Audiobooks narrated by René Ruiz

Wings of War: The World War II Fighter Plane that Saved the Allies and the Believers Who Made It Fly

The incredible, untold story behind the rise of the P-51 Mustang, the World War II fighter plane that destroyed the Luftwaffe and made D-Day possible "Aviation buffs will cheer this high-flying saga."-Publishers Weekly • "[A] fascinating book about passion and innovation."-Walter Isaacson • "An essential book for those who appreciate tales of military bravery, and also for all seeking understanding of decision-making under pressure. A major contribution."-E. J. Dionne, Jr. When the P-51 Mustang began tearing across European skies in early 1944, the Allies had been losing the air war for years. Staggering numbers of bomber crews, both British and American, had been shot down and killed thanks to the Luftwaffe's superior fighter force. Not only did the air war appear grim, but any landing of troops in France was impossible while German fighters hunted overhead. But behind the scenes, a team of visionaries had begun to design a bold new type of airplane, one that could outrun and outmaneuver Germany's best. Wings of War is the incredible true story of the P-51 Mustang fighter and the unlikely crew of designers, engineers, test pilots, and army officers who brought it from the drafting table to the skies over World War II. This is hardly a straightforward tale of building an airplane-for years, the team was stymied by corruption within the defense industry and stonewalled by the Army Air Forces, who failed to understand the Mustang's potential. But when squadrons of Mustangs were finally unleashed over Hitler's empire, the Luftwaffe was decimated within months, clearing the skies for D-Day. A compelling, character-focused narrative replete with innovation, determination, and bravery, Wings of War is the never-before-told story of the airplane that truly changed the course of World War II.

David Fairbank White, Margaret Stanback White (Author), René Ruiz (Narrator)

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Who Was Roald Dahl?

Caela Carter, True Kelley (Author), René Ruiz (Narrator)

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While the City Slept: A Love Lost to Violence and a Wake-Up Call for Mental Health Care in America

BingedMaking a Murderer? Try . . . [this] riveting portrait of a tragic, preventable crime. -Entertainment WeeklyA Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter's gripping account of one young man's path to murder-and a wake-up call formental health care in America On a summer night in 2009, three lives intersected in one American neighborhood. Two people newly in love-Teresa Butz and Jennifer Hopper, who spent many years trying to find themselves and who eventually found each other-and a young man on a dangerous psychological descent: Isaiah Kalebu, age twenty-three, the son of a distant, authoritarian father and a mother with a family history of mental illness. All three paths forever altered by a violent crime, all three stories a wake-up call to the system that failed to see the signs. In this riveting, probing, compassionate account of a murder in Seattle, Eli Sanders, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his newspaper coverage of the crime, offers a deeply reported portrait in microcosm of the state of mental health care in this country-as well as an inspiring story of love and forgiveness. Culminating in Kalebu'sdangerous slide toward violence-observed by family members, police, mental health workers, lawyers, and judges, but stopped by no one-While the City Slept is the story of a crime of opportunity and of the string of missed opportunities that made it possible. It shows what can happen when a disturbed member of society repeatedly falls through the cracks, and in the tradition of The Other Wes Moore and The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace, is an indelible, human-level story, brilliantly told, with the potential to inspire social change.From the Hardcover edition.

Eli Sanders (Author), René Ruiz (Narrator)

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What Do We Know About Crop Circles?

The What Do We Know About? series explores the mysterious, the unknown, and the unexplained. Are the geometric field patterns fact, myth, or legend? Presenting What Do We Know About: an exciting new addition to the #1 New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series! What Do We Know About Crop Circles? lets curious young readers learn about the phenomenon of crop circles and how they came to be one of the most studied mysteries of the natural world. Read about all of the rational and fanciful explanations for these flattened patterns in crops all over the world, from the United Kingdom to Australia. Artists and hoaxers alike have claimed credit for these massive projects, but some people think that the source could be paranormal. Are these circles an elaborate prank, or could they be something more?

Ben Hubbard (Author), René Ruiz (Narrator)

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Through Two Doors at Once: The Elegant Experiment That Captures the Enigma of Our Quantum Reality

The intellectual adventure story of the 'double-slit' experiment, showing how a sunbeam split into two paths first challenged our understanding of light and then the nature of reality itself--and continues to almost 200 years later. Many of science's greatest minds have grappled with the simple yet elusive 'double-slit' experiment. Thomas Young devised it in the early 1800s to show that light behaves like a wave, and in doing so opposed Isaac Newton. Nearly a century later, Albert Einstein showed that light comes in quanta, or particles, and the experiment became key to a fierce debate between Einstein and Niels Bohr over the nature of reality. Richard Feynman held that the double slit embodies the central mystery of the quantum world. Decade after decade, hypothesis after hypothesis, scientists have returned to this ingenious experiment to help them answer deeper and deeper questions about the fabric of the universe. How can a single particle behave both like a particle and a wave? Does a particle exist before we look at it, or does the very act of looking create reality? Are there hidden aspects to reality missing from the orthodox view of quantum physics? Is there a place where the quantum world ends and the familiar classical world of our daily lives begins, and if so, can we find it? And if there's no such place, then does the universe split into two each time a particle goes through the double slit? With his extraordinarily gifted eloquence, Anil Ananthaswamy travels around the world and through history, down to the smallest scales of physical reality we have yet fathomed. Through Two Doors at Once is the most fantastic voyage you can take.

Anil Ananthaswamy (Author), Rene Ruiz, René Ruiz (Narrator)

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This View of Life: Completing the Darwinian Revolution

It is widely understood that Charles Darwin's theory of evolution completely revolutionized the study of biology. Yet, according to David Sloan Wilson, the Darwinian revolution won't be truly complete until it is applied more broadly-to everything associated with the words "human," "culture," and "policy." In a series of engaging and insightful examples-from the breeding of hens to the timing of cataract surgeries to the organization of an automobile plant-Wilson shows how an evolutionary worldview provides a practical tool kit for understanding not only genetic evolution but also the fast-paced changes that are having an impact on our world and ourselves. What emerges is an incredibly empowering argument: If we can become wise managers of evolutionary processes, we can solve the problems of our age at all scales-from the efficacy of our groups to our well-being as individuals to our stewardship of the planet Earth.

David Sloan Wilson (Author), René Ruiz (Narrator)

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The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations

If you cut off a spider's leg, it's crippled; if you cut off its head, it dies. But if you cut off a starfish's leg it grows a new one, and the old leg can grow into an entirely new starfish.What's the hidden power behind the success of Wikipedia, Craigslist, and Skype? What do eBay and General Electric have in common with the abolitionist and women's rights movements? What fundamental choice put General Motors and Toyota on vastly different paths? How could winning a Supreme Court case be the biggest mistake MGM could have made? After five years of ground-breaking research, Ori Brafman and Rod Beckstrom share some unexpected answers, gripping stories, and a tapestry of unlikely connections. The Starfish and the Spider argues that organizations fall into two categories: traditional "spiders," which have a rigid hierarchy and top-down leadership, and revolutionary "starfish," which rely on the power of peer relationships. The Starfish and the Spider explores what happens when starfish take on spiders (such as the music industry vs. Napster, Kazaa, and the P2P services that followed). It reveals how established companies and institutions, from IBM to Intuit to the US government, are also learning how to incorporate starfish principles to achieve success. The book explores: * How the Apaches fended off the powerful Spanish army for 200 years * The power of a simple circle * The importance of catalysts who have an uncanny ability to bring people together * How the Internet has become a breeding ground for leaderless organizations * How Alcoholics Anonymous has reached untold millions with only a shared ideology and without a leader The Starfish and the Spider is the rare book that will change how you understand the world around you.

Ori Brafman, Rod A. Beckstrom (Author), René Ruiz (Narrator)

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The Running to the Edge: A Band of Misfits and the Guru Who Unlocked the Secrets of Speed

'Athletes in any sport stand to learn from Larsen's methods, and Futterman turns in a fluent yarn reminiscent of Plimpton and McPhee.' --Kirkus Visionary American running coach Bob Larsen assembled a mismatched team of elite California runners . . . the start of his decades-long quest for championships, Olympic glory, and pursuit of 'the epic run.' In the dusty hills above San Diego, Bob Larsen became America's greatest running coach. Starting with a ragtag group of high school cross country and track runners, Larsen set out on a decades-long quest to find the secret of running impossibly fast, for longer distances than anyone thought possible. Himself a former farm boy who fell into his track career by accident, Larsen worked through coaching high school, junior college, and college, coaxing talented runners away from more traditional sports as the running craze was in its infancy in the 60's and 70's. On the arid trails and windy roads of California, Larsen relentlessly sought the 'secret sauce' of speed and endurance that would catapult American running onto the national stage. Running to the Edge is a riveting account of Larsen's journey, and his quest to discover the unorthodox training secrets that would lead American runners (elite and recreational) to breakthroughs never imagined. New York Times Deputy Sports Editor Matthew Futterman interweaves the dramatic stories of Larsen's runners with a fascinating discourse of the science behind human running, as well as a personal running narrative that follows Futterman's own checkered love-affair with the sport. The result is a narrative that will speak to every runner, a story of Larsen's triumphs--from high school cross-country meets to the founding of the cult-favorite 70's running group, the Jamul Toads, from national championships to his long tenure as head coach at UCLA, and from the secret training regimen of world champion athletes like Larsen's protégé, American Meb Keflezighi, to victories at the New York and Boston Marathons as well as the Olympics. Running to the Edge is a page-turner . . . a relentless crusade to run faster, farther.

Matthew Futterman (Author), René Ruiz (Narrator)

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The Power of Words: Unlock the Secret Science of Conversation

Discover the transformative power of words and conversations in The Power of Words, the profound and inspiring international bestseller by renowned neuroscientist Mariano Sigman. We have hundreds of conversations every week, yet rarely think about the words we use. But the way we describe ourselves and the world around us profoundly shapes our decisions, emotions and action. The Power of Words delves into our minds, showing us how a simple shift in our language can lead to personal growth and positive change. Drawing from his extensive research in neuroscience and his role as one of the directors of the Human Brain Project, Mariano Sigman reveals that our minds are much more malleable than we think. We retain the same ability to learn and change throughout our lives. By understanding this, we can rewrite our own narratives and break free from limiting beliefs. Offering practical guidance for self-discovery, this witty and intelligent book urges us to be open to the possibility of being wrong and to gain a fresh perspective on our own lives. By embracing conversations as a tool for growth, we can learn to communicate better with others and most crucially, ourselves, resulting in a more rewarding and successful life.

Mariano Sigman (Author), René Ruiz, TBD (Narrator)

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The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin

"A riveting, immensely detailed biography of Putin that explains in full-bodied, almost Shakespearian fashion why he acts the way he does." - Robert D. Kaplan The New Tsar is the book to read if you want to understand how Vladimir Putin sees the world and why he has become one of the gravest threats to American security.The epic tale of the rise to power of Russia's current president - the only complete biography in English - that fully captures his emergence from shrouded obscurity and deprivation to become one of the most consequential and complicated leaders in modern history, by the former New York Times Moscow bureau chief. In a gripping narrative of Putins rise to power as Russias president, Steven Lee Myers recounts Putins origins - from his childhood of abject poverty in Leningrad, to his ascension through the ranks of the KGB, and his eventual consolidation of rule. Along the way, world events familiar to readers, such as September 11th and Russias war in Georgia in 2008, as well as the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, are presented from never-before-seen perspectives. This book is a grand, staggering achievement and a breathtaking look at one mans rule. On one hand, Putins many reforms - from tax cuts to an expansion of property rights - have helped reshape the potential of millions of Russians whose only experience of democracy had been crime, poverty, and instability after the fall of the Soviet Union. On the other hand, Putin has ushered in a new authoritarianism, unyielding in his brutal repression of revolts and squashing of dissent. Still, he retains widespread support from the Russian public. The New Tsar is a narrative tour de force, deeply researched, and utterly necessary for anyone fascinated by the formidable and ambitious Vladimir Putin, but also for those interested in the world and what a newly assertive Russia might mean for the future. From the Hardcover edition.

Steven Lee Myers (Author), René Ruiz (Narrator)

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The Launch Pad

Twice a year in the heart of Silicon Valley, a small investment firm called Y Combinator selects an elite group of young entrepreneurs from around the world for three months of intense work and instruction. Their brand-new two- or three-person start-ups are given a seemingly impossible challenge: to turn a raw idea into a viable business, fast. Each YC session culminates in a demo day, when investors and venture capitalists flock to hear pitches from the new graduates. Any one of them might turn out to be the next Dropbox (class of 2007, now valued at $5 billion) or Airbnb (2009, $1.3 billion). Randall Stross is the first journalist to have fly-on-the-wall access to Y Combinator. He tells the full story of how Paul Graham started this ultra exclusive institution, how it chooses among hundreds of aspiring Mark Zuckerbergs, and how it teaches them to go from concept to profitability in record time.

Randall Stross (Author), René Ruiz (Narrator)

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The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation

If there is a candidate for Living Buddha' on earth today, it is Thich Nhat Hanh. Richard Baker-roshi In The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching, now with added material and new insights, Thich Nhat Hanh introduces us to the core teachings of Buddhism and shows us that the Buddha's teachings are accessible and applicable to our daily lives. With poetry and clarity, Nhat Hanh imparts comforting wisdom about the nature of suffering and its role in creating compassion, love, and joy all qualities of enlightenment. Covering such significant teachings as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, the Three Doors of Liberation, the Three Dharma Seals, and the Seven Factors of Awakening, The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching is a radiant beacon on Buddhist thought for the initiated and uninitiated alike. Thich Nhat Hanh shows us the connection between personal, inner peace, and peace on earth. His Holiness the Dalai Lama Thich Nhat Hanh is a real poet. Robert LowellFrom the Trade Paperback edition.

Thich Nhat Hanh (Author), René Ruiz (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by René Ruiz