The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library.
Note: For the infomation of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurence, as in "some strong language.".
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Nonfiction
Mayo Clinic on High Blood Pressure BR 13871
edited by Sheldon G. Sheps
2 volumes
Medical experts from the Mayo Clinic describe the dangers of the
common condition called hypertension, or high blood pressure. The
authors discuss diagnosis, treatment, life style changes, and
medications available to control the illness. 1999.
A Beautiful Mind: A Biography of John Forbes Nash Jr., Winner
of the Nobel Prize in Economics, 1994 BR 13881
by Sylvia Nasar
6 volumes
The life of a mathematical genius who contributed to game theory,
computer architecture, the study of the universe, and the mystery
of prime numbers--all before age thirty. Then schizophrenia
enveloped his mind and he spent thirty more years in and out of
mental hospitals before a spontaneous recovery returned him to
the world of research. 1998.
Choosing Excellence: "Good Enough" Schools Are Not Good Enough
BR 13885
by John Merrow
3 volumes
Discusses academic excellence, presenting arguments and
strategies for improving public education. Examines parental
concerns about standardized tests, emphasis on computer
technology, homework, school safety, charter schools, and special
education. Book ties in with the Public Broadcasting System
program "School Sleuth." 2001.
Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere BR 13892
by Jan Morris
2 volumes
Travel writer Morris reflects on history, earlier adventures,
friends, convictions, and change. She has chosen Trieste as the
subject of what she claims is her last book because of its
personal resonance, reexamining herself in the context of this
Adriatic city to which she has been drawn for more than half a
century. 2001.
GED Basics 2002: Updated for the All-New GED! BR
14054
by Nancy Lawrence
4 volumes
Introductory guide to the revised General Educational Development
(GED) exam, required for a high school equivalency diploma.
Offers practice exercises for adult basic knowledge in language
arts (writing and reading), social studies, science, and
mathematics. Provides study tips, strategies, and techniques for
scoring high. 2002.
The Natural: The Misunderstood Presidency of Bill Clinton BR
14060
by Joe Klein
2 volumes
Political analyst and author of bestselling Primary Colors (RC
41822) reassesses Clinton's presidency. Argues that despite
personal failings, Clinton ran a "serious, disciplined,
responsible presidency," with lasting effects on the economy and
on the American people. Klein examines the historical record and
attempts to put it into perspective. Bestseller 2002.
Afghanistan: A Short History of Its People and Politics BR
14068
by Martin Ewans
3 volumes
Former British diplomat provides an overview of the ancient and
modern history of the troubled Central Asian country. Discusses
Afghanistan's conflicting tribal traditions, the absence of a
central government, and its centuries of warfare and foreign
occupation. 2002.
Holy War, Inc.: Inside the Secret World of Osama bin Laden BR
14070
by Peter L. Bergen
3 volumes
A journalist for CNN who interviewed Osama bin Laden in
Afghanistan in 1997 investigates al-Qaeda, the Islamic terrorist
organization. Describes its objectives, its past crimes including
the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and its worldwide reach.
Traces bin Laden's past and his relationship to the Taliban.
Bestseller 2001.
The Courtship of Sea Creatures BR 14077
by Jean-Pierre Otte
1 volume
A Frenchman battling depression spends time on the seashore of
Brittany. As he contemplates the reproductive strategies of
creatures in the tidal pools, he gradually regains sensitivity to
the wonder of the universe. The healing process culminates in an
impromptu, sexually charged seaside banquet. 2000.
The Rescue Season: The Heroic Story of Parajumpers on the Edge
of the World BR 14078
by Bob Drury
3 volumes
Profiles the Alaska Air Guards 210th Pararescue Team and their
exploits battling adverse weather conditions to retrieve stranded
climbers from such heights as Denali, the tallest peak in North
America. Discusses the parajumpers' training, camaraderie, and
dedication in the face of formidable obstacles, including storms
and hidden crevasses. Some strong language. 2001.
Heart Attack! Advice for Patients by Patients BR
14080
by Kathleen Berra and others
3 volumes
Heart specialists explain the diagnosis and treatment of heart
attacks and eleven survivors give anecdotal advice. Includes
information on risk factors, diet, reversal of coronary artery
disease, and rehabilitation programs. 2002.
A Matter of Dignity: Changing the Lives of the Disabled BR
14083
by Andrew Potok
2 volumes
The author of Ordinary Daylight (RC 16674) portrays
activists, technicians, health professionals, and others working
to improve the everyday lives of people with disabilities through
technological progress or advances in public policy and
awareness. Potok discusses independence, quality of life, and
dignity, relating these issues to his own experience with
retinitis pigmentosa. 2002.
Theodore Roosevelt BR 14088
by Louis Auchincloss
1 volume
This brief biography of President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)
looks at his family life and career, highlights his major
accomplishments and innovations, and separates myths from
realities. 2001.
The Essential Galbraith BR 14092
by John Kenneth Galbraith
3 volumes
Key selections from five decades of writing on economic topics.
In introductions written in 2001, the author places the essays in
historical context and comments on their continued relevance. The
last entry is Galbraith's speech "The Unfinished Business of the
Century," given at the London School of Economics in 1999. 2001.
William Butler Yeats: Selected Poems BR 14124
by W.B. Yeats
1 volume
Poems by the first Irishman to win the Nobel Prize in literature
(1923). Selections are from the first half of Yeats's career--
from his earliest published works through 1914. Includes ballads,
lyrical poems, and such favorite narratives as "The Lake Isle of
Innisfree" and "The Old Age of Queen Maeve." 1992.
Bowling for Beginners: Simple Steps to Strikes and Spares BR
14139
by Don Nace
1 volume
Explains equipment, scoring, techniques, and etiquette of the
game of bowling. Also gives tips on how to improve one's score
and how to prepare oneself mentally in order to win. For junior
and senior high and older readers. 2001.
Middle Eastern Cooking: A Practical Guide BR 14141
by Samia Abdennour
1 volume
Offers more than two hundred recipes for appetizers, breakfasts,
and main courses. Selections include hummus, stuffed artichokes,
couscous, stuffed cabbage, eggplant fritters, lamb stew, lentil
soup, and stuffed zucchini cooked in yogurt. Each entry
identifies the country of origin, the local name of the dish, and
its American counterpart. 1997.
Power to the Patient: The Treatments to Insist on When You're
Sick BR 14155
by Isadore Rosenfeld
4 volumes
Physician and author of Live Now, Age Later (BR 12343)
outlines the medical tests, causes, and treatments for thirty-
nine common ailments. Topics include diabetes, Parkinson's,
gallstones, cancer, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer's, heart disease, and
sexual diseases. 2002.
Knitting without Tears: Basic Techniques and Easy-to-Follow
Directions for Garments to Fit All Sizes BR 14166
by Elizabeth Zimmermann
1 volume
Introduction to designing sweaters to fit any size and a guide to
solving knitting problems. Provides practical instructions for
several seamless sweaters; discusses the importance of gauge; and
offers suggestions for other projects such as slippers, hats,
mittens, and scarves. 1971.
Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook: Feasting with Your Slow Cooker
BR 14192
by Dawn J. Ranck and Phyllis Pellman Good
5 volumes
More than 800 recipes for foods prepared using slow cookers,
including appetizers, snacks, and spreads; breakfast foods; soups
and stews; main dishes; vegetables; and desserts. The authors
have included numerous helpful hints to aid in the use of slow
cookers. Bestseller 2002.
Cookies for Christmas BR 14218
edited by Jennifer Dorland Darling
2 volumes
Collection of more than one hundred Christmas cookie recipes from
the Better Homes and Gardens test kitchen. Features old
world favorites and new cookie ideas with a flavor twist.
Includes cutout, shaped, sliced, dropped, and bar cookies. 1999.
Oaxaca Journal BR 14231
by Oliver Sacks
1 volume
Record of the author's observations while on a botanical tour
with the American Fern Society in southern Mexico in 2000.
Describes his travel companions, his impressions of this first
trip to the area, and the foliage of particular plants. 2002.
The Prostate: Everything You Need to Know BR 14232
by Yosh Taguchi
2 volumes
Describes the symptoms and treatments for the three main problems
of the prostate--enlargement, prostatitis, and cancer. Includes a
discussion of surgical methods, management of pain, incontinence,
and impotence. 2001.
Borrowed Finery: A Memoir BR 14313
by Paula Fox
2 volumes
Born in 1923, the author describes her chaotic childhood after
her bohemian parents abandon her, first in a foundling home, then
with a clergyman, and later with an assortment of strange
relatives and drinking buddies. Fox, in turn, relinquishes her
newborn daughter for adoption. Some strong language. 1999.
Sacred Fire BR 14330
by Nancy Wood
1 volume
A collection of poems expressing the beliefs and ancestral wisdom
of the Pueblo Indians of the American Southwest. A central figure
is an Old Man who carried fire, the sacred element, from village
to village to benefit his people. For junior and senior high
readers. 1998.
One Hundred Thirty Questions Children Ask about War and
Terrorists BR 14331
by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop
1 volume
Christian authors respond to children's questions prompted by the
September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon. Presents Bible-based answers to reassure children and
allay their fears while explaining world events. 2002.
Queen and Country: The Fifty-Year Reign of Elizabeth II BR
14333
by William Shawcross
2 volumes
British historian recounts the life and times of Great Britain's
queen from her 1952 ascent to the throne to her 2002 Golden
Jubilee. Describes how Elizabeth II adjusted the ancient monarchy
she inherited to modern times, surviving notable challenges,
among them the tabloid reports of her family's affairs. 2002.
Florence, a Delicate Case BR 14339
by David Leavitt
1 volume
Explores expatriates' attraction to this Italian city. Examines
Florence's twin status as a capital of great art and a haven of
permissive sexual attitudes. Discusses books and movies set there
and the city's appeal as a destination for homosexual artists and
scholars. 2002.
Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient: Reflections
on Healing and Regeneration BR 14347
by Norman Cousins
1 volume
The author's reflections generated by his triumph over a
crippling disease. Cousins investigates the chemistry of the will
to live and factors influencing the capacity for self-healing. He
also believes that humor and laughter, along with a strong
doctor-patient relationship, aid the body's natural healing
powers. 1979.
Bush at War BR 14429
by Bob Woodward
3 volumes
Reconstructs the inner workings of the White House following the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Draws on interviews with
the principal power brokers--George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Colin
Powell, and Donald Rumsfeld--to recreate the processes by which
decisions were reached to bomb Afghanistan and confront Iraq.
Some strong language. Bestseller 2002.
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