Audiobooks narrated by Fajer Al-Kaisi

Charlatans: How Grifters, Swindlers, and Hucksters Bamboozle the Media, the Markets, and the Masses

"From snake-oil salesmen to crypto grifters, the "fascinating" (Fareed Zakaria) story of charlatans-and why we fall for them For centuries charlatans have been bamboozling victims. But today, charlatanry is more lucrative and global than ever. Using the power of digital technology, our age's charlatans have spun a worldwide web of exploitation on an unprecedented scale. In Charlatans, global affairs experts Moisés Naím and Quico Toro investigate how charlatans fool us and why they've become so influential today. They argue that modern charlatans exploit the same weak points in human cognition as the snake-oil salesmen of the old West. They earn our trust, trick us into believing they have some special skill or knowledge, then exploit us. In some ways, nothing has changed. But, today, charlatans are digital, viral, and global. Whether they're health gurus pushing pseudoscience or crypto bros orchestrating Ponzi schemes, modern charlatans rapidly amass worldwide audiences on the internet and social media using a common set of strategies. These hucksters swiftly swindle unsuspecting victims, as our slow-moving institutions struggle to respond. Packed with insights on how to avoid being duped by charlatans, this is an eye-opening journey through the brazen deception and brutal victimization at the heart of this new global scourge. "

Moises Naim, Quico Toro (Author), Fajer Al-Kaisi (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Invisible Sun: A Guide for the Soul from Rumi’s Master

"The first comprehensive English collection from one of the world’s most influential mystics—Attar—the twelfth-century poet Rumi called his master. Twelfth-century Persian poet Attar (1145–1221) was revered by Rumi and though his work is beloved around the world, he is mostly unknown to English readers. Translated in simple, elegant language by award-winning poet Sholeh Wolpé—one among generations of poets influenced by Attar's poetry—The Invisible Sun is a beautiful treasury of Attar’s most prescient poetry, offering comfort and inspiration. Attar was one of the most important mystic Sufi poets in the East, comparable in stature and influence to John Milton in the West. In Western thought there is a sharp separation between day-to-day human experience and the transcendence of religion and spirituality. But Sufi philosophy teaches that while the soul awaits its release from the confines of the body, it can experience the other world through mystic union achieved by an inward journey to purify the self. The Invisible Sun widely introduces the work of Attar—the master Rumi called “the spirit” and himself “its shadow”—to English-speaking readers as never before. Profound yet exquisite in its simplicity, bringing comfort and wisdom, Attar’s poetry continues to resonate today: Everything, large and small, honors your existence, don’t look at yourself with contempt. There is nothing greater than you."

Attar, Sholeh Wolpe (Author), Fajer Al-Kaisi (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Passenger Seat

"A mesmerising and unsettling tale from a powerful new voice Seeking release from their small-town existence, two teenagers drive north on a vaguely plotted road trip. Adam and Teddy hope to leave boyhood behind. But they carry with them all the upsets and resentments they have accrued in their unhappy lives to date. As the pair’s journey progresses, the mood fluctuates as each of them sets out to prove himself. The dynamics of their friendship begin to unravel, culminating in an act of devastating – and all too familiar – violence. In taut and stylish prose, The Passenger Seat examines how men learn and perform masculinity. Rejecting easy answers, it keeps our eyes trained on the vanishing point where vulnerability edges into violence, alienation into aggression. ‘Where Adolescence illuminated the myriad societal failures that are driving young boys to violence, this outstanding debut takes us inside the darkest and most vulnerable parts of their minds. Devastating…a tense and gripping power struggle of toxic masculinity.’ Guardian ‘Unsettling and powerful.’ New York Times Book Review ‘A masterclass in tension.’ Sydney Morning Herald ‘The Passenger Seat is an unforgiving, disturbing tale that resists any easy explanation, as Khurana considers the darkness of violence with a steely calm that refuses to let us look away.’ The Saturday Paper"

Vijay Khurana (Author), Fajer Al-Kaisi (Narrator)

Audiobook

Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History

"From the New York Times bestselling author of The Shia Revival This audiobook narrated by Fajer Al-Kaisi overturns simplistic portrayals of Iran as a theocratic pariah state, revealing how its strategic moves on the world stage are driven by two pervasive threats—external aggression and internal dissolution Iran presents one of the most significant foreign policy challenges for America and the West, yet very little is known about what the country's goals really are. Vali Nasr examines Iran's political history in new ways to explain its actions and ambitions on the world stage, showing how, behind the veneer of theocracy and Islamic ideology, today's Iran is pursuing a grand strategy aimed at securing the country internally and asserting its place in the region and the world. Drawing on memoirs, oral histories, and original in-depth interviews with Iranian decision makers, Nasr brings to light facts and events in Iran's political history that have been overlooked until now. He traces the roots of Iran's strategic outlook to its experiences over the past four decades of war with Iraq in the 1980s and the subsequent American containment of Iran, invasion of Iraq in 2003, and posture toward Iran thereafter. Nasr reveals how these experiences have shaped a geopolitical outlook driven by pervasive fear of America and its plans for the Middle East. Challenging the notion that Iran's foreign policy simply reflects its revolutionary values or theocratic government, Iran's Grand Strategy provides invaluable new insights into what Iran wants and why, explaining the country's resistance to the United States, its nuclear ambitions, and its pursuit of influence and proxies across the Middle East."

Vali Nasr (Author), Fajer Al-Kaisi (Narrator)

Audiobook

Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI

"A USA TODAY BESTSELLER A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLER AN LA TIMES BESTSELLER A FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK OF THE MONTH The question TRANSCEND answers is, how can we use AI to unlock humanity’s full potential while protecting what is most precious about the human experience? As humanity takes its first steps into the Age of Artificial Intelligence, we are only just beginning to think through the possibilities and the dangers this technology brings. But we do not have time for leisurely speculation. AI will overturn the world we know in our lifetimes, and we must prepare ourselves to meet the unprecedented changes that will soon be upon us. In Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI, Faisal Hoque, one of the world’s leading management thinkers and technologists, and a bestselling author, provides readers with the road maps they need to tackle the most important questions of our generation. · A unique perspective that emerges at the intersection of philosophy, humanity, business, and technology · Powerful practical frameworks to guide the reader in thinking about and using AI · The OPEN framework for unlocking the potential of AI · The CARE framework for protecting against its dangers · Structured approaches to AI tailored for individuals, businesses, and government agencies"

Faisal Hoque (Author), Fajer Al-Kaisi (Narrator)

Audiobook

Ibn Fadlan and the Land of Darkness: Arab Travellers in the Far North

"A fascinating collection of medieval Arabic travel writing in an important new translation Between the ninth and fourteenth centuries, Arab explorers journeyed widely and frequently into the far north, crossing territories that now include Russia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. Ibn Fadlan's chronicles of his travels are one of the most important documents from the period, and this illuminating new translation offers insight into the world of the Arab geographers and the medieval lands of the far north. Based on an expedition to the upper Volga River in 922 AD, Ibn Fadlan and the Land of Darkness provides a rare and valuable glimpse of Viking customs, dress, table manners, religion, and sexual practices, including the only eyewitness account ever written of a Viking ship cremation. This audiobook is expressively read by Fajer Al-Kaisi, with audio engineering by Sam Platt. It was produced and published by Echo Point Books & Media, an independent bookseller in Brattleboro, Vermont."

Ibn Fadlan (Author), Fajer Al-Kaisi (Narrator)

Audiobook

Once a Castle: A Carrick Hall Novel, Book 2

"Worlds collide and lives are changed as portals between our reality and the magical land of Ternival fray in the spellbinding sequel to the Christy Award finalist Once a Queen, called "a fresh, delightful new tale for our wonder-hungry era" by Mitali Perkins. A few years after Eva Joyce and Frankie Addison discovered the existence of portals to other worlds, Frankie's younger siblings, together with some new friends, make discoveries that will change their lives, and at least two worlds, forever. Jack, Tilly, and Elspeth Addison just want to stay out of trouble (well, mostly, at least), but trouble keeps finding them. Meanwhile, Arash, a newcomer to the Addisons' English village, tries to discover the secret his grandfather is hiding while keeping his own secrets from everyone. And Zahra, a Ternivali teenager, faces a crisis in her world, but before she can put things right, she's rudely catapulted into the weirdest place she's ever seen-where everyone seems to think she's the weird one. Soon their stories get tangled together, and the teens must discover if they can bridge their differences and find, in themselves and one another, what it takes to put things right. Because it's not only their lives at stake but also the fate of their home-and of more than one kingdom. * This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF containing the illustrated maps from the book."

Sarah Arthur (Author), Fajer Al-Kaisi, Vidish Athavale (Narrator)

Audiobook

A True Verdict

"From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Robert Rotstein, A True Verdict is an edge-of-your-seat legal thriller filled with secrets. MediMiracle Corporation manufactures Sophrosyne, a miracle cure for opiate addiction. Ellison Ricard, a research analyst for the company, claims to have uncovered data that proves Black users of Sophrosyne experience fatal side effects far more often than people of other races. When Ricard confronts MediMiracle’s charismatic founder and CEO, Peyton Burke, a violent confrontation ensues. The wheelchair-bound Ricard—a Black man who had been severely injured years earlier—is fired that very day. Ricard turns to aging lawyer M. Bailey Klaus, to sue Burke and MediMiracle for civil rights violations, alleging that Ricard was fired because he blew the whistle on the coverup and because he was Black. Klaus faces off against his former protégé, Cicely Pagano, each arguing for drastically different versions of Ricard. Is he a brilliant, sincere, credible person who is rightfully standing up against a deadly product? Or is he a delusional, embittered, and avaricious liar who is taking advantage of his former employer? Ricard’s fate rests with an eight-person jury who can’t agree on anything. Working together to reach a consensus means navigating a tempest of the most divisive issues: politics, sexism, drug abuse, capitalism, healthcare, and racism. Can eight people with different backgrounds, ages, classes, and political views avoid coming to blows, much less render a true verdict? Told through court transcripts and jury deliberations, A True Verdict is a suspenseful ride to a shocking outcome …"

Robert Rotstein (Author), Alex Boyles, Deanna Anthony, Eunice Wong, Fajer Al-Kaisi, Graham Halstead, Hillary Huber, Kelli Tager, Mark Bramhall, Natalie Naudus, Phil Thron, Robin Miles, Roxanne Hernandez, Sean Pratt, Sophie Amoss (Narrator)

Audiobook

Wars of Ambition: The United States, Iran, and the Struggle for the Middle East

"The September 11 attacks upended America’s relatively strong influence in the Middle East and prompted President George W. Bush’s plan to remake the region through a war in Iraq. By bringing liberal democracy to Iraq, Bush hoped that the country would be a springboard for the spread of democracy to neighboring authoritarian states. Yet the war’s disruption created an opportunity for Iran to advance its own opposing ambitions—one that would turn the Middle East into a bastion of resistance to Western hegemony and bring an end to Israel’s existence as a Jewish state. The resulting clash not only intensified the Iraq War, it reverberated in states across the region. With the outbreak of new conflicts, the US-Iranian showdown became entwined in a much more complex struggle, one which drew in other regional and foreign powers that all pursued differing agendas. In Wars of Ambition, Afshon Ostovar explores the evolution of the metastasizing conflict as it unfolded over a span of more than two decades. Not just an account of the interaction between America’s Middle East policies and ambitious regional states on the receiving end, it also provides a powerful analysis of conflicting visions of the future that transcend regional politics. With Iran’s rise and its revisionist campaign running in concert with those of Russia and China, the contest for the Middle East has become a microcosm of a larger geopolitical battle between those aiming to preserve the American-led global order and those seeking to overturn it—and thus reflective of an emergent multipolar world. “Afshon Ostovar is among the most astute Iran scholars of his generation. His thoughtful analysis will enlighten both new students of Iran as well as senior US policymakers.”—Karim Sadjadpour, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"

Afshon Ostovar (Author), Fajer Al-Kaisi (Narrator)

Audiobook

What Went Wrong With Capitalism

"Brought to you by Penguin. A radical examination by a leading financial analyst, commentator and investor of the ills of capitalism and how they can be fixed What went wrong with capitalism? Ruchir Sharma’s explanation is unlike any you have heard before. Progressives are partly right when they mock modern capitalism as “socialism for the rich,” but what really happened in recent decades is that government in developed nations expanded in just about every measurable dimension, from spending and regulation to the sheer scale of its rescues each time the economy wobbled. The result, Sharma says, is “socialized risk,” expensive government guarantees, for everyone—welfare for the poor, entitlements for the middle class, and bailouts for the rich. Voters say they are disillusioned with capitalism, but a system so distorted by government interventions is a dysfunctional version of free market ideals. As a result, productivity and economic growth have slowed sharply, shrinking the pie for everyone and stoking popular anger. Since these flaws developed as the government expanded, building an even bigger state will only double down on what’s gone wrong. The answer Sharma offers is a series of seven fixes to restore the balance between state support and free markets and lay the path to a more prosperous and happier future. © Ruchir Sharma 2024 (P) Penguin Audio 2024"

Ruchir Sharma (Author), Fajer Al-Kaisi (Narrator)

Audiobook

Death in the Air

"Ro Krishna has it all – rakish charm, an Oxford education, perfect hair. He’s the kind of guy who’s equally at home in London’s poshest clubs and on the squash court, with enviable wit and style to match. When he is dramatically forced to leave a high-profile job that he loves, he decides it’s time to check in for some much-needed R&R at Samsara, a world-class spa for the global cosmopolitan elite nestled in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas, where all your wishes are just a gilded notecard away. But it’s not just heiresses, white yoga instructors, and Bollywood stars-to-be that have checked in to Samsara: Christmas is approaching, and death is on its way…"

Ram Murali (Author), Fajer Al-Kaisi (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Realm of Shattered Lies: The Severed Realms, Book 5

"Silly servant girl, no one cares about saving the villain. Blaise wasn't supposed to be the villain, but now Nox is gone, and Blaise will stop at nothing to get him back—even if that means betraying everyone she holds dear. Meanwhile, Asha can't shake the feeling that Az is closing in on her. After all, he's been two steps ahead of her and Kiran from the beginning. All she can do is hope he stays too focused on opening the Rip to learn the truth: Az is the true heir to the throne. Between her nightmares, Ellie's secret, and the news that Piper has been taken captive by Queen Abra, Asha isn't sure she can handle much else. Especially not an enemy in their midst. Realms collide and stories converge in this second part of the epic two-part finale to The Severed Realms series."

T.A. Lawrence (Author), Angel Pean, Fajer Al-Kaisi, James Fouhey, Lia Holland, Logan McAllister, Megan Trout, Nikki Massoud, Tim Sailer (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Fajer Al-Kaisi