Non-Fiction Audiobooks

Counting: Humans, History and the Infinite Lives of Numbers

Benjamin Wardhaugh (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

A long-time Austinite and journalist’s exploration of the profound movements that have shaped Austin, Texas—charting the shifts within its vibrant music scene, the impact of rapid urbanization, and the challenges of gentrification—ultimately questioning what this city’s transformation signals for American urban identity. Austin isn’t what it used to be. This is a common sentiment amongst locals, offered with the same confused—and often disappointed—tone familiar to residents of Seattle, Portland, or San Francisco, where rapid growth and expansion have led to an urban identity crisis. Like those cities, Austin is known for its unique qualities: a thriving live music scene and housing affordability that historically made it a compelling home for creatives and self-described weirdos to roost. But now, as Big Tech infiltrates and climate change looms, Austin has become less familiar—and far less affordable. An exploration of the beloved city’s evolution, Lost in Austin also serves as a critical exploration of the transformation that has befallen one of America’s most beloved cities—and serves as a warning for what the homogenization of cities means for American urban identity. With a journalist’s perspective and the heart of an Austinite, Alex Hannaford delves into the consequences of the city’s rapid growth in chapters that chronicle the major movements permanently altering the city: a vanishing music scene, soaring property values, and the encroachment of major industry. Through keen reportage and extensive interviews, Lost in Austin unveils the toll of unchecked growth and the city’s shift from its rebellious spirit to commercialization. Through those stories—vibrant, colorful, and clearly full of love for this city—Hannaford raises a crucial question: How do American cities, once celebrated for their unique values, became casualties of their own rapid growth and success? And can they ever return to what they once were?

Alex Hannaford (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

History for Tomorrow: Inspiration from the Past for the Future of Humanity

Brought to you by Penguin. What can humankind's rich history of radical revolts teach us about the power of disobedience to change climate policy? What inspiration could we take from seventeenth century Japan to create a regenerative economy today? How might the history of financial capitalism help us understand what it takes to bring AI under control? Here, leading social philosopher Roman Krznaric unearths fascinating insights and inspiration from the last 1000 years of world history that could help us confront the most urgent challenges facing humanity in the twenty-first century. From bridging the inequality gap and keeping AI under control, to reviving our faith in democracy and avoiding ecological collapse, History for Tomorrow shows that history is not simply a means of understanding the past but a way of reimagining our relationship with the future. Krznaric shows how, time and again, societies have risen up, often against the odds, to tackle challenges and overcome crises. History can offer a vision for radical hope that could turn out to be our most vital tool for surviving and thriving in the turbulent decades ahead. ©2024 Roman Krznaric (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Roman Krznaric (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Beyond Policing

What better way to make the case for a police free world than to show a world where it's possible? For Princeton University's Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow, Philip V. McHarris, body cameras, de-escalation training, procedural justice, diversity among police, and other popular reforms will never stop police violence. And high emphasis on punishment in the United States has left many communities without the resources needed to keep them safe. Beyond Policing aims to provide a better understanding of the origins and functions of policing and the criminal punishment system in the United States. In this research-driven collection of essays, author and sociologist Philip V. McHarris charts the pitfalls of policing in the United States, from slave patrols, to the expansion of mass policing in the mid-1900s, and the epidemic of police violence today. Written in deftly precise, yet widely accessible language, Beyond Policing presents evidence, both data and anecdotal, that tackles the weight and toll of policing on people and communities and patterns that prove that police reform only leads to more policing. And for what seems like America's most oppressive institution, McHarris points to an exit from the current punitive paradigm, outlining strategies for responding to conflict and harm in ways that transform the conditions that gave rise to violence. This requires, he asserts, decriminalization, decarceration, and defunding punitive institutions that have created the current police and carceral state and a committed investment in community-based alternatives-mechanisms that actually provide safety.

Philip V. Mcharris (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Cities Under Siege: One Night of Violence in America’s Urban Wasteland

A Fox News analyst and well-known commentator on urban violence examines the rise in crime affecting American cities and tells how it has personally affected families, including his own. On June 24, 2022, Gianno Caldwell’s eighteen-year-old brother, Christian, was murdered. He was standing with friends on a street in the Southside of Chicago when a black SUV pulled up and several unidentified men opened fire. Fifty shell casings were later found at the scene. Three in the crowd were rushed to the hospital; only two survived. His family was shattered, and Caldwell was devastated. Tragically, he is not alone. In this gripping exposé, Caldwell dives deep into the heart of America's big cities, telling the stories of several other murders that occurred on the same night his brother died, revealing the shocking human tragedy beneath the rise in crime rates. The Night My Brother Was Murdered takes a bold stance, shining a spotlight on the multiple failings of Democratic policies that have transformed our once-thriving metropolises into crime-ridden centers. Caldwell meticulously dissects the consequences of progressive agendas that prioritize social experiments over public safety. Though some of the worst cities have the strictest gun control laws, they cannot stop the proliferation of weapons from states with few regulations. He reveals the detrimental effects of failed poverty programs, the effect of the disintegration of two-parent households, the decline of religion, and sanctuary city policies that can help to shield criminals. Combining rigorous research and poignant personal anecdotes, Caldwell provides a comprehensive understanding of the dangers facing urban communities, and presents a compelling case for why we must reject the status quo and demand change.

Gianno Caldwell (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Biblical Critical Theory Audio Lectures: How the Bible's Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life

The Zondervan Biblical and Theological Lectures series provides a unique audio learning experience. Unlike a traditional audiobook's direct narration of a book's text, Biblical Critical Theory Audio Lectures includes high-quality live recordings of college-level lectures that cover the important points from each subject as well as relevant material from other sources. A bold vision for Christians who want to engage the world in a way that is biblically faithful and culturally sensitive. In Biblical Critical Theory Audio Lectures, Christopher Watkin shows how the Bible and its unfolding story help us make sense of modern life and culture. Critical theories exist to critique what we think we know about reality and the social, political, and cultural structures in which we live. In doing so, they make visible the values and beliefs of a culture in order to scrutinize and change them. Biblical Critical Theory Audio Lectures exposes and evaluates the often-hidden assumptions and concepts that shape late-modern society, examining them through the lens of the biblical story running from Genesis to Revelation, and asking urgent questions like: - How does the Bible's storyline help us understand our society, our culture, and ourselves? - How do specific doctrines help us engage thoughtfully in the philosophical, political, and social questions of our day? - How can we analyze and critique culture and its alternative critical theories through Scripture? Informed by the biblical-theological structure of Saint Augustine's magisterial work The City of God (and with extensive diagrams and practical tools), Biblical Critical Theory Audio Lectures shows how the patterns of the Bible's storyline can provide incisive, fresh, and nuanced ways of intervening in today's debates on everything from science, the arts, and politics to dignity, multiculturalism, and equality. You'll learn the moves to make and the tools to use in analyzing and engaging with all sorts of cultural artifacts and events in a way that is both biblically faithful and culturally relevant. It is not enough for Christians to explain the Bible to the culture or cultures in which we live. We must also explain the culture in which we live within the framework and categories of the Bible, revealing how the whole of the Bible sheds light on the whole of life. If Christians want to speak with a fresh, engaging, and dynamic voice in the marketplace of ideas today, we need to mine the unique treasures of the distinctive biblical storyline.

Christopher Watkin (Author), Christopher Watkin (Narrator)

Audiobook

Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose: A 100-Day Devotional for Athletes

As an athlete, you train your body and mind to be ready for competition. But what about your soul? Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose is your guide to exercising your faith, with Andy Dooley as your trainer. As a professional athlete turned pastor--and a passionate leader, Seattle Seahawks in-game host, social media influencer, and fitness trainer--Andy Dooley knows all about sports and what it takes to be a Christian on and off the field, court, or wherever you may play. A 100-day devotional written to encourage and guide athletes of any age, level, or sport, Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose is just what you need to integrate your faith into what you love to do--play your sport. Let Dooley be your spiritual trainer and coach you to: - Become a better teammate in four simple steps - Discover effective ways to handle stress before a competition - Identify how God is working through your sport to make you more like him - Understand and embrace your calling as a Christian who is also an athlete Physical training has value for our lives here on earth, yet it holds zero weight for the eternal. If you learn to be tenacious about living a godly life now as you also strive to become a better athlete and teammate, you'll change the trajectory of your life.

Andy Dooley (Author), Andy Dooley, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Reinventing Love: How the Patriarchy Sabotages Heterosexual Relations

A new work by the author of “In Defense of Witches” that seeks to redefine heterosexual relationships and give women back their voice. As feminist principles have taken wider hold in society, and basic ideas about equality for women can seem a given, many women still struggle in one of the most important areas of life: love. Whether it’s finding a partner, seeking a commitment from one, or struggling in a relationship that is unfulfilling or even potentially abusive, women still find that deeply-engrained notions of gender and behavior can be obstacles to a healthy, loving relationship. In her new book, acclaimed French feminist Mona Chollet tackles some of these long-held and pervasive ideas that remain stumbling blocks for many women in heterosexual relationships. Drawing from popular culture, politics, and literature, Reinventing Love provides a provocative, accessible look at how heterosexual relationships can improve and evolve under a feminist lens.

Mona Chollet (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Coming of Age: How Adolescence Shapes Us

Brought to you by Penguin. Adolescence is the most dramatic and formative period of our lives: both thrilling and traumatic, it is when we become who we are, when the smallest things can have life-long effects. But it is also full of contradictions, making it bewildering to live through and usually misunderstood in retrospect. We often struggle to connect with the adolescents in our lives, but most of us have yet to come to terms with our own adolescence and how it has shaped who we are. In this moving, empowering book, which is full of counter-intuitive insights, Lucy Foulkes, an expert in adolescent psychology, draws on the latest studies and in-depth interviews to demystify adolescent behaviours - friendship, bullying, risk-taking, sex, mental illness, love and much more. She unpicks the social hierarchies that colour all of adolescent life and reveals some surprising underlying truths: that as adolescents we are deeply conservative more than we are rebellious; that what seems like recklessness is often calculated and risk-averse; that the same peer influence that can lead to bullying can also be used to prevent it; that popularity is a mixed blessing even while friendship at this time can be a life-changing good. She explains why appearance counts for everything at this age and why we can be so fickle and cruel, but also how adolescents can astound the adults in their lives with their empathy and capacity to support and nurture one another. If our identities are a story, then the first crucial draft is written in adolescence. This book helps us to read that story - in ourselves and as it is being written in others - helping us to appreciate and accept it and where there is pain to begin to rewrite it. ©2024 Lucy Foulkes (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Lucy Foulkes (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Pathway to Flow: The New Science of Harnessing Creativity to Heal and Unwind the Body & Mind

Brought to you by Penguin. Improve your calm, focus and sense of purpose by harnessing the everyday power of creativity. If you've ever experienced the blissful feeling of being fully immersed in a project, of ideas come to you naturally, or of getting lost in thought when cooking, playing music, or dancing, then you've accessed the flow state. Sometimes we stumble into it by accident, but what if you could access and unlock the healing properties of the flow state whenever you need it? For everyone who has ever struggled with writer's block this may sound too good to be true, but Dr. Julia F. Christensen, neuroscientist and former ballerina, taps into cutting-edge science, research and case studies from everyday people to show us how we can use the arts to alter our emotional state, tap into our ability to focus, release our creativity and improve our overall wellbeing. Using ancient solutions to solve modern problems, Pathway to Flow will show how to harness the flow state at will through seven simple steps and build a routine that will help you be more calm, focused and creative. ©2024 Julia F. Christensen (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Julia F. Christensen (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Rough Justice: The Sunday Times bestselling Old Bailey judge interrogates whether our criminal court

Brought to you by Penguin. What is justice? Do our legal courts dispense it? Has our judicial process improved, for the victims, the accused and for society? What more must be done to ensure genuine justice is carried out in future? Following on the heels of her bestseller Unlawful Killings, Old Bailey judge Wendy Joseph KC places her readers at the heart of the courtroom drama, and asks questions of the institutions tasked to deliver what is right and fair. With a text that is vivid, fast-paced and utterly absorbing, with all the hallmarks of a twisty thriller, she keep readers on tenterhooks as they await the verdicts of some of the most shocking and harrowing cases this murder trial judge has presided over. But, as she contrasts modern courtroom tales with eerily similar cases and miscarriages of justice from many years ago, could the most chilling story of all be that the lessons of the past have yet to be learned? Unpicking the fatal foibles of our legal system, in Rough Justice Joseph asks British courts to face up to their failings, as she makes her own compelling case for change. .......................................................................................................... Praise for Unlawful Killings 'Wendy Joseph's gripping account of the law at work reads like a cliffhanger.' Sunday Times 'A gripping insight ... beautifully crafted ... grim tales lifted by humour and honesty.' The Times 'Absolutely superb. 5 stars' PHILIPPA PERRY, author of THE BOOK YOU WISH YOUR PARENTS HAD READ ©2024 Her Honour Wendy Joseph KC (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Wendy Joseph (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dateable: Swiping Right, Hooking Up, and Settling Down While Chronically Ill and Disabled

A much-needed guide to dating--from apps to hooking up, sex, long-term relationships and more--from disabled essayist and author Jessica Slice and bioethicist Caroline Cupp. Disabled people date, have casual sex, marry, and parent. Yet our romantic lives are conspicuously absent from the media and cultural conversation. Sexual education does not typically address the specific information needed by disabled students. Mainstream dating apps fail to include disability as an aspect of one's identity alongside race, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation. The few underutilized disability-focused apps are paternalistic and unappealing. Bestselling dating books do not address disability, and the few relationship books marketed to disabled people focus on the mechanics of sex rather than the complex interactions that create the conditions for it. In Dateable, disabled authors Jessica Slice Caroline Cupp team up to address the serious gap in the dating space. Dateable is the first book on disabled dating and relationships; it's a dating guide made especially for disabled and chronically ill people, that also calls in nondisabled readers. Jessica and Caroline take on everything from rom-com representation and dating apps to sex and breakups with a strong narrative underpinning and down-to-earth advice. The book is as much a practical tool as it is an empowering guide.

Caroline Cupp, Jessica Slice (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook