Talking Book Topics--May-June 1997

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.In this listing, books on flexible disc are labeled with the code FD and cassette books with the code RC. All disc books have been recorded to play at the speed of 8 rpm; the cassette books play at 15/16 ips. Cassette titles marked with a dagger (+) were produced earlier on flexible discs. To order disc or cassette 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."

What Do I Do Now? Talking about Teenage Pregnancy RC 39929
by Susan Kuklin
read by Miriam Wagner
2 cassettes
Stories of teenagers who become pregnant, their families and boyfriends, and the healthcare workers they encounter during their pregnancies. The girls include Nancy, who is pregnant for the second time at thirteen; Melissa, impregnated by date rape, who changes her mind about giving up her baby for adoption; and Roxanne, who opts for abortion. For high school and older readers. 1991.

To Begin Again: Stories and Memoirs, 1908-1929 RC 39941
by M.F.K. Fisher
read by Mimi Bederman
1 cassette
Fisher has assembled a memoir of her first twenty-one years by collecting previously written pieces about her childhood and adolescence. Journal entries from 1927 are mixed with essays written between 1957 and 1992. The development of Fisher's sensibility as a gourmet and a writer can be traced through her reminiscences about family and friends. Followed by Long Ago in France (RC 35012). 1992.

Music as Medicine: Deforia Lane's Life of Music, Healing, and Faith RC 39947
by Deforia Lane and Rob Wilkins
read by Mimi Bederman
2 cassettes
Music therapist Lane explains how her love of music, her religious faith, and her desire to heal led to her chosen career. She describes how she experiences God working through her when she is singing and playing instruments with patients at a cancer center and a children's hospital. Lane found music therapeutic in her own life when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. 1994.

The Geography of Childhood: Why Children Need Wild Places RC 39950
by Gary Paul Nabhan and Stephen Trimble
read by Phil Regensdorf
2 cassettes
To introduce the effect the natural world has on children, the authors probe their own early discoveries of "wildness." Focusing on many settings for insights into the importance of a child's contact with nature, they note differences in the freedom to explore permitted to boys and to girls and weigh the consequences these differences may have in the children's adult lives. 1994.

The New Complete German Shepherd Dog: Fifth Edition, Completely Revised RC 39956
by Jane G. Bennett
read by Phil Regensdorf
2 cassettes
The German shepherd breed was developed in Germany to produce the fittest dog for herd service--an efficient machine--and aesthetics never became as important as performance. Active with the breed since 1937, Bennett details its history and discusses work at which shepherds excel, including guiding blind people. Provides breed standards, tips on care, and glossaries of terms in English and German. 1982.

Stay Me, Oh Comfort Me: Journals and Stories, 1933-1941 RC 39957
by M.F.K. Fisher
read by Mimi Bederman
2 cassettes
Shortly before her death in 1992, Fisher decided to publish a memoir about the end of her first marriage and her brief, tragic second marriage. She wanted a record of how she felt at the time instead of a version reinterpreted by her older self. Fisher put together unpublished letters, short stories, and excerpts from journals of that period to tell her story. Follows Long Ago in France (RC 35012). 1993.

Being Digital RC 39965
by Nicholas Negroponte
read by Dick Jenkins
2 cassettes
Negroponte explains the digital revolution by combining his knowledge of information technology, a style of writing that has made his column in Wired one of the magazine's most popular features, and his ability to envision possibilities for a future considerably changed by computers. 1995.

Willa Cather RC 39968
by Ann T. Keene
read by Anne Mullen
1 cassette
Born in Virginia in 1873, Willa Cather later moved to Nebraska with her homesteading parents. She planned to become a doctor and entered a university, where her talent in writing blossomed. Cather supported herself as a journalist and then as a teacher, as she pursued her desire to write fiction. She published her first book in 1903 and won the Pulitzer Prize for One of Ours (RC 27930) in 1923. For junior and senior high readers. 1994.

Helping Yourself Help Others: A Book for Caregivers RC 39973
by Rosalynn Carter
read by Miriam Wagner
2 cassettes
The former first lady, a director of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Human Development, presents a handbook for those who care for chronically ill or disabled relatives or friends. Based on a study by Caregivers Network in west central Georgia and illustrated with Carter's own experiences, the book identifies issues and offers advice and a list of resources. 1994.

Grandchildren Are So Much Fun, I Should Have Had Them First RC 39976
by Lois Wyse
read by Marilyn Gleason
1 cassette
Wyse, who has a growing collection of grandchildren, offers anecdotes, poems, and stories about grandparenting in the 1990s. She begins with the concept that no one is ever ready to be a grandparent, but no one is able to turn away from that adorable grandchild once it arrives. 1992.

A World of My Own: A Dream Diary RC 39980
by Graham Greene
read by Arnie Warren
1 cassette
Excerpts from diaries that Greene kept between 1965 and 1989 were selected by the author during the final months of his life and published posthumously. Dreams, which sometimes became the inspiration for Greene's short stories, took him to faraway places where he met famous writers, dealt with statesmen and politicians, and experienced moments of danger and fear. 1992.

Fields of Toil: A Migrant Family's Journey RC 40636
by Isabel Valle
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
To overcome misconceptions about migrant workers, the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin had a reporter spend a year with the Martinez family. This book is a compilation of her articles. Raul, Maria Elena, and some of their thirteen children spent the winter in their southern Texas home, but most of the year they followed the fruit and vegetable harvest through farms in Oregon and Washington. 1994.

The Edgar Cayce Remedies RC 40685
by William A. McGarey
read by Ralph Lowenstein
2 cassettes (Reissue)
A medical doctor discusses the principles of healing based on the health "readings" of Edgar Cayce, who advised people while in a hypnotic state. 1983.

Marpingen: Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Nineteenth-Century Germany RC 41254
by David Blackbourn
read by Ted Stoddard
5 cassettes
A Harvard professor documents the July 1876 sighting of the Virgin Mary by three young girls near the town of Marpingen. He probes the authenticity of the visions, analyzes the role of the Virgin Mary in contemporary social and political life, and describes how apparitions were used by the church, the state, and local entrepreneurs. 1993.

Treason in the Blood: H. St. John Philby, Kim Philby, and the Spy Case of the Century RC 41258
by Anthony Cave Brown
read by Steven Carpenter
5 cassettes
A father and son bred in British society both reject it. St. John Philby openly opposed British policy in the Middle East and moved to Saudi Arabia, where he directed his son's life through letters home to England. Kim Philby became a notorious double agent for England and the Soviet Union, also sowing suspicion and confusion in the American CIA. 1994.

Genius in Disguise: Harold Ross of the New Yorker RC 41294
by Thomas Kunkel
read by Faith Potts
3 cassettes
A detailed, documented account of the sophisticated magazine's unlikely founder. The son of a Colorado miner, Ross turned to journalism, then came up with the concept that has shaped the urbane magazine since its first issue in 1925. He sought writers like E.B. White, Dorothy Parker, and James Thurber and nurtured their genius in his curmudgeonly quest for excellence. Ross died in 1956. 1995.

Lenin: A New Biography RC 41389
by Dmitri Volkogonov
read by Roy Avers
4 cassettes
The author, a former Soviet general and military historian and later chair of Russia's archives, assesses Lenin and reevaluates his legacy. Once a dedicated Communist, Volkogonov unearthed official documents that destroyed his reverence for his former idol and resulted in this exposé of Lenin's influence on Stalin, contempt for intellectuals, and penchant for brutality. 1994.

City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi RC 41536
by William Dalrymple
read by Christopher Walker
3 cassettes
Although New Delhi has been invaded and burned many times through the centuries, it has always been rebuilt. During his stay there, Dalrymple found a city full of relics, both architectural and human, from different periods of history, side by side. Research description is combined with tales of his travels and encounters with people from various levels of society, different religions, and numerous traditions. 1993.

For Younger Readers: Braille and Talking Books, 1994-1995 RC 41609
by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
read by Ray Foushee
3 cassettes
Catalog of books for readers from preschool through grade nine produced in braille and cassette formats during 1994 and 1995. Nonfiction and fiction books are arranged under general subject headings. Also includes separate sections for print/braille, very young readers, and young adults. 1996.

The Case of the Frozen Addicts RC 41632
by J. William Langston and Jon Palfreman
read by Brian Conn
2 cassettes
In California in 1982, six heroin addicts became virtually paralyzed. Dr. Langston recognized the symptoms of advanced Parkinson's disease and determined that an area of their brains had been destroyed by a toxin mixed with the heroin. Treatment of the addicts led to fetal tissue transplants and suggested new therapies for Parkinson's patients and others. 1995.

Stonewall: A Biography of General Thomas J. Jackson RC 41637
by Byron Farwell
read by Art Metzler
5 cassettes
Chronicles the life of the famous Confederate general, from his birth in 1824 to his death in 1863 after the battle at Chancellorsville. Includes chapters on Jackson's early life in western Virginia, his years at West Point, his participation in the Mexican War, his domestic life and personal virtues, and his legendary exploits on the battlefields of the Civil War. 1993.

The War against the Greens: The "Wise-Use" Movement, the New Right, and Anti-Environmental Violence RC 41660
by David Helvarg
read by Lindsay Ellison
4 cassettes
A journalist documents organized reaction against advocates for the environment. He tells how a coalition of right-wing groups and industrial giants use local labor unions and small businesses to present the reaction as a grass-roots movement and describes bombings, beatings, and rapes done to silence environmentalists. Some strong language. 1994.

The Village RC 41696
by Alice Taylor
read by Jill Ferris
1 cassette
Warm remembrances of daily life in the Irish author's adopted County Cork village. In this sequel to Quench the Lamp (RC 33774), she relates with humor and a bit of wistfulness the changes that married life brought to her and that modern times brought to the village. 1992.

Country Days RC 41697
by Alice Taylor
read by Jill Ferris
1 cassette
In this sequel to The Village (RC 41696), Taylor continues her autobiographical sketches of life in a small Irish village. Now middle-aged with her children almost grown, the author concentrates on her own daily life, reminiscing occasionally, but open to new ideas, too. 1993.

Wilderness at Dawn: The Settling of the North American Continent RC 41714
by Ted Morgan
read by Norman Fitz
5 cassettes
Episodic history of the American frontier from prehistory to the early nineteenth century. Focusing on little-known stories of ordinary men and women--including Native Americans, Europeans, and African slaves--who struggled to survive or thrive in the New World, the author presents an epic view of American settlement replete with its attendant bravery, ingenuity, and brutality. 1993.

Violent Justice: How Three Assassins Fought to Free Europe's Jews RC 41717
by Felix and Miyoko Imonti
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
In 1926 a leader of the Ukrainian Republic was shot in Paris, in 1936 a Nazi official was gunned down in Switzerland, and in 1938 a German diplomat was killed in Paris. Each of the assassins was a Jewish man acting alone out of frustration with mistreatment of his people. The stories are embedded in long historical accounts focusing on the ravages of anti-Semitism. 1994.

May It Please the Court: The Most Significant Oral Arguments Made before the Supreme Court since 1955 RC 41743
edited by Peter Irons and Stephanie Guitton
read by John Rayburn
3 cassettes
Edited transcripts of twenty-three historic Bill of Rights cases decided since Chief Justice Warren allowed tape-recording of all Supreme Court arguments. Cases involve the First Amendment, governmental powers, criminal law, equal protection, and privacy acts. Includes the Watergate tapes case and Roe v. Wade. 1993.

American Empress: The Life and Times of Marjorie Merriweather Post RC 41753
by Nancy Rubin
read by Jill Ferris
4 cassettes
Drawing upon the Post archives and interviews with Marjorie Merriweather Post's children, grandchildren, friends, and employees, Rubin provides a portrait of the woman who Rubin says seems about "as close to royalty as one can come in America." She describes Post's roles as a business executive, wife, mother, philanthropist, and hostess to the rich and famous. 1995.

The Inner World of Abraham Lincoln RC 41759
by Michael Burlingame
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
A psychobiography by a Connecticut College professor of history. Burlingame uses mainly Jungian psychological theories to interpret Lincoln's personality, family relationships, marriage, "midlife crisis," and political attitudes. Burlingame traces Lincoln's melancholia to "bereavement in childhood" and his lack of "capacity to trust women" to ambivalence about his mother. 1994.

Listening to America: Twenty-five Years in the Life of a Nation, as Heard on National Public Radio RC 41773
edited by Linda Wertheimer
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
4 cassettes
The author, of the original All Things Considered staff, presents pieces aired on National Public Radio during its first twenty-five years. The hard-news items reflect the history of the times from Vietnam to Watergate to AIDS to the 1994 Republican shift. The human side of the broadcasts reflects the moods, thoughts, and mores of the country since 1971. 1995.

Great Vacations for You and Your Dog, USA RC 41821
by Martin Management Books
read by Christopher Walker
1 cassette
State-by-state listing of U.S. facilities that accept dogs. Categories include ranches, dog camps, resorts, hotels, lodges, cabins, inns, and camping. Each entry gives a description, the dog policy, and the 1995 rates. Includes suggestions for vacationing with a dog in five major cities and general tips on traveling with dogs. 1994.

The Next Great Thing: The Sun, the Stirling Engine, and the Drive to Change the World RC 41841
by Mark L. Shelton
read by Scott Dowd
3 cassettes
The free-lance journalist's account of almost two years spent watching the folks at Sunpower work on and seek funding for the solar-powered Stirling engine. Using popular style and homely analogies, Shelton details the external combustion engine and profiles its jaunty promoter, William Beale. 1994.

Coping When a Parent Dies RC 41845
by Janet Grosshandler-Smith
read by Carol Dines
1 cassette
The author, a high school guidance counselor, has been through the grieving process herself, having lost her husband to cancer in 1989. She discusses the five stages of grief, deaths that are particularly difficult, funeral arrangements, religious beliefs, changes in survivors' lives, and ways to keep memories alive. Includes a list of sources for help and support. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1995.

The Road Ahead RC 41849
by Bill Gates
read by Lou Harpenau
2 cassettes
The CEO and cofounder of Microsoft chats about his vision of the future, which he expects the Internet to bring about. Prefacing his comments with acknowledgment that the ideas will become dated, he says that he sees the Internet primarily enhancing communication for education, commerce, and daily life. He provides a brief history of the personal computer industry and of his own corporation. Bestseller 1995.

What to Eat When You're Expecting RC 41851
by Arlene Eisenberg and others
read by Patricia McDermott
3 cassettes
The authors expand their nutrition chapter from What to Expect When You're Expecting (RC 36978). They provide detailed instructions on formulating proper eating habits before, during, and after pregnancy. Included are tips on setting up the kitchen, "best-odds" recipes, a quiz to evaluate your current diet, and nutritional information on food additives and junk food. 1986.

The American Bar Association Guide to Wills and Estates: Everything You Need to Know about Wills, Trusts, Estates, and Taxes RC 41858
by American Bar Association
read by Art Metzler
2 cassettes
Explains that a person's estate consists of real estate, tangible personal property such as cars and furniture, and intangible property such as pensions, bank accounts, and insurance. Guidelines for estate planning include information on wills, trusts, and living wills and cover common estate-planning situations. 1995.

Entertaining with Regis and Kathie Lee: Year-Round Holiday Recipes, Entertaining Tips, and Party Ideas RC 41861
by Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford
read by Ann Hodapp
2 cassettes
In this companion volume to Cooking with Regis and Kathie Lee (RC 36382), the television duo offer hints and recipes for a year of entertaining--from New Year's brunch through Easter, Mother's Day, and the Fourth of July, right up to Thanksgiving and Christmas. Contributors include staff and family members, as well as celebrity chefs. 1994.

Presidents under Fire: Commanders in Chief in Victory and Defeat RC 41862
by James R. Arnold
read by Randy Atcher
3 cassettes
The author of nine works on military history analyzes the war strategies of the successful Washington and Polk and the unsuccessful Lyndon Johnson and Jefferson Davis. He concludes that victory requires legislative and economic support and the backing of the American people and that the nation's founders were wise to forbid a president to make war without a declaration from Congress. 1994.

Running from Safety: An Adventure of the Spirit RC 41868
by Richard Bach
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
Richard Bach, the author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull (RC 6610), relates an extended conversation between his adult self and himself as a child called Dickie. Bach wrote this book, which he considers an autobiography, to fulfill a promise he made early in life to later pass along the knowledge he would gain. Dickie's questions take Bach from the role of seeker to that of teacher. 1994.

The Hand Tool Companion: The Back-to-Basics Guide for Learning about and Using Hand Tools RC 41876
by Katie and Gene Hamilton
read by Lou Harpenau
1 cassette
The Hamiltons stress that hand tools provide the manual worker with maximum control and a sense of satisfaction. This primer describes the common tools and then guides the do-it-yourselfer through seven home improvement projects and seventeen wordworking projects such as audiotape storage and a toolbox. 1994.

Circle of Fire: Murder and Betrayal in the "Swiss Nanny" Case RC 41880
by Joyce Egginton
read by Carol Dines
3 cassettes
Documents the family tragedy of William and Denise Fischer of Westchester County, New York, who hired Swiss au pair Olivia Riner, twenty, to care for their infant daughter, Kristie. One day while the Fischers were at work, a fire in the nursery killed Kristie. A scorched circle around the baby indicated arson. Describes the police investigation, Riner's arrest, her trial, and controversy surrounding her acquittal. 1994.

You Are the President RC 41892
by Nathan Aaseng
read by Randy Atcher
1 cassette
To illustrate the scope and limitations of presidential power, this book reenacts eight crises requiring a president of the United States to make a decision. The reader has the benefit of summaries, expert advice, and several options, and in the end is responsible for making a choice. Then the reader learns what the real president did, what resulted, and how his decision fared in history. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1994.

Pushing the Limits: American Women, 1940-1961 RC 41894
by Elaine Tyler May
read by Janis Gray
1 cassette
May argues that women played a great part in shaping mid-twentieth-century America, not only through the work they took on during World War II, especially in the field of manufacturing, but also after the war, as evidenced by the migration to the suburbs, the rise of white-collar jobs, a reliance on knowledgeable consumerism, and involvement in the civil rights movement. For senior high and older readers. 1994.

How Things Are: A Science Tool-Kit for the Mind RC 41895
edited by John Brockman and Katinka Matson
read by Butch Hoover
2 cassettes
Thirty-four essays by scientists and thinkers from fields such as anthropology, mathematics, biology, physics, and philosophy. Richard Dawkins tells his ten-year-old daughter that "revelation" and "tradition" are bad reasons for believing something. Steve Jones explores how some human beings developed light skin. Lee Smolin ponders the nature of time. 1995.

Sports on the Net RC 41914
by Bob Temple
read by Ralph Lowenstein
3 cassettes
Sportswriter provides tips on surfing the world of Internet sports. Thumbnail sketches describe available sports news and sports-talk services such as bulletin boards and newsgroups. Other chapters detail specific sports (including fantasy sports), giving a variety of Internet addresses for each. Also lists ways to access the Internet, such as the World Wide Web and commercial online services. 1995.

Cub Scout Leader Book RC 41931
by Boy Scouts of America
read by Ralph Lowenstein
3 cassettes
Qualifications and responsibilities for Cub Scout leaders. Describes the Cub Scout program and includes instructions on teaching Cub Scout basics and ideals. 1982.

The Lion in Winter RC 41934
by James Goldman
read by George Holmes
1 cassette
Three sons seek three prizes in the realm of England. In this play, Henry II and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, match wits and wills to name the successor to the throne. In the winner-take-all match, the sons plot alone and in alliances, both false and true, to win the crown, the woman, and the land. After being performed on stage, this tight drama was adapted for an Oscar-winning screenplay. 1966.

Captain James Cook RC 41944
by Richard Hough
read by Robert Blumenfeld
3 cassettes
Chronicles the life of scientist, mariner, and explorer James Cook and his three historic voyages between 1768 and 1779. His ship's log and notes, remarkable for their scientific observations, including the cure for scurvy, became the basis for this biography, which describes Cook as a genius and a great man. He was responsible for geographic and scientific exploration of Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii. Some violence. 1994.

Molly Spotted Elk: A Penobscot in Paris RC 41954
by Bunny McBride
read by Margaret Strom
3 cassettes
A biography of a Native American whose exotic beauty and dancing made her a nightclub star in the glittering and literary Paris of the 1930s. Tells how she won the heart of a French journalist, whom she married. Journals and letters documenting her life as an entertainer and as a woman outside mainstream culture are the basis of this work, which reveals her as a person of intelligence and remarkable character. 1995.

Parachute Infantry: An American Paratrooper's Memoir of D-Day and the Fall of the Third Reich RC 41968
by David Kenyon Webster
read by Gary Telles
2 cassettes
Personal account by a Harvard student who volunteered for the paratroopers so he could write about his experiences. Webster describes the boredom and aggravation of everyday military life, his nighttime jump behind enemy lines on D-Day, the horrors and snafus of combat, and the troops' carousing on liberated liquor. 1994.

Breaking the News: How the Media Undermine American Democracy RC 41986
by James Fallows
read by Jamie Horton
2 cassettes
An indictment of the American media and their negative impact on the quality of public discourse and news dissemination. Fallows examines some of the disturbing trends in media operations, from "news as spectacle" to celebrity journalism. Additionally, Fallows advocates "public journalism" as a means for galvanizing a dispirited populace into democratic participation. Bestseller 1996.

Mapping the Farm: The Chronicle of a Family RC 41987
by John Hildebrand
read by Bob Askey
2 cassettes
Hildebrand married into the O'Neill family at a time when their two-hundred-forty-acre family farm in Minnesota was facing an uncertain future, although the O'Neills had owned the land since the 1880s. As Hildebrand describes a cycle of seasons on the farm--milking, planting crops, castrating calves, slaughtering hogs--he provides a history of the four generations who have lived on the land. 1995.

Love and Death at the Mall: Teaching and Writing for the Literate Young RC 41989
by Richard Peck
read by Bob Askey
1 cassette
The award-winning author of books for young adults reflects on how and why he writes. He is often asked, "But how did you get your start?" and "Where did you get your ideas?" In broad answers, he makes wry observations on writing for and teaching teenagers and includes excerpts from his books. By the author of Bel-Air Bambi and the Mall Rats (RC 39020). For senior high and older readers. 1994.

On Gold Mountain: The One-Hundred-Year Odyssey of a Chinese-American Family RC 41993
by Lisa See
read by Yvonne Fair Tessler
4 cassettes
As a child, See heard many stories from Grandma Stella about See's great-grandfather's arrival in the United States (Gold Mountain), his "marriage" to a Caucasian, his first job--selling crotchless underwear to brothels--and his becoming a prominent Chinese on Gold Mountain. See uses oral histories, interviews, official documents, and trips to China for this account of her family. 1995.

Sportswriter: The Life and Times of Grantland Rice RC 41999
by Charles Fountain
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
A journalism teacher and former sportscaster chronicles events of the 1920s and 1930s as context for Rice's life and rhetoric. Fountain presents prose and poetry of the man who coined the nickname "Four Horsemen" and authored the phrase, "For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name . . ." He says that Rice's "gee-whiz" reportage shaped the experience of sports for his age. For senior high and older readers. 1993.

We're Right, They're Wrong: A Handbook for Spirited Progressives RC 42001
by James Carville
read by Jim Zeiger
1 cassette
Carville, chief strategist for President Clinton's 1992 election campaign, takes on the GOP in this series of responses to standard Republican beliefs and assertions. Focusing on welfare, taxation, and the economy, Carville uses quotes from noted GOP figures to debunk right-wing "myths." Carville also discusses "things government does right," as well as the failed attempt to adopt a national health care plan. Bestseller 1996.

Green Means: Living Gently on the Planet RC 42002
by Aubrey Wallace
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Profiles twenty-one "ordinary" people who are environmental heroes. Based on public television station KQED's series about individuals who have contributed to keeping the planet green. Includes Sally Fox, who developed cotton fabrics with natural color, a "green cowboy," and a rescuer of the Staten Island salt marsh. Program index identifies available videotapes. Introduction by NPR's Susan Stamberg. 1994.

My Own Two Feet: A Memoir RC 42011
by Beverly Cleary
read by Jill Ferris
2 cassettes
This sequel to A Girl from Yamhill (RC 29704) covers the children's author's life from the time she began college until shortly after her first book, Henry Huggins (RC 35642), was published. Although money was tight, Cleary went away to college in California where she met her future husband, Clarence, then to Washington where she learned to be a children's librarian. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1995.

A. Lincoln: His Last 24 Hours RC 42012
by W. Emerson Reck
read by John Rayburn
2 cassettes
Describes the events on April 14, 1865, shortly after the end of the Civil War, when President Lincoln ignored warnings about the probability of assassination attempts and went to Ford's Theatre with his wife. Reck provides background information on the actions of both Lincoln and his killer, John Wilkes Booth, during the day leading to the sixteenth president's death. He also discusses some unsolved mysteries concerning that event. 1987.

Wondrous Times on the Frontier RC 42022
by Dee Brown
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
The author of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (RC 20462) describes how frontier humor helped put hardships in perspective and how it took aim at popular targets of the time: "greenhorns," women, Indians, preachers, teachers, and lawyers. Brown spices the discussion with anecdotes and jokes. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1991.

Mockery of Justice: The True Story of the Sheppard Murder Case RC 42024
by Cynthia L. Cooper and Sam Reese Sheppard
read by Jim Zeiger
4 cassettes
In 1954 someone murdered pregnant Marilyn Sheppard in her bed. The testimony of her husband, Dr. Sam Sheppard, was disregarded, and he was found guilty. In 1966, due to attorney F. Lee Bailey, Dr. Sheppard was set free. The Sheppards' son has coauthored this account of the events surrounding the crime and points to four possible culprits. Some violence. 1995.

Alfred Nobel: A Biography RC 42027
by Kenne Fant
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Life of the nineteenth-century Swedish chemist and industrialist best known as the inventor of dynamite and as the founder of the prestigious Nobel prizes. Using Nobel's writings and correspondence, the author reveals a man who was a talented writer, a successful businessman, and a caring benefactor, but who also was a misanthropic bachelor prone to unhappiness and melancholy. 1991.

Goldwater: The Man Who Made a Revolution RC 42028
by Lee Edwards
read by John Rayburn
4 cassettes
Biography of the conservative senator from Arizona best known for his 1964 presidential bid. Although Goldwater's landslide defeat appeared to be the end of the conservative movement, the 1980 and 1994 Republican victories are attributed to the force of his influence. Chronicles his political life and discusses his differences with the new conservatives. Some strong language. 1995.

Dumbing Down Our Kids: Why America's Children Feel Good about Themselves but Can't Read, Write, or Add RC 42032
by Charles J. Sykes
read by John Rayburn
3 cassettes
Sykes voices concerns about trends in secondary education. He cites the continuing decline in national test scores as evidence that education is focusing on building students' self-esteem at the expense of academics. He believes the roots of the problem lie in ongoing political and cultural debates and warns that much is at stake. 1995.

Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation RC 42034
by John Ehle
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
Ehle discusses the history of the Cherokee nation and the political and social factors contributing to the 1838 forced march that came to be known as the Trail of Tears. His sympathetic account covers the adaptation of the Cherokees to European values prior to the migration of twelve thousand Cherokees from their eastern homelands. 1988.

Hitler's Willing Executioners: Ordinary Germans and the Holocaust RC 42039
by Daniel Jonah Goldhagen
read by Robert Blumenfeld
5 cassettes
Makes the case that the perpetrators of the Jewish genocide were ordinary Germans driven by anti-Semitism and not just military officers and Nazi Party members. Bestseller 1996.

The Rants RC 42042
by Dennis Miller
read by Barry Bernson
1 cassette
Humorous essays from comedian known for television shows Saturday Night Live and Dennis Miller Live. Topics include air travel, the religious right, the O.J. Simpson trial, the environment, and marriage. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.

Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy RC 42044
by Sarah Ban Breathnach
read by Janis Gray
5 cassettes
This series of daily lessons for women is based on six principles the author developed to help define her life and to reconcile her spiritual and creative longings with her often overwhelming and conflicting commitments. Bestseller 1995.

Between East and West: Across the Borderlands of Europe RC 42051
by Anne Applebaum
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes
The author relates conversations and impressions of a journey she took in the early 1990s across the Russian borderlands, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. She sifts through the rich mixture of nationalities, languages, cultures, and religions of the area that includes the Russian Republic, Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine. History of the region is interwoven to give additional insights. 1994.

Fanny Stevenson: A Romance of Destiny RC 42066
by Alexandra Lapierre
read by Catherine Byers
4 cassettes
Lapierre recounts the life of Robert Louis Stevenson's controversial wife in novelistic style, with source notes and a bibliography. She covers Fanny Vandegrift's first marriage to prospector Sam Osbourne; her life with "Louis," whom she cared for and advised; and her late-life liaison with young Ned Field. Translated from French. Winner of Elle Magazine Literary Grand Prize, 1994. 1995.

The Last Shot: City Streets, Basketball Dreams RC 42077
by Darcy Frey
read by J.P. Linton
2 cassettes
Describes the chance for a basketball career as the only hope for many inner-city teens. The author spends a year with young players as they hone their skills to bid for a college scholarship. He describes the recruiting process, showing it as an ugly business dealing in the lives of kids. The author writes fondly of athletes who work hard to perfect their games. Strong language. 1994.

Mrs. Thatcher's Minister: The Private Diaries of Alan Clark RC 42080
by Alan Clark
read by Patrick Horgan
3 cassettes
Clark explains that these are not "memoirs," but rather his diary entries, exactly as he recorded them between 1983 and 1991. The diary provides a glimpse into Clark's private life--his father, Lord Kenneth Clark; his wife, Jane, whom he adores; his weakness for women; and his castle and cars--and into his public life in which he served prime ministers in three successive Tory administrations. Strong language. 1993.

The Martha Stewart Cookbook: Collected Recipes for Every Day RC 42087
by Martha Stewart
read by Annie Wauters
6 cassettes
More than 1,600 recipes and adaptations collected from the nine previous cookbooks by the celebrity hostess. Recipes range from simple to involved but are marked for their elegance. In addition to the usual cookbook favorites, such as soups, salads, fish and shellfish, and meats, sections are devoted to potatoes, ice cream and sorbets, wedding cakes, and entertaining crowds. Bestseller 1995.

Parallel Time: Growing Up in Black and White RC 42099
by Brent Staples
read by Bob Moore
2 cassettes
Staples, who grew up the oldest son of nine children in 1950s Philadelphia, describes how his mother's generosity and his father's drunkenness--despite his hard work--kept the family poor and on the move. The author escaped through a chance encounter that led to college and a career in journalism, while his brother turned to drug dealing and was gunned down by a "client." Strong language and descriptions of sex. 1994.

And When Did You Last See Your Father? RC 42105
by Blake Morrison
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
The London writer tells of his father, Arthur, who died of cancer at seventy-five. Scenes from Arthur Morrison's final months alternate with episodes from his younger years as a Yorkshire physician. The author remembers his father as a cocky man who drove fast in fancy cars and who delighted in pulling scams to get what he wanted. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1993.

James Thurber: His Life and Times RC 42113
by Harrison Kinney
read by Terence Aselford
8 cassettes
Kinney, who knew Thurber personally and began this biography as a postgraduate thesis in 1948, shows how the humorist's work is related to the events and the people in his life. He also discusses how Thurber's blindness affected his later works. Includes a list of Thurber's works and a chronology. 1995.

A Scattering of Salts: Poems RC 42132
by James Ingram Merrill
read by James DeLotel
1 cassette
Published after the 1995 death of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Connecticut author, who also received the Library of Congress's first Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry for his 1988 Inner Room (RC 33295). Literary themes join reflections on everyday life: "Morning Exercise" at the health club; "My Father's Irish Setters," missed after divorce from the wife who banished them; "Family Week at Oracle Ranch," on rehab therapy. 1995.

Teens Parenting: Your Pregnancy and Newborn Journey; How to Take Care of Yourself and Your Newborn if You're a Pregnant Teen RC 42146
by Jeanne Warren Lindsay and Jean Brunelli
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
A guide for pregnant girls and their partners that encourages good prenatal care and staying in school. Includes excerpts from interviews with both partners on topics such as nutrition, symptoms, labor, breastfeeding, birth control, and family support. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1991.

The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark RC 42208
by Carl Sagan
read by Ralph Lowenstein
4 cassettes
An eminent scientist explains the importance of scientific thinking to our democratic institutions and technological civilization. Debunks the pseudoscience of New Age beliefs, UFO reports, psychic surgeons, and other such irrationalities. Offers a "baloney detection kit" for analyzing issues. Bestseller 1995.

Sarajevo: A War Journal RC 42221
by Zlatko Dizdarevic
read by Ken Kliban
1 cassette
The editor of Sarajevo's sole daily newspaper in the mid-1990s has drawn together nearly sixty of his previously published columns to form a journal of events in the besieged city. The author, who is Muslim and continues to live there with his Serbian wife and their family, chronicles the gradual destruction of the city, the actions of those in power, the daily carnage known as "ethnic cleansing," and the determination of those who choose not to leave. 1993.

Too Marvelous for Words: The Life and Genius of Art Tatum RC 42227
by James Lester
read by John Stratton
2 cassettes
The freelance musician and retired psychologist bases this first biography of the 1930s and 1940s jazz great on interviews with Tatum's surviving associates. They describe the blind piano player's intimidating virtuosity and fun-loving lifestyle and provide details of his life. Tatum, who loved alcohol and ignored his diabetes, died in 1956 at age forty-seven. 1994.

Heavenly Sex: Sexuality in the Jewish Tradition RC 42242
by Ruth K. Westheimer and Jonathan Mark
read by Suzanne Toren
1 cassette
Celebrity sex therapist "Dr. Ruth" discusses, in her straightforward manner, sexuality within the framework of Orthodox Judaism. She asserts that the Bible is a little-known sex manual and that Judaism is a very sexual religion. The book focuses on sex within marriage, although she addresses controversial issues such as extramarital and same-gender sex. Explicit descriptions of sex. 1995.

1939: The Lost World of the Fair RC 42252
by David Gelernter
read by Gary Telles
3 cassettes
Gelernter portrays the 1939 New York World's Fair as a vision of a technological future. Through the "composite" eyes of a Mrs. Hattie Levine, Gelernter offers recollections of the sights, activities, and exhibits. His interpretation of the fair's message: the material utopia forecast then is in the 1990s taken for granted, but the pride and hope expressed in the 1930s no longer exist. 1995.

Bulfinch's Mythology: The Age of Fable RC 42259
by Thomas Bulfinch
read by Annie Wauters
3 cassettes
A reprinting of the 1855 classic with a foreword by professor Norma Lorre Goodrich. Harvard-educated Bulfinch, a successful businessman, set out to counter common ignorance of mythology by presenting the stories as a "source of amusement." He details Greek and Roman legends from Prometheus to Aeneas and touches on the stories of Thor, the Druids, and others. 1995.

Bad as I Wanna Be RC 42330
by Dennis Rodman
read by Bob Moore
2 cassettes
Flamboyant National Basketball Association star Dennis Rodman recounts his life and career in professional basketball. He unabashedly offers his views on race relations, sex, cross-dressing, and the singer-actress Madonna, as well as on the game and its celebrities. Strong language. Bestseller 1996.

The Measure of a Man RC 42398
by Martin Luther King Jr.
read by Gordon Gould
1 cassette
Two meditations by the well-known American civil rights leader: "What Is Man?" and "The Dimensions of a Complete Life," plus an excerpt from his April 3, 1968, speech. King calls upon his Christian heritage as he reflects on the nature of human existence and the moral duties of the individual. 1988.

Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time RC 42442
by Dava Sobel
read by Vanessa Maroney
1 cassette
Sobel describes the work of John Harrison, a London clockmaker, who invented the chronometer. For centuries there was no accurate way to determine longitude, so in 1714 the British parliament offered twenty thousand pounds for a solution. While others looked for a celestial answer, Harrison worked almost forty years on a mechanical one. Bestseller 1995.

Deep Water Passage: A Spiritual Journey at Midlife RC 42467
by Ann Linnea
read by Dani Carr
2 cassettes
At forty-three the author, with a friend, makes a kayak trip around Lake Superior. Cold, stormy weather and fatigue combine with closeness to nature and a sense of accomplishment to produce self-understanding and prepare Linnea for the next stage of her life. Contains feminist and "new age" concepts and language. 1995.

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