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Title: They Called Me God

Subtitle: The Best Umpire Who Ever Lived

Author: Doug Harvey, Peter Golenbock

Narrator: Robert Brown

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 44 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-07-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 28 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

In the pageantry of baseball, one select group is virtually unknown in the outside world, derided by fans, faced with split-second choices that spell victory or defeat. These men are up-close observers of the action, privy to inside jokes, blood feuds, benches-clearing brawls, and managers expletive-filled tirades. In this wonderful memoir, Hall of Fame umpire Doug Harvey takes us within baseball as youve never seen it, with unforgettable inside stories of baseball greats such as Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax, and Whitey Herzog.

This colorful memoir takes the listener behind the plate for some of baseballs most memorable moments, including:

But beyond the drama, Harvey turned umpiring into an art. He was a man so respected, whose calls were so feared and infallible, that the players called him God. And through it all, he lived by three rules: Never take anything from a player, never back down from a call, and never carry a grudge.

A book for anyone who loves baseball, They Called Me God is a funny and fascinating tale of on- and off-the-field action, peopled by unforgettable characters from Bob Gibson to Nolan Ryan, and a treatise on good umpiring techniques. In a memoir that transcends sport, Doug Harvey tells a gripping story of responsibility, fairness, and honesty.

Members Reviews:

The Best? Possibly.

This one peaked my interest because of a few reasons. I lived in San Diego for many years and knew the history of Doug Harvey, I mean heck! He is in the Hall of Champions in Balboa Park. And the fact that I umpired for many years making my way up to the college ranks, so I have sort of soft spot for Umpires. I was looking forward to this biography.

I struggled a bit with the over emphasis on how good Mr. Harvey said he was. Yes, he is in the BHOF, but a little bit of humble pie might make this story easier to stomach. Other than that, it was interesting to learn how Doug Harvey was brought up, how he got started, and how he lasted so many years in the Big Leagues. People like him often amaze me.

The oration was excellent! Robert Brown did a great job conveying the passion of the writer into the ears of the listener. It was enjoyable and easy to stay focused.

I recommend this book to any baseball fan or Umpire looking to get an inside view of what it might be like behind the mask, or better yet, what it is like working as an umpire and dealing with all the personalities on and off the field as well as on the home front. I think to get a better sense in that regard, one might pick up "As They See 'Em: A Fan's Travels in the Land of the Umpires." A much better book I thought which explains not only the history of umpiring, but how an umpire is made, and what life is actually like on the road in the low minor leagues.

Inspiring for anyone with a passion for life

I became an even better umpire and person by listing to mr Harvey's story. A great journey by a great man a must read for anyone whom wants to be inspired especially, if you love the game of baseball. God bless you Doug Harvey I'm now a fan of yours!

PAINFULLY BAD

What would have made They Called Me God better?

I regret having just bought the audio version. I listened to most chapters for several minutes hoping it would get better. It didnt.

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Title: Sheepish

Subtitle: Two Women, Fifty Sheep, and Enough Wool to Save the Planet

Author: Catherine Friend

Narrator: Erin Bennett

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-05-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 83 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

What do you do when you love your farm...but it doesnt love you? After 15 years of farming, Catherine Friend is tired. After all, while shepherding is one of the oldest professions, its not getting any easier. The number of sheep in America has fallen by 90 percent in the last 90 years. But just as Catherine thinks its time to hang up her shepherds crook, she discovers that sheep might be too valuable to give up. What ensues is a funny, thoughtful romp through the history of our woolly friends, why small farms are important, and how each one of us - and the planet - would benefit from being very sheepish, indeed.

Members Reviews:

We're all a little sheepish

"Sheepish" is the story of a city girl who falls in love and marries a farmerand then falls in love with the farm. Her tale of raising sheep and learning to spin wool is touching and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny. Anyone who crafts with yarn will enjoy learning more about where wool comes from, and what farmers go through to bring it to us.

A must read fir snall farmers

Thiss sequel has given me the heart to keep moving forward with our farm. The anecdotes, facts and opnions are a great blens of information. Thank you.

Witty woolly wonders

This book was such a treat! I particularly recommend it to knitters, spinners and wool lovers alike.

Fantastic!

Loved the story. Kept my attention and really makes me think I can live that lifestyle.

Funny and sometimes preachy

Great and inspiring memoir! Hilarious although a bit preachy on the wool end. I learned a lot about wool and would love to meet these preserving farmers. I resolve to be more sheepish in my life!

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Title: You Can Date Boys When You're Forty

Subtitle: Dave Barry on Parenting and Other Topics He Knows Very Little About

Author: Dave Barry

Narrator: Dave Barry

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-04-14

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 80 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

A brilliantly funny exploration of the twin mysteries of parenthood and families from the Pulitzer Prize winner and The New York Times best-selling author of Insane City.

In uproarious, brand-new pieces, Barry tackles everything from family trips, bat mitzvah parties and dating (hes serious about that title: When my daughter can legally commence dating - February 24, 2040 - I intend to monitor her closely, even if I am deceased) to funeral instructions (I would like my eulogy to be given by William Shatner), the differences between male and female friendships, the deeper meaning of Fifty Shades of Grey, and a fathers ultimate sacrifice: accompanying his daughter to a Justin Bieber concert (It turns out that the noise teenaged girls make to express happiness is the same noise they would make if their feet were being gnawed off by badgers.")

Lets face it: families not only enrich our lives every day, they drive us completely around the bend. Thank goodness we have Dave Barry as our guide!

Critic Reviews:

"[W]ith Barry as the narrator of his own work, the essays take on the quality of a stand-up comedy monologue with impeccable comedic pauses." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

It's been a long time Dave

It's been a long time since Dave Barry made me laugh out loud. He will always get a good smile from me, but at several points in this collection of essays I had to press pause just to laugh. Note, if you're into being PC and can't grasp hyperboles, move on.

Not the Same

Dave is not the same. I also don't care for the fact that he left his beloved wife and married someone much younger. He was much funnier before his lifestyle change.

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Title: Adjuster Stories

Subtitle: My Wild Ride Adjusting Insurance Claims

Author: Jonathan L. Scott

Narrator: Joshua Bennington

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-21-14

Publisher: Adjuster Stories LLC

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 29 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Insurance adjusters meet clients on the worst days of their lives, and they must be diplomatic, tactful, and ethical. The job is not only about returning phone calls and doing paperwork. Whether the case involves cargo damage, residential and business property damage, fire, fraud, burglary, or arson, it's the job of the adjuster to get to the bottom of things.

Author Jonathan L. Scott has spent more than thirty years as an adjuster. In a series of short stories, loosely based on actual insurance claims, he recalls navigating the human dimension of balancing a client's circumstances with policy requirements and the law-and it's never easy.

All adjusters investigate, evaluate, and settle claims, but the best ones are worth their weight in gold several times over. The bad ones, however, can cause huge problems for the public and their employers. If you've ever been curious about the work of an insurance adjuster, read on and find out how each claim becomes its own little adventure.

Members Reviews:

REAL LIFE STORIES

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

YES, I like all audiobooks that I can turn off and then pick right up again when I next start to drive. The narrator's voice was an easy listen.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Adjuster Stories?

When the author got his speeding ticket. I have also received a ticket for going one mile over the speed limit.

Which character as performed by Joshua Bennington was your favorite?

The large lady who fell through the bath room floor. She was huffing and puffing just to tell her story. I could just see this character in my mind. BIG! Mr. Bennington gave her that voice of "I am soooo big I can hardly walk".

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

STORIES OF REAL LIFE DISASTERS.

an adusters memoirs

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

i would recommend this book for anyone who has any interest in the insurance bussiness

Who was your favorite character and why?

narrator/author

Which character as performed by Joshua Bennington was your favorite?

there is a bath room scene where a woman falls through the floor and Mr. Bennington gives that character a great personality

Any additional comments?

this book should be required reading for all budding adjusters and insurance people

Insurance adjuster?

What did you love best about Adjuster Stories?

I think the book gave me a better understanding of the insurance industry. I never knew what an insurance adjuster was or what his function was in my claims

Any additional comments?

I recommend the audio book. I found it kept my attention and turned up my interest in the insurance industry in a way I did not think possible. The narration was good and the writing was in a very clipped manner almost like reading an insurance claim!

WHO WAS THAT MASKED MAN

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, if you like to know how your insurance claim is handled. Not only how it is handled but what and were it goes.

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Titel: Sieben Jahre in Tibet

Untertitel: Mein Leben am Hofe des Dalai Lama

Autor:: Heinrich Harrer

Erzähler: Markus Pfeiffer

Format: Unabridged

Spieldauer: 16 hrs and 13 mins

Sprache: Deutsch

Veröffentlichungsdatum: 12-16-13

Herausgeber: Der Hörverlag

Bewertung: 5 von 5 von 10 Stimmen

Kategorien: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Zusammenfassung des Herausgebers:

Fünfzig Jahre nach der spektakulären Flucht Heinrich Harrers über den Hinmalaja nach Tibet kam das Abenteuer des Jahrhunderts in der Verfilmung von Jean-Jacques Annaud mit Brad Pitt in der Hauptrolle in die Kinos.

Mitglieder Bewertungen:

Ein wunderschönes und wichtiges Buch

Hatte die englische Fassung, von Mark Meadows gelesen, vorher gekauft und mehrmals gehört. Ich musste nun auch diese Deutsche Original Fassung kennenlernen. So tief war und bin ich beindruckt von Harrers Geschichte.

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Title: Victorian Secrets

Subtitle: What a Corset Taught Me about the Past, the Present, and Myself

Author: Sarah A. Chrisman

Narrator: Kristin Kalbli

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-03-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 38 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

A true story about discovering positive selfhood, from a woman who moved beyond stereotypes to explore the world of corsetry firsthand.

On Sarah A. Chrisman's 29th birthday, her husband, Gabriel, presented her with a corset. The material and the design were breathtakingly beautiful, but her mind immediately filled with unwelcome views. Although she had been in love with the Victorian era all her life, she had specifically asked her husband not to buy her a corset - ever. She'd heard how corsets affected the female body and what they represented, and she wanted none of it.

However, Chrisman agreed to try on the garment . . . and found it surprisingly enjoyable. The corset, she realized, was a tool of empowerment - not oppression. After a year of wearing a corset on a daily basis, her waist had gone from thirty-two inches to twenty-two inches, she was experiencing fewer migraines, and her posture improved. She had successfully transformed her body, her dress, and her lifestyle into that of a Victorian woman - and everyone was asking about it.

In Victorian Secrets, Chrisman explains how a garment from the past led to a change in not only the way she viewed herself, but also the ways she understood the major differences between the cultures of twenty-first-century and nineteenth-century America. The desire to delve further into the Victorian lifestyle provided Chrisman with new insight into issues of body image and how women, past and present, have seen and continue to see themselves.

Editorial Reviews:

Sarah A. Chrisman uses her own journey with wearing the body-shaping undergarment known as the corset to explore the lessons that Victorian styles and notions can teach modern women. Chrisman, initially hesitant to don the garment with the possible chauvinistic implications and physical burdens it carries, found it in fact to give her a certain confidence and to illuminate ideas about feminism and sexuality that were hitherto absent from her daily life. Kristen Kalbi deftly performs this account that dips into history and big ideas with a personal tenor, making it feel like her own journal.

Members Reviews:

Exploration of Vanity

I tried this book as an interesting diversion into the world of historic dress which has become a growing phenomenon. Blogs about historic clothing construction, dress-up dances, parties and conferences are on the rise these days. These discussions and events deal with the smallest details needed to recreate historic garb. This book was well written and nicely narrated.

The problem lies in the fact that the author may have exposed too much of the inner workings of her thoughts, marriage and life to the reader. The extremes the author was willing to take in order to wear antique garments, shoes and reproductions and appear beautiful was surprising. The quickness and harshness of her judgements of other people encountered day to day was painful. The idea that she "knew" what others were thinking about her and their motives became a window into a deeper issue all together. For me it was just too much raw information and vanity exposed and in the end felt embarrassing.

If you like loads of intimate personal detail, and an uncensored, often unkind stream of thoughts retold you might enjoy this listen.

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Title: Fast Times in Palestine

Subtitle: A Love Affair with a Homeless Homeland

Author: Pamela J. Olson

Narrator: Julia Farhat

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-29-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 29 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Pamela Olson, a small town girl from eastern Oklahoma, had what she always wanted: a physics degree from Stanford University. But instead of feeling excited for what came next, she felt consumed by dread and confusion. This irresistible memoir chronicles her journey from aimless ex-bartender to Ramallah-based journalist and foreign press coordinator for a Palestinian presidential candidate.

With dizzying speed she found herself attending Yasser Arafat's funeral, tour-guiding Israeli friends around the West Bank, dating a Palestinian from a conservative village, being held at gunpoint and injured by a stun grenade, and witnessing the 2005 Disengagement from inside the Gaza Strip. The gripping narrative focuses not only on violence, terror, and politics but also on the daily rounds of house parties, concerts, barbecues, weddings, jokes, harvests, and romantic drama that happen in between.

Funny, gorgeous, shocking, and galvanizing, Fast Times in Palestine challenges the way we think not only about the Middle East but about human nature and our place in the world.

Editorial Reviews:

This lightning-paced audiobook is the memoir of an outrageous character, Pamela Olson. She has enough wit and guts and spirit for us all. Listeners will be subtly drawn into Olson's life by Julia Farhat's narration of the audiobook, which is sweet, quiet, and accentuates the beauty of the book's prose.

Set in Palestine, the memoir isn't merely expat or travel literature. It touches on subjects that speak to all human beings living in this complex modern world - love, curiosity, conflict, and a feeling of instability. Listeners will oscillate between being shocked at Olson's crazy adventures, and reassured by her familiar spirit.

Members Reviews:

Palestine from the Insideand Out

Pamela J. Olsen was a Stanford physics graduate who followed her curiosity to the Middle East and quickly ended up living and working in Ramallah.

Olsen is such an engaging writer, that I got caught up in the small human dramas around her, as she did, forgetting that this was in one of the most contentious places in the worlduntil something extraordinary would come up.

For instance, traveling to Jerusalem to retrieve some hospital papers for a boy shot in the back so his family could get permission to travel to see him, she was stonewalled by the hospital staff, the boy wasn't worth the trouble. A simple request met with casual racism.

With lovely prose, and no agenda but that of reporting her experience, she paints relatable portrait of a difficult and complicated situation.

Julia Farhats narration is friendly and immediate, conveying the "American girl whos eyes are opened abroad" in a believable way.

Eye-opening, heartbreaking, and enthralling

I really enjoyed listening to this book. Told almost as a travelogue and filled with stories and colorful people, it somehow made the reality of this heartbreaking story enjoyable. Olson did a nice job of painting a picture of what life was/is like in the West Bank from all the different perspectives and the tragedies that seem to fill the days there. I feel like I have a better understanding of the conflict from the Palestinian side now and it isn't pretty. Not that you expect it to be but it certainly begs for intervention.

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Title: Nature Noir

Subtitle: A Park Ranger's Patrol in the Sierra

Author: Jordan Fisher Smith

Narrator: Kevin T. Collins

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-25-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 38 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

A nature audiobook unlike any other, Jordan Fisher Smith's startling account of fourteen years as a park ranger thoroughly dispels our idealized visions of life in the great outdoors. Instead of scout troops and placid birdwatchers, Smith's beat - a stretch of land that has been officially condemned to be flooded - brings him into contact with drug users tweaked out to the point of violence, obsessed miners, and other dangerous creatures. In unflinchingly honest prose, he reveals the unexpectedly dark underbelly of patrolling and protecting public lands.

Members Reviews:

More nature than noir

Well written, informative history of the American River Canyon. Enjoyed the stories about the colorful characters he met during his time as a ranger. The reader of this book is awful, however. I think anyone would enjoy reading this.more than listening.

Whole new perspective on park rangers!

Engaging, educational and a thought provoking reflection on our place in nature. It leaves us pondering our future within the natural world and if generations to come will value it enough to protect it.

A History Lesson Packed with Passion

I thought the book was going to be more High Sierra based, but nevertheless I fell in love with Fisher's attention to history and nature throughout not only CA but the planet. I enjoyed watching him transform from the "prick" of his early law enforcement years to the heartfelt poetic enforcer of not only the land he protected but also the people. His stories were packed with historical information that really put the finishing touches on this book. Fisher's writing style is similar to John McPhee whom delights his audience with passionate intelligent education. I've already purchased his next book: Engineering Eden and I have no doubt he'll impress again. I highly recommend this author.

Great read for future park rangers

I loved this book for its technical insight into the life of a Ranger. it's historical background into the auburn/Folsom state park is amazing. because I live in the area I walked under the very bridge and trails described in the book and enjoyed putting the landscape to the words. I was able to look at the landscape through his eyes which was an intriguing experience.

the narrator was good but not great, though he put enthusiasm into the read it felt rushed. if he slowed down a little It would have been better as the speed he read at was stressful to keep up with and I often found myself rewinding to listen to a paragraph over again.

definitely worth the read/listen

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Title: Your Fatwa Does Not Apply Here

Subtitle: Untold Stories from the Fight against Muslim Fundamentalism

Author: Karima Bennoune

Narrator: Lameece Issaq

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-26-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 16 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Eye-opening accounts of heroic resistance to religious extremism. In Lahore, Pakistan, Faizan Peerzada resisted being relegated to a "dark corner" by staging a performing-arts festival despite bomb attacks. In Senegal, wheelchair-bound Assatou Ciss produced a comic book to illustrate the injustices faced by disabled women and girls. In Algeria, publisher Omar Belhouchet and his journalists struggled to put out their paper, El Watan ("The Nation"), the same night that a 1996 jihadist bombing devastated their offices and killed 18 of their colleagues. In Afghanistan, Young Women for Change took to the streets of Kabul to denounce sexual harassment, undeterred by threats. In Minneapolis, Abdirizak Bihi organized a Ramadan basketball tournament among Somali refugees to counter the influence of Al Shabaab.

From Karachi to Tunis, Kabul to Tehran, across the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and beyond, these trailblazers often risked death to combat the rising tide of fundamentalism within their own countries. But this global community of writers, artists, doctors, musicians, museum curators, lawyers, activists, and educators of Muslim heritage remains largely invisible, lost amid the heated coverage of Islamist terror attacks on one side and abuses perpetrated against suspected terrorists on the other. A veteran of 20 years of human rights research and activism, Karima Bennoune draws on extensive fieldwork and interviews to illuminate the inspiring stories of those who represent one of the best hopes for ending fundamentalist oppression worldwide.

Members Reviews:

Very educational, thought-provoking and inspiring

This is an amazing book. I learned so much and you get a true feeling of what liberal, peace-loving activists struggle with in the fight against fundamentalism. It is so inspiring and absolutely worth the read. The author delves into so many facets of the struggle that you have a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the problem. Unbiased and extremely informative. Must read!

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Title: The Pope & The CEO

Subtitle: John Paul II's Leadership Lessons to a Young Swiss Guard

Author: Andreas Widmer

Narrator: Drake McCalister

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-23-13

Publisher: Emmaus Road Publishing

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 24 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

"John Paul II showed me what real leadership looks like. He modeled for me how to pursue our God-given potential. Not coincidentally, this also makes us and those around us better employees, more capable of and more willing to work hard at building a stronger company. That's something that makes both good human sense and good business sense." (Andreas Widmer Former Swiss Guard, CEO and business leader)

Andreas Widmer gives a behind-the-scenes look into Pope John Paul II, the most authentically human person he's ever met, and reveals how those memories shaped and forged his success as a corporate executive. In what papal biographer George Weigel calls a powerful example of leadership at work, Widmer recounts his personal experiences serving Blessed Pope John Paul II in the Swiss Guard, and the secrets of successful leadership that he learned at the feet of the great pope.

Members Reviews:

"It's Cheaper Than Another Conclave!"

According to Andreas Widmer, business leader and author, "No cardinal wants to be pope. They know too well what goes into it, what the office demands. The work is endless, the responsibilities bone-crushing. There is no end to it, save death."

Well...until recently! Pope Benedict XVI, the 265th pope, stepped down Feb. 28, 2013, after eight years as the spiritual leader of 1.2 billion Catholics--and the world now watches as the cardinals gather in their conclave to discern God's choice for the next pope.

So with that backdrop, I just finished Widmer's poignant book for CEOs, leaders and managers. As a young Swiss Guard to the pope, the author observed the back office leadership of Pope John Paul II. Yet later, Widmer failed in business and had to re-learn the simple, but God-honoring papal principles of leadership. It's a page-turner because the stories are so powerful and practical.

There are nine chapters in this spiritual/business portrait of the Pope who asked Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Emeritus Pope tomorrow) to join the Vatican team: Know Who You Are, Know God, Know Where You Are and Where You Are Going, Know the Team and five more very contemporary topics.

Until today, this review was pre-written in my mind with killer quotes, arresting lead sentences, and humorous eye-opening stories. My wife, Joanne, genuinely appreciated my "let-me-read-you-another-story" marathon over several evenings.

But...I'm skipping all of that to urge you simple to buy the book and read the memorable account from his last chapter, "Live Detachment: Intentional Humility and Poverty."

Widmer writes, "Over the years, I've heard a lot of great stories about John Paul II from friends at the Vatican and others who knew him personally. One of my favorites is this one from Scott Hahn [from his address to the Boston Catholic Men's conference, March 4, 2006]. I repeat it here, because I can think of no greater testimony to the detachment we're all called to possess."

And so Widmer shares a remarkable story about John Paul on pages 136-138. It's worth the price of the book--and you'll share the story dozens of times in the years ahead.

Okay, one more story! In the chapter on living a balanced life, the author noted the pope's zest for the outdoors and sports.