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
An American Album: One Hundred and Fifty Years of
Harper's Magazine BR 13228
edited by Lewis H. Lapham and Ellen Rosenbush
13 volumes
An anthology of stories, poems, essays, and first person reports
selected from each decade of the magazine. Chronicles American
cultural history with pieces by such noted authors as Melville,
Hawthorne, Theodore Roosevelt, Sandburg, Steinbeck, Richard
Wright, Plath, Baldwin, Hofstadter, Tuchman, Alice Walker, Tom
Wolfe, and Joyce Carol Oates. 2000.
Captain Bligh's Portable Nightmare BR 13398
by John Toohey
2 volumes
A historian draws from original sources to portray Captain Bligh
and his arduous four-thousand-mile sea adventure in an open boat
after the mutiny on the Bounty. Toohey extrapolates from
200-year-old published records to create dialog and reconstruct
Bligh's probable decision-making processes. 1998.
John Adams BR 13426
by David McCullough
7 volumes
Award-winning author chronicles the life and times of America's
second president, New Englander John Adams (1735-1826). Examines
his pivotal role as revolutionary, diplomat, and politician as
well as his friendship--and rivalry--with Thomas Jefferson.
Primary sources detail his relationship with his wife, Abigail,
four children, and notable contemporaries. Bestseller 2001.
You Can't Catch Death: A Daughter's Memoir BR 13438
by Ianthe Brautigan
2 volumes
Ianthe was twenty-four when her father, writer Richard Brautigan,
committed suicide in 1984. Raised by her father, Ianthe knew a
different man from the one portrayed in the obituaries. She
relates her progression from loneliness and fear to acceptance as
she untangles the confusion left at her father's death. Some
strong language. 2000.
Crazy Horse BR 13477
by Larry McMurtry
1 volume
A history buff and prolific writer examines the life and legend
of a Sioux warrior who is rarely mentioned in official records.
Provides a philosophical portrait of the solitary figure who was
known for his acts of charity and for his leadership at the
Battle of the Little Bighorn. 1999.
The Food of Asia: Authentic Recipes from China, India,
Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam BR
13479
by Kong Foong Ling
3 volumes
Offers over three hundred recipes and gives an overview of each
country, discussing the land, the people, their culture, and
their foods. 1998.
Volcano Cowboys: The Rocky Evolution of a Dangerous Science
BR 13482
by Dick Thompson
3 volumes
Assesses advances made by the U.S. Geological Survey between the
eruption of Washington's Mount Saint Helens in 1980 and the
Philippines' Mount Pinatubo in 1991 in the dangerous field of
volcanology and predicting disasters. Explores mistakes made
during the earlier crisis and how new research was applied a
decade later. Some strong language. 2000.
The Balkans: A Short History BR 13483
by Mark Mazower
2 volumes
The author of Dark Continent: Europe's Twentieth Century (RC
49031) reassesses the area of southeastern Europe known as
the Balkans. Explains how centuries of peaceful coexistence
between diverse religious and cultural populations exploded into
nationalist violence following the breakup of the Ottoman empire.
2000.
How to Be Born Again BR 13485
by Billy Graham
2 volumes
Veteran Christian evangelist explains the phrase "born again" as
a biblical message that dates back two thousand years. Outlines
the steps that can lead to a personal and religious turnabout.
1977.
Living in the State of Stuck: How Assistive Technology Impacts
the Lives of People with Disabilities BR 13492
by Marcia J. Scherer
3 volumes
Provides an overview of the issues surrounding people with
disabilities and assistive technology. Discusses how the
equipment affects the individual and how to successfully match
them. Uses vignettes to describe those who use devices and those
who tried and abandoned them. 2000.
Prayer for People Who Think Too Much: A Guide to Everyday,
Anywhere Prayer from the World's Faith Traditions BR
13497
by Mitch Finley
2 volumes
Exploring the traditional and innovative customs of the world's
major religions, an award-winning author defines prayer as a
holistic daily practice designed to enrich the body, mind, and
spirit. Urges people of all faiths and backgrounds to reevaluate
the power of prayer and live each moment in God's presence. 1999.
Breast Cancer BR 13509
by Janet Majure
1 volume
Discusses the symptoms, causes, treatments, and prevention of
breast cancer. Also presents a history of the disease and ongoing
research while stressing the importance of self-examination and
early detection. For senior high and older readers. 2000.
Bodies in Motion and at Rest BR 13510
by Thomas Lynch
2 volumes
Meditative essays on matters of life and death, composed by a
poet/funeral director. He explains that he has time on his hands
because he doesn't play golf, doesn't drink (anymore), and is
"married to an Italian." In "The Way We Are" he discusses his
family's addiction--alcoholism. Some strong language. 2000.
Sometimes, Enough Is Enough: Finding Spiritual Comfort in a
Material World BR 13511
by Marsha Sinetar
1 volume
Drawing on the Bible and other sources, an educator and author
presents a step-by-step approach to a stronger spiritual life.
Includes suggestions for relating to the notion of the Divine,
managing time, and limiting intrusions by focusing on prayer,
meditation, and exercise. Asserts that contemplation leads to
greater harmony, self-assurance, and comfort. 2000.
Not So Funny When It Happened: The Best of Travel Humor and
Misadventure BR 13531
edited by Tim Cahill
2 volumes
This anthology of humorous travel accounts includes pieces by
Anne Lamott, Bill Bryson, J.P. Donleavy, Dave Barry, and Tim
Cahill. The incidents occurred in such faraway places as Vietnam,
Zimbabwe, Mexico, China, Morocco, Australia, and India, as well
as right here in the United States. 2000.
Living with Cannibals and Other Women's Adventures BR
13533
by Michele Slung
2 volumes
Profiles of sixteen female adventurers, paired to contrast past
and modern counterparts. Includes Florence Baker--who sought the
source of the Nile--with white-water guide Arlene Burns,
nineteenth-century globe-trotter Isabella Bird Bishop with
twentieth-century bicyclist Dervla Murphy, and aviation pioneer
Amelia Earhart with astronaut Shannon Lucid. 2000.
The Neptune File: A Story of Astronomical Rivalry and the
Pioneers of Planet Hunting BR 13536
by Tom Standage
2 volumes
Chronicles events surrounding the 1840s discovery of the eighth
planet from the Sun. Describes how British mathematician John
Couch Adams deduced Neptune's existence from formulas--in work
ignored by Britain's royal astronomer. Then Frenchman Urbain Le
Verrier reached a conclusion similar to that of Adams, sparking a
race to view the planet. 2000.
The One Hundred Best Poems of All Time BR 13554
edited by Leslie Pockell
2 volumes
A broad selection of poems from around the world and from
biblical times to the twentieth century. Short, lyrical verses
represent the work of one hundred diverse poets from Homer and
Sappho to Lewis Carroll, Pablo Neruda, Dylan Thomas, and Maya
Angelou. Some strong language. 2001.
The Miracle Worker: A Play for Television BR 13555
by William Gibson
1 volume
Depicts the beginning of the lifelong relationship between deaf
and blind Helen Keller and her tutor, Annie Sullivan. When Annie
arrives at the Keller household, she finds a spoiled, fractious
child who cannot communicate. Annie teaches Helen to finger spell
and searches for a way to show her what different words mean.
1956.
Jessie De La Cruz: A Profile of a United Farm Worker BR
13558
by Gary Soto
1 volume
Describes the life and times of a California migrant worker who
joined Cesar Chavez's "La Causa" movement and helped change labor
laws. Jessie De La Cruz spent many decades working in the fields,
and became the first woman organizer for the National Farm
Workers Association. For senior high readers. 2000.
The Greatest Generation BR 13580
by Tom Brokaw
3 volumes
Expanding on his 1984 D-Day anniversary coverage, reporter Brokaw
profiles World War II veterans and civilians who sacrificed for
their country. He includes people like Thomas Broderick, who
founded the Blinded Veterans Association, and businessman Bob
Bush, who lost an eye in a heroic rescue mission. Bestseller
1998.
The Greatest Generation Speaks: Letters and Reflections BR
13581
by Tom Brokaw
2 volumes
Collection of letters and other responses Brokaw received in
response to The Greatest Generation (BR 13580); 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 Secret of Happiness BR 13601
by Billy Graham
2 volumes
Offers advice on how to apply the simple yet revolutionary
formulas of the King James Version of the Beatitudes in everyday
life in order to achieve serenity and contentment. 1955.
Jane Austen BR 13602
by Carol Shields
1 volume
In this literary biography, writer Carol Shields throws light on
the works of the nineteenth-century English novelist, Jane
Austen. Discusses the private woman, describing the quiet
personal life of a "stern moralist" who wrote "marriage novels"
but never married. 2001.
Always Faithful: A Memoir of the Marine Dogs of WWII BR
13614
by William W. Putney
2 volumes
The 1943 commander, also a veterinarian, of the Marines' Third
War Dog Platoon describes the training and duties of the animals
he led during World War II. Explains the recruitment and
retention of his charges and their handlers and their subsequent
action in the Pacific. 2001.
Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil, and Fundamentalism in Central
Asia BR 13624
by Ahmed Rashid
4 volumes
Journalist with twenty years' experience covering Afghanistan
discusses the origin and rise of the Taliban and its
fundamentalist concepts of Islam regarding gender and drugs.
Explains the importance of Afghanistan's energy resources for the
region and the country's problems with smuggling, civil war, and
lack of social services. 2000.
The New Jackals: Ramzi Yousef, Osama bin Laden, and the Future
of Terrorism BR 13625
by Simon Reeve
4 volumes
British journalist traces the capture of Pakistan-born Muslim
extremist Ramzi Yousef, who masterminded the 1993 bombing of the
World Trade Center, among other crimes. Examines Yousef's
relationship to Osama bin Laden, the creation of the al Qaeda
terrorist network, and the dangers of jihad against the West.
1999.
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