Discover the Best Sellers Audiobooks in History, 20th Century

747 Audiobook by Joe Sutter

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Joe Sutter) — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 05:53:25 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: 747 Subtitle: Creating the World's First Jumbo Jet and Other Adventures from a Life in Aviation Author: Joe Sutter Narrator: Paul Boehmer Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins Language: English Release date: 07-17-13 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 406 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: 747 is the thrilling story behind "the Queen of the Skies" - the Boeing 747 - as told by Joe Sutter, one of the most celebrated engineers of the 20th century, who spearheaded its design and construction. Sutter's vivid narrative takes us back to a time when American technology was cutting-edge and jet travel was still glamorous and new. With wit and warmth, he gives an insider's sense of the larger than life-size personalities - and the tensions - in the aeronautical world. Members Reviews: What a beautiful plane I found this book fascinating but, of course, I love airplanes. I enjoyed reading about all the details about designing and building the 747. I remember when I first saw the Constellation I thought it was one of the most beautiful planes I had seen. When I saw the 747 I knew this one was absolutely the most beautiful. Joe Sutter tells about his youth growing up near Boeing Field and his desire as a child to design planes. He also tells about his summer jobs at Boeing when he was at University of Washington then going into the U.S. Navy in WWII. The majority of the book is about the 747. I found it interesting that Juan Trippe played such a key role in the design of the plane. I had read a few years about the battles between Howard Hughes (TWA) and Juan Trippe (Pan Am) for control of commercial aviation. I wondered why Hughes did not take an active role with the design of the 747 but maybe he was too busy with Hughes Aviation. I noted Sutter frequently credited his wifes support in helping him succeed at his job. Paul Boehmer did a good job narrating the book. If you are interested in aviation and history you will enjoy this book. If you are into Aviation, this is a must read. I am a pilot, and fascinated by books on aviation. This book held my attention throughout. It is written so that even someone that isn't a pilot can understand the difficulties of designing a complex aircraft like a 747, which is still one of the most successful and popular airliners in the world, and will be for some time to come. Excellent book, by the very person that designed the 747. Great story What a great story about one of my favorite airplanes. Lots of good technical detail without being overly complicated. In an era where Boeing is having trouble selling the 747-8, I consider myself lucky to have had a chance to fly on one. Queen of the Sky's! With book to match! One of the best airline books I have ever read, well heard! The details, the information, the history! Truly an awesome book and goes with an awesome aircraft! Good story. Narrator was hard to listen to. What was one of the most memorable moments of 747? In general, the formation of the engineering team from the leftovers after the SST and other programs had their fill. Would you be willing to try another one of Paul Boehmers performances? No. Any additional comments? It was a good story. As others have mentioned, it's a memoir based around the development of the 747, not a nuts and bolts development story. The narration was horrible. He should be narrating the autobiography of the first robot to dance on Broadway. I almost gave up on the book but found that 1.25x speed smoothed over the bizarre pauses and inflections.

The Burglary Audiobook by Betty Medsger

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Betty Medsger) — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 13:46:38 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Burglary Subtitle: The Discovery of J. Edgar Hoover's Secret FBI Author: Betty Medsger Narrator: Bronson Pinchot, Betty Medsger Format: Unabridged Length: 25 hrs and 36 mins Language: English Release date: 02-06-14 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 295 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The never-before-told full story of the history-changing break-in at the FBI office in Media, Pennsylvania, by a group of unlikely activists - quiet, ordinary, hardworking Americans - that made clear the shocking truth and confirmed what some had long suspected, that J. Edgar Hoover had created and was operating, in violation of the U.S. Constitution, his own shadow Bureau of Investigation. It begins in 1971 in an America being split apart by the Vietnam War. A small group of activists - eight men and women - the Citizens Commission to Investigate the FBI, inspired by Daniel Berrigan's rebellious Catholic peace movement, set out to use a more active, but nonviolent, method of civil disobedience to provide hard evidence once and for all that the government was operating outside the laws of the land. The would-be burglars - nonpro's - were ordinary people leading lives of purpose: a professor of religion and former freedom rider; a day-care director; a physicist; a cab driver; an antiwar activist, a lock picker; a graduate student. Betty Medsger's extraordinary book re-creates in detail how this group of unknowing thieves scouted out the low-security FBI building in a small town just west of Philadelphia, taking into consideration every possible factor. At the heart of the heist - and the book - the contents of the FBI files revealing Hoover's "secret counterintelligence program" COINTELPRO, set up in 1956 to investigate and disrupt dissident political groups, a plan that would discredit, destabilize, and demoralize groups, many of them legal civil rights organizations and antiwar groups that Hoover found offensive - as well as black power groups, student activists, antidraft protestors, conscientious objectors. The Burglary is an important and riveting book, a portrait of the potential power of non-violent resistance and the destructive power of excessive government secrecy and spying. Critic Reviews: "[I]mpeccably researched and elegantly presented.... The current debate in America over government surveillance of its citizenry has a long and controversial history. It didn't begin on 9/11, and it doesn't need technological wizardry to succeed. For those seeking a particularly egregious example of what can happen when secrecy gets out of hand, The Burglary is a natural place to begin." (The New York Times) Members Reviews: Important book for us all - despite its flaws I was completely enthralled with the beginning half of this book - the author wove a good story and kept me entranced with true events about a disturbing time. I found myself suggesting this to many other "boomers" who might, like I, have protested the Vietnam War in the 60s, didn't know the clear response to people like us from the FBI and have been intrigued by the despotism of J. Edgar Hoover. It is a good read but not all the way through. I got bogged down with the level of detail that Betty Medsger used and found that her story telling ability didn't continue through the second half of the book. Like a former reader, I also found it puzzling why a man read the book when it is written by a woman.

Finland's War of Choice Audiobook by Henrik Lunde

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Henrik Lunde) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 20:40:42 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Finland's War of Choice Subtitle: The Troubled German-Finnish Coalition in World War II Author: Henrik Lunde Narrator: Tom Parks Format: Unabridged Length: 14 hrs and 48 mins Language: English Release date: 03-29-13 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 47 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: This book describes the odd coalition between Germany and Finland in World War II, and their joint military operations from 1941 to 1945. This is a topic often missing in English, though in stark contrast to the numerous books on the shorter and less bloody Winter War. That conflict represented a gallant fight of a democratic David against a totalitarian Goliath that caught the imagination of the world. The story of Finland fighting alongside a Goliath of its own has not brought pride to that nation and was a period many Finns would rather forget. The prologue of this book brings the listener up to speed by briefly examining the difficult history of Finland, from its separation from the Soviet Union in 1917 to its isolation after being bludgeoned in 1939-40. It then examines both Finnish and German motives for forming a coalition against the USSR, and how - as logical as a common enemy would seem - the lack of true planning and preparation would doom the alliance. This book posits that it was mind-boggling how the highly professional German General Staff allowed itself to accept the militarily unsound and shaky coalition that resulted. The war aims were not discussed or harmonized, there were no campaign plans with tasks and missions spelled out past the initial assault, no effective main effort established, inadequate force levels, and an unsound command structure with various headquarters. Practically every rule in the book was broken. The objective of linking up with the Finns in the Leningrad area was an important factor in Hitler opting for three main drives into the Soviet Union rather than an earlier OKH plan that called for only two. After describing the operations during and after Barbarossa, this book describes how the Finnish theater became a blind ally for the Germans. Their strongest and best army was trapped both operationally and geographically in central and northern Finland, making virtually no contribution to the war effort. The Germans could not bring to bear enough forces to accomplish their objectives without substantial Finnish assistance, and that was not forthcoming. The final chapters deal with the Soviet counteroffensive against the Finns in 1944. The Finns lost all their gains and quickly concluded a separate armistice. This left the German forces in Finland to simply vacate the territory, fighting between the Finns and Soviets alike as they tried to return to the main war. Jointly suffering 291,000 casualties, the only consolation was that the coalition had inflicted some 830,000 on the Soviets. In this book, Henrik Lunde, a former US Special Operations colonel, and the renowned author of Hitlers Pre-emptive War: The Battle for Norway, 1940, once again fills a profound gap in our understanding of World War II. Members Reviews: Stay away from this incompetent junk If you are looking for a good account of the Continuation War and Finnish-German alliance in WWII, please look elsewhere! This is a work of bad and polemical popular history. The author is utterly incompetent as he does not read neither Finnish nor Russian. He focuses on the military operations and avoids everything related to politics. How he can make judgements about Finnish perceptions, choices and alternatives, is beyond me. Audible should not release junk like this. I gave up I gave up, I wish the narrator had too.

Into the Silence Audiobook by Wade Davis

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Wade Davis) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:59:37 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Into the Silence Subtitle: The Great War, Mallory, and the Conquest of Everest Author: Wade Davis Narrator: Enn Reitel Format: Unabridged Length: 28 hrs and 57 mins Language: English Release date: 10-18-11 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 229 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: On June 6, 1924, two men set out from a camp perched at 23,000 feet on an ice ledge just below the lip of Mount Everests North Col. George Mallory, thirty-seven, was Britains finest climber. Sandy Irvine was a young Oxford scholar of twenty-two with little previous mountaineering experience. Neither of them returned. In this magisterial work of history and adventure, based on more than a decade of prodigious research in British, Canadian, and European archives, and months in the field in Nepal and Tibet, Wade Davis vividly re-creates British climbers epic attempts to scale Mount Everest in the early 1920s. With new access to letters and diaries, Davis recounts the heroic efforts of George Mallory and his fellow climbers to conquer the mountain in the face of treacherous terrain and furious weather. Into the Silence sets their remarkable achievements in sweeping historical context: Davis shows how the exploration originated in nineteenth-century imperial ambitions, and he takes us far beyond the Himalayas to the trenches of World War I, where Mallory and his generation found themselves and their world utterly shattered. In the wake of the war that destroyed all notions of honor and decency, the Everest expeditions, led by these scions of Britains elite, emerged as a symbol of national redemption and hope. Beautifully written and rich with detail, Into the Silence is a classic account of exploration and endurance, and a timeless portrait of an extraordinary generation of adventurers, soldiers, and mountaineers the likes of which we will never see again. Critic Reviews: The First World War, the worst calamity humanity has ever inflicted on itself, still reverberates in our lives. In its immediate aftermath, a few young men who had fought in it went looking for a healing challenge, and found it far from the Western Front. In recreating their astonishing adventure, Wade Davis has given us an elegant meditation on the courage to carry on. (George F. Will) I was captivated. Wade Davis has penned an exceptional book on an extraordinary generation. They do not make them like that any more. And there would always only ever be one Mallory. From the pathos of the trenches to the inevitable tragedies high on Everest this is a book deserving of awards. Monumental in its scope and conception it nevertheless remains hypnotically fascinating throughout. A wonderful story tinged with sadness. (Joe Simpson, author of Touching the Void) Into the Silence is utterly fascinating, and grippingly well-written. With extraordinary skill Wade Davis manages to weave together such disparate strands as Queen Victorias Indian Raj, the Great Game of intrigue against Russia, the horrors of the Somme, and Britains obsession to conquer the worlds highest peak, all linking to that terrible moment atop Everest when Mallory fell to his death. The mystery of whether he and Irving ever reached the summit remains tantalizingly unsolved. (Alistair Horne, author of The Price of Glory: Verdun 1916) Members Reviews: Really enjoyed it I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in mountaineering or war. The author gives a good overview on some of the more devastating battles of WWI and how they shaped the lives and outlook of climbers like Mallory. You really get to appreciate who these men are and the physical, political, and mental stress they had to endure just to get to the base of Everest.

Summary & Analysis: The Boys in the Boat Audiobook by Book Junkie

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Book Junkie) — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 04:54:19 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Summary & Analysis: The Boys in the Boat Subtitle: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics Author: Book Junkie Narrator: Todd Eflin Format: Unabridged Length: 1 hr and 16 mins Language: English Release date: 01-26-17 Publisher: S&S Publishing Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 4 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: You need to listen to this book if you want to dive deeper into the world of Daniel James Brown. This is a summary and analysis and not the original book. The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics is written by best-selling author Daniel James Brown, the author of two riveting historical novels The Indifferent Stars Above and Under a Flaming Sky. The Boys in the Boat is a gripping story about American Olympic glory in Nazi Germany from unlikely heroes: sons of farmers, loggers, and shipyard workers, specifically Joe Rantz, a young man abandoned by his family at the age of 15. The story is built from interviews with Joe and his family in addition to excerpts from journals from the young men who made history in the Olympics, primarily known for Jesse Owens victory in Berlin. Inside, you'll find: Members Reviews: Inspiring narration I love stories that depict underdogs and misfits overcoming the predictions of the masses. On the other hand I would like to see narrators do their homework especially in the area of pronunciation. In this book the town of Sequim is not a two syllable word and should be pronounced skwim.

A History of the Twentieth Century Audiobook by Martin Gilbert

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Martin Gilbert) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:32:43 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: A History of the Twentieth Century Author: Martin Gilbert Narrator: John Curless Format: Unabridged Length: 29 hrs and 53 mins Language: English Release date: 10-19-11 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 68 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Martin Gilbert, author of the multivolume biography of Winston Churchill and other brilliant works of history, chronicles world events year by year, from the dawn of aviation to the flourishing technology age, taking us through World War I to the inauguration of Franklin Roosevelt as president of the United States and Hider as chancellor of Germany. He continues on to document wars in South Africa, China, Ethiopia, Spain, Korea, Vietnam, and Bosnia, as well as apartheid, the arms race, the moon landing, and the beginnings of the computer age, while interspersing the influence of art, literature, music, and religion throughout this vivid work. A rich, textured look at war, celebration, suffering, life, death, and renewal in the century gone by, this volume is nothing less than extraordinary. Members Reviews: Entertaining. Worth reading. This was an interesting book. Entertaining and it contains a lot of information that I didn't already know. One thing that confuses me is that in the wrap up of the audio book it says that you have just finished reading "the condensed version of Martin Gilbert's 3 volume work." In the description of the book it clearly says unabridged. I don't know what condensed means if it doesn't mean shortened. Also, if the book was indeed abridged that would help explain a few mysteries which I had earlier chalked up to either an omission on the author or a case of me spacing out during portions of the book. There were a few times when it seemed like certain individuals were referenced without ever being introduced. Also the author covered the space race a lot, but then there was no mention of the moon landing. Long story short: this is worth buying, but it's possible that you aren't getting the whole book. A Focus on the Facts with Minimal Commentary What made the experience of listening to A History of the Twentieth Century the most enjoyable? Getting a breakdown of events across the globe decade by decade gives the listener a unique perspective on major happenings (mostly catastrophes) of the century. After finishing this work, one can see how difficult it is for modern historians to sort through the sheer volume of information to find some thread of reason behind it all. What was one of the most memorable moments of A History of the Twentieth Century? As I lover of world history, I was surprised to find so many critical details I had previously missed. For example, other works originally led me to think that WWI was sort of everyone's fault. 'However, after listening to a blow by blow progression of events the Kaiself himself seems to deserve most of the blame. . In addition, I had no idea that so much upheval occurred in the Soviet Union during the interwar period. What aspect of John Curlesss performance would you have changed? He kind of grows on you after a few hours, but I initially felt that he wasn't enunciating properly. He does well with pronunciation and really deserves at least 3.5 stars. Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? No, its fairly engaging but you really should limit yourself to one decade a day. Otherwise its easy to lose focus and end up Leopold's Congo thinking that the author is still discussing Republican China. Any additional comments? I think this work should have been shortened to only focus on its strong points_ politics, international relations and war.

A Bridge Too Far Audiobook by Cornelius Ryan

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Cornelius Ryan) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 19:11:54 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: A Bridge Too Far Author: Cornelius Ryan Narrator: Clive Chafer Format: Unabridged Length: 18 hrs and 11 mins Language: English Release date: 06-27-12 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 413 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The classic account of one of the most dramatic battles of World War II. A Bridge Too Faris Cornelius Ryans masterly chronicle of the Battle of Arnhem, which marshaled the greatest armada of troop-carrying aircraft ever assembled and cost the Allies nearly twice as many casualties as D-day. In this compelling work of history, Ryan narrates the Allied effort to end the war in Europe in 1944 by dropping the combined airborne forces of the American and British armies behind German lines to capture the crucial bridge across the Rhine at Arnhem. Focusing on a vast cast of characters - from Dutch civilians to British and American strategists to common soldiers and commanders - Ryan brings to life one of the most daring and ill-fated operations of the war.A Bridge Too Farsuperbly recreates the terror, suspense, heroism, and tragedy of this epic operation, which ended in bitter defeat for the Allies. About the author: Cornelius Ryan (19201974), born in Dublin, Ireland, became one of the preeminent war correspondents of his time, flying fourteen bombing missions with the US Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. He is the author of numerous books, including several classics of military history, which have appeared throughout the world in nineteen languages. He was awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government in 1973. Critic Reviews: I know of no other work of literature of World War II as moving, as awesome, and as accurate in its portrayal of human courage. (General James M. Gavin) Ryan masters a spare, strong style to deliver a battle that has much of the majesty and beauty of classic tragedy. ( Kirkus Reviews) Members Reviews: Great story much better than the movie Where does A Bridge Too Far rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far? The research is good and goes so much further than the movie. The characters are complex and one has to remember that they are real. The inability of the allies to manage the campaign makes you wonder what would have happened if the German units were at full strength. The characterization of Field Marshall Montgomery is consistent with most books I've read. The inability of the allies to react nimbly was a result of too big a hierarchy; much like the Pentagon or many corporations. The inefficiency of the German military was unmatched. The saddest part of the book is the fate of the Dutch population who were simply in the way of Montgomery's unending need for glory. His "dagger thrust" strategy was tried and it failed despite the "90%" success. How could the performance have been better? Clive Chafer gives monotone delivery a bad name. Not awful but has the most creative and fantastic monotone ever heard. The story is too compelling to put you to sleep but his delivery reminds one of a flat landscape that uses a mouse's foot prints for mountains. Listen to the book, watch the movie The movie is referred to as "A Hour Too Long" and it is a long film (3hrs). The book though brings clarity and if you wish to watch the film, I suggest listening to this book; before, after or during it does not matter. Spoiler alert, the cavalry doesn't quite make it. What you do get from this book is a clear understanding of what happen, what went wrong and possibly a good answer to the question of why. This is the 'boys own adventure' to battle and even if you are not into history, is a good yarn.

Science in the Twentieth Century: A Social-Intellectual Survey Audiobook by The Great Courses

biacuaduc@gmail.com (The Great Courses) — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 21:05:11 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Science in the Twentieth Century: A Social-Intellectual Survey Author: The Great Courses Narrator: Professor Steven L. Goldman Format: Original Recording Length: 17 hrs and 47 mins Language: English Release date: 07-08-13 Publisher: The Great Courses Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 140 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: As the 19th century drew to a close, the age-old quest to understand the physical world appeared to be complete, except for a few minor details. In fact, Albert Michelson, the first American to win a Nobel Prize in the sciences, noted that, "It seems probable that most of the grand underlying principles have been firmly established." And he was far from alone among his peers. Scientists in 1900 had no inkling of the other mind-boggling developments that lay in wait: plate tectonics, genetic engineering, space probes, nanotechnology, big bang theory, electronic computers, nuclear weapons, artificial intelligence, and many other astounding products of the human mind. Indeed, by the end of the 20th century, nearly every 19th-century theory of natural and social phenomena would be overthrown or superseded. This dynamic transformation has not been a matter of revolution, but of evolution, as you'll learn in this fascinating 36-lecture exploration of scientific growth filled with ideas, anecdotes, and insights. You'll see how 20th-century scientists have built on crucial 19th-century concepts such as energy, natural selection, atoms, fields, and waves to assemble a body of knowledge to stun even the most farsighted scientific thinkers of that not-too-distant past. You'll come away with a new appreciation of how scientific knowledge expands, as Professor Goldman addresses a tremendous range of scientific and technological topics, including science and society, physics, mathematics, psychology, cosmology, telecommunications, meteorology, and archaeology. PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio. Members Reviews: Ochoa Great way to put in perspective the evolution of scientific works, and assist in acquiring an organized grasp of the most important achievements in scientific history. Professors Goldman is a serious narrator. Another great course from Goldman Everything I expected and more, an excellent adventure into science with the reward of wisdom given to anyone who endures ans listens to the end. why did I go to school? this book covers everythin this book covers what's seems to be everything related to science and humanity that is interesting and made me feel like if I could just relisten and pay perfect attention I would be the smartest guy I know Thoroughly entertaining A fascinating journey across the entire spectrum of sciences covering physical, biological and social discoveries, evolution and innovations. Narration is top notch and content is well presented. Thank you Professor Goldman. Unquestionably the finest lectures ever listened to from start to completion Never has a presenter existed to identical mosaic of knowledge, thoughts, & meaningful associations as this superbly informed and impassioned lecturer. To my surprise much new was gained, which included personal aspects found back stories that enhance his given topics. A lecturer for the veraciously interested people who naturally ponder the life they live.

Pearl Harbor Audiobook by Craig Nelson

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Craig Nelson) — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 04:29:04 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Pearl Harbor Subtitle: From Infamy to Greatness Author: Craig Nelson Narrator: George Guidall Format: Unabridged Length: 18 hrs and 55 mins Language: English Release date: 09-20-16 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 112 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Published in time for the 75th anniversary, a gripping and definitive account of the event that changed 20th-century America - Pearl Harbor - based on years of research and new information uncovered by a New York Times best-selling author. The America we live in today was born not on July 4, 1776, but on December 7, 1941, when almost 400 Japanese planes attacked the US Pacific Fleet, killing 2,400 men and sinking or damaging 16 ships. In Pearl Harbor: From Infamy to Greatness, Craig Nelson follows, moment by moment, the sailors, soldiers, pilots, admirals, generals, emperors, and presidents, all starting with a pre-polio assistant secretary of the navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, attending the laying of the keel of the USS Arizona at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, against the backdrop of the imperial, military, and civilian leaders of Japan lurching into ultranationalist fascism, all culminating in an insanely daring scheme to shock the Allies with a technologically revolutionary mission in one of the boldest military stories ever told - one with consequences that continue to echo in our lives today. Besides the little-understood history of how and why Japan attacked America, we can hear the abandoned record player endlessly repeating "Sunrise Serenade" as the Japanese bombs hit the deck of the California; we feel terror as navy wives, helped by their Japanese maids, upturn couches for cover and hide with their children in caves from a rumored invasion; and we understand the mix of frustration and triumph as a lone American teenager shoots down a Japanese bomber. Backed by a research team's five years of efforts with archives and interviews, producing nearly a million pages of documents, as well as a thorough reexamination of the original evidence produced by federal investigators, this definitive history provides a blow-by-blow account from both the Japanese and American perspectives and is a historical drama on the greatest scale. Nelson delivers all the terror, chaos, violence, tragedy, and heroism of the attack in stunning detail and offers surprising conclusions about the tragedy's unforeseen and resonant consequences. Members Reviews: Worst recording ever from audible I have downloaded dozens of books from audible. Undoubtedly, this is the absolute worst recording I've ever listened too. Bad audio, glitches, varying speed. I deserve my money back on this one. I was interested in the subject matter or I never would have made it to the end. Terrible. Outstanding! Outstanding, even-handed account of Pearl Harbor. The author provides a detailed analysis of what went wrong at Pearl Harbor and does so in a fascinating, engaging way. The narrator is among the best there is. Amazing Research To A Story We All Thought We New Many of the facts about the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor we already know or thought we did. Nelson brings new facts into what happened in the months leading up to Pearl Harbor and tells us a story in context of what really happened on that terrible Sunday. morning. The incompetence of the US Army and Navy leaders and the warnings they ignored will leave you angry. As always George Guidall does a great job with the narration. Good Book Ruined by Horrible Narration and Quality It's hard to get past the very bad narration and horrendous audio quality of this audio book, despite the well told story of the events leading to Pearl Harbor.

When Paris Sizzled Audiobook by Mary McAuliffe

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Mary McAuliffe) — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 17:32:36 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: When Paris Sizzled Subtitle: The 1920s Paris of Hemingway, Chanel, Cocteau, Cole Porter, Josephine Baker, and Their Friends Author: Mary McAuliffe Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins Language: English Release date: 02-28-17 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 19 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: When Paris Sizzled vividly portrays the City of Light during the fabulous 1920s, les Annees folles, when Parisians emerged from the horrors of war to find that a new world greeted them - one that reverberated with the hard metallic clang of the assembly line, the roar of automobiles, and the beat of jazz. Mary McAuliffe traces a decade that saw seismic change on almost every front, from art and architecture to music, literature, fashion, entertainment, transportation, and, most notably, behavior. The epicenter of all this creativity, as well as of the era's good times, was Montparnasse, where impoverished artists and writers found colleagues and cafes, and tourists discovered the Paris of their dreams. Major figures on the Paris scene - such as Gertrude Stein, Jean Cocteau, Picasso, Stravinsky, Diaghilev, and Proust - continued to hold sway, while others now came to prominence - including Ernest Hemingway, Coco Chanel, Cole Porter, and Josephine Baker, as well as Andre Citroën, Le Corbusier, Man Ray, Sylvia Beach, James Joyce, and the irrepressible Kiki of Montparnasse. Critic Reviews: " When Paris Sizzled delivers an expansive and wonderfully engaging account of the spirited characters who made the Left Bank of Paris the center of the creative world." ( The Huffington Post) Members Reviews: Informative, but no sizzle It is a pity that such an informative book about such an interesting time and place is so dry and soulless. I got no sense of why it was such a fun, inspirational time. No charm. Loved it I loved it, especially the personal stories of the different artists, writers, musician, and their friends. When Paris Sizzles 1920's Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not? I don't think so. I have read more informational books about this era that I think I would recommend first. What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting? SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY THE BATTLE OF THE CAR MAKERS, IT JUST WENT ON AND ON AND ON... Which character as performed by Saskia Maarleveld was your favorite? JOSEPHINE BAKER If this book were a movie would you go see it? IF IT WAS EDITED IN SEVERAL PLACES! Any additional comments? I'M SORRY TO SAY THIS, I KNOW I'M NOT A WRITER, HOWEVER, I EXPECTED MORE FROM A WOMAN WITH HER CREDENTIALS.

1944 Audiobook by Jay Winik

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jay Winik) — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 23:57:10 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: 1944 Subtitle: FDR and the Year That Changed History Author: Jay Winik Narrator: Arthur Morey Format: Unabridged Length: 21 hrs and 10 mins Language: English Release date: 09-22-15 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 206 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: New York Times best-selling author Jay Winik brings to life in gripping detail the year 1944, which determined the outcome of World War II and put more pressure than any other on an ailing yet determined President Roosevelt. It was not inevitable that World War II would end as it did or that it would even end well. Nineteen forty-four was a year that could have stymied the Allies and cemented Hitler's waning power. Instead it saved those democracies - but with a fateful cost. Now, in a superbly told story, Jay Winik, the acclaimed author of April 1865 and The Great Upheaval, captures the epic images and extraordinary history as never before. 1944 witnessed a series of titanic events: FDR at the pinnacle of his wartime leadership as well as his reelection, the planning of Operation Overlord with Churchill and Stalin, the unprecedented D-Day invasion, the liberation of Paris and the horrific Battle of the Bulge, and the tumultuous conferences that finally shaped the coming peace. But on the way, millions of more lives were still at stake as President Roosevelt was exposed to mounting evidence of the most grotesque crime in history, the Final Solution. Just as the Allies were landing in Normandy, the Nazis were accelerating the killing of millions of European Jews. Winik shows how escalating pressures fell on an all but dying Roosevelt, whose rapidly deteriorating health was a closely guarded secret. Here then, as with D-Day, was a momentous decision for the president. Was winning the war the best way to rescue the Jews? Was a rescue even possible? Or would it get in the way of defeating Hitler? In a year when even the most audacious undertakings were within the world's reach, including the liberation of Europe, one challenge - saving Europe's Jews - seemed to remain beyond Roosevelt's grasp. Members Reviews: ISIS Is amateur Not wishing to minimize the senseless atrocities perpetrated by ISIS, but they are amateurs compared to the Nazis. Winik, with unrestrained detail chronicles the years of moral depravity of the German and Nazi people toward all who did not fit their definition of correctness. What lessons can we learn from history in closing our response to the evils of genocide? The US has and is guilty. Winik, without specifically proclaiming it, would call a halt to isolation from our moral responsibility to the value of human life. Winik's seamless weaving of so many threads of our recent history into a cohesive, illuminated picture is revelatory. I am so much better informed than I was even having personally lived through the entire epoch. Born in 1930 I was too involved in personal naval gazing to ever perceiving of a personal responsibility to be involved in attempting to effect change--for which I repent. Read the book and ask what your response should be--you may be surprised. Stimulating I believe that Jay Winik is attempting to claim that FDR failed the Jews or at least could have done more to save them from the Holocaust. Winik claims that FDR chose inaction time after time about stopping Hitlers Final Solution. Winik thought that FDR could have rallied the country in his fire side chats and that he could have dealt with the anti-Semitism in his own cabinet. Winik does spend time discussing FDRs health in 1944. Winik claims FDR missed his own Emancipation Proclamation Moment by not stopping the holocaust.

Afghanistan Audiobook by Thomas Barfield

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Thomas Barfield) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 22:15:48 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Afghanistan Subtitle: A Cultural and Political History Author: Thomas Barfield Narrator: Robin Bloodworth Format: Unabridged Length: 17 hrs and 22 mins Language: English Release date: 09-21-12 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 79 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Afghanistan traces the historic struggles and the changing nature of political authority in this volatile region of the world, from the Mughal Empire in the 16th century to the Taliban resurgence today. Thomas Barfield introduces listeners to the bewildering diversity of tribal and ethnic groups in Afghanistan, explaining what unites them as Afghans despite the regional, cultural, and political differences that divide them. He shows how governing these peoples was relatively easy when power was concentrated in a small dynastic elite, but how this delicate political order broke down in the 19th and 20th centuries when Afghanistan's rulers mobilized rural militias to expel first the British and later the Soviets. Armed insurgency proved remarkably successful against the foreign occupiers, but it also undermined the Afghan government's authority and rendered the country ever more difficult to govern as time passed. Barfield vividly describes how Afghanistan's armed factions plunged the country into a civil war, giving rise to clerical rule by the Taliban and Afghanistan's isolation from the world. He examines why the American invasion in the wake of September 11 toppled the Taliban so quickly, and how this easy victory lulled the United States into falsely believing that a viable state could be built just as easily. Afghanistan is essential listening for anyone who wants to understand how a land conquered and ruled by foreign dynasties for more than a thousand years became the "graveyard of empires" for the British and Soviets, and what the United States must do to avoid a similar fate. Critic Reviews: "In this riveting study, Barfield does a splendid job of informing us why Afghanistan is the way it has always been." (Daily Star) "This book is an authoritative and well-written summary of what we might call the majority view. There is a streak in this book, however, of more radical thinking. . . . It leads him near the end of the book to some startling predictions for Afghanistan's possible futures." (Gerard Russell Foreign Policy) "Thomas Barfield's new book offers a remedy for Americans' pervasive ignorance of Afghanistan. . . . Afghanistan: A Cultural and Political History is an invaluable book. Mr. Barfield does not give the United States a way out of Afghanistan, but he does provide the context necessary for good policymaking." (Doug Bandow, Washington Times) Members Reviews: Great overview of Afghanistan's history What made the experience of listening to Afghanistan the most enjoyable? Interesting perspective on tribal/cultural dynamics. Goes more in depth into actual Afghan historical politics vs. the more traditional US foreign policy-perspective books which are more widely published.

Churchill, Hitler, and 'The Unnecessary War' Audiobook by Patrick J. Buchanan

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Patrick J. Buchanan) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:48:31 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Churchill, Hitler, and 'The Unnecessary War' Author: Patrick J. Buchanan Narrator: Don Leslie Format: Unabridged Length: 15 hrs and 40 mins Language: English Release date: 08-29-08 Publisher: Books on Tape Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 196 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: In this monumental and provocative history, Patrick Buchanan makes the case that, if not for the blunders of British statesmen - Winston Churchill first among them - the horrors of two world wars and the Holocaust might have been avoided and the British Empire might never have collapsed into ruins. Half a century of murderous oppression of scores of millions under the iron boot of Communist tyranny might never have happened, and Europe's central role in world affairs might have been sustained for many generations. Among the British and Churchillian blunders were: Members Reviews: A classic of history books This book took quite some courage for me to listen to, because I am an admirer of Winston Churchill. And I simply was not looking forward to a tirade on Churchill, or tolerating another typical doggone liberal revisionist "history." I was born in Britain a long, long time ago, I should explain, so I have a deep prejudice in Winston's favor. Mr. Buchanan has written a kind of meta-analysis of World Wars I and II that should be a milestone history of the World Wars of the 20th century, where 50,000,000 people died. By meta-analysis, I mean he summarizes histories by, yes, Winston Churchill, Barbara Tuchman, AJP Taylor, George Kenon, and quotes Churchill's contemporaries so they do not seem quite the dolts that Churchill and his biographers characterize them as. In fact, if I were a history major again, I would never accept a professor who had not read this book and who claimed it was "nothing." Because this book shows that the history books on these wars were written upside down. I cannot begin to summarize this book (it has 1300 citations, by the way). But Churchill's part in these wars (understanding WW I got us WWII) began with a secret agreement to bring England to war in defense of France (so secret in fact that only Edward Grey knew of it on England's side). Winston usurped his own government's prerogative! (Sorry for the excitement.) To simplify, thus World War. This book is an eye opener. I recommend it. You might be shocked when you listen to/read this book. Read some of the reviews on Amazon.com. Churchill, Hitler etc A lengthy and modern discourse on the history of modern Europe leading into WW2. It is said that the victors of any war write the history as they want it remembered and certainly the allies did that after both world wars. Buchanan is prepared to contend with British propaganda and thank Heaven for that. However he does not go as far as he ought. He discusses causes in terms of political cowardice, dishonesty and hype but he fails to consider the imperatives of oil, economics and finance that interested Churchill. Nor does he question the role of Churchill and his allies in white anting Chamberlain and his accord with Hitler, making it impossible for the accord to work. There is still a great deal more history to be disclosed. Nevertheless, Buchanen gives us a good and wide ranging discussion that is very easy on the ear and enriches the stories we already know by his willingness to bark at sacred cows. Good history Well documented and interesting listen.

The Fall of Berlin 1945 Audiobook by Antony Beevor

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Antony Beevor) — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 16:21:38 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Fall of Berlin 1945 Author: Antony Beevor Narrator: Sean Barrett Format: Unabridged Length: 17 hrs and 31 mins Language: English Release date: 08-22-16 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 261 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The Red Army had much to avenge when it finally reached the frontiers of the Third Reich in January 1945. Frenzied by their terrible experiences with Wehrmacht and SS brutality, they wreaked havoc - tanks crushing refugee columns, mass rape, pillage, and unimaginable destruction. Hundreds of thousands of women and children froze to death or were massacred; more than seven million fled westward from the fury of the Red Army. It was the most terrifying example of fire and sword ever known. Antony Beevor has reconstructed the experiences of those millions caught up in the nightmare of the Third Reich's final collapse. The Fall of Berlin is a terrible story of pride, stupidity, fanaticism, revenge, and savagery, yet it is also one of astonishing endurance, self-sacrifice, and survival against all odds. Critic Reviews: "A tale drenched in drama and blood, heroism and cowardice, loyalty and betrayal." (Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post) Members Reviews: Engrossing This is a very detailed account of the fall of Berlin and Nazi Germany in 1945. The book follows the allied invasion of the Fatherland, but the focus is on the Soviet army and its puppet master, Josef Stalin. The German army and population paid a very steep price for their nation's aggressive and utterly brutal invasions and the murders of millions. While the Soviet army was exacting revenge on the Germans, Stalin was busy purging his own people while the war was still very much in progress. It is a fascinating and thoroughly researched book that I highly recommend to anyone with an interest in WW2. The narration is quite first-rate as well. Another great one by Beevor Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why? If you are a history buff, this is one for your library. As usual, Mr. Beevor includes not just the history of the battles, but the effect on the civilians and their lives. It is wonderfully inclusive and a job to listen to as the narration is beautiful. I am looking forward to more listens by this narrator. Great book I've read (well listened) a ton of books on WWII and whatever is available for the last days of Berlin, and there's a few books on the issue. So with that said I'll say up front there isn't anything new in this book for me - but it's put together well and it's always great to have a refresher. I say that because if you know the basics of WWII and want to add some depth on the final weeks and days before VE day, this is a great place to start. If you know the last days of Hitler in detail, again you probably won't learn much, but this is still a very good take on the events and as I said for myself, it's a great refresher. Some other notes. I generally prefer a narrative take on history and at the beginning of this book it was anything but that - BUT as the book moved along and the focus narrowed, the book got much more interesting and compelling. The reader does a very good job, probably closer to a 4.4 as opposed to 5, but generally if you give someone a 4 other reviewers will think he must have not been that good - and that's not at all the case. Overall if you read the description and it sounds interesting then you should very much enjoy this book.

Infamy Audiobook by John Toland

biacuaduc@gmail.com (John Toland) — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 04:53:02 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Infamy Subtitle: Pearl Harbor and Its Aftermath Author: John Toland Narrator: Traber Burns Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 49 mins Language: English Release date: 12-12-17 Publisher: Blackstone Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 7 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: A revealing and controversial account of the events surrounding Pearl Harbor. Pulitzer Prize - winning author John Toland presents evidence that FDR and his top advisors knew about the planned Japanese attack but remained silent. Infamy reveals the conspiracy to cover up the facts and find scapegoats for the greatest disaster in United States military history. New York Times best-seller. Members Reviews: A different history you should read about Superb, albeit controversial, book that I plan to present for a men's book club in a few months. Toland has a long-term reputation for being scrupulously honest in his research and writing, yet was castigated for his "take" on Pearl Harbor. "Infamy" is well worth reading, then you can decide for yourself. Riveting and informative. This is an excellent read for anyone who is interested in history or politics. The book is well written and flows easily. I felt it was well researched and was a book that filled a void created by the secrets and deceptions imposed on our nation during the entirety of WW11. When the Administration adopted the "Ends justify the means" policy laced with lies and deception, thousands upon thousands of lives were lost in the Pacific, and many of our good military officer's lives were changed forever,their reputations tarnished beyond repair. Perhaps this book brought some measure of closure to an entire nation. It is a shame it was so long in coming. The story Hidden of Pearl Harbor. As someone alive during the Pearl Harbor incident There were so many things I didn't remember. My uncles tried to share their ideas and prejudice with me. This book brought out so many horrible traitorious incidents that I had not known,History has a way of hiding truth. Its amazing how much history has been altered to in plain ... As expected there is a lot more to the story than we have been led to believe. Its amazing how much history has been altered to in plain words go to war. Well worth the read Great factual book This book is based upon facts and research that the author gleaned from documents and actual interviews. It is , in my opinion, a must read for people who like to read non-fiction as I do. There are quite a few pictures at the end of some of the key players in the attack and the subsequent congressional hearings.

My Lai Audiobook by Howard Jones

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Howard Jones) — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 12:45:16 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: My Lai Subtitle: Vietnam, 1968, and the Descent into Darkness Author: Howard Jones Narrator: James Patrick Cronin Format: Unabridged Length: 17 hrs and 2 mins Language: English Release date: 07-11-17 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 72 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: On the early morning of March 16, 1968, American soldiers from three platoons of Charlie Company entered a group of hamlets located in the Son Tinh district of South Vietnam, located near the Demilitarized Zone and known as "Pinkville" because of the high level of Vietcong infiltration. The soldiers, many still teenagers who had been in the country for three months, were on a "search and destroy" mission. Three hours after the GIs entered the hamlets, more than 500 unarmed villagers lay dead, killed in cold blood. The atrocity took its name from one of the hamlets, known by the Americans as My Lai Four. Military authorities attempted to suppress the news of My Lai until some who had been there, in particular a helicopter pilot named Hugh Thompson and a door gunner named Lawrence Colburn, spoke up about what they had seen. The official line was that the villagers had been killed by artillery and gunship fire rather than by small arms. That line soon began to fray. Lieutenant William Calley, one of the platoon leaders, admitted to shooting the villagers but insisted that he had acted upon orders. An exposé of the massacre and cover-up by journalist Seymour Hersh incited international outrage, and Congressional and US Army inquiries began. Critic Reviews: "Jones succeeds on all counts in a book that, due to its subject matter, is not pleasant to read but is powerful and important." (Kirkus Reviews) Members Reviews: Outstanding audiobook An outstanding retelling & analysis of the My Lai incident that also includes discussion of how it came to happen and its cover-up aftermath. Now that nearly 50 years have passed it is proper subject for a historian. I remember when it happened myself or rather when it was publicly exposed a year later ... When I myself was within a year or two of draft eligibility. In that time we understood it was an atrocity & that "someone ought to pay." But at that time I was sympathetic with the common view that Calley & Medina were scapegoats. I am less sure of that now. They both (& others) should have served long jail terms. And their superiors made to pay more than just discharge from the service. The ultra patriot class of that day - they should be ashamed of defending a unit that massacred over 500 civilians in cold blood. This was emphatically not the common experience of the 2-3 million American soldiers who served in Vietnam. Their service, including the 50,000 who died, should be honored without tainting it with the guilt of political leaders who put us there. But those who commit big or little atrocities surely should not be celebrated or apologized for by our society. Powerful & compelling writing & narration. My Lai: Vietnam, 1968 Very comprehensive, from the psychology, to the actions, the attempted coverup, the trials, and a final reflection. This was difficult to listen to, but I felt it was necessary to do so. Riveting, Nauseating. Do not listen if Do not listen if you have utopian expectations of American soldiers or the people who send them to war. The war was unwinnable from the start. Every politician and officer who sent people into this war is as guilty as Calley up to and including Kennedy , Johnson, Nixon . Ford should not have pardoned Nixon.

They Killed Our President Audiobook by Jesse Ventura, Dick Russell

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jesse Ventura) — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 01:43:27 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: They Killed Our President Subtitle: 63 Facts That Prove a Conspiracy to Kill JFK Author: Jesse Ventura, Dick Russell Narrator: Jason Culp Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins Language: English Release date: 10-15-13 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 176 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Unless you've been living under a rock for the past 50 years, you're aware of the many hypotheses that the assassination of President John F. Kennedy was not done by one man. Whether you've listened to one or a dozen of the audiobooks on this topic, there's no way to fully grasp the depth of this conspiracy. For the first time ever, New York Times best-selling authors Jesse Ventura and Dick Russell have teamed up with some of the most respected and influential assassination researchers to put together the ultimate compendium that covers every angle - from the plot to the murder - of JFK. They Killed Our President will not only discuss the most famous of theories, but will also bring to light new and recently discovered information, which together shows that the United States government not only was behind this egregious plot, but took every step to make sure that the truth would not come out. With 2013 marking the fiftieth anniversary of JFK's assassination, this is the perfect time for They Killed Our President to be available to listeners. The research and information in this audiobook are unprecedented, and there's nobody better to bring this to everyone's attention than the former governor of Minnesota and US Navy SEAL, Jesse Ventura. Editorial Reviews: One of the greatest mysteries in American history is that surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It has spawned countless books, movies, and has generally occupied our collective conscious for the past five decades. Now, approximately 50 years after that fateful day, best-selling authors Jesse Ventura and Dick Russell have produced an engaging and enthralling look at the conspiracies and the truth behind just what led to the murder of JFK. Performed with a chiseled authority by veteran Jason Culp, They Killed Our President is a shocking take on one of the most tragic days in American politics. Members Reviews: Fun and informative. And a great reader. Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why? Really interesting book on the JFK cover up. I loved it. What was one of the most memorable moments of They Killed Our President? The matter of fact way it is told. As if someone is talking or thinking out loud. Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? No. It takes time to digest it all. Any additional comments? Off all the books I have this is the best reading performance. I loved his presentation. surprisingly good What made the experience of listening to They Killed Our President the most enjoyable? sometimes we forget Mr. Ventura has a side of intellectual presentation. He shows it off well What did you like best about this story? many examples were new and made sense Which character as performed by Jason Culp was your favorite? Oswald..a difficult character to capture There is no way a 24 yr old kid has this much intelligence and keeps his cool so well unless he knows his back is covered Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? yes it was Any additional comments? yes, a new take on an old topic well worth it Truth has been out there, this consolidates the tr Would you listen to They Killed Our President again? Why? Of course I would. The JFK assassination conspiracy fascinates me for many reasons.

The Monuments Men Audiobook by Robert M. Edsel, Bret Witter

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Robert M. Edsel) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:03:46 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Monuments Men Subtitle: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History Author: Robert M. Edsel, Bret Witter Narrator: Jeremy Davidson Format: Unabridged Length: 14 hrs and 19 mins Language: English Release date: 09-08-09 Publisher: Macmillan Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1118 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: In a race against time, behind enemy lines, often unarmed, a special force of American and British museum directors, curators, art historians, and others, called the Monuments Men, risked their lives scouring Europe to prevent the destruction of thousands of years of culture. Focusing on the 11-month period between D-Day and V-E Day, this fascinating account follows six Monuments Men and their impossible mission to save the world's great art from the Nazis. Critic Reviews: "The story is both engaging and inspiring. In the midst of a total war, armies systematically sought to mitigate cultural loss." (Publishers Weekly) "[Narrator Jeremy Davidson] varies the pacing effectively, based on the nature of the text. He speeds up slightly during exciting action-filled sequences. He reads letters and documents with a flatter tone, making it easy for listeners to discern when the document stops and the author's words resume. He also gives a slight but not intrusive or cartoonish British accent to quotations by Britishers." (AudioFile) Members Reviews: Fine book, adequate narration I enjoyed this book but found the narrator's attempts at foreign accents jarring. I'd like to see Audible vet narrators on their ability to do foreign accents before they hire them to read books that require foreign accents. LOVED IT! How is it possible that 67 years later, we are still reading new (and interesting) facts about World War II? This is a wonderful story and I kept a list of works of art discussed throughout the book to google. It reminded me of the beauty of works by Vermeer and others and I found the book an art history class as well as a story of brave men and women who risked their lives to save what they loved most - art. Interesting listen I met Bret Witter at a book convention, and after speaking with him decided to listen to this book. While parts of the book are very interesting, overall it is somewhat disjointed. It is more like a string of stories and adventures, rather than a novel. If you have an interest in WWII, as I do, then you would probably enjoy this, but it may be one of those books that is better to read than to listen to. I did find the book at Borders, and was able to see the art objects that the author describes as well as trace the paths of the Monuments Men.

Symphony for the City of the Dead Audiobook by M. T. Anderson

biacuaduc@gmail.com (M. T. Anderson) — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 04:53:56 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Symphony for the City of the Dead Subtitle: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad Author: M. T. Anderson Narrator: M. T. Anderson Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins Language: English Release date: 09-22-15 Publisher: Candlewick on Brilliance Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 150 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: In September 1941, Adolf Hitler's Wehrmacht surrounded Leningrad in what was to become one of the longest and most destructive sieges in Western history - almost three years of bombardment and starvation that culminated in the harsh winter of 1943-1944. More than a million citizens perished. Survivors recall corpses littering the frozen streets, their relatives having neither the means nor the strength to bury them. Residents burned books, furniture, and floorboards to keep warm; they ate family pets and - eventually - one another to stay alive. Trapped between the Nazi invading force and the Soviet government itself was composer Dmitri Shostakovich, who would write a symphony that roused, rallied, eulogized, and commemorated his fellow citizens - the Leningrad Symphony, which came to occupy a surprising place of prominence in the eventual Allied victory. This is the true story of a city under siege: the triumph of bravery and defiance in the face of terrifying odds. It is also a look at the power - and layered meaning - of music in beleaguered lives. Symphony for the City of the Dead is a masterwork thrillingly told and impeccably researched by National Book Award-winning author M. T. Anderson. Members Reviews: An Eye-Opening, Emotional Tale Before beginning this audio book, I was only minimally familiar with classical music and had even less knowledge about the history of Russia under Communist rule. Therefore, much of the information in this book was new to me. I was both horrified and inspired by this account of life in Stalinist Russia, especially during the Nazi siege of Leningrad, and amazed by Shastakovich himself. Kudos to M. T. Anderson for clear and flowing prose and for his fine performance of it. His pronunciation of Russian names and places seemed spot on, but I don't speak Russian so I'm only guessing. I also appreciated hearing snatches of Shastakovich's music, even though Anderson's description of it was so good that the written word would have been sufficient to get a feel for it. I highly recommend this audio book, whether you're a classical music lover or not, a history buff or not. I was neither and it has changed my life. This book blew me away Would you listen to Symphony for the City of the Dead again? Why? I'll have to wait a while until I listen to this again, just because it is so intense. I had to carry tissues while I listened because the tears kept coming, both from sorrow and joy. I usually avoid books read by the author, but MT Anderson did a fantastic job. Who was your favorite character and why? The people of Leningrad who inexplicably survived the siege really formed the backbone of the story. Anderson provided a balanced portrayal of the good, the bad and the ugly of ordinary people struggling through unimaginable horror. Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you? The emotional denouement was the performance of the 7th symphony in a starving Leningrad still under siege. People who had been eating wallpaper paste for months found the grace to be moved by a piece of music. Any additional comments? This is the kind of book you force on people, begging them to read it just so you can discuss it with somebody. It's technically a young adult book, but I'm middle aged and never found it simplistic.

A Force So Swift Audiobook by Kevin Peraino

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Kevin Peraino) — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 09:13:42 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: A Force So Swift Subtitle: Mao, Truman, and the Birth of Modern China, 1949 Author: Kevin Peraino Narrator: Paul Michael Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins Language: English Release date: 09-19-17 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 25 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: A gripping narrative of the Truman administration's response to the fall of Nationalist China and the triumph of Mao Zedong's Communist forces in 1949 - an extraordinary political revolution that continues to shape East Asian politics to this day. In the opening months of 1949, US President Harry S. Truman found himself faced with a looming diplomatic catastrophe - "perhaps the greatest that this country has ever suffered", as the journalist Walter Lippmann put it. Throughout the spring and summer, Mao Zedong's Communist armies fanned out across mainland China, annihilating the rival troops of America's onetime ally Chiang Kai-shek and taking control of Beijing, Shanghai, and other major cities. As Truman and his aides - including his shrewd, ruthless secretary of state, Dean Acheson - scrambled to formulate a response, they were forced to contend not only with Mao but also with unrelenting political enemies at home. Over the course of this tumultuous year, Mao would fashion a new revolutionary government in Beijing, laying the foundation for the creation of modern China, while Chiang Kai-shek would flee to the island sanctuary of Taiwan. These events transformed American foreign policy - leading ultimately to decades of friction with Communist China, a long-standing US commitment to Taiwan, and the subsequent wars in Korea and Vietnam. Drawing on Chinese and Russian sources as well as recently declassified CIA documents, Kevin Peraino tells the story of this remarkable year through the eyes of the key players, including Mao Zedong, President Truman, Secretary of State Acheson, Minnesota congressman Walter Judd, and Madame Chiang Kai-shek, the influential first lady of the Republic of China. Today, the legacy of 1949 is more relevant than ever to the relationships between China, the United States, and the rest of the world as Beijing asserts its claims in the South China Sea and tensions endure between Taiwan and the mainland. Critic Reviews: "China is likely to be the most significant force in the global life of the 21st century, a prospect that makes Kevin Peraino's lucid and compelling new book all the more relevant. By reconstructing the Truman reaction to the fall of Nationalist China and the rise of Mao, Peraino takes us back to the beginning of the journey. This book is excellent history that informs the headlines of today." (Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Destiny and Power) "Kevin Peraino has written a compelling narrative about the dramatic events of 1949, when Mao's armies defeated Chiang Kai-shek and Truman had to decide what to do about it. In this well-researched and well-crafted book, he tells us about Mao's calculations and about the arguments in Washington - events that would determine US policy in Asia for the next 30 years." (Frances FitzGerald, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Fire in the Lake) Members Reviews: A well told narrative for a critical period in history Kevin Peraino details the crucial events of 1949 from many angles. By relating the personal stories of key actors across countries and idealogical divides, he weaves a rich tapestry which brings to life a well known, but less understood turning point in history. I highly recommend listening.

Street Without Joy Audiobook by Bernard B. Fall

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Bernard B. Fall) — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:22:32 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Street Without Joy Subtitle: The French Debacle in Indochina Author: Bernard B. Fall Narrator: Derek Perkins Format: Unabridged Length: 13 hrs and 15 mins Language: English Release date: 05-13-13 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 163 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: In this classic account of the French war in Indochina, Bernard B. Fall vividly captures the sights, sounds, and smells of the savage eight-year conflict in the jungles and mountains of Southeast Asia from 1946 to 1954. The French fought well to the last, but even with the lethal advantages of airpower, they could not stave off the Communist-led Vietnamese nationalists, who countered with a hit-and-run campaign of ambushes, booby traps, and nighttime raids. Defeat came at Dien Bien Phu, in 1954, setting the stage for American involvement and opening another tragic chapter in Vietnam's history. Members Reviews: In 1964 this was our Vietnam textbook September 1964 I graduated from Infantry OCS at Fort Benning Georgia. The US involvement in Vietnam consisted of Special Forces advisors, but we were fairly certain that we would end up in Vietnam. We knew very little of how the Viet Cong or the North Vietnamese regulars operated, and this was our textbook, but I failed to pay attention. I was ready to go to war. November 1965 I was a platoon leader in the First Infantry Division, the first part of our buildup in Vietnam. Two months later I was at Walter Reed Army Hospital after encountering an anti-personnel device. Three months after that my replacement was killed in an ambush. Indeed our involvement in Vietnam was a Street Without Joy. An excellent book, and a very professional narration by Derek Perkins. Just learn from it. will we never learn? We are, sadly, repeating the mistakes of the Vietnam war in the Middle East - i.e. seeking a military solution to a political dilemma. Our officers in Iraq should have been reading STREET WITHOUT JOY instead of SEVEN PILLARS OF WISDOM! The Neverending Debacle Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not? It was, but I think I'll have to spend more time listening to it again, as I frequently do with histories. It's hard to keep things straight, partially because it's hard to keep a timeline in one's head as the events go from disaster to disaster. What's a flash-back? What's in order? I'm not sure. How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable? A better flow time-wise would be better. It's hard to keep all the place names straight and move from one event to another, unsure if they're directly connected, how they relate to each other... sometimes it's clear. Other times, not so much. Which character as performed by Derek Perkins was your favorite? His French accent is great so any time there's an actual conversation, he adds flavor to it quite well. Did Street Without Joy inspire you to do anything? It inspired me to read more about the French war in Vietnam. Any additional comments? Generally, this is an interesting subject and really shows how skilled, operationally, Giap was. He made mistakes, but the strategic plan was spot-on. Great Background to Subsequent Books If you're interested in one of the later books on Vietnam such as Sheehan's or Karnow's, this is an excellent background on the French experience with colonial Vietnam before, during, and after WWII, and how it led to the transition to American involvement.The book is a little technical, and may seem obscure, but I would recommend powering through it before one of the later books on the U.S.

Walking Point Audiobook by Michael H. Cunningham

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Michael H. Cunningham) — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 21:03:41 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Walking Point Subtitle: An Infantryman's Untold Story Author: Michael H. Cunningham Narrator: Kirby Heyborne Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins Language: English Release date: 11-22-16 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 35 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Que Son Valley is actually a large area of hills and valleys just to the west of Da Nang, Viet Nam. During the 1960s, units from the US Marines and US Army engaged the 2nd North Vietnamese Division in heavy and close combat. Our mission was to keep the enemy from capturing the cities of Da Nang, Tam Ky, and Chu Lai and to pacify the area. We did prevent the enemy from capturing these vital cities, but the area was far from pacified. Many young, brave Americans were killed or seriously wounded in these hills and valleys in the belief they were helping the Vietnamese obtain freedom and peace. Although our altruistic beliefs might have gone astray, it was my honor serving with these fine men and women. I wrote this book in honor of them and to keep their memories alive. Critic Reviews: "The author does an admirable job of telling his story...for readers interested in learning what life was like for a grunt during the Vietnam War." (John Podlaski, author of Cherries: A Vietnam War Novel) Members Reviews: one of the very best of VNW. one of the best of hardship stories imaginable in the VNW. what pure hell he and his best buddies went through. I picked out and was stationed in Germany but totally totally knew how lucky I was. I cannot imagine being a infantry guy in Nam. pure hell. Please listen to this book.....you will appreciate the very least of what you appreciate, let alone how great your life is. I cannot get enough of listening to the hard life our troops went through in that useless war. Love and respect every one of them. so glad I did not have to experience such a nightmare. . Why would you choose someone so soft and delicate to narrate this subject matter. Didn't even show enough respect for the situation related to learn some of the proper pronunciations.

The Boys of '67 Audiobook by Andrew Wiest

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Andrew Wiest) — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 14:59:46 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Boys of '67 Subtitle: Charlie Company's War in Vietnam Author: Andrew Wiest Narrator: William Hughes Format: Unabridged Length: 15 hrs and 12 mins Language: English Release date: 12-06-13 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 374 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: When the 160 men of Charlie Company were drafted by the US Army in May 1966, they were part of the wave of conscription that would swell the American military to eighty thousand combat troops in Vietnam by the height of the war in 1968. In the spring of 1966 the war was still popular, and the draftees of Charlie Company saw their service as a rite of passage. But by December 1967, when the company returned home, only thirty men were not casualties - and they were among the first veterans of the war to be spit on and harassed by war protesters as they arrived back home. In The Boys of '67, Andrew Wiest, the award-winning author of Vietnam's Forgotten Army and The Vietnam War 1956-1975, examines the experiences of a company from the only division in the Vietnam era to train and deploy together in similar fashion to World War II's famous 101st Airborne Division. Wiest interviewed more than fifty officers and enlisted men who served with Charlie Company, including the surviving platoon leaders and both of the company's commanders. In addition, he interviewed fifteen family members of Charlie Company veterans, including wives, children, parents, and siblings. Wiest also had access to personal papers, collections of letters, a diary, an abundance of newspaper clippings, training notebooks, field manuals,condolence letters, and photographs from before, during, and after the conflict. As Wiest shows, the fighting that Charlie Company saw in1967 was nearly as bloody as many of the better publicized battles, including the infamous battles of the Ia Drang Valley and Hamburger Hill. As a result, many of the surviving members of Charlie Company came home with what the military now recognizes as post-traumatic stress disorder - a diagnosis that was not recognized until the late 1970s and was not widely treated until the 1980s. Only recently, after more than forty years, have many members of Charlie Company achieved any real and sustained relief from their suffering. Members Reviews: Terrific Narration & Great Book Where does The Boys of '67 rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far? Top 10 What did you like best about this story? How the US soldiers in Vietnam served their country honorably Which character as performed by William Hughes was your favorite? John Young Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you? The story of Peterson's funeral and his widow's ordeal. The story of the anti-war protests made me angry and sorry for the returning veterans. What the protesters did was in excusable and shameful. Any additional comments? First book I have read that portrayed American soldiers in Vietnam in a favorable light. Most other depictions show drug addicted GI's as incompetents, cowards or both; and because if this, innocents are frequently killed. However, Dr. Wiest's book tells a story of Vietnam vets experiencing war a lot like veterans from other conflicts. They are not there by choice but they want to do their duty, they believe in their country, but they ultimately fight for each other - and they serve with pride and distinction. A wonderful book. Well done Very well researched and well written. Narrator was perfect. Worth buying even without a credit. A story that should never be forgotten The story is depicted in great detail to the point it leaves you with a full understanding of it at the end.

World War 2 Audiobook by Captivating History

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Captivating History) — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 11:44:58 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: World War 2 Subtitle: A Captivating Guide From Beginning to End Author: Captivating History Narrator: Duke Holm Format: Unabridged Length: 2 hrs and 8 mins Language: English Release date: 09-29-17 Publisher: Captivating History Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 48 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The Second World War was one of the most traumatic events in human history. Across the world, existing conflicts became connected, entangling nations in a vast web of violence. It was fought on land, sea, and air, touching every inhabited continent. Over 55 million people died, some of them combatants, some civilians caught up in the violence, and some murdered by their own governments. It was the war that unleashed the Holocaust and the atomic bomb upon the world. But it was also a war that featured acts of courage and self-sacrifice on every side. Members Reviews: Too superficial Too superficial, captivating only if you never heard anything about WWII. Narrator breaks up mid sentence, sniffles and has random background noise that sounds like beats against mic. Needs serious editing. Hats Off No one can describe the World War 2 as this author has done it. It is a complete guide for all. I recommend it. Incredible History Book This is an incredible book for all of the World War II history fans in my family. It's hard to keep your hands on around here because everyone wants to look at it. Great collection to our library. Thanks! Good Explanation A very thorough explanation of World War II, the events that leads to the war, and what happens after the war. The visuals are very clear and high quality. Recommend this for people who wants to learn so much more about the War. Beautifully Described This is a beautiful book. I am also thrilled that my father's and my uncle's photos were included in the front and back covers. This book is a fine tribute to the men and women who fought and died during WWII.

The Imagineers of War Audiobook by Sharon Weinberger

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Sharon Weinberger) — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 07:52:35 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Imagineers of War Subtitle: The Untold Story of DARPA, the Pentagon Agency That Changed the World Author: Sharon Weinberger Narrator: Hillary Huber Format: Unabridged Length: 16 hrs and 42 mins Language: English Release date: 03-14-17 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 56 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The definitive history of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Pentagon agency that has quietly shaped war and technology for nearly 60 years. Founded in 1958 in response to the launch of Sputnik, the agency's original mission was to create "the unimagined weapons of the future". Over the decades, DARPA has been responsible for countless inventions and technologies that extend well beyond military technology. Sharon Weinberger gives us a riveting account of DARPA's successes and failures, its remarkable innovations, and its wild-eyed schemes. We see how the threat of nuclear Armageddon sparked investment in computer networking, leading to the Internet as well as to a proposal to power a missile-destroying particle beam by draining the Great Lakes. We learn how DARPA was responsible during the Vietnam War for both Agent Orange and the development of the world's first armed drones, and how, after 9/11, the agency sparked a national controversy over surveillance with its data-mining research. And we see how DARPA's success with self-driving cars was followed by disappointing contributions to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Weinberger has interviewed more than 100 former Pentagon officials and scientists involved in DARPA's projects - many of whom have never spoken publicly about their work with the agency - and pored over countless declassified records from archives around the country, documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, and exclusive materials provided by sources. The Imagineers of War is a compelling and groundbreaking history in which science, technology, and politics collide. Critic Reviews: "Her account is critical but not mocking...a well-researched contribution to the history of U.S. military technology." (Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs) Members Reviews: Blandly written story about DARPA politics What disappointed you about The Imagineers of War? I thought the book would be more about the imagineers themselves - their ideas and the way that they advanced technology. Sadly, the book is just about William Godel and the politics that he played to get his work done. Has The Imagineers of War turned you off from other books in this genre? I would hope not. What three words best describe Hillary Hubers performance? Monotonous in many parts, dialogues had passion, There is only so much she could do What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment? Disappointment The reader was a little robotic The book was good but the reader was a little robotic. I thought it was an AI reading the book a few times. If you can get passed the readers cadence the history is pretty intresting. Woeful reading of a flat story This sounded like it was read by a text to speech program. The story was uninteresting. Not bad but not the best If you like darpa and the us war machine. It give a great insight. But there are point that drag a bit. Very plain way of telling a good story. Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not? No, the performance is infuriating. It sounds like siri is reading to you. How could the performance have been better? It would have been better if it would have been read by a human.

Against Our Better Judgment Audiobook by Alison Weir

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Alison Weir) — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 16:43:05 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Against Our Better Judgment Subtitle: The Hidden History of How the U.S. Was Used to Create Israel Author: Alison Weir Narrator: Daniel McGowan Format: Unabridged Length: 3 hrs and 5 mins Language: English Release date: 03-23-15 Publisher: Audible Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 74 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Soon after WWII, U.S. statesman Dean Acheson warned that creating Israel on land already inhabited by Palestinians would "imperil" both American and all Western interests in the region. Despite warnings such as this one, President Truman supported establishing a Jewish state on land primarily inhabited by Muslims and Christians. Few Americans today are aware that U.S. support enabled the creation of modern Israel. Even fewer know that U.S. politicians pushed this policy over the forceful objections of top diplomatic and military experts. As this work demonstrates, these politicians were bombarded by a massive pro-Israel lobbying effort that ranged from well-funded and very public Zionist organizations to an "elitist secret society" whose members included Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis. Against Our Better Judgment brings together meticulously sourced evidence to illuminate a reality that differs starkly from the prevailing narrative. It provides a clear view of the history that is key to understanding one of the most critically important political issues of our day. Members Reviews: Good content, bad audio The book was very interesting, when I could hear it well enough. Unfortunately I had to crank my speaker volume to nervously high levels in order to make out most of the narrator's words, due to the low decibel, unclear audio of the recording. Good history. Bad audio. History worth knowing, but the audio was bad. If it was a longer book I probably would've gave up on it. Crazy unbelievable How does one react to the statement "what you think is white is really black" when it is unarguably referenced, seemingly meticulously put forth? I don't know yet. Exceptionally imortant history This is an exceptionally important book - well-researched & thoroughly documented. It brings to light critical information which has heretofore been covered up, and which levels the playing field, in that despite these coverups, we can now understand what many Palestinians have known for decades: the full history of the creation of Israel, and the injustice with which the U.S. and Britain colluded. And we can understand better the roots of the conflict - which is essential not only for justice, but also for the security of Jews both in Israel and throughout the world. Wow! Zionism has done serious damage to the larger part of the Jewish community, it is has engendered behaviors by the top leaders of that movement that correspond to some very ugly historical anti-semitic tropes. They are making it easy for the conspiracy tin hat crowd and the racist white nationalist all over the western world to say, "See, we were right about the Jews". I really feel sorry for the regular Jewish people here in America that are being emotionally blackmailed into supporting this thuggish regime. Fortunately in the annals of history the truth will not be suppressed but it will not be pretty when everyone will be forced to lay the duplicity out on the table for all to see. The colonist in America were cruel to the natives of the land here as well as to our own population of African Americans.

The Last Goodnight Audiobook by Howard Blum

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Howard Blum) — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 14:19:00 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Last Goodnight Subtitle: A World War II Story of Espionage, Adventure, and Betrayal Author: Howard Blum Narrator: Tristan Morris Format: Unabridged Length: 14 hrs and 33 mins Language: English Release date: 04-12-16 Publisher: HarperAudio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 97 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The New York Times best-selling author of the acclaimed Dark Invasion channels Erik Larson and Ben Macintyre in this riveting biography of Betty Pack, the dazzling American debutante who became an Allied spy during WWII and was hailed by OSS chief general "Wild Bill" Donovan as "the greatest unsung heroine of the war". Betty Pack was charming, beautiful, and intelligent - and she knew it. As an agent for Britain's MI6 and then America's OSS during World War II, these qualities proved crucial to her success. This is the remarkable story of this "Mata Hari from Minnesota" (Time) and the passions that ruled her tempestuous life - a life filled with dangerous liaisons and death-defying missions vital to the Allied victory. For decades much of Betty's career working for MI6 and the OSS remained classified. Through access to recently unclassified files, Howard Blum discovers the truth about the attractive blond, codenamed "Cynthia", who seduced diplomats and military attachés across the globe in exchange for ciphers and secrets; cracked embassy safes to steal codes; and obtained the Polish notebooks that proved key to Alan Turing's success with Operation Ultra. Beneath Betty's cool, professional determination, Blum reveals a troubled woman conflicted by the very traits that made her successful: her lack of deep emotional connections and her readiness to risk everything. The Last Goodnight is a mesmerizing, provocative, and moving portrait of an exceptional heroine whose undaunted courage helped to save the world. Members Reviews: Fascinating This book tells the story of an American socialite who began to spy for the British before they even declared war on Germany in 1939. She was a complicated woman who did not hesitate to abandon both her children or to cheat on the British diplomat husband. At the same time, she used her beauty, charm and intelligence to help the British clandestinely in a cause she truly believed in, risking her life and willing to do anything to achieve her goal. Everything about this book is good. I had previously known about some of the wartime events referred to in this narrative but was surprised to learn that she had had a strong hand in helping the allies achieve success. I strongly recommend this book. Hard to get into The book is a biography compiled of interviews and letters making it difficult to connect with the characters. Not worth reading Monotone narration. Author refers to characters sometimes as first name, sometimes last, sometimes nicknames-- very confusing. Boring A Hero with a complex life What did you love best about The Last Goodnight? What a fascinating story, full of intrigue. As I was reading it was difficult not to alternate between loving and hating Ms. Pack. Read (or listen to) this book because it is an important, mostly untold story of the heroics that went on "behind the scenes" before and during WWII. It describes how people's lives were changed, guided, and sometimes destroyed by the bigger events altering their history. Ms. Pack is a complicated woman. Some of her decisions and their consequences for those around her can anger the reader, but her life is a reminder we all have our flaws, and sometimes make turns others can judge on our path through life.

Hellhound on His Trail Audiobook by Hampton Sides

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Hampton Sides) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 03:07:13 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Hellhound on His Trail Subtitle: The Stalking of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the International Hunt for His Assassin Author: Hampton Sides Narrator: Hampton Sides Format: Unabridged Length: 15 hrs and 8 mins Language: English Release date: 04-27-10 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 657 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: From the acclaimed best-selling author of Ghost Soldiers and Blood and Thunder, a taut, intense narrative about the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the largest manhunt in American history. On April 23, 1967, Prisoner #416J, an inmate at the notorious Missouri State Penitentiary, escaped in a breadbox. Fashioning himself Eric Galt, this nondescript thief and con man - whose real name was James Earl Ray - drifted through the South, into Mexico, and then Los Angeles, where he was galvanized by George Wallace's racist presidential campaign. On February 1, 1968, two Memphis garbage men were crushed to death in their hydraulic truck, provoking the exclusively African American workforce to go on strike. Hoping to resuscitate his faltering crusade, King joined the sanitation workers cause, but their march down Beale Street, the historic avenue of the blues, turned violent. Humiliated, King fatefully vowed to return to Memphis in April. With relentless storytelling drive, Sides follows Galt and King as they crisscross the country, one stalking the other, until the crushing moment at the Lorraine Motel when the drifter catches up with his prey. Against the backdrop of the resulting nationwide riots and the pathos of Kings funeral, Sides gives us a riveting cross-cut narrative of the assassins flight and the 65-day search that led investigators to Canada, Portugal, and England - a massive manhunt ironically led by J. Edgar Hoover's FBI. Magnificent in scope, drawing on a wealth of previously unpublished material, this nonfiction thriller illuminates one of the darkest hours in American life - an example of how history is so often a matter of the petty bringing down the great. Critic Reviews: "Sides's storytelling packs a visceral punch, and in Hellhound on His Trail, he crafts an authoritative and riveting account of two intersecting lives that altered the course of American history." (Amazon.com review) Members Reviews: History Comes Alive I remember the final tumultuous years of the 60's as a televised tableau of rioting and demonstrations capped by the horrific nightmare of back to back assassinations. Hampton Sides examines the people and motives behind the events. Be prepared for new perspectives on the familiar characters of the headlines. Martin Luther King can't give up his mistresses, LBJ can't fathom why his War on Poverty doesn't prevent a demonstration on his doorstep, and J. Edgar Hoover does the right thing in the end. The pathos of the widow's walk -Coretta Scott King, Jackie and Ethel Kennedy- is masterfully retold. I sympathized with Ralph Abernathy as he surveyed the muddy wreck that once was the Poor People's March and is forced to come to terms that he will never be the leader that MLK was. By far, however, the most complex character was James Earl Ray, the product of a dismally poor, dysfunctional family of many generation's duration, cunning yet clueless, and so unremarkable that most acquaintances describe him as ordinary, if they are able to remember him at all. Thousands of lawmen in five countries bring to a successful conclusion one of the most extensive and successful manhunts of the twentieth century. The re-telling of the story is fast paced enough to read like a thriller, yet detailed enough for fresh insight into the era.

A Stillness at Appomattox Audiobook by Bruce Catton

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Bruce Catton) — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 10:53:40 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: A Stillness at Appomattox Subtitle: The Army of the Potomac, Volume 3 Author: Bruce Catton Narrator: Michael Kramer Format: Unabridged Length: 15 hrs and 33 mins Language: English Release date: 09-01-14 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 201 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Undoubtedly Bruce Catton's most brilliant book, A Stillness at Appomattox won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for excellence in nonfiction. Catton, our foremost Civil War historian, recounts the most spectacular conflicts between Grant and Lee and details the end of hope for the Confederacy. Utilizing various collections of unpublished letters written by soldiers, personal diaries of spouses and relatives, memoirs of soldiers and their families, and official war records, Catton follows Grant's campaigns from early 1864 to the end of the war, detailing many crucial battles along the way. Members Reviews: Superb Catton classic. Great narration of the intimate and authentic journey of the last year of the Army of the Potomac. Civil War brought to life Never before, in my experience, has a narrative so fully captured the experience of the war between the states. This is a book to lend to your children. This makes history come to life The narration is fabulous. The research that has gone into this book is impressive. It has left me with a profound respect for men who gave their all for the freedoms I enjoy. Perfect Truly a masterpiece. I have read or listened to a dozen civil war books and this may have been the best. It held my interest beyond my expectations. Poetry a beautifully written and poetic approach to a terrible time, amazing!

World War 2: Waffen SS Soldiers Audiobook by Oliver Mayer

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Oliver Mayer) — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 07:57:23 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: World War 2: Waffen SS Soldiers Subtitle: Testimonies of German SS Soldiers - 2nd Edition Author: Oliver Mayer Narrator: Doug Greene Format: Unabridged Length: 1 hr and 23 mins Language: English Release date: 01-02-17 Publisher: Oliver Mayer Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 21 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: In this book, you'll learn the stories of six different SS soldiers who fought for the German Army during World War II. These six soldiers all had different roles to play, and all look back at their experiences, sharing them to make amends for the cruel times that they lived in. Learn about what it was like to be in a concentration camp, and how a soldier managed when they were at the front. You will discover: The experiences that you will discover are bound to leave you with a range of emotions. You may have feelings of anger, remorse, shame or even mercy. At the end of this book, you will have connected with these SS soldiers as well as the plight of those under their power. Learn about the life of an Ayran soldier, and those at Treblinka. Also discover the female SS soldiers and a driver of the gas truck. The gas chambers are explained as well as the ominous special action. Members Reviews: Not worth your time. I chose this book based on the title about "Waffen SS Soldiers" but what I got was a book about concentration camp guards and malingerers. If you are looking for stories of Waffen SS fighting men then DO NOT CHOOSE THIS BOOK. I am somewhat suspect about the accounts and the "translations" of the individual's accounts because, among other things, they use the terms Waffen SS and Army soldier interchangeably. As a former US Marine I know I would never use the terms Marine and soldier interchangeably and I find it hard to believe that other actual elite troops like the Waffen SS would allow themselves to be confused with regular German Army troops. Overall a very poor experience from an Audible book. Buyer beware. False Advertising This book is about SS concentration camp guards not Waffen SS soldiers. The book is not about combat at all but concentration camp goings on. White wash A complete waste of time. Of the 7-10 ex SS soldiers not one was genuinely contrite ...their days in the SS were the best days of their lives and they cannot hide that fact... Rubbish Nothing to do with the Waffen SS, just total drivel, same old myths and fables. Oh dear Oh dear a really disappointing book in all aspects. will not recommend to anyone. extremely brief in content and details and a poor narration makes it not worth bothering with.

Churchill's Secret War Audiobook by Madhusree Mukarjee

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Madhusree Mukarjee) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Churchill's Secret War Subtitle: The British Empire and the Ravaging of India During World War II Author: Madhusree Mukarjee Narrator: James Adams Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins Language: English Release date: 09-27-10 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 119 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: In the tradition of The Rape of Nanking and A Problem from Hell, this account will change the way we think of Churchill and World War II. In 1943 Winston Churchill and the British Empire needed millions of Indian troops, all of India's industrial output, and tons of Indian grain to support the Allied war effort. Such massive contributions were certain to trigger famine in India. Because Churchill believed that the fate of the British Empire hung in the balance, he proceeded, sacrificing millions of Indian lives in order to preserve what he held most dear. The result: the Bengal Famine of 1943-44, in which millions of villagers starved to death. Relying on extensive archival research and first-hand interviews, Mukerjee weaves a riveting narrative of Churchill's decisions to ratchet up the demands on India as the war unfolded and to ignore the corpses piling up in the Bengali countryside. The hypocrisy, racism, and extreme economic conditions of two centuries of British colonial policy finally built to a head, leading Indians to fight for their independence in 1947. Few Americans know that World War II was won on the backs of these starving peasants; Mukerjee shows us a side of World War II that we have been blind to. We know what Hitler did to the Jews, what the Japanese did to the Chinese, what Stalin did to his own people. This story has largely been neglected, until now. Critic Reviews: "[W]ell-researchedThis gripping account of historical tragedy is a useful corrective to fashionable theories of benign imperial rule, arguing that a brutal rapaciousness was the very soul of the Raj." (Publishers Weekly) Members Reviews: A fascinating narrative with a flawed narration Where does Churchill's Secret War rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far? It's a pretty good audiobook. I've just listened to all of Simon Schama's "History of Britain" which ended off with some scathing commentary on the mismanagement of the Raj so it's interesting to move from that to an in-depth exploration of the Bengal Famine and India in the war effort. Who would you have cast as narrator instead of James Adams? Probably Madhav Sharma, who did a superb job with Kim. Mr Adams isn't a bad narrator per se, but the main problem is that he can't code switch accents when pronouncing a number of Indian terms and names which means that they sound tortured and very odd in his rather plummy British accent. This is, I suppose forgivable in the first couple of chapters where we get fleeting references to "die-wanns" (diwans) and so forth but in a book dealing primarily with India in the Inter-War period, the Second World War and it's aftermath, an inability to pronounce "satyagraha" or "Bose" (protip- it's not "Bo-Say") can be really jarring and jerks one out of the flow.

Grunts Audiobook by John C. McManus

biacuaduc@gmail.com (John C. McManus) — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 04:59:48 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Grunts Subtitle: Inside the American Infantry Combat Experience, World War II through Iraq Author: John C. McManus Narrator: Joe Barrett Format: Unabridged Length: 18 hrs and 25 mins Language: English Release date: 01-09-18 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: From the acclaimed author of The Dead and Those About to Die comes a sweeping narrative of six decades of combat, and an eye-opening account of the evolution of the American infantry. From the beaches of Normandy and the South Pacific Islands to the deserts of the Middle East, the American soldier has been the most indispensable - and most overlooked - factor in wartime victory. In Grunts, renowned historian John C. McManus examines 10 critical battles - from Hitler's massive assault on US soldiers at the Battle of the Bulge to counterinsurgency combat in Iraq - where the skills and courage of American troops proved the crucial difference between victory and defeat. Based on years of research and interviews with veterans, this powerful history reveals the ugly face of war in a way few books have and demonstrates the fundamental, and too often forgotten, importance of the human element in serving and protecting the nation. Members Reviews: Very well written book, documents the combat of Infantry ... Very well written book, documents the combat of Infantry units not as well known as say the Screaming Eagles. Gritty taste of combat of the men executing the will of our government on the ground. Highly recommended McManus is an eloquent voice for the American Grunt; the soldier at the point of the spear. This an outstanding account of the importance of the infantryman from WW II to Iraq. These men and now, women are the point of the spear. The author pretty much debunks the push button war types reiterating the need for, unfortunately but thankfully for this fine historian Johhn McManus to so eloquently remind us. I recommend this book without reservation. I have also read his The Deadly Brotherhood as well as September Hope. Insight Insight into the behavior of the American military and government and the changes that have occurred in the last 60 years from the perspective of the grunt. The average ground pounding pogue has changed little. They still show the same skill and dedication but the military leadership and even more so, the political leadership has been deteriorating over the years but great. Rough,but great. Pretty good book I enjoyed the book. There was enough technical information that I felt the book was well researched. This book brings out how special the men are who will endure the hell of combat and are proud of the fact they have done something most of the military soldiers never had to preform.

The World Remade Audiobook by G. J. Meyer

biacuaduc@gmail.com (G. J. Meyer) — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 21:38:50 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The World Remade Subtitle: America in World War I Author: G. J. Meyer Narrator: Rob Shapiro Format: Unabridged Length: 24 hrs and 50 mins Language: English Release date: 03-07-17 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 140 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: A bracing, indispensable account of America's epoch-defining involvement in the Great War, rich with fresh insights into the key issues, events, and personalities of the period After years of bitter debate, the United States declared war on Imperial Germany on April 6, 1917, plunging the country into the savage European conflict that would redraw the map of the continent - and the globe. The World Remade is an engrossing chronicle of America's pivotal, still controversial intervention into World War I, encompassing the tumultuous politics and towering historical figures that defined the era and forged the future. When it declared war, the United States was the youngest of the major powers and militarily the weakest by far. On November 11, 1918, when the fighting stopped, it was not only the richest country on earth but the mightiest. With the mercurial, autocratic President Woodrow Wilson as a primary focus, G. J. Meyer takes listeners from the heated deliberations over US involvement, through the provocations and manipulations that drew us into the fight, to the battlefield itself and the shattering aftermath of the struggle. America's entry into the Great War helped make possible the defeat of Germany that had eluded Britain, France, Russia, and Italy in three and a half years of horrendous carnage. Victory, in turn, led to a peace treaty so ill conceived, so vindictive, that the world was put on the road to an even bloodier confrontation a mere 20 years later. On the home front, Meyer recounts the breakup of traditional class structures, the rise of the progressive and labor movements, the wave of anti-German hysteria, and the explosive expansion of both the economy and federal power, including shocking suspensions of constitutional protections that planted the seeds of today's national security state. Here also are revealing portraits of Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, Robert La Follette, Eugene Debs, and John J. "Black Jack" Pershing, among others, as well as European leaders such as "Welsh Wizard" David Lloyd George of Britain, "Tiger" Georges Clemenceau of France, and Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. Meyer interweaves the many strands of his story into a gripping narrative that casts new light on one of the darkest, most forgotten corners of US history. In the grand tradition of his earlier work A World Undone - which centered on the European perspective - The World Remade adds a new, uniquely American dimension to our understanding of the seminal conflict of the 20th century. Critic Reviews: "Accomplished with brio...[Meyer] blends 'foreground, background, and sidelights' to highlight the complex interactions of apparently unconnected events behind the four-year catastrophic war that destroyed a world and defined a century." (Publishers Weekly) "With a historian's eye for clearheaded analysis and a storyteller's talent for detail and narrative, G. J. Meyer presents a compelling account of the blunders that produced the world's first 'great war' and set the stage for many of the tragic events that followed." (Steve Gillon, resident historian, The History Channel) "Especially suited for the interested American reader....

Recondo: LRRPs in the 101st Airborne Audiobook by Larry Chambers

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Larry Chambers) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:41:54 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Recondo: LRRPs in the 101st Airborne Author: Larry Chambers Narrator: Brian Hallas Format: Abridged Length: 2 hrs Language: English Release date: 02-20-12 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 34 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Author Larry Chambers vividly describes the guts and courage it took to pass the though volunteer-only training program in Nha Tarng to be part of the 5th Special Forces Recondo School, the hair-raising graduation mission to scout out, locate, and out-guerilla the NVA. Here is an unforgettable account that follows Chambers and the Rangers every step of the way--from joining, going through Recondo, and finally leading his own team on white-knuckle missions through the jungle hell of Vietnam. Critic Reviews: I made this book mandatory reading for my Rangers.... We went from the worst platoon in the regiment to the best platoon in six months. In training wed get to the objective so fast they had to hold us back. (US Army Master Sergeant H. "Max" Mullen Ret. 75th Ranger Regiment) Members Reviews: Finally, a good book! I loved this book because it's a first hand account of a Long Range Patrol soldier in Vietnam. It isn't some liberal writer's third hand account. It isn't a dry overarching history of the Vietnam War. It is the very interesting story of a very interesting job. This is not the entire organizational book!! I've read Mr Chamber's book many times and this is a shitty chopped up version with some Clint Eastwood want a be reading and mispronouncing much of the people, places, and things from the Vietnam war. Do not waste your time nor money. Buy the paperback book and enjoy the entire story for a better price than this crap. Recondo LRRPs I liked this book and had read this very story in the three books of Recon called Six Silent Men, which I would recommend Audible to have in their store. They are very very good books as I served in a Recon Co. in Viet Nam.

The Frozen Chosen Audiobook by Thomas McKelvey Cleaver

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Thomas McKelvey Cleaver) — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 19:32:12 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Frozen Chosen Subtitle: The 1st Marine Division and the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir Author: Thomas McKelvey Cleaver Narrator: Norman Dietz Format: Unabridged Length: 15 hrs and 38 mins Language: English Release date: 11-22-16 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 13 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The Frozen Chosen is an account of the breakout from the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea by the First Marine Division from November to December 1950, following the intervention of Red China in the Korean War. Fought during the worst blizzard in a century, it is considered by the US Marine Corps to be the Corps' finest hour. Fourteen Medals of Honor, a record for any American battle, and 85 Navy Crosses attest to the intensity of the battle. Based on first-person interviews from surviving veterans who came to be known as the Frozen Chosen, this is the incredible story of heroism and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds, as a handful of marines fought desperately against wave after wave of Chinese forces. Sometimes forced into desperate hand-to-hand fighting in intense cold, cut off from reinforcements, and with dwindling supplies and ammunition, the fighting retreat from Chosin marked one of the darkest moments for Western forces in Korea but would go on to resonate with generations of marines as a symbol of the Marine Corps' dogged determination, fighting skill, and never-say-die attitude on the battlefield. Members Reviews: Fascinating story, very bad narration I downloaded this book on the recommendation of a fellow coworker who just recently left the US Marines due to injuries from his service in Iraq and whose grandfather was part of the battle at Chosin. I also had relatives that served during the Korean War so it sounded like it would be a great way to learn about this period in history since I'm also an avid reader of Civil War and WWII (Pacific) histories. Unfortunately, this book is nothing but a recitation of units involved combined with dates of engagements. It is, at times, so mind numbingly boring as to be almost painful. Compounding this is the monotone and staccato delivery of the narrator. I intend to finish the book but I sincerely doubt that it will be one I read again.

Munich, 1938 Audiobook by David Faber

biacuaduc@gmail.com (David Faber) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:00:34 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Munich, 1938 Subtitle: Appeasement and World War II Author: David Faber Narrator: Arthur Morey Format: Unabridged Length: 19 hrs and 9 mins Language: English Release date: 11-30-09 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 59 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: On September 30, 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain flew back to London from his meeting at Munich with the German chancellor Adolf Hitler and was greeted with a hero's welcome. As he paused on the aircraft steps, he held aloft the piece of paper, bearing both his and the Fuhrer's signatures, that contained the promise that Britain and Germany would never go to war with each other again. Later that evening, from his upstairs window at 10 Downing Street, he told the ecstatic and thankful crowd that he had returned bringing "Peace with honor---Peace for our time." In this important reappraisal of the extraordinary events of 70 years ago, acclaimed historian David Faber traces the key incidents leading up to the meeting at Munich and its immediate aftermath. He describes Lord Halifax's ill-fated visit to Hitler; Chamberlain's secret negotiations with Mussolini, followed by the resignation of Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden; and the Berlin scandal that rocked Hitler's regime. Faber takes us to Vienna for the Nazi Anschluss; to the Sudentenland, the mountainous border region of Czechoslovakia, where Hitler's puppets attempted to provide him with a pretext for war by inciting the minority German population to rebellion; and to Prague, where the Czechoslovak government desperately tried to head off the Fuhrer's warlike intentions. In Berlin, we witness Hitler inexorably preparing for war, even in the face of opposition from his own generals; and in London, we watch helplessly as Chamberlain seizes executive control from his own cabinet and makes one supreme effort after another to appease Hitler, culminating in his three remarkable flights to Germany. Drawing on a wealth of original archival material, including diaries and notes taken by Hitler and Chamberlain's translator, Faber's sweeping reassessment of the events of 1938 resonates with an insider's feel for the political infighting he uncovers. Editorial Reviews: David Faber has an intimately familial connection with the diplomatic debacle that was the Neville Chamberlain/Adolf Hitler Munich Conference. A former member of the British Parliament, Faber is a grandson of Harold Macmillan, British Prime Minister from 1957 to 1963. In 1938 Macmillan was a staunch opponent of Prime Minister Chamberlains appeasement policy. With Munich, 1938 Faber has produced what author and professor of history Douglas Brinkley has called the most thoughtful and well-researched study of the Munich Conference ever written. The Munich Conference is well-known, but chiefly in fragments and through simplifying summery accounts. Munich, 1938 carefully sticks to the books great strength Fabers impressively detailed scholarship presenting a model for narrating a book of such profound compositional depth and historical importance. It helps to have a narrator, Arthur Morey, who, besides being an actor, is an author and has ghost written and edited books on politics, medicine, and literary criticism. He has also taught writing on the university level. Morey masters a fine balance of pacing and expression, advancing the narrative with a somewhat dampened voice that keeps each sequence of the continually developing dramatic events narratively in line with the historical drama as a whole.

The Naughty Nineties Audiobook by David Friend

biacuaduc@gmail.com (David Friend) — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 23:41:59 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Naughty Nineties Subtitle: The Triumph of the American Libido Author: David Friend Narrator: David Friend Format: Unabridged Length: 26 hrs and 25 mins Language: English Release date: 09-21-17 Publisher: Hachette Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 5 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: A sexual history of the 1990s, when the baby boomers took over Washington, Hollywood, and Madison Avenue. A definitive look at the captains of the culture wars - and an indispensable road map for understanding how we got to the Trump Teens. The Naughty Nineties: The Triumph of the American Libido examines the scandal-strafed decade when our public and private lives began to blur due to the rise of the web, reality television, and the wholesale tabloidization of pop culture. In this comprehensive and often hilarious time capsule, David Friend combines detailed reporting with first-person accounts from many of the decade's singular personalities, from Anita Hill to Monica Lewinsky, Lorena Bobbitt to Heidi Fleiss, Alan Cumming to Joan Rivers, Jesse Jackson to key members of the Clinton, Dole, and Bush teams. The Naughty Nineties also uncovers unsung sexual pioneers, from the enterprising sisters who dreamed up the Brazilian bikini wax to the scientists who, quite by accident, discovered Viagra. Critic Reviews: "A brilliantly researched and uproariously written romp through the sex-fueled Age of Clinton. Nothing is off-limits: Viagra, Brazilian Wax jobs, home-brewed pornography, Fox News, O.J. Simpson, and the birth of reality TV are all expertly grabbed by the scruff-of-the-neck. An instant American Studies classic!" (Douglas Brinkley, presidential historian and author of The Great Deluge) "Written with wit, zest, and subtlety, this is cultural history at its best. I'd lived through the decade, but not until I'd read The Naughty Nineties did I come to appreciate how boldly, and creepily, those years had foreshadowed the messy and bewildering moment we are in now." (Nathaniel Philbrick, National Book Award-winning author of In the Heart of the Sea) Members Reviews: More like a 90s Encyclopaedia
This book is in no way a concise look to the decade which ptobably has changed everything. How me behave, how mr think, how we elect and how we react. From politics to publicity, ranging, including and overlapping with manifold issues as essential to human life and entertainment such as television, fashion industry, cinematography, modern arts and partisan inclination of individuals. The author provides a detailed look to the events of 90s which we probably all either lived through or listened from elder people (in case you are at an age bracket that probably has to get to claim full-fledged adulthood) and the philosophical and sociological perspectives provided let it raise from a banality, a fact from mundane aspects of life or a theory so sophisticated to have been rooted in one of the cornerstones of the Philosophy of Frankfurt School... If you have an urging to broaden your perspective and experience an a-ha moment, this book is the right destination... Narration by the author himself is also impressive and knows very well how to ensnare your probably not-long-enough attention span in a complex web of tails, truths and interpretations...

Masters of Death Audiobook by Richard Rhodes

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Richard Rhodes) — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 20:12:28 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Masters of Death Subtitle: The SS-Einsatzgruppen and the Invention of the Holocaust Author: Richard Rhodes Narrator: Neil Hellegers Format: Unabridged Length: 14 hrs and 6 mins Language: English Release date: 03-21-17 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 40 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: In Masters of Death, Richard Rhodes gives full weight, for the first time, to the Einsatzgruppen's role in the Holocaust. These "special task forces", organized by Heinrich Himmler to follow the German army as it advanced into Eastern Poland and Russia, were the agents of the first phase of the Final Solution. They murdered more than one and a half million men, women, and children between 1941 and 1943, often by shooting them into killing pits, as at Babi Yar. These massive crimes have been generally overlooked or underestimated by Holocaust historians, who have focused on the gas chambers. In this painstaking account, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Rhodes profiles the eastern campaign's architects as well as its "ordinary" soldiers and policemen and helps us understand how such men were conditioned to carry out mass murder. Marshaling a vast array of documents and the testimony of perpetrators and survivors, this book is an essential contribution to our understanding of the Holocaust and World War II. Critic Reviews: "Rhodes, a Pulitzer winner for The Making of the Atomic Bomb, has pulled together a mountain of research on the mass murders of Jews perpetrated by the Einsatzgruppen...Rhodes holds the mirror up." (Publishers Weekly) Members Reviews: Difficult To Endure But Necessary Reading This was my second read-through, as I owned the hard-back years ago. Given the re-rise of white supremacy in America, I felt it was necessary to take another trip back in time as a reminder of what can happen if we do not stop it dead in it's tracks. Richard Rhodes IS the master historian and the master story-teller. And it must have taken great intestinal fortitude to research and write about the most vile period in human history. But not as much intestinal fortitude as the people who were subjected to the final solution. Perhaps if society valued works such as these more than they valued The Apprentice and Duck Dynasty we wouldn't be forced to confront this evil once again. The plus side to reading Masters Of Death is that reader will come away with a deeper understanding of HOW it happens. The downside, as in a case such as myself, is that the reader may also come away with deep resentment. Hatred isn't healthy no matter how it manifests itself. When it comes to The Third Reich, however, it's a hatred I can live with. "He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man."-Samuel Johnson People at their worst! A time in our past to horrific to be fiction and not enough was done to stop it! I know more now Very interesting book ,I thought I new everything about ww2.I now know a little More. Never forgetting Terrible and painful experience to re-listen to this WWII nazi onslaught on unarmed men women and children, but this is also what states do, what many of us can do, how we do what we are told by our society. Holocausts still take place today and states let it happen. We are still a heartbeat away from medieval societies... brutal story my one critique is that the narrator isn't very good. he is for the most part monotone and almost sounds like a computer. the book its self ranks up there with the rise and fall of the third Reich

A History of Hitler's Empire, 2nd Edition Audiobook by The Great Courses

biacuaduc@gmail.com (The Great Courses) — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 04:38:11 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: A History of Hitler's Empire, 2nd Edition Author: The Great Courses Narrator: Professor Thomas Childers Format: Original Recording Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins Language: English Release date: 07-08-13 Publisher: The Great Courses Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 296 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Know thy enemy. That's what the wisdom of history teaches us. And Adolf Hitler was surely the greatest enemy ever faced by modern civilization. Over half a century later, the horror, fascination, and questions still linger: Professor Childers has designed this gripping 12-lecture course to shed light on these and other questions that have plagued generations. You'll start by looking at the catastrophic impact World War I had on Germany, and how the war and the humiliating Treaty of Versailles crippled the Weimar Republic. From there, you'll turn to the Third Reich Nazism in power with an investigation of how Hitler and his henchmen systematically and ruthlessly broke resistance, taking over the major institutions of state power and creating a totalitarian system of terror, propaganda, and pervasive regimentation. You'll also examine Hitler's foreign policy between 1933 and 1939, and discover how and why he puzzled the world by entering into an accommodation with his deadly enemy, Stalin, on the eve of World War II. In the final lectures, you'll focus on Hitler's war against the Jews from Mein Kampf to Auschwitz, dissecting the horrifying racial ideas of the Nazis and the policies adopted to transform those ideas into reality. Finally, you'll learn how Hitler's evil empire was destroyed by Allied might. PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio. Members Reviews: Forewarned is Forearmed If you could sum up A History of Hitler's Empire, 2nd Edition in three words, what would they be? Important, current and terrifying What did you like best about this story? Forewarned is forearmed. These are the last words of this lecture series and it sums up perfectly why this lecture should be listened to. In the course of 12 thirty minute lectures, Professor Thomas Childers of the University of Pennsylvania does an incredible job of explaining how the Nazi party rose to power in Germany. Beginning with the catastrophe of World War I, he guides the listener through the terrible economic conditions which confronted Germany. He then discusses how these abrupt changes left the German people looking for a strong man, someone who could not be any worse than the Social Democrats of the Weimar Republic. Unfortunately, they found the very worst. Overall, one of the best lectures from The Great Courses series that I have listened to and would recommend to anyone who wants a deeper understanding of how the Nazis rose to power in such a cultured, sophisticated country as Germany. What about Professor Thomas Childerss performance did you like? I was very impressed with Professor Childers and found his manner of speaking to be incredibly easy to listen to and the entire lecture felt entirely conversational. While I wish the lecture was longer because I was enjoying it so much, I still felt like the material was covered in great detail.

The Last Days of the Romanovs Audiobook by Helen Rappaport

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Helen Rappaport) — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 19:04:54 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Last Days of the Romanovs Subtitle: Tragedy at Ekaterinburg Author: Helen Rappaport Narrator: Anne Flosnik Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins Language: English Release date: 06-14-17 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 12 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Helen Rappaport, an expert in the field of Russian history, brings you the riveting day-by-day account of the last 14 days of the Russian Imperial family, in this first of two books about the Romanovs. The brutal murder of the Russian Imperial family on the night of July 16 to 17, 1918, has long been a defining moment in world history. The Last Days of the Romanovs reveals in exceptional detail how the conspiracy to kill them unfolded. In the vivid style of a TV documentary, Helen Rappaport reveals both the atmosphere inside the family's claustrophobic prison and the political maneuverings of those who wished to save - or destroy - them. With the watching world and European monarchies proving incapable of saving the Romanovs, the narrative brings this tragic story to life in a compellingly new and dramatic way, culminating in a bloody night of horror in a cramped basement room. Critic Reviews: "An absorbing, lucid and authoritative work." ( Publishers Weekly) Members Reviews: GREAT I really enjoyed the story. I wish the author would have given us some more background on each of the family members, instead of just a few. Also, i noticed that some pronunciations were different than in other books i have heard on the same topic. Anyone interested in this topic should give this book a chance. Very informational!

Code Warriors Audiobook by Stephen Budiansky

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Stephen Budiansky) — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 13:59:41 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Code Warriors Subtitle: NSA's Codebreakers and the Secret Intelligence War Against the Soviet Union Author: Stephen Budiansky Narrator: Mark Deakins Format: Unabridged Length: 14 hrs and 35 mins Language: English Release date: 06-14-16 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 114 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: A sweeping, in-depth history of NSA, whose famous "cult of silence" has left the agency shrouded in mystery for decades. The National Security Agency was born out of the legendary codebreaking programs of World War II that cracked the famed Enigma machine and other German and Japanese codes, thereby turning the tide of Allied victory. In the postwar years, as the United States developed a new enemy in the Soviet Union, our intelligence community found itself targeting not soldiers on the battlefield, but suspected spies, foreign leaders, and even American citizens. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, NSA played a vital, often fraught and controversial role in the major events of the Cold War, from the Korean War to the Cuban Missile Crisis to Vietnam and beyond. In Code Warriors, Stephen Budiansky - a longtime expert in cryptology - tells the fascinating story of how NSA came to be, from its roots in World War II through the fall of the Berlin Wall. Along the way, he guides us through the fascinating challenges faced by cryptanalysts, and how they broke some of the most complicated codes of the 20th century. With access to new documents, Budiansky shows where the agency succeeded and failed during the Cold War, but his account also offers crucial perspective for assessing NSA today in the wake of the Edward Snowden revelations. Budiansky shows how NSA's obsession with recording every bit of data and decoding every signal is far from a new development; throughout its history the depth and breadth of the agency's reach has resulted in both remarkable successes and destructive failures. Featuring a series of appendixes that explain the technical details of Soviet codes and how they were broken, this is a rich and riveting history of the underbelly of the Cold War, and an essential and timely read for all who seek to understand the origins of the modern NSA. PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio. Critic Reviews: "The dysfunctions and overreach of the total surveillance state were present at its birth, according to this engrossing history of the National Security Administration. Journalist Budiansky traces the development of American signals intelligence...[and] is lucid in describing the science and art of breaking complex ciphers, which helped drive advances in electronics and computing.... Budiansky leavens the history and technology with colorful profiles of crytographers and spies; the results is a lively account of how today's information controversies emerged." (Publishers Weekly) Members Reviews: Did Vladimir Putin Steal the American Election? The Cold War started at the end of World War II and nominally ended on December 26, 1991, when the Soviet Union officially dissolved. I was Army enlisted from 1982-1986, during Ronald Reagan's first term, when he was getting ready to tell Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall." Basic training was a mix of chain of command and military protocol reinforced by push-ups; pride in learning how to fire an M-16A1 really well and delight at being able to use a Light Anti-Tank Weapon and Claymore mine, even just once; physical training followed by utter physical exhaustion; and training film after film about the evils of the Soviet Bloc.

Where the Iron Crosses Grow Audiobook by Robert Forczyk

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Robert Forczyk) — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 20:25:54 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Where the Iron Crosses Grow Subtitle: The Crimea 1941-44 Author: Robert Forczyk Narrator: Michael Prichard Format: Unabridged Length: 13 hrs and 29 mins Language: English Release date: 01-21-15 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 106 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The Crimea was one of the crucibles of the war on the Eastern Front, where first a Soviet and then a German army were surrounded, fought desperate battles, and were eventually destroyed. The fighting in the region was unusual for the Eastern Front in many ways, in that naval supply, amphibious landings, and naval evacuation played major roles, while both sides were also conducting ethnic cleansing as part of their strategy - the Germans eliminating the Jews and the Soviets purging the region of Tartars. From 1941, when the Soviets first created the Sevastopol fortified region, the Crimea was a focal point of the war in the East. German forces under the noted commander Manstein conquered the area in 1941-42, which was followed by two years of brutal colonization and occupation before the Soviet counteroffensive in 1944 destroyed the German 17th Army. Members Reviews: Good but wordy The story and the region are great. What should be left out was the spelling out of each and every title, caliber of gun, and affiliation to platoon, company, regiment, or battalion. A nice map as well. names, places,troop strength and commanders This book is for the hardcore military historian who enjoys reading the statistics of a military campaign. It start with interesting overview of the regions history with an enticing nod to what happening there today, but quickly, or too quickly for me, became a monotonous compilation of what battalion was where, how many and what kind of weaponry they had and who commanded them. Mr Pritchard did a fine job in my opinion, but given the material I had to give up on this one. Superb History Sure h a great and informative piece of work, I found many facts that I had not previously known, and the narrator kept me engaged in the story throughout, highly recommended. Might be a good book... Hard to tell, because of the ridiculously horrid narrator. Absolutely pitiful. Painful to listen to. Gonna try to read the book. Don't buy this audiobook. Too dull don't recommend This sounded like a text book. There was almost no sense of the people or there ordeals. Just too dull

Mao Audiobook by Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius) — Mon, 21 Jul 2003 01:20:33 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Mao Author: Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius Narrator: Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius Format: Unabridged Length: 29 mins Language: English Release date: 07-21-03 Publisher: The Great Courses Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: After decades of civil war and struggle, Chinese Communists came to power in 1949 under the leadership of Mao Zedong. This lecture examines the society formed by the ideology of "Mao Thought," the "Little Red Book," the uniform dress of "Mao suits," and the cultural break with a rich past forced by the regime. ©2003 The Great Courses (P)2003 The Great Courses

Hell Above Earth Audiobook by Stephen Frater

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Stephen Frater) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:12:07 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Hell Above Earth Subtitle: The Incredible True Story of an American WWII Bomber Commander and the Copilot Ordered to Kill Him Author: Stephen Frater Narrator: Pete Larkin Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins Language: English Release date: 03-29-12 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 31 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Hell Above Earth tells an unforgettable story of two World War II American bomber pilots who forged an unexpected but enduring bond in the flak-filled skies over Nazi Germany. But there's a twist: one of them was related to the head of the Luftwaffe, Reich Marshal Herman Goering, and the other had secret orders from FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to kill him if anything went wrong during their missions. A heart-wrenching Greatest Generation buddy story, an adrenaline-filled account of aerial combat, and a work of popular history, Hell Above Earth centers around the author's discovery of a half-century old secret that has far-reaching and deeply personal repercussions for the pilots, and profound consequences for the FBI and the "Mighty" Eighth Air Force. Critic Reviews: "After the twists and turns in Goering's many missions, Frater finishes with a stunning revelation. . . the author delivers an exciting read full of little-known facts about the war. A WWII thrill ride." ( Kirkus) Members Reviews: A very unusual story Two very interesting men are descibed in this book. This is one of those stories which lack much historical significance yet is interesting none less. There were parts of the story where I got lost as the author was trying to provide context. Not always sure that the context or asides were necessary. Not sure the author was following a linear time line or not. Still quite an unusual story. I don't want to give away the story as you're quickly told why this pilot can not fall in to German hands. Dry as dust This book wasnt for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more? Someone who would enjoy reading, say, the US tax code. Any additional comments? Terrible book. The time devoted to the story line would have added up to maybe 31 minutes. The other 9 hours was a collection of disjointed stories, thumbnail biographies and statistics.Pete Larkins narration was dry as could be, although in retrospect, it's a wonder he didn't fall asleep during it.... Yawwwwwnnnnnn....... This is probably the most boring book I have ever listened to. If I wanted a pre-war history lesson about Hermann Goering, J. Edgar Hoover and even Charles Lindburgh, I would not have looked for it in a book touted to be an "Incredible True Story of an American WWII Bomber Commander". It's about Werner Goering, the nephew of the Nazi Reichsmarschall and Commander of the German Luftwaffe who immigrated ti the US prior to the war and became a B-17 Bomber pilot. Consequently, his family relationships (and name) caused great concern to the FBI. lost the story midway Was a good book, but midway lost its story and got carried away with random stories elsewhere in the war unrelated to the book. found this went on until the end of the book where it came back to its original story. in a nutshell, started off great, got a bit random then finished with both guys lufe after the war.

The Book Thieves Audiobook by Anders Rydell

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Anders Rydell) — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 00:56:53 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Book Thieves Subtitle: The Nazi Looting of Europe's Libraries and the Race to Return a Literary Inheritance Author: Anders Rydell Narrator: Kaleo Griffith Format: Unabridged Length: 13 hrs and 44 mins Language: English Release date: 02-07-17 Publisher: Penguin Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 25 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: For fans of The Monuments Men and The Hare with Amber Eyes, the story of the Nazis' systematic pillaging of Europe's libraries and the small team of heroic librarians now working to return the stolen books to their rightful owners. While the Nazi party was being condemned by much of the world for burning books, they were already hard at work perpetrating an even greater literary crime. Through extensive new research that included records saved by the Monuments Men themselves, Anders Rydell tells the untold story of Nazi book theft, as he himself joins the effort to return the stolen books. When the Nazi soldiers ransacked Europe's libraries and bookshops, large and small, the books they stole were not burned. Instead, the Nazis began to compile a library of their own that they could use to wage an intellectual war on literature and history. In this secret war, the libraries of Jews, communists, liberal politicians, LGBT activists, Catholics, Freemasons, and many other opposition groups were appropriated for Nazi research and used as an intellectual weapon against their owners. But when the war was over, most of the books were never returned. Instead many found their way into the public library system, where they remain to this day. Now, Rydell finds himself entrusted with one of these stolen volumes, setting out to return it to its rightful owner. It was passed to him by the small team of heroic librarians who have begun the monumental task of combing through Berlin's public libraries to identify the looted books and reunite them with the families of their original owners. For those who lost relatives in the Holocaust, these books are often the only remaining possession of their relatives they have ever held. And as Rydell travels to return the volume he was given, he shows just how much a single book can mean to those who own it. Members Reviews: An interesting topic but an incredibly dull story. It was such an interesting topic. After three hours of listening I tired of hearing the same information being repeated from a slightly different angle. The forward held so much promise and there were brief glimpses of a story that could have been truely interesting but alas after three hours I was too bored to keep listening.

The War Audiobook by Geoffrey C. Ward, Ken Burns

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Geoffrey C. Ward) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 22:39:05 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The War Subtitle: An Intimate History: 1941-1945 Author: Geoffrey C. Ward, Ken Burns Narrator: Ken Burns, Tom Hanks, Josh Lucas, Rebecca Holtz Format: Abridged Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins Language: English Release date: 09-06-07 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 98 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The individuals featured in this audiobook are not historians or scholars. They are ordinary men and women who experienced - and helped to win - the most devastating war in history, in which between 50 and 60 million lives were lost. Focusing on the citizens of four towns - Luverne, Minnesota; Sacramento, California; Waterbury, Connecticut; and Mobile, Alabama - The War follows more than 40 people from 1941 to 1945. Woven largely from their memories, the compelling, unflinching narrative unfolds month by bloody month, with the outcome always in doubt. The iconic events are here, but we also move among prisoners of war, defense workers, and schoolchildren, and families who struggled simply to stay together. An intimate, profoundly affecting chronicle of the war that shaped our world, The War captures the American experience of World War II through the words and deeds, thoughts and feelings of those who made history on the battlefields and on the home front. Members Reviews: Good book, poor audiobook I looked forward to this book because 1) of the quality of Ken Burns' work on past topics of American History and 2) I feel WWII, more than any other conflict the United States was a part of, tells us how we came to be what we are as a nation and what we became afterwards. The narrative did not disappoint. It was well written and frank, breaking many of the myths that we learned in school about how we just rose up and saved the world after we were attacked by Imperial Japan in 1941. I listened to the book before I saw the PBS series and you can see the close relationship between the two. So, why only three stars? Well, one star was removed simply because this is an abridged version and it doesn't appear that an unabridged version exists. Call me rigid, but NO abridged version can substitute for reading the authors' full intent. Abridgment means compromise. The second star was removed because, frankly, although Ken Burns may produce extraordinary documentaries, he is a TERRIBLE reader. Rather than reading in phrases and pausing after a thought is complete, he pauses after every two or three words, whether it makes sense to do so or not: "The boy (pause) went to (pause) the store." The entire reading is riddled with this kind of phraseology and it becomes annoying after awhile because it often forces you to go back and repeat what he has said in order make sense of it. Ugh! A must listen! Without reservations, I recommend this book to all the citizens of this great nation. I sincerely believe that after completing this book you will have a new respect for the sacrifices our soldiers and their families made during the World War II. A Must Listen This is one very good companion piece to the PBS documentary. Ken Burns (the film's co-director and this audiobook's primary narrator) is not an actor, and neither were any of the people whose words and stories he tells here. His narration is direct and quietly impassioned, which makes it all the more forceful. Burns and co-director/producer Lynn Novick let it be known from the beginning that this story would not be about "..the traditional top-down heroes we are usually presented with - the generals, the presidents and statesmen, the prime ministers and field marshals who tend to recede from our understanding just as they ascend to the pantheon of Great Men.

Their Backs Against the Sea Audiobook by Bill Sloan

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Bill Sloan) — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 13:49:56 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Their Backs Against the Sea Subtitle: The Battle of Saipan and the Greatest Banzai Attack of World War II Author: Bill Sloan Narrator: Dan Woren Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins Language: English Release date: 06-27-17 Publisher: Hachette Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 6 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: In the midst of the largest banzai attack of the war, US Army Lt. Col. William O'Brien, grievously wounded and out of ammunition, grabbed a sabre from a fallen Japanese soldier and flailed away at a small army of assailants, screaming to his men, "Don't give them a damn inch!" When his body was recovered the next day, 30 dead enemies were piled around him. The Battle of Saipan lasted 25 hellish days in the summer of 1944, and the stakes couldn't have been higher. If Japan lost possession of the island, all hope for victory would be lost. For the Americans, its capture would result in secure air bases for the new B-29s that would put them within striking distance of the Japanese homeland. The outcome of the war in the Pacific lay in the balance. In this gritty, vivid narrative, award-winning author Bill Sloan fuses fresh interviews, oral and unit histories, and unpublished accounts to describe one of the war's bloodiest and most overlooked battles of the Pacific theater. Combining grunt's-view grit with big picture panorama (and one of the ugliest interservice controversies of the war), Their Backs Against the Sea is the definitive dramatic story of this epic battle - and an inspiring chronicle of some of the greatest acts of valor in American military history. PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio. Members Reviews: It was fine It was not the best account I have read about a Pacific battle. It seemed a little disjointed at times and is almost strictly accounts that are not always woven together well. But some of the accounts were interesting.

The 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic: The History and Legacy of the World's Deadliest Influenza

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Charles River Editors) — Fri, 08 May 2015 14:38:59 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic: The History and Legacy of the World's Deadliest Influenza Outbreak Author: Charles River Editors Narrator: Steve Marvel Format: Unabridged Length: 1 hr and 43 mins Language: English Release date: 05-08-15 Publisher: Charles River Editors Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 27 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: "One of the startling features of the pandemic was its sudden flaring up and its equally sudden decline, reminding one of a flame consuming highly combustible material, which died down as soon as the supply of the material was exhausted. There is every reason to believe that, within a few weeks of its onset, the infection was universally present in the nose and throat of the people, disseminated by mouth spray given off on talking by innumerable carriers and, in addition, by the coughing and sneezing of the sick. Susceptibility was very general, though it varied greatly in degree. Among those who escaped well marked sickness there are few who could not recall having had an occluded or running nose, or a raw feeling in the throat, or a cough, or aches and pains, at some time during the period of the prevalence of the disease, these probably representing the price such persons paid for their immunization." - Dr. Bernard Fantus In many ways, it is hard for modern people living in first-world countries to conceive of a pandemic sweeping around the world and killing millions of people. And it is even harder to believe that something as common as influenza could cause such widespread illness and death. Although the flu still takes hundreds of lives each year, most of those lost are very young or old or ill with something else that had already weakened them. In fact, most people contract influenza at least once, and many suffer from the flu several times in their lives and survive it with a minimum amount of medical attention. In 1918, the world was still in the throes of the Great War, the deadliest conflict in human history at that point, but while World War I would be a catastrophic war surpassed only by World War II, an unprecedented influenza outbreak that same year inflicted casualties that would make both wars pale in comparison. Members Reviews: Complacency can kill historical places events, historical research, Charles River Editors Excellent! A nonjudgmental thesis on the influenza pandemic of the early 20th century, with survivors accounts by people across the USA as well as published statements by the Surgeon General of the day. There are many lessons to be learned, and implied warnings to be noted, as well as an appreciation of what it was to have the young and healthy be stricken and and over 20% of those die within days. As a retired nurse, I certainly comprehend the exhaustion and despair experienced by those attempting to care for the sick. I bought the audio on sale. Steve Marvel gave a perfect reading! very thorough really enjoyed it and good narration, at least I thought it was an accurate account Informative, comprehensive While I have a better understanding of the scope of this tragedy after listening to the book, I think it could have been less statistical and contained fewer quotes from the head of the Public Heath Service and more personal stories to illustrate what a horrible thing it was for innocent American families. I would also like to see more about lessons learned that could perhaps prevent the same tragedy today.

Interpreting the 20th Century: The Struggle Over Democracy Audiobook by The Great Courses

biacuaduc@gmail.com (The Great Courses) — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 09:40:56 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Interpreting the 20th Century: The Struggle Over Democracy Author: The Great Courses Narrator: Professor Pamela Radcliff Format: Original Recording Length: 24 hrs and 24 mins Language: English Release date: 07-08-13 Publisher: The Great Courses Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 68 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Consider the intense and rapid changes that transformed the political, social, and economic struggles of the world during the 20th century: the first flight and space flight, the Manhattan Project and the welfare state, Nietzsche and Freud, the Great Depression and inflation, moving pictures and home computers, the Cold War and terrorism - and war and peace. These 48 comprehensive lectures examine this extraordinary history and provide a multidisciplinary understanding of how the modern world came to be and how democracy has emerged as a political ideal, although the parameters of a truly democratic world order are still being vigorously contested. You'll see how the 20th century can be read as a history of ideas, and how those ideas both influenced events and were in turn influenced by them to shape today's world. Professor Radcliff not only distills political and economic trends from a century of world history, but she explains them with clarity, drawing on other disciplines as necessary to make key points come alive. She defines the perspective of this course as including what she calls the "Enlightenment Project" - the adoption of liberal, democratic, rationalist principles in much of the world - while emphasizing the unresolved nature of the struggle for democracy. As you move chronologically through the century, you'll explore a range of ideas in depth, including the "crisis of meaning" unleashed by World War I, the different approaches of Fascism and Communism to organizing and mobilizing masses, and how art provided a window into the psychological forces swirling through public life. Detailed case studies also bring history's ideas alive. PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio. Members Reviews: Philosophical differences aside, well worth it! There are several warnings I would give to someone considering this investment in time. This is a course of 48 lectures delivered by a professor who is relatively monotone and does not convey warmth or enthusiasm the way most people do. I felt that I got used to the way she uses tone and I got over it. If you can't do monotone, you should consider whether this course is for you. Very long course, but commensurate with scope. Despite the length, the topics are treated at a high level. Most readers will find a percentage of lectures that they feel they know better than the professor. You may find her viewpoint in some lectures to be a bit naive, very liberal, or flat out wrong. If this puts you off and you are a conservative or libertarian, you may have difficulty finishing the course. Personally I found the perspective and the focus on "democracy" to be incredibly interesting. She is unabashedly focused on the struggle for democracy even though we find democracy to be in quite a bit of trouble recently, and our founders were not very sanguine about the future of democracy and thus designed a republic. Democracy may not fit in all places, and it may at the end of the day not be the correct system to manage the affairs of human beings, but I think most alternative anchors for a course of the 20th century would fail miserably. Like it or not most in the US believe in the living constitution as well as the Tocquevillian tumble towards equality in all things.

Escape from Sobibor Audiobook by Richard Rashke

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Richard Rashke) — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 09:15:11 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Escape from Sobibor Author: Richard Rashke Narrator: Robert Blumenfeld Format: Unabridged Length: 14 hrs and 6 mins Language: English Release date: 06-10-14 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 200 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: On October 14, 1943, 600 Jews imprisoned in Sobibor, a secret Nazi death camp in eastern Poland, revolted. They killed a dozen SS officers and guards, trampled the barbed wire fences, and raced across an open field filled with anti-tank mines. Against all odds, more than three hundred made it safely into the woods. Fifty of those men and women managed to survive the rest of the war. In this edition of Escape from Sobibor, fully updated in 2012, Richard Rashke tells their stories, based on his interviews with 18 of the survivors. It vividly describes the biggest prisoner escape of World War II. A story of unimaginable cruelty. A story of courage and a fierce desire to live and to tell the world what truly went on behind those barbed wire fences. Members Reviews: Rashke put a face to the good and the bad! Would you consider the audio edition of Escape from Sobibor to be better than the print version? Yes, the narration was excellent and made the pronunciation of the names so much easier What other book might you compare Escape from Sobibor to and why? I haven't read anything focused on the holocaust before. But had read and listened to books like "The Liberator: One World War II Soldier's 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau". Both of which are of the highest quality! Both seem extremely well researched, well organised, and both personal. Both do an excellent job at bring to fore the best and worst of humanity. Which scene was your favorite? My favourite scene was the beginning of the uprising despite, all the odds being against the captives and any realistic expectation of victory. The grim determination and the description of empowerment were awesome. If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be? Could this ever happen again? Any additional comments? The must gut wrenching part of the story is when the message from the Jews made it to the allies. The response to that message? Nothing, the rest of the world including the Pope did nothing to help the Jews. How the rest of the world turned abandoned the Jewish people is unbelievable! Great book about an awful period in Jewish history What did you love best about Escape from Sobibor? I do not usually write reviews unless the book is really good or terrable. My bad spelling is one good reason why I don't review many books as I do read those of others and I owe those people a big thank you.. it I s hard for me to call a book or story very good or great when it is about the extermination and physical and mental abuse of millions of innocent people.Both the writing and reading of the book really was interesting. It kept my attention to the point if I think I missed something I would go.back and start over. The author went around the world from south America to Russia to find people who survived the death c a np Sobibor and the massive escape attempt which some survived and did succeed in escaping. Think.what bravery. A massive escape attempt from a Nazi extermination camp. . The author interviewed most/all of the survivors who agreed to be interviewed and incorporated their stories in the book.It reads like a good novel and not at all like a like a dry academic historical book. If you have any interest in the holocaust or how individuals react and survive in condition where they can die a horrible death at any moment.

Hell in the Pacific Audiobook by Jim McEnery, Bill Sloan

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jim McEnery) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:51:54 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Hell in the Pacific Subtitle: A Marine Rifleman's Journey from Guadalcanal to Peleliu Author: Jim McEnery, Bill Sloan Narrator: Robert Fass Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins Language: English Release date: 06-05-12 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 95 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: In what may be the last memoir to be published by a living veteran of the pivotal invasion of Guadalcanal, which occurred almost 70 years ago, Marine Jim McEnery has teamed up with author Bill Sloan to create an unforgettably immersive chronicle of horror and heroism. Made famous by the HBO miniseries The Pacific, McEnery's rifle company - the legendary K/3/5 of the First Marine Division - fought in some of the most ferocious battles of the Pacific. In arresting detail, the author takes us back to Guadalcanal, where the Americans turned the tide of war against the Japanese; Cape Gloucester, where 1,300 Marines were killed or wounded; and to bloody Peleliu, where McEnery assumed command of the company and helped speed the final defeat of the Japanese garrison. From his evocative recollections of hand-to-hand fighting and the loss of buddies in hellish fighting to his frank portraits of legends like Colonel Lewis Chesty Puller and General Douglas MacArthur, McEnery's gritty narrative is as valuable for its insights on a war increasingly lost to memory as it is terrifying and engrossing - a master work that no one interested in military history can afford to pass up. Members Reviews: true history a must listen or read as a grandson whose grandfather served on the Centaurs during the war for the pacific. My grandfather passed before I could learn about his life aboard his ship. I do remember him saying to my mother that if it wasn't for what the Marines and what they had to do we wouldn't be living in the US as we know it today.. the books like this help me to understand my grandfather and his generation and understand the world i live in today. Thank you to the authors for sharing. Great Memoir of a fighting Marine A fascinating and important memoir by one of the last surviving veterans of many Pacific battles. Highly Recommended! Badass This guy was in the thick of it. What a true hero and legend. He spares no detail when talking of the horrors and killing that he witnessed. 1 of the BEST!!! Although I have a variety of audible genres, a constant favorite of mine however, are WWII (and specifically Pacific Theater) books. Among the 15 or so in my collection, this account finds itself comfortably on the same shelf / tier as my other three favorite Pacific Theater war accounts: With The Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa -E.B. Sledge Bloody Ridge, and Beyond -Marlin Groft The Ultimate Battle -Bill Sloan outstanding this is a detailed story of a marine in K 35. fantastic book. highly recommended.

Midnight in Broad Daylight Audiobook by Pamela Rotner Sakamoto

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Pamela Rotner Sakamoto) — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 16:37:14 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Midnight in Broad Daylight Subtitle: A Japanese American Family Caught Between Two Worlds Author: Pamela Rotner Sakamoto Narrator: Emily Woo Zeller Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins Language: English Release date: 01-05-16 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 91 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: After their father's death, Harry, Frank, and Pierce Fukuhara - all born and raised in the Pacific Northwest - moved to Hiroshima, their mother's ancestral home. Eager to go back to his own land - America - Harry returned in the late 1930s. Then came Pearl Harbor. Despite being sent to an internment camp, Harry dutifully volunteered to serve his country. Back in Hiroshima, his brothers, Frank and Pierce, became soldiers in the Japanese Imperial Army. As the war raged on, Harry, one of the finest bilingual interpreters in the United States Army, island hopped across the Pacific, moving ever closer to the enemy and to his younger brothers. But before the Fukuharas would have to face each other in battle, the US detonated the atomic bomb over Hiroshima, gravely injuring tens of thousands of civilians, including members of their family. Alternating between the American and Japanese perspectives, Midnight in Broad Daylight captures the uncertainty and intensity of those charged with the fighting and provides a fresh look at the dropping of the first atomic bomb. Critic Reviews: "A beautifully rendered work wrought with enormous care and sense of compassionate dignity." ( Kirkus) Members Reviews: Interesting history Any additional comments? The reading is very amateurish, but the history and story are fascinating and make it worth suffering through the performance....though, I would caution the author not to use the word 'penchant' so often you start to wait for it. It is inexcusable to mispronounce a President's name and the reader should learn how Delano is pronounced correctly. In short, it is not great reading, and the writing is sometimes clumsy, but the story told is a valuable one. A must listen I absolutely loved this book. I learned so much while truly being entertained by fascinating real life accountings surrounding the WWII conflict between the United States and Japan. Being half Japanese, it's a wonder how I was not more aware of the some of the details regarding this. I truly believe that this should be required reading for high school students, especially in places like Hawaii where there is such a large Japanese populace. I love nonfiction books that weave a (true) story into the fabric of the historical events. This is one of the best! Remarkable story Mostly good. A few issues with the spin of the story. Calling relocation camps concentration camps is clearly meant to add drama and to link the American experience to the German experience. Who ever heard of anyone joining the Army from a concentration camp? And saying it was so hot they were offered sodium chloride tablets seems a way to make salt tablets sound more serious. This penchant to put a spin on the story detracts from the authenticity of the story. But The Harry story is definitely worth reading. He, and a lot of other people were uprooted by that unnecessary war. It was good to see him win. great story my grandparents were interned in minidoka. this story really helped fill in the timeline. it was really interesting hearing about life in Japan and how the war affected their family. Great true story about Japanese Americans in WWII. After reading so much about Europe and WWII, it's great to learn about the Pacific theatre especially through the eyes of a Japanese American family.

Everything Under the Heavens Audiobook by Howard W. French

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Howard W. French) — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 08:56:58 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Everything Under the Heavens Subtitle: How the Past Helps Shape China's Push for Global Power Author: Howard W. French Narrator: Nicholas Hormann Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins Language: English Release date: 03-14-17 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 41 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: From the former New York Times Asia correspondent and author of China's Second Continent, an incisive investigation of China's ideological development as it becomes an ever more aggressive player in regional and global diplomacy. For many years after its reform and opening in 1978, China maintained an attitude of false modesty about its ambitions. That role, reports Howard French, has been set aside. China has asserted its place among the global heavyweights, revealing its plans for pan-Asian dominance by building its navy, increasing territorial claims to areas like the South China Sea, and diplomatically bullying smaller players. Underlying this attitude is a strain of thinking that casts China's present-day actions in decidedly historical terms, as the path to restoring the dynastic glory of the past. If we understand how that historical identity relates to current actions, in ways ideological, philosophical, and even legal, we can learn to forecast just what kind of global power China stands to become - and to interact wisely with a future peer. Steeped in deeply researched history as well as on-the-ground reporting, this is French at his revelatory best. Critic Reviews: "Nuanced...The detail of [French's] scholarship and reporting is matched by the suppleness of his prose...This will be a useful, and necessary, starting point for informed discussion." (Publishers Weekly) "Howard French has tackled what is perhaps the most important issue of our time, and of many years to come, with the vivid prose of a first-rate reporter, the scholarship of an excellent historian, and great human sympathy." (Ian Buruma, author of Year Zero: A History of 1945) "Everything Under the Heavens is the most persuasive account I've ever read of how China's history shapes its foreign policy and that of its neighbors today. A subtle and beautifully written book that offers surprising lessons for how Americans and Asians should respond to China's rise. Strongly recommended for policy makers and citizens alike." (Susan Shirk, chair of the 21st Century China Center, University of California-San Diego) Members Reviews: Eye Opening The author has opened my eyes to ideas and concepts I had not considered. Very enlightening. The long historical view of Chinese self image helps me see why we must be careful in our diplomacy. China - a clear and present danger for the future. Where does Everything Under the Heavens rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far? Very high in the ranking. Well researched and narrated - gives extensive Chinese and Chinese-Japanese History and provides the appropriate historical context. Who was your favorite character and why? Recent Chinese Leaders who made changes to made a great positive difference for their country. Have you listened to any of Nicholas Hormanns other performances before? How does this one compare? No basis for an evaluation Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry? No extreme reaction. This is a very serious book. This is a very serious subject. People interested in U.S.

Armor and Blood Audiobook by Dennis E. Showalter

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Dennis E. Showalter) — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 21:07:60 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Armor and Blood Subtitle: The Battle of Kursk: The Turning Point of World War II Author: Dennis E. Showalter Narrator: Robertson Dean Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs Language: English Release date: 08-27-13 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 344 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: While the Battle of Kursk has long captivated World War II aficionados, it has been unjustly overlooked by historians. Drawing on the masses of new information made available by the opening of the Russian military archives, Dennis E. Showalter at last corrects that error. This battle was the critical turning point on World War II's Eastern Front. In the aftermath of the Red Army's brutal repulse of the Germans at Stalingrad, the stakes could not have been higher. More than 3,000,000 men and 8,000 tanks met in the heart of the Soviet Union, some 400 miles south of Moscow, in an encounter that both sides knew would reshape the war. The adversaries were at the peak of their respective powers. On both sides, the generals and the dictators they served were in agreement on where, why, and how to fight. The result was a furious death grapple between two of history's most formidable fighting forces - a battle that might possibly have been the greatest of all time. In Armor and Blood, Showalter recreates every aspect of this dramatic struggle. He offers expert perspective on strategy and tactics at the highest levels, from the halls of power in Moscow and Berlin to the battlefield command posts on both sides. But it is the author's exploration of the human dimension of armored combat that truly distinguishes this book. In the classic tradition of John Keegan's The Face of Battle, Showalter's narrative crackles with insight into the unique dynamics of tank warfare - its effect on men's minds as well as their bodies. Scrupulously researched, exhaustively documented, and vividly illustrated, this book is a chilling testament to man's ability to build and to destroy. When the dust settled, the field at Kursk was nothing more than a wasteland of steel carcasses, dead soldiers, and smoking debris. The Soviet victory ended German hopes of restoring their position on the Eastern Front, and put the Red Army on the road to Berlin. Armor and Blood presents listeners with what will likely be the authoritative study of Kursk for decades to come. Members Reviews: Rich got ot right Where does Armor and Blood rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far? Thanks to Rich for his "spot on" review. Also, his plea for more books like this instead of the drivel I scroll through every day as I look for new titles. Big Ups to Prof. Showalter and Audible If you could sum up Armor and Blood in three words, what would they be? Leibstandarte uber alles! What did you like best about this story? Prof. Showalter's account of the Battle of Kursk is military history at its best. He presents a thorough narrative of the respective operational histories of the combatants during this early July, 1943 battle. Also, the author shows his deep understanding of the psyche and motivations of the opposing sides. Try to imagine: It is dawn on July 8, 1943. You are a 20 year old SS panzergrenadier riding with your squad in the back of a halftrack on your way to try to gain a few more kilometers north towards Oboyan, towards Kursk. As you and your commrades scan the sky for apprtoaching Sturmoviks you get that dreaded feeling once more in your gut about what awaits you in a mere handful of minutes in that clearing up ahead.

Fordlandia Audiobook by Greg Grandin

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Greg Grandin) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:32:46 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Fordlandia Subtitle: The Rise and Fall of Henry Fords Forgotten Jungle City Author: Greg Grandin Narrator: Jonathan Davis Format: Unabridged Length: 15 hrs and 30 mins Language: English Release date: 06-17-10 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 128 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: In 1927, Henry Ford, the richest man in the world, bought a tract of land twice the size of Delaware in the Brazilian Amazon. His intention was to grow rubber, but the project rapidly evolved into a more ambitious bid to export America itself. Fordlandia, as the settlement was called, soon became the site of an epic clash. On one side was the lean, austere car magnate; on the other, the Amazon, the most complex ecological system on the planet. Indigenous workers rejected Ford's midwestern Puritanism, turning the place into a ribald tropical boomtown. And his efforts to apply a system of regimented mass production to the Amazon's diversity resulted in a rash environmental assault that foreshadowed many of the threats laying waste to the rain forest today. More than a parable of one mans arrogant attempt to force his will on the natural world, Greg Grandin's Fordlandia is "a quintessentially American fable". (Time). Editorial Reviews: Fordlandia is a wide-ranging history not only of Henry Fords problem-plagued foray into the Amazonian rainforest, but also of his place in advancing mechanized manufacturing. While the jungle experience did not make a lasting imprint on the Ford Companys existence, the perfection of assembly-line processes, the invention of machines to replace workers, and Henry Fords desire to control all facets of his automobile production process certainly combined to change the way goods are manufactured and life for workers around the world. Jonathan Davis aptly takes listeners through the story as the book first details Henry Fords rise to world prominence through the debacle of Fordlandia, and finally to Fords legacy of multinational corporations and mechanized labor. The experience of Fordlandia brings forth Davis many skills as a gifted narrator. While his even voice tells the tale, he offers engaging and enjoyable moments as he describes various characters who helped make Fords poorly thought-out excursion into virgin rainforest the misery that it was. Davis reads excerpts from the letters botantist Carl LaRue sent to Henry Ford from Brazil, detailing the forlorn existence of the natives who would, supposedly, benefit from Fords insistence on a workforce that adhered to his personal Puritan values. Davis also reads the poetry of George Washington Sears, whose work describes a Brazilian workers revolt, and of Elizabeth Bishop, who put the Amazon Rivers untouched beauty into verse. Mostly though, Davis introduces listeners to the wheelers and dealers who finessed the Brazilian land deal. According to author Grandin, that deal snookered the richest man in the world into paying for land he could have gotten for free. Later, Davis voices upper- and mid-level Ford managers who saw opportunities for money and power in time spent at the struggling Amazonian rubber plantation. Fordlandia has it all: from American ingenuity, pride, wealth, and stubbornness to the tendency of some towards exploitation, greed, and nativism. Davis gives voice to Grandins words as he describes that moment in American history when the country changed from being mostly agrarian pioneers to factory workers; When American businessmen and factory owners began looking farther than the shores of the United States and saw income possibilities in foreign countries.

Hitler's Religion Audiobook by Richard Weikart

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Richard Weikart) — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 17:15:31 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Hitler's Religion Subtitle: The Twisted Beliefs That Drove the Third Reich Author: Richard Weikart Narrator: Ian Fisher Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins Language: English Release date: 02-23-17 Publisher: Regnery History Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 12 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: For a man whom history can never forget, Adolf Hitler remains a persistent mystery on one front - his religious faith. Atheists tend to insist Hitler was a devout Christian. Christians counter that he was an atheist. And still others suggest that he was a practicing member of the occult. None of these theories are true, says historian Richard Weikart. Delving more deeply into the question of Hitler's religious faith than any researcher to date, Weikart reveals the startling and fascinating truth about the most hated man of the 20th century: Adolf Hitler was a pantheist who believed nature was God. In Hitler's Religion, Weikart explains how the laws of nature became Hitler's only moral guide - how he became convinced he would serve God by annihilating supposedly "inferior" human beings and promoting the welfare and reproduction of the allegedly superior Aryans in accordance with racist forms of Darwinism prevalent at the time. Members Reviews: Insightful content, let down by an awful narrator How did the narrator detract from the book? The narrator, Ian Fisher, has idiosyncratic (i.e. wrong) and frequently inconsistent pronunciation, even of quite common English words. Thus, for example, irreconcilable becomes ehreconcilable. He even mispronounces words crucial to the subject matter, which is very distracting. For example, he generally pronounces Aryan as are-EYE-un, and the German word volk as if it began with an English v sound, rather than an f sound. Thus, every minute or two, just as one is beginning to concentrate again on the content, Fisher will say a word in such a bizarre way that ones attention is immediately torn away from the content of the book, and instead consumed by thoughts along the lines of, Did he really just say that? Fishers phrasing and pacing is also often not as helpful as it could be in conveying the sense of the text.

Utopia and Terror in the 20th Century Audiobook by The Great Courses

biacuaduc@gmail.com (The Great Courses) — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 02:43:54 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Utopia and Terror in the 20th Century Author: The Great Courses Narrator: Professor Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius Format: Original Recording Length: 12 hrs and 33 mins Language: English Release date: 07-08-13 Publisher: The Great Courses Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 179 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: From the trenches of World War I to Nazi Germany to Saddam Hussein's Iraq, the 20th century was a time of unprecedented violence. Yet while such monumental violence seems senseless, it is not inexplicable. If we can understand the origins of violence, we may prevent even greater horrors in the century to come. These 24 necessary lectures trace the violent history of the 20th century, beginning with its early roots in the American and, especially, the French revolutions. With each passing lecture, you will see how the 20th century's-violence was the result of specific historical developments that eventually combined, with explosive results. You'll see how The most sinister development of all, however, was the notion that utopia was not just a perfect paradise to look forward to in the afterlife. Instead, utopia could be built right now, in this life. Such 20th-century ideologies as Marxism, Nazism, Communism, and Fascism embraced this idea willingly - even enthusiastically - and used terror to implement it. PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio. Members Reviews: A Great Lecture Series Where does Utopia and Terror in the 20th Century rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far? The thread that haunted my understanding of modern history is why so many utopian dreams degenerate into mass murder, aggressive suppression of human rights and war.. At last, here is a rational and well documented explanation that gets away from the petty details in individual events that weighs down the usual histories. Utopian-ism is bound to fail because its components (unreasonable promises, the making of opposition illegal and inevitable terror) at always seen as necessary and used to justify all forms of crime. This should be heard by everyone. Informative Professor is well spoken and unbiased. Good overview of communism, Islamist and nazism. Would recommend. One of my favorites from the Great Courses series I thoroughly enjoyed this lecture. It is easy to tend to listen to history from the middle ages or ancient history and forget about recent history. This lecture probably does more to help you understand the world we are currently living in than any other out there. You can't understand the present if you don't have a solid foundation of historical context to build upon. It is akin to walking into a movie that is near the end and attempting to figure out what is going on. I was never bored. This is one of the few audio books that I fully intend on listening to for a second time. Excellent course! What was one of the most memorable moments of Utopia and Terror in the 20th Century? The consistency across various totalitarian regimes that I had heard about but before this course did not have much knowledge about. Any additional comments? This definitely increased my understanding of how totalitarian regimes come to be, and the importance of both being an active citizen as well as recognizing the dignity of each human being. Outstanding content Definitely worth your time! You'll probably learn things you didn't know about these totalitarian regimes.

The Ottoman Endgame Audiobook by Sean McMeekin

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Sean McMeekin) — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 21:19:28 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Ottoman Endgame Subtitle: War, Revolution, and the Making of the Modern Middle East, 1908-1923 Author: Sean McMeekin Narrator: Richard Poe Format: Unabridged Length: 19 hrs and 4 mins Language: English Release date: 10-13-15 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 82 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: An astonishing retelling of 20th-century history from the Ottoman perspective, delivering profound new insights into World War I and the contemporary Middle East. Between 1911 and 1922, a series of wars would engulf the Ottoman Empire and its successor states, in which the central conflict, of course, was World War I - a story we think we know well. As Sean McMeekin shows us in this revelatory new history of what he calls the "wars of the Ottoman succession", we know far less than we think. The Ottoman Endgame brings to light the entire strategic narrative that led to an unstable new order in postwar Middle East - much of which is still felt today. The Ottoman Endgame: War, Revolution, and the Making of the Modern Middle East draws from McMeekin's years of groundbreaking research in newly opened Ottoman and Russian archives. With great storytelling flair, McMeekin makes new the epic stories we know from the Ottoman front, from Gallipoli to the exploits of Lawrence in Arabia, and introduces a vast range of new stories to Western listeners. His accounts of the lead-up to World War I and the Ottoman Empire's central role in the war itself offers an entirely new and deeper vision of the conflict. Harnessing not only Ottoman and Russian but also British, German, French, American, and Austro-Hungarian sources, the result is a truly pioneering work of scholarship that gives full justice to a multitiered war involving many belligerents. McMeekin also brilliantly reconceives our inherited Anglo-French understanding of the war's outcome and the collapse of the empire that followed. The book chronicles the emergence of modern Turkey and the carve up of the rest of the Ottoman Empire as it has never been told before, offering a new perspective on such issues as the ethno-religious bloodletting and forced population transfers that attended the breakup of empire, the Balfour Declaration, the toppling of the caliphate, and the partition of Iraq and Syria - bringing the contemporary consequences into clear focus. Every so often, a work of history completely reshapes our understanding of a subject of enormous historical and contemporary importance. The Ottoman Endgame is such a book, an instantly definitive and thrilling example of narrative history as high art. Members Reviews: WWI from a different perspective I've listened to a lot of WWI related books over the years so maybe I'm a bit overloaded and that isreflected in my rating. There's a lot about the Ottoman Empire and what has become the modern nation of Turkey that may be new to some, but there wasn't enough new to me to rate higher. The most intriguing aspect was the way some critical events of the war were perceived from the Ottoman point of view. I also appreciated the latter few hours providing detail on the rise of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. "The Making of the Modern Middle East" seems an overplayed description.

Anatomy of a Trial Audiobook by Jerrianne Hayslett

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jerrianne Hayslett) — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 06:33:45 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Anatomy of a Trial Subtitle: Public Loss, Lessons Learned from The People vs. O.J. Simpson Author: Jerrianne Hayslett Narrator: Sheila Book Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins Language: English Release date: 08-15-14 Publisher: University Press Audiobooks Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 25 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: As the Los Angeles Superior Court's media liaison, Jerrianne Hayslett had unprecedented access to the trial - and met with Judge Lance Ito daily - as she attempted, sometimes unsuccessfully, to mediate between the court and members of the media and to balance their interests. In Anatomy of a Trial, she takes listeners behind the scenes to shed new light on people and proceedings and to show how the media and the trial participants changed the court-media landscape to the detriment of the public's understanding of the judicial system. For those who think they've already read all there is to know about the Simpson trial, this audiobook is an eye-opener. Hayslett kept a detailed journal during the proceedings, in which she recorded anecdotes and commentary. She also shares previously undisclosed information to expose some of the myths and stereotypes perpetuated by the trial, while affirming other stories that emerged during that time. By examining this trial after more than a decade, she shows how it has produced a bunker mentality in the judicial system, shaping media and public access to courts with lasting impact on such factors as cameras in the courtroom, jury selection, admonishments from the bench, and fair-trial/free-press tensions. The first account of the trial written with Judge Ito's cooperation, Anatomy of a Trial is a pause-registering narrative. It also includes perspectives of legal and journalism authorities and offers a blueprint for how the courts and media can better meet their responsibilities to the public. Even today, judges, lawyers, and journalists across the country say the Simpson trial changed everything. This audiobook finally tells us why. Critic Reviews: "Los Angeles Superior Court media adviser Hayslett explores the ramifications of the much publicized 1995 O.J. Simpson murder trial ... insight that comes from her insider status is valuable and may leave readers wishing for her backstage access from the latest chapter in Simpsons ongoing legal battles." ( Publishers Weekly) Members Reviews: Very informative, a good listen for sure. Would you consider the audio edition of Anatomy of a Trial to be better than the print version? I would. As I do enjoy reading, I can't always find time to sit down and actually read. This is why i enjoyed this book so much. I would listen to it in the car, on my lunch break, and while preparing dinner. It was very convenient. What about Sheila Books performance did you like? This book had a lot of interesting facts but with the wrong person narrating, it can become mundane. Sheila kept me enthralled the whole time. She has the right voice to bring this story alive. Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry? I didn't have an extreme reaction but i found it to be full of trial information that i had never heard. I have always been very interested in the Simpson murder trial. How the media involvement impacted this trial is profound. This book is full of detail and a lot of unknown facts. Good stuff! Where does Anatomy of a Trial rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far? It's the first book I've listened to and I loved the experience. What did you like best about this story? It was so informative, and easy to listen to.

Behind Closed Doors Audiobook by Hugo Vickers

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Hugo Vickers) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:21:26 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Behind Closed Doors Author: Hugo Vickers Narrator: John Telfer Format: Unabridged Length: 16 hrs and 22 mins Language: English Release date: 10-21-11 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 82 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The life of the Duchess of Windsor came to an end in Paris on 24 April 1986. She was almost 90. Many people assumed that she had died years before, since she disappeared from public view for over a decade. Sebastian Faulks wrote in the Sunday Telegraph, She is seen as no more than the star of an old romantic film that most French have forgotten. But the world did take note, describing her death as the final curtain on one of the greatest love stories of the twentieth century. The story of the Abdication was retold, embers of the feud between the British Royal Family and the Windsors in exile were fanned once more, and there was increasing speculation about the many historical treasures owned by the Duke and Duchess, in particular her jewels. Hugo Vickers has followed the unfolding saga of this tragic couple since he was a young man. And, with the help of previously unpublished papers and personal testaments, he now brings a whole new perspective to the story. In particular, Vickers focuses on the last years of the Duchess of Windsor, revealing the cold truth about the ruthless exploitation of a vulnerable old woman by an unscrupulous French lawyer called Suzanne Blum. Behind Closed Doors is a potent mixture of detective story and revelatory royal history. Hugo Vickers combines meticulous research with an intense fascination with his subject to tell a tale whose dramatic impact has only increased with time. Members Reviews: You Reap What You Sow I just finished reading That Woman, and was curious to learn more about Wallis and Edward in exile. This couple never looked happy to me, and I suspect that he only used this woman to relieve himself of being King, a job he never enjoyed. No love there to make your wife the most hated woman in England. I suspect that had they had inkling of how ostracised they would be in their new life he might not have abdicated. The most startling revelations in this book are the chapters dealing with the Duchess after Edward died. Poor of health and isolated from all her remaining friends, she is a virtual prisoner of her staff and lawyer. Who rob her blind. Not a great love story at all, but a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions. This is a thoroughly well researched book and dispels much of the nonsense and innuendo that have followed this couple. The end of the Affair This is a very accurate and sad account of the dishonest lawyer who overtook the life of the Duchess of Windsor and her money. Interesting I like the narrator. The book started out strong but I didn't feel that the life stories of some of the people surrounding the duchess were necessary. Intervening overall and well read. Incredibly Boring What didnt you like about John Telfers performance? His voice is a bit monotone. Could put you to sleep. Any additional comments? The subject matter is what caught my attention because I love their story.

Hunting Evil Audiobook by Guy Walters

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Guy Walters) — Tue, 04 May 2010 02:45:14 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Hunting Evil Subtitle: The Nazi War Criminals Who Escaped and the Quest to Bring Them to Justice Author: Guy Walters Narrator: Jonathan Cowley Format: Unabridged Length: 18 hrs and 33 mins Language: English Release date: 05-04-10 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 71 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Already acclaimed in England as "first-rate" (The Sunday Times); a model of meticulous, courageous and path-breaking scholarship"(Literary Review); and "absorbing and thoroughly gripping; deserves a lasting place among histories of the war" (The Sunday Telegraph), Hunting Evil is the first complete and definitive account of how the Nazis escaped and were pursued and captured - or managed to live long lives as fugitives. At the end of the Second World War, an estimated 30,000 Nazi war criminals fled from justice, including some of the highest ranking members of the Nazi Party. Many of them have names that resonate deeply in 20th-century history -- Eichmann, Mengele, Martin Bormann, and Klaus Barbie -- not just for the monstrosity of their crimes, but also because of the shadowy nature of their post-war existence, holed up in the depths of Latin America, always one step ahead of their pursuers. Aided and abetted by prominent people throughout Europe, they hid in foreboding castles high in the Austrian alps, and were taken in by shady Argentine secret agents. The attempts to bring them to justice are no less dramatic, featuring vengeful Holocaust survivors, inept politicians, and daring plots to kidnap or assassinate the fugitives. From its haunting chronicle of the monstrous mass murders the Nazis perpetrated and the murky details of their postwar existence to the challenges of hunting them down, Hunting Evil is a monumental work of nonfiction written with the pacing and intrigue of a thriller. Members Reviews: Eye-opening and riveting This book clears up some widespread misconceptions--for example, he makes the case that ODESSA never existed. However, they didn't need one large organization to help Nazis get away--there were several smaller operations that did the job. "Hunting Eichmann" hints at one of the "ratlines" but this book goes into much more detail about who was running the several "ratlines" and why so many Nazis ended up in the countries they did--including right back in Europe. An important part of the book concerns why the West was more interested in working with ex-Nazis to fight Communism than in seeking justice. I absolutely love this narrator. Just the right pace, and his pronunciation and voice are wonderful. I wish they would use him more often instead of some of the Brits who are harder for me to understand for some reason. Outstanding..! If you could sum up Hunting Evil in three words, what would they be? Comprehensive...Objective...Courageous... What about Jonathan Cowleys performance did you like? Clear and Concise. Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? Wanted to but due to its scope, I don't see how someone could. Any additional comments? This is not an opinion piece... It is a precise and totally comprehensive history of the subject, covering aspects that I never imagined - The heroes, the villains, the profiteers and glory searchers, and revelations I was not expecting. This book exposed just how little I knew on the subject. I highly recommend it to anyone who is remotely interested in this aspect of 20th century history. Interesting but unnecessarily judgemental A well researched but overly judgemental, particularly with regard to Simon Wiesenthal, review of the efforts to bring Nazi war criminals to justice.

Stalin and the Scientists Audiobook by Simon Ings

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Simon Ings) — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 21:33:43 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Stalin and the Scientists Subtitle: A History of Triumph and Tragedy, 1905-1953 Author: Simon Ings Narrator: Tim Bruce Format: Unabridged Length: 15 hrs and 27 mins Language: English Release date: 02-21-17 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 12 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: An epic history of science in the Soviet Union, following the scientists who survived Stalin's rule and helped to reshape the world. Scientists throughout history, from Galileo to today's experts on climate change, have often had to contend with politics in their pursuit of knowledge. But in the Soviet Union, where the ruling elites embraced, patronized, and even fetishized science like never before, scientists lived their lives on a knife edge. The Soviet Union had the best-funded scientific establishment in history. Scientists were elevated as popular heroes and lavished with awards and privileges. But if their ideas or their field of study lost favor with the elites, they could be exiled, imprisoned, or murdered. And yet they persisted, making major contributions to 20th century science. Stalin and the Scientists tells the story of the many gifted scientists who worked in Russia from the years leading up to the Revolution through the death of the "Great Scientist" himself, Joseph Stalin. It weaves together the stories of scientists, politicians, and ideologues into an intimate and sometimes horrifying portrait of a state determined to remake the world. They often wreaked great harm. Stalin was himself an amateur botanist, and by falling under the sway of dangerous charlatans like Trofim Lysenko (who denied the existence of genes), and by relying on antiquated ideas of biology, he not only destroyed the lives of hundreds of brilliant scientists, he caused the death of millions through famine. But from atomic physics to management theory, and from radiation biology to neuroscience and psychology, these Soviet experts also made breakthroughs that forever changed agriculture, education, and medicine. A masterful book that deepens our understanding of Russian history, Stalin and the Scientists is a great achievement of research and storytelling, and a gripping look at what happens when science falls prey to politics. Members Reviews: Never Judge and Book by its cover! You have heard it said many time before, "never judge a book by its cover". When selecting this book, that is exactly what I did. I have been very interested in subjects such as the Cold War. I have always been interested in learning as much as I can about the the development of nuclear research and the building of atomic weapons. I have also been very interested in the the developments both the US and the Soviet Union space programs. Well, this is NOT that book. There is an honorable mention with regard to Stalin's scientists with regard to the two topics mentioned above, but not much at all. Simon Ings managed to write a book that covered Soviet genetics, more than anything. He describes how Trofim Lysenko completely denied fact, such as the existence of genes. Lysenko was a complete crackpot when it comes to genetics. This turned out to be a dangerous situation because millions starved in the Soviet Union due to crop failures based on Lysenko's belief that he somehow created better crops that could withstand some of the worst weather. Ings explains when Stalin and Khrushchev loved what Lysenko's work was all about. The fact that there is nothing genetic about plants, they just need a good environment. That really supports the communist platform. Ings covers Pavlov and his experiments in great detail about social behavior. Pure and simple.

Who Really Killed Kennedy? Audiobook by Jerome R. Corsi

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jerome R. Corsi) — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 17:47:09 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Who Really Killed Kennedy? Subtitle: 50 Years Later: Stunning New Revelations about the JFK Assassination Author: Jerome R. Corsi Narrator: David Rapkin Format: Unabridged Length: 13 hrs and 10 mins Language: English Release date: 07-11-14 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 104 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Almost nothing gives rise to more national intrigue than the murder of an American president. And on November 22, 2013, the nation will experience the fiftieth anniversary of one of the most traumatic events in modern American history, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. From day one, the truth behind JFK's assassination has been mired in controversy and dispute. The Warren Commission, established just seven days after Kennedy's death, delved into the who, what, when, and where of the tragedy, and over the course of the following year compiled an 889-page report that arrived at the now widely contested conclusion: Lee Harvey Oswald was the sole assassin. In Who Really Killed Kennedy?, No. 1New York Times bestselling author Jerome R. Corsi, Ph.D., provides listeners with the ultimate JFK assassination theory book. One-by-one, each chapter will examine the strongest arguments regarding the killing of JFK, including theories surrounding the mob, the CIA, Cuban radicals, LBJ, right-wing extremists and more. By the audiobook's end, Who Really Killed Kennedy? will provide convincing analysis that existing evidence rules out the possibility that JFK was killed by a lone assassin. Fifty years after this epic American tragedy, there's still a gunman on the loose. Members Reviews: Illuminates Questions without Concrete Answers This book, while interesting and well-executed, frustratingly highlights the majority of the well known discrepancies in the JFK assassination, without out drawing any competent conclusions. The author seems to be locked in on some of the absurdities of the Warren Commission's report, and simply uses the report's short comings as circumstantial evidence for Oswald's alleged innocence, yet does not really validate his own assumptions with anything evidence of significant solidity. I would venture to say that this book does little more than point out that the Warren Commission's findings would never have held up in a legitimate court of law - which is an issue that has been discussed nearly to the point of nausea, and fully accepted in many circles. However, if pointing out the flaws of the Warren Commission's report was the only intention of this book, then I would admit that it does so fairly succinctly, in a way that is thorough and comprehensible to the reader. Although, my opinion is that it relies too heavily on sensationalism and possibly over-dramatizes many elements of case. Very compelling with historical recap on JFK Not one minute of lost attention, every sentence packed with logic, drama, and facts. great book. this was another great book by Corsi So much information contained in this book. I will be following up on this story for months to come. Mesmerizing Fascinating for someone who remembers the times and characters. JFK murder was probably a watershed moment. We should ponder these events in the light of today and the threat of a Trump takeover. Where is the CIA when we need them?

Hunting Che Audiobook by Mitch Weiss, Kevin Maurer

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Mitch Weiss) — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 01:36:07 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Hunting Che Subtitle: How a U.S. Special Forces Team Helped Capture the World's Most Famous Revolutionary Author: Mitch Weiss, Kevin Maurer Narrator: Robertson Dean Format: Unabridged Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins Language: English Release date: 07-02-13 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 30 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: By the mid-1960s, Che Guevera had become famous for his outspoken criticism of the United States and his support for armed Communist insurgencies. He had been one of the architects of the Cuban Revolution, and was attempting to repeat his success throughout Latin America. His guerilla tactics and talent for proselytizing made him a threat to American foreign policy - and when he turned his attention to Bolivia in 1967, the Pentagon made a decision: Che had to be eliminated. Major Ralph "Pappy" Shelton was called upon to lead the mission to train the Bolivians. With a hand-picked team of specialists, his first task was to transform a ragtag group of peasants into a trained fighting force who could also gather intelligence. Gary Prado, a Bolivian officer, volunteered to join the newly formed Bolivian Rangers. Joined by Felix Rodriguez, a Cuban exile working for the CIA, the Americans and Bolivians searched for Che. The size of Che's group and when they would strike were unknowns, and the stakes were high. If Bolivia fell, it would validate Che's theories and throw South America into turmoil. Hunting Che follows the exploits of Major Shelton, Felix Rodriguez, and Gary Prado - the Bolivian Ranger commander who ultimately captured him. The story begins with Che's arrival in Bolivia and follows the hunt to the dramatic confrontation and capture of the iconic leader in the southeastern village of La Higuera. With the White House and the Pentagon secretly monitoring every move, Shelton and his team changed history, and prevented a catastrophic threat from taking root in the West. Members Reviews: Good book Would you listen to Hunting Che again? Why? I found the story very interesting What other book might you compare Hunting Che to and why? A lot like the green berets Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? The true story of Che is great

The Last Investigation Audiobook by Gaeton Fonzi

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Gaeton Fonzi) — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 01:28:02 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Last Investigation Subtitle: A Former Federal Investigator Reveals the Conspiracy to Kill JFK Author: Gaeton Fonzi Narrator: Noah Michael Levine Format: Unabridged Length: 19 hrs and 21 mins Language: English Release date: 09-03-13 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 87 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Gaeton Fonzi's masterful retelling of his work investigating the Kennedy assassination for two Congressional committees is required listening for students of the assassination and the subsequent failure of the government to solve the crime. The Last Investigation is a compelling postmortem on the House Select Committee on Assassinations as well as a riveting account of Fonzi's pursuit of leads indicating involvement by officers of the Central Intelligence Agency. Editorial Reviews: Noah Michael Levine delivers a powerful performance of Gaeton Fonzis magnificent nonfiction work The Last Investigation: A Former Federal Investigator Reveals the Conspiracy to Kill JFK. His melodious voice is a perfect complement to the powerful story. Fonzi, a journalist who was an investigator for the House Select Committee on Assassinations, questions the identity of the conspirators who brought forth the presidents death. As well, he reexamines the motives for the crime. What the American government has led us to believe is not the entire truth. Fonzi exposes the lies. This audiobook is considered to be the foremost text on the Kennedy assassination. Members Reviews: Utmost Respect for Mr.Gaeton Fonzi The author, comes across to me, as one of the most credible investigators of the murder of JFK. I would have absolutely loved to have met this man and listened to his wisdom. I remember the day I heard that our President was shot, and I saw Lee Harvey Oswald murdered that weekend, live on TV. Everyone I knew was weeping with intense sadness. It was a horrible day for our country. How could this happen in the great ole USA? And so, our generation had to live with this tragedy and then live with the lies our leaders told us about this event. Gaeton Fonzi has helped me tie up; many of the loose ends I had in my mind about that time in our history in a very credible and detailed book. For me the book is very interesting and it was hard to put it down. Gaeton was one of the true patriots of our day. Great book. Thank-you Audible for allowing the truth to be revealed through this book. Important for JFK scholars Fonzi gives us unprecedented insight into the House Special Committee on Assassinations and how agents of the Government kept the truth from coming out...yet again. God rest your soul, Mr. Fonzi. one of the top five on the topic. Put this book in your top five list. A must read. Cruicial evidence from a person on the ground and on the inside. A must read Brings less talked about theory to the table, truly a must read for anyone interested in the Kennedy Assassination Redundant It is interesting in parts. Much too much about Cubans. Could have been far far shorter and more to the point.

Tears in the Darkness Audiobook by Elizabeth Norman, Michael Norman

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Elizabeth Norman) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:16:01 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Tears in the Darkness Subtitle: The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath Author: Elizabeth Norman, Michael Norman Narrator: Michael Prichard Format: Unabridged Length: 17 hrs and 18 mins Language: English Release date: 07-09-09 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1099 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: From then until the Japanese surrendered in August 1945, the prisoners of war suffered an ordeal of unparalleled cruelty and savagery: 41 months of captivity, starvation rations, dehydration, hard labor, deadly disease, and torture---far from the machinations of General Douglas MacArthur. The Normans bring to the story remarkable feats of reportage and literary empathy. Their protagonist, Ben Steele, is a figure out of Hemingway: a young cowboy turned sketch artist from Montana who joined the army to see the world. Juxtaposed against Steele's story and the sobering tale of the Death March and its aftermath is the story of a number of Japanese soldiers. The result is an altogether new and original World War II book: it exposes the myths of military heroism as shallow and inadequate; and it makes clear, with great literary and human power, that war causes suffering for people on all sides. Editorial Reviews: On April 9, 1942, more than 76,000 American and Filipino soldiers on the island of Batan surrendered to the Japanese, who set them walking 66 miles to prison camp, a notorious walk that came to be known as "The Bataan Death March". Their surrender meant defeat in the first major land battle for America in World War II. Tears in the Darkness, the result of 10 years' research and interviews, weaves a strikingly vivid tapestry of voices from all sides to bring this crucial episode to life. Its central narrative traces new Army Air Corp recruit Ben Steele from his cowboy upbringing in Montana to his shattering experience as a prisoner of war. From this quintessential American tale, other individual stories including those of Filipinos and the Japanese hang together, fleshing out the narrative and providing a remarkably rounded account. This balance is an important part of the book; although there are many detailed descriptions of the inhuman acts committed against prisoners, the authors treat the Japanese with sympathy and respect. Michael Pritchard's delivery encompasses the campfire setting of Steele's Montana youth equally as well as the General Masaharu Homma's addresses to his Japanese troops, or the harrowing descriptions of the execution of surrendered captives. Pritchard's audiobook credits include titles by Zane Grey, Tom Clancy, and numerous works on American history, and it's not hard to see why: his dust-dry voice has a no-nonsense authority, an unforced sturdiness that honors the book's military milieu without ever being starchy or dull. Tears in the Darkness stands apart from many military histories through the pungency of its writing: the steaming jungle, agonising thirsts, and overwhelming desperation are conveyed with a color that is more common to novels than history texts. However, the main achievement of the book is the cohesion of its myriad fragments: we get an appraisal of US military strategy in the Southwest Pacific, Filipino children running through Japanese soldiers' legs to get banana-leaves and handfuls of rice to their starving fathers, one survivor's agonisingly slow crawl to safety from under the corpses of executed captives. And throughout, the book's hold never flags, due as much to Pritchard's powerful yet restrained narration as to the sense of unflinching truth. Dafydd Phillips

Ike's Gamble Audiobook by Michael Doran

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Michael Doran) — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 04:17:28 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Ike's Gamble Subtitle: America's Rise to Dominance in the Middle East Author: Michael Doran Narrator: Casey Jones Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins Language: English Release date: 10-11-16 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 51 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: This major retelling of the Suez Crisis of 1956 - one of the most important events in the history of US policy in the Middle East - shows how President Eisenhower came to realize that Israel, not Egypt, is America's strongest regional ally. In 1956 President Nasser of Egypt moved to take possession of the Suez Canal, thereby bringing the Middle East to the brink of war. The British and the French, who operated the canal, joined with Israel in a plan to retake it by force. Despite the special relationship between England and America, Dwight Eisenhower intervened to stop the invasion. In Ike's Gamble, Michael Doran shows how Nasser played the US, invoking America's opposition to European colonialism to drive a wedge between Eisenhower and two British Prime Ministers, Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden. Meanwhile, in his quest to make himself the strongman of the Arab world, Nasser was making weapons deals with the USSR and destabilizing other Arab countries that the US had been courting. The Suez Crisis was his crowning triumph. In time, Eisenhower would conclude that Nasser had duped him, that the Arab countries were too fractious to anchor America's interests in the Middle East, and that the US should turn instead to Israel. Affording deep insight into Eisenhower and his foreign policy, this fascinating and provocative history provides a rich new understanding of how the US became the power broker in the Middle East. Members Reviews: Tightly Argued Doran attempts to make this history relevant to today. He opens with A new administration has come to power convinced that its predecessor has made a hash of Middle East Policy: the new teams big idea: a bold diplomatic overture to the regions leading Muslin State. The book covers the period from 1951 to 1961 and is about Dwight Eisenhower and Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt. Eisenhower tried wooing Nasser the first four years of his presidency. Nasser then grabbed the Canal in 1956 and aligned himself with the USSR. Doran states that in 1965 Eisenhower stated I never should have pressured Israel to evacuate The Sinai. The book is well written and meticulously researched. The author states this research included newly released information from Russia. The author relied heavily on meeting reports, journals, diaries and memoirs of the key people involved. Doran admits he is providing a revisionist history in order to make his key point. Doran provides a background history then present Ikes course of action and then analyzes the results. His in-depth analysis makes for interesting reading. The book covers a complex situation but is highly readable. Doran was the Middle East Advisor to the White House under the Bush Administration. Casey Jones does a good job narrating the book. Jones is an award-winning audiobook narrator. Eisenhower's evolution on the Middle East captivating account takes listeners through the details of the 1956 Suez Crisis and along the way challenges the received wisdom about the events and their meanings.. this is not only a challenge to historians, but also to policymakers whose view of history shapes current events. Amazing backstory What interesting details on the background of all that led to the Suez crisis.

America Audiobook by William J. Bennett

biacuaduc@gmail.com (William J. Bennett) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:19:49 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: America Subtitle: The Last Best Hope Volume 2: From a World at War to the Triumph of Freedom Author: William J. Bennett Narrator: Jon Gauger Format: Unabridged Length: 20 hrs and 22 mins Language: English Release date: 07-23-09 Publisher: Oasis Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 92 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: But while he wears both his patriotism and politics on his sleeve, Bennett avoids flag-waving or talk-radio-style generalizations. This is a breezy, heartfelt survey, written with the average listener in mind, that will appeal broadly to those looking for an America-friendly introduction to 20th century U.S. history. Members Reviews: America The Last Best Hope Vol II This was the Second book that I selected from my Audible membership and it too was well worth the investment. I recommend the book as part of a full home schooling agenda. It is a great history resource as part of the whole set. Dr. William J. Bennett knows how to put together a complete and true picture of our American History. This book picks up from World War I up to the end of the Reagan years. Balanced History Dr. Bennett's second installment of his history of the USA continues as a balanced, fair treatment of our country. He ties in global events when necessary to understand the context of events in the US, but his focus is on the greatness of our nation and its special place in human history. He treats minor historical events as what they are -- minor -- and gives world changing events their due. Kudos, Mr. Bennett! Excellent! Why couldn't we have used this for our history text book in school? I thought you set the bar so high in Volume 1, I was excited to get vol. 2. You didn't dissappoint. Great Follow Up to the Original Volumes 1 & 2 cover a great deal of our history. Bennett does a great job in presenting the facts in an interesting manner. Highly recommended. Great readable history. A very accessible history that recognizes the great and the not so great of the country.

The Bridge at Chappaquiddick Audiobook by Jack Olsen

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jack Olsen) — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 06:12:08 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Bridge at Chappaquiddick Author: Jack Olsen Narrator: Kevin Sidenstricker Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins Language: English Release date: 04-23-15 Publisher: Crime Rant Classics and Notorious USA Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 47 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: And on its surface, the Chappaquiddick Incident (as it has infamously become known) was a simple but tragic traffic accident. However, its political fallout caused it to become the most speculated-upon car accident until Princess Diana's fatal ride, some 28 years later: Was Kennedy drunk? Was he trying to conceal an affair by deliberately killing Kopechne? Why did he wait for so long before reporting the accident? And who else was involved? Olsen tells the tale with as much detail as was made available to him. Though there is apparently only a single living eye-witness to the accident (Kennedy himself, who described having the "sensation of drowning" on live television a week later), Olsen tracks down the incongruous statements made by others who were indirectly involved and comes to a potential conclusion which would be difficult to refute. There is no legal evidence of this conclusion, of course, but his alternate explanation of events turns much of the circumstantial evidence into a logic-of-sorts. And his presentation thereof causes one to reflect seriously on the nature of the official record of events as told through Kennedy's lips. Members Reviews: BRIDGE TO POSSIBLE UNDERSTANDING I found this book to be much more engaging than did some reviewers. I had lived during the Chappaquiddick bridge incident. As I listened to Jack Olsen's account, I learned new details and was reminded of facts I had forgotten. I found the narrative engaging and easy to understand. I feel that the book is well balanced and well researched. I especially liked the conjecture (at the end) of the author as to the truth of what had happened. His speculation makes great sense, however since the death of Ted Kennedy, it is unlikely to be acknowledged, even if true. Interesting Take on an Old Mystery Jack Olsen examines the circumstances surrounding the incident that undoubtedly ended Ted Kennedy's run for the White House just as he was putting on his track shoes. Olsen provides thoughtful, reasonable speculation on the events that led to the drowning death of Mary Jo Kopechne, suggesting an explanation that is far less salacious than any of the wild theories that abounded at the time. The narrator's frequent mispronunciation of ordinary words such as "similar", (not "simular") is a sizeable distraction. And leave the accent to the natives. Not a true crime book This book, though a crime that went unpunished isn't written or told as a crime book. you'll learn quite a bit about Martha Vineyard you'll learn about the Kennedy boys and how they love to party and how people felt about them but very little is told about the True Crime very disappointed in this book I shall return it. Ignore the negative reviews.... of "Bor-ing!" and that the book is largely speculation. It certainly is NOT boring. It is just that many readers now need a mutilated female corpse doused in body fluids to be entertained by true crime. You won't get that with Olsen. What you will get is thoughtful investigation and insight. And as to speculation: what else can one do in this case? But there is empty speculation, and there is speculation that might led to a break in a case. Olsen's is the latter sort.

Forgotten Ally Audiobook by Rana Mitter

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Rana Mitter) — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 13:12:25 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Forgotten Ally Subtitle: China's World War II, 1937 - 1945 Author: Rana Mitter Narrator: Simon Vance Format: Unabridged Length: 15 hrs and 26 mins Language: English Release date: 09-10-13 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 191 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The epic, untold story of China's devastating eight-year war of resistance against Japan. For decades, a major piece of World War II history has gone virtually unwritten. The war began in China two full years before Hitler invaded Poland, and China eventually became the fourth great ally, partner to the United States, the Soviet Union, and Great Britain. Yet its drama of invasion, resistance, slaughter, and political intrigue remains little known in the West. Rana Mitter focuses his gripping narrative on three towering leaders: Chiang Kai-shek, the politically gifted but tragically flawed head of China's Nationalist government; Mao Zedong, the Communists' fiery ideological stalwart, seen here at the beginning of his epochal career; and the lesser-known Wang Jingwei, who collaborated with the Japanese to form a puppet state in occupied China. Drawing on Chinese archives that have only been unsealed in the past 10 years, he brings to vivid new life such characters as Chiang's American chief of staff, the unforgettable "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell, and such horrific events as the Rape of Nanking and the bombing of China's wartime capital, Chongqing. Throughout, Forgotten Ally shows how the Chinese people played an essential role in the wider war effort, at great political and personal sacrifice. Forgotten Ally rewrites the entire history of World War II, yet it also offers surprising insights into contemporary China. No 20th-century event was as crucial in shaping China's worldview, and no one can understand China, and its relationship with America today, without this definitive work. Members Reviews: The ill fated chang kai-shek As I believe that I am the first person to write a review on this fast moving account of the china's war of resistance I feel that it is necessary to proclaim how valuable this book is for the WWII buff. Most people are aware of the fact that China was involved in the war but they are not aware to what extent. China in fact was the first theater of WWII and experienced some of the first and most brutal communal war crimes of the war. This book is some what biased towards the Nationalist point of view and that of Chang Kai-Shek in particular. However it explains the communist point of view as well. After reading-listening to this book I came away with a feeling that the communists let the Nationalist camp bare the brunt of all the fighting while waiting for the war to end. Having saved its forces for the upcoming civil war the Communists were better poised to fight then the badly beat National forces. Thus leading to the current communist government in Bejing. As you might be able to tell I was left with a bad taste with the actions of the communist forces durring the battle for Chinas fight for survival.

The Glory and the Dream Audiobook by William Manchester

biacuaduc@gmail.com (William Manchester) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:46:40 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Glory and the Dream Subtitle: A Narrative History of America, 1932 - 1972 Author: William Manchester Narrator: Jeff Riggenbach Format: Unabridged Length: 57 hrs and 25 mins Language: English Release date: 06-13-08 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 292 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The Glory and the Dream chronicles the progress of life in the United States, from the time William Manchester and his generation reached the beginning of awareness in the desperate summer of '32 to President Nixon's Second Inaugural Address and the opening scenes of Watergate. Masterfully compressing four crowded decades of our history, Manchester relives the epic, significant, or just memorable events that befell the generation of Americans whose lives pivoted between the America before and the America after the Second World War. Members Reviews: Fabulous book, good narration, bad recording This is a huge, sprawling, masterpiece of a book which chronicles the history of the US from the depression era through the early 70's. The writing is tremendous, very human, finely detailed and yet broad in scope. Concentrates much on biographies, but also enables one to understand economics, politics, wartime strategies, and more, through explanations that are very accessible to "lay readers". Extremely engaging, even thrilling. Frustratingly, the recording is of extremely bad quality, with many- and I mean MANY skips which I presume to be from the source discs. This makes several sections quite hard to understand. I am trying my best to keep going despite the terribly distracting skips. I don't want to tell you unequivocally to stay away, because it's such a fine work, and the narration is quite good too. But beware of this issue. awesome book, subpar recording One of the best history books covering any period ever written in my opinion. It offers the reader the unique experience of living through this period through the eyes of the forgotten men and women who lived these times. It is truly a unique work by a uniquely gifted writer. Instead of a top to bottom history, focusing on events, dates, battles, meetings and leaders of the time, this is a bottom-up version of history with attention focused on what ordinary men and women felt, did, suffered through, and ultimately triumphed in taking the US from a 2nd rate power to the predominant super power in the world. When you listen to Rock Bottom, you feel like you are living and suffering through the depression, listening to Roosevelt, or been just told that Kennedy was shot. By the end, you feel like you just lived through this entire period of history. Downside: This is a terrible recording. The narration is way too fast. I had to listen on slower speed on my ipod, or the pace would just be too fast to listen to. Second, there is static which makes certain sections hard to listen to (see on line sample). Most maddening is the “skips” in which words or sentence fragments are skipped in the second section of the book. It sounds like an old LP record where the needle skipped. It is maddening and incredibly distracting. I would offer future listeners encouragement that once you make it through the 2nd downloadable segments, the worst is over and the rest is from an audio standpoint considerably better. I wish Audible would offer a better version After listening to the whole work, I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in this period of history, but after struggling through the 1st and 2nd segments, I almost gave up and was extremely upset that this product would even be sold.

The Race Beat Audiobook by Gene Roberts, Hank Klibanoff

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Gene Roberts) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:23:37 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Race Beat Subtitle: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation Author: Gene Roberts, Hank Klibanoff Narrator: Richard Allen Format: Unabridged Length: 21 hrs and 37 mins Language: English Release date: 09-18-08 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 104 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Pulitzer Prize, History, 2007 Drawing on private correspondence, notes from secret meetings, unpublished articles, and interviews, veteran journalists Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff go behind the headlines and datelines to show how a dedicated cadre of newsmen - first black reporters, then liberal Southern editors, then reporters and photographers from the national press and the broadcast media - revealed to a nation its most shameful shortcomings and propelled its citizens to act. We watch the black press move bravely into the front row of the confrontation, only to be attacked and kept away from the action. Following the Supreme Court's 1954 decision striking down school segregation and the South's mobilization against it, we see a growing number of white reporters venture South to cover the Emmett Till murder trial, the Montgomery bus boycott, and the integration of the University of Alabama. We witness some Southern editors joining the call for massive resistance and working with segregationist organizations to thwart compliance. But we also see a handful of other Southern editors write forcefully and daringly for obedience to federal mandates, signaling to the nation that moderate forces were prepared to push the region into the mainstream. The pace quickens in Little Rock, where reporters test the boundaries of journalistic integrity, then gain momentum as they cover shuttered schools in Virginia, sit-ins in North Carolina, mob-led riots in Mississippi, Freedom Ride buses being set afire, fire hoses and dogs in Birmingham, and long, tense marches through the rural South. Critic Reviews: "This Pulitzer-winning chronicle of the role the news media played in shaping the civil rights movement makes its belated audio debut. Richard Allen undertakes the vocal depictions of the players from across the race-relations spectrum with tremendous skill. He manages to portray characters instead of caricatures as the sweeping real-life drama unfolds." (Publishers Weekly) Members Reviews: A fascinating inside look at history Histories of the civil rights movement are abundant but this book focuses on those that wrote that history - the journalists. The book brings their efforts alive and awakens the reader to the struggles and dangers they faced in simply getting the truth out. Reporters from the black newspapers excluded because of their race; small town editors taking brave stands that could cost them advertising; Northern writers not understanding the culture. Publications that are now respected that can not but be ashamed at their past. All are included and all are worth your time. Amazing. Would you consider the audio edition of The Race Beat to be better than the print version? The first part of the book is a bit of a slog as an audiobook because there are so many names being listed that it's difficult to keep everyone straight. However, after that initial bit I had no problems--Richard Allen does a great job with the narration and makes a lot of the scenes really come to life with his skillful use of voices. What was one of the most memorable moments of The Race Beat? The chapter on the riots at Ole Miss was truly harrowing. Any additional comments? I thought this book sounded a little dry when I first saw it, but ended up loving it.

The Lost Tribe of Coney Island Audiobook by Claire Prentice

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Claire Prentice) — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 11:52:00 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Lost Tribe of Coney Island Subtitle: Headhunters, Luna Park, and the Man Who Pulled Off the Spectacle of the Century Author: Claire Prentice Narrator: Coleen Marlo Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 53 mins Language: English Release date: 06-22-17 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 5 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Coney Island, summer 1905: a new attraction opened at Luna Park. Within weeks it would be the talk of the nation. For the first time, The Lost Tribe of Coney Island unearths the incredible true story of the Igorrotes, a group of "headhunting, dog eating" tribespeople brought to America from the Philippines by the opportunistic showman Truman K. Hunt. At Luna Park, the g-string-clad Filipinos performed native dances and rituals before a wide-eyed public in a mocked-up tribal village. Millions of Americans flocked to see the tribespeople slaughter live dogs for their daily canine feasts and to hear thrilling tales of headhunting. The Igorrotes became a national sensation - they were written up in newspaper headlines, portrayed in cartoons, and even featured in advertising jingles, all fueled by Truman's brilliant publicity stunts. By the end of the summer season, the Igorrote show had made Truman a rich man. But his genius had a dark side and soon he would be on the run across America with the tribe in tow, pursued by ex-wives, creditors, Pinkerton detectives, and the tireless agents of American justice. Award-winning journalist Claire Prentice brings this forgotten chapter in American history to life with vivid prose and rich historical detail. The book boasts a colorful cast of characters, including the mercurial Truman Hunt; his ambitious, young Filipino interpreter, Julio Balinag; Fomoaley Ponci, the tribe's loquacious, self-important leader; Luna Park impresarios Fred Thompson and Elmer "Skip" Dundy; and Frederick Barker, the government man dead set on bringing Truman to justice. At its heart, The Lost Tribe of Coney Island is a tale of what happens when two cultures collide in the pursuit of money, adventure, and the American Dream. It is a story that makes us question who is civilized and who is savage. Members Reviews: A neat piece of history A fast paced and compelling history read. Fans of historical writers like Dash and Larson will enjoy this book. AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

The Berlin Wall Audiobook by Frederick Taylor

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Frederick Taylor) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:42:43 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Berlin Wall Author: Frederick Taylor Narrator: Daniel Philpott Format: Unabridged Length: 18 hrs and 57 mins Language: English Release date: 11-11-11 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 94 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The appearance of a hastily constructed barbed wire entanglement through the heart of Berlin during the night of 12-13 August 1961 was both dramatic and unexpected. Within days, it had started to metamorphose into a structure that would come to symbolise the brutal insanity of the Cold War: the Berlin Wall. A city of almost four million was cut ruthlessly in two, unleashing a potentially catastrophic East-West crisis and plunging the entire world for the first time into the fear of imminent missile-borne apocalypse. This threat would vanish only when the very people the Wall had been built to imprison breached it on the historic night of 9 November 1989. The Berlin Wall is the definitive account of a divided city and its people. Members Reviews: Makes a dark chapter "enjoyable" If you could sum up The Berlin Wall in three words, what would they be? A big story What did you like best about this story? It covered all facets and not just personal or diplomatic but intertwined the stories to give a really complete future. So you learned about the effect of the Wall on people like many histories but also how it was planned and then executed At first I wasn't sure about the narrator, but as I went along his narration really helped the story along. Bad transfer from CD Great story. Bad transfer from CD as various sentences and phrases would repeat themselves. In one case the entire name and title of the book was repeated. (I presume that this was were the end of one CD meet the beginning of the next CD.) Good book so so reading. Book had several repeats in the performance. Loved the depth of the authors knowledge of east Berlin. Other than recording issue it was worth the time Excellent, intelligent, well-written book What about Daniel Philpotts performance did you like? Unlike another reviewer, I wasn't bothered by Philpott's mimicking the speech of various politicians. It made the book clearer for listening purposes. The pronunciation was largely good and it always helps that the reader speaks with an English accent. American narrators a. Are often nasal and b. Mispronounce foreign words more Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry? No but it was amusing at times in a cynical way Any additional comments? Good book, well worth reading Marred only by the Narrator's Affectations If you could sum up The Berlin Wall in three words, what would they be? History worth knowing Who was your favorite character and why? It's a work of non-fiction. The question is inappropriate. Would you be willing to try another one of Daniel Philpotts performances? No. His attempts to apply fake (and poorly executed) English, German and Russian accents to the quoted passages detracted mightily from the book. It's a piece of non-fiction, not a community theater stage play. Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you? It's a work of non-fiction. This question is inappropriate. Any additional comments? The author has done an excellent job of telling the story of the Berlin Wall, providing considerable background that I was unaware of, even though I was born in Berlin in 1954. I expected the book to start in 1960 or thereabouts, but to my surprise it started long before then. The historical context added greatly to the story.

Rocket Men Audiobook by Craig Nelson

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Craig Nelson) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:05:18 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Rocket Men Subtitle: The Epic Story of the First Men on the Moon Author: Craig Nelson Narrator: Richard McGonagle Format: Unabridged Length: 17 hrs and 12 mins Language: English Release date: 06-25-09 Publisher: Penguin Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 702 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: At 9:32 A.M. on July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 rocket launched in the presence of more than a million spectators who had gathered to witness a truly historic event. It carried Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Mike Collins to the last frontier of human imagination: the moon. Rocket Men is the thrilling story of the moon mission, and it restores the mystery and majesty to an event that may have become too familiar for most people to realize what a stunning achievement it represented in planning, technology, and execution. Through interviews, 23,000 pages of NASA oral histories, and declassified CIA documents on the space race, Craig Nelson re-creates a vivid and detailed account of the Apollo 11 mission. From the quotidian to the scientific to the magical, readers are taken right into the cockpit with Aldrin and Armstrong and behind the scenes at Mission Control. Rocket Men is the story of a 20th-century pilgrimage, a voyage into the unknown motivated by politics, faith, science, and wonder that changed the course of history. Critic Reviews: "Using interviews, NASA oral histories, and declassified CIA material, Nelson has produced a magnificent, very readable account of the steps that led to the success of Apollo 11." (Booklist) Members Reviews: There's always more to learn I was an avid follower of the the Apollo program in it's day, even though I was very young, and even today if the networks aired coverage of space launches in more detail, I'd be watching them. I've watched "From the Earth to the Moon" countless times, and I pretty much know the script to the movie Apollo 13. I've listened to Neil Armstrong's memoir (as an audiobook) and Wally Schira's - among others. So, while skeptical that this would offer anything new, I still bought it. In many ways, it does recount many of the same stories - it would be impossible not to; but there is always an opportunity for fresh material and a fresh perspective. I'm not a nitpicker when it comes to details, and the minutiae of technology tend to bore me - so, while others could possibly find errors that might annoy them (I'm not saying there are any), I enjoyed the fact that this is one more popular telling of the of the Apollo program. If you enjoy hearing stories of the space program, even if you've heard them many times, then you should enjoy this. The narration is very well done, and there was fresh material and interesting perspectives to keep me engaged. TRULY OUTSTANDING There are many books on the space program but this one captures the heart and soul and takes you there! I get a peculiar reaction to really great outstanding books, I pace back and forth. my enthusiasm, and wonder overflows my inner cup and I'm simply yet ecstatically overwhelmed. needless to say this listen fits into that coveted category. What an amazingly unique challenge this was for mankind! What an adventure the whole planet held its breath for. All of those enormous probably catastrophic risks laid out on live tv.

Marshall and His Generals Audiobook by Stephen R. Taaffe

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Stephen R. Taaffe) — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 06:37:05 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Marshall and His Generals Subtitle: U.S. Army Commanders in World War II Author: Stephen R. Taaffe Narrator: James Anderson Foster Format: Unabridged Length: 17 hrs and 1 min Language: English Release date: 10-24-17 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 9 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: General George C. Marshall, chief of staff of the US Army during World War II, faced the daunting task not only of overseeing two theaters of a global conflict but also of selecting the best generals to carry out American grand strategy. Marshall and His Generals is the first and only book to focus entirely on that selection process and the performances, both stellar and disappointing, that followed from it. Stephen Taaffe explores how and why Marshall selected the Army's commanders. Among Marshall's chief criteria were character (including "unselfish and devoted purpose"), education (whether at West Point, Fort Leavenworth, or the Army War College), and striking a balance between experience and relative youth in a war that required both wisdom and great physical stamina. As the war unfolded, Marshall also factored into his calculations the combat leadership his generals demonstrated and the opinions of his theater commanders. Delving deeper than other studies, this path-breaking work produces a seamless analysis of Marshall's selection process of operational-level commanders. Taaffe also critiques the performance of these generals during the war and reveals the extent to which their actions served as stepping stones to advancement. Critic Reviews: "Taaffe's penetrating look at the Army's 'one indispensable man' shows how commanders like Omar Bradley, 'Vinegar Joe' Stilwell, Courtney Hodges, and their peers were selected and deployed - and how they kept their jobs." (Wall Street Journal) Members Reviews: Marshall's Black Book George Marshall was appointed Chief of Staff of the Army on the day Britain declared war on Germany. The army was small and had suffered decades of austerity. The promotions had been stagnant and there was lots of deadwood. Marshall had to quickly get rid of the deadwood, increase the size of the army and provide it with the latest equipment as he prepared the army for World War II. The book is less about Marshall the man, but focuses on how he chose his generals and a brief biography of each of his generals. Taaffe provides a good understanding of how Marshalls command appointment directly influenced the war. Taaffe points out the strong and weak points of each general. The author includes the famous and lesser known generals and covers both the European and Pacific theatres. The book is well written and researched. The author left me with a good understanding of the command staff during World War II. The book is easily readable. The book is just over seventeen hours. James Anderson Foster does a good job narrating the book. Foster is a ten-time Voice Arts nominated Audiobook Narrator. He won in 2015, 2016 and 2017. This is my first experience listening to Foster. This is also the first time I have read a book by historian, Stephen R. Taaffe. An Arid listen I was looking for an extended version of Brothers, rivals, & victors but instead got an extended college like paper (that is really an exaggeration it wasnt that difficult) on the generals. I actually gave up 1/2 way through.

Castles of Steel Audiobook by Robert K. Massie

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Robert K. Massie) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:07:27 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Castles of Steel Author: Robert K. Massie Narrator: Richard Matthews Format: Unabridged Length: 40 hrs and 22 mins Language: English Release date: 04-27-12 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 245 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: In a work of extraordinary narrative power, filled with brilliant personalities and vivid scenes of dramatic action, Robert K. Massie, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Peter the Great, Nicholas and Alexandra, and Dreadnought, elevates to its proper historical importance the role of sea power in the winning of the Great War. The predominant image of this first world war is of mud and trenches, barbed wire, machine guns, poison gas, and slaughter. A generation of European manhood was massacred, and a wound was inflicted on European civilization that required the remainder of the twentieth century to heal. But with all its sacrifice, trench warfare did not win the war for one side or lose it for the other. Over the course of four years, the lines on the Western Front moved scarcely at all; attempts to break through led only to the lengthening of the already unbearably long casualty lists. For the true story of military upheaval, we must look to the sea. On the eve of the war in August 1914, Great Britain and Germany possessed the two greatest navies the world had ever seen. When war came, these two fleets of dreadnoughts - gigantic floating castles of steel able to hurl massive shells at an enemy miles away - were ready to test their terrible power against each other. Their struggles took place in the North Sea and the Pacific, at the Falkland Islands and the Dardanelles. They reached their climax when Germany, suffocated by an implacable naval blockade, decided to strike against the British ring of steel. The result was Jutland, a titanic clash of fifty-eight dreadnoughts, each the home of a thousand men. When the German High Seas Fleet retreated, the kaiser unleashed unrestricted U-boat warfare, which, in its indiscriminate violence, brought a reluctant America into the war. In this way, the German effort to seize the trident by defeating the British navy led to the fall of the German empire. Ultimately, the distinguishing feature of Castles of Steel is the author himself. The knowledge, understanding, and literary power Massie brings to this story are unparalleled. His portrayals of Winston Churchill, the British admirals Fisher, Jellicoe, and Beatty, and the Germans Scheer, Hipper, and Tirpitz are stunning in their veracity and artistry. Castles of Steel is about war at sea, leadership and command, courage, genius, and folly. All these elements are given magnificent scope by Robert K. Massies special and widely hailed literary mastery. From the Hardcover edition. Critic Reviews: Praise for Robert K. Massies Dreadnought: Dreadnought is history in the grand manner, as most people prefer it: how people shaped, or were shaped by, events. (Time) A classic [that] covers superbly a whole era...engrossing in its glittering gallery of characters. (Chicago Sun-Times) [Told] on a grand scale...Massie [is] a master of historical portraiture and anecdotage. (The Wall Street Journal) Members Reviews: Stick With It! I'm glad I did. I stopped listening a few different times, went on to other newer books, but always returned once complete. I flew through the second half of this book....once Massie gets the main characters introduced it really picks up. I am a history enthusiast, but admittedly knew next to nothing about WWI naval engagements aside from the famous sinking of Louisitania and perhaps one other.

Carrying the War to the Enemy: American Operational Art to 1945 Audiobook by Michael R. Matheny

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Michael R. Matheny) — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 20:59:10 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Carrying the War to the Enemy: American Operational Art to 1945 Subtitle: Campaigns and Commanders Series Author: Michael R. Matheny Narrator: Kirk Winkler Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 47 mins Language: English Release date: 12-20-17 Publisher: University Press Audiobooks Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Military commanders turn tactics into strategic victory by means of "operational art", the knowledge and creative imagination commanders and staff employ in designing, synchronizing, and conducting battles and major operations to achieve strategic goals. Until now, historians of military theory have generally agreed that modern operational art developed between the first and second world wars, not in the United States but in Germany and the Soviet Union, whose armies were supposedly the innovators and greatest practitioners of operational art. Some have even claimed that US forces struggled in World War II because their commanders had no systematic understanding of operational art. Michael R. Matheny believes previous studies have not appreciated the evolution of US military thinking at the operational level. Although they may rightly point to the US Army's failure to modernize or develop a sophisticated combined arms doctrine during the interwar years, they focus too much on technology or tactical doctrine. In his revealing account, Matheny shows that it was at the operational level, particularly in mounting joint and combined operations, that senior American commanders excelled - and laid a foundation for their country's victory in World War II. Examining in detail the development of American operational art as land, sea, and air power matured in the 20th century, he shows that, contrary to conventional wisdom, US war colleges educated and trained commanders during the interwar years specifically for the operational art they employed in World War II. Published by University of Oklahoma Press. "Matheny fills a vacuum in military historiography with this book, while reminding us that great victories are not won by accident." - Military History Members Reviews: Nuts and bolts on thinking The work covers the development of Operational level thinking and planning in the US military, showing that it has a long history (back to the Civil War), but concentrating on the interwar and World War II periods in detail. I would regard int as essential reading for anyone who seriously studies American planning and operations for that period. Highly Recommended, Mostly Concerns Amphibious Warfare This is an excellent, well written, and one of a kind book on an unusual topic. Although it has been said that the US military neglected operational thought prior to and during World War II, the author instead shows that they excelled at joint operations, particularly amphibious warfare. He shows how the US developed war colleges where theory was developed, scenarios were wargamed, and the services learned to cooperate effectively. This cooperation was unique in the world at the time and was developed to suit America's unique position of "carrying the war to the enemy" - in places far from home. As a result, logistics were stressed in the US military much more so than in other nations. The author points out, for example, that German army staff organization stressed operational planning over logistics, which resulted in good battlefield performance that was often counteracted by disappointing and unexpected supply difficulties. The flaws in the book are few - and mainly ones of omission.

Islands of the Damned Audiobook by R. V. Burgin, Bill Marvel

biacuaduc@gmail.com (R. V. Burgin) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:35:33 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Islands of the Damned Subtitle: A Marine at War in the Pacific Author: R. V. Burgin, Bill Marvel Narrator: Sean Runnette Format: Unabridged Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins Language: English Release date: 03-02-10 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 188 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: This is an eyewitness - and eye-opening - account of some of the most savage and brutal fighting in the war against Japan, told from the perspective of a young Texan who volunteered for the Marine Corps to escape a life as a traveling salesman. R. V. Burgin enlisted at the age of 20 and, with his sharp intelligence and earnest work ethic, climbed the ranks from a green private to a seasoned sergeant. Along the way, he shouldered a rifle as a member of a mortar squad. He saw friends die and enemies killed. He saw scenes he wanted to forget but never did - from enemy snipers who tied themselves to branches in the highest trees, to ambushes along narrow jungle trails, to the abandoned corpses of hara kiri victims, to the final howling banzai attacks as the Japanese embraced their inevitable defeat. An unforgettable narrative of a young Marine in combat, Islands of the Damned brings to life the hell that was the Pacific War. Members Reviews: Sledge's Squad Leader If you appreciated "With the Old Breed" by E.B.Sledge, this Book is an essential read to flesh out the same story from a related perspective. This is the understated story of a Marine mortar man fighting through a Pacific hell that we today can only dimly imagine. Well Done! island of the damned. the untild story great first hand experience. goes along with history books. RV Burgin is an exampke for all Marines. Jerry I am sooo disappointed with this book. I have great respect for all of the troops that have served and will serve. But Burgin seems to have a very self-centered and high opinion of himself. He spends a lot of time telling the listener how great he was. Burgin seems to have a deep seated dislike for Sledge due to the number of negative comments he makes about Sledge. Remembering my Dad It was like listening to my Dad tell some of his war stories. He fought with the 1st Marine. He couldn't talk about the war until just before his death in 1997 I miss him every day. Thank you for this book. I wanted him to put his experiences, In a book but he died before we could. loved it loved it...easy read extremely encompassing simply told as if burgin was a friend of yours sipping on tea on a southern front porch on an amicable afternoon...amazingly told

Joe Rochefort's War Audiobook by Elliot Carlson

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Elliot Carlson) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:41:37 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Joe Rochefort's War Subtitle: The Odyssey of the Codebreaker Who Outwitted Yamamoto at Midway Author: Elliot Carlson Narrator: Danny Campbell Format: Unabridged Length: 22 hrs and 48 mins Language: English Release date: 04-18-12 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 88 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Elliot Carlson's biography of Captain Joe Rochefort is the first to be written of the officer who headed the U.S. Navy's decrypt unit at Pearl Harbor and broke the Japanese Navy's code before the Battle of Midway. Listeners will share Rochefort's frustrations as he searches in vain for Yamamoto's fleet prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and share his joy when he succeeds in tracking the fleet in early 1942 and breaks the code that leads him to believe Yamamoto's invasion target is Midway. His conclusions, bitterly opposed by some top navy brass, are credited with making the U.S. victory possible and helping change the course of the war. The author tells the story of how opponents in Washington forced Rochefort's removal from the decrypt unit at Pearl and denied him the Distinguished Service Medal recommended by Admiral Nimitz. In capturing the interplay of policy and personality and the role played by politics at the highest levels of the Navy, Carlson reveals a side of the intelligence community seldom seen by outsiders. For a full understanding of the man, Carlson examines Rochefort's love-hate relationship with cryptanalysis, his adventure-filled years in the 1930s as the right-hand man to the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Fleet, and his return to code-breaking in mid-1941 as the officer in charge of Station Hypo at Pearl Harbor. He traces Rochefort's career from his enlistment in 1918 to his posting in Washington as head of the Navy's code-breaking desk at age 25, and beyond. In many ways a reinterpretation of Rochefort, the book makes clear the key role his codebreaking played in the outcome of Midway and the legacy he left of reporting actionable intelligence directly to the fleet. An epilogue describes efforts waged by Rochefort's colleagues to obtain the medal denied him in 1942, a drive that finally paid off in 1986, when the medal was awarded posthumously. Critic Reviews: "The stuff of a wartime thriller." (The Wall Street Journal) Members Reviews: Amazingly engaging How in the world do you make a 22 hour audiobook about an obscure Naval officer from 70 years ago work? Well, Elliot Carlson/Danny Campbell find a way. A large portion of this book is dedicated to a detailed account (almost day by day) of code-breaking in the Pacific theater from mid-1941 to mid-1942 period, but it's not boring. Before and after those detailed accounts is the story of Joe Rochefort and his career's many highs and lows; a compelling story itself. Obviously, this is a book meant for people with a high level of interest in WWII (like me) and I can't imagine my wife sitting through even 30 minutes of this book. However, even for someone who finds the stories from WWII compelling, this could have been TMI if not written with as much care and style. Danny Campbell's reading is adequate. He does have an occasional inflection/emphasis issue when pronouncing certain words and names (e.g. "Rabaul" comes out as "ra-BOW-el"), but overall it does not detract from the story. Finally, when writing a book about a somewhat controversial figure from this period, Carlson could have sided with Rochefort unilaterally to make his subject an absolute hero.

On the Trail of the Assassins Audiobook by Jim Garrison

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jim Garrison) — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:00:19 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: On the Trail of the Assassins Subtitle: One Man's Quest to Solve the Murder of President Kennedy Author: Jim Garrison Narrator: Mark Kincaid Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins Language: English Release date: 05-17-13 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 128 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Jim Garrisons classic account of his investigation and prosecution of the murder of JFK. Almost 50 years after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, his murder continues to haunt the American psyche and stands as a turning point in our nations history. The Warren Commission rushed out its report in 1964, but questions continue to linger: Was there a conspiracy? Was there a coup at the highest levels of government? On March 1, 1967, New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison shocked the world by arresting local businessman Clay Shaw for conspiracy to murder the president. His alleged co-conspirator, David Ferrie, had been found dead a few days before. Garrison charged that elements of the United States government, in particular the CIA, were behind the crime. From the beginning, his probe was virulently attacked in the media and violently denounced from Washington. His office was infiltrated and sabotaged, and witnesses disappeared and died strangely. Eventually, Shaw was acquitted after the briefest of jury deliberation and the only prosecution ever brought for the murder of President Kennedy was over. Returning to audiences for the first time in years, On the Trail of the Assassins - the primary source material for Oliver Stones hit film JFK - is Garrisons own account of his investigations into the background of Lee Harvey Oswald and the assassination of President Kennedy, and his prosecution of Clay Shaw in the trial that followed. Members Reviews: Spectaculars This book contains so much more than I ever imagined and is deserving of the highest accolades. Outstanding as fiction. Sickening as non-fiction If you could sum up On the Trail of the Assassins in three words, what would they be? Poor Lee Oswald What other book might you compare On the Trail of the Assassins to and why? A Jack Ryan thriller, because it seemed more like fiction. Moved along fast and there was always another piece of the puzzle showing up to fit into the big picture. What three words best describe Mark Kincaids performance? Research names first Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry? I didn't laugh or cry, but it made me almost sick to think such events could happen in our country. The investigation makes the conspiracy theory of November 22, 1963, not only believable, but logical. Any additional comments? Mark Kincaid has a great voice, but he consistently mispronounced some names (Schlumberger, Plaquemine, Houma stood out). Fascinating and historic What made the experience of listening to On the Trail of the Assassins the most enjoyable? Jim Garrison's tale of being the only person to ever bring someone to trail for the murder of President John F. Kennedy is as fascinating as it is important. Mr. Garrison presents his story in a manner that should fascinate anyone regardless of their interest in the case prior to reading this book. The way in which he (the DA of New Orleans) stumbles into the case and how the facts unfold before him and his office is gripping. In my opinion Jim Garrison is a true America hero. What other book might you compare On the Trail of the Assassins to and why? There are a great many excellent books on the JFK assassination. And while this is not the best, it is one of the most important.

Summer for the Gods Audiobook by Edward J. Larson

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Edward J. Larson) — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 13:07:45 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Summer for the Gods Subtitle: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate over Science and Religion Author: Edward J. Larson Narrator: Brian Troxell Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins Language: English Release date: 10-03-17 Publisher: Hachette Audio Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 1 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: In the summer of 1925, the sleepy hamlet of Dayton, Tennessee, became the setting for one of the 20th century's most contentious dramas: the Scopes trial that pit William Jennings Bryan and the anti-Darwinists against a teacher named John Scopes into a famous debate over science, religion, and their place in public education. That trial marked the start of a battle that continues to this day - in Dover, Pennsylvania; Kansas; Cobb County, Georgia; and many other cities and states throughout the country. Edward Larson's classic, Summer for the Gods, received the Pulitzer Prize in History in 1998 and is the single most authoritative account of a pivotal event whose combatants remain at odds in school districts and courtrooms. For this edition Larson has added a new preface that assesses the state of the battle between creationism and evolution and points the way to how it might potentially be resolved. Members Reviews: A Great History of the Scopes Monkey Trial & Evolutionary Thought in America! In âSummer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and Americaâs Continuing Debate Over Science and Religionâ, Edward J. Larson writes, âDuring the first quarter of the twentieth century, scientists in western Europe and the United States accumulated an increasingly persuasive body of evidence supporting a Darwinian view of human origins, and the American people began to take notice. These scientific developments helped set the stage in the early 1920s for a massive crusade by fundamentalists against teaching evolution in public schools, which culminated in the 1925 trial of John Scopesâ (pg. 14). Of the ACLU involvement, Larson writes, âAlready the three main tactics for attacking the antievolution measure had emerged: the defense of individual freedom, an appeal to scientific authority, and a mocking ridicule of fundamentalists and biblical literalism; later, they became the three prongs of the Scopes defenseâ (pg. 53). Discussing the Tennessee law and the anticipated media circus, Larson writes, âThose proud of their stateâs antievolution statute feared that the upcoming trial would discredit it and Tennessee; those embarrassed by it feared that the upcoming trial would heap further ridicule on their stateâ (pg. 94). Further, âIn a stroke, the ACLU lost control of what it initially conceived as a narrow constitutional test of the statute. With Bryan on hand, evolution would be on trial at Dayton, and pleas for individual liberty would run headlong into calls for majority ruleâ (pg. 100). Discussing race, Larson writes, âRelatively little comment about the trial survives from African AmericansâIn any event, the outcome would not affect African Americans, because Tennessee public schools enforced strict racial segregation and offered little to black students beyond elementary instructionâ (pg. 122). In terms of legal strategy, Larson writes, âThe prosecution maintained that the statute outlawed any teaching about human evolution regardless of what evolution meant of whether it conflicted with the Bible. This position rendered evidence on those questions irrelevant. The defense countered that the law only barred instruction in evolution that denied the biblical account of creation, and therefore such evidence was irrelevant.

King of Spies Audiobook by Blaine Harden

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Blaine Harden) — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 17:37:18 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: King of Spies Subtitle: The Dark Reign of America's Spymaster in Korea Author: Blaine Harden Narrator: Mark Bramhall Format: Unabridged Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins Language: English Release date: 10-03-17 Publisher: Penguin Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 26 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The New York Times best-selling author of Escape from Camp 14 returns with the untold story of one of the most powerful spies in American history, shedding new light on the US role in the Korean War and its legacy. In 1946, Master Sergeant Donald Nichols was repairing jeeps on the sleepy island of Guam when he caught the eye of recruiters from the army's Counter Intelligence Corps. After just three months' training, he was sent to Korea, then a backwater beneath the radar of MacArthur's Pacific Command. Though he lacked the pedigree of most US spies - Nichols was a seventh-grade dropout - he quickly metamorphosed from army mechanic to black ops phenomenon. He insinuated himself into the affections of America's chosen puppet in South Korea, President Syngman Rhee, and became a pivotal player in the Korean War, warning months in advance about the North Korean invasion, breaking enemy codes, and identifying most of the targets destroyed by American bombs in North Korea. But Nichols' triumphs had a dark side. Immersed in a world of torture and beheadings, he became a spymaster with his own secret base, his own covert army, and his own rules. He recruited agents from refugee camps and prisons, sending many to their deaths on reckless missions. His closeness to Rhee meant that he witnessed - and did nothing to stop or even report - the slaughter of tens of thousands of South Korean civilians in anticommunist purges. Nichols' clandestine reign lasted for an astounding 11 years. In this riveting book, Blaine Harden traces Nichols' unlikely rise and tragic ruin, from his birth in an operatically dysfunctional family in New Jersey to his sordid postwar decline, which began when the US military sacked him in Korea, sent him to an air force psych ward in Florida, and subjected him - against his will - to months of electroshock therapy. But King of Spies is not just the story of one American spy: With napalmed villages and severed heads, high-level lies and long-running cover-ups, it reminds us that the darkest sins of the Vietnam War - and many other conflicts that followed - were first committed in Korea. Members Reviews: Reads like a Spy Novel!! A brutal look into how Donald Nichols, an Air Force mechanic with a 7th grade education, became the most feared, controversial, reviled, and revered Spymaster in US military history! Not a feel-good story by far. Given an environment of unchecked power, and indiscretion, held an iron grip on subversion, and intelligence gathering before/during/after the Korean War. I enjoyed how the author toyed around with Nichols' proneness to hyperbole. This book challenged my knowledge of the Korean War, and exactly how close the Soviet, and then Chinese backed North Korea pushed the US, and their many poor decisions to a crushing defeat. Thoroughly enjoyed this Audible book! I can see why the N Koreans don't like the US Having lived in S Korea for 7 yrs, I got to know a bit about their history and their natural distrust of foreigners - this guy epitomizes the term "ugly American". excellent story loved the war and history components woven into an honest critique of the dark hero Donald Nichols was.

Retribution Audiobook by Max Hastings

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Max Hastings) — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 16:58:49 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Retribution Subtitle: The Battle for Japan, 1944 - 45 Author: Max Hastings Narrator: Simon Vance Format: Unabridged Length: 27 hrs and 47 mins Language: English Release date: 09-16-15 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 260 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: By the summer of 1944 it was clear that Japan's defeat was inevitable, but how the drive to victory would be achieved remained unclear. The ensuing drama - that ended in Japan's utter devastation - was acted out across the vast theater of Asia in massive clashes between army, air, and naval forces. In recounting these extraordinary events, Max Hastings draws incisive portraits of MacArthur, Mao, Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, and other key figures of the war in the East. But he is equally adept in his portrayals of the ordinary soldiers and sailors caught in the bloodiest of campaigns. With its piercing and convincing analysis, Retribution is a brilliant telling of an epic conflict from a master military historian at the height of his powers. Members Reviews: Hastings does it again. As usual Max Hastings creates a vivid account the World War II battle this seldom seen perspective on the Pacific campaign is unparalleled. A superb study by one of the world's finest histor Where does Retribution rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far? Among the top 5 What was one of the most memorable moments of Retribution? Discussion of Japanese behavior in China and Philippines Which scene was your favorite? Battle for Manila Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? no Any additional comments? Simon Vance is one of my favorite narrators. His clear diction, pacing, and intonation convey the author's intentions perfectly. Like many English speakers, however, his pronunciation of Japanese proper names is sometimes incorrect. For example, the name "Yamashita" is not pronounced as "Ya-ma-she-ta" it is pronounced as "Ya-ma-sh'ta;" "Yoshiko" is not "Yo-she-ko" it is "Yo-sh'ko;" and the two famous cities. Tokyo and Kyoto are pronounced as two syllables, not three: not "To-key-oh" but "To-quo" and not "Key-oh-to" but "Quo-to." A Must Read! If you could sum up Retribution in three words, what would they be? Illuminating, Clear, Inspiring What other book might you compare Retribution to and why? As we go further away from the Pacific War - now about 70 plus years - new works are coming out all the time. Because of that, it is hard to find comparisons to this work. Which character as performed by Simon Vance was your favorite? None really stand out in my mind although, when I first heard Mr Vance go into character, I was both surprised and delighted. Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you? Chapter 19 and its crystal clear summary of the events that lead to the dropping of the atomic bomb. There are so many wild and whacky revisions swirling around the decision to drop the bombs and Mr Hastings work confidently deals with these theories with his use of historical records and facts and puts emotional opinions aside. He does what good historians do, and that is getting inside the heads of the decision makers of the period bases on primary sources.

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse Audiobook by Peter Matthiessen

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Peter Matthiessen) — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:20:12 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: In the Spirit of Crazy Horse Author: Peter Matthiessen Narrator: Mark Bramhall Format: Unabridged Length: 28 hrs and 40 mins Language: English Release date: 05-15-09 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 93 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: On a hot June morning in 1975, a fatal shoot-out took place between FBI agents and American Indians on a remote property near Wounded Knee, South Dakota, in which an Indian and two federal agents were killed. Eventually, four members of the American Indian Movement were indicted on murder charges in the deaths of the two agents. Behind this violent chain of events lie issues of great complexity and profound historical resonance, brilliantly explicated by Peter Matthiessen in this controversial book. Critic Reviews: "A giant of a book...Indescribably touching, extraordinarily intelligent." (Los Angeles Times) "The first solidly documented account of the U.S. government's renewed assault upon American Indians that began in the 1970s." (Dee Brown, author of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee) Members Reviews: Must read for a true picture of america An excellent audiobook. Very well read with great voices. Very thorough and detailed research excellently excellently presented by peter matthiassen. Thank you peter for doing all the work to bring this information into access of the public. And may america wake up to the injustices served to leonard peltier and recognize it as a great example of the true nature of the american "legal" system Good story Would you listen to In the Spirit of Crazy Horse again? Why? Yes. It's a compelling history of government abuse of power What does Mark Bramhall bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book? Local feel of desolation and the rough hewn life. Good Story But Too Much Detail Very interesting story on a matter that I had not previously heard of, but the book dives into way too much detail on minor points that might be important in a court case, but are not needed for the story or to believe the veracity of the author. Not only does the author state his bias, but it is clear from the start. I have hit the fast forward button several times and was amazed that it left no gaps in my understanding even though I zoomed through a good hour of audio at a time. In the Spirit of Crazy Horse A good story but hard to follow. When the narrator tries to sound like an Indian, it's a little creepy. A complete waste of time What a bunch of liberal apologist drivel! Can't believe I have wasted the time and money on this book. Nearly halfway through and should have stopped hours ago.

Les Parisiennes Audiobook by Anne Sebba

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Anne Sebba) — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 21:27:35 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Les Parisiennes Subtitle: How the Women of Paris Lived, Loved, and Died Under Nazi Occupation Author: Anne Sebba Narrator: Polly Stone Format: Unabridged Length: 16 hrs and 58 mins Language: English Release date: 10-18-16 Publisher: Macmillan Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 46 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: New York Times best-selling author Anne Sebba explores a devastating period in Paris' history and tells the stories of how women survived - or didn't - during the Nazi occupation. Paris in the 1940s was a place of fear, power, aggression, courage, deprivation, and secrets. During the occupation, the swastika flew from the Eiffel Tower and danger lurked on every corner. While Parisian men were either fighting at the front or captured and forced to work in German factories, the women of Paris were left behind, where they would come face-to-face with the German conquerors on a daily basis, as waitresses, shop assistants, or wives and mothers increasingly desperate to find food to feed their families as hunger became part of everyday life. When the Nazis and the puppet Vichy regime began rounding up Jews to ship east to concentration camps, the full horror of the war was brought home, and the choice between collaboration and resistance became unavoidable. Sebba focuses on the role of women, many of whom faced life and death decisions every day. After the war ended, there would be a fierce settling of accounts between those who made peace with or, worse, helped the occupiers, and those who fought the Nazis in any way they could. This program includes an interview with the author and her editor. The audiobook is read by Polly Stone, narrator of The Nightingale and Sarah's Key. In a starred Library Journal review of The Nightingale, Stone was applauded for her "impeccable narration that brings...wartime France to life with a distinctive and memorable set of voices that will keep listeners coming back for more." Members Reviews: An Excellent Historical Perspective At least for me, this provided a unique story about World War Two. It was told from the POV of French women and their fight to survive the conflict. Sebba covered as many perspectives as she could, telling the stories of collaborators, resistance fighters, Jewish women and other Parisiennes who we just trying to come out alive. Most of their stories were new to me. And that is the one issue I had with the book. Sebba told the stories of dozens of real French women. As an American who has a fairly good general knowledge of World War Two, I had actually heard of only the 3 or 4 of the women included in the story, Collette, Chanel, Odette and the Rothschilds. I simply could not keep track of all of the women's names, much less their stories, as she jumped from one woman to the next. There were times when she was speaking of one woman's experience, that I thought had already died. However, for this type of history book, I think this is to be expected. It has just made me commit to reading it again soon. Hopefully with a second or third reading, these amazing women will sort themselves out in my head. I thought the narration was great. I highly recommend this book. Packed with information This book is very informative. It is a compilation of many people's lives at the time. Some are long some are snippets. Some very interesting and some boring. The book bounces around a lot so it isn't like a novel. It is informational. I learned a lot about Paris at that time.

The Nuremberg Trials Audiobook by Paul Roland

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Paul Roland) — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 10:20:04 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Nuremberg Trials Subtitle: The Nazis and Their Crimes Against Humanity Author: Paul Roland Narrator: Dugald Bruce Lockhart Format: Unabridged Length: 5 hrs and 42 mins Language: English Release date: 11-10-15 Publisher: Arcturus Digital Limited Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 27 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The Nuremberg Trials were the most important criminal proceedings ever held. They established the principle that individuals will always be held responsible for their actions under international law, and brought closure to World War II, allowing the reconstruction of Europe to begin. Members Reviews: Justice is served Very interesting reading,it shows that no one is above the law,the German war machine had it's day in Court and justice was served,it shows the barbaric and criminal side of those involved. It's a must read if you want to understand the reality of what happened to Germany during those dark days of war. More of an overview. The scope of this book is vast. It covers the process of how the trails were developed until they are finished and sentences handed out. Some sections were more detailed than others and for this reason alone I have rated only 3 stars. The writing was good. The subject matter interesting; however, there were some sections that read more like the opening rather than a complete section. In particular was the section on the psychological profile of each prisoners. This was my main interest and thus my disappointment. On the upside this book does a great job explaining how the trails developed and were carried out. I am glad a I read the book, but it as not exactly what I was hoping learn. clear easy to read look at famous trial. This is a clear succinct description of the Nuremberg trials of major Nazi war criminals. It explains the details well and also looks at the prosecutors and the political situation. It doesn't get too bogged down with some of the judgements and just has highlights of some parts making it pretty easy to understand and take in. overall a good book and explanation of the trials. Passable attempt to capture the highlights A decent overview of the trials but I feel it skips a great deal of the detail and really does not strike me as having been written by anyone with a great deal of expertise in the subject at hand. Using phrases such as the "banality of evil" which was coined to describe Eichman for another defendant struck me askew as did some of the descriptions of events which seemed sensationalized. Five Stars Good in it helps to remember just how horrible the 3rd Reich actually was.

The End of Tsarist Russia Audiobook by Dominic Lieven

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Dominic Lieven) — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 07:30:44 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The End of Tsarist Russia Subtitle: The March to World War I and Revolution Author: Dominic Lieven Narrator: Shaun Grindell Format: Unabridged Length: 18 hrs and 54 mins Language: English Release date: 08-18-15 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 93 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: World War I and the Russian Revolution together shaped the 20th century in profound ways. In The End of Tsarist Russia, acclaimed scholar Dominic Lieven connects for the first time the two events, providing both a history of the First World War's origins from a Russian perspective and an international history of why the revolution happened. Based on exhaustive work in seven Russian archives as well as many non-Russian sources, Dominic Lieven's work is about far more than just Russia. By placing the crisis of empire at its core, Lieven links World War I to the sweep of 20th-century global history. He shows how contemporary hot issues such as the struggle for Ukraine were already crucial elements in the run-up to 1914. By incorporating into his book new approaches and comparisons, Lieven tells the story of war and revolution in a way that is truly original and thought provoking. Critic Reviews: "A Russian scholar opens up new, even startling historical connections." (Kirkus Starred Review) Members Reviews: Informative History on European Geopolitics I recommend this book for anyone who wants to know the underlying causes of WWI. To say Lieven's documentation of Russian foreign and domestic policy was thorough would be an understatement. However, given his use of a sliding timeline it can be hard to follow linearly. Overall, it was educational and enjoyable. Interesting but flawed. The subject matter is important, and the viewpoint, concentrating on the interplay among the geopolitics of empires, personalities, and ideology, is illuminating. However, there is much repetition, and the author frequently loses himself in over-detailed discussions of individual diplomats. The opening chapters, the final summarizing chapter, and the afterword are clear and fascinating, and full of provocative historical parallels. The narrator was not a good choice for this material. His delivery was altogether too purring, insinuating, and over-inflected. I often listen while driving, and this reader made me sleepy. Excellent and detailed excellent, and detailed to the point of being tedious. ...yes it is the real deal Phenomenal A first rate history of interest to those looking for a deep dive into Russia, the origins of the First World War, or the tensions of empire and modernization before 1914. A good book done in by bad narration. As a history of Russia's entry into the Great War this volume sheds new light on a neglected part on that conflict. The actual content is novel and thought provoking. And now for the bad news, this history is nearly done in by a horrible reading. There is an unfortunate default in many narrations that having a person with a sound footing in the queen's English is the sin qua non of a "serious" book and the acme of erudition. This particular book is an egregious example of such a bias. Whatever class and "breeding" brought in by this particular voice actor, it is lost in the delivery. The delivery is sing-song, poorly paced and oddly delivered. The choice of verbal fry by the narrator can only be described as questionable at best and irritating at worst. The cut glass narration ends up in lacerating the delivery.

Thirteen Audiobook by Henry Cooper

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Henry Cooper) — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 02:05:23 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Thirteen Subtitle: The Apollo Flight That Failed Author: Henry Cooper Narrator: J. Paul Guimont Format: Unabridged Length: 5 hrs and 2 mins Language: English Release date: 11-26-14 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 840 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: On the evening of April 13, 1970, the three astronauts aboard Apollo 13 were just hours from the third lunar landing in history. But as they soared through space, two hundred thousand miles from earth, an explosion badly damaged their spacecraft. With compromised engines and failing life-support systems, the crew was in incomparably grave danger. Faced with below-freezing temperatures, a seriously ill crew member, and a dwindling water supply, a safe return seemed unlikely. Thirteen is the shocking, miraculous, and entirely true story of how the astronauts and ground crew guided Apollo 13 to a safe landing on earth. Expanding on dispatches written for the New Yorker, Henry S. F. Cooper Jr. brings listeners unparalleled detail on the moment-by-moment developments of one of NASA's most dramatic missions. Members Reviews: Very technical This is, quite literally, a detailed description of the events that happened between liftoff and splashdown. It's not a story about how the astronauts prepared, how they felt during the flight, or things NASA improved upon afterwards. That's something I happen to like in a book, but not all will. The author has an odd obsession with comparing space events to boating terms and procedures. Good level of detail A good telling of the story, quite detailed but stops abruptly. Could have done with a chapter on the post mission actions. Given it was written in 1972 this may not have actually been possible. Succinct and compelling Any additional comments? In his focus on the Houston ground team as well as the three Apollo astronauts in their broken space ship, Cooper builds a steady drum beat of drama steeped in engineering rigor. This really happened. Cooper's dive into it began immediately after the event. He was a staff writer for "The New Yorker" magazine which turned over a whole issue to this story in 1972. So it was originally a very very long magazine piece. Audible prepared this recording in 2014. J. Paul Guimont reflects the solid integrity of the men -- it was all men -- and the determined, icy nail-biting push to bring the astronauts home. He understands the rhythm of the book. It is hard to listen in modern times without recalling Ron Howard's "Apollo 13". I was surprised how much of Cooper's story made a way to the script. But the movie brought in the lead-up and the families, and had to condense and shift and dramatize, and it also had James Lovell's own story to fill in and correct some events. But in the 20 years between Cooper and Lovell there was no other authority for the story of "Apollo 13." Henry S.F. Cooper's ancestor was James Fennimore. Cooperstown, the baseball hall-of-fame place, is not coincidentally named. It isn't relevant but perhaps there is some authority and weight Cooper brings to the story. I felt in good hands. I enjoyed the book and the details provided Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why? I really enjoyed the book because it provided details that I didn't know about. Specifically about the reason the oxygen container malfunctioned and why it took them so long on re-entry.

Bush Killing Reagan Audiobook by Niles Mercado

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Niles Mercado) — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 03:30:39 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Bush Killing Reagan Subtitle: The Bush-Hinckley Conspiracy Bill O'Reilly Won't Tell About Author: Niles Mercado Narrator: Rebecca Roberts Format: Unabridged Length: 1 hr and 12 mins Language: English Release date: 12-28-15 Publisher: Level Press Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 11 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: George Bush, Sr. had the most to gain from President Reagan's death. To hide or conceal his involvement in the assassination attempt, George Bush would have had to either suppress or lie about his close ties with the shooter and the second gunman hiding on the roof. The story of Bush Killing Reagan is so depraved that it is no wonder the story has never been told before! Members Reviews: Conspiracy theorists will love this... Great lead in to Bill O's "killing Reagan". Presented with lots of background links to more information. The conspiracy continues! Short and definitely not mainstream.... .......but it makes more sense than the mainstream. I have puzzled about John Hinckley ever since the event happened. Just made no sense to me from the beginning. Then I recently read (before this one) O'Reilly's "Killing Reagan". I can understand why O'Reilly (for personal gain) followed the Hinckley sham. But he made no sense of it either. I must note that I also never understood why Reagan chose GHWBush as his VP. A man of Reagan's stature tapping a slithery snake like HW was puzzling back then. Now I have a pretty good idea why he did. But he did not know how dangerous that choice was. Thank God the assassination attempt failed. I would highly recommend this!!!! Fascinating!!! And far more believable than what passes for the truth.

Bold They Rise Audiobook by David Hitt, Heather R. Smith

biacuaduc@gmail.com (David Hitt) — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 03:30:57 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Bold They Rise Subtitle: The Space Shuttle Early Years, 1972-1986 Author: David Hitt, Heather R. Smith Narrator: Gary L Willprecht Format: Unabridged Length: 13 hrs and 15 mins Language: English Release date: 02-07-17 Publisher: University Press Audiobooks Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 29 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: After the Apollo program put 12 men on the moon and safely brought them home, anything seemed possible. In this spirit, the team at NASA set about developing the space shuttle, arguably the most complex piece of machinery ever created. The world's first reusable spacecraft, it launched like a rocket, landed like a glider, and carried out complicated missions in between. Bold They Rise tells the story of the space shuttle through the personal experiences of the astronauts, engineers, and scientists who made it happen - in space and on the ground, from the days of research and design through the heroic accomplishments of the program to the tragic last minutes of the Challenger disaster. In the participants' own voices, we learn what so few are privy to: what it was like to create a new form of spacecraft, to risk one's life testing that craft, to float freely in the vacuum of space as a one-man satellite, to witness a friend's death. A "guided tour" of the shuttle - in historical, scientific, and personal terms - this book provides a fascinating, richly informed, and deeply personal view of a feat without parallel in the human story. Members Reviews: good would have preferred a more technical explanation of designing the shuttle. most of the book focused on the missions. Fantastic and interesting, start to finish Essential read/listen for any Shuttle die hard. It ends very abruptly and I wish it had been more technical about the STS early concepts and design process. I'm still hoping for a book that dives even deeper than Bold They Rise. Regardless of what it is not, it IS excellent for people hoping to learn about the more human aspects of creating and operating the now-sadly-retired Space Shuttle Transport System. The first years of the shuttle in a nice format Any additional comments? I have received a copy of this book in audio format by the narrator in exchange for an honest review. This book narrates the first years of the Space Shuttle program from the point of view of the astronauts. The program was launched by Nixon wanting to have a different approach to traveling to space, more on a budget and with reusable space crafts. One of the program's goals was to have quite an amount of missions per year, which would reduce the per-mission cost. In the end this cost was not reduced as much as it was expected due to parts that could not be reused. Primarily the space shuttle missions were related to satellite launching and investigation in zero G, but then the intention was making it accessible to people not related to the program. The last part of the book is dedicated to the Challenger, what caused the accident, and how this changed the vision of the shuttle program. The missions were maybe overlooked and lightly taken, and from then onwards things needed to be taken more strictly to avoid future disasters. The story continues in 'Wheels Stop:The Tragedies and Triumphs of the Space Shuttle Program, 1986-2011', which also promises to be an interesting read. This is quite a long book, over thirteen hours, but it is really amazing. I knew about the shuttle program but I ignored some of the historical details. Here they are all compiled in a nice format that will delight everybody. The book is full of anecdotes told by the astronauts and technicians.

Once in a Great City Audiobook by David Maraniss

biacuaduc@gmail.com (David Maraniss) — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 11:06:15 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Once in a Great City Subtitle: A Detroit Story Author: David Maraniss Narrator: David Maraniss Format: Unabridged Length: 13 hrs and 40 mins Language: English Release date: 09-15-15 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 125 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: As David Maraniss captures it with power and affection, Detroit summed up America's path to music and prosperity that was already past history. It's 1963, and Detroit is on top of the world. The city's leaders are among the most visionary in America: Henry Ford II, the grandson of the first Ford; influential labor leader Walter Reuther; Motown's founder, Berry Gordy; the Reverend C.L. Franklin and his daughter, the amazing Aretha; Governor George Romney, Mormon and civil rights advocate; super car salesman Lee Iacocca; Mayor Jerome Cavanagh, a Kennedy acolyte; Police Commissioner George Edwards; Martin Luther King. It was the American auto makers' best year; the revolution in music and politics was underway. Reuther's UAW had helped lift the middle class. The time was full of promise. The auto industry was selling more cars than ever before and inventing the Mustang. Motown was capturing the world with its amazing artists. The progressive labor movement was rooted in Detroit with the UAW. Martin Luther King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech there two months before he made it famous in the Washington march. Once in a Great City shows that the shadows of collapse were evident even then. Before the devastating riot, before the decades of civic corruption and neglect and white flight; before people trotted out the grab bag of rust-belt infirmities and competition from abroad to explain Detroit's collapse. From high labor costs to harsh weather, one could see the signs of a city's ruin. Detroit at its peak was threatened by its own design. It was being abandoned by the new world. Yet so much of what Detroit gave America lasts. Members Reviews: Detroit in its Heyday Would you consider the audio edition of Once in a Great City to be better than the print version? I consider the print version better because the material is interesting, but the author's narration is boring. He has a bland voice, and he reads in a monotone. It distracts from the content. How could the performance have been better? It could have been read by someone else. If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be? The Detroit That Was Amazing story and writing, AWFUL voice performance Would you try another book from David Maraniss and/or David Maraniss? Yes - this book is a fantastically written, well-detailed, well-researched story describing Detroit on the cusp of its current modern history. Who would you have cast as narrator instead of David Maraniss? Anyone but the current narrator. This reader was THE WORST AUDIOBOOK READER I'VE EVER HEARD. Some congested, monotone, OBNOXIOUS sounding reader ruined the listening experience for me. Great read For those interested in Detroit or urban history, this is well-written book, focusing on themes of the struggles of the African-American community for equal rights, the rise of Motown, the UAW and the automobile companies, the Detroit mafia, and the failed bid to land the 1968 Olympics. But I am a Detroiter, so hearing the names of familiar people and places was part of my enjoyment of the book. Takes me back... I am the same age as the author but grew up several miles north of him in Detroit. I remembered some of the things he described in those pivotal years, and knew many of the stories; as an adult I got to know the union and political figures he talks about and know the places he describes.

The Mighty Endeavor Audiobook by Charles B. MacDonald

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Charles B. MacDonald) — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 14:56:55 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Mighty Endeavor Subtitle: American Armed Forces in the European Theater in World War II Author: Charles B. MacDonald Narrator: Traber Burns Format: Unabridged Length: 22 hrs and 33 mins Language: English Release date: 12-01-16 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 40 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: From the first landings at Casablanca straight through to the crossing of the Elbe River and V-E Day, this book tells the gripping story of the European theater of operations battles of World War II that American soldiers, sailors, and airmen took part in and of the strategy behind them. The book's core is its account of such famous and dramatic episodes as the landings in North Africa, Kasserine Pass, Salerno and Anzio; D-day; the liberation of Paris; the Battle of the Bulge; the crossing of the Rhine; and the race across Germany. It also tells the story of the conflicts between American and other Allied leaders over how to pursue the war and of convoys, U-boat wolf packs, the aerial war over Germany, the bombing of Dresden, and the final surrender of the Nazis. MacDonald takes the listener back to the build-up to war, looking at the circumstances of the American decision during the early 1930s to concentrate, if war should come, on victory in Europe first; and he describes in detail the ways that America forged a disciplined fighting force when war broke out. MacDonald's portrayal of major military figures - George S. Patton Jr., Mark W. Clark, and J. Lawton Collins, among others - is both fair and penetrating, and he pays particular attention to other leaders whose accomplishments are not as well known. His sources include official US Army records and direct interviews with noncommissioned officers, privates, and top-level participants such as Generals Eisenhower and Bradley. His account also reflects intensive work with original documents and with many newly available sources as well as his own experiences in the war as the commander of an infantry rifle company. The Mighty Endeavor is a thoroughly researched history. Members Reviews: Great background on US Armed Forces in the ETO and MTO I am a big fan of Charles McDonald and read this book years ago it is dated but still a great overall view of the war in Europe and Africa.

Nazi Women Audiobook by Paul Roland

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Paul Roland) — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 22:35:57 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Nazi Women Subtitle: The Attraction of Evil Author: Paul Roland Narrator: Gabrielle Glaister Format: Unabridged Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins Language: English Release date: 04-29-16 Publisher: Arcturus Digital Limited Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 25 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: After the failure of the Weimar Republic, the Nazis believed their mission was to "masculinize" life in Germany. Hermann Goering told women, "Take a pot, a dustpan and a broom, and marry a man", but many still became active participants in murder and mayhem. From the Reich Bride Schools through the Bund Deutscher Mädel and the bizarre Lebensborn Aryan breeding programme to the brothels of the Sicherheitsdienst, this book covers the lives of women in the Third Reich, concentrating on those who sought personal power and influence amid the chaos and death. Members Reviews: Answers a lot of questions about women in the third reich If you ever wondered why women are attracted to the most evil of men? Look no further then nazi women. This is a must listen for anyone who wants to understand the psyche of human nature. Very good listen. Documentary lovers will enjoy Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why? I would recommend to some of my friends that enjoy digging deeper into history. If youve listened to books by Paul Roland before, how does this one compare? First book I've read by this author. Which character as performed by Gabrielle Glaister was your favorite? NA Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? No, but it was still fascinating. Any additional comments? Narrator did a good job, but the author should have been more in-depth for a history examining this subject. The material the author presented was enriching. Sensationalised Misleading Title Is there anything you would change about this book? The title should be 'Women During The Nazi Era'. Whilst there is accounts of some truly evil Women, there is also accounts of Women who were opposed to the Nazi regime who were definitely not attracted to Evil. Also a lot is written about Women who were partners to men before the Nazis rose to power, so they were not attracted to evil just men who became evil as their power grew. What did you like best about this story? I found the book interesting, emotional at times and liked the insight into how terrible it must have been for a lot of Women during that period. The story of the bravery of Women risking their lives to protest the deportation of their Jewish husbands at Rosenstrasse and actually succeeding in getting them back I found particularly uplifting. What aspect of Gabrielle Glaisters performance might you have changed? Whilst Gabrielle's voice was pleasant enough, she really needed to research how to pronounce German names as it became slightly annoying. Albert Speer is pronounced Shpeer not Spear and Reinhard Heydrich whose name changed every time, from hay-drick, to hay-drish, to hi-drish to finally correct as hi-drick! Do you think Nazi Women needs a follow-up book? Why or why not? Not under the same title theme for sure.

Savage Continent Audiobook by Keith Lowe

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Keith Lowe) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 08:51:32 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Savage Continent Subtitle: Europe in the Aftermath of World War II Author: Keith Lowe Narrator: John Lee Format: Unabridged Length: 15 hrs and 17 mins Language: English Release date: 09-24-12 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 229 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The Second World War might have officially ended in May 1945, but in reality it rumbled on for another 10 years.... The end of the Second World War in Europe is one of the 20th century's most iconic moments. It is fondly remembered as a time when cheering crowds filled the streets, danced, drank and made love until the small hours. These images of victory and celebration are so strong in our minds that the period of anarchy and civil war that followed has been forgotten. Across Europe, landscapes had been ravaged, entire cities razed and more than thirty million people had been killed in the war. The institutions that we now take for granted-such as the police, the media, transport, local and national government-were either entirely absent or hopelessly compromised. Crime rates were soaring, economies collapsing, and the European population was hovering on the brink of starvation. In Savage Continent, Keith Lowe describes a continent still racked by violence, where large sections of the population had yet to accept that the war was over. Individuals, communities and sometimes whole nations sought vengeance for the wrongs that had been done to them during the war. Germans and collaborators everywhere were rounded up, tormented and summarily executed. Concentration camps were reopened and filled with new victims who were tortured and starved. Violent anti-Semitism was reborn, sparking murders and new pogroms across Europe. Massacres were an integral part of the chaos and in some places-particularly Greece, Yugoslavia and Poland, as well as parts of Italy and France - they led to brutal civil wars. In some of the greatest acts of ethnic cleansing the world has ever seen, tens of millions were expelled from their ancestral homelands, often with the implicit blessing of the Allied authorities. Savage Continent is the story of post WWII Europe, in all its ugly detail, from the end of the war right up until the establishment of an uneasy stability across Europe toward the end of the 1940s. Based principally on primary sources from a dozen countries, Savage Continent is a frightening and thrilling chronicle of a world gone mad, the standard history of post WWII Europe for years to come. Critic Reviews: "Authoritative but never dry, stripping away soothing myths of national unity and victimhood, this is a painful but necessary historical task superbly done." ( Kirkus) Members Reviews: Better in print? I think this book might be better in print -- as an audio book it comes off more as just a listing of events with X number of victims and Y location, repeat. I've read a ton of WWII books and I've read (listened) to all the available post-WWII books on Audible, this is not one of my favorites. I have a pretty high tolerance for facts and figures in audio format and even with that this book came off as dry with the exception of a few chapters. If you're a very tough listener and very interested in this period of time give it a listen -- also check out other reviewers and see what they think and don't just rely on this opinion alone. I don't cry but this book made me Eastern Poland was my home until collage years, as kids we find unused ammunition quite often, once whole 9 yards of anti aircraft bullets. What took place there during my parents generation is so horrible, so unimaginable and yet somehow real.

Plutopia Audiobook by Kate Brown

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Kate Brown) — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 11:19:36 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Plutopia Subtitle: Nuclear Families, Atomic Cities, and the Great Soviet and American Plutonium Disasters Author: Kate Brown Narrator: Susan Ericksen Format: Unabridged Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins Language: English Release date: 12-19-17 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: In Plutopia, Kate Brown draws on official records and dozens of interviews to tell the extraordinary stories of Richland, Washington, and Ozersk, Russia - the first two cities in the world to produce plutonium. To contain secrets, American and Soviet leaders created plutopias - communities of nuclear families living in highly subsidized, limited-access atomic cities. Fully employed and medically monitored, the residents of Richland and Ozersk enjoyed all the pleasures of consumer society while nearby, migrants, prisoners, and soldiers were banned from plutopia - they lived in temporary "staging grounds" and often performed the most dangerous work at the plant. Brown shows that the plants' segregation of permanent and temporary workers and of nuclear and non-nuclear zones created a bubble of immunity where dumps and accidents were glossed over and plant managers freely embezzled and polluted. In four decades the Hanford plant near Richland and the Maiak plant near Ozersk each issued at least 200 million curies of radioactive isotopes into the surrounding environment. An untold and profoundly important piece of Cold War history, Plutopia invites listeners to consider the nuclear footprint left by the arms race and the enormous price of paying for it. Critic Reviews: "An angry but fascinating account of negligence, incompetence and injustice justified (as it still is) in the name of national security." ( Kirkus) Members Reviews: Who can make a bigger Plutonium disaster mess in their country? Both the United States and the Soviet Union built Plutonium manufacturing plants and their supporting cities. This book talks about the building of these plants, the elite way of life of the scientists and technicians that lived in these cities compared to their other country men, the nuclear accidents and disasters that contaminated the surrounding countrysides, and the long term adverse effects still taking place today. Social engineering at its best/worse: whether in Russia or in the US Brown's concept is brilliant: put side by side US and Russian nuclear fuel secret production cities. The parallels are amazing. Same secrecy, same way to attract people to work in a city that officially doesn't exist. The same disregard for the welfare of surrounding communities, the same resulting environmental disaster. There are so many facets to this book, it is hard to give a true description of its depth. I'll choose one: beyond the obvious "make atomic fuel at any cost", there is the idea of planned communities. Check-out "Invented Edens" from Kargon & Molella and "Hoover Dam" from Stevens. Brown goes in depth in the social engineering of single purpose cities and how, in the end, they are incompatible with the concept of personal freedom; whether in Russia or US. History the US government would rather forget.. This book is an interesting, illuminating read that details the negligence of American and Russian government nuclear programs and their reckless dumping of radionuclides into unwitting nearby communities.

The King Years Audiobook by Taylor Branch

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Taylor Branch) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 13:12:35 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The King Years Subtitle: Historic Moments in the Civil Rights Movement Author: Taylor Branch Narrator: Leslie Odom, Jr. Format: Unabridged Length: 6 hrs and 33 mins Language: English Release date: 01-01-13 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 25 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The essential moments of the civil rights movement are introduced and set in historical context by the author of the magisterial America in the King Years trilogy: Parting the Waters, Pillar of Fire, and At Canaan's Edge. Taylor Branch's three-volume history endures as a masterpiece of storytelling on American race, violence, and democracy. With this brief volume, which brings to life the pivotal scenes, he relates the dramatic story of how the movement evolved from a bus strike to a political revolution, and brings this historic achievement to a wider audience. Members Reviews: Excellent What other book might you compare The King Years to and why? This is the author's best hits from his trilogy. What does Leslie Odom, Jr. bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book? He did a perfect job. Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you? Too many to mention. beautiful and very informative I learned so much of what I realized my education of this time lacked and it inspired me to further pursue more information.

Voodoo and Power Audiobook by Kodi A. Roberts

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Kodi A. Roberts) — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 21:14:43 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Voodoo and Power Subtitle: The Politics of Religion in New Orleans 1881-1940 Author: Kodi A. Roberts Narrator: Thomas Stone Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins Language: English Release date: 04-06-17 Publisher: University Press Audiobooks Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 3 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The racialized and exoticized cult of Voodoo occupies a central place in the popular image of the Crescent City. But as Kodi A. Roberts argues in Voodoo and Power, the religion was not a monolithic tradition handed down from African ancestors to their American-born descendants. Instead, a much more complicated patchwork of influences created New Orleans Voodoo, allowing it to move across boundaries of race, class, and gender. By employing late 19th and early 20th-century first-hand accounts of Voodoo practitioners and their rituals, Roberts provides a nuanced understanding of who practiced Voodoo and why. Voodoo in New Orleans, a mélange of religion, entrepreneurship, and business networks, stretched across the color line in intriguing ways. Voodoo rituals and institutions also drew inspiration from the surrounding milieu, including the privations of the Great Depression, the city s complex racial history, and the free-market economy. Money, employment, and business became central concerns for the religion s practitioners: to validate their work, some began operating from recently organized Spiritual Churches, entities that were tax exempt and thus legitimate in the eyes of the state of Louisiana. Practitioners even leveraged local figures like the mythohistoric Marie Laveau for spiritual purposes and entrepreneurial gain. All the while, they contributed to the cultural legacy that fueled New Orleans s tourist industry and drew visitors and their money to the Crescent City. The book is published by Louisiana State University Press. Critic Reviews: " Voodoo and Power provides intellectual and academic credibility to a subject that has been fraught with dubious scholarship...A much-needed perspective on a marginalized tradition that is shown to be nothing less than a true American religion.'' ( Journal of Southern Religion) Members Reviews: Brilliant, original analysis of power Brilliant, original analysis of power, religion, and politics in New Orleans. I have long used Kodi Roberts' work in my classes. So, I am grateful to see it developed even further with grace and theoretical acumen. A must-read for scholars of the African diaspora, religion, and US history. Five Stars Exceeded expectations. Roberts has done a great job in systematically explaining the times as they were This book explains the dynamics of religion and power in NOLA. I did not understand how or why Blacks would choose to teach Whites about the very system that would protect them against harm from Whites. Now I understand that the society in NOLA was unique between Creoles and White in NOLA. I do not believe a relationship of this kind existed between the races anywhere else in the United States at this time in history. Prof. Roberts has done a great job in systematically explaining the times as they were. A great book for any student of history! A fascinating look at the development of Voodoo in New ... A fascinating look at the development of Voodoo in New Orleans and the societal implications that go along with the development of the religion in this unique society. Very intriguing and informative.

The Vaccine Race Audiobook by Meredith Wadman

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Meredith Wadman) — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 06:05:06 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Vaccine Race Subtitle: Science, Politics, and the Human Costs of Defeating Disease Author: Meredith Wadman Narrator: Nancy Linari Format: Unabridged Length: 19 hrs and 13 mins Language: English Release date: 02-07-17 Publisher: Penguin Audio Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 24 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The epic and controversial story of a major breakthrough in cell biology that led to the conquest of rubella and other devastating diseases. Until the late 1960s, tens of thousands of American children suffered crippling birth defects if their mothers had been exposed to rubella, popularly known as German measles, while pregnant; there was no vaccine and little understanding of how the disease devastated fetuses. In June 1962, a young biologist in Philadelphia, using tissue extracted from an aborted fetus from Sweden, produced safe, clean cells that allowed the creation of vaccines against rubella and other common childhood diseases. Two years later, in the midst of a devastating German measles epidemic, his colleague developed the vaccine that would one day wipe out homegrown rubella. The rubella vaccine and others made with those fetal cells have protected more than 150 million people in the United States, the vast majority of them preschoolers. The new cells and the method of making them also led to vaccines that have protected billions of people around the world from polio, rabies, chicken pox, measles, hepatitis A, shingles and adenovirus. Meredith Wadman's masterful account recovers not only the science of this urgent race, but also the political roadblocks that nearly stopped the scientists. She describes the terrible dilemmas of pregnant women exposed to German measles and recounts testing on infants, prisoners, orphans, and the intellectually disabled, which was common in the era. These events take place at the dawn of the battle over using human fetal tissue in research, during the arrival of big commerce in campus labs, and as huge changes take place in the laws and practices governing who "owns" research cells and the profits made from biological inventions. It is also the story of yet one more unrecognized woman whose cells have been used to save countless lives. With another frightening virus imperiling pregnant women on the rise today, no medical story could have more human drama, impact, or urgency today than The Vaccine Race. Critic Reviews: "This is a story about the war against disease - a war without end - and the development of enormously important vaccines, but in telling that story, in showing how science works, Meredith Wadman reveals much more. I loved this book." (John M. Barry, New York Times best-selling author of The Great Influenza) Members Reviews: Great information Wonderful read and very insightful. Provides rarely known details about the way science works and also helps everyone understand the necessity of some choices. Fantastic book and excellent reader Would you consider the audio edition of The Vaccine Race to be better than the print version? no What about Nancy Linaris performance did you like? The performance was excellent. It wasn't flat but also didn't distract from the book. Just the right amount of emotion. The reader's voice is pleasant and enjoyable to listen to. Any additional comments? I don't typically read books that have a big science component because, although I believe in the importance of science, I have little background in it and my lazy brain usually has a hard time paying attention and following what's being discussed. I'm glad I made an exception with this fantastic book, however.

No Simple Victory Audiobook by Norman Davies

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Norman Davies) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 12:17:21 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: No Simple Victory Subtitle: World War II in Europe, 1939-1945 Author: Norman Davies Narrator: Simon Vance Format: Unabridged Length: 20 hrs and 35 mins Language: English Release date: 09-28-07 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 463 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: In detailing the clash of political philosophies that drove the war's savage engine, Davies also examines how factors as diverse as technology, economics, and morale played dynamic roles in shaping battles, along with the unsung yet vital help of Poland, Greece, and Ukraine (which suffered the highest number of casualties). And while the Allies resorted to bombing enemy civilians to sow terror, the most damning condemnation is saved for the Soviet Union, whose glossed-over war crimes against British soldiers and its own people prove that Communism and Nazism were two sides of the same brutal coin. No Simple Victory is an unparalleled work that will fascinate not only history buffs but anyone who is interested in discovering the reality behind what Davies refers to as "the frozen perspective of the winners' history". Critic Reviews: "Enormously readable....This will explode all your ideas about the 'Good War.' " (Details) "This is a self-consciously contrary book, cutting against the grain of much self-congratulatory Western writing since 1945." (London Sunday Telegraph) "Davies' topical approach judiciously surveys the military, economic and political aspects of the war....His interpretations rest on solid scholarly work." (Publishers Weekly) Members Reviews: The Best Account of WWII in Europe Norman Davies previously wrote a textbook in use in entry level university courses about the history of Europe. His persistent theme is that western European history is overemphasized and eastern European history is ignored. In this book, the scope of the war is presented from the view of the real participants. Davies takes apart the notion that the Germans and Russians were the major participants and chronicles the war from the standpoint of Belarus, Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic countries which were the battleground for most of the war. These countries were either brutalized by Stalin before the war or invaded by the Soviet Union in 1939 after the pact between Hitler and Stalin. The losses of these countries are put in a context of losses of other participants. The Soviet style of fighting is described where the KGB formed blocking battalions which shot anyone who retreated, regardless if the soldier was wounded or out of ammunition. After WWII, any repatriated Soviet POW was imprisoned in the Gulag. Stalin fought civil wars during WWII and the aftermath of these wars is now being played out in places like Chechnya. Davies does not ignore other theatres of operation or other participants in the war. He assess the fighting ability of the various countries, for instance showing that Britain had an awesome navy but a deficient army. The book is topical, eg, Davies uses headings like armaments, civilians, aftermath, collaborators, etc. This is the best book I read in 2007. Do yourself a favor and read this book. It will change the way you view WWII. Balanced and well-crafted Comprehensive coverage of WW2 in Europe. In addition to the standard fare, the author does a nice job comparing and contrasting the Soviet and Nazi repression and atrocities.

Service Games Audiobook by Sam Pettus

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Sam Pettus) — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 16:58:31 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Service Games Subtitle: The Rise and Fall of SEGA: Enhanced Edition Author: Sam Pettus Narrator: Tom Racine Format: Unabridged Length: 17 hrs and 18 mins Language: English Release date: 11-03-14 Publisher: David Munoz Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 140 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Starting with its humble beginnings in the 1950s and ending with its swan-song, the Dreamcast, in the early 2000s, this is the complete history of Sega as a console maker. Before home computers and video game consoles, before the Internet and social networking, and before motion controls and smartphones, there was Sega. Destined to fade into obscurity over time, Sega would help revolutionize and change video games, computers and how we interact with them, and the Internet as we know it. Riding the cutting edge of technology at every step, only to rise too close to the sun and plummet, Sega would eventually change the face of entertainment, but it's the story of how it got there that's all the fun. So take a ride, experience history, and enjoy learning about one of the greatest and most influential companies of all time. Complete with system specifications, feature and marketing descriptions, unusual factoids, and now enhanced Europe-specific details, exclusive interviews, and more make this the definitive history of Sega available. Listen and learn about the company that holds a special place in every gamer's heart. Funded on Kickstarter. Members Reviews: The Story of the Fall of Sega Let me preface everything I'm about to say with a quick tl;dr: If you are a Sega fan and are looking for an interesting history of just how Sega fell so quickly look no further. Now that that's out of the way let me expand on that thought. This book is an interesting listen, but not an engrossing one. All the time I was listening I couldn't help but compare it to "Console Wars" by Blake Freeman, and often times I felt like this book came up lacking, but then I thought on it for a moment and I came to the real heart of the issue. Console Wars entertains first and informs second while Service Games does just the opposite. If you want a story that dramatizes the rise of Sega by elevating the team responsible to the height of heroes of the industry and does so expertly this is not the book for you, Console Wars is. This book reads like an essay written for a college level business class not a novel. That last sentence there really describes all of the problems I found with the book perfectly. While I was consistently presented with new factoids about Sega's fall I was rarely entertained by them. The best example of this comes with the amount of time spent discussing the CPUs of all of the consoles. Not a single evolution in the technology is even remotely glossed over, which while very interesting at an academic level, left me thinking get on with it more often than not. This only leaves one real complaint unsaid: the focus given on Sega's fall versus its rise. The title may lead you to believe this is the complete history of that company we all love and hate, but really it isn't. The first few decades of Sega's history are so sparsely covered when compared to how much time is given to its mistakes it isn't even funny. I know for many the failings of Sega are more interesting than its beginnings but I was left wanting. Summary time for the time strapped: This book tells the story of Sega's fall in a dry yet interesting matter that glosses over two of the most engrossing aspects of the company: its humble beginnings and the very human story behind the scenes. Pure Greatness Wow very detailed in the complete history of Sega from beginning to now.

Double Cross Audiobook by Ben Macintyre

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Ben Macintyre) — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 15:54:40 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Double Cross Subtitle: The True Story of the D-Day Spies Author: Ben Macintyre Narrator: John Lee Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins Language: English Release date: 07-31-12 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 500 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: In his celebrated best sellers Agent Zigzag and Operation Mincemeat, Ben Macintyre told the dazzling true stories of a remarkable WWII double agent and of how the Allies employed a corpse to fool the Nazis and assure a decisive victory. In Double Cross, Macintyre returns with the untold story of the grand final deception of the war and of the extraordinary spies who achieved it. On June 6, 1944, 150,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy and suffered an astonishingly low rate of casualties. D-Day was a stunning military accomplishment, but it was also a masterpiece of trickery. Operation Fortitude, which protected and enabled the invasion, and the Double Cross system, which specialized in turning German spies into double agents, deceived the Nazis into believing that the Allies would attack at Calais and Norway rather than Normandy. It was the most sophisticated and successful deception operation ever carried out, ensuring that Hitler kept an entire army awaiting a fake invasion, saving thousands of lives, and securing an Allied victory at the most critical juncture in the war. The story of D-Day has been told from the point of view of the soldiers who fought in it, the tacticians who planned it, and the generals who led it. But this epic event in world history has never before been told from the perspectives of the key individuals in the Double Cross System. These include its director (a brilliant, urbane intelligence officer), a colorful assortment of MI5 handlers (as well as their counterparts in Nazi intelligence), and the five spies who formed Double Crosss nucleus: a dashing Serbian playboy, a Polish fighter-pilot, a bisexual Peruvian party girl, a deeply eccentric Spaniard with a diploma in chicken farming and a volatile Frenchwoman, whose obsessive love for her pet dog very nearly wrecked the entire plan. The D-Day spies were, without question, one of the oddest military units ever assembled, and their success depended on the delicate, dubious relationship between spy and spymaster, both German and British. Their enterprise was saved from catastrophe by a shadowy sixth spy whose heroic sacrifice is revealed here for the first time. With the same depth of research, eye for the absurd and masterful storytelling that have made Ben Macintyre an international bestseller, Double Cross is a captivating narrative of the spies who wove a web so intricate it ensnared Hitlers army and carried thousands of D-Day troops across the Channel in safety. Critic Reviews: "Ben Macintyre's spellbinding account features an improbable cast of characters who pulled off a counter-intelligence feat that was breathtaking in its audacity. Their deceptions within deceptions - known as the Double Cross - were critical to the success of the D-Day invasion, and continued to mislead the Germans long after Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy. A truly bravura performance, as is Macintyre's fast-paced tale." (Andrew Nagorski, author of Hitlerland: American Eyewitnesses to the Nazi Rise to Power) "Ben Macintyre and I work in the same period, and I should be reading him because he is such a scrupulous and insightful writer - a master historian. But, with Double Cross and his other excellent works, I always wind up reading him for pleasure.

They Can Live in the Desert but Nowhere Else Audiobook by Ronald Grigor Suny

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Ronald Grigor Suny) — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 05:30:52 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: They Can Live in the Desert but Nowhere Else Subtitle: A History of the Armenian Genocide Author: Ronald Grigor Suny Narrator: Eric Martin Format: Unabridged Length: 15 hrs and 35 mins Language: English Release date: 06-30-15 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 40 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Starting in early 1915, the Ottoman Turks began deporting and killing hundreds of thousands of Armenians in the first major genocide of the 20th century. By the end of the First World War, the number of Armenians in what would become Turkey had been reduced by 90 percent - more than 1,000,000 people. A century later, the Armenian genocide remains controversial but relatively unknown, overshadowed by later slaughters and the chasm separating Turkish and Armenian versions of events. In this definitive narrative history, Ronald Suny cuts through nationalist myths, propaganda, and denial to provide an unmatched account of when, how, and why the atrocities of 1915-1916 were committed. As it lost territory during the war, the Ottoman Empire was becoming a more homogenous Turkic-Muslim state, but it still contained large non-Muslim communities, including the Christian Armenians. The Young Turk leaders of the empire believed that the Armenians were internal enemies secretly allied to Russia and plotting to win an independent state. Suny shows that the great majority of Armenians were in truth loyal subjects who wanted to remain in the empire. But the Young Turks, steeped in imperial anxiety and anti-Armenian bias, became convinced that the survival of the state depended on the elimination of the Armenians. Suny is the first to explore the psychological factors as well as the international and domestic events that helped lead to genocide. Drawing on archival documents and eyewitness accounts, this is an unforgettable chronicle of a cataclysm that set a tragic pattern for a century of genocide and crimes against humanity. Members Reviews: Well researched and balanced. Where does They Can Live in the Desert but Nowhere Else rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far? The trouble with modern political tomes is that they are often so one sided, one can't make any kind of judgement as to how events unfolded to allow the story to play out the way it did."They Can Live in the Desert, but Nowhere Else", does not suffer from this bias. It is meticulously researched and exposes the strengths and the weaknesses of the turn of the century Ottoman Empire and its peoples. I knew a little about the Armenian genocide of 1915, but almost nothing about the Ottoman Empire and its geo-political challenges. This book filled a lot of gaps in my knowledge and understanding. Though the subject matter is often disturbing, I found the book a compelling read. I highly recommend it. A great neutral look into the Armenian genocide I highly recommend the book to anyone wishing to know more on the subject. The author takes a fairly neutral look at the situation and goes to great lengths to explain the historical, cultural, and political atmosphere that lead to many of the different events covered. My only complaint about the book would be the occassional censorship of events in a seeming attemp to remain objective and neutral in their explanation. At several points of the book, but not always, the author avoids going into much detail of the brutality used by both sides in their attacks against eachother in favor of statistics.

The World War 2 Trivia Book: Interesting Stories and Random Facts from the Second World War

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Bill O'Neill) — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 03:11:54 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The World War 2 Trivia Book: Interesting Stories and Random Facts from the Second World War Subtitle: Trivia War Books, Book 1 Author: Bill O'Neill, Dwayne Walker Narrator: Derek Newman Format: Unabridged Length: 3 hrs and 14 mins Language: English Release date: 12-05-17 Publisher: LAK Publishing Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 14 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: When was the last time someone around you brought up World War Two? Its a pretty popular war. Maybe you heard about it yesterday. Maybe last month. But it was probably recent. And when it came up, did you wish that you could be the one to casually drop a fact that would have everyone in the room going, Wow, I never knew that! With this audiobook, you can be that person. You can listen to it just a few minutes a day. Chapters are bite-sized and easy-to-read, meant for normal people instead of war historians! Each chapter ends with a bonus helping of trivia and some quick questions to test your knowledge. Youll zoom through this book and be hungry for more. Get ready to impress your friends with your knowledgenot just of the main events of World War Two, but of all the gritty details and weird true facts. By the time you finish this book, youll have a fact for every occasion, from the first moment someone thought about having a Second World War, to the most recent blockbuster movies about it. So get ready to meet characters from Adolf Hitler, rejected art student, to Jack Churchill, the broadsword-swinging male model. Find out why World War Two started in the first place, and why its never a good idea to invade Russia in winter. Learn why the United States was going to stay out of the war, how Canadians stole airplanes for the British, and what an orange soft drink has to do with the Nazis. Some of the things youre going to learn are sad. Some are scary. Some are sexy. And some are downright strange! Its everything your history teacher never got around to telling you. Members Reviews: Interesting facts on World War 2 Bill O'Neills facts and trivia on World War 2 are very interesting and informative. Many of the facts I didn't know before and it was fun to learn them. I was given this Audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review. Interesting! Note: I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher. WWII history has always fascinated me. While there was a lot of things in this book that I already knew, I learned a few new interesting bits of trivia. The narrator did a solid job of delivering the information in an engaging way. Recommended for anyone with an interest in history - especially WWII history. Great intro to WW2! Would you consider the audio edition of The World War 2 Trivia Book: Interesting Stories and Random Facts from the Second World War to be better than the print version? I would like to start off by saying I enjoyed the audiobook version of this. The chapters are short enough that for commuting it works very well. The only small gripe I have is the list of facts at the end of each chapter get monotonous to listen to. 1. 2. ... 21 And so on... The good news is that the lists only take a few minutes to go through. What about Derek Newmans performance did you like? Clear tone that isn't monotonous. Great enunciation and diction. Excellent performance! Any additional comments? I feel like this is a great INTRODUCTION to a ton of great topics on the war! Briefly mentioned are things like the night of the long knives, d-day, and Both the pacific and Italian campaigns.

The Devil's Diary Audiobook by Robert K. Wittman, David Kinney

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Robert K. Wittman) — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 09:26:38 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Devil's Diary Subtitle: Alfred Rosenberg and the Stolen Secrets of the Third Reich Author: Robert K. Wittman, David Kinney Narrator: P. J. Ochlan Format: Unabridged Length: 15 hrs and 14 mins Language: English Release date: 03-29-16 Publisher: HarperAudio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 76 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: This exploration of the private wartime diary of Alfred Rosenberg - Hitler's "chief philosopher" and architect of Nazi ideology - interweaves the story of its recent discovery with the revelation of its never-before-published contents, which are contextualized by the authors: The result is a unprecedented narrative of the Nazi rise to power, the Holocaust, and Hitler's postinvasion plans for Russia. A groundbreaking historical contribution, The Devil's Diary is a chilling window into the mind of Adolf Hitler's "chief social philosopher", Alfred Rosenberg, who formulated some of the guiding principles behind the Third Reich's genocidal crusade. It also chronicles the thrilling detective hunt for the diary, which disappeared after the Nuremburg Trials and remained lost for almost three quarters of a century, until Robert Wittman, a former FBI special agent who founded the Bureau's Art Crimes Team, played an important role; he tells his story now for the first time. The authors expertly and deftly contextualize hundreds of entries stretching from 1936 through 1944, in which the loyal Hitler advisor recounts internal meetings with the Fürher and his close associates, Hermann Göring and Heinrich Himmler; describes the postinvasion occupation of the Soviet Union; considers the "solution" to the "Jewish question"; and discusses his overseeing of the mass seizure and cataloguing of books and artwork from homes, libraries, and museums across occupied Europe. An eyewitness to events, this narrative of Rosenberg's diary offers provocative and intimate insights into pivotal moments in the war and the notorious Nazi who laid the philosophical foundations of the Third Reich. Members Reviews: Fresh perspective on terrible events. As described in the synopsis, Alfred Rosenberg's diary and experiences are at the heart of this book. It's familiar and horrible, of course, but the perspective is different and illuminating nonetheless. The book is very well written, deeply researched, and the story unfolds artfully as the personalities involved in the recovery of these documents creep off the pages. To me, the most interesting aspect comes with the story of Robert Kempner, who was among the prosecutorial team at the Nuremberg Trials. The tale of how Kempner got there, where he came from, and what he did later is a fascinating yarn, and it sets this book apart. Documents are so fragile, one appreciates all of the accidents and twists of fate that cause some to be preserved and some to disappear forever. If you like history, human perseverance, and a well told story, you will probably enjoy this book. Worth your time Very worth your time. Focuses on people you do not know and may never have heard about before. Good insight The story started slowing then gaining substance to the end. Very interesting and educative to listens to. Very slow and dry. I guess I was expecting more about the mind and inner workings of Nazis.. This was more of rambling 3rd person narrative. I feel conned by this book. What disappointed you about The Devil's Diary? I was expecting full readinging from his diaries. What I got was a superficial reselling of the history of the nazis with a little commentary from Rosenberg. What could Robert K.

The Death of a President Audiobook by William Manchester

biacuaduc@gmail.com (William Manchester) — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 17:09:32 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Death of a President Subtitle: November 20 - November 25, 1963 Author: William Manchester Narrator: Joe Barrett Format: Unabridged Length: 33 hrs and 20 mins Language: English Release date: 11-18-13 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 133 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: As the world still reeled from the tragic and historic events of November 22, 1963, William Manchester set out, at the request of the Kennedy family, to create a detailed, authoritative record of President John F. Kennedy's death, including the days immediately preceding and following the assassination. Through hundreds of interviews, extensive travel, and first hand observation, and with unique access to the proceedings of the Warren Commission, Manchester conducted an exhaustive historical investigation, accumulating 45 volumes of documents, exhibits, and transcribed tapes. His ultimate objective - to set down as a whole the national and personal tragedy that was JFK's assassination - is brilliantly achieved in this galvanizing narrative, a book universally acclaimed as a landmark work of modern history. Members Reviews: IMPORTANT HISTORIC BOOK What you must know from the start is the historic nature of this book. When jfk was killed -Jackie and the Kennedy clan hand picked William Manchester to write the full official account of the assassination from their end for posterity. Manchester was picked for 2 reasons-firstly he was a friend of jfk and secondly he was a very respected writer/ historian. This is a remarkable account of EVERYTHING that was thought, done and said in the timeframe of the assassination and funeral. It would be hard to imagine a fuller accounting of that week. Every detail pulled me in tighter and tighter till I felt entirely part of the scene. I couldn't put it down! Though I was so wound -up and upset that I had to listen to something else in bed so I could sleep. I feel so emotionally drained by the experience that I too feel like I am in mourning for this president, despite the fact that I'm Canadian and was just 2yrs old when all this happened. Why am I so affected by something so removed and distant? Why were people around the world so intensely effected? It reminded me of when princess DI died, there was the same world-wide eruption of grief out of all proportion. I've meditated on this question- it seems important to learn why this is so. Was it their relative youth,their class, charisma? Those things are factors but I think that We hang our dreams consciously or unconsciously on those that embody those rare characteristics of goodness and kindness. Those rare "heroes" of good give us hope for good in a relentlessly dark world. That's my conclusion there's one thing that this book makes all too clear and that is that Jackie was as astounding as the president in this regard-this book makes that all too clear This is an important book that lays bare not just the tragedy but also the triumph of Jackie whose stoic example remains a testament for the ages. A BOOK NOT TO BE MISSED. A note on the narration- I thought it was perfect. Great Book, BUT... I'm a huge Kennedy buff, and devour any of the books I can. This was one of the harder ones to stomach for 33 hours... The narrator was awful!! Whenever he was quoting someone, he would try to read it in what he assumed their voice sounded like, and it was absurd (and at times, flat-out creepy). His Caroline voice was particularly disturbing.

Heart and Soul Audiobook by Kadir Nelson

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Kadir Nelson) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:00:16 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Heart and Soul Author: Kadir Nelson Narrator: Debbie Allen Format: Unabridged Length: 1 hr and 38 mins Language: English Release date: 09-27-11 Publisher: HarperAudio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 24 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The story of America and African Americans is a story of hope and inspiration and unwavering courage. But it is also the story of injustice; of a country divided by law, education, and wealth; of a people whose struggles and achievements helped define their country. Kadir Nelson, one of this generation's most accomplished, award-winning artists, has created an epic yet intimate introduction to the history of America and African Americans, from colonial days through the civil rights movement. Written in the voice of an "Everywoman," an unnamed narrator whose forebears came to this country on slave ships and who lived to cast her vote for the first African American president, Heart and Soul touches on some of the great transformative events and small victories of that history. This inspiring book demonstrates that in gaining their freedom and equal rights, African Americans helped our country achieve its promise of liberty and justice - the true heart and soul of our nation. Members Reviews: inspiring historical narrative What did you love best about Heart and Soul? Kadir Nelson is best known for his beautiful, stunning paintings, but this narrative is wonderful. This history of America is told from the point of view of an African American grandmother telling the story of her country and her people. Debbie Allen brings this to life, just as Kadir's paintings do. The words, the tone, the spirit soar. Wonderful for family listening - absolutely inspiring and heartfelt. What other book might you compare Heart and Soul to and why? The tone and spirit of Debbie Allen's narration reminded me of listening to Lynne Thigpen narrate The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, by Ernest Gaines. uplifting history lesson of black Americans. Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why? YES.see book and listen. powerful! What was one of the most memorable moments of Heart and Soul? made me realize how little I know and nee.d to check on What about Debbie Allens performance did you like? Kadir used family experiences. to make it real. The reader was wonderful. You must see the book to be really touched. If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be? Black experience told passionately and made real for all. Exceptional! Any additional comments? This audio and book experience should be a MUST for children and adults. The pictures are awesome. Get it, Enjoy! Factual and well narrated After reading The Help I began to wish I had known more about black history especially in relation to racism in the American south before listening to it. Low and behold this audio book turned up to provide just that. I found it extremely informative whilst not bogging you down with dates and facts, this meant that it was easy to listen to and take in. The narrators personal touches and passion shone through illustrating the tragic and triumphant facts and stories beautifully. I now feel more informed about such an important part of our history and have a better understanding of the other audio books I enjoy listening to. Well worth a listen. Enthralling and Immensely Rich I am new to Kadir Nelson but I find that I love his artistry and words. I was moved by Heart and Soul. His presented words flowed off the page and rested in my heart with such a flourish that I thought I was hearing my own story. This volume is suitable for all the family. Debbie Allen's voice talent lent its raspy and velvety tones to the story.

The Fires of Babylon Audiobook by Mike Guardia

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Mike Guardia) — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 01:13:27 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Fires of Babylon Subtitle: Eagle Troop and the Battle of 73 Easting Author: Mike Guardia Narrator: Johnny Heller Format: Unabridged Length: 6 hrs and 51 mins Language: English Release date: 07-04-17 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 9 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: On the morning of August 2, 1990, Iraqi armored divisions invaded the tiny emirate of Kuwait. The Iraqi Army, after its long war with Iran, had more combat experience than the US Army. The Kuwaitis had collapsed easily enough, but the invasion drew fierce condemnation from the United Nations, which demanded Hussein's withdrawal. Undeterred by the rhetoric, the Iraqi dictator massed his forces along the Saudi Arabian border and dared the world to stop him. In response, the United States led the world community in a coalition of 34 nations in what became known as Operation Desert Storm. Leading this charge into Iraq were the men of Eagle Troop in the US Army's Second Armored Cavalry Regiment. Commanded by then-Captain H. R. McMaster - who would go on to serve as National Security Advisor in the Trump administration - Eagle Troop was the lead element of the US VII Corps' advance into Iraq. On February 26, 1991, Eagle Troop encountered the Tawakalna Brigade of Iraq's elite Republican Guard. By any calculation, the 12 American tanks didn't stand a chance. Yet within a mere 23 minutes, the M1A1 tanks of Eagle Troop destroyed more than 50 enemy vehicles and plowed a hole through the Iraqi front. History would call it the Battle of 73 Easting. Critic Reviews: "Guardia's writing does justice to the exciting story.... This is a no-holds-barred account, told as truthfully as possible.... it's gripping stuff." ( History of War) Members Reviews: A Compelling Story of the Soldiers of Desert Storm âThe Fires of Babylonâ for a civilian like me truly helped me understand Operation Desert Storm of 1991 and modern warfare. The book tells the story of the U.S. ground war against the Iraqi troops led by Saddam Hussein. Mike Guardia, formerly an Army Armor officer, leads the reader through the transition of the American Army in the Vietnam era into the 1990s, by telling the story of the officers and soldiers of Eagle Troop in the U.S. Armyâs 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. He gives us the story of their training in the U.S. and Germany which included everything from acclimation to the desert, preparations for chemical warfare, to the writing of their wills and last testaments and having pre-deployment photos taken in case they did not return. Their wills were written after Thanksgiving, and on December 4th they flew to Saudi Arabia. Once there, each soldier had to drink three bottles of water per day to survive in the desert and learn to battle the abrasiveness of the sand, which prompted many to repair their boots with duct tape. Then there were unexpected roadblocks like when they were being bussed to their battle stations by Arab drivers. There was an unexplained stop when all the drivers left their buses. The soldier told our author he thought to himself, âWhy are we stopping the war for a prayer call? Weâre already here in the desert, letâs get moving!â Finally on February 22nd the Eagle Troop drove their tanks into Iraq. After a month long air campaign against the Iraqi Army, the ground battle that lasted 100 hours began on February 23rd and was described in great detail, battling a sandstorm as well as the Iraqi tanks. The story of this battle and victory in the desert brought me a much better appreciation of what the U.S. soldier endured then and have endured for centuries.

Hitlers Monsters Audiobook by Eric Kurlander

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Eric Kurlander) — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 09:17:43 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Hitlers Monsters Subtitle: A Supernatural History of the Third Reich Author: Eric Kurlander Narrator: Grover Gardner Format: Unabridged Length: 18 hrs and 17 mins Language: English Release date: 07-18-17 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 29 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The Nazi fascination with the occult is legendary, yet today it is often dismissed as Himmler's personal obsession or wildly overstated for its novelty. Preposterous though it was, however, supernatural thinking was inextricable from the Nazi project. The regime enlisted astrology and the paranormal, paganism, Indo-Aryan mythology, witchcraft, miracle weapons, and the lost kingdom of Atlantis in reimagining German politics and society and recasting German science and religion. In this eye-opening history, Eric Kurlander reveals how the Third Reich's relationship to the supernatural was far from straightforward. Even as popular occultism and superstition were intermittently rooted out, suppressed, and outlawed, the Nazis drew upon a wide variety of occult practices and esoteric sciences to gain power, shape propaganda and policy, and pursue their dreams of racial utopia and empire. Members Reviews: Great scholarship, poor reader If you could sum up Hitlers Monsters in three words, what would they be? Scholarly, balanced, well-researched Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Grover Gardner? I wish that the production company had chosen *any* reader who is capable of pronouncing German words correctly. Ignorance of foreign languages is a widespread problem in audiobooks. Since I study German literature, I am always pleased to find audiobooks relating to my interests, but I have rarely, if ever, found a reader who actually knows how to pronounce German words in a way that doesn't make me cringe. If the book is about German subject matter, and uses a large number of German words and names, pick a reader who knows at least the basic rules of German pronunciation! Any additional comments? Excellent scholarly treatment of the issues surrounding the supernatural and border science in the Third Reich. I am a professor of German literature, and have done some research on occultism, parapsychology, and related phenomena, so I was eager to read this book, and pleased to find it in audiobook format (despite my dissatisfaction with the reader). Kurlander offers a well-researched account of the topic that draws deeply on primary sources, as well as addressing theoretical and historical work on related topics by other leading scholars. I would love to see more audiobooks of scholarly works like this, as opposed to the popular histories that are more common in audio format. sobering a fascinating account of the Third reich's involvement with the bizarre and the demonic that was both sober and sobering. One of the worst books I have ever read This book wasnt for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more? G.O.K...(God Only Knows)...very difficult book to listen to...can't believe there is someone who would enjoy this book. Has Hitlers Monsters turned you off from other books in this genre? No...but I'll be more careful in the future in choosing my books. How did the narrator detract from the book? Grover Gardner is one of the best...I'm still in awe that he could go from start to finish You didnt love this book...

Lost in Outer Space Audiobook by Tod Olson

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Tod Olson) — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 17:36:17 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Lost in Outer Space Subtitle: The Incredible Journey of Apollo 13 Author: Tod Olson Narrator: George Newbern Format: Unabridged Length: 3 hrs and 23 mins Language: English Release date: 02-01-17 Publisher: Scholastic Audio Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 4 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: This exciting second book in the Lost series tells the incredible true story of the doomed Apollo 13 moon mission that nearly ended in disaster. On April 11, 1970, the Apollo 13 space shuttle set off for the third intended American moon landing. Two days later and 200,000 miles from Earth, disaster struck when an oxygen tank exploded onboard the spacecraft, leaving three astronauts with only one goal: to make it home alive. From "Houston, we've had a problem" to the final tense moments at Mission Control, Lost in Outer Space takes listeners along on the unbelievable journey of Apollo 13 and inside the minds of its famous and heroic astronauts, including legendary Commander Jim Lovell. This is an up close and personal look at one of the most thrilling survival stories of all time. Members Reviews: lost No matter how many times I listen to Apollo 13 journey, I have enjoyed it. This book is just as good and enjoyed each moment.

Home Fires Audiobook by Julie Summers

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Julie Summers) — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 09:40:09 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Home Fires Subtitle: The Story of the Women's Institute in the Second World War Author: Julie Summers Narrator: Juliet Mills Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins Language: English Release date: 09-15-15 Publisher: Penguin Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 54 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Soon to be a PBS Masterpiece series starring Samantha Bond (Downton Abbey) and Francesca Annis (Cranford) Away from the frontlines of World War II, in towns and villages across Great Britain, ordinary women were playing a vital role in their country's war effort. As members of the Women's Institute, an organization with a presence in a third of Britain's villages, they ran canteens and knitted garments for troops, collected tons of rosehips and other herbs to replace medicines that couldn't be imported, and advised the government on issues ranging from evacuee housing to children's health to postwar reconstruction. But they are best known for making jam: From produce they grew on every available scrap of land, they produced 12 million pounds of jam and preserves to feed a hungry nation. Home Fires, Julie Summers' fascinating social history of the Women's Institute during the war (when its members included the future Queen Elizabeth II along with her mother and grandmother), provides the remarkable and inspiring true story behind the upcoming PBS Masterpiece series that will be sure to delight fans of Call the Midwife and Foyle's War. Through archival material and interviews with current and former Women's Institute members, Home Fires gives us an intimate look at life on the home front during World War II. Members Reviews: Tread Carefully & Be Amazed Ok let's cover the basics. This book--Home Fires (aka Jambusters in the UK) is not a novel, not the story from the PBS series and has nothing to do with the actresses on the photo of the dust jacket. Everyone seems a bit mixed up about this book. Home Fires--the PBS TV program--is a fictionalized account of WWII and the Women's Institute drawn from this nonfiction book. This book is a very serious, crunch the numbers, fact dense look at what life was really like in Britain. I can't say or agree that the book just focuses on the WWII years. In reality, we get so much information that looks both back to the WWI years and forward to the UK still rationing and struggling in the 1950s. The scope is much broader than I had expected and offers a picture I had not experienced until now. At once fascinating and at the same time almost repellant in its detail of day to day, down and dirty, war time home-front survival, farming, butchering of animals and vermin control. It is a book that I dreaded listening to--but at the same time couldn't stop thinking about and talking about. It is a cautionary tale and a story of strong, can-do women who accomplished the impossible. The TV program does not begin to do justice to the actual scope and numbers presented in the reading. The whole thing was mind boggling and gave new meaning to the idea of preparedness and self-reliance for me. Best to go into this book understanding that while the journal entries add a human face to the bare knuckle facts--there is zero fluff and cozy to be found. I finally understand the expression that would fix itself to my great aunt's face--a survivor of WWII London--when people would romanticize the war years. It all makes sense now.

Homeward Bound Audiobook by Elaine Tyler May

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Elaine Tyler May) — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 01:25:60 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Homeward Bound Subtitle: American Families in the Cold War Era Author: Elaine Tyler May Narrator: Kevin Stillwell Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 10 mins Language: English Release date: 01-05-18 Publisher: Hachette Audio Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: A revised edition of the classic, myth-shattering exploration of American family life during the Cold War. When Homeward Bound first appeared in 1988, it forever changed how we understand Cold War America. Elaine Tyler May demonstrated that the Atomic Age and the Cold War shaped American life not just in national politics but at every level of society, from the boardroom to the bedroom. Her notion of "domestic containment" is now the standard interpretation of the era, and Homeward Bound has become a classic. This new edition includes an updated introduction and a new epilogue examining the legacy of Cold War obsessions with personal and family security in the present day. PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio. Critic Reviews: "A provocative thesis that will stir debate." (Library Journal) "This book helps the Baby Boom generation understand its genesis." (Booklist ) "A major addition to the literature on the history of the family [that] significantly enhances our understanding of American society in the 1950s." (The New York Times) Members Reviews: Excellent snapshots of American Life, esp from the 40's thru thre 70's Original book written prior to 9/11 (2001). This is basically the same book with the addition of another chapter covering the 9/11 events and bringing the book more up yo date and is considered the 20th Anniversary issue. Book was well researched with Appendix as well as detailed NOTES section - I would highly recommend reading this bok for those who want a look behind the scenes of American Life, in detail, especially covering from WWII thru the 70's - eye opener. A lot a stats, lot of research, lot of analysis and well told (not boring!). Five Stars thank you I feel like I already knew all this. So, apparently if I have seen something, then I still have to cite it from this era. Weird, because I saw all of this on television and read it in the magazines. If you have lived through this era, or even born in this era (like me), don't waste your money if you don't have to. However, if you don't know anything about this era, then this is the book for you. Five Stars Excellent book about the "unwritten" law during Cold War years in the US. Four Stars good, quick read. Interesting theories

The Hotel on Place Vendome Audiobook by Tilar J. Mazzeo

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Tilar J. Mazzeo) — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 23:25:06 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Hotel on Place Vendome Subtitle: Life, Death, and Betrayal at the Hotel Ritz in Paris Author: Tilar J. Mazzeo Narrator: Elizabeth Wiley Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins Language: English Release date: 08-04-15 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 46 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Set against the backdrop of the Nazi occupation of World War II, The Hôtel on Place Vendôme is the captivating history of Paris' world-famous Hôtel Ritz - a breathtaking tale of glamour, opulence, and celebrity and of dangerous liaisons, espionage, and resistance. When France fell to the Germans in June 1940, the legendary Hôtel Ritz on the Place Vendôme - an icon of Paris frequented by film stars and celebrity writers, American heiresses and risqué flappers, playboys, and princes - was the only luxury hotel of its kind allowed in the occupied city by order of Adolf Hitler. Tilar J. Mazzeo traces the history of this cultural landmark from its opening in fin de siècle Paris. At its center The Hotel on Place Vendôme is an extraordinary chronicle of life at the Ritz during wartime, when the hotel was simultaneously headquarters to the highest-ranking German officers, such as Reichsmarshal Hermann Göring, and home to exclusive patrons, including Coco Chanel. Mazzeo takes us into the grand palace's suites, bars, dining rooms, and wine cellars, revealing a hotbed of illicit affairs and deadly intrigue as well as stunning acts of defiance and treachery. Rich in detail, The Hotel on Place Vendôme is a remarkable look at this extraordinary crucible where the future of postwar France - and all of postwar Europe - was transformed. Critic Reviews: "Readers will enjoy Mazzeo's fascinating collection of secretive, scheming historical characters, all under one elegant roof." ( Publishers Weekly) Members Reviews: A Reprint of "Much Ado About Nothing" This is the most poorly written and superficial "history" book that I have ever read. It is so full of factual errors that it is almost impossible to absorb them, and the author makes statements throughout the book which have no truth whatsoever. They are far too numerous to mention, but a few of them include her statement that the American Assimilated Colonel Fred Wardenburg was called away from a hotel in Washington late one evening in 1944 and was at the Ritz Hotel in Paris the following morning. If his aircraft had flown by the fastest possible route, stopping only at Gander or Goose Bay, and then at Shannon or Prestwick, he would not have arrived in Paris until the following night. This may seem trivial, but it is an example of the author's complete disinterest in facts. Another is her claim that Ernest Hemingway committed suicide ay his home in Key West. He did not. It was at his home in Ketchum, Idaho.. The author makes statements as though they were facts, when there is not a shred of truth to them. It is beyond pitiful, and a disgrace to literature. It is sad that anyone would publish such a book., The publisher's proof reader left an unnecessary "t" after the word "only" on page 16. Very sloppy this. I wish I had my money back.. Interesting story and in depth character portrayal This story was interesting to read if just for a glimpse back in time. Having lived in Paris for a few years you can only imagine all the little pockets of untold history. The Ritz in particular had a central role throughout not only World War II but for the better part of a century.

Freedom Summer Audiobook by Bruce Watson

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Bruce Watson) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:29:15 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Freedom Summer Subtitle: The Savage Season That Made Mississippi Burn and Made America a Democracy Author: Bruce Watson Narrator: David Drummond Format: Unabridged Length: 14 hrs and 41 mins Language: English Release date: 06-10-10 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 160 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: In the summer of 1964, with the civil rights movement stalled, seven hundred college students descended on Mississippi to register black voters, teach in Freedom Schools, and live in sharecroppers' shacks. But by the time their first night in the state had ended, three volunteers were dead, black churches had burned, and America had a new definition of freedom. This remarkable chapter in American history, the basis for the controversial film Mississippi Burning, is now the subject of Bruce Watson's thoughtful and riveting historical narrative. Using in-depth interviews with participants and residents, Watson brilliantly captures the tottering legacy of Jim Crow in Mississippi and the chaos that brought such national figures as Martin Luther King, Jr., and Pete Seeger to the state. Freedom Summer presents finely rendered portraits of the courageous black citizens and Northern volunteers who refused to be intimidated in their struggle for justice, as well as the white Mississippians who would kill to protect a dying way of life. Few books have provided such an intimate look at race relations during the deadliest days of the civil rights movement. ©2010 Bruce Watson (P)2010 Tantor Editorial Reviews: In Freedom Summer, Bruce Watsons amazing attention to detail vividly brings to life the dramatic events that took place in Mississippi in 1964. Watsons account of the murder of three civil rights workers that summer and the ensuing aftermath told in David Drummonds deep, baritone voice makes for a very powerful listen. Thanks to numerous interviews with eyewitnesses to this striking moment in American history, Watson fills Freedom Summer with precise details like the midnight runs one civil rights worker would take to relieve his stress and the first terrifying night another spent half awake in her new office in Mississippi. Its these telling details that give the book a sweeping, novelistic quality. Theres also a sense of immediacy that stems from Watsons precise writing and Drummonds performance. Drummond wisely takes a matter-of-fact approach to narrating the book. Theres no reason to add extra drama to Freedom Summer. What happened that year in Mississippi needs no embellishment. Freedom Summer should be heard in every 20th-century American history class, as it zeros in on a specific time and place and reminds us exactly what happened so we will never forget this dramatic turning point in American history. Critic Reviews: "Bruce Watson captures, with skill and sensitivity, the drama of that historic summer in Mississippi.... This is the best account I have seen of Freedom Summer." (Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States) Members Reviews: The Long Hot Summer A child of the 60s I approached this book with the impression that I knew most of what took place. Fortunately, I was wrong. This book revisits the summer of 1964 when 700 or so volunteers arrived to register voters in Mississippi. Familiar characteris of the era come alive through Bruce Watson's pen - LBJ, Stokely Carmichael and others. More importantly, a critical number of the 700 participants also come to life which is so interesting. If you think you know what took place and you fully understand the implications - look at this book again.

Voices of the Pacific Audiobook by Adam Makos

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Adam Makos) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:29:25 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Voices of the Pacific Subtitle: Untold Stories from the Marine Heroes of World War II Author: Adam Makos Narrator: Tom Weiner Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins Language: English Release date: 04-02-13 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 139 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Chronicling the United States Marine Corps actions in the Pacific theater of operations, Voices of the Pacific presents the true stories of heroism and honor as told by such World War II veterans as Sid Phillips, R. V. Burgin, and Chuck Tatum - whose exploits were featured in the HBO miniseries The Pacific - and their marine buddies from the legendary First Marine Division. Following 15 marines from the Pearl Harbor attack and intense boot camp training through battles with the Japanese on Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, and Okinawa to their return home after V-J Day, Adam Makos and Marcus Brotherton have compiled an oral history of the Pacific War in the words of the men who fought on the front lines. With unflinching honesty, these marines reveal harrowing accounts of combat with an implacable enemy, the friendships and camaraderie they found - and lost - and the aftermath of the wars impact on their lives. With unprecedented access to the veterans and unpublished memoirs, Makos and Brotherton have forged Voices of the Pacific into an incredible historic record of American bravery and sacrifice. Critic Reviews: These are the true - and terrifying - stories of combat marines struggling against a fanatical enemy on the far-flung islands of the Pacific. A powerful new book. (Dale Dye, military advisor for Band of Brothersand The Pacific) A fantastic, deeply moving collection of stories told by the men who were actually there. (Alex Kershaw, New YorkTimesbest-selling author) Imagine a last conversation with your father or grandfather who fought in World War II, only this time he tells you the stories he always held back. Thats Voices of the Pacific. (Larry Alexander, New YorkTimesbest-selling author) Members Reviews: A good story line It showed the exact thing Mari Es went through and what the pacific environment was like Narrator of a Thousand Voices! Top notch audio book! I was engrossed in the soldiers' stories, and amazed by all the great voices of the narrator! Great book! I loved it, and highly recommend it!!!! A fantastic book A fantastic book. Every American needs to read or listen to this book. There is not enough taught about the war with theJapanese. This history must be preserved and passed on to new generations. This book does an excellent job of telling the stories of these Marine veterans. Touching, poignant, stirring vignettes & memories. I read a lot of WWII memoirs, but this set of dovetailed stories, in the words of those who lived them, brings perspective and detail to what I knew. At the same time, each vignette, each small memory, is a witness to the shared bigger story. It is wrenching and thrilling, grevious and glorious, as only the stories of individual but interrelated acts of courage, trauma, fear, heroism, loss, and victory can be. Wonderful Fascinating. Hits one very hard...One of those books that puts your life into perspective. Reading was quite good, with a different voice actor for each person. Will be listening to it again.

Fundamental Cases Audiobook by Alan M. Dershowitz

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Alan M. Dershowitz) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:20:50 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Fundamental Cases Subtitle: The Twentieth-Century Courtroom Battles That Changed Our Nation - The Modern Scholar Author: Alan M. Dershowitz Narrator: Alan M. Dershowitz Format: Unabridged Length: 7 hrs and 54 mins Language: English Release date: 08-18-08 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 203 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: It was Alexis de Tocqueville who, when he visited the new republic for the first time, said that America was a unique country when it comes to law. Every great issue eventually comes before the courts. With this in mind, esteemed professor and civil liberties lawyer Alan Dershowitz looks at history through the prism of the trial, because a trial presents a snapshot of what's going on in a particular point in time of the nation's history. What's a great trial? People will often say the trial of the moment. But those trials are often not enduring. The focus of this course is on landmark trials and the important, dramatic aspects of the history of the time in which they occurred. Members Reviews: I'd rather be able to rate each section. This is a book that has 5 star segments and 1 star segments. A better title is "Dershowitz talks about cases he finds interesting," but that's not bad in and of itself. Any legal scholar does that to some extent. And when he stops to talk actually about law, he offers some really interesting points, what I think of as the best kind of ideas, the ones that give you new ways to think about things, or help you focus why you disagree. However, a considerable portion of the lecture is also dedicated to "Dershowitz retries cases," which is at best dull, and at worst a cheap act of dirty pool, specifically at the points where it's plain he's just trying to win a lost case by turning around public opinion. The historical parts are about average, where his analysis is solid if a bit unremarkable. So, listen, but feel free to skip parts. Good lecture series. Let me start off by saying im a republician and my views are right of center. I knew going into this book that the author was left of center without being etreme so I prepared myself for the inevidable differences of opinion. Alan Dershowitz certainly interjects his opinion throughout the lectures. Nowhere is this more evident then in the section about Bush v. Gore. Mr. Dershowitz deals exclusively with the 5 - 4 decision to halt the recount but doesnt go into the courts rationale for it. Additionally no mention is made of the 7 - 2 decision in the same opinion which clearly ruled that there was a violation of the equal protection clause. Also, Mr. Dershowitz lists the retrial of Klaus von Bulow as one of the great trials ( Mr. Dershowitz was the appeals lawer for Bulow ) I would have thought the Jack Ruby trial or the Al Capone trial more significant. Alan Dershowitz is one of the greatest lawyers / educators alive. His lecture series is highly entertaining as well as informative. Buy this audiobook Skewed The cases included in this series were not fundemental and most had no lasting impact on our court system. The cases reviewed were media sensational cases, although all very interesting. I think, however, that the cases were chosen for another reason. Each had some social implication he could champion. While I agreed with his conclusions on the facts of almost every case he chose to review, his opinions marred the presentation. He defends judicial activism and then condemns conservative judges for doing so.

Gangsterismo Audiobook by Jack Colhoun

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jack Colhoun) — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 03:28:07 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Gangsterismo Subtitle: The United States, Cuba and the Mafia, 1933 to 1966 Author: Jack Colhoun Narrator: Steve Coulter Format: Unabridged Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins Language: English Release date: 01-28-14 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 10 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Gangsterismo is an extraordinary accomplishment, the most comprehensive history yet of the clash of epic forces over several decades in Cuba. It is a chronicle that touches upon deep and ongoing themes in the history of the Americas, and more specifically of the United States government, Cuba before and after the revolution, and the criminal networks known as the Mafia. The result of 18 years research at national archives and presidential libraries in Kansas, Maryland, Texas, and Massachusetts, here is the story of the making and unmaking of a gangster state in Cuba. In the early 1930s, mobster Meyer Lansky sowed the seeds of gangsterismo when he won Cuban strongman Fulgencio Batistas support for a mutually beneficial arrangement: the North American Mafia were to share the profits from a future colony of casinos, hotels, and nightclubs with Batista, his inner circle, and senior Cuban Army and police officers. In return, Cuban authorities allowed the Mafia to operate its establishments without interference. Over the next twenty-five years, a gangster state took root in Cuba as Batista, other corrupt Cuban politicians, and senior Cuban army and police officers got rich. All was going swimmingly until a handful of revolutionaries upended the neat arrangement: And the CIA, Cuban counterrevolutionaries, and the Mafia joined forces to attempt the overthrow of Castro. Gangsterismo is unique in the literature on Cuba, and establishes for the first time the integral, extensive role of mobsters in the Cuban exile movement. The narrative unfolds against a broader historical backdrop of which it was a part: The confrontation between the United States and the Cuban revolution, which turned Cuba into one of the most perilous battlegrounds of the Cold War. Members Reviews: Good read. Fascinating study but more politically-focused that I imagined. It makes a meaningful contribution to the study of organized crime even if the Mafia's role gets lost at times. Gangsterismo Defined A well written, extremely well researched telling of the tale of Castro's Cuba and how it got to be his. Ugly International Politics Would you consider the audio edition of Gangsterismo to be better than the print version? I brought both the Print and the Audio and followed the Narrative. This is the first time I did it this way. Frankly, For me that worked very well. What other book might you compare Gangsterismo to and why? God's Bankers by Posner is the closest I can think of for comparison. Both are well researched and both present shocking insights. What about Steve Coulters performance did you like? The Performance was melodious, it did not get in the way of the story. If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be? "The Bad and the Ugly" Terrific book. Misleading title. This is a fascinating, in depth look at the Cuban revolution and its effects in the mid 20th. century.

The Ten-Cent Plague Audiobook by David Hajdu

biacuaduc@gmail.com (David Hajdu) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 06:41:08 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Ten-Cent Plague Subtitle: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How It Changed America Author: David Hajdu Narrator: Stefan Rudnicki Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins Language: English Release date: 03-18-08 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 573 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: David Hajdu reveals how comics, years before the rock-and-roll revolution, brought on a clash between postwar children and their prewar parents. Created by outsiders from the tenements, garish, shameless, and often shocking, comics became the targets of a raging generational culture divide. They were burned in public bonfires, outlawed in certain cities, and nearly destroyed by a series of televised Congressional hearings. Yet their creativity, irreverence, and suspicion of authority would have a lasting influence. Critic Reviews: "Every once in a while, moral panic, innuendo, and fear bubble up from the depths of our culture....David Hajdu's fascinating new book tracks one of the stranger and most significant of these episodes, now forgotten, with exactness, clarity, and serious wit." (Sean Wilentz, Professor of History, Princeton University)"This book tells an amazing story, with thrills and chills more extreme than the workings of a comic book's imagination." ( The New York Times) Members Reviews: Art can't hurt you This well researched book clearly details how Comic Books were used as a quick easy target for the difficult problem of violence in society. One can't help but see the parallels to current events as we scapegoat video games as the cause of violence in young people, even though violent crime has gone down as the sale of video games has gone up over the last 5 years. It is precisely the same dynamic described in this book. A fair criticism is that there are too many sources referenced. I would have liked less quantity and more in depth interviews. However, as a fan of old EC Comics, I enjoyed hearing from all of the people who created them; many who lived through the ban went on to create modern comics. And all of the first person dialog brings the tone of the times to life. Now I understand why my grandmother, to my horror, threw away all of my comics when she discovered them in my room in 1962. She thought I was headed for a life of crime! The narration was excellent. Very frightening Most people believe that we live in a country where freedom of the press is guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. This book, which is very well written, shows a slice of our history in which this right was removed. What was done to the comic book industry was the equivalent of Salem witch hunts. I was horrified and nauseated at the descriptions of massive comic book burnings. I had no idea that this event occurred and reminds me that we have to be ever vigilant to attempts by people who attempt to dictate what my morals and tastes should be. This book was gripping and very informative. As good as a novel! What a terrific book. As a child in the fifties I vaguely remember my parents warning me about comic books. But this book tells all the background information I could have never understood. And the birth of MAD magazine is a great bonus to the birth of all the comic creations. How our country got so wrapped up in fearing comic books is absurd, but not surprising given the hubbub a few years back over the flash of a breast at the Super Bowl. This book is worth every moment of time.

Nagasaki Audiobook by Susan Southard

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Susan Southard) — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 04:26:51 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Nagasaki Subtitle: Life After Nuclear War Author: Susan Southard Narrator: Traci Kato-Kiriyama Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins Language: English Release date: 07-28-15 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 47 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: A powerful and unflinching account of the enduring impact of nuclear war, told through the stories of those who survived. On August 9, 1945, three days after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, a small port city on Japan's southernmost island. An estimated 74,000 people died within the first five months, and another 75,000 were injured. Published on the 70th anniversary of the bombing, Nagasaki takes listeners from the morning of the bombing to the city today, telling the firsthand experiences of five survivors, all of whom were teenagers at the time of the devastation. Susan Southard has spent years interviewing hibakusha ("bomb-affected people") and researching the physical, emotional, and social challenges of postatomic life. She weaves together dramatic eyewitness accounts with searing analysis of the policies of censorship and denial that colored much of what was reported about the bombing in both the United States and Japan. A gripping narrative of human resilience, Nagasaki will help shape public discussion and debate over one of the most controversial wartime acts in history. Members Reviews: Truly, A Heartrending Horrorshow I had to go back and reread, re listen to a whoooole lot of books on the Pacific war after I finished with Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War because it's a book that'll have you conflicted as all get out as to whether the use of atomic weaponry was necessary. And that's because Nagasaki covers the lives of survivors, just before the blast and follows them through the nightmare of the aftermath. It's a brutal and devastating book, unflinching, unapologetically forthright and honest. Because those bombs caused untold, well, here there is some told, suffering. Southard doesn't downplay Japanese atrocities of the war, neither does she play them up. The cruel and the brutal were just the way. Nor does she downplay the brainwashing of the Japanese citizenry who would've gladly used the utterly feudal and futile bamboo spear as a weapon against those who would invade Japan's shores. But the horrors that follow the detonation make it clear that, no matter your politics, what happened to these individuals? Nobody but the most brutal deserves. Well-written over a span of twelve years, Nagasaki is a book that'll have you conflicted then, perhaps, resolute. It's a 12+ hour horrorshow that'll leave you shaken, gasping for breath. Great book This book was well written and educational. I have never read or been taught anything about possible survivors from the event. Most Americans wasn't aware that their were two bombs dropped on two different cities in Japan. Powerful read Nuclear war consequences have become too abstract. We must bring survivors anecdotal stories to our political leaders. We must push for control and reduction of nuclear stockpiles. This was a powerful read.

The Holocaust Audiobook by Laurence Rees

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Laurence Rees) — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 05:49:55 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Holocaust Subtitle: A New History Author: Laurence Rees Narrator: Jonathan Keeble Format: Unabridged Length: 19 hrs and 33 mins Language: English Release date: 01-26-17 Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: This landmark work answers two of the most fundamental questions in history: how and why did the Holocaust happen? Laurence Rees has spent 25 years meeting survivors and perpetrators of the Third Reich and the Holocaust. Now, in his magnum opus, he combines largely unpublished testimony with the latest academic research to create the first accessible and authoritative account of the Holocaust in over three decades. Rees argues that whilst hatred of the Jews was always at the epicentre of Nazi thinking - and the Holocaust was the most appalling crime in history - what happened cannot be fully understood without considering the murder of the Jews alongside other Nazi plans to kill millions of non-Jews as well. He also reveals the inner machinations of the Nazi state and shows how there was no single decision to start the Holocaust; instead, a series of escalations cumulatively created the horror. Through a chronological, intensely gripping narrative featuring the latest historical research and enthralling eyewitness testimony, this is the compelling story of humanity's lowest point. Members Reviews: Holocaust - A masterly telling Where does The Holocaust rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far? One of the finest audio history books I have listened to. Totally engaging. A clear and measured account of the darkest error of western European history. What was one of the most memorable moments of The Holocaust? This does not really apply. The whole book is a highlight. What does Jonathan Keeble bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you had only read the book? Mr Keeble is a masterly narrater. Vocally clear and engaged with the text, a model of the professional readers art. Quotes from holocaust survivors are read with character, without a trace of caricature. Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? No. The text is too long and the subject matter means that I for one needed some respite. Any additional comments? No History Repeats Itself ? As I enjoy history books, there isn't anything in particular I dislike about the book. It is a timely reminder of how human beings can allow themselves to believe demagoguery when they benefit from it at someone else's expense ( Jews, Poles, everyone not considered racially superior). It is an extremely well researched book, with accounts from individuals who were there. Even though everyone knows about the extermination of European Jewry, the level of Nazi anti Jewish sentiment made me feel physically sick. The level of collusion To formulate extermination very frightening indeed. In current times we need to remember for evil to succeed all it takes is people doing nothing. wow Amazing. Terrifying. An insight like none I've read or watched before. The narrator is, I feel, a good choice. He brings a level of intensity and care to a telling of this history that is respectful. The book itself is well paced, indepth and compelling to listen to. The author presents the research, backed up by citing documents and interviews, in a chronological way.

Soldat Audiobook by Siegfried Knappe, Ted Brusaw

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Siegfried Knappe) — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 14:44:56 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Soldat Subtitle: Reflections of a German Soldier, 1936-1949 Author: Siegfried Knappe, Ted Brusaw Narrator: John Wray Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins Language: English Release date: 07-02-13 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 564 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: A German soldier during World War II offers an inside look at the Nazi war machine, using his wartime diaries to describe how a ruthless psychopath motivated an entire generation of ordinary Germans to carry out his monstrous schemes. Members Reviews: An incredible true story A very amazing story of a one very lucky mans experiences through the entirety of WWII. This is a must read for anyone remotely interested in how the average German Soldier perceived the war. Its also a great background piece for how the East / West divide opened up during this period. Narration was sound, but a little uninspiring. It wasnt difficult to listen to, but it could have had more inflection at times and been more dynamic. A warning: an general interest in military issues is an asset, as the average readers eyes may glaze over in parts where units, places, and dates are brought up. In summary, an very good piece of work. Inside the other side I've previously read accounts written by German soldiers who fought in WWII, but this was one of the more interesting and personal ones. As reconstructed from his diary and interviews, we learn that Siegfried Knappe was an unusually capable and dedicated soldier who managed to rise through the ranks, starting as a humble private in the pre-war years, and ending up as a general staff officer who was present at Hitler's bunker before the end. Along the way, he experienced different aspects of German military life in that era, from being a teenager in a labor/indoctrination camp (sort of a pre-boot camp to get young adults used to regimentation), to being a proud young officer in infantry school, to carrying out his duties in an artillery regiment during the invasions of France and Russia, to watching things turn dire for Germany as Hitler's insane decisions doom the army in Russia and allow the massive Soviet military to smash its way to Berlin. A grim epilogue follows as he endures several years languishing in a Soviet POW camp, albeit one of the less bad ones. As with most of the other German accounts I've read, Knappe pleads ignorance about the extent of Nazi lies and atrocities (i.e. he knew of concentration camps, but not their murderous function), and expresses remorse for his role in enabling what initially seemed like a just war to most Germans, but crossed the line into a war of aggression and conquest. Chillingly, he observes, "would I have spend much time thinking about this if we'd won the war? Probably not." He doesn't spend a lot of time on self-recrimination, though, and talks more about the horrors of life under Communism (which seems understandable, given his POW experiences). Readers looking for combat stories won't find more than a few here, but there were plenty of other details that interested me. I'm often curious about the technical details of how things work, and I thoroughly enjoyed the sections describing how German soldiers were trained and organized, which go against the popular stereotype of mindless stormtroopers. Sadly, although the officers were instilled with a strong sense of professionalism, it seems that many were so intent on restoring the national prestige shattered after WWI and avoiding a redo of the trenches, that it didn't dawn on them that they were being used by crazy people. At least, not until their lives were about to be thrown away.

Dog Company Audiobook by Patrick K. ODonnell

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Patrick K. ODonnell) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:21:03 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Dog Company Subtitle: The Boys of Pointe Du Hoc - the Rangers Who Landed at D-Day and Fought Across Europe Author: Patrick K. ODonnell Narrator: John Pruden Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins Language: English Release date: 11-06-12 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 159 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: In the tradition ofBand of Brothers, acclaimed combat historian Patrick K. ODonnell cinematically tells one of World War IIs greatest untold stories. It is said that the right man in the right place at the right time can mean the difference between victory and defeat. This is the dramatic story of 68 soldiers in the US Army's Second Ranger Battalion, Company D - "Dog Company" - who made that difference, time and again.From D-day, when German guns atop Pointe du Hoc threatened the Allied landings and the men of Dog Company scaled the sheer 90-foot cliffs to destroy them; to the slopes of Hill 400, in Germanys Hürtgen Forest, where the Rangers launched a desperate bayonet charge across an open field; to a "quiet" section of the Ardennes, where Dog Company suddenly found itself on the tip of the spear at the Battle of the Bulge; the men of Dog Company made the difference. America had many heroes in World War II; however, few can say that, but for them, the course of the war would have been very different. The right men, the right place, the right time - Dog Company. Patrick K. ODonnell is the award-winning author of eight books, including the highly acclaimed account of the Battle of Fallujah We Were One. He has provided historical consulting for Band of Brothers and multiple documentaries. He lives in Austin, Texas. Critic Reviews: "A great American writer." (Clive Cussler) "The authors most important accomplishment among many is to put a human face on the troops who are fighting against some of the fiercest enemies America has ever encountered. Read ODonnells excellent book." ( New York Post on We Were One) Members Reviews: On par with the best; Band of Brothers, etc A quick introduction to my ratings...everyone has their own views so you should know what mine are so my review may be of help ***** - 5 Stars, an all time great that I would want to read every year **** - 4 Stars, a good book that I would be willing to read again *** - 3 Stars, an average book, glad I read but would not read again ** - 2 Stars, I finished but was sorry I did and would not recommend it * - 1 Star, i could not even finish it I list my recommendation if you were my friend, my overall thoughts and then list the 2 things I liked best and the 2 things I liked least about the book. This is not conclusion, rather a 1 min review. Recommendation - If you like military history, i.e. books like With the Old Breed, Band of Brothers, etc, I highly recommend this book. Overall,this book is another tribute to the brutality of war and the hearts of the WWII generation. They speak of many battles as the summary describes. It is not sugar coated, the author pulls no punches in romanticizing war. Best 1. The description of life in battle pulled no punches. The author also expanded on the quotes, attributing them to the interview or source, so the reader knows they were not the author's narrative, they were from interviews, 1st hand accounts. I appreciate that as many authors like to add to it. 2. I enjoyed the ending when the author spoke of what came of the members of Dog Company, it is good to hear how their lives ended up! Least 1. There is little to say here.

The Battle of the Coral Sea Audiobook by Charles River Editors

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Charles River Editors) — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 21:30:29 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Battle of the Coral Sea Subtitle: The History and Legacy of World War II's First Major Battle Between Aircraft Carriers Author: Charles River Editors Narrator: Ken Teutsch Format: Unabridged Length: 1 hr and 48 mins Language: English Release date: 01-05-17 Publisher: Charles River Editors Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 8 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The growing buzz of aircraft engines disturbed the Japanese military construction personnel hauling equipment ashore on the beige coral sand of Tulagi Island at 8:20 AM on May 4, 1942. Offshore, the large IJN (Imperial Japanese Navy) minelayer Okinoshima, flagship of Admiral Shima Kiyohide, lay at anchor, along with two destroyers, Kikuzuki and Yutsuki, and transport ships. Six Japanese Mitsubishi F1M2 floatplanes also rested on the gentle, deep blue swell, marking Tulagi's future as an IJN floatplane base. The men on the beach, at inland construction sites, or aboard the Japanese ships, looked up towards the huge white cumulus clouds sailing on the ocean wind. Taken completely by surprise, the Japanese stood and stared as 13 sturdy-looking dive bombers dropped through the cumulus layer at 6,000 feet, plunging towards the IJN ships. As they streaked lower, the white star on a black disc insignia of American aircraft grew visible on the underside of each wing. As the dive bombers roared low, drowning out the soft clacking of palm-fronds agitated by the steady sea breeze, the dark capsule shapes of 1,000-lb bombs broke away from their undersides and hurtled towards the anchored ships. Amid the sudden thunder of explosions, huge fountains of white foam gushed upward, sparkling in the tropical sunlight before collapsing back into the sea. Only as the American Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers began climbing out of their attack did the Japanese finally open fire with the four anti-aircraft guns set up on the Tulagi shore. Members Reviews: Concise history of the Battle of the Coral Sea I really enjoyed The Battle of the Coral Sea: The History and Legacy of World War II's First Major Battle Between Aircraft Carriers. The e-book provided a short description of the events leading to the Battle of the Coral Sea, the battle itself, and how this battle helped us in the later Battle of Midway. The book is very detailed but concise. There are pictures of all the major personalities, and aircraft carriers. I highly recommend this book. The forgotten battle that made the success at Midway possible! Even after watching several documentaries of the early days of the war in the Pacific, the Battle of the Coral Sea never seems to get the same level of scrutiny and analysis as Midway does. Without the strategic success at Coral Sea, Midway may not have been the all-important game changer that it turned out to be for the U.S. and our allies. but I was a bit disappointed that didn't carry through (I'm mainly a fiction reader ... From the introduction I was expecting a more poetic narrative about this little-talked about battle, but I was a bit disappointed that didn't carry through (I'm mainly a fiction reader so I appreciated the more literary approach). There were more flowery flourishes interspersed, but for the most part it was more dry. All that being said, while I may have scored this a bit lower for readability, overall incredibly factual and a lot learned after reading it. An under-appreciated moment in the Pacific campaign. While most ... An under-appreciated moment in the Pacific campaign.

The Queen and Di Audiobook by Ingrid Seward

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Ingrid Seward) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 23:35:29 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Queen and Di Subtitle: The Untold Story Author: Ingrid Seward Narrator: Emily Gray Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins Language: English Release date: 02-28-13 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 57 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: In this work, best-selling author Ingrid Seward, the longtime editor of Majesty magazine and perhaps the most authoritative writer on the royal family, takes the listener behind the palace gates of Buckingham, Balmoral, and Sandrigham, and shows us how the royals really live and operate among themselves. Elizabeth herself as a young bride had to learn how to deal with all sorts of personal problems, including a sometimes difficult and wayward husband, so she was especially sympathetic to Diana's many idiosyncrasies and difficulties. From an insider's perspective, the author charts Di's ups and downs: her difficult childhood, bulimia, depression, and sometimes even paranoia, offset by her innate charm, compassion, and common touch. Diana just wanted to be loved . . . but love isn't part of the royal vocabulary. A few weeks before her death, Princess Diana called and invited Ingrid Seward to come to her house. Drawing on her long association with Diana and what turned out to be Diana's last conversation with a member of the press, Seward provides astonishing insight into the Camilla Parker Bowles affair, as well as the views and opinions of one of the most adored and vilified women of the 20th century. Editorial Reviews: The Queen and Di: The Untold Story begins with an intimate interview between Ingrid Seward and Princess Diana, herself. Using firsthand sources such as this, Seward has managed to provide new perspective on a relationship that has been the obsession of paparazzi and gossip columnists for decades: the conflicted bond between Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth. Emily Gray's prim performance perfectly conveys the style and elegance so often associated with stories of the Princess. The Queen and Di is a delightful listen for anyone interested in the stories and gossip of Royal Society. Members Reviews: The Queen and Di I found this book to be an engaging narration of the relationship between two remarkable women. In most books on the marriage of Prince Charles and Diana the author has a bias so obvious that you know immediately who's "side" they are on. I think the whole story is tragic and so sad I think it is a case study in how not to. behave in an unfortunate marriage and divorce. Although the princess had endured the trauma of growing up in an unstable family and carried it all her life ironically she seemed to put her own sons through that same trauma. Worst than that she put especially William in the role of confidant and counselor on his young shoulders, children do not need nor should they be placed in such situations. Charles is also not placed on a pedestal by the author. It seems as if being Prince of Wales is not an enviable position. Edward VII as Prince of Wales was a play boy who seemed to have very loose morals and got involved in scandals all the time. Edward VIII as Prince of Wales was even worse. It is definitely worth your time to listen to this book Quite one sided. It is not surprising that the Queens legacy will always outshine Diana's. However, I doubt even the palace would want the former Princess' name to be smeared to this level. She was not perfect. But this book offers Diana no allowances, if for nothing else, than for her naivete and youthful antics when first entering the palace gates.

Must History Repeat the Great Conflicts of This Century? Audiobook by The Great Courses

biacuaduc@gmail.com (The Great Courses) — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 22:59:39 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Must History Repeat the Great Conflicts of This Century? Author: The Great Courses Narrator: Professor Joseph S. Nye Jr. Format: Original Recording Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins Language: English Release date: 07-08-13 Publisher: The Great Courses Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 68 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Twice in the first half of the last century, the great powers engaged in wars that killed nearly 70 million people, with the aftermath of each shaking the international political system, changing the maps of the world, and setting the scene for the next great conflict. And for most of the past 50 years, the Cold War dominated international politics. Is this the history we are condemned to repeat? This series of eight lectures about international politics will hone your ability to approach that question with knowledge and insight. It reveals how concepts such as the balance of power and the international system interweave with and help shape history, showing you what actually happened in the great conflicts and why. The lectures will help you answer many of the key questions those concerned with creating a stable peace must answer every day; did the end of the Cold War bring peace and harmony or war and chaos? Does the United States play a dominant role in international affairs or is its role declining? Is military power still the key to world leadership, or has economic power become more important? Should the United States attempt to play the role of global police force, or should it withdraw from its overseas military commitments? PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio. Members Reviews: Beware of historians with bad analogies. 1 Continuity and Change in World Politics 2 What Is an International System? 3 The Balance of Power and Its Problems 4 The Origins of the First World War 5 The Problems and Promise of Collective Security 6 The Origins of the Second World War 7 The Origins of the Cold War 8 Alternatives to the Present International System This course was first released in 1991 so it was before the fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of terrorism in the world, but I found it very enlightening and still relevant for today. I wish President Bush and his cabinet had listened to this course before plunging us in another war with Iraq, but what is happened. Professor Nye gives a promising scenario for the future of the world and the United States in these lectures. The first three (around 45 minutes in length) lectures explain International politics and systems and how important the Balance of Power is. The next three explain the origins of the World Wars and the different scenarios that could have happened instead of global conflicts. I have always thought that they were inevitable but through his perspective, I can see how things could have been different. The seventh chapter takes on the Cold War and how it happened and if it was necessary. I found it fascinating. My favorite lecture was his last on what the future may hold for us as a nation and the world at large. While he didnt take on China or terrorism directly, he did show the way to a peaceful future in a global economy.

Breve historia de la Primera Guerra Mundial Audio Libro por Álvaro Lozano

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Álvaro Lozano) — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 23:13:16 GMT

Escuche este audio libro completo gratis en https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> Título: Breve historia de la Primera Guerra Mundial Autor: Álvaro Lozano Narrador: David Espunya Formato: Unabridged Duración: 9 hrs and 18 mins Idioma: Español Fecha de publicación: 08-11-14 Editor: Audible Studios Calificaciones: 4.5 de 5 de 20 votos Categorías: History, 20th Century Resumen del editor: Una nueva visión de la guerra que asoló el mundo en los albores del S. XX basada en una combinación de historia bélica e historia humana. La mayoría de los libros que tratan el tema de la Primera Guerra Mundial, lo hacen incidiendo en los avatares bélicos de la llamada Gran Guerra, una contienda de la que se dijo que acabaría con todas las guerras. La novedad de este audio libro que nos trae Álvaro Lozano es que presenta la guerra desde una perspectiva total, remontándose a los factores previos a 1914 que facilitaron el enfrentamiento, y llegando a los cambios en las estructuras políticas y económicas que resultaron de la Primera Guerra Mundial y que fueron determinantes a lo largo de todo el S. XX e incluso en el naciente S. XXI. Breve Historia de la Primera Guerra Mundial es un audio libro imprescindible porque al abordar una óptica total de la guerra, nos permite ver el flujo de ideas que se esconde detrás de la contienda, la confrontación entre unas formas de gobierno obsoletas y unas masas, que hasta entonces habían permanecido pasivas, que demandaban una política más popular, una democracia más efectiva. Además de la confrontación de ideas, Álvaro Lozano nos recrea la vida en las trincheras, los distintos sistemas de abastecimiento de los ejércitos e incluso los motines que se produjeron en el seno de cada uno. Todas las novedades, en suma, que se dieron en una guerra en la que, por vez primera, los flujos productivos y los avances tecnológicos que resultaron de la Revolución Industrial se ponen al servicio de la masacre de hombres y de la destrucción de infraestructuras.Un libro que ayudará a comprender, a cualquier oyente que se acerque a él, por qué una Europa que estaba en pleno progreso moral y material se enfrascó en una guerra en la que acabó arrastrando a la mayoría de las naciones y que produjo una transformación radical del panorama político, artístico, económico y existencial. Please Note: This audiobook is in Spanish. Opiniones de los miembros: Good book. Any additional comments? Its a good book that allows to have a general vision of the first war Objetivo Rico en detalles sobre aspectos globales sin caer en valoraciones personales. Una excelente referencia para adentrarse en este deleznable proceso histórico. Easy dialogue for advanced Spanish learner. Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why? Brief but well balanced presentation of the facts of the war. What did you like best about this story? Aided in my Spanish comprehension. Have you listened to any of David Espunyas other performances before? How does this one compare? No. Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry? No, just pleased how much I could comprehend. I listened to audio numerous times and my comprehension grew with each time. Any additional comments? Great way in your spare time, walking, jogging or just relaxing to expand your listening comprehension of the Spanish language. A knowledge of the war aids in your language comprehension. Excelente!!! Conciso, entretenido, bien hecho. Revive con maestría un momento clave en la historia de la humanidad. Para nunca olvidar jamás

Revolution 1989 Audiobook by Victor Sebestyen

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Victor Sebestyen) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:05:32 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Revolution 1989 Subtitle: The Fall of the Soviet Empire Author: Victor Sebestyen Narrator: Paul Hecht Format: Unabridged Length: 18 hrs and 40 mins Language: English Release date: 12-02-09 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 218 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Revolution 1989 by British journalist Victor Sebestyen is a comprehensive and revealing account of those dizzying days that toppled Soviet tyranny and changed the World. For more than 40 years, communism held eight European nations in its iron fist. Yet by the end of 1989, all of these nations had thrown off communism, declared independence, and embarked on the road to democracy. ©2009 Victor Sebestyen (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC Editorial Reviews: If it were fiction nobody would believe it. Real life events just dont happen in such dramatic and thematic sync, right? A succession of aged, feeble, and sclerotic Soviet leaders General Secretaries Leonid Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov, and Konstantin Chernenko become embodiments of the total moral rot that was the Soviet Union. The next in line, Mikhail Gorbachev, believed in communism and, unlike almost all of his colleagues, admired Lenin. Who would have thought that a man with such beliefs would introduce glasnost (openness), and perestroika (restructuring), and that he would be serious about it? That he would insist upon the unthinkable: that the Soviet satellite states independently make their own political decisions? The Soviet Union was ideologically, militarily, and fiscally bankrupt, and in cutting loose the satellite states, Gorbachev believed these states would choose communism. Victor Sebestyens Revolution 1989: The Fall of the Soviet Empire chronicles the transformation of the Soviet leadership under Gorbachev and the revolutions in the six nations of the Warsaw Pact East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria that toppled the old guards of the Soviet Union and altered the course of history. Sebestyen had access to the Soviet archives, and the finely detailed narrative renderings that pervade Revolution 1989 indicate the archives were extensively used. Paul Hecht, with his rich baseline baritone voice, his precise dramatic control, his evocative vocal cadences and inflections, and careful detailing of characters and events, is the perfect narrator for this book. At 18 hours, 40 minutes in length, the narrative is presented both chronologically and by shifts to and from the six Warsaw Pact states and Soviet Russia. The narrative architecture of the Soviet Unions deconstruction is a complex and involved and exhilarating story. For this listener and reviewer, the effect of dynamic events of such scale and on all fronts produced a stark, dramatic, and fluid rendering of visual images. Without Hechts superb narration I doubt this visual enhancement would have been present in the audiobook. Revolution 1989 is a richly compelling, historically important, and very exciting listen. David Chasey Members Reviews: Unsurpassed I bought this book to try to understand the events that lead to the fall of the Soviet Empire. I lived through the period as an adult and thought I knew what happened, but also thought that an actual history might help me understand the underlying events that caused the fall. I expected to be slightly bored by a retelling of events that I thought I knew, but expected to learn enough new to be worth the time. What I found was a fascinating book that kept me entralled as much as any suspense novel.

Lost Kingdom Audiobook by Julia Flynn Siler

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Julia Flynn Siler) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:38:07 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Lost Kingdom Subtitle: Hawaii's Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America's First Imperial Adventure Author: Julia Flynn Siler Narrator: Joyce Bean Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 54 mins Language: English Release date: 01-03-12 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 97 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: First colonized around 200 A.D. by intrepid Polynesian islanders, Hawaii existed for hundreds of years in splendid isolation. Foreigners did not visit the islands until 1788, when Captain Cook, looking for the fabled Northwest Passage, stumbled upon this nation with its own belief system and culture. Three decades later, fourteen Calvinist missionaries left Boston bound for Hawaii, and when they arrived they converted the royal family to Christianity, and set up missionary schools where English was taught. A thriving monarchy had ruled over Hawaii for generations. Taro fields and fish ponds had long sustained native Hawaiians but sugar plantations had been gradually subsuming them. This fractured, vulnerable Hawaii was the country that Queen Liliuokalani, or Liliu, inherited when she came to power at the end of the nineteenth century. Her predecessor had signed away many of the monarchys rights, but while Liliu was trying to put into place a constitution that would reinstate them, other factions were plotting annexation. With the help of the American envoy, the USS Boston steamed into Honolulu harbor, and Marines landed and marched to the palace, inciting the Queens overthrow. The annexation of Hawaii was extremely controversial; the issue caused heated debates in the Senate and President Cleveland gave a strongly worded speech opposing it. This was the first time America had reached beyond the borders of the continental U.S. in an act of imperialism. It was not until President McKinley was elected and the Spanish-American War erupted, that Hawaii became a critical strategic asset, and annexation finally passed Congress in 1898. Critic Reviews: Julia Flynn Siler's Lost Kingdom: Hawaii's Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America's First Imperial Adventure is a well-told history of the U.S. acquisition of Hawaii. The central figure is Lili'uokalani, who had the misfortune of being queen when Uncle Sam closed his grasp on the islands. (The Seattle Times) [Julia Flynn] Siler captures what Hawaii was then and what it has evolved into today. What happened to the islands is known as one of the most aggressive takeovers of the Gilded Age Siler gives us a riveting and intimate look at the rise and tragic fall of Hawaii's royal family [It] is a reminder that Hawaii remains one of the most breathtaking places in the world. Even if the kingdom is lost. (Fortune) A sweeping tale of tragedy, greed, betrayal, and imperialism The depth of her research shines through the narrative, and the lush prose and quick pace make for engaging reading absorbing. (Library Journal, Starred Review) Members Reviews: Fascinating story, sparsely told As a native of the island state of Hawai`i, I grabbed this book with interest as soon as I found it to be available. I began listening and quickly realized that the author has attempted to tell too much story, much like a newspaper or magazine article. I wish that she had chosen instead a subtopic, such as the rise and fall of the monarchy, a biography of Lili`uokalani, or the dreadful land grab by foreign entrepreneurs. There is much backstory to all of these subjects. Unfortunately, Ms. Siler only skimmed the surface.

The Devil Is Here in These Hills Audiobook by James Green

biacuaduc@gmail.com (James Green) — Tue, 19 May 2015 20:56:53 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Devil Is Here in These Hills Subtitle: West Virginias Coal Miners and Their Battle for Freedom Author: James Green Narrator: Joel Richards Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins Language: English Release date: 05-19-15 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 20 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: From before the dawn of the 20th century until the arrival of the New Deal, one of the most protracted and deadly labor struggles in American history was waged in West Virginia. On one side were powerful corporations whose millions bought armed guards and political influence. On the other side were 50,000 mine workers, the nation's largest labor union, and the legendary "miners' angel", Mother Jones. The fight for unionization and civil rights sparked a political crisis verging on civil war that stretched from the creeks and hollows to the courts and the US Senate. In The Devil Is Here in These Hills, celebrated labor historian James Green tells the story of West Virginia and coal like never before. The value of West Virginia's coalfields had been known for decades, and after rail arrived in the 1870s, industrialists pushed fast into the wilderness, digging mines and building company towns where they wielded nearly complete control over everyday life. The state's high-quality coal drove American expansion and industrialization. But for tens of thousands of laborers, including boys as young as 10, mining life showed the bitter irony of the state motto: "mountaineers are always free". Attempts to unionize were met with stiff resistance. Fundamental rights were bent, then broken, and the violence evolved from bloody skirmishes to open armed conflict as an army of miners marched to an explosive showdown. Extensively researched and told in vibrant detail, The Devil Is Here in These Hills is the definitive book on an essential chapter in the history of American freedom. Members Reviews: Coal Mining in America - A Standout I know this is a book of limited appeal, but as a reference book for the history of coal mining in America, it is a treasure. With all its detail, this is not an easy book to just pick up and sit down to read. But there are a million things to learn here, and anyone who enjoys history, learning, and/or non-fiction will find this book totally rewarding. Forgotten history of the labor movement Folks interested in the history of the labor movement or socialism in America should enjoy this book. Despite an active interest in both, I was completely unaware of this piece of violent history involving West Virginia coal miners and the corporations they worked for at the beginning of the 20th Century. There was plenty of animosity on either side, and such noteworthy characters as Eugene Debs and Mother Jones played a part in the drama. Excellent Account This account of West Virginia mining and labor is the best history book I have read in a long while. I am about to move to this area of the country. Green's book is a great insight into, not only a cathartic period of American and West Virginia history, but also the people of the state and their staunch individualism. The prose delivers precise imagery and portrays with careful attention to important detail the features of the larger than life characters of the vast coal fields. The account is authoritative and thoroughly researched. Great history! As a native West Virginian with family history in the mines this was a look at a bleak period in the state's history. While I am one who believes unions have outlived their usefulness (the welfare state takes their place, this was definitely a time when the union saved people's lives.

Invisible Hands Audiobook by Kim Phillips-Fein

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Kim Phillips-Fein) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 07:16:04 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Invisible Hands Subtitle: The Making of the Conservative Movement from the New Deal to Reagan Author: Kim Phillips-Fein Narrator: Lorna Raver Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins Language: English Release date: 02-03-09 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 24 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Long before the "culture wars" usually associated with the rise of conservative politics, these driven individuals funded think tanks, fought labor unions, and formed organizations to market their views. These nearly unknown, larger-than-life, and sometimes eccentric personalities - such as General Electric's zealous, silver-tongued Lemuel Ricketts Boulware and the self-described "revolutionary" Jasper Crane of DuPont - make for a fascinating, behind-the-scenes view of American history. The winner of a prestigious academic award for her original research on this book, Kim Phillips-Fein is already being heralded as an important new young American historian. Her meticulous research and narrative gifts reveal the dramatic story of a pragmatic, step-by-step, check-by-check campaign to promote an ideological revolution---one that ultimately helped propel conservative ideas to electoral triumph. Editorial Reviews: What lies behind the dramatic rise of American conservative politics in the 20th century? Invisible Hands, a painstakingly researched historical book by Kim Phillips-Fein, offers new insight into the backroom dealings of businessmen who united against the New Deal's "nanny state", culminating in the triumph of Ronald Reagan's conservatism. Actress Lorna Raver narrates this revealing history with depth and aplomb, her gravelly, character-filled voice lending gravitas to Phillips-Fein's research. Along the way, listeners discover how the zealous efforts of people like General Electric's Lemuel Ricketts Boulware and DuPont's Jasper Crane tamped down the power of labor unions and dismantled socialist policies that restricted the free market - insuring the bottom line of the massively lucrative corporations these men represented. Critic Reviews: "Incisive.... An important contribution to our understanding of American conservatism." (Publishers Weekly) "Engaging history from a talented new scholarly voice." (Kirkus) Members Reviews: Phenomenal research paired with excellent storytelling. Must read. Phenomenal research paired with excellent storytelling. People tend to assume that Hayek + Friedman + Thatcher + Reagan = neoliberalism, eliding the essential role played by businessmen and the organizations they founded or sponsored. To know our present political economic condition is to know the story of the American Enterprise Institute, Heritage Foundation, Chamber of Commerce, et al., and the ideas and men (always men) leading them. It is also to know how these men were activated by ideologues such as Hayek, and how they would go on to influence politicians in Washington. Phillips-Fein gives you all this.

Henry Ford, 1863 -1947 (Dramatised) Audiobook by Alastair Scott

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Alastair Scott) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 04:29:47 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Henry Ford, 1863 -1947 (Dramatised) Subtitle: Explorers and Pioneers, Volume Five Author: Alastair Scott Narrator: Stephen Thorne, Blain Fairman, Ed Bishop, Gary McDermott Format: Abridged Length: 1 hr and 2 mins Language: English Release date: 03-11-08 Publisher: Ivan and Inge Berg Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 13 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Ford's was the gospel of "small profits and quick returns", which meant that every car he produced represented a small individual profit. Yet he was able to produce them in such vast quantities that the many small profits represented very big business indeed. This fascinating audio biography follows his rise and the building of his global-wide industrial empire. Editorial Reviews: Henry Ford's genius and ambition come through as sharp as a knife through crisp performances from Stephen Thorne, Blain Fairman, Ed Bishop, and Gary McDermott in this dramatization of his life story. The narrators focus on presenting listeners with a fully drawn picture of Ford's determined, hardheaded nature, voicing his growth from young, restless tinkerer to gruff, experienced industrialist. Ford's impact on civilization cannot be underestimated with his development of the automobile and mass production, and the narrators capture the complexities of this man who genuinely cared about his workers' welfare and, at the same time, was an ardent anti-Semite. Listeners will find themselves happily sifting through a wealth of fascinating information with this audio biography.

The Moro War Audiobook by James R. Arnold

biacuaduc@gmail.com (James R. Arnold) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 02:52:19 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Moro War Subtitle: How America Battled a Muslim Insurgency in the Philippine Jungle, 1902-1913 Author: James R. Arnold Narrator: Mark Ashby Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins Language: English Release date: 03-01-13 Publisher: Audible Studios for Bloomsbury Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 40 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: As the global war on terror enters its second decade, the United States military is engaged with militant Islamic insurgents on multiple fronts. But the post-9/11 war against terrorists is not the first time the United States has battled such ferocious foes. The forgotten Moro War, lasting from 1902 to 1913 in the islands of the southern Philippines, was the first confrontation between American soldiers and their allies and a determined Muslim insurgency. The Moro War prefigured American wars in Iraq and Afghanistan more than superficially: It was a bitter, drawn-out conflict in which American policy and aims were fiercely contested between advocates of punitive military measures and proponents of conciliation. As in today's Middle East, American soldiers battled guerrillas in a foreign environment where the enemy knew the terrain and enjoyed local support. The deadliest challenge was distinguishing civilians from suicidal attackers. Moroland became a crucible of leadership for the U.S. Army, bringing the force that had fought the Civil War and the Plains Indian Wars into the twentieth century. The officer corps of the Moro campaign matured into the American generals of World War I. Chief among them was the future general John Pershing-who learned lessons in the island jungles that would guide his leadership in France. Rich with relevance to today's news from the Middle East, and a gripping piece of storytelling, The Moro War is a must-read to understand a formative conflict too long overlooked and to anticipate the future of U.S. involvement overseas. Members Reviews: EXCELLENT! I'm biased, b/c i'm a history buff who also happens to have been raised as an American in the Philippines, born 1959 in Manila, father born in 20's in Iloilo. but this is a great story, great storyteller and great narrator (who handled filipino place names and names better than most other palefaces I've heard try). GREAT BOOK! a little dry but good info I would say I'm part of the anti imperialist. the background is after the spanish american war, in the treaty of paris, spain gave america control of the philippines (apparently you can do that) so most of the philippines had already surrendered to spanish rule with the exception of some southern islands of the philippines and the inhabitants were mostly muslim. now the muslim filipinos thiught why if spain ever had control of us would we let america, and america couldn't understand why someone wouldn't want a foreign nation to control them. so the book goes over the major events of the war and the key players. was it important that the insurgents as they call them, someone who rebels against the govt were muslim? not really, maybe to sell books but the muslims in the philippines may have had more resolve then the non muslims when 1st the spanish came and then america. I couldn't help but make the parallel with the propaganda of today with the propaganda of this war. the conclusion was better then most with lessons learned and greater impact of the war. American history you never learned about in school Very interesting story about amazing people and a forgotten war.

Colossus Audiobook by Michael Hiltzik

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Michael Hiltzik) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:04:12 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Colossus Subtitle: Hoover Dam and the Making of the American Century Author: Michael Hiltzik Narrator: Norman Dietz Format: Unabridged Length: 18 hrs and 5 mins Language: English Release date: 06-01-10 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 127 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: As breathtaking today as when it was completed, Hoover Dam ranks among America's greatest achievements. The story of its conception, design, and construction is the story of the United States at a unique moment in history: when facing both a global economic crisis and the implacable elements of nature, we prevailed. The United States after Hoover Dam was a different country from the one that began to build it, going from the glorification of individual effort to the value of shared enterprise and communal support. The dam became the physical embodiment of this change. A remote regional construction project was transformed from a Republican afterthought into a New Deal symbol of national pride. Hoover Dam went on to shape not only the American West but the American century. Michael Hiltzik populates the epic tale of the dam's construction with larger-than-life characters, such as Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, William Mulholland, and the dam's egomaniacal architect, Frank Crowe. Shedding real light on a one-of-a-kind moment in 20th-century American history, Hiltzik combines exhaustive research, trenchant observation, and a gift for unforgettable storytelling in a book that is bound to become a classic in its genre. Critic Reviews: "Astutely conveying the characters of its creators, Hiltzik marvelously captures the times of the Hoover Dam." (Booklist) Members Reviews: A Political Biography of the Dam "Colossus" is Michael Hiltzik's contribution to the public works literature including - for example - David McCullough's "The Great Bridge" and "The Path Between the Seas" along with "Golden Gate" by Kevin Star. In this volume Hiltzik details the history of the taming of the Colorado River during the Western Expansion to the building of the Hoover Dam. The political horse trading, engineering, labor problems, and more other surprises than can be listed here are presented. The book offers an amazing window onto the sacrifices made by those who physically built the dam with their sweat, muscle, and sometimes their lives. Desperate men in desperate economic times. This book focuses on the political economic issues to the exclusion of engineering details. So readers expecting another "The Path Between the Seas" might be a little disappointed. This is more a political biography than an engineering biography of the dam. Otherwise, the prose keeps the listener's attention and the reading of Norman Dietz is excellent. Good, but far from great Mr. Hiltzik could have used a really aggressive editor on this one. I love a good backstory, but I have a limit when it comes to running down so many rabbit trails. Also, Norman Dietz's narration is--and I hate to be harsh, but this is the truth--somewhat grandfatherly sounding. A subject matter this interesting should have made for a real "page-turner." As it is, I literally have to listen in short bursts to keep from becoming too frustrated. Detialed but interesting. a good listen. I had this in my wish list for almost a year before downloading it, I should have done it sooner. This was a detailed account of not only the building of the dam but of the reasons for it. A history of the imperial valley of California starts the book out and then the appropriation of money that took years in Congress.

The London Cage Audiobook by Helen Fry

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Helen Fry) — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 17:08:10 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The London Cage Subtitle: The Secret History of Britain's World War II Interrogation Centre Author: Helen Fry Narrator: Jennifer M. Dixon Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins Language: English Release date: 11-21-17 Publisher: Tantor Audio Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Behind the locked doors of three mansions in London's exclusive Kensington Palace Gardens neighborhood, the British Secret Service established a highly secret prison in 1940: the London Cage. Here recalcitrant German prisoners of war were subjected to "special intelligence treatment". The stakes were high: the war's outcome could hinge on obtaining information German prisoners were determined to withhold. After the war, high-ranking Nazi war criminals were housed in the Cage, revamped as an important center for investigating German war crimes. This riveting book reveals the full details of operations at the London Cage and subsequent efforts to hide them. Helen Fry's extraordinary original research uncovers the grim picture of prisoners' daily lives and of systemic Soviet-style mistreatment. The author also provides sensational evidence to counter official denials concerning the use of "truth drugs" and "enhanced interrogation" techniques. Bringing dark secrets to light, this groundbreaking book at last provides an objective and complete history of the London Cage. Members Reviews: War: The Fortunes of. Lots of mistakes here. The prison was not secret. Every German prisoner knew by war's end about the facility. The lucky infantry grunts who farmed potatoes in Canada knew they were lucky.The word "interrogator" is not defined, mostly because Scotland, the boss, did not own those men and women competent to bedevil their subjects. For example, in a normal prison submarine trained officers interrogate captured submarine officers. Scotland had junior army officers asking captured flyers, engineers etal. questions of whose background they knew little. No wonder that no truly serious war changing report emerged from Scotland's amateurish management. I am willing to bet that by playing milk toast many prisoners weaseled their way out of serious conversations or worse. All prisoners, that is all, have determined what persona they will act out during an interrogation. The problem here for Scotland was that his men and women had to wait a good time before their charges arrived at the Cage. The interrogators did not know how many of each category they were to handle, squaddies or battalion COs, supply clerks or artillery spotters? By the time they had arrived at the Cage the shock of captivity had worn off all. They had become accustomed to tea and stodge. The mild and meek were ready with their tales of humble ignorance as were the arrogant thugs with their defiant smirks. Many had learned jail house English. Undaunted by the lack of help given her in her research on The Cage itself, Miss Fry came up with enough gory tales to fill pages of the War Crimes Commission's files. The "Adverso Section" of American English speaking stoolies is too ittle told. The names of Probst, Behrens and Falkenhust who participated in the murder of legitimate British POWs are well inscribed. The latter virtually escaped punishment for his awful slaughter of British enlisted men. A life sentence for him was dismissed, he was transferred to a hospital and died a free man in 1968. The Ardeatine Massacre of 355 was especially gruesome. The burial cave was blown up on orders from the SS Chief Keppler.

Lisbon Audiobook by Neill Lochery

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Neill Lochery) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:47:23 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Lisbon Subtitle: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 19391945 Author: Neill Lochery Narrator: Robin Sachs Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins Language: English Release date: 11-01-11 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 86 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: Throughout the Second World War, Lisbon was at the very center of the worlds attention and was the only European city in which both the Allies and the Axis powers openly operated. Portugal was frantically trying to hold on to its self-proclaimed wartime neutrality but in reality was increasingly caught in the middle of the economic, and naval, wars between the Allies and the Nazis. The story is not, however, a conventional tale of World War II in that barely a shot was fired or a bomb dropped. Instead, it is a gripping tale of intrigue, betrayal, opportunism, and double-dealing, all of which took place in the Cidade da Luz and along its idyllic Atlantic coastline. It is the story of how a relatively poor European country not only survived the war physically intact but came out of it in 1945 much wealthier than it had been when war broke out in 1939. Portugals emergence as a prosperous European Union nation would be financed in part, it turns out, by a cache of Nazi gold. During the war, Lisbon was a temporary home to much of Europes exiled royalty, over one million refugees seeking passage to the US, and to a host of spies, secret police, captains of industry, bankers, prominent Jews, writers and artists, escaped POWs, and black marketeers. An operations officer writing in 1944 described the daily scene at Lisbons airport as being like the movie Casablanca - times twenty. In this riveting narrative, renowned historian Neill Lochery draws on his relationships with high-level Portuguese contacts, records recently uncovered from Portuguese secret police and banking archives, and other unpublished documents to offer a revelatory portrait of the wars backstage. Critic Reviews: As interested as history readers may be in the spying, the economic war over tungsten and Allied demands for an Azores base dominate this history. A productive archival sleuth, Lochery makes original contributions to the literature of neutrality in WWII." ( Booklist) Members Reviews: Expostiion of Little Known Story I didnt know much (well truthfully nothing) about the role that Portugal played in the Second World War when I opened Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 1939-45. I found Neil Locherys book both engaging, informative, and entertaining. In this volume, Lochery (While Blame Israel 2011; View from the Fence 2006) tells the story of how dictator Antonio Salazar kept Portugal neutral in WWII and left his country relatively intact after the conflict. I found insights into how Salazar dealt with day-to-day management of the country intriguing. Anecdotes revealing how Salazar made decisions and implemented policies are particularly interesting. Certainly, Salazar was a gifted leader in this context. I would have appreciated more discussion of fascism in this context and how Salazar fit into that era. Perhaps Lochery has another book which will shed more light. At any rate, I was well rewarded by reading this book.

Crete 1941 Audiobook by Antony Beevor

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Antony Beevor) — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 08:30:20 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Crete 1941 Subtitle: The Battle and the Resistance Author: Antony Beevor Narrator: James Langton Format: Unabridged Length: 14 hrs and 17 mins Language: English Release date: 11-17-15 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 33 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The best-selling author of Stalingrad and D-Day vividly reconstructs the epic WWII struggle for Crete - reissued with a new introduction. Nazi Germany expected its airborne attack on Crete in 1941 to be a textbook victory based on tactical surprise. Little did they know that the British, using Ultra intercepts, had already laid a careful trap. It should have been the first German defeat of the war, but a fatal misunderstanding turned the battle around. Prize-winning historian and best-selling author Antony Beevor lends his gift for storytelling to this important conflict, showing not only how the situation turned bad for Allied forces but also how ferocious Cretan freedom fighters mounted a heroic resistance. Originally published in 1991, Crete 1941 is a breathtaking account of a momentous battle of World War II. Members Reviews: Engrossing Anthony Beevor has a distinct writing style of blending the operational aspects with human interest stories. Beevor was a regular in the 11th Hussars of the British Army. His book on Stalingrad won many prizes including the Wolfson History Prize. This book about Crete is divided into three parts. The first part is Operation Marita, the invasion of Greece by German and Italian forces and the subsequent evacuation of the Allied forces to Crete. The second part is the largest taking up half of the book; it covers the invasion of Crete by the Germans and the evacuation of the Allied forces to Egypt. The third and last part is the organized resistance movement on Crete after the Allied defeat. The British should have won; they had the Ultra intercepts and knew the Germans plans, but a fatal misunderstanding turned the battle to a lost. Beevor as a former soldier writes with a soldiers eye and a historians insight. The author dissects the leadership of both sides illuminating their achievements and follies. In particular he found fault with the New Zealand, General Freyberg, in command of Crete. The book does not cover new information but the writing is excellent. He shows the confusion of the high command and the bravery of soldiers of both sides. James Langton does a good job narrating the book. A modern classic of military history Beevor's account is the definitive story of the Battle, the Occupation and the immediate aftermath. His account of the Resistance is, of necessity, sporadic and unfocused. The simple fact is that we don't know substance of many of the most famous incidents. People were unsure of what happened a half hour after the fact. Very few participants had any reason to tell the truth and there were always, every single time, fundamentally conflicting narratives. These conflicting stories came into existence immediately after the events and only became more entrenched and more contradictory as time passed. There was heroic resistance and there was accommodation and there was collaboration. The details are lost forever.

Dreams of Flight Audiobook by Michael H. Bednarek, Janet R. Daly Bednarek

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Michael H. Bednarek) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 07:21:51 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Dreams of Flight Subtitle: General Aviation in the United States Author: Michael H. Bednarek, Janet R. Daly Bednarek Narrator: Jim Seitz Format: Unabridged Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins Language: English Release date: 10-28-16 Publisher: University Press Audiobooks Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 7 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: General aviation encompasses all the ways aircraft are used beyond commercial and military flying: private flights, barnstormers, cropdusters, and so on. This history examines the many airplanes used in general aviation, from early Wright and Curtiss aircraft to the Piper Cub and the Lear Jet. The authors trace the careers of birdmen, birdwomen, barnstormers, and others who shaped general aviation - from Clyde Cessna and the Stinson family of San Antonio to Olive Ann Beech and Paul Poberezny of Milwaukee. They explain how the development of engines influenced the development of aircraft, from the E-107 that powered the 1929 Aeronca C-2, the first affordable personal aircraft, to the Continental A-40 that powered the Piper Cub, and the Pratt and Whitney PT-6 turboprop used on many aircraft after World War II. In addition, the authors chart the boom and bust cycle of general aviation manufacturers, the rising costs and increased regulations that have accompanied a decline in pilots, the creation of an influential general aviation lobby in Washington, and the growing popularity of "type" clubs, created to maintain aircraft whose average age is 28 years. This book provides listeners with a sense of the scope and richness of the history of general aviation in the United States. An epilogue examining the consequences of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, provides a cautionary note. The book is published by Texas A&M University Press. Members Reviews: Very Informative Lots of great information but pay attention because they jump around a lot in time.

GI Brides Audiobook by Duncan Barrett, Nuala Calvi

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Duncan Barrett) — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 02:16:17 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: GI Brides Subtitle: The Wartime Girls Who Crossed the Atlantic for Love Author: Duncan Barrett, Nuala Calvi Narrator: Tania Rodrigues Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins Language: English Release date: 09-02-14 Publisher: HarperAudio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 63 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: For listeners enchanted by the best sellers The Astronaut Wives Club, The Girls of Atomic City, and Summer at Tiffany's, an absorbing tale of romance and resilience - the true story of four British women who crossed the Atlantic for love, coming to America at the end of World War II to make a new life with the American servicemen they married. The "friendly invasion" of Britain by over a million American G.I.s bewitched a generation of young women deprived of male company during the Second World War. With their exotic accents, smart uniforms, and aura of Hollywood glamour, the G.I.s easily conquered their hearts, leaving British boys fighting abroad green with envy. But for girls like Sylvia, Margaret, Gwendolyn, and even the skeptical Rae, American soldiers offered something even more tantalizing than chocolate, chewing gum, and nylon stockings: An escape route from Blitz-ravaged Britain, an opportunity for a new life in affluent, modern America. Through the stories of these four women, G.I. Brides illuminates the experiences of war brides who found themselves in a foreign culture thousands of miles away from family and friends, with men they hardly knew. Some struggled with the isolation of life in rural America, or found their soldier less than heroic in civilian life. But most persevered, determined to turn their wartime romance into a lifelong love affair, and prove to those back home that a Hollywood ending of their own was possible. Members Reviews: A terrific case study I loved this book, it provided an interesting look at the lives and loves, the joys and sorrows of war brides just after WWII. It is not a happy book in many ways, but the culture differences from England to the US, strained, broken, and repaired relationships with husbands and in-laws... I read this book months ago, and it still haunts me. I'll read it again and recommend it to anyone I know who enjoys such things. Wonderful true stories of very brave women Fascinating true stories of young war brides, especially for anyone interested in the WWII era. The narrator has a lovely British accent that is pleasant to listen to EXCEPT when she is trying to disguise it as American or Italian. She constantly gets it wrong, and it is somewhat distracting. She sounds a bit like a woman from Brooklyn when she is reading the part of a woman from California, and completely muddles the accent of an Italian-immigrant-mother-in-law. When she is speaking for American male soldiers, she sounds flat, crass and as though she is stereotypically "mocking Americans." She is borderline offensive in that she did not research it further, or at the very least work with a dialect coach. If you can't or won't get it right, then please just read the script with your own tongue. GI Brides I just love WWII history! There is such an amalgamation of beauty and romance, horror and desolation that I seem to be transfixed with these stories no matter what angle they take. In GI Brides we get another interesting angle (and one I haven't read yet): that of the English women who fell in love with the American men that flooded their shores and that left behind everything to follow these men to a country they knew so little about.

The Monopolists Audiobook by Mary Pilon

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Mary Pilon) — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 20:14:19 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Monopolists Subtitle: Obsession, Fury, and the Scandal Behind the World's Favorite Board Game Author: Mary Pilon Narrator: Chris Sorensen Format: Unabridged Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins Language: English Release date: 02-25-15 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 43 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The Monopolists reveals the unknown story of how Monopoly came into existence, the reinvention of its history by Parker Brothers and multiple media outlets, the lost female originator of the game, and one man's lifelong obsession to tell the true story about the game's questionable origins. Most think it was invented by an unemployed Pennsylvanian who sold his game to Parker Brothers during the Great Depression in 1935 and lived happily - and richly - ever after. That story, however, is not exactly true. Ralph Anspach, a professor fighting to sell his Anti-Monopoly board game decades later, unearthed the real story, which traces back to Abraham Lincoln, the Quakers, and a forgotten feminist named Lizzie Magie who invented her nearly identical Landlord's Game more than 30 years before Parker Brothers sold their version of Monopoly. Her game - underpinned by morals that were the exact opposite of what Monopoly represents today - was embraced by a constellation of left-wingers from the Progressive Era through the Great Depression, including members of Franklin Roosevelt's famed Brain Trust. A fascinating social history of corporate greed that illuminates the cutthroat nature of American business over the last century, The Monopolists reads like the best detective fiction, told through Monopoly's real-life winners and losers. Critic Reviews: "Pilon invests this surprisingly contentious chronicle with a dynamic mix of journalistic knowledge and subtle wit... A fascinating, appealingly written history of an iconic American amusement." (Kirkus Reviews) Members Reviews: Interesting and fun (but BADLY read) Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why? I would probably recommend the book instead of the audiobook. Loved the story but the narrator really made it difficult to listen to. What was one of the most memorable moments of The Monopolists? I loved the story of Lizzie McGee and her major contribution to the board game market. She was far ahead of her time--fascinating, smart and interesting. I would have loved to have met her. Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Chris Sorensen? Sean Runnette would have been fantastic--he is my favorite. There are many others, too, who would have done a better job. Sorensen sounds like a robot--he elongates the last word of every sentence. I have listened to hundreds of audiobooks, and I only listen to nonfiction. I don't want the reader to be dramatic or "act out" the story, but a narrator who gives some character to the story via his or her delivery makes a difference. Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? Maybe, but to read not listen. Any additional comments? This really is an interesting story of a beloved board game and its place in history. I was very surprised at how interesting it was, and how much drama surrounded the game in its early days. Newcaster Type Narration of a Fascinating Story I have spent countless hours playing the game of Monopoly with my children, family and friends and never really knew the story behind the game.

The Ghost Mountain Boys Audiobook by James Campbell

biacuaduc@gmail.com (James Campbell) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:16:17 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Ghost Mountain Boys Subtitle: Their Epic March and the Terrifying Battle for New Guinea Author: James Campbell Narrator: Stephen Hoye Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins Language: English Release date: 01-23-08 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 94 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The 32nd Division lacked more than training. They were without even the basics necessary for survival. They waded through brush and vines without the aid of machetes. They did not have insect repellent. Without waterproof containers, their matches were useless, and the quinine and vitamin pills they carried, as well as salt and chlorination tablets, crumbled in their pockets. Exhausted and pushed to the brink of human endurance, the Ghost Mountain Boys fell victim to malnutrition and disease. Forty-two days after they set out, they arrived two miles south of Buna, nearly shattered by the experience. Arrival in Buna provided no respite. The 32nd Division was ordered to launch an immediate assault on the Japanese position. After two months of furious, sometimes hand-to-hand combat, the decimated division finally achieved victory. Reminiscent of classics like Band of Brothers and The Things They Carried, this harrowing portrait of a largely overlooked campaign is part war diary, part extreme adventure tale, and, through letters, journals, and interviews, part biography of a group of men who fought to survive in an environment every bit as fierce as the enemy they faced. Editorial Reviews: Stephen Hoye gives a solid narration of Campbell's account of the battle for New Guinea during WWII. The campaign, largely eclipsed by the struggle over Guadalcanal, was a pivotal struggle that might even have been a turning point in the Pacific theater. In the long, grueling, dirty fight men were felled by disease as often as by bullets. Listeners follow individual soldiers, the 32nd Division's Ghost Mountain Boys, from their training through the campaign. Campbell often quotes from letters home. He also quotes from Japanese journals found later. This gives the audiobook real humanity. Hoye doesn't try to give each character a distinctive voice, but he varies pace and tone to show when individuals are speaking for themselves. Critic Reviews: "Riveting....The Ghost Mountain Boys offers a new, harrowing world to explore." (Richmond Times-Dispatch) "Superb....The Ghost Mountain Boys is carefully organized, researched and written with great sensitivity and understanding." (Chicago Sun-Times) Members Reviews: Hard Times James Campbell has done a great service to all Americans by retelling the story of the Army's Infantry campaign in New Guinea. The breath taking experiences of US troups in that arena and their suffering is well told. He adds to this the Japanese experience in a similar fashion which makes the book a fitting tribute to all who participated. This is a well written and well read book that will keep the interest of everyone encountering it. It will inform and inspire those who are knowledgable and those who are novices to the topic as well. Those were hard times. painful reading I don't know how readers are paired with the books they read but this a miserable match. Everything about this reader's voice, in my opinion, is better suited to reading a Harlequin type novel. I couldn't get past the first two hours. Proceed at your own risk I wanted to like this book I love history I am very personally motivated to learn about this particular campaign But this book is just dull. Idk if it is the reader, the writhing i.e. what.

The Partition of the British Mandate of Palestine Audiobook by Charles River Editors

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Charles River Editors) — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 17:23:59 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Partition of the British Mandate of Palestine Subtitle: The History and Legacy of the United Nations Partition Plan and the Creation of the State of Israel Author: Charles River Editors Narrator: Colin Fluxman Format: Unabridged Length: 1 hr and 29 mins Language: English Release date: 11-14-17 Publisher: Charles River Editors Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians is technically 69 years old and counting, but it has its roots in over 2,000 years of history. With so much time and history, the Middle East peace process has become laden with unique, politically sensitive concepts like the right of return, contiguous borders, secure borders, demilitarized zones, and security requirements, with players like the Quartet, Palestinian Authority, Fatah, Hamas, the Arab League and Israel. Over time, it has become exceedingly difficult for even sophisticated political pundits and followers to keep track of it all. Nearly a century before the state of Israel was founded in 1948, Palestine was under the control of the Ottoman Turkish Empire, consisting mostly of Arabs. During the 1850s, Jews began settling in small villages across the lands that once comprised Judea and Samaria, which the Jews considered their ancient Biblical homeland. These efforts to buy property were driven by the motivation of some Jews to help reestablish the land as the Jewish homeland. These Jews became known as Zionists, in reference to Zion, which is often thought of as a reference to all of Israel but is in fact a reference to part of Jerusalem. The Zionists attempted to establish a Jewish National Fund that would assist Jews in buying land in Palestine for Jewish settlement. In the middle of World War I, the British pledged their support to the Zionist cause and the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine through the Balfour Declaration of November 1917. At the time, the British realized the strategic importance of Palestine because it was near the Suez Canal, and they saw the Zionists as potentially helpful allies in the region following the war. British foreign secretary Arthur James Balfour sent a letter to Lord Rothschild on November 2, 1917, declaring the governments sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations, and favoring the establishment in Palestine of a National Home for the Jewish People, with an intent to assist the Jews in achieving it. In 1947, the British delegated the issue of partitioning the British Mandate to the United Nations, and the UN General Assembly set up the Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP). UNSCOP eventually came up with what is now known as the UN Partition Plan of 1947. Members Reviews: Great outline easy to listen to Very helpful in explaining the situation in a practical straightforward way. Good background reading. Learned a lot

World War 2: Stories of the Schutzstaffel Audiobook by Cyrus J. Zachary

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Cyrus J. Zachary) — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 06:13:36 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/726/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: World War 2: Stories of the Schutzstaffel Subtitle: True Accounts of Hitler's Personal Bodyguards Author: Cyrus J. Zachary Narrator: Darren Stephens Format: Unabridged Length: 1 hr and 24 mins Language: English Release date: 09-08-16 Publisher: Cyrus J. Zachary Ratings: 2.5 of 5 out of 2 votes Genres: History, 20th Century Publisher's Summary: The instigator and the mastermind behind the Holocaust, Adolf Hitler of Germany, was at the forefront of the Second World War and ruined millions of lives, throwing the entire European continent into chaos. Not only was he hated by the whole world, even some of his own military commanders didn't like him. Most leaders around the world rely on one, maybe two bodyguards to keep them safe. Even the President of the United States today has only one or two teams of security personnel; while there may be many men and women who take turns to protect their leader, the numbers are not as big as you would expect. We will look at the origins of a number of bodies, such as the Sturmabteilung or the SA, the Schutzstaffel (the SS) and the many other sub-sections of the SS such as the FBK, the LSSAH, etc., all of which were tasked with protecting Hitler. From the background, we will move on to individual accounts of men who served on these teams - they were Hitler's personal bodyguards and some stayed with him until the very end. Humanity's depraved nature came to the fore with these men; despite having a master who was truly mad and ravenous for blood, they served him loyally. Was it because they were also as depraved as he was? Or were they afraid for their lives and did what they had to, to survive? Members Reviews: Simple, but Compelling Stories An easy to read and understand description of various security detachments employed by Hitler and Nazi Germany. Though simple summaries, they are nonetheless compelling reading for those with limited subject matter expertise. The parts I found distracting and often annoying were the author's tendency towards wordiness - needless to say (then don't say it) and for those who don't know (what about those of us who do know?). Maybe the author will fix these in his next revision/update. and it provides a useful overview of the organization and activities of Germany's comparatively ... This book is very interesting to read, and it provides a useful overview of the organization and activities of Germany's comparatively small band of Special Forces units. Thanks for the well documented book. I was able to learn more new information especially from the side of the Germans. And even after all the books â Iâve read on WWII, this book did not bore me. Great read! When I read this book surprising for me there is given in-depth coverage of every moment which I enjoyed a lot. Because I am a great lover of historical stories. There is a detailed information given about German forces. The author has done a good job. He has used appropriate words in this book. I guess we should read these type of historical and informative books in our spare time for be informative. I really like it. This book is not very well written. The author ... This book is not very well written. The author is often repetitive. If he were not so repetitive the book would be still shorter than it is. Good Read! My curiosity about Adolf Hitler and his bodyguard made me read this book, and iâm so glad I did. This book is full of information and the author really did a great and intense research to produce this book. âHe was very normalâ not like what is writtenâ he was a wonderful bossâ by Rochus Misch, one of Hitlerâs bodyguard.