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!