Talking Book Topics

November-December 1998
Books for Adults--Nonfiction

Books listed in this issue of Talking Book Topics were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including biographies, classics, gothics, mysteries, romances, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection. Cassette books are labeled with the code RC and play at 15/16 ips. To order books, contact your cooperating library.

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

Visionaries RC 40966
by Bill Mosher
read by Dick Jenkins
2 cassettes
A companion to the public television series, the book presents the context for the acts of love documented in the film. The author explores the magic that occurs when one human helps another, and shows inspirational heroes worthy of media recognition. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1995.

Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia RC 40972
by Dennis Covington
read by Jeff Halberstadt
2 cassettes
The author returns to his southern roots and unexpectedly finds a kinship with members of a church who believe handling poisonous snakes is a testament to their faith. The group comes to represent a side of the South that he feels has been ridiculed and denied a history. He presents these poor, rural whites with respect and an understanding of their strong spiritual beliefs. 1995.

My Singing Teachers RC 40974
by Mel Tormé
read by Arnie Warren
1 cassette
Jazz vocalist Mel Tormé reflects on the singers, instrumentalists, and others who influenced his musical style and career. He offers a medley of anecdotes and observations on some big names, like Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, and Louis Armstrong, as well as many less well-known artists. 1994.

Collected Poems of Barbara Howes, 1945-1990 RC 40981
by Barbara Howes
read by Gillian Wilson
1 cassette
The prize-winning American poet organizes this collection of previously published poems chronologically. Observations of nature and everyday life characterize the selections. Howes also includes translations of poems by Cino de Pistoia, Christine de Pisan, and Torquato Tasso, among others. National Book Award finalist. 1995.

Remembering with Granny RC 40985
by Alma D. Worthington
read by Marilyn Gleason
1 cassette
The author, affectionately known as Granny to family and friends, offers vignettes of growing up in Tennessee during the Great Depression. She describes the excitement of receiving her one-and-only doll, the fun of dating in pairs, and the care with which she reared her children. 1995.

Welcome to High School RC 40986
by Diane Eble and others
read by Miriam Wagner
1 cassette
High school can be a bit scary. Suddenly you are like a little fish in a big sea. You may have more freedom, but you also have more responsibility. This is the Big Time. The editors of Campus Life, a Christian magazine, examine the social, emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of high school so you can be prepared for the worst, and the best, of times. For senior high readers. 1991.

The Magic Daughter: A Memoir of Living with Multiple Personality Disorder RC 42195
by Jane Phillips
read by Susan McInerney
2 cassettes
A professor with multiple personalities, or what is called dissociative identity disorder, writes under a pseudonym. She says she began this book as a suicide note but was surprised to find the writing process therapeutic, albeit traumatic. She tells of the childhood horrors that led to the disorder and of her therapist's work in diagnosing and helping her. Some violence. 1995.

White Bucks and Black-Eyed Peas: Coming of Age Black in White America RC 42196
by Marcus Mabry
read by Chuck Young
2 cassettes
A twenty-five-year-old Paris correspondent for Newsweek writes a memoir of being a black urban professional and the uneasy price of that success. His grandmother and mother were the driving forces that sent him from poverty to prep school and beyond, in contrast to his "deadbeat dad," a wealthy judge who didn't acknowledge Mabry for years. Strong language. 1995.

Too Soon to Tell RC 42207
by Calvin Trillin
read by Ray Hagen
2 cassettes
Collection of columns published between 1990 and1995 by the syndicated writer. With his characteristic, good-natured cynicism, Trillin discusses subjects ranging from politics to restaurants to the younger generation. He brings a new perspective to telephone area codes, the fear of being a rube, and the Chinese claim to the invention of golf. 1995.

Please Stand By: A Prehistory of Television RC 42313
by Michael Ritchie
read by Gary Telles
2 cassettes
Documents the formative years between 1927 and 1947, prior to national broadcasts and prerecording. The book is based on interviews with television pioneers, many of them well known, who tell of haphazard live shows produced in sweltering and cramped studios. Despite the conditions, the visionaries persevered because they saw the potential of the mass medium. 1994.

Streets: A Memoir of the Lower East Side RC 42336
by Bella Spewack
read by Barbara Rappaport
2 cassettes
Early life of the author who, with her husband, Sam Spewack, wrote more than thirty-five films and plays and collaborated with Cole Porter on Kiss Me, Kate. Penned when she was twenty-three and published after her death in 1990, the memoir describes struggles Spewack and her mother faced as poor immigrants and the physical surroundings and people of the tenements. For high school and older readers. 1995.

Tailspin: Women at War in the Wake of Tailhook RC 42492
by Jean Zimmerman
read by Susan McInerney
3 cassettes
Recounts the 1991 convention of the Tailhook Association, a former drinking club for naval aviators that grew into a professional organization. Zimmerman tells how Lieutenant Paula Coughlin and others were manhandled by partying men. She describes Coughlin's fight to punish her attackers and examines the status of women in the navy before the combat ban was lifted in 1993. Strong language and violence. 1995.

Eastern Sun, Winter Moon: An Autobiographical Odyssey RC 42706
by Gary Paulsen
read by Michael Kramer
2 cassettes
The author of many young adult books, including Nightjohn (RC 38431), recounts his life to the age of nine, 1939-1948. He tells how he and his mother waited for his soldier father in Chicago, then joined him in the Philippines. Presents a child's view of his mother's pluck and easy virtue and of the realities of war. Some violence, some strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1993.

Terry: My Daughter's Life-and-Death Struggle with Alcoholism RC 42710
by George McGovern
read by Ray Hagen
2 cassettes
A former senator and onetime presidential candidate's anguished story of his daughter's unhappy life and alcohol-related death. McGovern tries to understand and explain her steady descent into depression and alcoholism, concluding that genetic vulnerability was a key factor. 1996.

Diary of a Cat: True Confessions and Lifelong Observations of a Well-Adjusted House Cat RC 42711
by Leigh W. Rutledge
read by Ray Hagen
1 cassette
A cat's whimsical journal of his adventures around the neighborhood where he lives with kindly Mrs. Vigil. The cat offers some keen insights into the family turmoils he observes in his rounds. After a tumultuous disturbance of the household, harmony is restored, and Mrs. Vigil's cat family is reunited. 1995.

Crews: Gang Members Talk to Maria Hinojosa RC 42950
by Maria Hinojosa
read by Kimberly Schraf
1 cassette
Interviews with New York City gang, or crew, members by National Public Radio correspondent. Crew members shed light on their lives and their ever-present rage and frustration. Violence and strong language. For high school readers. 1995.

Voices from the Streets: Young Former Gang Members Tell Their Stories RC 43679
by S. Beth Atkin
read by Graci Ragsdale
1 cassette
A view of the world of youth gangs as seen through the eyes of former gang members. Profiles a diverse group of youths, who discuss their reasons for joining a gang, their experiences as members, their reasons for quitting, and their post-gang lives. Strong language. For junior and senior high readers. 1996.

Djuna: The Life and Work of Djuna Barnes RC 43736
by Phillip Herring
read by Faith Potts
3 cassettes
Biography of twentieth-century American journalist and writer. Barnes flourished in the 1920s and 1930s as part of the Greenwich Village and Paris Left Bank literary circles. She gained fame primarily for her novel, Nightwood, which was inspired by her eight-year relationship with artist Thelma Wood. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1995.

What I Really Want to Do Is Direct: Seven Film School Graduates Go to Hollywood RC 44099
by Billy Frolick
read by Phil Regensdorf
3 cassettes
Traces the early careers of seven diverse and ambitious film school graduates who aspire to become Hollywood directors. Follows their personal quests over three years, chronicling the successes and setbacks that they encounter in the risky and competitive business of filmmaking. Strong language. 1996.

The Life of Nelson A. Rockefeller: Worlds to Conquer, 1908-1958; Volume 1 RC 44107
by Cary Reich
read by Ralph Lowenstein
8 cassettes
Portrait of an energetic and ambitious American patrician, whose life was "a study in the unapologetic use of a great fortune to secure influence." From his youth, Rockefeller showed an appetite for power, and he rose to become governor of New York, vice president, and a major influence in American politics. 1996.

God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita; Royal Science of God-Realization, the Immortal Dialogue between Soul and Spirit, a New Translation and Commentary RC 44109
by Paramahansa Yogananda
read by Yolande Bavan
11 cassettes
Yogananda, a renowned spiritual leader who died in 1952, offers a translation of and commentary on the Bhagavad Gita ("Song of the Lord"), the classic religious and philosophical text of Hindi culture in India. Yogananda explores concepts found within the work such as karma, yoga, prana, and chakras. 1995.

Grant Takes Command RC 44255
by Bruce Catton
read by Butch Hoover
4 cassettes
This sequel to Grant Moves South (RC 14649) relates the exploits of commander in chief of the Union Army General Ulysses Grant during the final eighteen months of the Civil War. Recounts the battles of Chattanooga, Chancellorsville, and Atlanta and other key engagements late in the war. 1969.

Faith and Treason: The Story of the Gunpowder Plot RC 44329
by Antonia Fraser
read by Catherine Byers
3 cassettes
An account of the Gunpowder Plot, in which a band of English Catholics planned to blow up Parliament and seize political power in 1605. The attempt failed, the conspirators were executed, and persecution of Catholics increased. Analyzes the event and compares it with cases of modern religious terrorism. Violence. 1996.

Women's Sports: A History RC 44331
by Allen Guttmann
read by Catherine Byers
3 cassettes
Traces the history of Western women's competitive sports from ancient times to the present. Examines the impact of the 1970s feminist revolution, which transformed and popularized women's athletics. Examines controversial issues that threaten the future of sports for women. 1991.

The Price of a Dream: The Story of the Grameen Bank, and the Idea That Is Helping the Poor to Change Their Lives RC 44332
by David Bornstein
read by Christopher Hurt
3 cassettes
Recounts the success of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, which has provided loans to more than two million self-employed villagers. Unlike most banks, Grameen lends small amounts for short periods, mostly to women who lack collateral. Provides a financial model for combatting poverty in developing nations. 1996.

Genesis: A Living Conversation RC 44333
by Bill Moyers
read by Gordon Gould
3 cassettes
A diverse group of panelists from the worlds of religion, academia, law, and art discuss the people and events of the first book of the Bible. They explore the biblical characters and analyze the timeless moral themes of their stories. Companion volume to the PBS television series. 1996.

The Conquest of a Continent: Siberia and the Russians RC 44334
by W. Bruce Lincoln
read by Ken Kliban
4 cassettes
Chronicles the history of Siberia over almost a thousand years. Recounts the early invasions of the marauding Tartars and Mongols, Russian exploration of the wilderness, the conquest and settlement of the land, and the exploitation of Siberia's natural resources. Violence. 1994.

The Temple Bombing RC 44335
by Melissa Fay Greene
read by Frank Coffee
3 cassettes
On October 12, 1958, a bomb set by white supremacists rocked an Atlanta synagogue, whose outspoken rabbi, Jacob Rothschild, had taken a public stand for racial integration. The author describes the event, the racial climate in which it occurred, and its aftermath. Some strong language. 1996.

Last Dance at the Hotel Kempinski: Creating a Life in the Shadow of History RC 44352
by Robin Hirsch
read by Robert Blumenfeld
3 cassettes
The personal story and family history of a son of Jewish refugees from the Nazi regime. Recounts his parents' meeting and marriage in Germany, their flight to England in 1938, his childhood in a troubled home, and his youth exploring America during the turbulent 1960s. Strong language. 1995.

Romeo and Juliet RC 44353
by William Shakespeare
read by George Holmes
3 cassettes (Reissue)
A sixteenth-century romantic tragedy of two teenagers from rival families who fall in love. A sentence of exile and an impending arranged marriage force the two to flee. A friar suggests a ruse to accomplish their union, but miscommunication causes it to backfire. 1993.

In the Beginning: A New Interpretation of Genesis RC 44354
by Karen Armstrong
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes
Recounts the stories of the book of Genesis, which depict humankind's early relationships with the divine. Examines the recurring theme of spiritual struggle that pervades the first book of the Bible. Discerns a gradual process of withdrawal by God from human affairs. 1996.

The Pocket Aristotle: Selections from Psychology, Physics, Politics, Nicomachean Ethics, Metaphysics, and Poetics RC 44359
edited by Justin D. Kaplan
read by Gordon Gould
3 cassettes
Selections from the writings and lectures of the Greek philosopher and scientist, pupil of Plato, and teacher of Alexander the Great. The thoughts that Aristotle expounded more than three centuries B.C. continue to be considered a wellspring from which great minds draw wisdom. 1958.

How to Be Rich RC 44386
by J. Paul Getty
read by Rick Rohan
2 cassettes (Reissue)
A billionaire reveals the successful formulas that led him into real estate, the stock market, and fine art. Getty emphasizes the need for adequate preparation for the business world and discusses how to discharge the responsibilities created by wealth. 1965.

The Cause Lost: Myths and Realities of the Confederacy RC 44387
by William C. Davis
read by Gary Telles
2 cassettes
Describes and analyzes the author's view of factors that doomed the Confederate cause in the Civil War. Examines leadership flaws, a failed western strategy, and eventual economic collapse as key elements. Discusses heroic myths that Davis says continue to shape the popular image of the Confederacy. 1996.

Eva Perón RC 44460
by Alicia Dujovne Ortiz
read by Ilona Dulaski
3 cassettes
Born poor and illegitimate, Eva Perón reinvented herself as an actress and eventually as the wife of Argentine dictator Juan Perón. By her death in 1952, she was both revered as a saint and vilified as a fascist. Ortiz uses testimony from people who knew her and declassified government documents to explore the woman behind the image. 1996.

Vietnam 1968-1969: A Battalion Surgeon's Journal RC 44467
by Byron E. Holley
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
An army surgeon's chronicle of his year with an infantry division in Vietnam. Recounts perilous combat patrols, treating casualties under harsh battlefield conditions, the many fatalities, and the lasting physical and mental wounds of war. Strong language and violence. 1993.

The Dhammapada: Sayings of Buddha RC 44491
translated by Thomas Cleary
read by Ed Blake
1 cassette
Statements of ethical and spiritual principle as guides in finding inner tranquillity. Written in the fifth century B.C., these teachings focus on "mastery and purification of the self, strength and sobriety of character, and the ultimate attainment of freedom and independence." 1994.

Plutarch: The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans, Vol. 1 RC 44495
edited by Arthur Hugh Clough
read by Gordon Gould
7 cassettes
Biographical accounts of noble Greeks and Romans from mythological times through the early second century A.D. This 1864 revision of Dryden's classic seventeeth-century translation compares the character, moral conduct, and fate of such noted figures as Theseus and Romulus, providing rich descriptions of social life in the ancient Mediterranean world. 1992.

Voices in Ireland: A Traveller's Literary Companion RC 44496
by P.J. Kavanagh
read by Terry Donnelly
3 cassettes
A literary tour of Ireland with a focus on its history and legends. Reveals the unique language and culture that evolved on the uninvaded island, so alien to Romanized Europe. Along the way from the north down to Dublin, the author depicts the sound and character of a singular people. 1994.

Fodor's 96 New Zealand RC 44498
by Fodor Staff
read by Christopher Hurt
2 cassettes
Tips on dining, shopping, sightseeing, accommodations, and recreational activities in New Zealand. Specific chapters highlight Auckland and the North, Rotorua to Wellington, South Island, and also "adventure vacations" that include sailing, rafting, canoeing, hiking, diving, bicycling, and horseback riding. 1995.

Convicted in the Womb: One Man's Journey from Prisoner to Peacemaker RC 44499
by Carl Upchurch
read by L.J. Ganser
2 cassettes
The personal account of a man who was an elementary-school dropout, gang member, and convicted criminal, but who redeemed his life and became a civil rights leader and a symbol of hope for inner-city youth. In 1993, Upchurch organized the first national gang summit. Strong language. 1996.

Fodor's 97 the Bahamas RC 44503
by Fodor Staff
read by John Stratton
3 cassettes
Tips on dining, shopping, sightseeing, accommodations, and recreational activities in the Bahamas. Specific chapters highlight New Providence Island, Grand Bahama Island, the Out Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. 1996.

God Has Ninety-Nine Names: Reporting from a Militant Middle East RC 44542
by Judith Miller
read by Mitzi Friedlander
6 cassettes
An American journalist profiles the rise of Islamic militancy and government responses in ten countries of North Africa and the Middle East. Based primarily on eyewitness accounts and interviews with government officials, dissident leaders, and factional rivals. Violence and some strong language. 1996.

Preparation for Birth: The Complete Guide to the Lamaze Method RC 44558
by Beverly Savage and Diana Simkin
read by Patricia McDermott
3 cassettes
This handbook on using the Lamaze method of natural childbirth is arranged according to each stage of pregnancy. The authors discuss exercise and relaxation during pregnancy, the different stages of labor, various breathing techniques, the birthing process, and the postpartum period. 1987.

The Safe Shopper's Bible: A Consumer's Guide to Nontoxic Household Products, Cosmetics, and Food RC 44560
by David Steinman and Samuel S. Epstein
read by Kerry Cundiff
4 cassettes
Evaluates a broad range of food and consumer products in terms of the acute and chronic health hazards that they present. Offers shopping guides for various product categories, recommending the safest choices. Provides tips on the prudent use of risky products and suggests safer alternatives. 1995.

Microsoft Secrets: How the World's Most Powerful Software Company Creates Technology, Shapes Markets, and Manages People RC 44575
by Michael A. Cusumano and Richard W. Selby
read by John Richardson
4 cassettes
The authors--who spent two years on-site at Microsoft with access to confidential documents and data--devote separate chapters to each of the seven key strategies used by the progressive computer corporation to organize the company, select personnel, develop products, and manage talent. 1995.

Pearl S. Buck: A Cultural Biography RC 44577
by Peter Conn
read by Janis Gray
5 cassettes
Describes the life of the humanitarian, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature and her work in China during the early twentieth century. Provides the historical backdrop against which she wrote her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Good Earth (RC 37294). Covers her later advocacy of the rights of women, children, and racial minorities. 1996.

A Cynthia Ozick Reader RC 44597
by Cynthia Ozick
read by Mary Woods
3 cassettes
Seven poems, eight essays, and seven short works of fiction by the twentieth-century American writer. Topics in Ozick's work include literary figures such as Henry James, Virginia Woolf, and Edith Wharton; feminism; Judaism; classical Greek civilization; and the conflict between Hebraism and Hellenism in such works as "Greeks" and "Envy; or, Yiddish in America." 1996.

The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1936-1945 RC 44604
by John Toland
read by Erik Sandvold
9 cassettes
Chronicles well-known military actions of World War II, such as Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, and Hiroshima, from the Japanese perspective. Also details individual motivations and perceptions underlying Japan's military decisions before and during the war. Violence and some strong language. 1970.

The Size of the World RC 44633
by Jeff Greenwald
read by Jim Zeiger
4 cassettes
Travel writer Greenwald sets out on the eve of his fortieth birthday "to travel from Oakland, California, to Oakland, California, without leaving the ground." He wends his way around the globe by train, ship, truck, and bus, using a portable computer to record his experiences and dispatch a column for the Internet. 1995.

Climbing Mount Improbable RC 44661
by Richard Dawkins
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Explores the design of organisms and life systems through the process of Darwinian natural selection. Illustrates the operation of evolution in the development of such complex wonders as wings, spiderwebs, and the human eye. 1996.

George Ball: Behind the Scenes in U.S. Foreign Policy RC 44665
by James A. Bill
read by Sharon Murray
3 cassettes
Portrait of a noted diplomat who helped shape American foreign policy through the years of the cold war. Recounts his service as undersecretary of state during the 1960s, when he stood firm in opposing escalation of the Vietnam War. Describes him as a "pragmatic idealist" and model statesman. 1997.

Values Matter Most: How Republicans or Democrats or a Third Party Can Win and Renew the American Way of Life RC 44669
by Ben J. Wattenberg
read by Andy Chappell
3 cassettes
Neoconservative author and commentator urges politicians to seek social justice and electoral success by gravitating toward the center of the political debate. Wattenberg gives higher priority to social issues than economic factors in determining voters' preferences, and blames a "something-for-nothing" ethic for many social problems. 1995.

Intimate Worlds: Life inside the Family RC 44670
by Maggie Scarf
read by Madelyn Buzzard
4 cassettes
Analyzes the family structure using the Beaver Family Systems model, which classifies groups in levels from severely disturbed to optimally adjusted. Scarf interviewed four families to illustrate her theories. She also discusses bonding and relationship boundaries. 1995.

Health Online RC 44672
by Tom Ferguson
read by Patricia McDermott
3 cassettes
In this guide to finding health resources electronically, a physician outlines the basics of e-mail, on-line services, the World Wide Web, and the Internet for beginners. Also explains how to research specific health problems and to locate support groups and self-help communities. 1996.

The Essential Neoconservative Reader RC 44673
edited by Mark Gerson
read by Mitzi Friedlander
4 cassettes
An anthology of seminal essays that provide perspective on neoconservative thought. Contrasts the principles and views of the movement with those of liberalism in areas including market capitalism, government activism, social deviancy, religion, and race relations. 1996.

The Bankers: The Next Generation RC 44701
by Martin Mayer
read by Bob Moore
3 cassettes
Update of The Bankers (RD 8277) explores the sweeping changes in the banking industry since the mid-1970s. Offers a history of money and banking, then discusses the impact of computers, electronic money, credit cards, and the collapse of the savings and loan industry in the 1980s. Ponders the industry's future. 1997.

American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson RC 44729
by Joseph J. Ellis
read by Bob Moore
3 cassettes
A portrait of the drafter of the Declaration of Independence, third president, and enduring American icon. Traces his life through five major periods, including his service as diplomat and president. Describes Jefferson as a diverse character whose ideals and behavior were sometimes at odds. 1996.

Tocqueville in America RC 44730
by George Wilson Pierson
read by Ted Stoddard
7 cassettes
Using diaries, letters, and newspaper accounts, the author reconstructs the nine-month journey throughout America made by Alexis de Tocqueville and his companion Gustave de Beaumont on behalf of the French government in 1831 and 1832. Tocqueville's observations formed the basis of his classic political treatise, Democracy in America (RC 14244 and RC 14245), written in 1835. 1938.

Without a Doubt RC 44804
by Marcia Clark
read by Pam Ward
4 cassettes
A candid account of the O.J. Simpson murder trial by the lead prosecuting attorney. Details the prosecution's case, describing the evidence, witnesses, defense team, and jury. Argues that the acquitted defendant actually committed the crimes. Strong language and violence. Bestseller 1997.

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: One Hundred One Stories of Life, Love, and Learning RC 44853
by Jack Canfield and others
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Following in the tradition of Chicken Soup for the Soul (RC 39870), the authors collected stories, poems, and anecdotes relating to the teenage years. Topics include relationships, friendship, love, family, as well as "tough stuff" that teens can browse through and return to again and again. For junior and senior high readers. Bestseller 1997.

The Napoleon of Crime: The Life and Times of Adam Worth, Master Thief RC 44865
by Ben Macintyre
read by Jeff Baker
2 cassettes
Portrait of a famous "gentleman" thief of the Victorian age. After being misreported as dead in the Civil War, Adam Worth began a forty-year career that would lead him to the top of an international criminal empire. Worth became the literary model for Professor Moriarty, the nemesis of Sherlock Holmes. Bestseller 1997.

A Message from God in the Atomic Age: A Memoir RC 44874
by Irene Vilar
read by Ilona Dulaski
2 cassettes
A woman's meditation on her family's proclivity for suicide. In 1954 her grandmother sought death as one of the Puerto Rican nationalists who fired upon the United States Congress. In 1977 her mother jumped from a speeding car. The author chronicles her own intimate life and 1988 suicide attempt. 1996.

Affairs of State: The Rise and Rejection of the Presidential Couple since World War II RC 44877
by Gil Troy
read by Nanette Savard
4 cassettes
A retrospective of the political maturation of first ladies in America from passive observers to active participants in the formulation of domestic policy. The author also discusses why the public is apprehensive about the expanded role of presidential wives. 1997.

Deeper: My Two-Year Odyssey in Cyberspace RC 44878
by John Seabrook
read by Rick Rohan
2 cassettes
A journalist recounts his two-year spree on the Internet. Starting as a novice, he goes through such rites of passage as getting flamed, experiencing cybersex, and joining a virtual community. As he progresses, his original hopes and enthusiasm for the technology gradually wane. Strong language. 1997.

The Trouble with Testosterone and Essays on the Biology of the Human Predicament RC 44887
by Robert M. Sapolsky
read by Lewis Grenville
2 cassettes
A series of provocative essays that explore the biological basis of human behavior. Tracks recent developments in psychiatry and neuroscience and examines research in animal behavior and the social and political implications of behavioral biology. 1997.

Fodor's Exploring Japan RC 44903
by David Scott
read by Ralph Lowenstein
3 cassettes
This guidebook to enjoying Japan provides an overview of the country's history from ancient to modern. Gives detailed information on present-day Tokyo, Central Honshu, Kyoto, Western Honshu and Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa, Northern Honshu, and Hokkaido. Also includes sections devoted to travel facts, hotels, and restaurants. 1996.

Fodor's Exploring Israel RC 44904
by Andrew Sanger
read by Ralph Lowenstein
3 cassettes
This guidebook to enjoying Israel provides an overview of the country's history from ancient to modern. Gives detailed information on present-day Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Coast, Galilee and the North, Judaea and Samaria (the West Bank), and the South. Also includes sections devoted to travel facts, hotels, and restaurants. 1996.

Fodor's Exploring Australia RC 44906
by Michael Ivory
read by Christopher Hurt
3 cassettes
This travel guide to enjoying Australia provides an overview of the country's history from ancient to modern. Gives detailed information on present-day Sydney, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania. Also includes sections devoted to travel facts, hotels, and restaurants. 1996.

Out of America: A Black Man Confronts Africa RC 44918
by Keith B. Richburg
read by Peter Jay Fernandez
2 cassettes
An African American journalist's perceptions of pervasive disorder, disease, privation, violence, and official corruption in Africa. Interpretations based on his experience as bureau chief for the Washington Post in Nairobi from 1991 to 1994 and his struggle to define his relationship with the continent. Violence. 1997.

John Webster--Three Plays: The White Devil, The Duchess of Malfi, The Devil's Law-Case RC 44924
by John Webster
read by Gordon Gould
3 cassettes
In his introduction to the first of these early-seventeenth-century dramas, The White Devil, Webster predicted his tragedy would endure through the ages. In the late twentieth century, it is still performed, together with The Duchess of Malfi. The Devil's Law-Case, a tragicomedy, may be based on Webster's flirtation with law before he took up literature. 1972.

Major League Losers: The Real Cost of Sports and Who's Paying for It RC 44932
by Mark S. Rosentraub
read by Lou Harpenau
4 cassettes
A study of the intimate relationship between professional sports franchises and public officials. The author opines that local governments should no longer finance the building of new sports venues, because the dividends to the citizens are marginal at best. 1997.

A Life of Matthew Arnold RC 44933
by Nicholas Murray
read by David Palmer
3 cassettes
Chronicles the life of the famed Victorian writer, educator, and critic of his times. Portrays Arnold as a progressive humanist who urged political and religious institutions to conform to the evolving needs of society and as "a prophet who has managed to project himself into our present troubles." 1996.

For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War RC 44934
by James M. McPherson
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
Examines the motivations of Civil War soldiers to serve and fight, drawn from thousands of letters and diaries of Confederate and Union men. Avers that strong political and ideological beliefs undergirded a sense of duty and honor that sustained many through the perils of combat. Violence. 1997.

Partners in Independence: A Success Story of Dogs and the Disabled RC 44952
by Ed and Toni Eames
read by Carol Dines
2 cassettes
Accounts of disabled people and their canine assistants that depict the trust, support, and bonding that typify these relationships. Recounts cases of heroic actions by dogs to save their human partners from harm, as well as examples of everyday assistance that dogs provide. 1997.

The Last Ranch: A Colorado Community and the Coming Desert RC 44954
by Sam Bingham
read by Brian Conn
3 cassettes
Chronicles a year in the life of a southern Colorado ranch family as they struggle against the ruinous destruction of their land. Discusses the adverse effects of farming and grazing since the 1840s, the dismal condition of the landscape, and the desperate efforts of the community to stave off the encroaching desert. 1996.

The Chain Gang: One Newspaper versus the Gannett Empire RC 44956
by Richard McCord
read by Barry Bernson
2 cassettes
An exposé of the unscrupulous tactics used by the Gannett news empire to drive local newspapers out of business. The author recounts the investigative research that uncovered Gannett's "demolition" campaigns against competitors and how he fought back to save his own Santa Fe paper. 1996.

The Miracle of Mindfulness: A Manual on Meditation RC 44957
by Thich Nhat Hanh
read by Randy Wieck
1 cassette
Although this guide to engaged Buddhism was written by a Vietnamese monk for his students, it recommends exercises that can be performed anywhere. The practice of mindfulness can transform an everyday activity such as washing dishes, taking a bath, lying in bed, or breathing into a meditation. 1987.

In the Country of Country: People and Places in American Music RC 44961
by Nicholas Dawidoff
read by Dan Bloom
3 cassettes
These portraits of notable figures in American country music include Earl Scruggs, whose innovative approach to the banjo took the instrument beyond being a vaudeville prop, and Patsy Cline, country's first torch singer. Also discusses Chet Atkins, Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, Harlan Howard, Emmylou Harris, Bill Monroe, and the Louvin Brothers. Some strong language. 1997.

The Man Who Listens to Horses RC 45002
by Monty Roberts
read by Bob Askey
2 cassettes
A portrait of Monty Roberts, the horse trainer who discovered a humane technique for taming wild horses. Appalled by traditional methods of "breaking" horses that he witnessed in his youth, Roberts developed a gentle procedure for "joining-up" with a horse through a process of man-animal communication. Bestseller 1997.

Wait till Next Year: A Memoir RC 45007
by Doris Kearns Goodwin
read by Pam Ward
2 cassettes
A personal history of growing up in suburban New York in the 1950s. A love of baseball permeated the author's childhood and helped her forge a special bond with her father, who taught her at age six to keep a scorebook for the Brooklyn Dodgers and to relate an inning-by-inning account of the game to him at the end of the day. Bestseller 1997.

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures RC 45010
by Anne Fadiman
read by Catherine Byers
3 cassettes
Born in California of Laotian (Hmong) parents, Lia suffers from epileptic seizures that began at age three months. As traditional Hmong medicine is not available, Lia's parents take her to American doctors. Neither parental love nor the doctors' sense of duty can transcend the cultural barriers and misconceptions that complicate Lia's medical care. Bestseller 1997.

Book RC 45020
by Whoopi Goldberg
read by Catherine Byers
1 cassette
Autobiographical essays from one of Hollywood's leading black comedians. Whoopi portrays growing up in New York in the sixties and presents her thoughts on how life today differs as a result of changes in society. She also writes about death, race, and her views on love. Strong language and descriptions of sex. 1997.

Pour Your Heart into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time RC 45027
by Howard Schultz and Dori Jones Yang
read by Peter Gil
2 cassettes
The chairman and CEO of Starbucks reveals the story behind his nationally famous chain of coffee bars. Describes how he attracts investors and executive talent, provides liberal staff benefits, and develops the business. Emphasizes how values and principles are important to success. Bestseller 1997.

Altars in the Street: A Neighborhood Fights to Survive RC 45036
by Melody Ermachild Chavis
read by Dani Carr
2 cassettes
Memoir of a social activist who spurred her urban, interracial community to join hands in opposing crime, gang violence, and drug addiction. Traces her personal growth from 1960s radical to private investigator and devout Buddhist to nonviolent neighborhood leader. Strong language and violence. 1997.

Without Child: Challenging the Stigma of Childlessness RC 45049
by Laurie Lisle
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Examines the precept that motherhood is the normal progression for the mature female, from personal, societal, and historical perspectives. The author argues that women will be truly emancipated when childlessness, by choice or by nature, is accepted without social prejudice. 1996.

Downsize This! RC 45054
by Michael Moore
read by Dan Bloom
2 cassettes
A cultural iconoclast directs his ire and wit at corporations, conservative politicians, lobbyists, and other alleged exploiters of working Americans. Laments the passing of the "American Dream" in an era of cutbacks, public cynicism, and social instability. Bestseller 1996.

Character above All: Ten Presidents from FDR to George Bush RC 45058
edited by Robert A. Wilson
read by Anne Hancock
2 cassettes
A series of reflections by historians and journalists that consider the relationship of character to presidential achievement. While depicting the diverse personalities of the ten chief executives, the essays portray them as remarkable men whose single connecting trait was a desire to lead. 1995.

Big Trouble: A Murder in a Small Western Town Sets Off a Struggle for the Soul of America RC 45061
by J. Anthony Lukas
read by Jake Williams
8 cassettes
Lukas writes of the class warfare, labor strife, and political shenanigans of the early twentieth century. He examines a 1905 case in which ex-governor of Idaho Frank Steunenberg was murdered supposedly by union chiefs who hated him for his stand during the 1899 mining strikes. Clarence Darrow was one of the defense lawyers. Bestseller 1997.

In Their Own Right: The History of American Clergywomen RC 45066
by Carl J. and Dorothy Schneider
read by Jill Ferris
4 cassettes
Traces the history of "women in the Judaic-Christian tradition who have preached and pastored in the United States." Examines the roles of clergywomen from conservative colonial times up to the 1990s, when women represent a high percentage of divinity students. Predicts future prospects for clergywomen. 1997.

Color-Blind: Seeing beyond Race in a Race-Obsessed World RC 45068
by Ellis Cose
read by Jake Williams
2 cassettes
Explores the prospect of achieving a race-neutral society in America. Examines the impact of color on self-esteem, educational opportunity, economic success, and social standing. Presents a twelve-point plan for creating a truly color-blind society. 1997.

In Light of India RC 45069
by Octavio Paz
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Essays by Nobel Prize-winner Paz evoke the sights, sounds, and smells of India he experienced during his years as a Mexican diplomat in Delhi. Views philosophy, religion, nationhood, eroticism, and gastronomy in light of India's cultural complexity. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 1995.

Trust: The Social Virtues and the Creation of Prosperity RC 45070
by Francis Fukuyama
read by John Rayburn
3 cassettes
Explores the degree to which shared values and cooperation in a society stand to influence its economic structure and success. Examines and compares high-trust and low-trust nations in economic terms. Asserts that the economies of high-trust nations are more efficient and competitive. 1995.

The Dream of the Unified Field: Selected Poems, 1974-1994 RC 45086
by Jorie Graham
read by Gabriella Cavallero
1 cassette
An anthology of sixty-one poems from five previously published books by the 1996 Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. 1995.

The Jesus I Never Knew RC 45087
by Philip Yancey
read by Erik Sandvold
2 cassettes
An in-depth examination of Jesus that goes beyond the traditional and popular image. Discusses the questions of his background and identity; considers his mission, message, and journey while on earth; and interprets the meaning of his life and its legacy for humankind. 1995.

When Dreams Came True: The GI Bill and the Making of Modern America RC 45109
by Michael J. Bennett
read by Randy Atcher
3 cassettes
A perspective on the background and impact of the 1944 GI Bill of Rights, "the thread that runs through the personal and family memories of how lives changed after World War II." Explains how the bill's educational and home mortgage benefits paved the way to the middle class for millions and altered the American way of life. 1996.

If It's Going to Be, It's Up to Me: The Eight Proven Principles of Possibility Thinking RC 45111
by Robert H. Schuller
read by Andy Chappell
2 cassettes
A noted minister and television personality outlines precepts for achieving personal and spiritual success. Offers illustrative anecdotes to reinforce key ideas. Exhorts readers to actively pursue their dreams. 1997.

American Lung Association Family Guide to Asthma and Allergies RC 45112
by American Lung Association Asthma Advisory Group
read by Patricia McDermott
2 cassettes
Explains the causes, prevention, symptoms, treatment, and control of asthma and allergies. Explores links between the two conditions and advises on trigger-proofing the environment to minimize exposure to harmful irritants and allergens. 1997.

Father, Soldier, Son: Memoir of a Platoon Leader in Vietnam RC 45115
by Nathaniel Tripp
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
A writer's account of his combat experiences as an infantry platoon leader in Vietnam. Depicts the deteriorating morale of American forces following the Tet Offensive in 1968. He interweaves stories of home and family with his war recollections. Strong language, violence, and descriptions of sex. 1996.

The Whole Shebang: A State-of-the-Universe(s) Report RC 45118
by Timothy Ferris
read by Butch Hoover
3 cassettes
Drawing from findings in cosmology and particle physics, the popular science writer presents a survey of knowledge about the universe. In nontechnical language Ferris explains topics such as relativity, the big bang theory, curved space, black holes, the idea of multiple universes, the quest for a grand unified theory, and the puzzling concepts of quantum mechanics. 1997.

The Last Gift of Time: Life beyond Sixty RC 45130
by Carolyn G. Heilbrun
read by Janis Gray
2 cassettes
The famed author of the Amanda Cross mysteries reflects on the pleasures and rewards that made the her sixties her "happiest decade." She considers the simple joys of solitude, freedom, and release from having to wear high heels and skirts. Discusses her decision to embrace and savor life as "borrowed time." 1997.

The Celestine Vision: Living the New Spiritual Awareness RC 45153
by James Redfield
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette
Companion to The Celestine Prophecy (RC 40460). Explores the roots, nature, and meaning of the spiritual renaissance that the author sees unfolding in the world. Suggests that scientific, social, and religious factors and forces are converging, pushing humankind toward a "planetary awakening." Bestseller 1997.

Don't Worry, Make Money: Spiritual and Practical Ways to Create Abundance and More Fun in Your Life RC 45154
by Richard Carlson
read by Jack Fox
1 cassette
The author offers one hundred short essays to help people enjoy life more and worry less. Ideas include considering that a journey begins with just one step, transcending problems instead of dealing with them, using the power of reflection, taking lunch breaks, and remembering the Golden Rule. Bestseller 1997.

The Dark Side of Camelot RC 45157
by Seymour M. Hersh
read by Butch Hoover
4 cassettes
This biography of John Fitzgerald Kennedy discusses how his upbringing and morals influenced his professional life. Citing the president's indiscretions with various women, his liaisons with organized crime, and his use of violence as a political weapon, Hersh contends that the security of the country and the integrity of the presidency were threatened. Bestseller 1997.

Any Given Day: The Life and Times of Jessie Lee Brown Foveaux RC 45164
by Jessie Lee Brown Foveaux
read by Terry Hayes Sales
2 cassettes
Jessie Lee Foveaux, who wrote this memoir when she was eighty years old, records memories of an idyllic childhood spent in the early-twentieth-century rural United States. Foveaux tells how she survived illnesses, the depression, two world wars, and marriage to an alcoholic while raising eight children. Bestseller 1979.

Leading with My Chin RC 45183
by Jay Leno
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Humorous memoir of one of America's favorite comedians. Jay Leno recounts his zany youth, his early years of struggle on the comedy circuit, and his ultimate selection to succeed Johnny Carson as host of The Tonight Show. Strong language. 1996.

Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations on and off the Court RC 45188
by John Wooden and Steve Jamison
read by Rick Rohan
1 cassette
Championship UCLA basketball coach John Wooden outlines his "philosophy of achievement, success, and excellence" for sports and for life. Offers guiding principles on topics such as families, values, competition, and success. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1997.

The Portable College Advisor: A Guide for High School Students RC 45207
by Wendy H. Robbins
read by Dani Carr
1 cassette
A handbook on college admissions that offers information, strategies, and suggestions for managing the process. Covers standardized tests, college selection, applications, financial aid, campus visits and interviews, and more. For junior and senior high readers. 1996.

Deals with the Devil: And Other Reasons to Riot RC 45231
by Pearl Cleage
read by Connie Winston
2 cassettes
A collection of essays dealing with being black and female in America from Cleage's Atlanta Tribune column and magazine articles. Her topics include the abuse of women, violence in society, racism, politics, motherhood, Colin Powell, Spike Lee, Clarence Thomas, and Arsenio Hall. Some strong language and some violence. 1993.

Complete Poems RC 45236
by Edgar Allan Poe
read by Ed Blake
1 cassette
Poems by the famed nineteenth-century author whose tortured and unhappy life was reflected in his writings. Poe's works evoke a primal and lurid world of dreams. Includes "The Raven," which describes a man's nocturnal visitation by an eerie creature. 1992.

"Worse Than Slavery": Parchman Farm and the Ordeal of Jim Crow Justice RC 45237
by David M. Oshinsky
read by Ralph Lowenstein
2 cassettes
History of the notorious Mississippi penitentiary, infamous for its brutality and deplorable conditions. Examines the state's profitable use of inmates as labor on the twenty-thousand-acre prison plantation and the earlier practice of leasing out convicts to work on cotton farms in the area. Strong language and violence. 1996.

In the Name of Love and Other True Cases: Ann Rule's Crime Files, Volume 4 RC 45256
by Ann Rule
read by Jill Ferris
3 cassettes
After falling in love and marrying wealthy California businessman Jerry Harris, Susan is devastated when he doesn't return home one night in 1987. The title story, about her lengthy search for him, and four other true crime cases make up this sequel to A Fever in the Heart (RC 43422). Some violence. Bestseller 1998.

Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Hearts and Rekindle the Spirits of Mothers RC 45286
by Jack Canfield and others
read by Jill Ferris
2 cassettes
Heartwarming stories on the theme of motherhood. Selections touch on such facets as a mother's love, courage, and intuition; her guiding hand; her special moments; and the bittersweet time when she must release her child to the world. Bestseller 1997.

You Can Be a Stock Market Genius (Even if You're Not Too Smart): Uncover the Secret Hiding Places of Stock Market Profits RC 45300
by Joel Greenblatt
read by John Rayburn
2 cassettes
A securities professional advises individual investors to research companies and develop personal stock portfolios. He suggests looking for opportunities in mergers, spin-offs, bankruptcies, asset sales, and other areas that are not generally considered by the average investor. 1997.

Daughter of the Queen of Sheba RC 45333
by Jacki Lyden
read by Sharon Murray
2 cassettes
In this memoir Jacki Lyden recalls her mother's first nervous breakdown, when she imagined that she was the queen of Sheba and had bequeathed Mesopotamia to her daughter. While her mother journeyed through manic-depressive states, Jacki became a foreign correspondent and traveled to actual faraway places. Some strong language. Bestseller 1997.

Trump: The Art of the Comeback RC 45334
by Donald J. Trump
read by Richard Hauenstein
2 cassettes
Business tycoon Donald Trump explains how he came back from financial ruin in 1990 by making deals and taking risks. Gives his top ten comeback tips. Trump also discusses his disastrous marriages and prenuptial agreements. Some strong language. Bestseller 1997.

Sources of Strength: Meditations on Scripture for a Living Faith RC 45421
by Jimmy Carter
read by Randy Atcher
2 cassettes
A collection of Bible lessons used by the former president for teaching adult classes in Baptist churches he attended. The meditations emphasize the key themes of the importance of Christian love and God's redemptive grace. Includes anecdotes from the author's life. Bestseller 1997.

Dear Mister Rogers: Does It Ever Rain in Your Neighborhood? Letters to Mister Rogers RC 45482
by Fred Rogers
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette
Rogers, of the popular children's program Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, presents letters he has received from children and adults through the years. Rogers discusses world issues, feelings and fears, family relationships, and death. 1996.

Life without George RC 46000
by Irene Kampen
read by Carole Jordan Stewart
1 cassette
The misadventures of two suburban divorcées who live in Connecticut with their respective children in the 1950s. They struggle with dating, household chores, parenting, daily crises, and frequent inquiries about their marital status. Basis for The Lucy Show that starred Lucille Ball. 1961.

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