Non-Fiction Audiobooks

James Madison's Constitution: A Double Security and a Parchment Barrier

"In James Madison's Constitution, Eric T. Kasper and Howard Schweber have assembled a roster of ten prominent contributors to excavate Madison's thinking about key concepts and issues over questions of what the Constitution requires, permits, and prohibits. Madison's key role at the Constitution's drafting was instrumental in forging the document into what it is today. In many areas, the modern Constitution still reflects Madison's conception and design. In other areas, however, the Constitution as it emerged in a final text—and as it has been amended and interpreted to the present day—does not always conform to Madison's vision. Nevertheless, examining Madison's thinking across a range of constitutional issues has much to offer for understanding our nation's primary governing document today. Indeed, there are great disagreements among jurists, policymakers, journalists, academics, and the general public about how to interpret the Constitution and what various clauses mean. Frequently, Madison is cited as a source on both sides of political, scholarly, and legal debates over the meaning of various constitutional provisions."

Eric T. Kasper, Howard H. Schweber (Author), Adam Barr (Narrator)

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Solastalgia: An Anthology of Emotion in a Disappearing World

"'One of the penalties of an ecological education,' wrote Aldo Leopold, 'is that one lives alone in a world of wounds.' As climate change and other environmental degradations become more evident, experts predict that an increasing number of people will suffer emotional and psychological distress as a result. Many are feeling these effects already. In the pages of Solastalgia, they will find a source of companionship, inspiration, and advice. The concept of solastalgia comes from the Australian philosopher Glenn Albrecht, who describes it as 'the homesickness we feel while still at home.' It’s the pain and longing we feel as we realize the world immediately around us is changing, with our love for that world serving as a catalyst for action on its behalf. This powerful anthology brings together thirty-four writers—educators, journalists, poets, and scientists—to share their emotions in the face of environmental crisis. They share their solastalgia, their beloved places, their vulnerability, their stories, their vision of what we can create."

Paul Bogard (Author), Diana Blue (Narrator)

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The Zorg: A Tale of Greed, Murder and the Abolition of Slavery

"Brought to you by Penguin. The Zorg is the most consequential slave ship of the 18th century whose voyage changed the course of history, yet the story remains largely unknown. Drawing on a trove of archival materials, New York Times bestselling author Siddharth Kara uncovers new details of the Zorg's voyage and takes the reader on a gripping journey from the Netherlands to Africa’s Gold Coast where it was captured by a British privateer before loading its human cargo and heading onto Jamaica on its ill-fated journey to fuel the lucrative sugar trade. A series of unpredictable weather events and mistakes in navigation left the ship drastically off course, running out of food and water. To save the crew and the most valuable of the slaves, the captain decided to throw 140 slaves, mostly women and children, overboard. What followed is a fascinating legal drama in England’s highest court that turned the brutal business of slavery into front page news. For the first time, concepts such as human rights and morality entered the discourse on slavery, in a notorious case that boiled down to a simple but profound question: were the Africans on board the Zorg people or cargo? The case of the Zorg catapulted the nascent anti-slavery movement to one of the most consequential moral campaigns that changed the course of history. © Siddharth Kara 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Siddharth Kara (Author), TBD (Narrator)

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The Only Way I Know: The Autobiography

"Brought to you by Penguin. At the age of 16, a boy amongst men, Andy Farrell made his first-team debut for Wigan Warriors – and became a father for the first time. At 18, he won his first senior international cap. At 21, he won his first Man of Steel Award for the Super League player of the year. He went on to win the Golden Boot award for world player of the year. All of that on its own would have been enough to make him a sporting legend – and none of it even hinted at the fascinating second chapter of his sporting life, as a rugby union player with Saracens and England, or the third chapter, as a highly successful and beloved union coach. Under his leadership, Ireland have played a brilliant brand of rugby combining precision and freedom, and have been consistently ranked either number 1 or number 2 in the world. Warm, thoughtful and passionate, Andy Farrell is not just a brilliant rugby man: he is a fascinating human being. His autobiography brings us back to his childhood in Wigan, when he made a meteoric ascent to the highest levels of rugby league; and to the extraordinary moment when, aged 15, he and his girlfriend Colleen – now his wife – learned they were going to have a baby. He writes about his ambitious attempt to remake himself as a rugby union player in his thirties. He writes about his remarkable relationship with his first child, Owen – who has gone on to become a legend of English rugby – and about the importance of family in his life. And he traces the journey that has led to him become one of rugby's most successful coaches, explaining what he has learned about leadership along the way. © Andy Farrell 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Andy Farrell (Author), TBD (Narrator)

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Let Me Be Real with You: Inspiring Lessons on Living a Life of Service

"From the celebrated athlete and award-winning author, an inspirational collection of personal stories and lessons that will spark change within you and transform how you contribute to the world. Arshay Cooper believes in bringing people together, seeking out opposing ideas to collaborate and find consensus rather than focusing on differences and “othering.” In Let Me Be Real with You, he reflects on his personal journey—from the trials he faced as a young Black boy from the West Side of Chicago to finding international recognition as an athlete and philanthropist—sharing insights to guide you on your own journey. The stories in Let Me Be Real with You will help you navigate difficulties and challenges with grace, awareness, hope, and even humor, and fortify your commitment to a life lived in service to others without sacrificing your own self-care. Arshay introduces you to the eight essential tenets of wellness—mental, physical, environmental, vocational, financial, intellectual, social, and spiritual—and teaches you how to incorporate them into daily life. You'll discover: How to tell and own your stories. The importance of unlearning so you can learn. The balance between pushing yourself and recovery. Cooper reveals how a wellness mindset and practices became an integral part of his life and success and how they can become central to yours as well. A memoir and inspirational guide, Let Me Be Real with You is for all of us who want to change our lives and find the courage to “do it afraid.''"

Arshay Cooper (Author), James Shippy (Narrator)

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Expensive Basketball

"From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Rap Year Book and Basketball (and Other Things), a clever and inventive examination of some of basketball's most iconic players, moments, games, and more. Everything in basketball is measured. Everything in basketball is counted, and quantified, and computed. And yet, no matter how expansive the list of various pinpoint-specific statistical categories gets, some basketball things remain uncountable, and unquantifiable. Some moments are more poetry than calculation; more art than numerical value; more feeling than data processing. And thus: Expensive Basketball. From the final 196 seconds of Kobe Bryant's playing career to the Sue Bird backpedal, from the erosive terror of Tim Duncan to the Larry Bird memory carousel, Expensive Basketball is an affirmation of feelings. It's an affirmation of basketball as virtuosity. It's an affirmation of how sometimes you watch a person perform on the basketball court and it feels the same way it does when you lie in the grass at night and stare up at the moon for long enough that you start to think about how incredible it is that you really, truly, honestly, actually exist."

Shea Serrano (Author), Cary Hite (Narrator)

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Sacrifice: A Year in the Life of a Champion Jockey

"Brought to you by Penguin. Born prematurely, weighing less than a bag of sugar, Oisin Murphy’s life has always been one of struggle. From a young age he found communion with horses. Mesmerised by their power, their spirit, he discovered a gift for the saddle. Oisin quickly established himself as one of horseracing’s most prodigious talents. But reaching the pinnacle of the sport required a high-wire dance that pushed his body and mind to their breaking point. Despite a three-year streak as champion jockey, alcohol addiction lurked beneath the surface, and a string of misdemeanours saw him banned for over a year. “I dealt with success and failure the same. Drink was the rock I perished on. The day I picked up the championship trophy there was no element of joy in it for me.” Fast paced and searingly honest, Sacrifice follows Oisin’s extraordinary journey back from the brink to recover his love for the sport and reclaim his champion jockey crown in 2024. It lays bare the realities of life as a professional jockey and the personal cost of success in a sport that demands total obsession. © Oisin Murphy 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Oisin Murphy (Author), TBD (Narrator)

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Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History

"As a young girl growing up in Houston, Margaret Juhae Lee never heard about her grandfather, Lee Chul Ha. His history was lost in early twentieth-century Korea, and guarded by Margaret's grandmother, who Chul Ha left widowed in 1936 with two young sons. To his surviving family, Lee Chul Ha was a criminal, and his granddaughter was determined to figure out why. Starry Field chronicles Chul Ha's untold story. Combining investigative journalism, oral history, and archival research, Margaret reveals the truth about the grandfather she never knew. What she found is that Lee Chul Ha was not a source of shame; he was a student revolutionary imprisoned in 1929 for protesting the Japanese government's colonization of Korea. He was a hero—and eventually honored as a Patriot of South Korea almost 60 years after his death. It is through the series of three interviews with her grandmother that Margaret finally finds a sense of recognition she's been missing. A story of healing old wounds and the reputation of an extraordinary young man, Starry Field bridges the tales of two women. Starry Field weaves together the stories of Margaret's family against the backdrop of Korea's tumultuous modern history, with a powerful question at its heart. Can we ever separate ourselves from our family's past—and if the answer is yes, should we?"

Margaret Juhae Lee (Author), Michelle H. Lee (Narrator)

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Chrystia: From Peace River to Parliament Hill

"The intriguing, in-depth story of the most powerful woman in Canadian politics. *A NATIONAL BESTSELLER* Catherine Tsalikis traces Chrystia Freeland's remarkable journey from the northwestern Alberta town of Peace River to Moscow, London, and New York, where she spent two decades as a journalist, to the halls of Parliament Hill as deputy prime minister and finance minister in Justin Trudeau's Liberal government. Ambitious and talented with a work ethic to match, Freeland has had an impressive run since she entered politics in 2013: spearheading major trade negotiations, expertly navigating relations with an erratic US president, speaking out about human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia, and standing up to Vladimir Putin's aggressions in Ukraine. With her impeccable research, seasoned perspective, and accessible style, Tsalikis brings Freeland's story to life. The defining moments and experiences that shaped Freeland's particular worldview illuminate the answers to larger social questions: how to live a good, useful life; how to hold fast to guiding principles; how to break through glass ceilings. This is a unique behind-the-curtains look at Canadian politics through the story of a trailblazing woman."

Catherine Tsalikis (Author), Rebecca Mitchell (Narrator)

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I Deliver Parcels in Beijing: On Making a Living

"Brought to you by Penguin. In the twenty years following Hu AnYan’s high school graduation, he has held nineteen different jobs. He’s been a convenience store clerk, a bicycle salesman, a security guard and a delivery driver (among many other things). He moves from city to city in China, slipping away any time the work gets too punishing or the bosses too bossy, carrying with him nothing but his copies of Chekhov and Carver. A million-copy bestseller in China, I Deliver Parcels in Beijing is Hu’s account of his life as a low-wage labourer working to live, not living to work. From the psychology of the pecking order on a parcel-sorting factory floor to the perfect alcohol dose to get some daylight shut-eye before a punishing night shift, from the Kafkaesque bureaucracy of the hiring departments to the ideal layout of a delivery route, Hu’s sincere curiosity and deadpan humour illuminate the lives behind the low wage roles we often take for granted, and highlight Hu’s quietly radical relationship to work. By harnessing his love of literature and the new perspectives it offers him, Hu reminds us of the liberating possibilities of a great book. © Hu AnYan 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025"

Hu AnYan (Author), TBD (Narrator)

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The Penguin Book of Cults

"A chilling documentary history of the most notorious cults of the past two thousand years, from the Celtic druids whose ritual sacrifices inspired the folk horror film The Wicker Man all the way up to the Peoples Temple and Heaven's Gate A Penguin Classic The word "cult" conjures images of people in thrall to a charismatic leader who extracts obedience through lies and threats, and of apocalyptic prophecies, ritual sacrifices, sexual perversion, and mass suicide. The Penguin Book of Cults charts the history of our fear of the religious other: the arrest and public execution of thousands of members of an ancient Roman cult devoted to Bacchus, the god of wine; the burning alive of victims in giant wicker effigies as an offering to Celtic gods; the nocturnal orgies, murder of children, and demon worship of medieval heretics; a church of "human vampires" in nineteenth-century Kansas City; moral panics over the hypnotic powers of yoga; and mass casualty events like the sarin nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system by the doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo. Bringing to light little-known sources such as a "death tape" of Jonestown's final hour, when Jim Jones led more than 900 of his followers to drink poison, and a minute-by-minute log of the FBI's final assault on the Branch Davidian headquarters, and including accounts of drinking the blood of sacrificed cats, theories that we are living inside a hollow earth, and reports that space brothers from Venus are coming to redeem us from the threat of nuclear war, this volume opens a fascinating window into cults and why some of them have ended in spectacular violence."

Joseph P. Laycock (editor) (Author), James Lurie, Megan Trout, Nancy Peterson, Robert Fass, Zura Johnson (Narrator)

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Blighted: A Story of People, Politics, and an American Housing Miracle

"Blighted is a powerful narrative about the decades-long decay and remarkable two-year reinvention of Summerdale, an aging apartment community located in one of Atlanta's grittiest corridors. Blighted unfolds in the voices of ruthless drug dealers, phantom tenants, fearless landlords, the working poor, educators, and visionary local leaders. After purchasing the property from an absentee overseas owner, Marjy Stagmeier and her partners methodically tackled the crisis festering inside the gated 244-unit apartment property. Two years of relentless work later, Stagmeier reveals how the team that she led built community from chaos. Stagmeier demonstrates how marginalized housing perpetuates intergenerational poverty and the collapse of nearby public schools while showing the multifaceted challenges of improving dire living conditions. Blighted offers a unique insider perspective of the political, human, and economic challenges of delivering equitable housing in a market fueled by inflationary prices, insatiable demand, and competing and often dubious agendas. Summerdale's success is a bright model of how affordable housing, education, healthcare, and social capital can interconnect to build vibrant, sustainable communities. From there, kids, families, working people, and neighborhoods can thrive."

Margaret Stagmeier (Author), Lisa S. Ware (Narrator)

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