGB's covert operations in Great Britain and the United
States, revealing their extensive spy network and their
disinformation efforts aimed at discrediting public figures
like Martin Luther King Jr. Bestseller 1999.
There Once Was a World: A Nine-Hundred-Year Chronicle of the
Shtetl of Eishyshok RC 48086
by Yaffa Eliach
read by Suzanne Toren
8 cassettes in 2 containers
The author was a young child when the massacre of September
26, 1941, left almost no survivors in her home of Eishyshok-
-one of the oldest Jewish settlements in Europe. Her re-
creation of the shtetl's history describes community life,
which centered around the homes, schools, and synagogues.
1998.
Tournament of Shadows: The Great Game and the Race for
Empire in Central Asia RC 49535
by Karl E. Meyer and Shareen Blair Brysac
read by Ralph Lowenstein
5 cassettes
The authors chronicle the struggle between Great Britain and
Russia over control of central Asia, beginning in the
nineteenth century and continuing through the cold war. They
examine the activities of adventurers, explorers, and
statesmen in Tibet, Lhasa, Afghanistan, and surrounding
areas, who spied for their respective countries. 1999.
Ukraine RC 48410
by Steven Otfinoski
read by Norm Thibeault
1 cassette
Discusses the history, culture, and geography of the former
Soviet republic. Describes the establishment of a new
republic in 1991, the continued effects of the 1986
Chernobyl nuclear plant explosion, the renewal of religious
traditions, and the economy. For junior and senior high and
older readers. 1999.
The Wars of the Roses RC 50186
by Alison Weir
read by Vanessa Maroney
4 cassettes
In this companion to The Princes in the Tower (RC 40697)
Weir recounts the events that plunged fifteenth-century
medieval Britain into a bloody struggle for the crown. The
House of Lancaster, led by the inept King Henry VI,
contended with the able duke of York, Richard Plantagenet.
1995.
Who Killed Kirov? The Kremlin's Greatest Mystery RC 50539
by Amy Knight
read by Anne Flosnik
3 cassettes
An account of the December 1934 murder of Leningrad
Communist party chief and Stalin's close associate Sergei
Kirov. Examines Kirov's career in the Soviet political
system, events surrounding the murder, and its tragic
aftermath. Based on evidence from the Russian archives.
1999.