Audiobooks narrated by David Shih

Art Is: A Journey into the Light Audiobook

"From a widely celebrated artist, this dazzling book takes listeners on a profound journey into the heart of creativity When Makoto Fujimura painted as a child, he felt a mysterious electrical charge pass through him. Over decades of art making, writing, and reflecting in his studio, he has come to understand this charge as his Creator—a source he connects with most profoundly when making art. To be human is to be creative, Fujimura believes, and art making is a discipline of awareness, prayer, and praise by which we journey back to our original light. In this book, Fujimura takes listeners along on his meandering journey as an artist. We witness him making his “process-driven slow art”—using pulverized minerals, gold, or pigments made from oyster shell—as he considers the plants and wildlife on the land where he lives. He draws on Japanese aesthetics, modernist art, Christian theology, sado (art of tea), literature, ecology, and personal narrative, with inspiration ranging from William Blake’s poetry to the art of Mark Rothko and Josef Albers, and from the wisdom of Scripture and Japanese tea master Sen no Rikyū to the traditional Japanese painting technique called Nihonga. Bringing together the author’s written reflections and his paintings, drawings, and photographs, Art Is invites us to see the world in prismatic and diverse lights, helping us navigate the fractured, divisive times we live in."

Makoto Fujimura (Author), David Shih (Narrator)

Audiobook

Murder in the House of Omari

"Osaka, 1943: as the Second World War rages and American bombers rain death down upon the city, the once prosperous Omari family is already in decline, financially ruined by the terrible conflict. Then the household is struck by a series of gruesome murders. Can anyone solve the mystery of these baffling slayings before the Omari line is extinguished entirely? To do so, and unravel the killer's fiendish plot, they will have to delve into the family's past, where a dark and deadly secret has been festering for decades..."

Taku Ashibe (Author), David Shih (Narrator)

Audiobook

Witch and Mercenary (Light Novel) Vol. 3

"THE WITCH'S RAMPAGE When a monstrosity above her rank shows up, Siasha is seated with some undesired downtime. Making the best of a boring situation, she and Zig head to the morning market, only to bear witness to a scuffle between humans and demi-humans. But to the inhuman witch Siasha and mercenary Zig, these interspecies tensions are none of their concern--or so they think. They soon learn that these conflicts are far more deep-rooted than they could've ever imagined. And as one incident after another pulls them deeper into the fray, it's only a matter of time before Siasha is pushed over the edge...and shows everyone why witches are so feared."

Chohokiteki Kaeru, Kanase Bench (Author), David Shih (Narrator)

Audiobook

Portraits of a Mother: A Novella and Stories

"Shusaku Endo (1923-1996), widely considered one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, is known for his historical novels, which masterfully probe the encounters between the cultures and religions of East and West from a Japanese Catholic perspective. A salient and curious theme in his work is the unique image of a maternal God, and a concomitant sense of loss and longing for maternal love. Confronting the Shadows, the semiautobiographical novella discovered at the Endo Museum in Nagasaki in 2020, is the author's most personal work and constitutes the interpretive key to his entire oeuvre. Translated into English here for the first time, it tells the story of Suguro, an aspiring novelist who was separated from his mother after his parents' divorce. Desperate to understand the woman his mother was, he sets out to retrace her footsteps, only to find himself face to face with his own demons. Accompanying the novella are five stories; exploring complex truths in uncomplicated prose, each tale discloses the intricacies of the sacred feminine and the apprehensions and joys of familial love. Endo once again beams bright light on the hidden corners of the human heart in this intimate and remarkable new collection."

Shusaku Endo (Author), David Shih (Narrator)

Audiobook

Witch and Mercenary (Light Novel) Vol. 2

"A SPECIAL REQUEST It was no walk in the park, but Zig and Siasha have finally gotten accustomed to their new surroundings and are enjoying their tranquil lives funded by their bloody battles with monstrosities. One day, Siasha decides to join a short-term adventuring party, and Zig, temporarily relieved of his bodyguard duties, finds himself with a bit of free time. But he's not idle for long. Isana--a second-class adventurer and acquaintance of Zig's--asks for his help investigating the recent kidnappings of children from her tribe. As a mercenary, playing detective isn't exactly Zig's style, but his mantra has always been that if the money is good, he'll take the job. Calling on what he's learned from his dealings in the underbelly of society, Zig gets cracking on the case."

Chohokiteki Kaeru, Kanase Bench (Author), David Shih (Narrator)

Audiobook

$Refractions: A Journey of Faith, Art, and Culture 15th Anniversary Edition Audiobook$

Refractions: A Journey of Faith, Art, and Culture 15th Anniversary Edition

"This timeless collection of reflective essays invites you to explore themes of grief, loss, tragedy, and disruption through the eyes of an artist's soul. Originally conceived in the shadow of the fallen twin towers of the World Trade Center, near where Fujimura's New York art studio stood, this anniversary edition includes new essays unpacking the author's further insights into his concepts of culture care and a theology of making. Refractions carries the weight of history and the urgency of the moment, illuminating beauty, healing, and hope. A gift for any artist or supporter of the arts, Refractions connects faith, art, and life, offering insight into ● healing with the wisdom and perspective of a leading contemporary artist and follower of Jesus, ● making beauty from ashes, and ● the gospel as a message as breathtaking and intricate as the lives it touches. In a world marred by violence and despair, Fujimura guides you toward a deep understanding of life's intricate tapestry, where beauty emerges from unexpected places, and healing finds its roots in the goodness of God and human resilience."

Makoto Fujimura (Author), David Shih (Narrator)

Audiobook

Everything Good about God Is True: Choosing Faith

"You know what you don't believe: about the Bible, the church, and God. You don't agree with the doctrines of an exclusionary, dominant Christianity. But what if someone asked you: 'What do you believe?' In this primer on progressive, expansive, generous Christianity, writer and pastor Bruce Reyes-Chow helps us reconsider—or consider for the first time—what it means to choose faith. With clarity, vulnerability, and wit, Reyes-Chow helps us learn a grammar of faith about God, Jesus, and the Spirit that breathes fresh meaning into old words like sin, confession, salvation, baptism, communion, and gratitude. He doesn't shy away from calling out the hateful and hurtful dogmas of many churches, but he also turns our attention toward essential questions: What if God created humans to be beautifully complex? What if the Spirit calls us to lament and repent and also beckons us toward pathways of healing, wholeness, and hope? And if Jesus equips us for lives of justice and kindness, how might our imaginations expand for what the world could be? Reyes-Chow offers his own 'faith montage' and helps individuals and groups create their own. There is a more loving, more genuine vision of God than the one we see being performed around us, and this book helps us find it."

Bruce Reyes-Chow (Author), David Shih (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Meiji Guillotine Murders

"A classic Japanese mystery—a pair of sleuths investigate a series of bloody murders in nineteenth century Tokyo A captivating locked room murder mystery perfect for fans of Stuart Turton and Janice Hallett Japan, 1869. A time of reform and rebellion. Detectives Kazuki and Kawaji are assigned to investigate a series of seemingly impossible murders. Together with the help of a mysterious shrine maiden, can they solve each gruesome death and piece together the dark connection between them? Taking us deep into the heart of nineteenth century Tokyo, The Meiji Guillotine Murders is a fiendish murder mystery from one of Japan's greatest crime writers."

Futaro Yamada (Author), David Shih (Narrator)

Audiobook

Witch and Mercenary (Light Novel) Vol. 1

"A Dangerous Duo. A Deadly Path Home. Nothing in this world is more dangerous than a witch. The epitome of fear and terror, they can summon floods on a whim, conjure balls of fire out of the air, or even destroy entire countries overnight. Incur their wrath, and no one is safe. At least, that's what everyone thinks, and it's the very reason they all want Siasha dead. After yet another violent battle for her life, she teams up with Zig, a mercenary, and they depart for unknown lands to find somewhere she can live in peace. But is the pair any match for the lost magic and vicious monstrosities that lie ahead?"

Chohokiteki Kaeru, Kanase Bench (Author), David Shih (Narrator)

Audiobook

Wuhan: How the COVID-19 Outbreak in China Spiraled Out of Control

"The Covid-19 pandemic, which began as an outbreak in Wuhan in late 2019, has claimed millions of lives and caused unprecedented disruptions. Despite its generation-defining significance, there has been a surprising lack of independent research examining the decisions and measures implemented in the weeks leading up to the Wuhan lockdown, as well as the missteps that allowed the novel coronavirus to spread with minimal hindrance. In Wuhan: How the COVID-19 Outbreak in China Spiraled Out of Control, Dali L. Yang scrutinizes China's emergency response to the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan, delving into the government's handling of epidemic information and the decisions that influenced the scale and scope of the outbreak. Yang's research reveals that China's health experts had an excellent head start when they implemented a health emergency action program to respond to the outbreak at the end of December 2019. With granular detail and compelling immediacy, Yang investigates the political and bureaucratic processes that hindered information flows, as well as the cognitive framework that limited understanding of the virus's contagiousness and hampered effective decisions. Yang emphasizes the importance of retaining public trust during a pandemic and underscores the need for transparency, openness to new information, and direct communication of risk with the public."

Dali L. Yang (Author), David Shih (Narrator)

Audiobook

In the Shadow of Liberty: The Invisible History of Immigrant Detention in the United States

"Winner of the PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction Finalist for the Zócalo Public Square Book Prize "Meticulous . . . Storytelling allows Minian to convey the physical and emotional toll of detention with potent specificity. The result is a book-length plea against dehumanization, at least for those who are willing to listen." -Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times A probing work of narrative history that reveals the hidden story of immigrant detention in the United States, deepening urgent national conversations around migration. In 2018, many Americans watched in horror as children were torn from their parents at the US-Mexico border under Trump's 'family separation' policy. But as historian Ana Raquel Minian reveals in In the Shadow of Liberty, this was only the latest chapter in a saga tracing back to the 1800s-one in which immigrants to the United States have been held without recourse to their constitutional rights. Braiding together the vivid stories of four migrants seeking to escape the turmoil of their homelands for the promise of America, In the Shadow of Liberty gives this history a human face, telling the dramatic story of a Central American asylum seeker, a Cuban exile, a European war bride, and a Chinese refugee. As we travel alongside these indelible characters, In the Shadow of Liberty explores how sites of rightlessness have evolved, and what their existence has meant for our body politic. Though these 'black sites' exist out of view for the average American, their reach extends into all of our lives: the explosive growth of the for-profit prison industry traces its origins to the immigrant detention system, as does the emergence of Guantanamo and the gradual unraveling of the right to bail and the presumption of innocence. Through these narratives, we see how the changing political climate surrounding immigration has played out in individual lives, and at what cost. But as these stories demonstrate, it doesn't have to be like this, and a better way might be possible."

Ana Raquel Minian (Author), Cynthia Farrell, David Shih, Marie-Françoise Theodore, Rebecca Gibel, Sheldon Romero, Victor Colome (Narrator)

Audiobook

River East, River West

"Set against the backdrop of developing modern China, this mesmerizing literary debut is part coming-of-age tale, part family and social drama, as it follows two generations searching for belonging and opportunity in a rapidly changing world—perfect for readers of Behold the Dreamers, White Ivy, and The Leavers. Shanghai, 2007: Fourteen-year-old Alva has always longed for more. Raised by her American expat mother, she’s never known her Chinese father, and is certain a better life awaits them in America. But when her mother announces her engagement to their wealthy Chinese landlord, Lu Fang, Alva’s hopes are dashed, and so she plots for the next best thing: the American School in Shanghai. Upon admission, though, Alva is surprised to discover an institution run by an exclusive community of expats and the ever-wilder thrills of a city where foreigners can ostensibly act as they please. 1985: In the seaside city of Qingdao, Lu Fang is a young, married man and a lowly clerk in a shipping yard. Though he once dreamed of a bright future, he is one of many casualties in his country’s harsh political reforms. So when China opens its doors to the first wave of foreigners in decades, Lu Fang’s world is split wide open after he meets an American woman who makes him confront difficult questions about his current status in life, and how much will ever be enough. In a stunning reversal of the east-to-west immigrant narrative and set against China’s political history and economic rise, River East, River West is an intimate family drama and a sharp social novel. Alternating between Alva and Lu Fang’s points of view, this is a profoundly moving exploration of race and class, cultural identity and belonging, and the often-false promise of the American Dream."

Aube Rey Lescure (Author), David Shih, Jennifer Lim_ (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by David Shih