Hi CAMPBELLSWORLD VISITORS!!! Please see below, and thanks so much to all who voted!
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Subject: [Db-Review] Best books 2016 non fiction
Pleased to announce the results of the Non-fiction best book contest for
2017
There were 27 entries
2 entries had 2 votes a piece
Our very own Patty Fletcher’s book,
Campbell’s rambles: how a seeing eye dog retrieved my life DB83921
2 votes for 7% of the votes
In such good company: eleven years of laughter, mayhem, and fun in the
sandbox DB85597
2 votes for 7% of the votes.
The remaining books have 1 vote a piece.
The Title author, DB and if available RB numbers, reader, annotation and
comments for all books, in alphabetical order, are listed below. Each
listing is separated by (3) asterisks ***
***
- Browsings: a year of reading, collecting, and living with books
DB83222
Dirda, Michael. Reading time: 7 hours, 9 minutes.
Read by Bill Delaney.
Literature
Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The Washington Post and author of
Classics for Pleasure (DB 66597) presents the fifty-two columns he wrote for
The American Scholar between February 2012 and February 2013. Explores the
world of book culture with ruminations on language, sales, authors,
publishers, and collecting. 2015
Download Browsings: a year of reading, collecting, and living with books
Comments; Very interesting thoughts on books, out-of-print books, why
physical books are great, science fiction authors Dirda likes, his
Fullbright to teach in France in the early 1970s before going to Cornell for
a medieval lit Ph.D. Maybe, I should send him a copy of my soon-to-be-out
book though it’s nothing as erudite as his.
***
- Campbell’s rambles: how a seeing eye dog retrieved my life DB83921
Fletcher, Patty L. Reading time: 6 hours, 16 minutes.
Read by Suzanne Toren.
Disability
A woman recounts her experiences working with a guide dog after using a cane
for thirty-one years. Describes the training process, finding a connection
with her dog, and the impact on her life after returning home from training.
Discusses the effect of her increased independence on personal
relationships. 2014
Download Campbell’s rambles: how a seeing eye dog retrieved my life
Comments: I chose this book because it was inspirational to me. It also
took me back to a wonderful time in my life when I made a connection to my
seeing eye dog. If it wasn’t for Frannie, I’m certain I wouldn’t have had
the confidence to go out and experience some of the things in my life I did
when I had her.
2nd submission: Since I have never had a guide dog, I was very interested
in reading in detail about the experiences of someone getting a guide dog
for the very first time. It was even more interesting since the author is
someone I know, someone on this list, someone I have talked to on the phone
and exchanged emails with
***
- The canon: a whirligig tour of the beautiful basics of science
DB64842
BR17414
Angier, Natalie. Reading time: 15 hours, 58 minutes.
Read by Madelyn Buzzard.
Science and Technology
Pulitzer Prize-winning science journalist reviews the fundamental principles
of chemistry, physics, biology, geology, and astronomy that she thinks the
educated populace should understand. Asserts that basic scientific literacy
is required for informed opinions on such issues as global warming,
alternative energy, embryonic stem-cell research, and missile defense. 2007.
Download The canon: a whirligig tour of the beautiful basics of science
Comments: Given the broad subject matter the author does an excellent job at
introducing the non-scientist to fundamental concepts of physics, molecular
and evolutionary biology, astronomy, chemistry and geology. The book is a
little dated for example, the human genome project had not finished mapping
the human body when this was written, but the scientific concepts which the
author explores are still relevant
***
- Clapton: the autobiography DB65207
BR20836
Clapton, Eric. Reading time: 12 hours, 35 minutes.
Read by Erik Sandvold.
Music Appreciation and History
Autobiography of rock musician Eric Clapton, who performed with the
Yardbirds, Cream, and Blind Faith until going solo. Describes his childhood
in rural England, rise to stardom, alcohol and drug addictions, affairs and
marriages, and personal road to recovery. 2007.
Download Clapton: the autobiography
Comments; Since this is the musical genre I listened to as my favorite
preference, it was interesting to realize that these rock icons are actually
people who make mistakes and suffer just like the reader does
***
- Dreamland: the true tale of America’s opiate epidemic DB82460
Quinones, Sam. Reading time: 16 hours, 49 minutes.
Read by J.P. Linton.
Psychology and Self-Help
Health and Medicine
True Crime
Journalist investigates the impact of addiction to opiates, including
morphine, OxyContin, and heroin. Focusing particularly on the town of
Portsmouth, Ohio, the author discusses the ways people become addicted and
the ways those addictions are fed, primarily through prescriptions and drugs
smuggled from Mexico. 2015
Download Dreamland: the true tale of America’s opiate epidemic
***
- A fighting chance DB78668
Warren, Elizabeth. Reading time: 11 hours, 19 minutes.
Read by Elizabeth Warren.
Government and Politics
Bestsellers
United States senator from Massachusetts Warren (born 1949) details her
family history, early years as a lawyer, and advocacy of consumer
protections. Explains her vision for the ways the government can assist in
the stabilization of the middle class. Narrated by the author. Unrated.
Commercial audiobook. Bestseller. 2014.
Download A fighting chance
Comments; She makes me believe further, deeper & stronger that we do have
the right, the ways, the capacities & the responsibility to BE A
SURVIVING/THRIVING Middle Class of committed American citizens
***
- Furiously happy: a funny book about horrible things DB83517
BR21376
Lawson, Jenny. Reading time: 8 hours, 22 minutes.
Read by Jenny Lawson.
Psychology and Self-Help
Biography
Lawson, better known as “The Bloggess,” returns with another collection of
essays following Let’s Pretend This Never Happened (DB 74647). Candid and
conversational, topics range from taxidermy to cat stories to honest
revelations about the author’s struggles with mental illness. Unrated.
Commercial audiobook. 2015.
Download Furiously happy: a funny book about horrible things
Comments: The author brings the reader into her world of mental illness
without whining or self-pity. She simply shared what it is like to be her
and helped me to empathize with a dear friend of mine
***
- Hamilton: the revolution DB84175
Miranda, Lin-Manuel; McCarter, Jeremy. Reading time: 6 hours, 5 minutes.
Read by Mariska Hargitay.
Drama
Music Appreciation and History
An account of the creation of the hugely successful musical about an
unlikely topic: founding father Alexander Hamilton. The show’s creator and
cultural critic McCarter chronicle Hamilton from its start as a performance
at the White House. Includes the full libretto with commentary from Miranda.
Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2016.
Download Hamilton: the revolution
Comments: Like so many people I know, I was absolutely mind-blown and
entranced by the music from the Broadway smash, “Hamilton.” For a Hamilton
addict like me, this book is the perfect accompaniment. It gives some
behind-the-scenes accounts of the play, from inception to performance. You
also get a greater sense of Linn Manuel-Miranda himself, both as a creative
genius and a regular guy. This book isn’t long nor is it exhaustive, but
it’s a great deal of fun
***
- In order to live: a North Korean girl’s journey to freedom DB82685
Park, Yeonmi. Reading time: 9 hours, 39 minutes.
Read by Eji Kim.
Biography
Social Sciences
Government and Politics
World History and Affairs
An autobiographical recounting of life in the repressive North Korean
society in which the author was raised, and her subsequent escape. She
describes her family, the culture of leader worship, her father’s
imprisonment and torture, and how, even after her escape, she was sold into
sexual slavery in China. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2015.
Download In order to live: a North Korean girl’s journey to freedom
Comments: I had no idea before reading this book how terrible people’s
lives are in North Korea. This valiant girl takes a journey through hell to
get to freedom for herself and her family. A truly eye opening book with
the realization how very blessed we are to live in a free country.
***
- In such good company: eleven years of laughter, mayhem, and fun in
the sandbox DB85597
Burnett, Carol. Reading time: 8 hours, 3 minutes.
Read by Carol Burnett.
Stage and Screen
Actress and comedian reminisces about her groundbreaking TV program The
Carol Burnett Show, which ran from 1967 to 1978. Includes stories about the
cast, guests, and some of her favorite skits from the show. Unrated.
Commercial audiobook. 2016.
Download In such good company: eleven years of laughter, mayhem, and fun in
the sandbox
Comment: What can I say? I was raised on the Carol Burnett show. To this
day, certain episodes from her shows still pop up in my conversations with
family and friends. As an added bonus, the download includes a recording
of Carol singing her theme song, with all the verses during her final
episode. OK. So you really need to be a Carol Burnett fan for this.
2nd submission: I loved this book because I was a Carol Burnett fan from
the time I saw her on the old Gary Moore show, and I loved her variety show
on Saturday nights
***
- Infamy: the shocking story of the Japanese American internment in
World War II DB82586
Reeves, Richard. Reading time: 10 hours, 21 minutes.
Read by Barry Bernson.
War and the Military
U.S. History
Historian Richard Reeves recounts the American internment of thousands of
Japanese Americans after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He discusses
the process of rounding them up, citizens and aliens alike, and the
conditions of their imprisonment. Reeves utilizes survivor interviews,
letters, memoirs, and various archives as sources. Some strong language.
2015.
Download Infamy: the shocking story of the Japanese American internment in
World War II
Comments: Discusses the internment of 120,000 Japanese-Americans after the
attack on Pearl Harbor told through the stories of several individuals. I
had always known about this part of our history but had not really known
much about it and this book gave me a better understanding of what happened
and why. The individual stories really brought this to life for me.
***
- Jim Henson: the biography DB82632
Jones, Brian Jay. Reading time: 21 hours, 20 minutes.
Read by Kirby Heyborne.
Stage and Screen
The creator behind the Muppets is profiled, from his youth in Mississippi to
his untimely death at only fifty-three. Interviews with Henson’s family,
friends, and colleagues, as well as access to the archives of his company
help round out a portrait of the imaginative puppeteer and filmmaker.
Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2013.
Download Jim Henson: the biography
Comments: I’ve always been a huge fam of the Muppets and this biography
offered a thorough presentation of Henson’s life with a good mix of personal
and stage and screen details. I very much enjoyed learning how the Muppets
came into existence and re-living the excitement of that TV show
***
- Killing the rising sun: how America vanquished World War II Japan
DB85755
O’Reilly, Bill; Dugard, Martin. Reading time: 9 hours, 24 minutes.
Read by Robert Petkoff.
War and the Military
A depiction of the Pacific Theater of World War II in 1944 and 1945. General
Douglas MacArthur has made a triumphant return and plotted a full-scale
invasion of Japan, even as Oppenheimer and his team test their bomb. Told in
the same style as Killing Reagan (DB 83693). Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
2016.
Download Killing the rising sun: how America vanquished World War II Japan
Comments: This is a book everyone should have to read. After reading this
book no one would want to use a nuclear bomb again. This book is full of
many things you have probably never heard about even if you have read many
books on the war against Japan. This book is also very good even if you
don’t like to read war stories because it tells about some people life story
about how they survived the two atomic bombs in Japan. It also tells about
what they did the rest of their lives after the bomb was drop. You will find
their life stories very interesting and it will bring a tear to your eyes
like it did mine
***
- A mother’s reckoning: living in the aftermath of tragedy DB83764
Klebold, Sue; Solomon, Andrew. Reading time: 11 hours, 27 minutes.
Read by Andrew Solomon.
True Crime
Education
In 1999, teens Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed thirteen and wounded
others before shooting themselves at Columbine High School. Drawing upon her
journals, videos and writings that Dylan left behind, and interviews with
mental-health experts, Dylan’s mother chronicles her efforts to come to
terms with the incomprehensible. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2016.
Download A mother’s reckoning: living in the aftermath of tragedy
Comments; I was impressed with the candid way Sue Klebold put everything
out there and didn’t sugar coat it, sharing her feelings about her son who
she loved, and her attempts to come to grips with what he had done.
***
- Murder at the Brown Palace: a true story of seduction & betrayal
DBC02912
Kreck, Dick. Reading time: 8 hours, 16 minutes.
Read by Sharon Huckins. A production of Colorado Talking Book Library.
True Crime
On May 24, 1911, one of the most notorious murders in Denver’s history
occurred. This riveting tale involves high society, adultery, drugs,
multiple murder and more, all set in Denver’s grand old hotel, the Brown
Palace. As foreword writer and historian Tom Noel proclaims, “Hollywood
murder mystery writers could not have contrived a thriller as chilling as
this factual account.”
Download Murder at the Brown Palace: a true story of seduction & betrayal
Comments: This wasn’t a fabulous book but it told of an event which
happened in Denver in 1911 at a beautiful hotel which I have visited and I
knew nothing of this event which was rather like a soap opera with a violent
ending
***
- Operation Thunderbolt: Flight 139 and the raid on Entebbe Airport,
the most audacious hostage rescue mission in history DB83119
David, Saul. Reading time: 14 hours, 52 minutes.
Read by Peter Ganim.
World History and Affairs
Historian recounts the 1976 hijacking of a flight from Tel Aviv to Paris by
a group of Arabs and Germans demanding the release of 53 terrorists. He
describes the mission to rescue the hostages after the flight’s diversion to
Uganda. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2015.
Download Operation Thunderbolt: Flight 139 and the raid on Entebbe Airport,
the most audacious hostage rescue mission in history
***
- Rawhide down: the near assassination of Ronald Reagan DB73178
Wilber, Del Quentin. Reading time: 10 hours, 48 minutes.
Read by Robert Sams.
True Crime
U.S. History
Chronicles the March 30, 1981, assassination attempt on seventy-year-old
president Ronald Reagan by mentally ill gunman John Hinckley Jr. Discusses
the heroism of Secret Service Agent Jerry Parr and the wounding of D.C.
police officer Thomas Delahanty, press secretary James Brady, and Secret
Service Agent Tim McCarthy. 2011.
Download Rawhide down: the near assassination of Ronald Reagan
Comments; Definitively a great read so that we who were to young to
understand or care of world news, could catch on what happened on that
important day, on which US history might have repeated itself once again.
***
- Sally: unconventional success DB31611
Raphael, Sally Jessy; Proctor, Pam. Reading time: 6 hours, 53 minutes.
Read by Mimi Bederman.
Stage and Screen
Biography
Raphael’s climb to the top was not an easy one because she was trying to
break into a male-dominated field. From her first jobs as a radio talk-show
host in places such as Puerto Rico, Miami Beach, and Bridgeport,
Connecticut, to her winning an Emmy in 1989 as the year’s best talk-show
host, her candid autobiography will give readers an insight into the hard
times–and the good–in her struggle to reach stardom.
Download Sally: unconventional success
Comments; In a world with puffed up celebrities eager to share every
thought, this book was a refreshing change. Sally didn’t achieve success
easily or quickly. She struggled with doubt. She got hurt along the way but
remained true to the vocation she loved. The love of her husband and her
willingness to take chances so much a part of faith were a constant theme in
this book. I read this book longing to spend time with this creative fun
loving couple, their family and friends. You will too. It is one of the
best books about a celebrity I have read.
***
- Silent witness: the Karla Brown murder case DB37568
Weber, Don W; Bosworth, Charles. Reading time: 14 hours, 23 minutes.
Read by Ray Foushee.
True Crime
Bestsellers
In 1978, twenty-two-year-old Karla Brown was raped and brutally murdered in
the basement of her newly purchased Wood River, Illinois, home. Prosecuting
attorney Weber and reporter Bosworth discuss the years-long investigation,
the lack of evidence to tie the crime to either of the two main suspects,
and the out-of-town experts who provided the instructions to finally crack
the case. Bestseller.
Download Silent witness: the Karla Brown murder case
Comments: Choosing my non-fiction book was easy, but it was a really tough
decision for my favorite fiction. There were 2 other books that contended
for my nomination. I finally went with this one mainly based on the
narrator. NLS got the commercial edition and Simon Vance is an outstanding
narrator.
***
- Smarter faster better: the secrets of being productive in life and
business DB84171
Duhigg, Charles. Reading time: 10 hours, 25 minutes.
Read by Mike Chamberlain.
Psychology and Self-Help
Bestsellers
A reporter for the New York Times asks why some people are so much more
productive than others. He interviews neurologists, business leaders,
government officials and more, coming up with certain qualities that
productive people all share. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller.
2016.
Download Smarter faster better: the secrets of being productive in life and
business
Comments: When I downloaded this title I was expecting a productivity
manual of sorts. Instead I found a book that used real world stories to
highlight insights into becoming more productive and finding motivation. I
particularly appreciated the sections that talked about the impact that
making choices for oneself, even if those are small insignificant, leads to
a sense of control in situations largely outside of one’s control.
***
- Teaching your computer to talk–a manual of command and response
DB18173
Teja, Edward R. Reading time: 6 hours, 39 minutes.
Read by Richard Dorf.
Computers
A do-it-yourself guide and sourcebook describing voice technology and its
application to computers. Includes chapters on speech recognition and
synthesis, talking data bases, applications for handicapped people,
converting text to speech, existing voice technology systems, and “chatty”
robots.
Download Teaching your computer to talk–a manual of command and response
***
- Time on fire: my comedy of terrors DB43714
Handler, Evan. Reading time: 9 hours, 54 minutes.
Read by Gregory Gorton.
Biography
Health and Medicine
A young actor’s candid chronicle of his five-year battle with leukemia.
Recounts with grim humor the horrors of chemotherapy, the excruciating pain
of bone marrow aspirations, and the furtive sessions of “hospital sex” with
his girlfriend. Conveys the will to survive that he believes led to his
recovery. Strong language and descriptions of sex.
Download Time on fire: my comedy of terrors
Comments; This book provided what seemed to be a realistic story of fighting
cancer and all that goes along with it. Both the funny and the sad were
incorporated to round it out,
***
- To hell and back: the last train from Hiroshima DB83367
Pellegrino, Charles R. Reading time: 17 hours, 7 minutes.
Read by Michael Scherer.
Biography
War and the Military
World History and Affairs
A narrative accounting of the events and aftermath of the nuclear bombing of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. The author draws on accounts from survivors
and forensic archaeology findings. He also includes stories from those who
fled Hiroshima, only to be bombed once more in Nagasaki. Violence. 2015.
Download To hell and back: the last train from Hiroshima
Comments: This is the most informative and readable accounts of the two
events in August, 1945 that brought about the end of World War II. Nothing
is spared in the descriptions and Uncle Sam doesn’t come out looking like a
saint, just so you know
***
- When breath becomes air DB83643
BR21371
Kalanithi, Paul; Verghese, A. Reading time: 5 hours, 37 minutes.
Read by Sunil Malhotra; Cassandra Campbell.
Health and Medicine
Biography
Bestsellers
On the verge of completing a decade’s worth of training as a neurosurgeon,
the author was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. Kalanithi wrote about
his own experience with dying to help others face their mortality. His
wife’s epilogue follows his 2015 death. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Bestseller. 2015.
Download When breath becomes air
Comments: Had a friend that passed this year, and his story touched me in a
very personal way.
***
- The Witch of Lime Street: séance, seduction, and Houdini in the
spirit world DB82855
Jaher, David. Reading time: 14 hours, 7 minutes.
Read by Simon Vance.
Biography
Occult and the Paranormal
During a wave of self-proclaimed psychics in the 1920s, Margery, the
so-called Witch of Lime Street, came to embody the debate over Spiritualism.
She entered a competition to become the first psychic declared authentic,
and convinced all but one of the judges–Harry Houdini. Unrated. Commercial
audiobook. 2015.
Download The Witch of Lime Street: séance, seduction, and Houdini in the
spirit world
Comments: This is a fascinating look at a time when mediums & spirituality
were all the rage in the US. It was interesting to learn many tricks of the
trade & to learn more about Houdini in the process
***
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