General Audiobooks | Science & Technology

In Search of Amrit Kaur: An Indian Princess in Wartime Paris

Brought to you by Penguin. As she builds her own life anew, an Italian writer embarks on an all-consuming search for the true story of the mysterious princess H. H. Amrit Kaur of Mandi. On a sweltering summer day in 2007, having just lost her brother to illness, Livia Manera Sambuy finds herself standing before a 1924 photograph of a stunningly elegant Indian princess at a museum in Mumbai. What's written in the caption will change her life forever. This gorgeous Punjabi princess, it's said, sold her jewels in occupied Paris to save Jewish lives, only to be arrested by the Gestapo and sent to a concentration camp, where she died within a year. Could it be true? And if so, how could such a sensational story have gone unnoticed? Instinctively, almost viscerally, Manera becomes entangled in the mystery, losing herself in the history of the British Raj, in the diamonds and sapphires of the twentieth-century aristocracy, in the Circus Balls and Jubilees, and in the lives of extraordinary figures such as the Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala, the Jewish banker Albert Kahn, and the Russian explorer Nicholas Roerich-all in a decades-long pursuit of the elusive Amrit Kaur. When she rendezvouses with the princess's eighty-year-old daughter, Manera's search takes on a new dimension as she strives to reconnect an orphan with the mother who abandoned her in 1933, leaving behind her two children, her raja husband, and a legacy of activism in India's women's civil rights movement. In Search of Amrit Kaur is an engrossing detective story, a kaleidoscopic history lesson, and a moving portrait of women, across the century, seeking personal freedom. © Livia Manera Sambuy 2023 (P) Penguin Audio 2023

Livia Manera Sambuy (Author), Christina Cole (Narrator)

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Lee's Lieutenants: Singapore's Old Guard

Most books exploring the political and socioeconomic landscape of modern Singapore focus on the role played by longtime Prime Minister and now Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew. But by Lee's own admission, Singapore would not be what it is without his gifted and capable team of loyal lieutenants. These talented men were brought together in the most extraordinary of circumstances, and were no mere functionaries of Lee. Indeed, each was a leader in his own right but they were prepared to accept Lee's captaincy in the shaping and moulding of Singapore. Lee's Lieutenants addresses the imbalance of scholarship, arguing that Singapore's unusual political and economic trajectory resulted from this impressive array of men and the political choices they made.Contributors examine the roles played by the key architects of modern Singapore: the organisational utility men, the ideologues, the economic and social architect, the Chinese politico-cultural vanguards, the Malay mobilisers, the legalists and even those who were vanquished in the struggle for power.;Taking new lines of historical inquiry and including hitherto unpublished material gathered from interviews and documents, along with many lively and evocative photographs, Lee's Lieutenants offers a new understanding of postcolonial Singapore's origins and development. The contributors, who represent the very best of Singaporean scholarship today, break new intellectual ground with their interpretations of Singapore's political dynamics.Dr Lam Peng Er is Assistant Professor (Department of Political Science) and Dr Kevin Tan is Associate Professor (Faculty of Law), National University of Singapore. Their last collaborative project was Managing Political Change in Singapore: The Elected Presidency (1997)

Kevin Yl Tan (editor), Kevin Yl Tan And Lam Peng Er (editors), Lam Peng Er (editor) (Author), Chris Alexander (Narrator)

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La filla del Ganges

L’Asha Miró, després de ser adoptada per una família catalana disposa a donar-li tot, viatja a l’Índia per trobar el seu origen. Vol tornar-hi, ja d’adulta, per reviure la seva infància i conèixer els seus pares biològics i saber per què la van dur a l’orfenat. 'La filla del Ganges' és el testimoni de la seva adopció i un emotiu viatge de contrast entre els dos mons i les dues cultures presents a la seva vida. És un viatge de descobriment d’una nova cultura, la de les seves arrels i els seus primers records, però també un viatge de descobriment interior ple de temors, dubtes i inquietuds. Qui eren els seus pares? Per què la van abandonar? Com és aquell país del que ha sentit a parlar tant i del que va marxar de petita, del qual no recorda la llengua, ni pràcticament res? És una història amena i emotiva que no només ens porta al món interior d’una persona adoptada, sinó també a un món d’agraïment per la generositat i l’amor rebuts tant a l’orfenat amb les monges com per part de la família adoptiva. Se sent afortunada d’haver pogut créixer en un entorn on el fet de donar està molt per sobre del de tenir. Per això està disposada a oferir, a donar, i ho fa a través d’una ONG. Va a un camp de treball a l’Índia per conèixer la realitat més dura del país: una realitat ambigua i contrastant, de colors, mites i llegendes, però també de molta pobresa. L’acompanyem en el seu viatge? - Asha Miró va néixer a Nasik (Índia) el 1967 i viu a Barcelona des del 1974, després de ser adoptada per una família catalana. El 2003 va publicar el seu primer llibre, 'La filla del Ganges', un relat autobiogràfic sobre la cerca dels orígens que es va convertir en un autèntic 'best seller'. Li va seguir 'Les dues cares de la lluna' (2004), una continuació de l'anterior escrita després del retrobament amb la seva germana biològica. El 2007 va donar a llum 'Rastres de sàndal', la seva primera obra de ficció, portada a la gran pantalla el 2014 i guardonada amb diferents premis nacionals i internacionals. Ha escrit obres d’èxit que fins i tot han estat adaptades a la gran pantalla i cal dir que les seves novel·les autobiogràfiques han estat traduïdes a nombrosos idiomes.

Asha Miró (Author), Cristina Serrano (Narrator)

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Lockruf Saudia: Bekenntnisse einer ehemaligen Flugbegleiterin der Saudi Arabian Airlines

Für die junge Schweizerin Teresa geht ein lang gehegter Wunsch in Erfüllung: Sie darf als Flugbegleiterin bei Saudi Arabian Airlines anfangen und ins Stewardessen-Camp Jeddah ziehen. Doch hinter den Mauern des Camps sieht die Realität ganz anders aus: Ihre Kolleginnen spinnen perfide Intrigen, von der arabischen Religionspolizei wird sie auf Schritt und Tritt überwacht, und ein bisschen Freiheit winkt Teresa nur, wenn sie sich wie die anderen Stewardessen mit den mächtigen und reichen Scheichs einlässt. In diesem authentischen und bewegenden Buch schildert Teresa Fortis ihre Erfahrungen als Flugbegleiterin und erzählt von ihrer aufregenden Zeit in der arabischen Wüste.

Teresa Fortis (Author), Birgit Brauneder (Narrator)

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Only Pass This Way Once

Born in 1945 in Middlesbrough, the author lived a life of struggle in an overcrowded house with a large family. His younger years were sometimes tough but there were many highlights as well. He lost his virginity at the age of 12 and from then on was never starved of sex. He started an allotment with his father, bought the first of many pigs at the age of 13 and joined the Young Farmers Club, as he had become hooked on farming. He left school at 15 and began a career in farming. In the words of the author, 'Leaving home was good, farm life was great and the village was nice, and oh, I got plenty of sex; there was always a village girl to oblige, what more could I want?' The author always felt he had itchy feet and decided it was then time to move on and do something different. He left farming and turned to construction work. He met an Irishman named Shaun who taught him how to drive a crane and from then on, the author has never looked back. This is the author's first book and details the events of his early life: the struggles with his family, getting into farming and later on in construction, the people he met throughout this journey and the various sexual exploits on the way. The author hopes the readers enjoy reading this book as much as he enjoyed reminiscing and sharing a small part of his life's journey.

Billy Crane (Author), Jacob Z Klimaszewski (Narrator)

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LAS MEMORIAS INTERMINABLES DE ROBERT ROA: El hombre que soñó con ser presidente y prometió transform

Este libro cuenta la historia de un hombre que, en su lucha por la justicia y el bienestar de su gente, tuvo que enfrentarse y combatir con los peores monstruos, representados por los siete pecados capitales. Al ganar la guerra es venerado por todos y el mundo se convierte en un lugar mejor gracias al sacrificio de su protagonista. ROBERTO SOTO ROA Tiene 43 años de edad. Nació en la ciudad de Santo Domingo el 8 de agosto de 1978, pero de niño creció con su abuela Basilia Díaz, en la comunidad de Mata de Limón Manabao, Municipio Jarabacoa, Provincia la Vega Republica Dominicana. Su madre se llama Anastasia Roa Díaz. Tiene dos hijos, Roberto Ángel Soto, y Analía Soto, y también dos hermanos, Lic. Primitivo Castillo Roa, Lic. María Lissette Castillo Roa. En este momento vive en Av. Charles De Gaulle. Es abogado, locutor, orador, maestro de ceremonias, periodista, comunicador, y escritor. También es el presidente de la institución sin ánimo de lucro LA FUNDACIÓN ROBERT ROA ROBROA, que se dedica a mejorar la calidad de vida de personas vulnerables. Es el autor de su obra maestra Las memorias interminables de Robert Roa, que es una saga, la cual contará con tres ejemplares, donde podrán ver en su primera edición, la historia del ascenso meteórico de un hombre de carne y hueso, con luces y sombras, que fue llevado de la obediencia a la rebelión; y cambió el mundo en un periodo pequeño de tiempo, en una aventura que incendió al centro educativo Neris Sosa, propagando la revolución estudiantil en todas las aulas y desencadenando una voz de libertades, que resonará a través de los siglos.

Roberto Soto Roa (Author), Roberto Soto Roa (Narrator)

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Ich will zu dir!: Trennungskinder, Muttervergiftung, Staatsterror

'Eine der bestürzendsten Justizaffären, die Österreich je erlebt hat...' Stefan Melichar, NEWS, 22. Jänner 2015 Die elterliche Trennung und 'Trennungskinder' gehören mittlerweile zu den meist tabuisierten Themen unserer 'modernen' Gesellschaft, mit fatalen und verheerenden Folgen für die gesamte öffentliche Gemeinschaft. – Was verbirgt sich aber hinter den alarmierenden Studien, Zahlen und Fakten zu Trennungskindern wirklich? Gibt es regelrecht sogar eine 'Scheidungsindustrie', die mit dem Leid der Kinder auch noch Geld verdient? Sind Trennungskinder zu allem schmerzlichen Überdruss der elterlichen Trennung oft auch noch einem 'Staatsterror' ausgesetzt? Was bedeutet die elterliche Trennung vor allem für diejenigen, die dem ganzen und vielfach großen Versagen der 'Erwachsenen' schuld- und hilflos ausgeliefert sind? Diese und noch weitere Fragen werden in Ich will zu dir! aus der Sicht eines Trennungskindes gestellt. Die 11-jährige Ronja erzählt die tragische, wahre und schockierende Trennungsgeschichte ihres Bruders Kaito. Diese 'Horrorgeschichte' ist jedoch kein tragischer 'Einzelfall', sondern Symptom einer zunehmend entmenschlichten Gesellschaft... Eine (auto-) biografische Erzählung, ein gesellschaftliches Zeitdokument: erschütternd, berührend, mahnend.

Michael Hüter (Author), Angie Marina (Narrator)

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Black on Black: On Our Resilience and Brilliance in America

*A Zibby's Most Anticipated Book of 2023* *A "Next Big Idea Club" Must-Read Book for January* *An Essence "Books by Black Authors to Read This Winter" Pick?* A piercing collection of essays on racial tension in America and the ongoing fight for visibility, change, and lasting hope "There are stories that must be told." Acclaimed novelist and scholar Daniel Black has spent a career writing into the unspoken, fleshing out, through storytelling, pain that can't be described. Now, in his debut essay collection, Black gives voice to the experiences of those who often find themselves on the margins. Tackling topics ranging from police brutality to the AIDS crisis to the role of HBCUs to queer representation in the black church, Black on Black celebrates the resilience, fortitude, and survival of black people in a land where their body is always on display. As Daniel Black reminds us, while hope may be slow in coming, it always arrives, and when it does, it delivers beyond the imagination. Propulsive, intimate, and achingly relevant, Black on Black is cultural criticism at its openhearted best.

Daniel Black (Author), Jd Jackson (Narrator)

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Up From Slavery

'Up from Slavery is the 1901 autobiography of Booker T. Washington This book is enhanced with colourised photos Born into slavery, Booker Washington suddenly gained his freedom, after the American Civil War. This is a first hand account from a slave around the events of the emancipation proclamation. The book covers the inspiring story of a young man as he works to rise up from being enslaved as a child, overcoming massive obstacles to obtain an education, to eventually become an advisor to the president. A truly inspiring and informative story.'

Booker T. Washington (Author), Andrew James Roberts (Narrator)

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No estoy roto: Memorias

En este inspirador e inquebrantable libro de memorias, Jesse Leon cuenta su historia extraordinaria de resiliencia y supervivencia. Nos acerca a su niñez, devastada por el tráfico sexual, experiencias de calle y el abuso de sustancias. La niñez de Jesse fue destrozada de forma violenta. Nació en San Diego, en los años setenta, hijo de inmigrantes mexicanos e indígenas de la clase obrera. Cuando tenía once años, un encuentro en una tienda de regalos lo dejó con un secreto aterrador entre manos. Herido, con el apoyo de nadie y temiendo por su vida, Jesse se perdió en el mundo híper masculino de las calles de San Diego, donde silenció su dolor con lo que fuera que encontrara: alcohol, drogas y prostitución. Ignorado hasta por los sistemas de apoyo que ayudan a víctimas de abuso, y abandonado, como muchos otros latinos de clase baja, Jesse pasó años entre pensamientos suicidas y el abuso de sustancias. No estoy roto es la asombrosa y desgarradora historia del viaje que emprendió entonces para recuperar su vida, un viaje que lo llevó hasta la Universidad de Harvard. Jesse pasó de ser un joven de color que frecuentaba reuniones de Narcóticos Anónimos a aceptar su identidad sexual. Se convirtió en un apasionado mentor para jóvenes encarcelados y encontró la voluntad para vivir con apoyo de su familia, amigos y mentores. En este libro, a la par que recuerda las extraordinarias circunstancias de su vida, Jesse brinda una poderosa y cruda evidencia de que la autotransformación y autoaceptación son posibles. No estoy roto es el nspirador retrato de la fuerza indomable y el espíritu luchador de un joven que sobrevivió, contra todos los pronósticos. ENGLISH DESCRIPTION In this unflinching and inspiring memoir, Jesse Leon tells an extraordinary story of resilience and survival. He shines a light on his childhood, one devastated by sex trafficking, street life, and substance abuse. Born to indigenous working-class Mexican immigrants in San Diego in the 1970s, Jesse Leon's childhood was violently ruptured. A dangerous and harrowing encounter at a local gift shop when he was eleven years old left Jesse with a deadly secret. Hurt, alone, and scared for his life, Jesse numbed his pain by losing himself in the hyper-masculine culture of the streets and wherever else he could find it -in alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. Overlooked by state-sanctioned institutions and systems intended to help victims of abuse, neglected like many other low-income Latinos, Jesse spiraled into cycles of suicide and substance abuse. I'm Not Broken is the heartbreaking and remarkable story of the journey Jesse takes to win back his life, leading him to the steps of Harvard University. From being the lone young person of color in Narcotics Anonymous meetings to coming to terms with his own sexual identity, to becoming an engaged mentor for incarcerated youth, Jesse finds the will to live with the love and support of his family, friends, and mentors. Recounting the extraordinary circumstances of his life, Jesse offers a powerful, raw testament to the possibilities of self-transformation and self-acceptance. Unforgettable, I'm Not Broken is an inspirational portrait of one young man's indomitable strength and spirit to survive-against all possible odds.

Jesse Leon (Author), Jesse León (Narrator)

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Mes maux en couleurs et mon combat pour le bonheur

Ma vie a basculé une nuit où tout semblait pourtant si calme. La bête s'est glissée dans mon corps et ne m'a plus laissé une journée de répit. Il a fallu attendre des années pour, qu'enfin, on puisse poser un nom sur cette pathologie : l'algie vasculaire de la face. Les médecins la surnomment « la maladie du suicide » et comparent l'intensité de sa douleur à une amputation sans anesthésie. Ne pouvant me résoudre à vivre avec cette douleur insoutenable, j'ai tout essayé, faisant souvent même office de cobaye. Épuisée par les multiples traitements et mutilée par mes 12 opérations, je n'étais plus que l'ombre de moi-même. Il était alors vital pour moi de donner un sens à tout ce combat. Aujourd'hui, j'ai pris conscience que chaque moment de répit avec ma famille et mes amis, même court, était essentiel et allait me permettre d'affronter chacune de mes épreuves. Et je sais qu'il est urgent de vivre et que, même si mon bonheur est un combat de chaque instant, j'en sors victorieuse chaque jour !

Diane Wattrelos (Author), Marie Bouvet (Narrator)

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کتاب صوتی مستند شنیداری گفت‌وگو با نجف دریابندری

در این کتاب اظهار نظرهای دریابندری درباره موضوعات مختلف اعم از فراز و فرودهای زندگی شخصی وی از جمله حضورش در موسسه انتشارات فرانکلین و فراز و نشیب فعالیت این موسسه، نگاه او به مقوله ترجمه و مهمترین ترجمه‌هایی که از وی و در روزگار وی منتشر شده است درج شده است. در کنار این مساله نگاه او به بایدها و نبایدهای زبان فارسی، داستان نویسی طنز و سینما نیز درج شده است. از مهم‌ترین نویسندگانی که دریابندری در این کتاب به اظهار‌نظر درباره آن‌ها پرداخته است می‌توان به دهخدا، جمالزاده، هدایت، چوبک، آل احمد، گلستان و علی محمد افغانی اشاره کرد. وی در بخشی از این کتاب درباره نثر جلال آل احمد می‌گوید: من با نثر مقاله‌های جلال آل احمد هیچ موافق نیستم. یعنی نثری که در مقاله‌هایش می بینید، چیزی ساخته و پرداخته خودش است و به اصطلاح چیزی ساخته و پرداخته خودش است و به چیزی نیست که آدم آرزومند همه مثل آن بنویسند. شما تصور کنید که اکر نویسندگان ما بخواهند ادای آل احمد را در بیاورند به کلی چیز بی خودی می‌شود. البته یادم هست که خودش هم در جایی گفته بود این طرز حرف زدن را از یک نویسنده فرانسوی یاد گرفته. یعنی در واقع ادای او را در آورده. سلین، خیال می‌کنم. به هر حال زمانی از سبک آل‌احمد که معروف است، دو سه نفری تقلید می‌کردند ولی همه آن‌ها پی کارشان رفته‌اند. یعنی الان دیگر کسی به نثر آل احمد توجهی ندارد. این خیلی طبیعی است. برای این‌که نثر مقاله‌های او نثر فارسی پاکیزه درست و حسابی نبود. به اصطلاح من درآوردی بود. اما به نظر من نثر داستان‌های آل‌احمد شایان توجه است.

مهدی مظفری‌ساوجی (Author), راضیه هاشمی, مهدی مظفری‌ساوجی (Narrator)

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General Audiobooks in Science & Technology