Technology & Engineering Audiobooks | Science & Technology

Adrift: A True Story of Tragedy on the Icy Atlantic and the One Who Lived to Tell about It

A story of tragedy at sea where every desperate act meant life or death The small ship making the Liverpool-to-New York trip in the early months of 1856 carried mail, crates of dry goods, and more than one hundred passengers, mostly Irish emigrants. Suddenly an iceberg tore the ship asunder and five lifeboats were lowered. As four lifeboats drifted into the fog and icy water, never to be heard from again, the last boat wrenched away from the sinking ship with a few blankets, some water and biscuits, and thirteen souls. Only one would survive. This is his story. As they started their nine days adrift more than four hundred miles off Newfoundland, the castaways--an Irish couple and their two boys, an English woman and her daughter, newlyweds from Ireland, and several crewmen, including Thomas W. Nye from Fairhaven, Massachusetts--began fighting over food and water. One by one, though, day by day, they died. Some from exposure, others from madness and panic. In the end, only Nye and the ship's log survived. Using Nye's firsthand descriptions and later newspaper accounts, ship's logs, assorted diaries, and family archives, Brian Murphy chronicles the horrific nine days that thirteen people suffered adrift on the cold gray Atlantic. Adrift brings readers to the edge of human limits, where every frantic decision and desperate act is a potential life saver or life taker.

Brian Murphy, Toula Vlahou (Author), Dan Warren, Dan Woren (Narrator)

Audiobook

Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth?

A powerful investigation into the chances for humanity's future from the author of the bestseller The World Without Us. In his bestselling book The World Without Us, Alan Weisman considered how the Earth could heal and even refill empty niches if relieved of humanity's constant pressures. Behind that groundbreaking thought experiment was his hope that we would be inspired to find a way to add humans back to this vision of a restored, healthy planet-only in harmony, not mortal combat, with the rest of nature. But with a million more of us every 4 1/2 days on a planet that's not getting any bigger, and with our exhaust overheating the atmosphere and altering the chemistry of the oceans, prospects for a sustainable human future seem ever more in doubt. For this long awaited follow-up book, Weisman traveled to more than 20 countries to ask what experts agreed were probably the most important questions on Earth--and also the hardest: How many humans can the planet hold without capsizing? How robust must the Earth's ecosystem be to assure our continued existence? Can we know which other species are essential to our survival? And, how might we actually arrive at a stable, optimum population, and design an economy to allow genuine prosperity without endless growth? Weisman visits an extraordinary range of the world's cultures, religions, nationalities, tribes, and political systems to learn what in their beliefs, histories, liturgies, or current circumstances might suggest that sometimes it's in their own best interest to limit their growth. The result is a landmark work of reporting: devastating, urgent, and, ultimately, deeply hopeful. By vividly detailing the burgeoning effects of our cumulative presence, Countdown reveals what may be the fastest, most acceptable, practical, and affordable way of returning our planet and our presence on it to balance. Weisman again shows that he is one of the most provocative journalists at work today, with a book whose message is so compelling that it will change how we see our lives and our destiny.

Alan Weisman (Author), Adam Grupper (Narrator)

Audiobook

Silicon States: The Power and Politics of Big Tech and What It Means for Our Future

Welcome to the Silicon States. Silicon Valley is imperializing the planet. With nearly bottomless supplies of cash and ambition, a small group of companies have been gradually seizing symbolic and practical civic leadership in America and worldwide. But Silicon Valley does not answer to the electorate; nor have they been voted into office. And the perils of their influence are only now making themselves known. The institutions of Facebook, Google, and Twitter are implicated in the investigation of Russian interference into U.S. elections, providing the public their first opportunity to glimpse the wizards behind the curtain: how these businesses operate, where their interests lie, and the power they wield over an unsuspecting citizenry. While the promise of Silicon Valley is bold, futuristic, and seductive, it is important to understand these corporations' possible impact on our future. Silicon States emphasizes that before we hand our future over to a rarified group of companies, we examine the world they might build: its benefits, prejudices, and inherent flaws. And to ask, ultimately, if we really want it.

Lucie Greene (Author), Esther Wane (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Vanishing of Flight MH370: The True Story of the Hunt for the Missing Malaysian Plane

CNN Aviation Correspondent Richard Quest offers a gripping and definitive account of the disappearance of Malaysian Airline Flight MH370 in March 2014. On March 8, 2014, Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared with barely a trace, carrying 239 people on board-seemingly vanishing into the dark night. The airplane's whereabouts and fate would quickly become one of the biggest aviation mysteries of our time... Richard Quest, CNN's Aviation Correspondent, was one of the leading journalists covering the story. In a coincidence, Quest had interviewed one of the two pilots a few weeks before the disappearance. It is here that he begins his gripping account of those tense weeks in March, presenting a fascinating chronicle of an international search effort, which despite years of searching and tens of millions of dollars spent has failed to find the plane. Quest dissects what happened in the hours following the plane's disappearance and chronicles the days and weeks of searching, which led to nothing but increasing despair. He takes apart the varying responses from authorities and the discrepancies in reports, the wide range of theories, the startling fact that the plane actually turned around and flew in the opposite direction, and what solutions the aviation industry must now implement to ensure it never happens again. What emerges is a riveting chronicle of a tragedy that continues to baffle everyone from aviation experts to satellite engineers to politicians-and which to this day worries the traveling public that it could happen again.

Richard Quest (Author), Richard Quest (Narrator)

Audiobook

Who Can You Trust?: How Technology Brought Us Together - and Why It Could Drive Us Apart

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Who Can You Trust? by Rachel Botsman, read by Caroline Baum. Nominated for the Business Book Awards 'Embracing Change' category If you can't trust those in charge, who can you trust? From government to business, banks to media, trust in institutions is at an all-time low. Widespread corruption, elitism and economic disparity have led to a worldwide upsurge of anti-establishment movements. But this isn't the age of distrust - far from it. In this revolutionary book, world-renowned trust expert Rachel Botsman reveals that we are at the tipping point of one of the biggest social transformations in human history. A new world order is emerging: we have lost faith in brands, leaders and systems, but millions of people every day rent their home to total strangers on AirBnB, exchange cryptocurrency online, or get in the car of an unknown Uber driver. This is the age of distributed trust; a paradigm shift driven by new technologies that are rewriting the rules of an all-too-human relationship. If we are to benefit from this radical transformation, it is vital that we understand the new mechanics of how trust is built, managed, lost and repaired. In Who Can You Trust?, Botsman provides a detailed map of this uncharted landscape - and explores what's next for humanity.

Rachel Botsman (Author), Caroline Baum (Narrator)

Audiobook

The People Vs Tech: How the internet is killing democracy (and how we save it)

Random House presents the audiobook edition of The People Vs Tech by Jamie Bartlett, read by Sandro Monetti. The internet was meant to set us free. Tech has radically changed the way we live our lives. But have we unwittingly handed too much away to shadowy powers behind a wall of code, all manipulated by a handful of Silicon Valley utopians, ad men, and venture capitalists? And, in light of recent data breach scandals around companies like Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, what does that mean for democracy, our delicately balanced system of government that was created long before big data, total information and artificial intelligence? In this urgent polemic, Jamie Bartlett argues that through our unquestioning embrace of big tech, the building blocks of democracy are slowly being removed. The middle class is being eroded, sovereign authority and civil society is weakened, and we citizens are losing our critical faculties, maybe even our free will. The People Vs Tech is an enthralling account of how our fragile political system is being threatened by the digital revolution. Bartlett explains that by upholding six key pillars of democracy, we can save it before it is too late. We need to become active citizens; uphold a shared democratic culture; protect free elections; promote equality; safeguard competitive and civic freedoms; and trust in a sovereign authority. This essential book shows that the stakes couldn't be higher and that, unless we radically alter our course, democracy will join feudalism, supreme monarchies and communism as just another political experiment that quietly disappeared.

Jamie Bartlett (Author), Sandro Monetti (Narrator)

Audiobook

Shaping the Future of the Fourth Industrial Revolution: A guide to building a better world

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Shaping the Future of the Fourth Industrial Revolutionby Klaus Schwab and Nicholas Davis, read by Nicholas Guy Smith. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is changing everything - from the way we relate to each other, to the work we do, the way our economies work, and what it means to be human. We cannot let the brave new world that technology is currently creating simply emerge. All of us need to help shape the future we want to live in. But what do we need to know and do to achieve this? In Shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Klaus Schwab explores how people from all backgrounds and sectors can influence the way that technology transforms our world. Drawing on contributions by more than 200 of the world's leading technology, economic and sociological experts to present a practical guide for citizens, business leaders, social influencers and policy-makers this book outlines the most important dynamics of the technology revolution, highlights important stakeholders that are often overlooked in our discussion of the latest scientific breakthroughs, and explores 12 different technology areas central to the future of humanity. Emerging technologies are not predetermined forces out of our control, nor are they simple tools with known impacts and consequences. The exciting capabilities provided by artificial intelligence, distributed ledger systems and cryptocurrencies, advanced materials and biotechnologies are already transforming society. The actions we take today - and those we don't - will quickly become embedded in ever-more powerful technologies that surround us and will, very soon, become an integral part of us. By connecting the dots across a range of often-misunderstood technologies, and by exploring the practical steps that individuals, businesses and governments can take, Shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution helps equip readers to shape a truly desirable future at a time of great uncertainty and change.

Klaus Schwab, Nicholas Davis (Author), Nicholas Guy Smith (Narrator)

Audiobook

Zoom For Dummies

Stay connected despite the distance Have you ever wondered why it's so difficult to hold a videoconference or to share your screen with a colleague? We can put a man on the moon, but we can't seem to get videoconferencing right. At least until now. More than 300 million people have seen the light in the form of Zoom, the world's hottest communications tool. Zoom For Dummies shows you how to get the most out of Zoom. Discover how to hold group video calls; install time-saving, third-party apps; dramatically improve the way that you communicate and collaborate with your colleagues; enable Zoom roles, IM groups, user groups, and other advanced features; easily move from one communications medium to another; engage your audience with interactive webinars; secure Zoom from prying eyes; and much more. Additional chapters cover two emerging products: Zoom Phone and Zoom Rooms.

Phil Simon (Author), Gary Bennett (Narrator)

Audiobook

Trucking Business Secrets: How to Start, Grow, and Succeed in Your Trucking Business

You definitely want to have a good guide on everything you need to succeed in the trucking business industry. This book will keep you out of trouble in all facets trucking business. The trucking industry has the luxury of being able to recover from small miscues, but not many of books out there go the the length this book goes to discuss matters Trucking. In this book you’ll learn.! • Define The Role Of The Broker And Agent • Here's How The Industry Works • Why Get Operating Authority • Financial • Shipping Own Product • More Home Time • Region And Customers • The Money In Trucking • Abide By The Industry's Standards • Satisfy The Steps To Become An Agent • Understand The Industry's Work Environment • Familiarize Yourself With Industry Terms • Build The Steps To Become A Broker • Consider The Big Picture • What You Can Expect • Mechanical Problems • Regulatory Problems • Financial Problems • Communication Problems • What To Spend (Or Not Spend) Money On • Good Investments • Bad Investments • Step Nine Discover Self Pace & Time Management Success About the Expert Bruce Stimson started his factoring career in 2001, when he founded QLFS, which eventually became the Invoice Trucking Group. Mr. Stimson led the firm through its initial growth and established it as a leading provider to startups and small companies in the New England region.After QLFS, Mr. Stimson launched Trucking Capital LLC to provide services in the USA, Canada and Australia. HowExpert publishes quick 'how to' guides on all topics from A to Z by everyday experts.

Bruce Stimson, Howexpert (Author), Roger Wood (Narrator)

Audiobook

Don't Be Evil: The Case Against Big Tech

Brought to you by Penguin. An award-winning Financial Times columnist exposes the threat that Big Tech poses to our democracies, our economies and ourselves Today Google and Facebook receive 90% of the world's news ad-spending. Amazon takes half of all ecommerce in the US. Google and Apple operating systems run on all but 1% of cell phones globally. And 80% of corporate wealth is now held by 10% of companies - not the GEs and Toyotas of this world, but the digital titans. How did we get here? How did the tech industry get to dominate our world so completely? How did once-idealistic and innovative companies come to manipulate elections, violate our privacy, and pose a threat to the fabric of our democracy? In Don't Be Evil, Financial Times global business columnist Rana Foroohar documents how Big Tech lost its soul - and became the new Wall Street. Through her skilled reporting and unparalleled access - won through nearly 30 years covering business and technology - she shows the true extent to which the 'Faang's (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google) crush or absorb any potential competitors, hijack our personal data and mental space and offshore their exorbitant profits. What's more, she reveals how these threats to our democracies, our livelihoods and our minds are all intertwined. Yet Foroohar also lays out a plan for how we can resist, creating a framework that fosters innovation while also protecting us from the dark side of digital technology.

Rana Foroohar (Author), Rachel Fulginiti (Narrator)

Audiobook

Pan Am at War: How the Airline Secretly Helped America Fight World War II

Pan Am at War chronicles the airline's historic role in advancing aviation and serving America's national interest before and during World War II. From its inception, Pan American Airways operated as the 'wings of democracy,' spanning six continents and placing the country at the leading edge of international aviation. At the same time, it was clandestinely helping to fight America's wars. Utilizing government documents, declassified Freedom of Information Act material, and company documents, the authors have uncovered stories of Pan Am's stunning role as an instrument of American might. They detail the airline's role in building air bases in Latin America and countering Axis interests that threatened the Panama Canal; the dangerous seventeen-thousand-mile journey that took President Roosevelt to the high-stakes Casablanca Conference with Winston Churchill; the daring flight that delivered uranium for the atomic bomb; and more. Filled with larger-than-life characters, and revelations of the vision and technology it took to dominate the skies, Pan Am at War provides a gripping unknown history of the American Century.

John H. Hill, Mark Cotta Vaz (Author), Mike Chamberlain (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World

From Paleolithic flax to 3D knitting, explore the global history of textiles and the world they weave together in this enthralling and educational guide. The story of humanity is the story of textiles -- as old as civilization itself. Since the first thread was spun, the need for textiles has driven technology, business, politics, and culture. In The Fabric of Civilization, Virginia Postrel synthesizes groundbreaking research from archaeology, economics, and science to reveal a surprising history. From Minoans exporting wool colored with precious purple dye to Egypt, to Romans arrayed in costly Chinese silk, the cloth trade paved the crossroads of the ancient world. Textiles funded the Renaissance and the Mughal Empire; they gave us banks and bookkeeping, Michelangelo's David and the Taj Mahal. The cloth business spread the alphabet and arithmetic, propelled chemical research, and taught people to think in binary code. Assiduously researched and deftly narrated, The Fabric of Civilization tells the story of the world's most influential commodity.

Virginia I. Postrel (Author), Caroline Cole (Narrator)

Audiobook

Technology & Engineering Audiobooks in Science & Technology