Listening to audiobooks on your iPod

We get a lot of questions about how to listen to audiobooks on iPods.  PC World gives fantastic instructions here:

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/212265/ripping_and_playing_audiobooks.html

One hint that will save you a lot of trouble is that any time you're using a number to label your CDs, make sure you label it 01, 02, etc. instead of just 1, 2.  That way, you won't end up with #1 at the bottom of your list, underneath #10, and your playlist will play in order.

An author's view of audiobooks

Did you know that audiobook listeners actually tend to read more traditional paper books than non-listeners?  Or that audiobooks are a billion dollar industry?  It seems that many authors don't realize that, either.  Karen Dionne educates herself in Daily Finance: 

"I asked several bestselling thriller authors how their audio sales compare to print. Answers ranged from, 'I'm not quite sure,' to 'I would guess it's fairly small,' to 'I don't have a clue.'"

Read the rest of the story here.

Abigail Adams = saucy?

Here's something you probably didn't know about John Adams and his wife, Abigail:

"For the irascible and highly volatile John, Abigail was a psychological anchor and trusted confidante; for the saucy and independent Abigail, John was a brilliant and courageous visionary who shared her love of books and playful sense of humor. She called him 'My Dearest Friend.' He called her 'Miss Adorable' and his 'Heroine.'"

Click here to read the rest of the review.

"Saucy" is probably not a word you'd usually associate with a first lady, but then, most presidential biographies don't delve so deeply into private lives.  By all accounts, Joseph Ellis' new audiobook, First Family, is an accessible and fascinating listen.  It should appeal to both history buffs and people who like a good historical story.  Click here to check it out.

Voodoo Histories

If you're in the mood for some real craziness to put your holiday madness into perspective, check out David Aaronovitch's Voodoo Histories.  Moving more or less chronologically from the Protocols of the Elders of Zion (which claimed that Jewish people secretly ruled the world) to the "birthers" who claim Barack Obama is not American, Aaronovitch chronicles a century of "secret" histories that didn't exist.  He also explores the motivations behind creating conspiracy theories, and the importance of finding a baseline of truth about historical events.  It's easy to see how the various conspiracies flow together, creating an entirely alternate worldview.

A couple of the conspiracies may be a bit dull unless you're very interested in Soviet or British politics, but those are easily skipped, and it is entirely worth continuing on to learn that some people think that the US government disguised missiles with holograms to look like planes and aimed them at the World Trade Center.  The narration fits the tone of the audiobook well, and overall it's a fascinating listen. 

James Patterson: "I've got street smarts"

Literary is not the first word you think of when you think of James Patterson, fan or not.  He is, however, an undeniable master of marketing, producing many books a year with and without co-authors.  Thankfully, Patterson himself does not have pretensions to literary greatness.  From an interview with MediaBistro.com:

"I probably wouldn't try to write a literary novel. I think I can write an acceptably good novel, but I am not particularly interested in talking to that audience. I think a lot of the things that are praised are just kind of show-off prose, which is just not my thing. I can appreciate it, you know. I'm a big reader and I read all kinds of things, but it is not something I want to do."

Click here for the rest of the interview.

Or click here for the extensive list of Patterson audiobooks.

Atlantic by Simon Winchester

Simon Winchester is always a customer favourite here, and his new audiobook is proving to be no exception.  In past books, he has covered a range of topics, from the Oxford English Dictionary to the volcano Krakatoa.  His new audiobook, Atlantic, covers the Atlantic Ocean, from the Minoans to the fishing industry.  From the New York Times review:

"The author rolls through the age of exploration with typical Winchesterian prose: history infused with lively and colorful anecdotes, a spirit of bonhomie and a bit of British cheek."

Click here to read more.

Or click here for the audiobook.

Nora Ephron, good and bad

Opinions have been pretty divided on Nora Ephron's new audiobook, I Remember Nothing.  Depending on who you ask, Ephron is witty and insightful, or else tired and grouchy.  Here's a sampling:

From the Globe and Mail:

"Yet her once razor-sharp wit now strays into grumpy Andy Rooney territory. Ephron is irascible and shallow, and occasionally verges on self-parody when she dedicates an entire essay to an eponymous meat loaf."

Click here for the rest of the article.

And on a cheerier note, from the New York Times:

"Yes, there’s some rehashing here, but that’s what we expect — what we love — from Ephron. She’s familiar but funny, boldly outspoken yet simultaneously reassuring. In much of her work, we get a story about betrayal, but the heroine picks up and moves on. Death of a friend or family member? Look on the bright side: there might be an inheritance somewhere, or at least a corn bread pudding recipe."

Click here for the rest of the article.

Looks like the only way to be sure is to listen for yourself.  Decide for yourself by clicking here!

Fiction New Releases

The Emperor's Tomb by Steve Berry

The tomb of China’s First Emperor, guarded by an underground army of terra-cotta warriors, has remained sealed for more than 2,000 years. Though it’s regarded as one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world, the Chinese government won’t allow anyone to open it. Why?  That question is at the heart of a dilemma faced by former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone, whose life is shattered when he receives an anonymous note carrying an unfamiliar Web address. [read more]

Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts

Number-one New York Times best-selling author Nora Roberts cordially invites you to meet childhood friends Parker, Emma, Laurel, and Mac - the founders of Vows, one of Connecticut's premier wedding planning companies.

Parker Brown turned the quartet's childhood game of Wedding Day into their dream jobs. And now she's the face of Vows - the one who meets every bride's demands; keeps every event on schedule; and brings Emma's romantic flowers, Laurel's delicious treats, and Mac's stunning photography together in one glorious package. She knows how to make dreams come true.  [read more] 

Crescent Dawn by Clive Cussler

Dirk Pitt returns, in the extraordinary new novel from the number-one New York Times-best-selling author.

In A.D. 327, a Roman galley barely escapes a pirate attack with its extraordinary cargo. In 1916, a British warship mysteriously explodes in the middle of the North Sea. In the present day, a cluster of important mosques in Turkey and Egypt are wracked by explosions. Does anything tie them together?  [read more]

Room by Emma Donoghue

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years.  [read more]

Djibouti by Elmore Leonard

Dara Barr, documentary filmmaker, is at the top of her game. Looking for a bigger challenge, Dara and her right-hand-man, Xavier LeBo, head to Djibouti to film modern-day pirates hijacking merchant ships. They learn soon enough that almost no one in the Middle East is who he seems to be.  [read more]

I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg

Meet Maggie Fortenberry, a still beautiful former Miss Alabama. To others, Maggie’s life seems practically perfect - she’s lovely, charming, and a successful real-estate agent at Red Mountain Realty. Still, Maggie can’t help but wonder how she wound up in her present condition.  [read more]

Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane

Acclaimed New York Times best-selling author Dennis Lehane delivers an explosive tale of integrity and vengeance - heralding the long-awaited return of private investigators Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro.

Amanda McCready was four years old when she vanished from a Boston neighborhood 12 years ago. Kenzie and Gennaro risked everything to find the young girl - only to orchestrate her return to a neglectful mother and a broken home. [read more]

Non Fiction New Releases

Life by Keith Richards

As lead guitarist of the Rolling Stones, Keith Richards created the riffs, the lyrics, and the songs that roused the world. A true and towering original, he has always walked his own path, spoken his mind, and done things his own way.  Now at last, Richards pauses to tell his story in the most anticipated autobiography in decades. And what a story!  [read more] 

Chapters from My Autobiography by Mark Twain

Collected here is a wonderful selection of anecdotes from Mark Twain's life, as told with candor by the great man himself. This book is part memoir, part philosophical text, part study in human behavior, from one of America's greatest literary treasures. Narrated masterfully by Bronson Pinchot, this audiobook also includes Twain's popular short story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County", as well as a printable eBook in PDF format.  [read more]

Pinheads and Patriots by Bill O'Reilly

In his latest spirited book, O'Reilly prompts further debate with the president and the American people on the current state of the union. While the changes that took place in America during President Obama's first 18 months in office are dizzying to just think about, their real-life impact on the average American is a helluva lot stronger than that. Tempers have reached the boiling point over the shifts in health care, immigration, national security, energy, and the environment. And then there's the economy.  [read more]

The Last Boy by Mickey Mantle

As she did so memorably in her biography of Sandy Koufax, Jane Leavy transcends the hyperbole of hero worship to reveal the man behind the coast-to-coast smile, who grappled with a wrenching childhood, crippling injuries, and a genetic predisposition to alcoholism. In The Last Boy she chronicles her search to find out more about the person he was and, given what she discovers, to explain his mystifying hold on a generation of baseball fans, who were seduced by that lopsided, gap-toothed grin. It is an uncommon biography, with literary overtones: not only a portrait of an icon, but an investigation of memory itself.  [read more]

Meditations to Change Your Brain by Rick Hanson and Rick Mendius

The structure of your brain changes constantly, in a dynamic, unfolding process that you yourself can direct to create the life you want. This is the exciting premise of Meditations to Change Your Brain, a breakthrough program from psychologist Rick Hanson, Ph.D. and neurologist Rick Mendius, M.D. Listeners join Dr. Hanson and Dr. Mendius to learn specific practices for making positive changes in their body and mind, plus four guided practices to strengthen their meditative abilities, and four guided meditations to heal and nourish their relationships.  [read more]
 

I'm Dreaming of a Black Christmas by Lewis Black

Christmas is supposed to be a time of peace on earth and goodwill toward all. But not for Lewis Black. He says humbug to the Christmas traditions and trappings that make the holiday memorable. In I'm Dreaming of a Black Christmas, his hilarious and sharply observed book about the holiday, Lewis lets loose on all things Yule. It's a very personal look at what's wrong with Christmas, seen through the eyes of "the most engagingly pissed-off comedian ever."  [read more] 
 

Atlantic by Simon Winchester

From best-selling author Simon Winchester comes the immense and thrilling story of the world's most mysterious and breathtaking natural wonder: the Atlantic Ocean.

Atlantic is a biography of a tremendous space that has been central to the ambitions of explorers, scientists, and warriors, and continues to affect profoundly our character, attitudes, and dreams. Spanning the ocean's story, from its geological origins to the age of exploration, from World War II battles to today's struggles with pollution and over-fishing, Winchester's narrative is epic, intimate, and awe inspiring. [read more]

Amnesty International and Decision Points

It's not every day that you see allegations of war crimes based on a presidential memoir, but then again, George W. Bush has always been controversial!  According to Reuters, Amnesty International is calling for prosecution based on Bush's defense of waterboarding in his new memoir, Decision Points.  From the article:

"Amnesty International's Senior Director Claudio Cordone said in a statement: 'Under international law, anyone involved in torture must be brought to justice, and that does not exclude former President George W. Bush.' " 

Click here to read more.

If you're interested in hearing Bush's side of the story, you can check out his self-narrated audiobook here.

The Wave by Susan Casey

If  Jaws made you never want to go to the beach again, be prepared for The Wave to make you never want to go on a cruise.  The Wave explores the phenomenon of giant waves from the perspective of both scientists and surfers, alternating between those who are accidentally caught by them and those who seek them out. 

It turns out that the nightmare wave from the Poseidon Adventure is not pure myth--waves topping 100 feet pop up in the middle of the ocean, and the impact on ships can be enough to rip them apart.  At the same time, some surfers seek the 100 foot wave, despite the potential for brutal injuries or death if it goes wrong.

The Wave is written in the first person, and the audiobook is narrated perfectly by Kirsten Potter.  You're actually eager to find out how events will turn out as the author talks about a major surfing event, or a particularly ugly cruise.  This audiobook should not be missed by those who enjoy popular science and compelling non-fiction generally.

Earth: the Audiobook

It's been a little difficult to tell what Jon Stewart's Earth: the Audiobook is actually about, so it's nice to see that the Mount Observer has cleared it up for us!  From the review:

"Unlike the show and their previous book, Earth (The Book) touches on subjects such as; science, culture, and the life cycle, the kind that have no need for a political view, so if you stay away from Jon Stewart because you disagree with his views, this book is a good way to enjoy his type of humor without offending your political sensibilities."

Click to read the rest of the review.

Or click here for the audiobook.

Short stories vs. long novels

In an unusual double review, the New York Times compares Stephen King and John Grisham, who have both had a novel and a short story collection published in the last year.  It's an interesting take on how the same writer can handle different forms more or less effectively.  From the review:

"These stories were revelatory. They showed how much verve, suspense, instruction and moral ambiguity Mr. Grisham could pack into bare-bones plotlines. He could accomplish in 40-page virtual synopses what he normally does in 400-page novels."


Click to read the rest of the review.

Or, check out the audiobooks for Full Dark, No Stars and The Confession.

Non-Fiction New Releases

At Home by Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson and his family live in a Victorian parsonage in a part of England where nothing of any great significance has happened since the Romans decamped. Yet one day, he began to consider how very little he knew about the ordinary things of life as he found it in that comfortable home. To remedy this, he formed the idea of journeying about his house from room to room to "write a history of the world without leaving home."  [read more]

The Power by Rhonda Byrne

The Secret revealed the law of attraction. Now Rhonda Byrne reveals the greatest power in the universe: The Power to have anything you want.

In this book you will come to understand that all it takes is just one thing to change your relationships, money, health, happiness, career, and your entire life.  [read more]

Obama's Wars by Bob Woodward

Working behind the scenes for 18 months, Bob Woodward has written the most intimate and sweeping portrait of President Obama making the critical decisions on the Afghanistan War, the secret war in Pakistan, and the worldwide fight against terrorism. Drawing on internal memos, classified documents, meeting notes, and hundreds of hours of interviews with most of the key players, including the president, Woodward offers an original, you-are-there account of Obama and his team in this time of turmoil and uncertainty. [read more]

UltraCalm by Mark Hyman

Most relaxation techniques focus on either soothing the body or settling the mind - and achieve only limited results. Dr. Mark Hyman's approach helps you address the mind and body at once to achieve a state he calls "ultracalm". On UltraCalm, this best-selling author presents his simple, powerful method for generating a peaceful and harmonious state in the body-mind - one that allows the body's natural healing intelligence to work at its most effective level.  [read more]

The Wave by Susan Casey

For centuries, mariners have spun tales of gargantuan waves, 100-feet high or taller. Until recently scientists dis­missed these stories - waves that high would seem to violate the laws of physics. But in the past few decades, as a startling number of ships vanished and new evidence has emerged, oceanographers realized something scary was brewing in the planet's waters.  [read more]

The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore

Two kids with the same name lived in the same decaying city. One went on to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated combat veteran, White House Fellow, and business leader. The other is serving a life sentence in prison. Here is the story of two boys and the journey of a generation.  [read more]

Fiction New Releases

The Confession by John Grisham

For every innocent man sent to prison, there is a guilty one left on the outside. He doesn't understand how the police and prosecutors got the wrong man, and he certainly doesn't care. He just can't believe his good luck. Time passes and he realizes that the mistake will not be corrected: the authorities believe in their case and are determined to get a conviction.  [read more] 

Worth Dying For by Lee Child

There's deadly trouble in the corn country of Nebraska... and Jack Reacher walks right into it. First he falls afoul of the Duncans, a local clan that has terrified an entire county into submission. But it's the unsolved case of a missing child, already decades-old, that Reacher can't let go.  [read more] 

Our Kind of Traitor by John Le Carre

Perry and Gail are idealistic and very much in love when they splurge on a tennis vacation at a posh beach resort in Antigua. But the charm begins to pall when a big-time Russian money launderer enlists their help to defect. In exchange for amnesty, Dima is ready to rat out his vory (Russian criminal brotherhood) compatriots and expose corruption throughout the so-called legitimate financial and political worlds. Soon, the guileless couple find themselves pawns in a deadly endgame whose outcome will be determined by the victor of the British Secret Service's ruthless internecine battles.  [read more]

The Reversal by Michael Connelly

Longtime defense attorney Mickey Haller is recruited to change stripes and prosecute the high-profile retrial of a brutal child murder. After 24 years in prison, convicted killer Jason Jessup has been exonerated by new DNA evidence. Haller is convinced Jessup is guilty, and he takes the case on the condition that he gets to choose his investigator, LAPD Detective Harry Bosch.  [read more]

Don't Blink by James Patterson

New York's Lombardo's Steak House is famous for three reasons: the menu, the clientele, and now, the gruesome murder of an infamous mob lawyer. Effortlessly, the assassin slips through the police's fingers, and his absence sparks a blaze of accusations about who ordered the hit. [read more]

And Thereby Hangs a Tale by Jeffrey Archer

International bestselling author Jeffrey Archer has spent the last five years gathering spellbinding stories from around the globe. These fifteen brand-new tales showcase Archer's talent for capturing an unforgettable moment in time, whether tragic, comic, or outrageous.  [read more]

CBC Canada Reads

The CBC has compiled a list of the top 40 Canadian novels of the decade for Canada Reads 2011, and you can vote on which should be in the top 10.  If you missed them, many are available as audiobooks, so it will be easy to catch up!  Then, go to http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/ to cast your vote.

Here are some audio highlights:

A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews
Clara Callan by Richard Wright
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill
Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris

Reviews of Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk have started coming in, and they're good as usual!  Instead of his normal personal essays, Sedaris has switched to animal stories for this one.  They're still astute observations of day-to-day life, though, both funny and reflective.  The Globe and Mail has a great review:

"Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk is an extraordinary little book, almost indescribable, but one that also feels (perhaps because of the humanity of the beasts) quite familiar. Sedaris rattles our cages with his “modest bestiary,” painting us in our barber's chairs, our dinner tables, our sickbeds. We need to have that mirror held up to us, from time to time, by someone like Sedaris, who has the talent and the means to remind us that – sometimes – human behaviour can be simply beastly."

Click here for the rest of the article.

Audiobooks for Halloween

It's almost the time of year when you want to listen to something spooky!  Here are some favourites to put you in the Halloween mood.

'Salem's Lot by Stephen King

There are no glittery vampires here.  Even if you've already heard it, it stands up to multiple listenings.  Plus, you can remember the good old days when Stephen King was really, really scary instead of mostly weird.

The Gates by John Connolly

This one is actually set on Halloween, for that extra festive feeling!  A boy in small town England is the only witness to the accidental opening of the gates of Hell, and must try to convince others that there are demons among us.  The Gates is light and fun, with no explicit violence or bad language, and would even be suitable for the family.

Panic in Level 4 by Richard Preston

For non-fiction lovers, the essays about Ebola are the worst kind of horror imaginable because they're true.  Panic in Level 4 is not for the squeamish--there's a lot of blood, and the outcome is usually not good.  But the essays are fast-paced and fascinating, ranging from Ebola and self-cannibalism to the lengths people go to calculating Pi.

Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore

If you loved A Dirty Job, why not go back to Moore's first book?  Moore's trademark dark humour shines through in this story about a man desperate to get rid of the people-eating demon he's saddled with.  The demon's ancient enemy, the king of the djinn, adds an extra flavour of hilarity with his many insults.

Home with Ann Patchett

It's always interesting when an author decides to share a part of their life that is not usually associated with their writing, so Ann Patchett's New York Times essay on her home may be perfect reading for this rainy day.  From the article: 

"I understand the world is full of spectacular things I’ve yet to see, but I can’t imagine any of them would satisfy me as deeply as this house, the casement window in the shower, the light pouring through the halls, or the ceiling in our bedroom, with its thin strips of pale wood that thrill me every morning when I open my eyes. Add in one really good husband and Rose, our really old dog, and it’s hard to come up with a compelling reason to leave." 

Click here to read the rest.

If you haven't heard Ann Patchett's audiobooks, they're worth a listen.  Start with Bel Canto, which won the Pen/Faulkner Award and always receives the highest praise of all her books.  Then click here to check out the rest. 

Fall of Giants by Ken Follett

We received Ken Follett's new book last week (Fall of Giants) and early customer reviews have been fantastic!  It's a departure from World Without End--this one is set during the twentieth century and follows five European families through World War I.  From the New York Times review:

"Overall, Follett is ­masterly in conveying so much drama and historical information so vividly. He puts to good use the professional skills he has honed over the years — giving his characters a conversational style neither pseudo-quaint nor jarringly contemporary."

Click here for the full review.

Freakonomics - the movie?

You don't see a lot of movies based on non-fiction bestsellers, but the movie version of Freakonomics promises to be a good one. Apparently they've filmed it in four distinct sections, with four different directors (one of whom is the excellent Morgan Spurlock).  Check out the New York Times review for more info: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/30/movies/30freak.html?_r=1&ref=books

Fiction New Releases

Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs

John Lowery was declared dead in 1968--the victim of a Huey crash in Vietnam, his body buried long ago in North Carolina. Four decades later, Temperance Brennan is called to the scene of a drowning in Hemmingford, Quebec. The victim appears to have died while in the midst of a bizarre sexual practice. The corpse is later identified as John Lowery. But how could Lowery have died twice, and how did an American soldier end up in Canada?  [read more] 

Ape House by Sara Gruen

Sam, Bonzi, Lola, Mbongo, Jelani, and Makena are no ordinary apes. These bonobos, like others of their species, are capable of reason and carrying on deep relationships--but unlike most bonobos, they also know American Sign Language.

Isabel Duncan, a scientist at the Great Ape Language Lab, doesn't understand people, but animals she gets--especially the bonobos. Isabel feels more comfortable in their world than she's ever felt among humans . . . until she meets John Thigpen, a very married reporter who braves the ever-present animal rights protesters outside the lab to see what's really going on inside.  [read more] 

In the Name of Honor by Richard North Patterson 

The McCarrans and the Gallaghers, two military families, have been close for decades, ever since Anthony McCarran--now one of the army's most distinguished generals--became best friends with Jack Gallagher, a fellow West Pointer who was later killed in Vietnam. Now a new generation of soldiers faces combat, and Lt. Brian McCarran, the general's son, has returned from a harrowing tour in Iraq. Traumatized by wartime experiences he will not reveal, Brian depends on his lifelong friendship with Kate Gallagher, Jack's daughter, who is married to Brian's commanding officer in Iraq, Capt. Joe D'Abruzzo. But since coming home, D'Abruzzo also seems changed by the experiences he and Brian shared--he's become secretive and remote...  [read more]

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory


Heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her house is the true ruler of England and that she has a great destiny before her. Her ambitions are disappointed when her sainted cousin Henry VI fails to recognize her as a kindred spirit, and she is even more dismayed when he sinks into madness. Her mother mocks her plans, revealing that Margaret will always be burdened with the reputation of her father, one of the most famously incompetent English commanders in France. But worst of all for Margaret is when she discovers that her mother is sending her to a loveless marriage in remote Wales.  [read more]  

Tough Customer by Sandra Brown 

Colleagues, friends, and lovers know Dodge Hanley as a private investigator who doesn't let rules get in his way--in his private life as well as his professional one. If he breaks a heart, or bends the law in order to catch a criminal, he does so without hesitation or apology. That's why he's the first person Caroline King--who after a thirty-year separation continues to haunt his dreams--asks for help when a deranged stalker attempts to murder their daughter . . . the daughter Dodge has never met. He has a whole bagful of grudging excuses for wishing to ignore Caroline's call, and one compelling reason to drop everything and fly down to Texas: guilt...   [read more] 

Non Fiction New Releases

The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking & Leonard Mlodinow  

When and how did the universe begin? Why are we here? Why is there something rather than nothing? What is the nature of reality? Why are the laws of nature so finely tuned as to allow for the existence of beings like ourselves? And, finally, is the apparent "grand design" of our universe evidence of a benevolent creator who set things in motion--or does science offer another explanation?  [read more]

A Journey by Tony Blair

A Journey is Tony Blair's account of his years in office and beyond. Here he describes his role in shaping our recent history, from the aftermath of Princess Diana's death to the war on terror. He reveals the leadership decisions that were necessary to reinvent his party, the relationships with colleagues including Gordon Brown, the grueling negotiations for peace in Northern Ireland, the implementation of the biggest reforms to public services in Britain since 1945, and his relationships with leaders on the world stage... [read more]

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris 

Featuring David Sedaris's unique blend of hilarity and heart, this new collection of keen-eyed animal-themed tales is an utter delight. In The Toad, the Turtle, and the Duck, three strangers commiserate about animal bureaucracy while waiting in a complaint line. In Hello Kitty, a cynical feline struggles to sit through his prison-mandated AA meetings. In The Squirrel and the Chipmunk, a pair of star-crossed lovers is separated by prejudiced family members.  [read more] 

Attract Money Now by Joe Vitale 

Attract Money Now reveals an easy, proven, seven-step formula you can use today to begin attracting money, getting out of debt, and ending the struggle once and for all. Dr. Vitale's system has nothing to do with real estate, investing, or saving for a rainy day. Instead, Attract Money Now reveals a spiritual and practical way to erase limiting beliefs, do what you love, and get into the cash flow that makes life easy for all.  [read more] 

The No Asshole Rule by Robert I. Sutton 

In a landmark article published in the esteemed Harvard Business Review, Stanford University professor Robert I. Sutton addressed a taboo topic that affects every workplace: employees who are insensitive to their colleagues, corporate bullies, bosses who just don't get it, the kind of people who make you exclaim in exasperation, "What an #@?!*#!"  [read more] 

Last Words by George Carlin

As one of America's most pre-eminent comedians, with 50 years worth of material George Carlin saw it all and made fun of most of it. Blending his signature acerbic humor with never before told stories from his own life, Last Words is part comedy routine, part reflection, and all original. Written with bestselling author Tony Hendra, Last Words is the story of the man behind some of the most seminal comedy and commentary of the last century.  [read more]