Download Popular Titles Audiobooks in Science & Technology, Psychology & The Mind

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Title: The Political Brain

Subtitle: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation

Author: Drew Westen

Narrator: Anthony Heald

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-11-07

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 241 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Psychology & The Mind

Publisher's Summary:

In politics, when reason and emotions collide, emotion invariably wins. In this landmark book, scientist and psychologist Drew Westen shows how electorates vote not with their heads but with their hearts, and how the marketplace that matters most is the marketplace of emotion - filled with values, images, analogies, moral sentiments, and moving oratory.

The first serious investigation into how emotions affect voter behavior, The Political Brain reveals how the political landscape would change if candidates began with a 21st-century understanding of how the mind and brain really work.

Critic Reviews:

"Drew Westen is a must read....we will win the Presidency if our candidate reads and acts on this book." (Howard Dean)

"This is the most interesting, informative book on politics I've read in many years...whether you're an interested voter or a candidate for public office, you have to read this book." (Bill Clinton)

"In the last several months, [Westen] has gone from a politically inclined nobody to a hot ticket." (Los Angeles Times)

Members Reviews:

Good information, if a little too much of it

The author is an experienced political writer and advisor; progressive in his politics who is on the faculty at Emory University. An expert in psychology Westen states that contrary to what many supposed campaign experts believe; political decisions are based not on intellect, but on emotion. As a progressive he points out examples that back up this hypotheses.

Specifically he uses the Bush II campaigns against Gore and Kerry. The debate in which Bush challenged Gore's integrity and Gore failed to respond is the example he used and posited a response that Gore could and should have made. Specifically that a man who'd spent three decades in the liqueur cabinet and had to be investigated by his own father's administration in a fraud case.

In Kerry's case it was not surprisingly about the swiftboating of the democratic candidate by Karl Rove and the Bush campaign. The gist of the return attack being that draft dodging frat boys like Bush, Cheney and Rove shouldn't try that tactic with someone who actually fought for their country; unlike them.

There are separate chapters about gay rights, abortion, the separation of church and state, and right wing political beliefs being referred to as religion. He upbraids his progressive brethren about turning over to religion to the Republican party and ceding faith to the right.

The book is too long and much of the first 3 or 4 chapters is theoretical and reads more like a textbook. Still it's good information, particularly if you share his politics. The response's of the democratic candidates as done by Westen made me wish he had been the campaign manager for either of the democratic candidates. A good 4 star listen.

It is a very good insight to how politicians think

I recommend it even to the person who is intending to market their product or services to the public.

very good alternative view of voter behaviour

very biased towards democtatic party views, but underlying principles are interesting and potentially useful for politcial strategy

Really Bad

I'm shocked by the good reviews here. Probably a lot of the 1-2 starers are Conservatives angry to be called stupid.

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Title: One Nation Under Therapy

Subtitle: How the Helping Culture is Eroding Self-Reliance

Author: Sally Satel, Christina Hoff Sommers

Narrator: Dianna Dorman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-10-07

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 41 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Psychology & The Mind

Publisher's Summary:

Drawing on established science and common sense, the authors reveal how "therapism" and the burgeoning trauma industry have come to pervade our lives. Topical, provocative, and wryly amusing, One Nation Under Therapy demonstrates that "talking about" problems is no substitute for confronting them.

Critic Reviews:

"[Sommers and Satel] review the relevant literature, letting its conclusions speak for themselves...they don't have to apply spin to be convincing....Well-written, well-informed public affairs argumentation." (

Booklist) "Sommers and Satel's book is a summons to the sensible worry that national enfeeblement must result when 'therapism' replaces the virtues on which the republic was founded: stoicism, self-reliance, and courage." (

Washington Post)

Members Reviews:

If you want another perspective

I was a little reluctant to get this book but glad I did. The book gives a succint analysis of the processes involved in the rise of psychology and helping, with accessible examples that we can all relate to. The central point is that seeking help has become a social necessity when mostly it unnecessary. Well written and well ordered for audio. I like the narrators voice, calming older lady. Generally the book gives a bit of balance and thought to the medicalisation of human emotions. Have a listen if you are sick of being coddled or coddling others.

Everyone should read this book, especially if you have kids

This is a terrific book that provides a much needed wake up call to the creeping notion that basic human emotions are pathological and all we really need is therapy. I wish I had bought the hard copy so I could go back and look at all the sentences I would've underlined. If you are at all concerned that we are becoming a nation of people who lack the will to fight and whine far too often, this book is for you. If that previous sentence drives you crazy, it is not.

Fascinating reading and vital knowledge.

This goes in depth into something impacting all of us and our kids that we do not usually get to see into.

boring narrator that puts you to sleep

terrible narrator. kskdkdfkkckckckckckvjvkv jdkdj jdjj j j j j k k. kk k. i j

Conservative Tripe

This book wasnt for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Someone who wants to go back to the good old days with no real analysis of the bad things of those old days.

What was most disappointing about Christina Hoff Sommers and Sally Satel s story?

She throws together every conservative complaint about the degeneration of our society even going so far as to argue that self-esteme isn't necessarily a good thing.

You didnt love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

She does have some valid criticisms that are interesting to think about, but the reactionary lens of her evidence is pretty useless.

Any additional comments?

Disclaimer: I only read about a third of the book, but that was enough. I'm neither conservative nor liberal in the modern senses, but this book reminds me why I'm not a conservative.

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Title: Gut Feelings

Subtitle: The Intelligence of the Unconscious

Author: Gerd Gigerenzer

Narrator: Dick Hill

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-21-07

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 209 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Psychology & The Mind

Publisher's Summary:

Drawing on a decade of research at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Gigerenzer demonstrates that our gut feelings are actually the result of unconscious mental processes - processes that apply rules of thumb that we've derived from our environment and prior experiences. The value of these unconscious rules lies precisely in their difference from rational analysis - they take into account only the most useful bits of information rather than attempting to evaluate all possible factors. By examining various decisions we make - how we choose a spouse, a stock, a medical procedure, or the answer to a million-dollar game show question - Gigerenzer shows how gut feelings not only lead to good practical decisions but also underlie the moral choices that make our society function.

In the tradition of Blink and Freakonomics, Gut Feelings is an exploration of the myriad influences and factors (nature and nurture) that affect how the mind works, grounded in cutting-edge research and conveyed through compelling real-life examples.

Critic Reviews:

"A pleasing, edifying tour of territory that has long been dark and unexplored." (

Kirkus)

Members Reviews:

My Gut Says You Should Read This Book

The original academic and body of research that Gladwell based his best-selling "Blink" on. Gigerenzer experiments on "fast and frugal" decision making have many implications for situations we face all the time in our lives - I just have not quite worked out if I'm so easily swayed and nudged (see below), and my mental probabilistic machinery is so poor (again see below) when I should trust my gut feelings and when I should do the opposite.

Trust your instincts

Very interesting and insightful into the runnings of the human mind, including what we see and DON'T see. If you've ever wondered why you should trust your instincts (trust your gut), this is the book for you.

excellent read for all groups

very informative, Good references to previous chapters, The information on intelligence is most satisfying, these concepts can implemented in many forms of life.

Interesting new take on how decisions are made.

What did you like best about this story?

It was interesting to learn how our intuitions use simple rules to come to more accurate conclusions than if we overthink problems.

Critique of American Medical and Political Systems

While the book has some interesting material, this book, authored from Munich, becomes a -- "hit piece" may be too strong a word, but it is something like that, on the American medical system and an analysis of left vs. right. I have listened to all but the last hour and a half and must say that, while it is informative and has some interesting things in it, it is a very slow and uninteresting reading, for the most part.

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Title: 50 Psychology Classics

Author: Tom Butler-Bowdon

Narrator: Lloyd James

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-07-07

Publisher: Gildan Media, LLC

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 332 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Psychology & The Mind

Publisher's Summary:

Who we are...how we think...what we do... Here are insight and inspiration from 50 key books, including works by Sigmund Freud, Malcolm Gladwell, Daniel Goleman, Karen Horney, Carl Jung, Alfred Kinsey, R.D. Laing, Jean Piaget, Martin Seligman, Oliver Sacks, Gail Sheehy, and BF Skinner.

Spanning hundreds of ideas developed over the past century, 50 Psychology Classics also explores important contemporary writings, such as Gladwell's Blink and Seligman's Authentic Happiness. Listeners will gain insight into the scientific research of leading contemporary psychologists, psychiatrists, and neurologists. And they'll discover why we think and act the way we do from the landmark best sellers of psychology.

With insightful commentaries on each classic, biographical information on the authors, plus a guide to further key titles, 50 Psychology Classics provides a unique overview of this fascinating subject.

Critic Reviews:

"Butler-Bowdon writes with infectious enthusiasm.... He is a true scholar of this type of literature." (USA Today)

Contact me for any questions: [email protected]

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Title: Crazy

Subtitle: A Father's Search Through America's Mental Health Madness

Author: Pete Earley

Narrator: Michael Prichard

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-01-06

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 274 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Psychology & The Mind

Publisher's Summary:

The more Earley dug, the more he uncovered the bigger picture: our nation's prisons have become our new mental hospitals. Crazy tells two stories. The first is his son's. The second describes what Earley learned during a year-long investigation inside the Miami-Dade County jail, where he was given complete, unrestricted access. There, and in the surrounding community, he shadowed inmates and patients; interviewed correctional officers, public defenders, prosecutors, judges, mental-health professionals, and the police; talked with parents, siblings, and spouses; consulted historians, civil rights lawyers, and legislators.

The result is both a remarkable piece of investigative journalism, and a wake-up call; a portrait that could serve as a snapshot of any community in America.

Critic Reviews:

"Parents of the mentally ill should find solace and food for thought in its pages." (Publishers Weekly) "Crazy is a godsend. It will open the minds of many who make choices for the mentally ill." (Patty Duke)

Members Reviews:

Harrowing, Heart-Breaking

Mr. Earley has written an important book, and he weaves his son's personal story into a well-researched narrative.

I learned a great deal about the history of treating mental illnesses in the U.S., as well as the Catch-22 implicit in many current US state laws, which place a premium on individual rights protection at the expense of appropriate treatment for the mentally ill. The result is that many mentally ill people end up in prisons for decades -- having fallen through the cracks in the health care system.

It is not a happy story; however, it is an important story -- a must for those working in local police forces or prisons, public policy makers in the area of health, and those who have family members suffering from a mental illness. Written accessibly, the book is easy to understand, and well-narrated.

Crazy

I started this book with fear and trepidation - I was not disappointed. Throughout his very personal and painful journey, Pete Earley doesn't "white wash" any of the terrible attributes associated with mental illness. His straight forward stories and anecdotes, plus disturbing truths about how hard it is for both patients and family members, have stayed with me long past the end of the book. He's correct when he says, only when personally affected are people willing to get involved. The author gives a compelling argument for revamping our mental illness protocol and a disheartening enlightment on why it hasn't happened. The book shook me down to my boots yet I found I could not pull away.

Crazy

I truly enjoyed this novel. After suffering a three teir breakdown (mental, emotional, and phyisical). It was a very informitive viewpoint. Since I was not able to walk in my loved ones shoes as I went through my personal hell. This novel gave me a true understanding what it was like for them and how they went through their own hell as I questioned my sanity. I hope thoes who have not had to experiance this topic first hand listen to this book to better understand what life is like for thoes whom breakdown.

A must read for professionals

A truly enlightening story of a father's struggle and the reality of coping with mental illness in the family. Brilliantly written, very down to earth and gripping.

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Title: Deep Survival

Subtitle: True Stories of Miraculous Endurance and Sudden Death

Author: Laurence Gonzales

Narrator: Stefan Rudnicki

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-28-06

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1138 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Psychology & The Mind

Publisher's Summary:

Examining such stories of miraculous endurance and tragic death, Deep Survival takes us from the tops of snowy mountains and the depths of oceans to the workings of the brain that control our behavior. Through close analysis of case studies, Laurence Gonzales describes the essence of a survivor and offers 12 "Rules of Survival".

In the end, he finds, it is what's in your heart, not what's in your pack, that separates the living from the dead. This audiobook will change the way we understand ourselves and the great outdoors.

Critic Reviews:

"The study of survival offers an illuminating portal into the human psyche, and Gonzales, knowledgeable and passionate, is a compelling and trustworthy guide." (Booklist)

"A superb, entertaining addition to a nature buff's library, or for anyone not tucked safely away in a bunker." (Kirkus Reviews)

Members Reviews:

I'm not sure it can get better than this

Gonzales effortlessly weaves quantam mechanics, spirituality, psychology and James Bond into

a fascinating book that is at first glance about physical survival, but it can be used as a metaphor for many facets of human experience.

I'm in awe of how Gonzales uses information from such diverse sources - yet it all fits so logically. I can't say enough good about this book. It's intelligent, educational, emotional, and entertaining. And finally - the perfect narrator as a bonus.

Fascinating 1st Half, Cynical 2nd Half.

This book was fascinating to me, but I have to be honest, the conclusion of the book made me regret spending time reading it. I expected this book to be stories of survival and then after recounting the story, the author would explain why that person survived, why they didn't, or what they could do better.

In reality, this book is much more physiological and scientific. Many of the chapters speak about the physiology of the brain and what occurs during stressed situations. How parts of your brain shut down and others engage. If you enjoy science, this will fascinate you. No other survival book has spoke so much about the physiological and psychological effects of survival and more importantly, how to train your brain to be better in survival situations.

I like that the book focuses that survival is more than wilderness survival. It can be survival during financial troubles, business troubles, divorce, and death of others.

One of the essences of the book the author repeats, is that in survival situations you will do things that make no sense, things you would never do if you were at home, you make clearly stupid decisions. When you are in a survival situation you have little control over what happens, your brain owns you and very likely might make decisions which will kill you. After all the brain (as the author explains) is not designed to work in a way of your personal self-interest, but to benefit the future-interest of the species in general and future evolution. There is incredible supporting evidence to this theory as explained throughout the book. The author is also a very strong believer in other (semi-controversial) scientific theories such as "Chaos Theory", "Complexity Theory", and "Normal Accident Theory".

The first two thirds of the book was really interesting, but the last third was only mediocre.

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Title: The Sociopath Next Door

Author: Martha Stout

Narrator: Shelly Frasier

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-28-05

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 5436 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Psychology & The Mind

Publisher's Summary:

How do we recognize the remorseless? One of their chief characteristics is a kind of glow or charisma that makes sociopaths more charming or interesting than the other people around them. They're more spontaneous, more intense, more complex, or even sexier than everyone else, making them tricky to identify and leaving us easily seduced. Fundamentally, sociopaths are different because they cannot love. Sociopaths learn early on to show sham emotion, but underneath they are indifferent to others' suffering. They live to dominate and thrill to win.

The fact is, we all almost certainly know at least one or more sociopaths already. Part of the urgency in reading The Sociopath Next Door is the moment when we suddenly recognize that someone we know, someone we worked for, or were involved with, or voted for, is a sociopath. But what do we do with that knowledge? To arm us against the sociopath, Dr. Stout teaches us to question authority, suspect flattery, and beware the pity play. Above all, she writes, when a sociopath is beckoning, do not join the game.

It is the ruthless versus the rest of us, and The Sociopath Next Door will show you how to recognize and defeat the devil you know.

Critic Reviews:

"Stout is a good writer and her exploration of sociopaths can be arresting." (Publishers Weekly) "A remarkable philosophical examination of the phenomenon of sociopathy and its everyday manifestations....Stout's portraits make a striking impact and readers with unpleasant neighbors or colleagues may find themselves paying close attention to her sociopathic-behavior checklist and suggested coping strategies. Deeply thought-provoking and unexpectedly lyrical." (Kirkus)

Members Reviews:

Wonderful read!

This book has changed my life. I am so grateful to somewhat understand what I have just experienced. I couldn't stop listening. If you have been through a relationship with a sociopath, please listen to this book. I have started to love myself again. I am happy. I am accepting myself. This book allowed me to let go and live my life.

Gripping! A fascinating/scary look at human nature

I debated on this one but gave it a shot, and I could barely break from it several hours later. This narrator does an excellent job of making this book as enticing as a suspenseful murder mystery. The material is excellent, and well arranged. The author uses sample cases to explain points and a finer understanding of details. She says 1 in 25 people are sociopaths, and then she describes them as they appear to themselves, to us, and their existence and effect on society as both the weirdo on the corner and the ruthless "successful" people in many walks of life that have left large marks on the history of humanity throughout time. Definitely worth the listen.

Enlightening

Wow, did I love this book. It was well written and well narrated. Not really at all technical, per se, it uses real life stories to illustrate the various characteristics of sociopaths. I have read in reviews that the reviewers saw the book as self-help. I would characterize it more as self-defense. Once upon a time, I had a colleague who was a complete scoundrel and who had hurt many people. I commented to one of my closest friends that what I could not understand was that I actually liked this scoundrel. My friend commented that amoral people often have that effect on us.

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Title: Blink

Subtitle: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

Author: Malcolm Gladwell

Narrator: Malcolm Gladwell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-05-05

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 14137 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Psychology & The Mind

Publisher's Summary:

In his landmark best seller The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell redefined how we understand the world around us. Now, in Blink, he revolutionizes the way we understand the world within. Blink is a book about how we think without thinking, about choices that seem to be made in an instant, in the blink of an eye, that actually aren't as simple as they seem. Why are some people brilliant decision makers, while others are consistently inept? Why do some people follow their instincts and win, while others end up stumbling into error? How do our brains really work, in the office, in the classroom, in the kitchen, and in the bedroom? And why are the best decisions often those that are impossible to explain to others?

In Blink we meet the psychologist who has learned to predict whether a marriage will last, based on a few minutes of observing a couple; the tennis coach who knows when a player will double-fault before the racket even makes contact with the ball; the antiquities experts who recognize a fake at a glance. Here, too, are great failures of "blink": the election of Warren Harding; "New Coke"; and the shooting of Amadou Diallo by police. Blink reveals that great decision makers aren't those who process the most information or spend the most time deliberating, but those who have perfected the art of "thin-slicing", filtering the very few factors that matter from an overwhelming number of variables.

Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience and psychology and displaying all of the brilliance that made The Tipping Point a classic, Blink changes the way you understand every decision you make. Never again will you think about thinking the same way.

Critic Reviews:

"Entertaining and illuminating." (Publishers Weekly)

"Gladwell's groundbreaking explication of a key aspect of human nature is enlightening, provocative, and great fun to read." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Buy it now! Or not.. Trust your instincts.

I was first introduced to Malcolm Gladwell a few weeks ago on a podcast for the WNYC program Radiolab. The episode is called "Choice" and if you are new to Gladwell, i would suggest you start there. You'll be hooked.

The negative reviews i've read seem to have felt misled. As if Gladwell were expected to present some unifying theory of intuition. Yet, n a way, he actually does, just not scientifically. What he does present are thought provoking anecdotes about the under appreciated importance of our instinct.. The patches on the quilt missing the thread of your perception. There is lots left to be learned from the experience of others, and luckily there's authors such as Gladwell who will find them.

Interesting read with contradictory messages

Going into this book, I was expecting concrete answers to the questions that this book proposes to the readers: Why are some people brilliant decision makers, while others are consistently inept? Why do some people follow their instincts and win, while others end up stumbling into error? How do our brains really work, in the office, in the classroom, in the kitchen, and in the bedroom? And why are the best decisions often those that are impossible to explain to others?

Unfortunately, it does not answer these questions.

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Title: Breakdown and Back, Part II

Author: Marjorie Van Halteren

Narrator: Marjorie Van Halteren

Format: Original Recording

Length: 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-19-02

Publisher: Jay Allison Productions

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Psychology & The Mind

Publisher's Summary:

The second of three half-hour radio documentaries on one woman's experience of a nervous breakdown. This Peabody Award-winning radio piece blends reality and fantasy - her poetry and music, real and imagined scenes, and interviews with her family and friends. A Jay Allison co-production with Marjorie Van Halterin and Lou Giansante.

© Jay Allison

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Title: Breakdown and Back, Part III

Author: Marjorie Van Halteren

Narrator: Marjorie Van Halteren

Format: Original Recording

Length: 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-19-02

Publisher: Jay Allison Productions

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Psychology & The Mind

Publisher's Summary:

The third of three half-hour radio documentaries on one woman's experience of a nervous breakdown. This Peabody Award-winning radio piece blends reality and fantasy - her poetry and music, real and imagined scenes, and interviews with her family and friends. A Jay Allison co-production with Marjorie Van Halterin and Lou Giansante.

© Jay Allison